Announcement for Program Funding for NRCS’ Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2023 – OREGON | USDA NRCS OR CIG 23 NOFO0001255

Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS OR CIG 23 NOFO0001255

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), working through the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), opened a fiscal year 2023 Oregon competition under its Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) State Program. This opportunity is designed to spark new, practical conservation ideas and speed up the real-world adoption of innovative approaches and technologies that improve natural resource outcomes tied to agriculture and working lands. The funding is associated with Assistance Listing (CFDA) 10.912, Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), and it supports projects that will be carried out within the state of Oregon.

For FY 2023, NRCS set aside up to $300,000 total for the Oregon CIG competition, with an expectation of around five awards. Individual awards are intended to fall between a $50,000 federal share minimum (the funding floor) and a $100,000 federal share maximum (the funding ceiling). The stated maximum award amount for any single project is $100,000. Projects may run from one to three years, giving applicants flexibility to propose a shorter pilot, a multi-season field demonstration, or a longer implementation-and-evaluation effort, as long as the work stays within Oregon and fits the program’s emphasis on innovation and adoption.

Eligibility is broad: all non-federal entities and individuals may apply, with federal agencies explicitly excluded. In other words, organizations like nonprofits, universities, local governments, tribes, producer groups, businesses, and individual applicants can compete, provided they meet the eligibility details laid out in Section C of the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NFO). The opportunity is listed as a discretionary grant competition, and applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov rather than sent directly to NRCS.

The application deadline was set for May 8, 2023, with proposals due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time via Grants.gov. Because Grants.gov registration and setup can take time (especially for first-time applicants who may need to complete multiple steps before they can submit), NRCS emphasizes planning ahead so administrative tasks do not become a last-minute barrier. If an applicant runs into technical submission problems, NRCS directs them to Grants.gov Applicant Support (phone and email are provided in the announcement), noting that NRCS program staff cannot troubleshoot Grants.gov account or system issues. For questions about the NFO itself, NRCS limits responses to clarifying what is written in the announcement (for example, confirming dates, pointing to the right section, or resolving apparent inconsistencies). They also state they will not address questions about whether a particular applicant is eligible or whether a specific project idea is likely to score well, which is a typical boundary meant to keep the competition fair.

To help applicants prepare, NRCS scheduled a CIG applicant webinar for April 6, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, with participation details to be posted on the Oregon State CIG website. The agency also provided an estimated review and award timeline, anticipating selections by June 9, 2023 and execution of awards by August 4, 2023, while making clear that these dates are projections and could change depending on review workload and administrative processing.

Finally, NRCS highlights that these awards are federal financial assistance and points prospective applicants to free “Grants 101” training hosted at CFO.gov. The training covers the major topics that often trip up first-time or occasional applicants, including the legal framework and federal guidance, types of assistance mechanisms, Uniform Guidance administrative requirements, allowable cost principles, and risk management and Single Audit basics. This is included as a practical nudge that strong project ideas still need compliant budgeting, documentation, and grants management practices to succeed from application through closeout.

• The Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service in the agriculture, natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Announcement for Program Funding for NRCS’ Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2023 – OREGON" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.912.
• This funding opportunity was created on Mar 07, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 08, 2023 Applicants must submit their applications via Grants.gov by 1159 pm Eastern Time on May 08, 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 $100,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

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