OpportunityTitle: Georgia Resource Conservation &amp; Development Projects
AdditionalInformationOnEligibility: 6.  ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS:  State and local governments and nonprofit organizations with authority to plan or carry out activities relating to resource use and development in multi-jurisdictional areas in Georgia may apply for these funds.    Pre-selection criteria require that proposed projects be contained in one of Georgia&#146;s authorized RC&amp;D Council areas, be included in the Council&#146;s Area Plan, and the Area Plan be current.
Description: 1. AGENCY: DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) 2. CFDA NO.: 10.901 Resource Conservation &amp; Development 3. PURPOSE: The NRCS State Office in Georgia is accepting Applications for Federal Assistance to support and stimulate new and on-going conservation activities and wise development of natural resources in support of the Resource Conservation and Development program in Georgia. Applicants are invited to apply for either grants or cooperative agreements. Grant Agreements will be developed for those applications where NRCS involvement is not required. Cooperative agreements will be developed for those projects where the applicant indicates that significant involvement is requested from the NRCS for the success of the project. Cooperative agreements will include an attachment that indicates the total value of NRCS&#146;s commitment (monetary and non-monetary). Applicants should indicate in their request whether NRCS significant involvement is needed. 4. ACTION: Notice of availability of funds. 5. SUMMARY: Resource Conservation and Development program, better known as RC&amp;D, is a unique program that helps people initiate, sponsor, plan and implement projects that will make their communities better places in which to live. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) administers the program for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. NRCS provides a coordinator, and gives other support to each RC&amp;D area. The local councils make each RC&amp;D area unique by defining goals and objectives to meet local needs 6. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS: State and local governments and nonprofit organizations with authority to plan or carry out activities relating to resource use and development in multi-jurisdictional areas may apply for these funds. 7. Evaluation Criteria and Weights: The NRCS will review applications submitted by each applicant. The basis for selection will be the NRCS&apos;s determination of which applications best meet the needs of the NRCS and are able to support the objectives of the RC&amp;D program. Applications will be evaluated on the basis pre-selection and selection criteria. Pre-selection criteria require that proposed projects be contained in one of Georgia&#146;s authorized RC&amp;D Council areas, be included in the Council&#146;s Area Plan, and the Area Plan be current. Selection criteria gives credit to those projects that will be completed in a timely manner; addresses one of the NRCS Program Goals for RC&amp;D [No. of Jobs Created, No. of Business Created, No. of Watershed Plans, No. of Watershed Acres, No. of Wildlife Acres]; and addresses one, or more, of the Legislated Program Objectives [i.e. Land Management, Land Conservation, Water Management, or Community Development], and adequately supports the amount of funding identified in the SF 424B, &#147;Budget Information non-Construction Programs&#148;. Following review of the Application and Statement of Qualifications the NRCS will determine the need for additional discussions. The NRCS reserves the right to select proposals based on the applications and Statement of Qualifications and such additional information as the NRCS determines to be most appropriate, including informal discussions or a formal interview. It is the objective of NRCS to use funds in as large a geographic area as is possible in Georgia. NRCS would like to process at least one award for each RC&amp;D Council in Georgia. 8. SPECIAL AWARD SELECTION FACTORS: Applicants who do not represent a specific RC&amp;D Council in Georgia must include documentation that application is made as a result of official action of the governing RC&amp;D Council. Applications are honored only from agencies for which applicant eligibility has been established. 9. 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 the Application Content section of this announcement. Applicants must be registered with Dun and Bradstreet and include their CCR information with their application. Each complete application form submitted by an eligible recipient will then be evaluated and ranked by the Responsible Official. Funding decisions will be based on the special award selection factors. &#149; DUNS Number: A Dun and Bradstreet (D&amp;B) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number is a unique nine-digit sequence recognized as the universal standard for identifying and keeping track of over 70 million businesses worldwide. A federal Register notice of final policy issuance (68 FR 38402) requires a DUNS number in every application (i.e., hard copy and electronic) for a grant or cooperative agreement (except applications from individuals) submitted on or after October 1, 2003. For information about how to obtain a DUNS number go to http://www.grants.gov/RequestaDUNS or call 1-866-705-5711. Please note that the registration may take up to 14 business days to complete. &#149; Required CCR Registration: The Central Contractor Registry (CCR) is a database that serves as the primary Government repository for contractor information required for the conduct of business with the Government. This database will also be used as a central location for maintaining organizational information for organizations seeking and receiving grants from the Government. CIG applicants must register with the CCR. To register, visit http://www.ccr.gov. Allow a minimum of 5 days to complete the CCR registration. 10. DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS: 4:30 p.m. local time, July 3, 2008. 11. AVAILABLE FUNDING: All awards are subject to the availability of funds being appropriated by Congress. It is anticipated that approximately $250,000 will be available for these projects. 12. PROJECT PERIOD: The resulting agreement would be for a three year period, subject to the availability of funds. 13. TYPE OF FUNDING INSTRUMENT AND ESTIMATED NUMBER OF AWARDS: The NRCS anticipates awarding approximately 11 - 15 Grants or Cooperative Agreements under this announcement. 14. PROCEDURES FOR APPLYING FOR ASSISTANCE: Applicants shall assume that awards will be made by or about June 1, 2008, and should prepare their application accordingly. Applications for assistance must include a program narrative statement of not more than 5 pages that addresses the following as a minimum: Application Procedures Applications for project proposals should include the following: &#149; Completed Standard Form (SF) 424, Application for Federal Assistance, (including SF 424A and SF 424B). Also include Dun &amp; Bradstreet and CCR information as described above. &#149; Narrative description the proposed project that includes: o Project Title = Action Item[s] in Council&#146;s Area Plan. o Project Dates [should match Area Plan]. o Specific Reference of Project in Council&#146;s Area Plan [Goal number, Objective number, and Strategy number. Please include page number also]. o Specific Legislated Program Objective[s] being addressed. o Specific NRCS Program Goal[s] being addressed. o An Objective Statement associated with the Project. o Specific Deliverable[s] being generated from Project o Methodology for accomplishing Project Objective Statement. o Description of NRCS involvement if requested (Cooperative Agreements) o Milestone Dates for Project Completion. o Project Budget o Percentage of Cost-Share from Non-NRCS Sources. o Plan for Documenting Expenditures &#149; A copy of the RC&amp;D Council&#146;s current Area Plan, To submit your application electronically, use the template &#147;USDA-NRCS Application Package&#148; for Georgia State Office. It is available on-line at http://www.grants.gov/apply: instructions are attached. 15. AGENCY CONTACT: Louis Hendricks, Contract Specialist (706) 546-2018. Submit technical questions by email to louis.hendricks@ga.usda.gov. 16. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS: Each applicant must submit one original and two copies of their application package to Louis Hendricks, Contract Specialist, USDA-NRCS, 355 East Hancock Avenue, Mail Stop 202, Athens, Georgia, 30601, not later than 4:30 p.m. local time, July 3, 2008. Applications received after that time will not be considered. 17. AUTHORITY: CFDA 10.901 RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT, Public Law 97-98, 95 Stat. 1213 18. 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. 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 shall submit a certification as 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.htm l. Failure of an applicant 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: &#149; 2 CFR 220, &#147;Cost Principles for Educational Institutions&#148; &#149; 2 CFR 215, Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Other Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals and Other Non-Profit Organizations &#149; 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: &#149; 2 CFR 225, &#147;Cost Principles for State and Local Governments&#148; &#149; Circular A-102, Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements with State and Local Governments &#149; 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: &#149; 2 CFR 230, &#147;Cost Principles for Non-Profit Organizations&#148; &#149; 2 CFR 215, Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements With Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Non-Profit Organizations &#149; 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 2 CFR 215, and cost principles shall be in accordance with Part 31 of the Federal Acquisition Regulations.
GrantorContactEmailDescription: E-mail Louis Hendricks
GrantorContactText: Louis Hendricks &lt;br/&gt;Grant Specialist &lt;br/&gt;Phone 706 546-2018