Funding Opportunities

Program Background, Objective, and Goals:
One of the BLM's highest priorities is to promote ecosystem health and one of the greatest obstacles to achieving this goal is the rapid expansion of weeds across public lands. These invasive plants can dominate and often cause permanent damage to natural plant communities. If not eradicated or controlled, noxious weeds will continue to jeopardize the health of public lands and to constrain the myriad activities that occur on them. This program supports projects funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Section 40804 (b) Ecosystem Restoration. This program supports projects funded through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), Sections 50221 Resilience, 50222 Ecosystems Restoration and 50303 DOI. BLM Arizona State Office (AZ) Invasive and Noxious Plant Management Programs work to prevent, detect, inventory, control, and monitor weed populations on public lands.

Program Background, Objective, and Goals:
Since the Plant Conservation and Restoration Management Program (PCRP) was established in 2001, the Program has dramatically improved the availability and use of locally adapted, genetically appropriate native seed for restoration. The PCRP-led Seeds of Success project has made more than 27,000 native seed collections across 44 states and 93 ecoregions. Under PCRP leadership, the Plant Conservation Alliance developed and released the National Seed Strategy for Rehabilitation and Restoration—the first of its kind in the world. Since PCRP created the Native Forb and Grass Seed Production IDIQ Contract in 2018, BLM staff have ordered more than 100,000 pounds of seed from 55 native species across 62 seed transfer zones. The proportion of native seed purchased through the BLM National Seed Warehouse System increased from roughly 50% native seed in 2001 (the year PCRP was established) to 80% native seed in 2019. PCRP partnerships with federal agencies and non-federal organizations have grown millions of seedlings for restoration on BLM lands, provided education and job opportunities for disadvantaged communities, and developed much of the science that land managers use to inform restoration seeding decisions. Finally, PCRP sponsored the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Assessment of Seed Needs and Capacities and the Open Access publication of the first international principles and standards for using native seeds in ecological restoration. Through these myriad accomplishments, PCRP has consistently proven to be a global leader in the development of locally adapted native plant materials and their use in restoring adaptive and resilient ecosystems. This program also supports projects funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act P.L. 117-58, Section 40704(b) Ecosystem Restoration. This program supports projects funded through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), Sections 50221 Resilience, 50222 Ecosystems Restoration and 50303 DOI. Public lands contain a diversity of native plant communities that make up over 50 ecoregions across BLM administered lands. Each ecoregion contains native plants that have adapted to those environments. The program will continue to work with partners to increase the quantity, diversity, and effectiveness of native forbs and grasses for restoration of wildlife habitats and rehabilitation after wildfires.

Section 11528 of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), enacted as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Pub. L. 117-58, November 15, 2021), established the Pollinator-Friendly Practices on Roadsides and Highway Rights-of-Way Program (Roadside Pollinator Program), codified at 23 U.S.C. 332. This is the first NOFO under this program, and the total amount of funding available in this NOFO is up to $3 million. FHWA will award funding to State DOTs, Indian Tribes, and Federal Land Management Agencies (FLMAs) who are seeking to benefit pollinators on roadsides and highway rights-of-way on routes eligible for Federal-aid.

The goals of the Roadside Pollinator Program are to fund the implementation, improvement, or further development of the applicants’ Pollinator Friendly Practices Plan (Plan) on routes eligible for Federal-aid. The United States has an estimated 3.9 million miles of roadway and suitable roadsides and rights-of-way represent a significant area that can be transformed into pollinator habitat through the planting of native plants and wildflowers. Roadsides can provide habitat for a diverse community of pollinators, including opportunities to forage for feeding, nesting and breeding. Roadsides extend across a variety of landscapes and can support ecological connectivity and the dispersal of pollinators by linking fragmented habitats. By acting as refugia for pollinators in otherwise inhospitable landscapes, roadside habitat can contribute to the maintenance of healthy ecosystems and provision of ecological services such as crop pollination services.

The Roadside Pollinator Program is a unique program that has some important differences from other FHWA and DOT discretionary grant programs, including the requirement for an applicant to submit a Plan (23 U.S.C. 332(c) and (d)), the requirement for FHWA to fund all satisfactory applications (23 U.S.C. 332(e)(1)), and the requirement for FHWA to base the amount of all awards on the number of PFPs that the applicant has implemented or plans to implement (23 U.S.C. 332(e)(2)(A)). Due to the unique nature of the Roadside Pollinator Program, FHWA is requiring applicants to use an Application Template.

The Roadside Pollinator Program may fund the implementation of pollinator-friendly practices (PFPs) included in a Plan or the improvement or further development of a Plan (23 U.S.C. 332(f)). The total activities to be funded by an applicant with a Roadside Pollinator Program award are referred to as the “Roadside Pollinator Project” throughout this NOFO.

With the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (Act) of 2022, Bureau of Reclamation’s (Reclamation) Native American and International Affairs Office (NAIAO) will carry out a Domestic Water Supplies for Disadvantaged Communities Program to assist Federally recognized Tribes or Tribal Organizations, as defined by 25 U.S.C. 5304(e), in the 17 western states for the planning, design, or construction of water projects to provide domestic water supplies to communities or households that do not have reliable access to domestic water supplies.

The primary purpose of the Tribal Domestic Water Supplies Program is to fund projects for domestic water supplies to existing Tribal households or communities that do not have reliable access to domestic water supplies. Domestic water supplies are for human use and consumption. Domestic water supplies for communities include a communal benefit (e.g., school, hospital, nursing home, etc.).

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), requests applications for the fiscal year (FY) 2024 Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP). LFPP’s purpose is to support the development, coordination, and expansion of local and regional food business enterprises that engage as intermediaries in indirect producer‐to‐consumer marketing to increase access to and availability of locally and regionally produced agricultural products. AMS will competitively award grants to eligible applicants for projects that meet the purpose of the grant program.

Approximately $10.5 million is available to fund applications under this solicitation. Applicants may select from one of four project types. Planning projects range from $25,000 to $100,000, while implementation projects range from $100,000 to $500,000. Two Turnkey (simplified) project types are available: Turnkey Marketing and Promotion projects and a new option for Turnkey Recruitment and Training projects. Each of the turnkey project options are available for a defined set of activities, with funding amounts ranging between $50,000 and $100,000. Eligible entities and activities remain the same as in previous years. LFPP is a part of the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP).

Assist in funding eligible projects for the purpose of improving the safety, efficiency, or reliability of the movement of goods through ports and intermodal connections to ports.

Projects within the boundary of a port, or outside the boundary of a port and directly related to port operations or to an intermodal connection to a port that improve the safety, efficiency, or reliability of:
• The loading and unloading of goods at a port;
• The movement of goods into, out of, around, or within a port;
• Operational improvements at a port;
• Environmental and emissions mitigation measures; or
• Infrastructure that supports seafood and seafood-related businesses.

APPLICATIONS ARE TO BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY THROUGH RD APPLY AT: https://rdapply.sc.egov.usda.gov/. This posting at grants.gov is informational only.

The CY 2022 Disaster Water Grants Program is designed to assist communities by awarding grant funds to qualified entities for expenses related to water infrastructure systems in designated areas that were impacted by events that occurred during CY 2022 and were recognized through Presidentially Declared Disasters. In addition to damage repairs, these grants are also intended to develop system capacity and resiliency in order to reduce or eliminate long-term risks from future events. Water infrastructure systems include drinking water, wastewater, solid waste, and stormwater projects serving eligible communities. Adequate documentation must be provided to demonstrate impacts to the water infrastructure systems.

Eligible applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:

(a) Be either a Public Body, an organization operated on a not-for-profit basis, a tribe, or a prefabricated home organization operating an eligible community-based system. Non-tribal applicants proposing to serve tribes and tribal areas should have the support of those tribes either in the form of a Tribal Resolution and/or letter of support for the project impacting their communities.

(b) Be eligible to receive and administer a Federal grant under Federal law.

(c) Each applicant must:

(1) Have or will obtain the legal authority necessary for owning, constructing, operating, and maintaining the facility or service to be repaired or replaced and for issuing security for the proposed grant;

(2) Be responsible for operating, maintaining, and managing the facility, and providing for its continued availability and use at reasonable user rates and charges; and

(3) Retain this responsibility even though the facility may be operated, maintained, or managed by a third party under contract or management agreement.

(d) Demonstrate that they possess the technical, managerial, and financial capability necessary to consistently comply with pertinent Federal and State laws and requirements.

(e) Have no delinquent debt to the federal government or no outstanding judgments to repay a federal debt.

The Rural eConnectivity Program (ReConnect) Program provides loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to facilitate broadband deployment in rural areas. In facilitating the expansion of broadband services and infrastructure, the program will fuel long-term economic development and opportunities in rural America.

The ReConnect Program is authorized by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (Pub. L. 115-141), which directs the program to be conducted under the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 901 et seq ). The policies and procedures for the ReConnect Program are codified in a final rule, 7 CFR part 1740, that was published in the Federal Register on February 26, 2021 (86 FR 11603).

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), a Rural Development agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is issuing a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to announce that it is accepting applications for the ReConnect Program. In addition, the NOFO defines requirements that are determined at the time a funding announcement is published, as outlined in the regulation.

Beginning on March 22, 2024, applications can be submitted through the RUS on-line application portal until 11:59 a.m. Eastern on May 21, 2024. Applications will not be accepted after May 21, 2024 until a new application opportunity has been opened with the publication of an additional NOFO in the Federal Register .

The Agency encourages applicants to consider projects that will advance the following key priorities:

Assisting rural communities recover economically through more and better market opportunities and through improved infrastructure.
Ensuring all rural residents have equitable access to Rural Development programs and benefits from Rural Development funded projects.
Reducing climate pollution and increasing resilience to the impacts of climate change through economic support to rural communities.

All applicants should carefully review and prepare their applications according to instructions in the ReConnect Program Application Guide and program resources. This Program Guide and program resources can be found at https://www.usda.gov/reconnect/forms-and-resources. Applications must be submitted through the RUS on-line application system available on the program web site at https://www.usda.gov/reconnect/.

Please submit any ReConnect questions or comments using our Contact Us Form.

The purpose of RCORP – Impact is to improve access to integrated and coordinated treatment and recovery services for substance use disorder (SUD), including opioid use disorder (OUD), in rural areas. Ultimately, RCORP-Impact aims to address the SUD/OUD crisis in rural communities and promote long-term, sustained recovery.

Federal Awarding Agency Name: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC)

Funding Opportunity Title: Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) Classic for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2024

Funding Opportunity Number: USDA-NRCS-NHQ-RCPP-24-NOFO0001354

Assistance Listing: 10.932, Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)

Due Date: NRCS must receive proposals by 4:59 p.m. Eastern Time on July 2, 2024.

Note: The RCPP Classic and Alternative Funding Arrangement (AFA) FY 2024 notices of funding opportunity (NFO) will run concurrently. For information on AFA proposals please see Funding Opportunity Number USDA-NRCS-NHQ-RCPPAFA-24-NOFO0001355.

The RCPP promotes the coordination of NRCS conservation activities with partners that offer value-added contributions to expand our ability to address on-farm, watershed, and regional natural resource concerns. Through the RCPP, NRCS seeks to co-invest with partners to implement projects that provide solutions to conservation challenges thereby measurably improving the resource concerns they seek to address. RCPP promotes collaboration with partners, stakeholders, and various communities, which is paramount to achieving equity in NRCS programs and services.

Using guidance contained in this notice, partners propose projects that generate conservation benefits by addressing specific natural resource concerns in a state or multistate area by addressing one or more priority resource concerns within an NRCS-designated critical conservation area (CCA). NRCS and partners collaborate to design, promote, and implement RCPP projects on agricultural and nonindustrial private forest land. Through RCPP, NRCS may provide both financial assistance (FA) and technical assistance (TA) funds to project partners and agricultural producers for implementing projects. RCPP proposals are evaluated through a competitive proposal process based on three criteria: impact, partner contributions, and partnership and management.

Up to $1.5 billion is available for RCPP projects through this announcement and the FY 2024 AFA announcement, which includes $300 million of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill) funding and $1.2 billion of Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding. Proposals are accepted from all 50 States, the Caribbean Area (Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), and U.S. territories in the Pacific Island Areas (Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands). NRCS will prioritize using IRA funds for projects that will implement climate-smart agriculture and forestry conservation activities as described in section F.(3)a. of this announcement.

Up to $100 million is being made available specifically for NRCS to enter into programmatic partnership agreements with Indian tribes. This set aside will be shared by this announcement and the FY 2024 AFA announcement. Any unused funds may be available for other partnership agreements.

Submissions: Proposals must be submitted through the RCPP portal. See section E of this announcement for information on using the RCPP portal to submit proposals. Access to the RCPP portal requires a level 2 eAuthentication credential or a Login.gov credential. Obtaining a new Login.gov credential involves multiple steps and can take several days to complete. Instructions are posted on the How to Apply to RCPP web page listed below.

For More Information: Applicants are expected to contact the appropriate State Conservationists and state RCPP coordinators prior to submitting a proposal. NRCS will use a state conservation questionnaire to record the results of this conversation. Proposals without a completed questionnaire may have their score and ranking reduced.

A list of state RCPP coordinators (as of the date of this announcement’s posting) is on the NRCS How to Apply to RCPP web page.

Applicants can also email the RCPP inbox (rcpp@usda.gov) with any questions about the announcement. The RCPP website is also a great source of current information about the program.

Interested applicants are encouraged to participate in one or more of the webinars below to learn about the program and how to apply.

2024 RCPP NFO Applicant Outreach Webinar

This webinar will provide general information for applicants submitting proposals for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). The same material will be covered at both webinars followed by a question-and-answer section. Please refer to the RCPP website for more information. Regional Conservation Partnership Program | Natural Resources Conservation Service (usda.gov)

April 23, 2024, RCPP Applicant Outreach Webinar Registration Link – 2pm to 4pm EDT - https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/e2f45f75-7ea4-410b-b1c9-56…
May 30, 2024, RCPP Applicant Outreach Webinar Registration Link – 2pm to 4pm EDT - https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/226dcb51-0b57-43b1-b340-95…
NRCS will schedule additional webinars on RCPP easements and providing outreach to tribal applicants. Information on all webinars will be posted to the RCPP how to apply page.