Louisiana Conservation Deliver Technical Assistance, FY2023 | USDA NRCS LA 23 NOFO0001241

Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS LA 23 NOFO0001241

The Louisiana Conservation Deliver Technical Assistance, FY2023 opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number USDA NRCS LA 23 NOFO0001241) is a discretionary grant program offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The focus is on delivering conservation-related technical assistance in the State of Louisiana, and every applicant, regardless of category, must be able to provide support within Louisiana. The notice functions as the official roadmap for what NRCS is trying to accomplish, who can apply, and exactly how applications must be prepared and submitted.

NRCS is using this funding to support work tied to agriculture, the environment, and natural resources (CFDA 10.902). While the detailed technical priorities are laid out in the full Notice of Funding Opportunity (NFO), the headline goal is clear: fund partners who can help deliver conservation technical assistance on the ground in Louisiana. The program allows either single-year or multi-year proposals, giving applicants flexibility to design either a shorter targeted project or a longer effort that builds capacity and delivers assistance over time.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations and entities, provided they can operate in Louisiana. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city/township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; individuals; for-profit organizations (including small businesses and other for-profits that are not small businesses). This wide eligibility suggests NRCS is open to partnerships and a variety of delivery models, as long as the applicant can credibly provide the technical assistance NRCS needs in Louisiana.

Applications are subject to an initial screening for completeness and compliance with the requirements in the notice. Proposals that are incomplete or do not follow the NFO instructions can be removed from consideration, and applicants will be notified if their application is eliminated for these reasons. The Louisiana State Conservationist also retains significant discretion in award decisions, including the option to fund none of the applications or to partially fund a proposal if NRCS believes the program objectives can still be achieved with a reduced scope of work.

All applications must be submitted through Grants.gov, and the deadline is May 10, 2023 at 11:59 pm Eastern Time. New Grants.gov users are directed to consult Section D of the NFO for the steps required to get set up before submission, which is important because account registration and validation can take time. For technical problems with Grants.gov itself, applicants must contact Grants.gov Applicant Support at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov, since NRCS staff will not assist with Grants.gov account or platform issues.

For questions about the content of the funding notice, applicants are instructed to contact the federal awarding agency contact listed in Section G of the NFO. However, the agency limits the type of questions it will answer: inquiries should be tied to specific items in the notice (for example, clarifying dates, page references, or discrepancies). Questions about whether an applicant is eligible or whether a specific project idea is competitive are explicitly not addressed, so applicants need to rely on the written NFO to self-determine fit and compliance.

In terms of award details, the maximum award amount listed is $250,000, and NRCS anticipates making about 10 awards. The agency estimated a selection date around June 10, 2023, with awards expected to be executed no later than September 30, 2023. Those dates are presented as estimates and may change, but they provide a general timeline: submit by early May, possible selection in early June, and awards finalized by the end of the federal fiscal year.

• The Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service in the agriculture, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Louisiana Conservation Deliver Technical Assistance, FY2023" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.902.
• This funding opportunity was created on Mar 10, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 10, 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 $250,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Individuals, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.

Apply for USDA NRCS LA 23 NOFO0001241

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