2013 Conservation Innovation Grants

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SUMMARY: The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), an agency under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is announcing availability of Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies. Applications will be accepted from all 50 States, the Caribbean Area (Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), and the Pacific Islands Area (Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands). NRCS anticipates that the amount available for support of this program in FY 2013 will be up to $25 million. Applications are requested from eligible governmental or non-governmental organizations or individuals for competitive consideration of grant awards for projects between one and three years in duration.Funds will be awarded through a two-phase nationwide competitive grants process that will include (1) a pre-proposal process and (2) a full proposal process. The full proposal process will only be open to applicants whose pre-proposal applications are selected by NRCS. Both phases are described in this announcement, but only pre-proposals are being solicited at this time.This notice identifies the objectives, eligibility criteria, and application instructions for CIG projects. Applications will be screened for completeness and compliance with the provisions of this notice. Incomplete applications will be eliminated from competition, and notification of elimination will be mailed to the applicant. NRCS will request a full proposal package only from those applicants selected in the pre-proposal phase.DATES: Applications for the pre-proposal phase must be received by NRCS before 4:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on March 22, 2013. NRCS will announce selected pre-proposal applications by April 15, 2013. Selected applicants will then be required to submit a full proposal package to NRCS by 4:00 p.m. EDT on May 13, 2013.ADDRESSES: Applications sent via express mail or overnight courier service must be sent to the following address: USDA-NRCS, CIG Program, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Room 0103-S, Washington, DC 20250. Applications sent via the United States Postal Service must be sent to the following address: USDA-NRCS, CIG Program, P.O. Box 2890, Room 0103-S, Washington, D.C. 20013-2890. Applications sent electronically must be sent through www.grants.gov or to nrcscig@wdc.usda.gov.For more information contact:Gregorio CruzNational CIG Program Manager1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Room 0103-SWashington, D.C. 20250Phone: (703) 235-8065E-mail: gregorio.cruz@wdc.usda.gov

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