Conservation Collaboration Cooperative Agreements Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Notice of Funding Announcement SOUTH DAKOTA | USDA NRCS SD MULTI 23 NOFO0001233

Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS SD MULTI 23 NOFO0001233

The Conservation Collaboration Cooperative Agreements FY 2023 Notice of Funding Announcement for South Dakota is a competitive funding opportunity from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) designed to support conservation work across the state. The overall intent is to leverage NRCS resources by partnering with local and state organizations to address on-the-ground natural resource concerns, strengthen collaboration among stakeholders, and build conservation leadership at both the state and community level. Only projects located in South Dakota are eligible under this announcement, and proposals are expected to align with NRCS goals around agriculture, environmental stewardship, and natural resource conservation.

Funding is offered through cooperative agreements, which generally means NRCS expects to have substantial involvement during the project period rather than simply issuing a grant and stepping back. Projects can be proposed for terms ranging from 1 to 4 years, allowing applicants to plan either shorter, targeted efforts or longer initiatives that require sustained coordination and implementation. The opportunity is identified as discretionary funding under CFDA 10.902, and the notice anticipates making up to 15 awards. The maximum award amount listed is $1,200,000 (award ceiling), which sets an upper limit for any single selected project under this competition.

A wide range of applicant types can apply, reflecting the program emphasis on partnerships and collaboration. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township governments, special district governments, and independent school districts, as well as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education. Tribal eligibility is broad as well, including federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other Native American tribal organizations. Nonprofit organizations may apply whether or not they hold 501(c)(3) status, as long as they otherwise meet the eligibility requirements described in the full notice (the announcement points applicants to Section C.1 for the official eligibility language). This mix of eligible entities is intended to encourage proposals that bring together technical expertise, community connections, and local capacity to deliver conservation outcomes.

Applications were required to be submitted through Grants.gov, with a firm deadline of 11:59 pm Eastern Time on May 6, 2023. The notice makes clear that proposals would be screened first for completeness and compliance with the notice requirements. Applications found incomplete or noncompliant would be removed from consideration without being scored competitively, and applicants would be notified of elimination. This places a premium on following the application instructions precisely, meeting formatting and content requirements, and ensuring all required forms and attachments are included. For applicants new to Grants.gov, the notice directs them to review the steps needed to register and submit successfully, since registration and submission issues can take time to resolve.

For support, the announcement separates technical submission help from programmatic questions. Grants.gov technical problems are handled by Grants.gov Applicant Support (phone 1-800-518-4726, email support@grants.gov), and NRCS staff are not able to assist with Grants.gov account or system issues. For questions about the content of the notice itself, applicants are instructed to contact the federal awarding agency contact listed in Section G of the NFO, but only for clarifications tied to the published announcement (for example, confirming dates, page references, or resolving inconsistencies). The notice also states that NRCS would not respond to questions about whether an applicant is eligible or whether a specific project idea is likely to be competitive, which signals that applicants should rely on the written criteria and ensure their proposal clearly meets the stated objectives.

In terms of timeline, NRCS anticipated making selections by early summer 2023 and aimed to execute awards by September 1, 2023, though the notice notes these are estimates and could change. The opportunity was posted with a creation date of March 7, 2023, and carries the funding opportunity number USDA NRCS SD MULTI 23 NOFO0001233. Overall, the program is framed as a way to extend NRCS impact in South Dakota by funding partner-led projects that tackle local conservation challenges while strengthening long-term conservation coordination and leadership capacity.

• The Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service in the agriculture, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Conservation Collaboration Cooperative Agreements Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Notice of Funding Announcement SOUTH DAKOTA" 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 07, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 06, 2023 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 $1,200,000.00 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, Special district governments, Independent school districts, 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, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for USDA NRCS SD MULTI 23 NOFO0001233

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