Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS NHQ SOILS 21 NOFO0001107
The 2021 Soil Science Collaborative Research Proposals opportunity is a competitive federal funding program offered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), specifically through its Soil and Plant Science Division (SPSD). The program is designed to fund collaborative research partnerships between NRCS and eligible universities on soil science and closely related topics that matter at a national scale. In addition to producing research results, the program is structured to strengthen connections between federal soil science experts and academic researchers, move practical knowledge and methods into NRCS operations through technology transfer, and help train the next generation of soil scientists by engaging students directly in funded projects.
Funding is provided through cooperative agreements, which typically means NRCS expects to have substantial involvement during the project period (for example, coordination with NRCS staff, shared technical work, or joint dissemination and training activities). NRCS anticipated up to $1,000,000 total available in FY 2021 for this announcement, with an expectation of about four awards. The maximum award size (award ceiling) is $250,000, and funded projects are expected to run for 2 to 3 years. Proposed work must be conducted in the United States or its territories and possessions and must align with the priority research needs identified in Section A of the notice of funding opportunity.
Eligibility is limited in a specific way: applicants must be institutions of higher education that are part of the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network. Both public/state-controlled and private institutions of higher education can apply, as long as they are within CESU. This requirement is central to the opportunity and effectively narrows the applicant pool to universities already participating in that interagency-university cooperative network.
Applications had to be submitted electronically through Grants.gov by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on June 15, 2021. NRCS emphasized that proposals would be screened first for completeness and compliance with the funding notice requirements, and any submission that was incomplete or did not follow the instructions could be removed from consideration before full review. For applicants who were new to Grants.gov, the notice pointed them to preparatory steps in Section D.1, reflecting the reality that registration and setup can take time and should be started early.
For support issues related to the Grants.gov platform itself, applicants were directed to Grants.gov Applicant Support (1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov), with the explicit note that NRCS program staff cannot help with Grants.gov account troubleshooting. Programmatic questions about the notice were accepted until May 15, 2021, and NRCS planned to post responses to submitted questions on Grants.gov roughly two weeks before the application deadline so that all potential applicants would have access to the same clarifications.
NRCS expected to make selection decisions by July 15, 2021, and aimed to have awards executed by September 30, 2021. The opportunity is listed as a discretionary funding program with an activity focus spanning agriculture, environment, natural resources, and science and technology research and development, and it is associated with CFDA number 10.903. The funding opportunity number is USDA NRCS NHQ SOILS 21 NOFO0001107, and the notice was created April 15, 2021.Apply for USDA NRCS NHQ SOILS 21 NOFO0001107
- The Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service in the agriculture, environment, natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "2021 Soil Science Collaborative Research Proposals" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.903.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 15, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 15, 2021. (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 $250,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the 2021 Soil Science Collaborative Research Proposals opportunity?
It is a competitive federal funding opportunity offered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), through its Soil and Plant Science Division (SPSD), to support collaborative research on soil science and closely related topics that matter at a national scale.
Which USDA office is sponsoring this program?
The program is sponsored by USDA NRCS, specifically the Soil and Plant Science Division (SPSD).
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The program is designed to fund collaborative research partnerships between NRCS and eligible universities, generate useful research outcomes, and strengthen working connections between federal soil science experts and academic researchers.
Beyond research results, what does NRCS want these projects to achieve?
In addition to producing research results, the opportunity is structured to: strengthen NRCS-university relationships; move practical knowledge, tools, and methods into NRCS operations through technology transfer; support joint dissemination and training; and help train the next generation of soil scientists by involving students directly in funded projects.
What type of federal award is used for this opportunity?
Funding is provided through cooperative agreements.
What does it mean that awards are cooperative agreements?
A cooperative agreement typically indicates NRCS expects substantial involvement during the project period. Examples mentioned include coordination with NRCS staff, shared technical work, and joint dissemination and training activities.
How much total funding was anticipated to be available?
NRCS anticipated up to $1,000,000 total available in FY 2021 for this announcement.
How many awards did NRCS expect to make?
NRCS expected about four awards.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $250,000.
How long are funded projects expected to last?
Funded projects are expected to run for 2 to 3 years.
Where must the proposed work be conducted?
Proposed work must be conducted in the United States or its territories and possessions.
What topics are eligible for funding?
Projects must address soil science or closely related topics and must align with the priority research needs identified in Section A of the notice of funding opportunity.
Who is eligible to apply?
Applicants must be institutions of higher education that are part of the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network.
Are both public and private universities eligible?
Yes. Both public/state-controlled and private institutions of higher education can apply, as long as they are within the CESU network.
Is CESU membership required to apply?
Yes. Eligibility is limited to institutions of higher education that are part of the CESU network, and this requirement is central to the opportunity.
How and where were applications required to be submitted?
Applications had to be submitted electronically through Grants.gov.
What was the application deadline?
The deadline was 11:59 pm Eastern Time on June 15, 2021.
What happens if an application is incomplete or does not follow the instructions?
NRCS stated proposals would be screened first for completeness and compliance with the funding notice requirements, and submissions that were incomplete or did not follow the instructions could be removed from consideration before full review.
What guidance was provided for applicants new to Grants.gov?
The notice pointed new Grants.gov applicants to preparatory steps in Section D.1, noting that registration and setup can take time and should be started early.
Who should applicants contact for Grants.gov technical support?
Applicants were directed to Grants.gov Applicant Support at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov for platform-related support.
Can NRCS program staff help troubleshoot Grants.gov accounts?
No. The notice explicitly stated that NRCS program staff cannot help with Grants.gov account troubleshooting.
Were programmatic questions allowed, and what was the cutoff date?
Yes. Programmatic questions about the notice were accepted until May 15, 2021.
How were answers to programmatic questions shared?
NRCS planned to post responses to submitted questions on Grants.gov roughly two weeks before the application deadline so all potential applicants would have access to the same clarifications.
When were selection decisions expected?
NRCS expected to make selection decisions by July 15, 2021.
When were awards expected to be executed?
NRCS aimed to have awards executed by September 30, 2021.
Is this a discretionary funding program?
Yes. The opportunity is listed as a discretionary funding program.
What activity areas does the opportunity cover?
The activity focus spans agriculture, environment, natural resources, and science and technology research and development.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The associated CFDA number is 10.903.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is USDA NRCS NHQ SOILS 21 NOFO0001107.
When was the notice created?
The notice was created on April 15, 2021.
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