Easement Monitoring and Wetland Restoration Implementation for Georgia ACEP-WRE | USDA NRCS GA MULTI 20 NOFO0001001

Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS GA MULTI 20 NOFO0001001

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Georgia is offering a competitive cooperative agreement opportunity to support technical work tied to conservation easements and wetland restoration under its easement programs, including ACEP-WRE. The announcement is structured around two separate service tracks, and applicants may apply for either one or both. There is no requirement to bundle the services together, so an organization that is only positioned for monitoring or only for restoration can still submit a viable proposal.

The first track focuses on easement monitoring for stewardship lands protected by NRCS-held conservation easements across Georgia. This monitoring work spans multiple NRCS easement programs, specifically noting the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), Grasslands Reserve Program (GRP), Farm and Ranchland Protection Program (FRPP), Agricultural Conservation Easement Program - Wetlands Reserve Easement (ACEP-WRE), Healthy Forest Reserve Program (HFRP), Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) easements, and potentially other easement holdings. Monitoring activities are described as having two formats: onsite and offsite monitoring. At the time the opportunity was posted, NRCS Georgia reported 192 easements requiring annual monitoring, which signals a recurring, statewide workload centered on compliance checks, condition assessments, and documentation consistent with easement stewardship expectations.

The second track is restoration implementation on eligible ACEP-WRE properties. Instead of monitoring existing conditions, this service centers on carrying out restoration activities needed to meet wetland reserve easement restoration goals. NRCS Georgia indicated that 24 properties were in need of restoration implementation at the time of the listing. While the announcement does not enumerate specific restoration practices, the intent is clear: to move properties from planning or identified needs into on-the-ground restoration actions aligned with ACEP-WRE objectives.

Eligible applicants are limited to certain entity types and the competition is aimed at organizations able to deliver technical services. The eligible categories listed include Federally recognized Native American tribal governments, other Native American tribal organizations, and nonprofit organizations (both with and without 501(c)(3) status), with institutions of higher education explicitly excluded from the nonprofit eligibility categories referenced. Applicants are directed to NRCS easement program information available through the NRCS national easements webpage for broader program context.

Funding for the opportunity is capped at a total of up to $500,000 available in fiscal year 2020, with an award ceiling of $500,000 and an expectation of around 10 awards. The agreement duration is flexible and may vary depending on the applicant and the scope of work proposed, which suggests NRCS may tailor project periods to match the scale and deliverables of monitoring coverage or restoration implementation.

Key dates and submission requirements are straightforward. The opportunity was posted May 20, 2020, and applications were due July 20, 2020. Applications had to be submitted through Grants.gov no later than 11:59 pm Eastern Time on the closing date. The notice emphasizes that Grants.gov technical support must be handled through the Grants.gov Applicant Support line or email, and that NRCS awarding agency staff will not assist with Grants.gov account or platform issues. The funding opportunity is listed as a discretionary program under CFDA 10.902, and the official opportunity number is USDA NRCS GA MULTI 20 NOFO0001001.

• The Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service in the agriculture, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Easement Monitoring and Wetland Restoration Implementation for Georgia ACEP-WRE" 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 May 20, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 20, 2020 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 $500,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: 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, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.

Apply for USDA NRCS GA MULTI 20 NOFO0001001

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