Central Coast Rangelands Assistance

The summary for the Central Coast Rangelands Assistance grant is detailed below. This summary states who is eligible for the grant, how much grant money will be awarded, current and past deadlines, Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) numbers, and a sampling of similar government grants. Verify the accuracy of the data FederalGrants.com provides by visiting the webpage noted in the Link to Full Announcement section or by contacting the appropriate person listed as the Grant Announcement Contact. If any section is incomplete, please visit the website for the California State Office, which is the U.S. government agency offering this grant.

Central Coast Rangelands Assistance: Central Coast Rangeland Assistance The Conservation Technical Assistance Program is a voluntary conservation program that promotes agricultural production and resource enhancement as compatible goals. This program provides the basic inventory, evaluation, analysis of resource data, and technical planning assistance from which farmers and ranchers make decisions regarding the design and implementation of conservation management practices that contribute to soil, water, air, plant, and animal health, Applicants will be responsible for providing landowners, and NRCS, with a variety of technical assistance necessary to plan, implement, and evaluate rangeland conservation practices dealing with natural resource issues. NRCS expects to award one cooperative agreement estimated to cost $50,000, based on proposals submitted and benefits derived for the current fiscal year. Funds available for the current fiscal year are approximately $50,000 for Rangelands of the Central Coast (Alameda County to Santa Barbara County) An agreement resulting from this solicitation will have a one-year base period and three one-year options. Activities under the base period cooperative agreement will be carried out from approximately September 15, 2005 through September 30th 2006. Optional years will be based on the federal fiscal year. The successful applicant will be responsible for: I. Assisting Central Coast Rangeland Coalition (comprised of NRCS, RCDs, UCCE, Nature Conservancy, Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, Cal Poly, California State Parks, East Bay Parks, local ranchers and others) with development of indicators for rangeland health in three rangeland regions of the Central Coast: Northern (San Mateo and Alameda Counties), Central (Santa Clara, San Benito Counties, and northern Monterey County), and Southern (southern Monterey, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara Counties). Sub tasks will include: 1. Meeting with rangeland specialists from the Central Coast Rangeland Coalition to coordinate efforts to collect and select optimal indicators of rangeland health, 2. Meet with 15 private landowners (approximately 5 in each rangeland region) to document existing management conditions and rancher goals and compile a list of measurable indicators that progressive ranchers use to evaluate conservation conditions on range, wildlife and watershed lands. 3. Meet with 6 public land managers (approximately 2 in each rangeland region) who lease grassland to ranchers or who have comparable ungrazed lands for use as reference comparisons. 4. Presenting draft list of rangeland health indicators (based on work with landowners and rangeland specialists) to the Central Coast Rangeland Coalition for approval, 5. Developing protocol for use of indicators to monitor long-term condition of 15 original representative sites and other rangeland sites. II. Assisting approximately 15 private landowners with development of rangeland management plans including: 1. Developing resource inventories, data and alternatives related to conservation conditions. Providing qualitative evaluations of those conditions from which landowners can make resource treatment decisions relative to their lands. 2. Providing technical planning assistance and related maps, [utilizing NRCS software programs], based on landowner decisions regarding land treatment. 3. Providing conservation management and structural practice standards and specifications for resource treatment identified in conservation plans to insure landowner understanding of practice installation requirements. 4. Providing conservation planning, application, GIS documentation, and related correspondence to producers. Tracking and updating local costs for practices installed; 5. Documenting producer progress and providing this information to NRCS for tracking in accountability systems. All services and customer assistance provided under this agreement must meet USDA-NRCS standards and specifications as set forth in Departmental manuals, handbooks, and guides. The selected applicant shall report to NRCS the appropriate data elements associated with the service and assistance provided to participants so that the data can be entered into the conservation accomplishments tracking system. NRCS anticipates being substantially involved in carrying out the work covered by this cooperative agreement. NRCS will also provide a representative to participate in the planning and management of the cooperative agreement and coordinate activities. NRCS will provide training, at no cost to the grantee, in specific-NRCS conservation planning and application procedures. NRCS will provide program oversight and will provide agency software, necessary forms and other resource information. Evaluation CriteriaListed In Descending Order of Importance 1. Organizational Capabilitiesthe adequacy of organizational resources and experience to successfully manage and perform the project. Share in a common mission that supports the natural resource conservation efforts with local land users in achieving the objectives within the required time frame. 2. Knowledge of rangeland management practices and assessment techniques including prescribed rotational grazing, stocking rates, holistic range management, grassland diversity, soil quality, residual dry matter evaluation, stream channel condition, water quality assessment, livestock health, and price-related factors. 3. Ability to demonstrate past history and credibility of working with local land users. Ability to be certified by NRCS to receive clearance for network access as well as client data files. 4. Location in the general geographical area of the project and knowledge of the locality of the project; provided, that application of this criterion leaves an appropriate number of qualified applicants, given the nature and size of the project. 5. Understanding the intent of NRCS planning and conservation application programs, as well as, the applicants recognition of the value and need for such resource enhancement activities. Each proposal will be evaluated and ranked in accordance with the evaluation factors listed above. Discussions may be held with each applicant regarding the applicants experience, the proposed plan of action or alternative courses of action. After selection, NRCS will enter into negotiations with the selected applicant to discuss cost and the terms and conditions of the cooperative agreement to be signed. Available Funding: A cooperative agreement will be awarded on a fiscal year basis. It is anticipated that approximately $50,000 for this agreement will be available for FY2005 for the objectives presented in this Request for Proposals. The available funding for subsequent years is not fixed and may vary considerably. Amendments to agreement may be developed upon availability of funding in optional years. Procedures for Applying for Assistance: Applications for assistance must include a program narrative statement that addresses the following as a minimum. a. A description of how the applicant will accomplish the work and include qualification and experience statement for personnel performing work under any subsequent agreement b. An itemized budget and detailed narrative in support of the form SF-424 for the overall project period. Applicants should include budgets for the base year. Hourly rates for employees performing the work shall be included. c. A description of the capabilities of the organization to fulfill the terms of the cooperative agreement, including a brief description of the organizational entity and of the qualifications, current responsibilities, and proposed level of effort for the project coordinator, and staff responsible for implementation d. List of relevant experience with references e. The application may include an appendix. Material should be included only when necessary to support information provided in the narrative. Copies of documents, brochures, etc., are encouraged to demonstrate experience, knowledge, skills and abilities. f. The following forms are required and can be obtained from the web sites listed below: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants forms.html Standard Form 424 Application for Federal Assistance Standard Form 424A Budget Information - Non-construction Programs Standard Form 424B Assurances Non-construction Programs Submission Requirements: Applications must be received not later than 9/7/2005, 2:30 p.m. local time. Applications received after that time will not be considered. Proposals will not be accepted by facsimile. Applicants must submit one copy of their proposal to Diane Ferguson, Contract Specialist, USDA, NRCS, 430 G St. # 4164, Davis, CA 95616-4164. Authority: Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA), 16 U.S.C. 590a-f, and q, 7 CFR Part 610 Administrative Requirements: The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, Section 708, limits indirect costs under cooperative agreements between USDA and non-profit institutions, including institutions of higher education, to ten percent of the total direct costs of the agreement. Applicants must document the indirect cost percentage requested. The applicant shall comply with all applicable laws, regulations, Executive Orders and other generally applicable requirements, including those set out in 7 CFR 3015, 3016, 3017, 3018, 3019, and 3052, as applicable which will be incorporated in the agreement by reference and such other statutory provisions as are specifically set forth in the agreement. The applicant, by signing or submitting this application, is providing a certification set forth in Appendix C to 7 CFR 3017; Certification Regarding Drug-Free Workplace Requirements. The OMB Circulars will be incorporated by reference and made a part of each agreement awarded under this process. Applicants are encouraged to review the appropriate circulars prior to requesting federal funds. OMB circulars may be viewed on-line at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars/index.html. Failure of a cooperator to comply with any provision may be the basis for withholding payments for proper charges made by the cooperator and for termination of support. (a) Agreements with colleges and universities shall be in accordance with the following OMB circulars: Circular A-21, Cost Principles for Educational Institutions Circular A-110, Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Other Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals and Other Non-Profit Organizations Circular A-133, Audits of Institutions of Higher Learning and Other Non-Profit Institutions (b) Agreements with State, Local, and Indian Tribal Governments shall be in accordance with the provisions of the following OMB circulars: Circular A-87, Cost Principles for State, Local, and Indian Tribal Governments Circular A-102, Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements with State, Local, and Indian Tribal Governments Circular A-133, Audits of State, Local, and Non-Profit Organizations (c) Agreements made with non-profit organizations shall be in accordance with the following OMB circulars: Circular A-110, Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements With Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Non-Profit Organizations Circular A-122, Cost Principles for Non-Profit Organizations Circular A-133, Audits of Institutions of Higher Learning and Other Non-Profit Institutions (d) Agreements with organizations other than those indicated above shall be in accordance with the basic principles of OMB Circular A-110, and cost principles shall be in accordance with Part 31 of the Federal Acquisition Regulations. Link to Full Announcement N/A If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact: Diane Ferguson, Contract Specialist, Phone 530.792.5679, Fax 530.792.5731, Email [email protected]