Grazing Lands Conservation Program for Maine

The summary for the Grazing Lands Conservation Program for Maine 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 Vermont State Office, which is the U.S. government agency offering this grant.
Grazing Lands Conservation Program for Maine: REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT FOR GRAZING LANDS CONSERVATION PROGRAM IN MAINE 1. AGENCY: DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) 2. CFDA NO.: 10.902 Soil and Water Conservation 3. PURPOSE: To develop and implement a program to deliver grazing and pasture educational and technical assistance to Maine livestock farms as well as to natural resource professionals. 4. ACTION: Notice of availability of funds. 5. SUMMARY: USDA NRCS administers the Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative Program to help livestock farmers address natural resource concerns while enhancing the economic and social stability of grazing land enterprises and the rural communities that depend on them. NRCS needs an entity to deliver educational and technical assistance services to agricultural producers as well as natural resource professionals. The entity will: ? Coordinate and implement all program components. ? Finalize the program model and work plan with milestones for final approval by NRCS. The work plan will include provisions to: ? Provide pasture management technical assistance support to new or existing farmer discussion groups as well as to the Maine Grass Farmers Network . ? Develop and implement an education and information strategy that provides educational opportunities as well as timely information resources to Maine livestock producers as well as natural resource professionals assisting Maine agricultural producers. Information and education strategies will be consistent with NRCS standards and specifications as well as conservation practice statements of work. ? Act as a location/repository and clearinghouse for example grazing plans, innovative grazing techniques, and farmer innovations that pertain to Maine grazing conditions. ? Assist in the gathering of pasture yield and productivity information on various Maine soils; to assist in updating NRCS Forage Suitability Groups for more accurate estimation of forage production potential in Maine. ? Assist in finding additional resources for pasture demonstrations and other educational events and facilitating their completion. ? Provide consultative technical assistance to NRCS Conservationists in their planning and application of grazing land conservation practices; technical assistance will be consistent with NRCS standards and specifications as well as conservation practice statements of work. ? Develop and implement an outreach and marketing strategy for final approval by NRCS to assure that all eligible producers are aware of USDA programs that may enhance grazing land operations. ? Ensure that Project Workplan deliverables are completed on schedule. ? Develop success indicators and means to measure success for review and final approval by NRCS. ? Provide NRCS with Quarterly Reports and Final Report for review and approval and acceptance. ? To bill the Service quarterly on Standard Form 270 for reimbursement based on completion of deliverables from individual projects. NRCS anticipates the following involvement, which is deemed substantial, in carrying out projects funded with Federal assistance provided through a cooperative agreement under this program. NRCS will: 1. Conduct an initial briefing at the NRCS State Office in Bangor, Maine within 30 days after the award. The purpose of the meeting will be to review the goals and objectives of the project. 2. Designate a liaison to participate in the planning and management of the cooperative agreement and coordinate activities between the cooperator and NRCS. 3. Review and approve various program components outlined above. 4. Provide NRCS technical staff to assist with educational events as needed. 5. Assist in marketing the program through state and field office contacts. 6. Provide training to Personnel as needed in services and programs offered by NRCS. 7. Take the lead in updating Maine Forage Suitability Groups. 6. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS: State or local Government entities, Non profit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, Native American Tribal Governments and Organizations, Institutions of Higher Education, Individuals, Small Businesses, and for profit Organizations other than Small Businesses. 7. EVALUATION CRITERIA AND WEIGHTS: 1. Organizational capabilities (30%). The adequacy of organizational resources and project personnel and experience to successfully manage and perform the project. 2. Project design (30%) The reasonableness and feasibility of the applicant?s approach for successfully achieving the objectives of the project within the required time frame. 3. Capable of providing in-kind contributions and other sources of financial support toward meeting the objective of the project. (30%) 4. Ability to demonstrate past history and credibility of working with farm clients. (10%). 8. METHODS OF EVALUATING AND RANKING APPLICATIONS: Initially, all application packages will be reviewed to confirm that the applicant is an eligible recipient and to ensure that the application contains all of the items specified in Item No. 13 of this announcement. Each complete application form submitted by an eligible recipient will then be evaluated and ranked based on the published evaluation criteria. Based on the recommendations, the Responsible Official will select applications for potential award. Discussions may be held with each applicant regarding the applicant?s experience, the proposed plan of action or alternative courses of action. Negotiations may be necessary regarding cost and terms and conditions for inclusion in the cooperative agreement. 9. DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS: Applicant must submit one original and five copies of their proposal to Pat Pickett, Contract Specialist, USDA-NRCS, 356 Mountain View Drive, Suite 105, Colchester, VT 05446 not later than 4:30 p.m. local time, Tuesday, July 13, 2004. Applications received after that time will not be considered. Proposals will not be accepted by facsimile. 10. AVAILABLE FUNDING: Award is subject to the availability of funds being appropriated by Congress. A Cooperative agreement will be awarded for a one-year project for assistance with providing educational and technical assistance to graziers and natural resource professionals to enhance grass-based farming efforts in Maine. A Cooperative agreement has been determined to be the appropriate funding instrument because of the substantial involvement of NRCS in providing program oversight and technical assistance. It is anticipated that approximately $50,000 will be available for this program in FY2004. The available funding for subsequent years is not fixed and may vary considerably from the current funding level. Amendments to the agreement may be developed upon availability of funding in follow-on years. 11. PROJECT PERIOD: NRCS has funds for FY04. The resulting agreement would be for a period of one year ending no later than December 2005. 12. TYPE OF FUNDING INSTRUMENT AND ESTIMATED NUMBER OF AWARDS: The NRCS anticipates awarding one cooperative agreement under this announcement. 13. PROCEDURES FOR APPLYING FOR ASSISTANCE: Applicants shall assume that awards will be made by or about July 31, 2004, and should prepare their application accordingly. Applications for assistance must include a program narrative statement of not more than 12 pages that addresses the following as a minimum: a. A description of the resources and experience of the organization necessary to successfully perform these services. b. A budget and detailed narrative in support of the form SF-424 for the overall project period. Show all funding sources and itemized costs by the following line items on the budget form: personnel, equipment, material and supplies, travel, all other costs, and indirect costs. Funds may be requested under any of the line items listed above provided that the item or service for which support is requested is identified as necessary for successful conduct of the proposed project, is allowable under the authorizing legislation and the applicable Federal cost principles, and is not prohibited under any applicable Federal statute. Salaries of project personnel who will be working on the project may be requested in proportion to the effort that they will devote to the project. Show any costs that the applicant indicates will be contributed in support of this project. c. The organization?s level of commitment in terms of the staff, equipment resources, and/or funding support necessary to leverage the project. d. A description of the capabilities to fulfill the terms of the cooperative agreement, including a brief description of the organizational entity and of the qualifications, employment status, current responsibilities, and proposed level of effort for the project coordinator, and staff responsible for implementation. Resumes for key personnel should be included in the appendix. e. List of past experience with providing educational and technical consulting services. f. The application shall 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. g. The following forms are required and can be obtained from the issuing officer or the web sites listed below: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/grants_forms.html or Standard Form 424 Application for Federal Assistance Standard Form 424A Budget Information ? Non-construction Programs Standard Form 424B Assurances ? Non-construction Programs SF-LLL Disclosure of Lobbying Activities SF-269A Financial Status Report (after award) SF-270 Request for Advance or Reimbursement (after award) http://www.aphis.usda.gov/mpls.library/forms/adforms/ *Form AD-1047 Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, and Responsibility Other Matters-Primary Covered Transactions *Form AD-1048 Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion ? Lower Tier Covered Transactions 14. AGENCY CONTACT: Patricia Pickett, Contract Specialist ? (802) 951-6796 ext. 224; Christopher Jones, State Resource Conservationist ? (207) 990-9563. 15. AUTHORITY: Conservation Technical Assistance (16USC590d and 2005) 16. 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. Section 708 authorizes an exception to the ten percent limit for institutions that compute indirect cost rates on similar basis for all agencies for which the Act makes appropriations. If requested, indirect costs must be justified and may not exceed the ten percent limitation or the current rate negotiated with the cognizant Federal-negotiating agency. Applications from colleges and universities must provide a statement in the budget narrative verifying that the indirect costs requested are in accordance with institutional policies. 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 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 and local governments shall be in accordance with the provisions of the following OMB circulars: ? Circular A-87, Cost Principles for State and Local Governments ? Circular A-102, Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements with State and Local Governments ? Circular A-133, Audits of Institutions of Higher Learning and Other Non-Profit Institutions (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.
Federal Grant Title: Grazing Lands Conservation Program for Maine
Federal Agency Name: Vermont State Office
Grant Categories: Agriculture
Type of Opportunity: Discretionary
Funding Opportunity Number: USDA-GRANTS-061504-001
Type of Funding: Cooperative Agreement
CFDA Numbers: 10.902
CFDA Descriptions: Soil and Water Conservation
Current Application Deadline: No deadline provided
Original Application Deadline: Jul 13, 2004
Posted Date: Jun 15, 2004
Creation Date: Aug 12, 2004
Archive Date: Aug 12, 2004
Total Program Funding: $50,000
Maximum Federal Grant Award:
Minimum Federal Grant Award:
Expected Number of Awards: 1
Cost Sharing or Matching: No
Applicants Eligible for this Grant
State governments County governments City or township governments Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) 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 Private institutions of higher education Individuals For profit organizations other than small businesses Small businesses
Grant Announcement Contact
Pickett, Patricia , Contract Specialist, Phone 802-951-6796 ext 224, Fax 802-951-6327, Email [email protected] [email protected] Pickett, Patricia
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