Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS NHQ CIGCLASSIC 22 NOFO001218
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), announced a FY 2022 funding opportunity under its Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) Classic Program. This is a discretionary grant program (CFDA 10.912) intended to accelerate new and improved conservation solutions that work alongside agricultural production. The overall purpose is to stimulate development and on-the-ground adoption of innovative conservation approaches, technologies, and management systems, including ideas that use market-based or incentive-driven mechanisms to encourage conservation outcomes.
For FY 2022, NRCS made up to $15 million available in total funding under this announcement, with an expectation of making about 18 awards. Individual awards could be as large as $2,000,000 (the award ceiling for a single project). Funded projects are designed to do more than just test a concept; they are expected to produce results that can be transferred into practical use by agricultural producers and the private sector. A key emphasis is on moving innovations into real-world application, often by producing deliverables such as technical manuals, user-friendly guides, and other practical instructional materials that help producers, service providers, and partners implement new conservation practices and systems.
Eligibility is broad. Applications were accepted from non-Federal entities and from individuals located in the United States, with the notice describing eligibility as essentially unrestricted as long as applicants meet the specific requirements described in the funding notice (notably Section C.1 on eligible applicants). Projects could run from 1 to 3 years in duration, which provides flexibility for both shorter pilot demonstrations and multi-season efforts that need time to validate outcomes, refine approaches, and prepare materials for wider adoption.
The opportunity was posted under Funding Opportunity Number USDA NRCS NHQ CIGCLASSIC 22 NOFO001218, with a creation date of August 10, 2022. The original application deadline was October 11, 2022, and submissions needed to be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Time. Applicants were directed to submit through Grants.gov, and the announcement also flagged a scheduled Grants.gov outage from September 23 at 12:01 am through September 29 at 11:59 pm, during which applicants would not be able to view the opportunity, complete forms, upload documents, or submit applications. The notice specifically advised new Grants.gov users to review the instructions in Section D of the Notice of Funding Opportunity to complete any required registrations and preparatory steps before attempting submission.Apply for USDA NRCS NHQ CIGCLASSIC 22 NOFO001218
- The Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Announcement for Program Funding for NRCS’s Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) Classic Program for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2022" 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 Aug 10, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 11, 2022 Applications must be received by 1159 pm Eastern Time.GRANTS.GOV OUTAGE #8211 Please be aware that Grants.gov will be offline between September 23 1201am #8211 September 29, 1159pm. During the time the system is offline you will be unable to view the opportunity, complete forms, upload documents, and/or submit your application.. (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 $2,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 18 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this funding opportunity?
This opportunity is the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) FY 2022 Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) Classic Program, a discretionary grant program (CFDA 10.912).
What is the purpose of the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) Classic Program?
The purpose of the CIG Classic Program is to accelerate the development and on-the-ground adoption of new and improved conservation solutions that work alongside agricultural production. The program is intended to stimulate innovative conservation approaches, technologies, and management systems, including concepts that use market-based or incentive-driven mechanisms to encourage conservation outcomes.
How much total funding was available under this FY 2022 announcement?
NRCS made up to $15 million available in total funding under this FY 2022 announcement.
How many awards did NRCS expect to make?
NRCS expected to make about 18 awards under this funding announcement.
What was the maximum award amount per project?
Individual awards could be as large as $2,000,000, which was the award ceiling for a single project.
What types of projects is CIG Classic looking to fund?
Funded projects are expected to do more than test a concept. They should produce results that can be transferred into practical use by agricultural producers and the private sector, with an emphasis on moving innovations into real-world application.
What kinds of deliverables are emphasized for funded projects?
The announcement emphasizes practical deliverables that support adoption, such as technical manuals, user-friendly guides, and other practical instructional materials that help producers, service providers, and partners implement new conservation practices and systems.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was described as broad. Applications were accepted from non-Federal entities and from individuals located in the United States, as long as applicants met the specific eligibility requirements described in the funding notice (including the eligible applicant requirements referenced as Section C.1).
Does the notice restrict eligibility beyond what is listed in the NOFO?
Based on the notice summary provided, eligibility was described as essentially unrestricted, provided the applicant met the specific requirements described in the Notice of Funding Opportunity, particularly the section addressing eligible applicants (Section C.1).
Where must applicants be located?
Applicants needed to be located in the United States, as the announcement specified eligibility for individuals located in the U.S. and non-Federal entities submitting applications under the notice.
How long could a project last?
Projects could run from 1 to 3 years in duration.
Why does the program allow projects up to 3 years?
The 1 to 3 year timeframe provides flexibility for both shorter pilot demonstrations and multi-season efforts that may need time to validate outcomes, refine approaches, and prepare materials for wider adoption.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA NRCS NHQ CIGCLASSIC 22 NOFO001218.
When was the opportunity created/posted?
The opportunity had a creation date of August 10, 2022.
What was the application deadline?
The original application deadline was October 11, 2022.
What time was the application due on the deadline date?
Applications needed to be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on the deadline date.
How were applications required to be submitted?
Applicants were directed to submit applications through Grants.gov.
Was there any scheduled Grants.gov downtime that could affect submission?
Yes. The announcement flagged a scheduled Grants.gov outage from September 23 at 12:01 am through September 29 at 11:59 pm. During that outage, applicants would not be able to view the opportunity, complete forms, upload documents, or submit applications.
What actions were applicants advised to take regarding Grants.gov registration?
The notice advised new Grants.gov users to review the instructions in Section D of the Notice of Funding Opportunity and complete any required registrations and preparatory steps before attempting submission.
What does it mean that CIG Classic is a discretionary grant program?
The notice described CIG Classic as a discretionary grant program, meaning awards are made through a competitive process under the terms of the funding announcement rather than being automatically provided to all applicants who apply.
How does this program relate to agricultural production?
The program is intended to support conservation solutions that work alongside agricultural production, focusing on innovations that can be used in real-world agricultural settings.
Does the program support market-based or incentive-driven conservation ideas?
Yes. The overall purpose includes stimulating innovative conservation ideas that use market-based or incentive-driven mechanisms to encourage conservation outcomes.
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