Cooperative Conservation Agreements Wisconsin | USDA NRCS WI 23 NOFO0001226

Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS WI 23 NOFO0001226

The Cooperative Conservation Agreements Wisconsin opportunity is a USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) notice of funding aimed at supporting cooperative agreements that strengthen conservation work across Wisconsin. The core purpose is to leverage NRCS resources and partnerships to tackle local natural resource concerns, encourage collaboration among organizations and communities, and build conservation leadership at both the state and community level. Projects must be located in Wisconsin, and applications are competitively reviewed, with an initial screening to ensure proposals are complete and comply with the notice requirements; incomplete or noncompliant submissions are removed from consideration.

This is a discretionary federal financial assistance opportunity offered through cooperative agreements (not standard procurement contracts). The program sits in the agriculture, environment, and natural resources space under CFDA 10.902. NRCS expected to make around 10 awards under this notice. Funding per award is substantial: the estimated federal share has a minimum (floor) of $100,000 and a maximum (ceiling) of $2,000,000. These amounts refer to the total federal share for an entire agreement, rather than being tied to a specific budget period.

A wide range of applicant types are eligible, reflecting the partnership-focused nature of the program. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. In practice, this structure supports proposals that bring together public agencies, educational institutions, nonprofits, tribal partners, and private-sector entities to deliver on-the-ground conservation outcomes.

Applications had to be submitted through Grants.gov by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on May 2, 2023 (Opportunity Number USDA NRCS WI 23 NOFO0001226; created March 3, 2023). Applicants experiencing technical issues were directed to Grants.gov Applicant Support, since NRCS staff do not provide troubleshooting for Grants.gov account problems. Questions to the awarding agency were limited to clarifications about the notice itself (for example, dates, locations in the document, or resolving discrepancies), and the agency indicated it would not respond to questions asking for judgments about eligibility nuances or the strength of a particular project concept.

NRCS provided an estimated timeline for decision-making and award execution: selections were anticipated by June 30, 2023, with awards expected to be executed by September 30, 2023, noting both dates were estimates and could change. Because the funding is federal financial assistance, applicants were encouraged to complete free Grants 101 training hosted by CFO.gov. That training covers the practical compliance landscape that often determines whether projects run smoothly after award, including the legal framework, assistance mechanisms, Uniform Guidance administrative requirements, cost principles, risk management, and single audit expectations.

• The Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service in the agriculture, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Conservation Agreements Wisconsin" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.902.
• This funding opportunity was created on Mar 03, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 02, 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 $2,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal 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, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.

Apply for USDA NRCS WI 23 NOFO0001226

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