Alabama NRCS Technical Assistance for FY2021 | USDA NRCS AL MULTI 21 NOFO0001092

Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS AL MULTI 21 NOFO0001092

The Alabama NRCS Technical Assistance for FY2021 funding opportunity is a USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) solicitation designed to build partnerships that expand NRCS capacity to deliver conservation-related technical services and projects across Alabama during fiscal year 2021. The program is structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning the work is intended to be carried out collaboratively with NRCS rather than as a simple pass-through grant, and it focuses on practical, on-the-ground implementation support aligned with NRCS conservation priorities in the state.

Funding for the opportunity is expected to total up to $800,000 for FY2021, with NRCS anticipating roughly three awards. While the notice highlights an overall funding ceiling of $800,000, the specific award sizes would depend on the proposals received and the agency’s selections. Projects must be performed in Alabama, and awards can be set up as either single-year or multi-year efforts, with agreement periods ranging from one to five years. This longer duration is meant to support partnerships that may need multiple field seasons or sustained staffing to deliver technical assistance effectively.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of public and nonprofit entities that commonly work in conservation and agricultural assistance. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; and nonprofits both with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher-education institutions in those nonprofit categories). In practical terms, this creates an open door for conservation districts, universities, watershed groups, land trusts, tribes, and other partners that can provide technical staff, outreach, planning, or project implementation support consistent with NRCS needs.

Applications were required to be submitted through Grants.gov, and the agency emphasized that submissions would be screened for completeness and compliance with the notice requirements. Applications that were incomplete or not compliant could be removed from consideration, with applicants notified if eliminated. The Alabama State Conservationist also retained the discretion not to fund any or all applications, which is a standard clause signaling that awards depend on both proposal quality and agency priorities and available funding.

Key administrative dates set the timeline for applicants and the agency’s review. The application deadline was May 19, 2021 at 11:59 pm Eastern Time. Questions about the notice itself could be submitted until April 30, 2021, with responses planned to be posted on Grants.gov about two weeks before the deadline. NRCS indicated it expected to make selections by June 14, 2021 and to execute awards by August 1, 2021. For technical issues related to Grants.gov, applicants were directed to contact Grants.gov Applicant Support, noting that NRCS program staff would not troubleshoot Grants.gov account or system problems.

In terms of how the opportunity is classified, it is a discretionary funding opportunity under CFDA number 10.902, listed under activity areas that include agriculture, environment, and natural resources. The official opportunity identifier is USDA NRCS AL MULTI 21 NOFO0001092, titled Alabama NRCS Technical Assistance for FY2021, and it was originally posted on April 19, 2021 with the closing date of May 19, 2021. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as NRCS Alabama seeking capable partners to help deliver technical conservation assistance at scale, using cooperative agreements that can support multi-year staffing and project delivery within the state.

• The Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service in the agriculture, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Alabama NRCS Technical Assistance for FY2021" 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 Apr 19, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 19, 2021 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 $800,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 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.

Apply for USDA NRCS AL MULTI 21 NOFO0001092

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