Cooperative Agreement Notice

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The mission of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Kansas is to assist private landowners adopt natural resource conservation on their properties, including range and pasture lands. NRCS Kansas partners with other groups in the state with similar missions to leverage the resources and increase the effectiveness of each. One such organization is the Kansas Grazing Lands Coalition. The Initiative�s mission is to provide high quality technical assistance on privately-owned grazing lands on a voluntary basis and to increase the awareness of the importance of grazing-land resources. Established in 1991, the Initiative is carried out through coalitions of individuals and organizations functioning at the local, state, regional, and national levels. The coalitions include livestock producer organizations, scientific and professional grazing resource organizations, conservation and environmental groups, and state and federal natural resource and agriculture agencies. The Kansas Grazing Land Coalition (Coalition) was established in Kansas following the direction of the Initiative at the national level. Providing opportunities for private landowners to attend educational events, receive one-on-one technical assistance, and the promotion of grazing lands as sustainable and economically viable land uses, has been a main focus of the Coalition. The group consists of private landowners representing livestock producer groups, and individuals representing the above-mentioned local, state, and federal natural resource and agricultural agencies. Quarterly meetings are held to prioritize events, activities, and to conduct Coalition business. The purpose of this Request for Proposals (RFP) is to obtain assistance for NRCS Kansas and the Coalition to achieve their shared goals of providing education, information, and technical assistance to Kansas grazing land owners. The specific tasks and deliverables required fall into the following broad categories: coordination of events and meetings, communications and publicity, organization of educational opportunities, and the development of educational information and tools. EVALUATION CRITERIA AND WEIGHTS Note: Applicants who do not meet these minimum requirements will not be considered. 1. Organizational Capabilities (25 percent). The adequacy of organizational resources and experience to successfully manage and perform the project within the required time frame. 2. Project Design and Personnel (25 percent). Provide a qualified staff person with grazing lands, range science, animal science, or natural resource education (B.S. or higher degree). This staff person will assist the Coalition or other designated committees with technical guidance for workshops and presentations. This staff person should have sufficient education and experience within the grazing lands of Kansas to maintain a working relationship with grazing-land owner/managers and operators. This staff person should have adequate abilities to manage and organize a budget for the identified projects to be delivered. Applicant will provide a resume for each person intending to work on this project with their proposal. Any substitution of staff during the project period will require a re-submittal of resumes to be pre-approved by NRCS and the Coalition. 3. Understanding the Intent of the Initiative Objectives (30 percent). The applicant should recognize the value and the need for the project and have experience with Coalition partners including the NRCS and the Kansas Association of Conservation Districts. 4. Ability to demonstrate past history and credibility of working with private grazing-land owners/managers within Kansas (20 percent). The applicant should possess previous experience with grazing lands including, but not limited to, rangeland. This can also include experience working with livestock and wildlife as they pertain to grazing lands. Available Funding: A cooperative agreement will be awarded for a one-year project. It is anticipated that there will be a minimum of $30,000 available for this program in Fiscal Year 2012. The available funding for subsequent years is not fixed and may vary considerably. Amendments to the agreement may be developed upon availability of funding in following years (approximately a five-year period). The NRCS anticipates awarding one cooperative agreement under this announcement. Agency Contract Person for Electronic Access Problem: Erin M. Riffey, Contract Specialist, Phone 785-823-4505, Fax 785-823-4540, E-mail erin.riffey@ks.usda.gov.

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