Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS CA 18 02

The California Forestry Assistance grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number USDA NRCS CA 18 02) is a discretionary USDA program run through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) California State Office. Its main purpose is to bring in qualified conservation partners to help NRCS and the landowners or clients it serves by delivering on-the-ground technical assistance for forestry planning and related conservation work. In practical terms, NRCS is looking for outside organizations that can expand capacity for forest-focused conservation services in specific parts of California, helping move planning and implementation support to land managers who need it.

A core requirement is that applicants must be able to provide forestry assistance in California and must have a Registered Professional Forester (RPF) either on staff or under contract at the time the application is submitted. This signals that NRCS wants proposals backed by professional forestry credentials and expects technical work to meet professional standards. The opportunity is open to a broad range of applicant types (listed as unrestricted), as long as they meet the stated requirements and any clarifications provided in the full notice. Applicants also need to be based in California or have substantial operations in the state, reinforcing that the work is intended to be delivered by organizations with real operational capacity in California rather than purely remote support.

Funding for FY2018 was anticipated to total up to $3,000,000 overall, depending on final availability at the time of award. Individual awards could be as high as $500,000, and NRCS expected to make about eight awards. Applicants could apply for single-year or multi-year projects, and they could propose work in one or more of the eligible geographic areas identified in the notice. Proposals must clearly state which geographic area or areas they intend to serve and what specific technical services they will provide, which helps NRCS match award selections to regional needs and ensure adequate coverage across targeted locations.

The application process required submission through Grants.gov by the original closing date of August 6, 2018 (with the opportunity originally posted June 27, 2018). NRCS emphasized that proposals would be screened for completeness and compliance with the notice requirements. Applications that were incomplete or did not follow the rules would be removed from consideration, and applicants would be notified if eliminated. NRCS also retained full discretion through the California State Conservationist, including the right not to fund any or all applications, which is a standard safeguard that allows the agency to avoid making awards if proposals do not meet quality, need, or program fit expectations.

Programmatically, the opportunity falls under agriculture, environment, and natural resources funding categories, with CFDA numbers 10.902 and 10.912. The overall focus is technical assistance for forestry planning and conservation activities, meaning the awards are designed to strengthen the capacity to plan, advise, and support implementation of forestry-related conservation practices rather than functioning as a simple pass-through for land acquisition or general operating support.

  • The Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service in the agriculture, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "California Forestry Assistance" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.902, 10.912.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Jun 27, 2018.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 06, 2018. (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 8 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
Apply for USDA NRCS CA 18 02

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California Forestry Assistance Grant (USDA NRCS CA 18 02) - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the California Forestry Assistance grant opportunity?

The California Forestry Assistance grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number USDA NRCS CA 18 02) is a discretionary USDA program administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) California State Office. It is intended to bring in qualified conservation partners to help NRCS and the landowners or clients it serves by providing on-the-ground technical assistance for forestry planning and related conservation work in California.

What is the main purpose of this funding?

The primary goal is to expand capacity for forest-focused conservation services in specific parts of California. NRCS is seeking outside organizations that can help deliver forestry planning support and related technical assistance so that land managers can move from planning toward implementation of conservation work.

What type of work does NRCS want funded under this opportunity?

The opportunity is focused on technical assistance for forestry planning and forestry-related conservation activities. The emphasis is on expanding professional and practical capacity to plan, advise, and support implementation of conservation practices (rather than funding land acquisition or general operating support).

Who can apply?

The eligible applicant type is listed as unrestricted, meaning a broad range of organizations may apply as long as they meet the stated requirements and any additional clarifications in the full notice.

What is a key eligibility requirement related to professional forestry credentials?

Applicants must be able to provide forestry assistance in California and must have a Registered Professional Forester (RPF) either on staff or under contract at the time the application is submitted. This requirement indicates NRCS expects professional forestry standards and credentials to be in place when the application is filed.

Does the RPF need to be on staff, or can they be contracted?

Either arrangement is acceptable based on the information provided: the Registered Professional Forester can be on staff or under contract, but must be in place at the time of application submission.

Do applicants have to be located in California?

Applicants need to be based in California or have substantial operations in the state. This reinforces that NRCS expects funded work to be delivered by organizations with real in-state operational capacity, not purely remote support.

Is this grant intended to support work across all of California?

Applicants may propose work in one or more of the eligible geographic areas identified in the notice. Proposals must clearly state which geographic area or areas they intend to serve, which helps NRCS align awards with regional needs and ensure coverage across targeted locations.

How much total funding was anticipated for FY2018?

For FY2018, total funding was anticipated to be up to $3,000,000 overall, depending on final availability at the time of award.

What was the maximum award amount per project?

Individual awards could be as high as $500,000.

How many awards did NRCS expect to make?

NRCS expected to make approximately eight awards.

Are single-year projects allowed, or must projects be multi-year?

Applicants could apply for single-year or multi-year projects.

What must an application include about geography and services?

Applications must clearly identify the geographic area or areas the applicant will serve and specify the technical services the applicant will provide. This information is used by NRCS to match selections to regional needs and to evaluate whether proposed services align with program goals.

When was the opportunity posted and when was the original closing date?

The opportunity was originally posted on June 27, 2018, and the original closing date was August 6, 2018.

How were applications required to be submitted?

The application process required submission through Grants.gov by the closing date.

What happens if an application is incomplete or does not follow the notice requirements?

NRCS indicated that proposals would be screened for completeness and compliance with the notice requirements. Applications that were incomplete or did not follow the rules would be removed from consideration, and applicants would be notified if eliminated.

Does NRCS have discretion to decide not to fund proposals?

Yes. NRCS retained full discretion through the California State Conservationist, including the right not to fund any or all applications. This means submission does not guarantee an award, even if the application is eligible.

What funding categories does this opportunity fall under?

The opportunity falls under agriculture, environment, and natural resources funding categories.

What CFDA numbers are associated with this program?

The CFDA numbers listed for this opportunity are 10.902 and 10.912.

Is this funding meant to be a pass-through for buying land or covering general operations?

The described focus is technical assistance for forestry planning and conservation activities, intended to strengthen planning and implementation support capacity. The information provided emphasizes that it is not characterized as a simple pass-through for land acquisition or general operating support.

What is NRCS looking for in partner organizations?

NRCS is looking for qualified conservation partners that can expand service capacity for forest-focused conservation work in California, provide on-the-ground technical assistance, and meet professional standards (including having an RPF on staff or under contract at application time).

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