Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) in Pacific Island Area

Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) in Pacific Island Area is sponsored by USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). CIGs are competitive grants that bring together partners to innovate on conservation approaches. NRCS provides assistance to agricultural producers to address natural resource concerns and helps farmers, ranchers, and landowners conserve resources through voluntary programs.

**Federal Awarding Agency Name:**U.S. Department of Agriculture – Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) **Notice of Funding Opportunity Title:**Announcement for Program Funding for NRCS’ Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2023 – Pacific Islands Area **Notice of Funding Opportunity Number:**USDA-NRCS-HI-CIG-23-NOFO0001293 **Assistance Listing:**This program is listed in the Assistance Listing numbers (previously referred to as the Catalog of Federal Financial Assistance (CFDA)) on Sam.

gov under 10. 912 Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP): 16 U.S.C. 3839aa et seq.

**SAM**is a web-based, government-wide application that collects, validates, stores, and disseminates business information about the federal government's trading partners in support of the contract awards, grants, and electronic payment processes.

**Notice of Funding Opportunity Summary** NRCS is announcing the availability of Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) State Program funding to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies. Applications are accepted from eligible entities (Section C) for projects carried out in the Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI).

A total of up to $500,000. 00 is available for the Pacific Islands Area (PIA) CIG competition in FY 2023. All non-federal entities (NFE) and individuals are invited to apply, with the sole exception of federal agencies.

Projects may be between one and three years in duration. The maximum award amount for a single award in FY 2023 is $150,000. 00.

For new users of Grants. gov, see Section D. for information about steps required before submitting an application via Grants.

gov. **Completing all steps required to start an application can take a significant amount of time, plan accordingly. ** Applicants must submit their applications via Grants. gov by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on June 5, 2023.

For technical issues with Grants. gov, contact Grants. gov Applicant Support at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.

gov. Awarding agency staff cannot support applicants regarding Grants. gov accounts. For inquiries specific to the content of the NFO requirements, contact the federal awarding agency contact (section G of this NFO).

Please limit questions to those regarding specific information contained in this NFO (such as dates, page numbers, clarification of discrepancies, etc.). Questions related to eligibility or the merits of a specific proposal will not be addressed. A webinar for CIG applicants is scheduled for May 4, 2023, at 1:00 p.

m. Hawaii Standard Time. Information on how to participate in the webinar will be posted to the Pacific Area CIG website but is also provided here.

Applicants are encouraged to visit the Pacific Area CIG website to learn more about the CIG program.

**Join on your computer, mobile app or room device** Click here to join the meeting Meeting ID: 242 331 239 760 Download Teams | Join on the web **Or call in (audio only)** +1 202-650-0123,,298402161#United States, Washington DC Phone Conference ID: 298 402 161# Find a local number | Reset PIN _Persons with disabilities who require accommodations to participate in this meeting should contact Karl Mikasa at 808-447-3121 or Karl.

Mikasa@usda. gov 48 hours in advance of the meeting. _ The agency anticipates making selections by June 16, 2023, and expects to execute awards by September 15, 2023.

These dates are estimates and are subject to change. **Federal Funding Floor and Ceiling Amounts** The estimated funding floor for this opportunity is $50,000. 00, and the estimated funding ceiling is $150,000.

00. The funding floor means the minimum agreement funding amount for the Federal share per agreement awarded. The ceiling is the maximum agreement funding amount for the Federal share per agreement awarded.

These numbers refer to the total agreement amount, not any specific budget period. **Federal Financial Assistance Training** The funding available through this NFO is Federal financial assistance. Grants 101 Training is highly recommended for those seeking knowledge about Federal financial assistance.

The training is free and available to the public via https://www. cfo. gov/grants-training/.

It consists of five modules covering each of the following topics: 1) laws, regulations, and guidance; 2) financial assistance mechanisms; 3) uniform guidance administrative requirements; 4) cost principles; and 5) risk management and single audit. FPAC agencies also apply Federal financial assistance regulations to certain non-assistance awards (e.g., non-assistance cooperative agreements).