Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS TN WRP ACEP WRE
The "NRCS easement programs restoration and stewardship assistance" opportunity is a USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) cooperative agreement focused on helping landowners restore and steward wetlands and associated uplands that are enrolled in federal conservation easement programs. It supports voluntary, landowner-driven conservation by funding specialized technical assistance that NRCS may need to fully carry out restoration plans on easement lands. While the older Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) was repealed by the Agricultural Act of 2014, Congress authorized continued funding to finish remaining restoration needs on existing WRP easements. In parallel, the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), created in 2014, now serves as the umbrella program that carries forward and coordinates the purposes of prior easement programs, including the wetlands component known as ACEP Wetland Reserve Easements (ACEP-WRE). Under ACEP-WRE, NRCS restores, protects, and enhances wetland systems and related uplands to deliver long-term habitat and environmental benefits.
At its core, the grant is about building capacity for on-the-ground conservation work. NRCS can partner with non-federal entities through cooperative agreements to obtain the specialized expertise needed to design and implement restoration plans. The selected applicant is expected to work alongside NRCS staff and participating landowners to provide the technical assistance required to plan, design, implement, and follow through on wetland restoration activities. The work can cover some or all phases of a project, including engineering and biological design, construction support, inspection, management, and monitoring of restoration, enhancement, and wetland creation practices. Activities may include structural practices (for example, water control structures or earthwork that reestablishes wetland hydrology) and vegetative practices (such as establishing native plant communities), as long as they align with NRCS standards and specifications. The intent is to restore wetland functions and values, protect those gains over time, and ensure the restored sites are maintained and managed appropriately.
A key expectation is coordination and stewardship support beyond initial installation. In addition to technical design and implementation assistance, applicants are responsible for coordinating with landowners and helping NRCS meet monitoring obligations for existing easements. The opportunity specifically points to monitoring efforts outlined in the ACEP manual (Section 528, subpart P), signaling that ongoing compliance, condition checks, and documentation are part of the scope, not just construction or planting. In practical terms, this means the partner may help track whether restoration practices are performing as intended, identify maintenance needs, and provide NRCS with information needed to manage the easement portfolio responsibly.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary funding opportunity issued by USDA NRCS (agency listing tied to CFDA/Assistance Listing numbers 10.072 and 10.931) in the broad domains of agriculture, environment, and natural resources. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically implies substantial involvement by the federal agency during the project rather than a hands-off grant. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted (open to any entity type, subject to any clarifications in the full notice). The posting shows an opportunity number "USDA NRCS TN WRP ACEP WRE," a creation date of July 2, 2020, and an original closing date of August 3, 2020. The award ceiling is $1,000,000, with one expected award, indicating NRCS anticipated selecting a single partner to deliver these restoration and stewardship assistance services for the covered scope and geography associated with the notice.Apply for USDA NRCS TN WRP ACEP WRE
- The Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service in the agriculture, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NRCS easement programs restoration and stewardship assistance." and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.072, 10.931.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 02, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 03, 2020. (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 $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the "NRCS easement programs restoration and stewardship assistance" opportunity?
This opportunity is a USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) cooperative agreement focused on helping landowners restore and steward wetlands and associated uplands that are enrolled in federal conservation easement programs. It funds specialized technical assistance that NRCS may need to fully carry out restoration plans on easement lands.
What is the main purpose of this cooperative agreement?
The main purpose is to build capacity for on-the-ground conservation work by supporting voluntary, landowner-driven restoration and stewardship. NRCS uses the cooperative agreement to partner with a non-federal entity that can provide specialized expertise to plan, design, implement, and follow through on wetland restoration activities on easement lands.
Which NRCS easement programs does this opportunity relate to?
The opportunity relates to restoration and stewardship needs on easements associated with the former Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) and the current Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), including ACEP Wetland Reserve Easements (ACEP-WRE).
If WRP was repealed, why is it still referenced in this opportunity?
Although the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) was repealed by the Agricultural Act of 2014, Congress authorized continued funding to finish remaining restoration needs on existing WRP easements. This opportunity supports work needed to complete those remaining restoration requirements.
What is ACEP, and how does ACEP-WRE fit into it?
ACEP (the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program) was created in 2014 and serves as an umbrella program that carries forward and coordinates the purposes of prior easement programs. Its wetlands component is ACEP Wetland Reserve Easements (ACEP-WRE), under which NRCS restores, protects, and enhances wetland systems and related uplands to provide long-term habitat and environmental benefits.
What types of work are expected under this agreement?
The selected partner is expected to work alongside NRCS staff and participating landowners to provide technical assistance required to plan, design, implement, and complete wetland restoration activities. The scope can include some or all phases of a project, including engineering and biological design, construction support, inspection, management, and monitoring.
Does the work include both restoration construction and longer-term stewardship?
Yes. The opportunity includes technical design and implementation assistance as well as coordination and stewardship support beyond initial installation. It specifically highlights monitoring and ongoing obligations for existing easements as part of the scope.
What are examples of structural restoration practices that could be supported?
Structural practices may include items like water control structures or earthwork designed to reestablish wetland hydrology, as long as these practices align with NRCS standards and specifications.
What are examples of vegetative restoration practices that could be supported?
Vegetative practices may include establishing native plant communities and other vegetation-related actions that support restoration, enhancement, or wetland creation, provided they follow NRCS standards and specifications.
Are wetland creation activities included, or only restoration of existing wetlands?
The described scope includes restoration, enhancement, and wetland creation practices, as long as the work aligns with NRCS standards and specifications and supports the intent of restoring wetland functions and values.
What does "specialized technical assistance" mean in this context?
It refers to expertise NRCS may need to fully carry out restoration plans on easement lands. Based on the description, this can include engineering and biological design, construction support, inspection, management support, and monitoring related to wetland restoration and stewardship activities.
How involved is NRCS likely to be during the project?
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically implies substantial involvement by the federal agency during the project rather than a hands-off grant. The partner is expected to work alongside NRCS staff and landowners.
What role do landowners play in the projects supported by this opportunity?
The conservation approach is described as voluntary and landowner-driven. The partner is expected to coordinate with participating landowners while also working with NRCS staff to deliver restoration and stewardship assistance on enrolled easement lands.
What monitoring responsibilities are included in the scope?
The partner may be responsible for coordinating with landowners and helping NRCS meet monitoring obligations for existing easements. The opportunity points to monitoring efforts outlined in the ACEP manual (Section 528, subpart P), indicating that compliance, condition checks, documentation, and tracking performance and maintenance needs are part of the work.
Is the goal only to install practices, or also to ensure they perform over time?
The intent is broader than installation. The opportunity emphasizes restoring wetland functions and values, protecting those gains over time, and ensuring restored sites are maintained and managed appropriately, including monitoring and identifying maintenance needs.
What federal agency is offering this funding?
The funding opportunity is issued by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
What type of funding opportunity is this (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
This is a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement as the funding instrument.
Is eligibility limited to certain organization types?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning it is open to any entity type, subject to any clarifications that may appear in the full notice.
Which Assistance Listing (CFDA) numbers are associated with this opportunity?
The agency listing is tied to Assistance Listing (CFDA) numbers 10.072 and 10.931.
What domains or subject areas does this opportunity fall under?
It is described as falling within agriculture, environment, and natural resources.
What is the opportunity number shown for this notice?
The posting shows the opportunity number as "USDA NRCS TN WRP ACEP WRE."
When was this opportunity created and when did it close?
The creation date shown is July 2, 2020, and the original closing date shown is August 3, 2020.
What is the maximum award amount for this opportunity?
The award ceiling is listed as $1,000,000.
How many awards was NRCS expecting to make?
The posting indicates one expected award, suggesting NRCS anticipated selecting a single partner to deliver the restoration and stewardship assistance services for the covered scope described in the notice.
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