Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Boots on the Ground Assistance | USDA NRCS SC EQIP 20 NOFO0001028

Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS SC EQIP 20 NOFO0001028

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Boots on the Ground Assistance opportunity is a competitive cooperative agreement offered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) through its South Carolina State Office. The purpose is to bring in qualified partner organizations to provide on-the-ground staffing and support that helps NRCS deliver EQIP services more efficiently and reach more landowners, with a specific emphasis on improving service to historically underserved producers. Rather than funding construction or a one-time project, this award is designed to fund people and partner capacity that directly supports day-to-day EQIP program delivery in local USDA Service Centers.

The work funded under this opportunity focuses on three main areas. First is administrative support for active EQIP contracts, such as completing contract status reviews, sending practice reminder letters, processing payment applications, assembling and maintaining customer contract folders, answering customer questions, and helping track contract progress so participants can stay on schedule and compliant. Second is technical assistance tied to conservation practice implementation, including field-level activities like practice design, layout, surveying, and practice certification. Third is updating conservation plans and maps, which is a key part of ensuring EQIP activities are properly planned, documented, and aligned with NRCS standards and conservation objectives.

A noticeable outreach component is built into the expectations as well. The awardee is expected to participate in workshops and outreach meetings to explain NRCS services and EQIP opportunities to landowners and producers. This indicates NRCS wants the partner not only to help process and implement existing contracts, but also to help expand awareness and participation in EQIP, especially among groups that have historically had less access to USDA programs.

Geographically, NRCS is seeking about three full-time equivalent staff (approximately three FTEs) to be physically located in USDA Service Centers in Aiken County, Florence County, and Kershaw County, South Carolina. While these staff would be stationed in those counties, the technical assistance they provide may also extend to neighboring counties as directed by NRCS. The emphasis on historically underserved landowners suggests the partner should be prepared to work intentionally in communities where participation barriers may be higher, and to tailor outreach and support accordingly.

The funding level is listed as up to $540,000 total for a three-year agreement, meaning the budget is intended to cover multi-year staffing and associated support costs over the full project period rather than a single year. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding, and the instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically means NRCS expects substantial involvement in coordinating, directing priorities, and integrating the partner staff into NRCS workflows and program requirements.

NRCS is also signaling that applicants should already be familiar with NRCS Farm Bill program delivery and the standard tools used to administer EQIP and related conservation work. Examples named in the notice include ProTracts, Conservation Desktop (CD), and the Conservation Assessment and Ranking Tool (CART). That practical requirement matters because the partner staff will be helping manage contracts, documentation, planning, ranking, and practice implementation in systems that have specific rules, formats, and timelines.

Eligible applicants include tribal governments and tribal organizations, state and local government entities (including counties, cities/townships, and special districts), and institutions of higher education (both public/state-controlled and private). The notice frames the request as targeted to partners in those categories for competitive consideration. The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 10.912 (the NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program). The funding opportunity number is USDA NRCS SC EQIP 20 NOFO0001028, it was created on 2020-06-26, and the original closing date listed is 2020-07-31.

Overall, this grant opportunity is best understood as NRCS contracting for partner-provided capacity to strengthen EQIP delivery in specific South Carolina service areas. The partner is expected to place skilled staff alongside NRCS, handle a mix of administrative and technical conservation duties, support planning and mapping updates, and participate in outreach so more landowners, especially historically underserved ones, can access EQIP and successfully implement conservation practices.

• The Natural Resources Conservation Service in the agriculture, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Boots on the Ground Assistance" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.912.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2020-06-26.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-07-31. (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 $540,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for USDA NRCS SC EQIP 20 NOFO0001028

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