Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS TN ACEP 23 NOFO0001278
The Tennessee NRCS Easement Programs Restoration and Stewardship Assistance opportunity is a USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) discretionary funding announcement that supports work under the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), Assistance Listing (CFDA) 10.931. The main purpose is to push resources toward restoring degraded wetlands and related upland areas in Tennessee, while also paying for stewardship activities that help maintain and manage existing easements across the state. In practical terms, the funding is meant to help partners and participants carry out on-the-ground restoration and long-term care work tied to NRCS easement holdings and priorities.
Funding is offered through cooperative agreements, with awards structured as five-year agreements. NRCS indicates that, budget permitting, it expects to make up to three awards under this notice. For fiscal year 2023, NRCS lists up to $3 million available for technical assistance and up to $10 million available for financial assistance, signaling that projects may combine planning, design, oversight, and implementation support (technical assistance) with direct funding for eligible restoration or stewardship actions (financial assistance), consistent with ACEP objectives and NRCS program rules.
Eligibility is broadly open. With the single exception of federal agencies, NRCS invites applications from qualified U.S.-based non-federal entities and individuals, and explicitly encourages applications from non-federal entities of all sizes. The notice points applicants to NRCS ACEP program information for additional context on easement program goals and how restoration and stewardship typically fit within easement implementation and management.
The projected federal funding amount per agreement ranges from a floor of $2,000,000 to a ceiling of $5,000,000, referring to the total federal share over the full agreement term rather than a single year or budget period. Because the notice was released prior to final appropriation and/or apportionment for FY2023, NRCS also flags that continuing resolutions or a later appropriations act could change the final funding availability or level.
Applications were required to be submitted through Grants.gov, with a deadline of 11:59 pm Eastern Time on May 25, 2023. NRCS notes that Grants.gov account or submission issues must be handled through Grants.gov Applicant Support (phone and email are provided in the notice), and that awarding agency staff cannot troubleshoot Grants.gov accounts. For questions about the notice itself, applicants are directed to the federal awarding agency contact listed in the notice (Section G), with the important limitation that questions should focus on clarifying the written requirements (like dates, page references, or inconsistencies), not on eligibility edge cases or feedback on proposal quality.
NRCS anticipated making selections by June 15, 2023, and executing awards by September 15, 2023, while emphasizing these are estimates that can change. Finally, because this is federal financial assistance, the notice recommends the free Grants 101 training available through CFO.gov, which covers core federal grants topics such as governing rules and guidance, award mechanisms, Uniform Guidance administrative requirements, cost principles, and audit/risk management basics.Apply for USDA NRCS TN ACEP 23 NOFO0001278
- The Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service in the agriculture, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Tennessee NRCS Easement Programs Restoration and Stewardship Assistance." and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.931.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 25, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 25, 2023 Applications must be received by 1159 pm Eastern Time.. (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 $5,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 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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FAQs: Tennessee NRCS Easement Programs Restoration and Stewardship Assistance (ACEP)
1) What is this funding opportunity?
This is a USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) discretionary funding opportunity called the Tennessee NRCS Easement Programs Restoration and Stewardship Assistance opportunity. It supports work under the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), Assistance Listing (CFDA) 10.931.
2) What is the main purpose of the program?
The purpose is to direct resources toward restoring degraded wetlands and related upland areas in Tennessee, and to support stewardship activities that maintain and manage existing easements across the state. The emphasis is on on-the-ground restoration work and long-term care activities tied to NRCS easement holdings and priorities.
3) What types of activities does the funding support?
Based on the announcement description, the funding supports practical, on-the-ground restoration and long-term stewardship/care work connected to NRCS easements and ACEP objectives. It may also support planning, design, oversight, and implementation support when treated as technical assistance, alongside direct funding for eligible restoration or stewardship actions as financial assistance.
4) What award mechanism will NRCS use?
NRCS will make awards through cooperative agreements.
5) How long is the agreement period?
Awards are structured as five-year agreements.
6) How many awards does NRCS expect to make?
NRCS expects to make up to three awards under this notice, budget permitting.
7) How much funding is available overall for FY 2023?
For fiscal year 2023, NRCS lists up to $3 million available for technical assistance and up to $10 million available for financial assistance. The announcement indicates projects may combine technical assistance and financial assistance, consistent with ACEP objectives and NRCS program rules.
8) What is the expected federal funding range per award?
The projected federal funding amount per agreement ranges from $2,000,000 (minimum) to $5,000,000 (maximum). This range refers to the total federal share over the full agreement term, not a single year or budget period.
9) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broadly open to qualified U.S.-based non-federal entities and individuals. Federal agencies are the single stated exception and are not eligible under this notice. NRCS explicitly encourages applications from non-federal entities of all sizes.
10) Is this opportunity limited to Tennessee?
The stated focus is Tennessee, specifically restoring degraded wetlands and related upland areas in Tennessee and supporting stewardship for existing easements across the state.
11) What program is this associated with?
This opportunity supports work under the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), Assistance Listing (CFDA) 10.931.
12) How do applicants submit an application?
Applications were required to be submitted through Grants.gov.
13) What was the application deadline?
The deadline was 11:59 pm Eastern Time on May 25, 2023.
14) What should applicants do if they have Grants.gov account or submission problems?
NRCS directs applicants to work with Grants.gov Applicant Support for Grants.gov account or submission issues. The notice indicates awarding agency staff cannot troubleshoot Grants.gov accounts.
15) Who should applicants contact with questions about the notice itself?
Applicants are directed to the federal awarding agency contact listed in the notice (Section G) for questions about the announcement.
16) What kinds of questions will NRCS answer about the notice?
NRCS indicates questions should focus on clarifying the written requirements (for example: dates, page references, or inconsistencies). The notice also states that questions should not be about eligibility edge cases or requests for feedback on proposal quality.
17) When did NRCS expect to announce selections?
NRCS anticipated making selections by June 15, 2023, while emphasizing the date is an estimate and can change.
18) When did NRCS expect to execute awards?
NRCS anticipated executing awards by September 15, 2023, while emphasizing the date is an estimate and can change.
19) Could the final funding level change after the notice was released?
Yes. NRCS noted the notice was released prior to final appropriation and/or apportionment for FY 2023, and stated that continuing resolutions or a later appropriations act could change the final funding availability or level.
20) Is any training recommended for applicants who are new to federal grants?
Yes. Because this is federal financial assistance, the notice recommends the free Grants 101 training available through CFO.gov. The training covers core federal grants topics such as governing rules and guidance, award mechanisms, Uniform Guidance administrative requirements, cost principles, and audit/risk management basics.
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