Conservation Technical Assistance in Vermont for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program

Funding Opportunity Announcement Summary: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) seeks eligible applicants to provide assistance with continued delivery of conservation assistance in support of covered program contracts entered into under the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) as authorized under the 2014 Farm Bill.

RCPP promoted coordination of NRCS conservation activities with partners that offer value-added contributions to expand the collective ability to address on-farm, watershed, and regional natural resource concerns. Through RCPP, NRCS and partners implemented projects that demonstrated innovative solutions to conservation challenges and provided measurable improvements and outcomes tied to the resource concerns addressed through the covered programs. RCPP used covered programs to accomplish purposes and functions similar to those of the following conservation programs:

1. The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
2. The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)
3. The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP)
4. Watershed Authorities (i.e. PL-566)

NRCS Vermont is looking for eligible applicants to assist with the following activities to support continued implementation of the RCPP covered programs through managing completion of existing contracts. Activities include: 1) Conducting on-site visits with RCPP participants to provide technical assistance (T/A) in order to achieve practice implementation according to the contract/agreement timelines and in accordance with NRCS practice standards. Upon completion of conservation practices, final practice certification will be completed to document that practices meet (or do not meet) NRCS standards. 2) Providing administrative support to complete required documents and contract management including but not limited to: contract modifications, annual reminders of scheduled practice implementation, and notices of non-compliance.

Eligibility for this opportunity is limited to the following entity types:

• City or township governments
• County 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
• Public and State-controlled institutions of higher education
• Special district governments
• State governments

Key Dates:  Applicants must submit their applications via Grants.gov by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on July 12, 2020. For technical issues with Grants.gov, please contact Grants.gov Applicant Support at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov. Awarding agency staff cannot support applicants regarding Grants.gov accounts.