Conservation Innovation Grants FY 2105 Funding Opportunity - Pacific Islands Area

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: 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. Proposals will be accepted from Pacific Islands Area (Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands). NRCS anticipates that the amount available for support of this program in FY 2015 will be up to $150,000. Proposals are requested from eligible governmental or non-governmental organizations or individuals for competitive consideration of grant awards for projects between 1 and 3 years in duration. Funds will be awarded through a two-phase Pacific Islands Area wide 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-proposals 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. Proposals will be screened for completeness and compliance with the provisions of this notice. Incomplete and/or noncompliant proposals will be eliminated from competition, and notification of elimination will be sent to the applicant. NRCS will request a full proposal package only from those applicants selected in the pre-proposal phase. DATES: Pre-proposals must be received by NRCS before 12:00 p.m. noon, Hawaii Standard Time (HST) on Friday, April 24, 2015. NRCS will announce selected pre-proposals by May 15, 2015. Selected applicants will then be required to submit a full proposal package to NRCS by 12:00 p.m. noon HST on Friday, June 19, 2015. ADDRESSES: Proposals may be sent via express mail or overnight courier service using one of the following methods. Express Mail: USDA-NRCS, CIG Program, Nicola Giardina, 300 Ala Moana Blvd, Room 4-118, Honolulu, HI 96850 United States Postal Service: USDA-NRCS, CIG Program Nicola Giardina P.O. Box 50004, Honolulu, HI 96850-0050 Applicants must submit three (3) paper copies of the application and an electronic copy provided via e-mail address. The address for submitting an application by e-mail is: nicola.giardina@hi.usda.gov . FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Nicola Giardina, State EQIP Program Manager 300 Ala Moana Blvd., Room 4-118 Honolulu, HI 96850 Phone: (808) 541-2600 ext. 155 E-mail: nicola.giardina@hi.usda.gov

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