Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS MT CIG 23 NOFO0001266
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is offering Montana State Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) funding for federal fiscal year 2023 to encourage new and creative conservation ideas, tools, and technologies that can be tested and then adopted more broadly. The focus is on projects that will be carried out in Montana and that help advance conservation outcomes tied to agriculture, environmental quality, and natural resource stewardship. This is a discretionary grant opportunity under CFDA 10.912, and it is intended to move practical innovations from concept to on-the-ground use.
For FY 2023, NRCS has up to $225,000 total available for the Montana competition and expects to make about three awards. Individual awards are expected to range from a federal share of $25,000 (the funding floor) up to $75,000 (the funding ceiling and maximum award per project). Projects can run from one to three years, giving applicants flexibility to design pilots, demonstrations, or applied trials that need more than a single season to produce credible results.
Eligibility is broad: all non-federal entities and individuals may apply, and the only category explicitly excluded is federal agencies. The announcement points applicants to Section C of the full Notice of Funding Opportunity (NFO) for the detailed eligibility rules and any additional requirements, which typically matter when applicants are deciding who should serve as the lead applicant, how partners can participate, and what documentation needs to be included.
Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov, and the deadline is May 26, 2023 at 11:59 pm Eastern Time. NRCS emphasizes that registering and preparing to submit through Grants.gov can take a meaningful amount of time for first-time users, so applicants should start early and review the step-by-step instructions in Section D of the full announcement. If technical problems come up with Grants.gov itself, applicants are directed to Grants.gov Applicant Support (1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov), since NRCS staff cannot troubleshoot Grants.gov accounts or submission issues.
Questions to the agency are expected to stay narrowly focused on clarifying what is written in the NFO (for example, confirming dates, locations in the document, or resolving inconsistencies). The notice also states that NRCS will not answer questions about whether a particular applicant is eligible or whether a specific project idea is likely to be competitive, so applicants should rely on the written criteria and guidance in the full NFO and related documents. Applicants are also encouraged to review the Montana State CIG website for additional program context and state-specific background.
NRCS anticipates selecting projects by July 15, 2023 and executing awards by September 1, 2023, although both dates are estimates and could change. Because this opportunity is federal financial assistance, the notice recommends the free "Grants 101" training available through the CFO.gov grants training portal. The modules cover the federal rules and expectations that tend to shape successful awards and smooth post-award management, including regulations and guidance, types of assistance mechanisms, Uniform Guidance administrative requirements, cost principles, and risk management and single audit considerations.Apply for USDA NRCS MT CIG 23 NOFO0001266
- The Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service in the agriculture, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Announcement for Program Funding for NRCS’ Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2023 – Montana" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.912.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 27, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 26, 2023 Applicants must submit their applications via Grants.gov by 1159 pm Eastern Time on May 26, 2023.. (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 $75,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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FAQs - Montana State Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG), FY 2023 (USDA NRCS)
What is the Montana State Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) opportunity?
This is a USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) discretionary grant opportunity for federal fiscal year 2023 that supports new and creative conservation ideas, tools, and technologies. The intent is to test practical innovations and help move them from concept to real, on-the-ground use that can be adopted more broadly.
What is the main focus of projects funded under this Montana competition?
The focus is on projects that will be carried out in Montana and that advance conservation outcomes connected to agriculture, environmental quality, and natural resource stewardship.
How much total funding is available for the Montana FY 2023 competition?
NRCS has up to $225,000 total available for the Montana State CIG competition for FY 2023.
About how many awards does NRCS expect to make?
NRCS expects to make about three awards.
What is the minimum and maximum federal funding per award?
Individual awards are expected to range from a $25,000 federal share (the funding floor) up to $75,000 (the funding ceiling and maximum award per project).
How long can a project last?
Projects can run from one to three years, which allows applicants to design pilots, demonstrations, or applied trials that may require more than one season to generate credible results.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad: all non-federal entities and individuals may apply. Federal agencies are explicitly excluded.
Where can applicants find the detailed eligibility rules and any additional requirements?
The announcement points applicants to Section C of the full Notice of Funding Opportunity (NFO) for detailed eligibility rules and any additional requirements.
How do applicants submit an application?
Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov.
What is the application deadline?
The deadline is May 26, 2023 at 11:59 pm Eastern Time.
Why does NRCS recommend starting the Grants.gov process early?
NRCS emphasizes that registering and preparing to submit through Grants.gov can take a meaningful amount of time for first-time users. Applicants are encouraged to start early and follow the step-by-step instructions described in Section D of the full announcement.
Where are the step-by-step application and submission instructions located?
The step-by-step instructions are referenced in Section D of the full Notice of Funding Opportunity (NFO).
Who should applicants contact for Grants.gov technical issues?
If a technical problem involves Grants.gov itself, applicants should contact Grants.gov Applicant Support at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov.
Can NRCS staff help troubleshoot Grants.gov accounts or submission problems?
No. The notice states NRCS staff cannot troubleshoot Grants.gov accounts or submission issues, so applicants should use Grants.gov Applicant Support for those problems.
What kinds of questions will NRCS answer about the opportunity?
Questions to the agency are expected to stay narrowly focused on clarifying what is written in the NFO, such as confirming dates, pointing to locations in the document, or resolving inconsistencies.
What kinds of questions will NRCS not answer?
The notice states NRCS will not answer questions about whether a particular applicant is eligible or whether a specific project idea is likely to be competitive. Applicants are expected to rely on the written criteria and guidance in the NFO and related documents.
Is this opportunity considered federal financial assistance?
Yes. The notice describes it as a federal financial assistance opportunity.
What is the CFDA number for this grant program?
This discretionary grant opportunity is listed under CFDA 10.912.
Where can applicants find additional program context or state-specific background?
Applicants are encouraged to review the Montana State CIG website for additional program context and Montana-specific background.
When does NRCS expect to select projects?
NRCS anticipates selecting projects by July 15, 2023. This date is an estimate and could change.
When does NRCS expect to execute awards?
NRCS anticipates executing awards by September 1, 2023. This date is an estimate and could change.
Is there recommended training for applicants who are new to federal grants?
Yes. Because this is federal financial assistance, the notice recommends the free "Grants 101" training available through the CFO.gov grants training portal.
What topics are covered in the recommended "Grants 101" training?
The modules cover key federal rules and expectations that affect award success and post-award management, including regulations and guidance, types of assistance mechanisms, Uniform Guidance administrative requirements, cost principles, and risk management and single audit considerations.
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| Virginia Conservation Partnership and Technical Assistance Apply for USDA NRCS VA MULTI 23 NOFO0001275 Funding Number: USDA NRCS VA MULTI 23 NOFO0001275 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $300,000 |
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| NRCS’ Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2023 – South Carolina Apply for USDA NRCS SC CIG 23 NOFO0001296 Funding Number: USDA NRCS SC CIG 23 NOFO0001296 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $250,000 |
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| Announcement for Program Funding for NRCS’ Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2023 – Utah Apply for USDA NRCS UT CIG 23 NOFO0001286 Funding Number: USDA NRCS UT CIG 23 NOFO0001286 Agency: Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Category: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources Funding Amount: $200,000 |
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