Iowa Partners for Conservation (IPC) Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Announcement for Program Funding | USDA NRCS IA IPC 21 NOFO0001069

Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS IA IPC 21 NOFO0001069

The Iowa Partners for Conservation (IPC) FY 2021 funding announcement is a competitive federal financial assistance opportunity issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) to support conservation work in the state of Iowa. The basic purpose is to leverage NRCS resources by partnering with local and statewide organizations to address priority natural resource concerns, strengthen collaboration, and build conservation leadership at the community and state level. A major emphasis is placed on practical, on-the-ground conservation delivery, especially projects that directly support Iowa NRCS Field Offices. The program is not intended for academic or technical research; research proposals are explicitly excluded and will not be reviewed.

Funding is offered through cooperative agreements, reflecting NRCSs expectation of substantial involvement in the funded work rather than a simple pass-through grant. For FY 2021, NRCS indicated anticipated availability of up to $3,000,000 total, with the important caveat that budget constraints could limit or prevent awards in that year. Individual awards have a federal funding minimum (floor) of $75,000 and a maximum (ceiling) of $1,500,000 for the total agreement amount, not per year. NRCS projected about 15 awards. Projects are expected to run for multi-year periods, specifically between 3 and 5 years, aligning with the kind of sustained field implementation and partnership-building that conservation initiatives often require. Applicants also have the option to use the announcement to request additional funding for existing Iowa IPC agreements, not only brand-new projects.

Eligible applicants cover a broad range of public and nonprofit entities that are positioned to carry out conservation work at scale in Iowa. Eligible organizations include state governments, county governments, and city or township governments; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education within that nonprofit category); and institutions of higher education, both public/state-controlled and private. The intent is to bring together partners who can mobilize staff, technical assistance, outreach, and implementation capacity in coordination with NRCS priorities. The opportunity is tied to multiple Assistance Listing (formerly CFDA) numbers: 10.902, 10.903, 10.069, 10.912, 10.924, and 10.931, reflecting the NRCS conservation program landscape that partnerships may intersect with.

Applications had to be submitted electronically through Grants.gov, with the deadline set at 11:59 pm Eastern Time on May 10, 2021. The announcement also established a question period, with questions due by April 9, 2021, and responses planned to be posted on Grants.gov roughly two weeks before the application deadline. NRCS noted that technical help for Grants.gov issues must go through Grants.gov Applicant Support (not NRCS staff), which is a common requirement for federal opportunities and an important planning point for applicants who may need time to register, validate accounts, and resolve submission errors. The anticipated timeline listed agency selections by June 7, 2021, with award execution expected by September 15, 2021.

From an administrative standpoint, the notice makes clear that proposals would be screened first for completeness and compliance with the requirements in the notice of funding opportunity. Any application that was incomplete or noncompliant would be removed from consideration, and the applicant would be notified. For organizations that receive awards, NRCS built in expectations beyond just project delivery: recipients would be required to attend administrative training and might be asked to present project updates formally to Iowa NRCS leadership. That requirement signals a focus on accountability, consistent grants management practices, and active communication between partners and the agency throughout the project period.

Finally, because this opportunity is categorized as federal financial assistance, NRCS pointed applicants to publicly available Grants 101 training hosted through CFO.gov. The training covers core federal grants topics such as governing laws and guidance, types of financial assistance mechanisms, Uniform Guidance administrative requirements, cost principles, and risk management and single audit considerations. The announcement also notes that Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) agencies may apply federal financial assistance regulations to certain non-assistance awards as well, underscoring that applicants should be prepared to follow federal administrative and financial standards even when an agreement structure involves close agency collaboration.

• The Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service in the agriculture, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Iowa Partners for Conservation (IPC) Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Announcement for Program Funding" 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 10, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 10, 2021 Applications must be submitted by 1159 pm Eastern Time on May 10, 2021.. (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 $1,500,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for USDA NRCS IA IPC 21 NOFO0001069

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