Conservation Outreach, Education and Technical Assistance

The overall goal of Conservation Outreach is to expand conservation assistance to historically underserved farmers and ranchers in participating equitably in the full range of agriculture, agribusiness, forestry, and related programs offered by Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and to provide opportunities for students to pursue careers in agriculture, natural resources and related sciences. Eligible entities may compete for funding on projects that provide education and training in agriculture, agribusiness, forestry, agriculturally related services, within NRCS programs, and to conduct outreach initiatives.

Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments, Individual/Family, Native American Organizations (includes Indian groups, cooperatives, corporations, partnerships, associations), State (includes District of Columbia, public institutions of higher education and hospitals), U.S. Territories and possessions (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals), Private nonprofit institution/organization (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals), Public nonprofit institution/organization (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals).

Student/Trainee, Individual/Family, Specialized group and historically underserved.

Additional specific award procedures may be outlined in individual Notices of Funding Opportunities published on Grants,gov. However, procedures will generally follow the steps set out here. Once funding decisions are made, the agency may contact individual applicants to clarify certain components of their applications. Merit/technical reviews of all applications will be conducted by a technical review board nominated by the approving official. Risk reviews will be conducted by the FPAC Business Center, Grants and Agreements Division. The approving official will make the final award decisions. The approving official for this opportunity is the Chief. Reviews will be conducted in a multi-phase review process in which an interagency staff panel from USDA agencies will make recommendations to the approving official. Interagency reviewers will be selected based upon knowledge, skills, training and experience in relevant fields.

A minimum of 90 days. Proposals must be received by the deadline indicated on the Funding Opportunity Announcement posted on www.grants.gov. Proposals received after the posted deadline will not be considered for funding.