Conservation Collaboration Agreements Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Announcement for Program Funding - KANSAS | USDA NRCS KS MULTI 23 NOFO0001290

Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS KS MULTI 23 NOFO0001290

The Conservation Collaboration Agreements Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Announcement for Program Funding - Kansas is a competitive federal funding opportunity from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). It is designed to support conservation work in Kansas by leveraging NRCS resources alongside partner capacity, with an emphasis on tackling locally identified natural resource concerns, strengthening collaboration among organizations, and building conservation leadership at the state and community level. The assistance is offered through cooperative agreements, which typically means NRCS expects to be actively involved in the project rather than simply issuing a pass-through grant.

For FY 2023, NRCS indicates up to $8,000,000 is available in Kansas for projects identified in the full announcement (referenced as Section A in the complete Notice of Funding Opportunity found in the related documents). Projects can run from 1 to 5 years, which gives applicants flexibility to propose anything from shorter, targeted initiatives to longer multi-year efforts that require sustained coordination, outreach, planning, or on-the-ground conservation implementation. NRCS expects to make about 6 awards under this announcement, suggesting a selective process with relatively sizable projects rather than many small awards.

The federal funding range per agreement is clearly defined. The estimated minimum (floor) for the federal share is $100,000, and the estimated maximum (ceiling) is $3,000,000. These figures refer to the total federal amount over the entire agreement period, not per year or per budget period. In practical terms, applicants should be prepared to propose a project scope and budget that fits within those bounds and can be credibly delivered within the 1 to 5 year timeframe.

Eligibility is broad and includes a mix of public and private entities that commonly lead conservation partnerships. Eligible applicants include federally recognized Tribal governments and other Native American tribal organizations, state governments, local governments (counties, cities or townships), special district governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)). The program is categorized under agriculture, environment, and natural resources, and is listed under CFDA number 10.902.

Applications had to be submitted through Grants.gov, with the deadline set for 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, June 22, 2023. The announcement also draws a hard line between technical support and program questions: Grants.gov Applicant Support is the contact for submission and account issues, while NRCS program staff will only address questions tied to the written requirements of the notice (for example, clarifying dates, page references, or apparent discrepancies). They specifically note that they will not provide feedback on eligibility interpretations beyond what is written or comment on the strength of a draft proposal.

NRCS projected an internal timeline in which selections would be made by August 1, 2023, with awards executed by September 30, 2023, while also noting those dates were estimates and could change. Finally, because this opportunity is federal financial assistance, the notice encourages applicants to take the free Grants 101 training hosted at cfo.gov, which covers core topics like federal grant rules and guidance, assistance mechanisms, Uniform Guidance administrative requirements, cost principles, and risk management and Single Audit considerations. This is a signal that applicants should be ready to manage federal compliance expectations, not just deliver conservation outcomes.

• The Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service in the agriculture, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Conservation Collaboration Agreements Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Announcement for Program Funding - KANSAS" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.902.
• This funding opportunity was created on May 08, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 22, 2023 Applications must be received by 1159 pm Eastern Time.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $3,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for USDA NRCS KS MULTI 23 NOFO0001290

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