U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation

Natural Resources Conservation Service

Colorado State Office

**Conservation Innovation Grants -- Colorado State Component (Only
Available in Colorado)**

**Fiscal Year 2008 Announcement of Program Funding**

**Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.912**

**EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:** NRCS requests applications for Conservation
Innovation

Grants (CIG) to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative
conservation

approaches and technologies. For FY 2008, up to \$1,000,000 is available
for the Colorado State CIG competition. Grants under the Colorado state
component will not exceed \$75,000 from NRCS. Funds will be awarded
through a statewide competitive grants process. Applications are
requested from eligible government or non-government organizations or
individuals for competitive consideration of grant awards for projects
between one and three years in duration. This notice identifies the
objectives for CIG projects, the eligibility criteria for projects, and
associated instructions needed to apply to CIG.

**PROPOSAL DUE DATE AND ADDRESSES:** Proposals must be received in the

Colorado NRCS State Office by 4:30 p.m., Mountain Standard Time (MST) on
March 31, 2008. The address for the U.S. Postal Service, hand-delivered
applications, or applications submitted using express mail or overnight
courier service is: Dollie Gonzales, Resource Conservationist; Natural
Resources Conservation Service; 655 Parfet Street, Room E200C; Lakewood,
CO 80215-5517.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:** Randy Randall, Assistant State
Resource Conservationist - Operations, NRCS, 655 Parfet Street, Room
E200C, Lakewood, CO 80215-5517. Phone (720) 544-2803; facsimile:
(720)544-2978; email: <randy.randall@co.usda.gov>; or consult the
Colorado NRCS Web site at
[http://www.co.nrcs.usda.gov](http://www.co.nrcs.usda.gov/).

For questions on administrative issues contact Bethany Mills,
Contracting Officer, NRCS, 655 Parfet Street, Room E200C, Lakewood, CO
80215-5517, Phone: (720) 544-2826; facsimile: (720) 544-2965; email:
<bethany.mills@co.usda.gov>.

**Table of Contents**

**PART I -- FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION**

**PART II -- FUNDING AVAILABILITY**

**PART III -- ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION**

**PART IV -- APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION**

**PART V -- APPLICATION REVIEW**

**PART VI -- AWARD INFORMATION AND ADMINISTRATION**

**PART VII -- AGENCY CONTACTS**

**I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION**

**A. Legislative Authority**

CIG was authorized as part of the Environmental Quality Incentives
Program (EQIP) \[16

U.S.C. 3839aa-8\] under Section 1240H of the Food Security Act of 1985,
as added by

section 2301 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002
(Public Law 107-

171). The Secretary of Agriculture delegated the authority for the
administration of EQIP

and CIG to the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service
(NRCS), who is

vice president of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC). EQIP is
administered by

NRCS under the authorities of the CCC.

**B. Overview**

The purpose of CIG is to stimulate the development and adoption of
innovative

conservation approaches and technologies while leveraging Federal
investment in

environmental enhancement and protection, in conjunction with
agricultural production.

CIG projects are expected to lead to the transfer of conservation
technologies,

management systems, and innovative approaches (such as market-based
systems) into

NRCS technical manuals or guides, or to the private sector. CIG does not
fund research

projects. Instead, it is a vehicle to stimulate the development and
adoption of

conservation approaches or technologies that have been studied
sufficiently to indicate a high likelihood of success and to be
candidates for eventual technology transfer. CIG funds projects
targeting innovative on-the-ground conservation, including pilot
projects and field demonstrations.

NRCS in Colorado will accept applications for single or multi-year
projects, not to exceed three years, submitted from eligible entities,
including Federally-recognized Indian Tribes, State and local
governments, and non-governmental organizations and individuals.
Applications will only be considered for projects within Colorado.
Complete applications will be evaluated by a technical peer review panel
and scored based on the Criteria for Proposal Evaluation identified in
this document.

**C. Innovative Conservation Projects or Activities**

For the purposes of CIG, the proposed innovative project or activity
must encompass the

development and field testing, evaluation, and implementation of:

• Conservation adoption incentive systems, including market-based
systems; or,

• Promising conservation technologies, practices, systems, procedures,
and

approaches.

To be given priority consideration, the innovative project or activity:

• Will have been studied sufficiently to indicate a good probability for
success;

• Demonstrates, tests, evaluates, or verifies environmental (soil,
water, air,

plants, and animal) effectiveness, utility, affordability, and usability
in the

field;

• Adapts conservation technologies, practices, systems, procedures,
approaches,

and incentive systems to improve performance and encourage adoption;
and,

• Introduces conservation systems, approaches, and procedures from
another

geographic area or agricultural sector.

**Natural Resource Concerns**

Applications must demonstrate the use of innovative technologies or
approaches, or both,

to address a natural resource concern or concerns. [Applications that
benefit multiple resource concerns will receive priority for
funding.]{.underline} The six natural resource concerns for

possible funding through the Colorado Conservation Innovation Grants
state competition for fiscal year 2008 are:

**Water Resources**

The objective of this natural resource concern is to implement new
technologies and/or

approaches to maintain, restore, or enhance water quality and/or
quantity in watersheds

with significant agricultural land uses while sustaining productivity.
Example subtopics include:

1\. Nutrient, pesticide, and pathogen transport to surface water and
groundwater;

2\. Sediment transport to surface water;

3\. Irrigation management for water conservation;

4\. Aquifer recharge/maintenance of groundwater supplies;

5\. Alternate water conservation cropping systems and/or crops for
economic or environmental stability; and,

6\. Salinity or selenium reduction.

**Soil Resources**

The objective of this conservation concern is to implement new
technologies and/or

approaches to maintain, restore, or enhance soil resources associated
with agricultural

and forest land uses while sustaining productivity. Example subtopics
include:

1\. Erosion reduction on low residue specialty crops (potatoes,
vegetables, etc.);

2\. Accumulation of harmful levels of constituents in soils, including
nutrients,

metals, and salts; and,

3\. Cropping systems to improve soil health and sequester carbon.

**Atmospheric Resources**

The objective of this conservation concern is to implement new
technologies and/or

approaches to maintain, restore, or enhance air quality and atmospheric
resources through

agricultural and forest practices while sustaining productivity. Example
subtopics include:

1\. Agricultural emissions of particulates, odors, volatile organic
compounds, and

greenhouse gases;

2\. Carbon sequestration in soil and through other mechanisms; and,

3\. Methane recovery from animal waste systems.

**Grazing Land and Forest Health**

The objective of this conservation concern is to implement new
technologies and/or

approaches to maintain, restore, or enhance grazing land and forest
health while

sustaining productivity. Example subtopics include:

1\. Invasive species management on grazing and forest land;

2\. Effects of pests, diseases, and fragmentation on forest and grazing
land

quality/health;

3\. Systems or practices to minimize overgrazing and restore lands
suffering the

effects of overgrazing;

4\. Low-input approaches to increasing forage production;

5\. Alternative grasses or forages for livestock; and,

6\. Systems or practices that integrate trees-forage-livestock; i.e.,
silvopasture

and its effects on forage and forest resources.

**Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy Sources**

The objective of this conservation concern is to demonstrate new
energy-related technologies and approaches, and alternate energy sources
to reduce energy consumption in agricultural systems. Example subtopics
include:

1\. Renewable energy sources such as wind, solar or bio-based fuels;
and,

2\. Reduction in fuel consumption for agricultural based farming and
ranching operations.

**Wildlife Habitat**

The objective of this conservation concern is to implement new
technologies and/or approaches for the development of wildlife habitat
for at-risk species on agricultural working lands while maintaining
agricultural productivity. Subtopics include:

1\. Incentive systems that promote the conservation of species at-risk
and agricultural production equally; and,

2\. Improving wildlife habitat in riparian corridors.

**II. FUNDING AVAILABILITY**

Effective on the publication date of this notice, the CCC announces the
availability of up

to \$1,000,000 for CIG in Colorado. Funds will be awarded through a
statewide competitive grants process. Individual projects funded through
CIG in fiscal year 2008 may not receive more than \$75,000 from NRCS.
CIG will fund single and multi-year projects, not to exceed three years.
The available funding is anticipated to fund approximately 13 awards.
The anticipated start date for awarded projects is May 1, 2008. Awards
will be made using grant agreements with the Colorado NRCS State Office.

**III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION**

CIG applicants must be a Federally-recognized Indian Tribe; State or
local unit of

government; non-governmental organization; private business; or
individual.

**A. Matching Funds**

Selected applicants may receive grants of up to 50 percent of the total
project cost.

Applicants must provide non-Federal funding for at least 50 percent of
the project cost.

Up to 50 percent (25 percent of the total project cost) of the
applicant's match may be

from in-kind contributions. The remainder must be cash (SF 424A must be
completed).

**B. Beginning and Limited Resource Farmers and Ranchers, and Indian
Tribes**

An exception regarding matching funds is made for projects funded that
benefit beginning and limited resource farmers and ranchers, and Indian
Tribes. Seventy-five (75) percent of the required matching funds for
such projects may derive from in-kind contributions. This exception is
intended to help beginning and limited resource farmers or ranchers and
Indian Tribes meet the statutory requirements for receiving a
Conservation Innovation Grant. The State has targeted up to \$100,000 of
funding for beginning and limited resource farmers and ranchers and
Indian tribes.

**C. EQIP Payment Limitation**

Section 1240G of the Food Security Act of 1985 (as amended by the Farm
Security and

Rural Investment Act of 2002), 16 U.S.C. 3839aa-7, imposes a \$450,000
limitation for all

cost-share or incentive payments disbursed to individuals or entities
under an EQIP

contract between 2002 and 2007. The limitation applies to CIG in the
following manner:

a\. CIG funds are awarded through grant agreements; these grant
agreements are

not EQIP contracts. Thus, CIG awards are not limited by the payment
limitation.

b\. Direct or indirect payments made to an individual or entity using
funds from a

CIG award to carry out structural, vegetative, or management practices
count toward each

individual's or entity's EQIP payment limitation. Through project
progress reports, CIG

grantees are responsible for certifying that producers involved in CIG
projects do not

exceed the payment limitation. Further, all direct and indirect payments
made to

producers using CIG funds must be reported to NRCS.

Payment Limitation Examples - Following are two examples of how the

\$450,000 EQIP payment limitation applies to CIG projects:

a\. A \$75,000 CIG grant is awarded to a State environmental agency to

demonstrate an innovative, market-based, water quality trading program.
The money is

used to finance the development of a market infrastructure, and none of
the funds are

used to implement structural, vegetative, or management practices.
Producers in the

trading market demonstration area may indirectly benefit from their
eventual

participation in the market, but there is no direct or indirect payment
of CIG dollars. If,

on the other hand, part of the CIG award were used to make payments to
producers who

implement a conservation practice on their land as part of a trading
program, those

payments would count towards each producer's \$450,000 EQIP payment
limitation.

b\. A \$75,000 CIG grant is awarded to a Conservation District to pilot
a

community-based animal waste treatment technology innovation.
EQIP-eligible

producers in the area transport their animal waste to a central
treatment location.

Because producers are not directly or indirectly receiving CIG funds,
the payment

limitation does not apply. If, however, the producers were paid for
their waste, or for

transporting their waste to the central treatment location, using CIG
funds, the payments

would be subject to each producer's EQIP payment limitation.

**D. Project Eligibility**

To be eligible, projects must involve landowners who meet the EQIP
eligibility

requirements of 16 U.S.C. 3839aa-1. Refer to
<http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip/> for more information on EQIP
and eligibility requirements. Further, all agricultural

producers receiving direct or indirect payments through participation in
a CIG project

must meet the EQIP eligibility requirements. Participating producers are
not required to

have an EQIP contract. Applications must describe the extent of
participation of EQIP-eligible producers.

Technologies and approaches that are eligible for funding in a project's
geographic area

through EQIP are ineligible for CIG funding except where the use of
those technologies

and approaches demonstrates clear innovation. The burden falls on the
applicant to

sufficiently describe the innovative features of the proposed technology
or approach

(applicants should reference the appropriate State's EQIP Eligible
Practices List by

contacting the NRCS State office, or by visiting the EQIP web site:
[www.co.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip/eqip.html]{.underline}

The grantee is responsible for providing the technical assistance
required to successfully

implement and complete the project. NRCS will designate a Federal Grant

Representative and a Technical Contact to provide technical oversight
for each project

receiving an award.

**IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION**

**A. How to Obtain Application Materials**

All OMB standard forms necessary for CIG submission are posted on the
following

OMB website:
[www.grants.gov/agencies/aapproved_standard_forms.jsp.](http://www.grants.gov/agencies/aapproved_standard_forms.jsp)
An

application checklist is available on the CIG website:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/cig.

**B. Proposal Content and Format**

Proposals must contain the information set forth below in order to
receive consideration

for a grant. Applicants should not assume prior knowledge on the part of
NRCS or others

as to the relative merits of the project described in the application.
Applications must be

submitted in the following format:

Proposals are to be typewritten on 8½" x 11" white paper, double spaced,
and on one side

only. The text of the proposal must be typewritten in a font no smaller
than 12-point,

with one-inch margins. If submitting proposals for more than one
project, submit a

separate, complete application package for each project.

Proposals must include all required forms and narrative sections
described below;

incomplete applications will not be considered.

**1. Cover Sheet**: Applications must use Standard Form 424 as the cover
sheet for each

project proposal. Standard Form 424 can be downloaded from

[[www.grants.gov/agencies/aapproved_standard_forms.jsp]{.underline}](http://www.grants.gov/agencies/aapproved_standard_forms.jsp).
Note that all applicants must provide a DUNS number in block 5. See
section 9 below for information on acquiring a DUNS number. Also note
that in block 15 of the SF-424, the funding amounts listed must reflect
the amounts requested and contributed for the entire duration of the
project.

**2. Project Abstract**: Each proposal must contain a summary of not
more than two pages

that list the following:

a\. CIG Natural Resource Concerns;

b\. Project title;

c\. Project duration (beginning and ending dates);

d\. Name, address, telephone, e-mail, and other contact information for
the project

director (please provide a mailing address, not a P.O. box);

e\. Names and affiliations of project collaborators;

f\. Estimated number of EQIP-eligible producers involved in the project;

g\. Technology or innovation to be addressed;

h\. List of deliverables/products of project activities;

i\. Summary of the work to be performed;

j\. Total project cost; and,

k\. Total Federal funds requested.

**3. Project Description**: Each project must be completely and
accurately described in no

more than 10 typewritten, double-spaced pages, which must include the
following:

a\. Project background: Describe the history of, and need for, the
proposed

innovation. Provide evidence that the proposed innovation has been
studied

sufficiently to indicate a good probability for success of the project;

b\. Project objectives: Be specific, using qualitative and quantitative
measures, if

possible, to describe the project's purpose and goals. Describe how,
based upon

the description of innovative conservation projects and activities
provided in

section I.C., the project is innovative;

c\. Project methods: Describe clearly the methodology of the project and
the tools

or processes that will be used to implement the project;

d\. Location and size of project or project area: Describe the location
of the

project and the relative size and scope (e.g., acres, farm types and

demographics, etc.) of the project area. Provide a map, if possible;

e\. Producer participation: Estimate the number of producers involved in
the

project, and describe the extent of their involvement;

f\. Project action plan and timeline: Provide a table listing project
actions,

timeframes, and associated milestones through project completion;

g\. Project management: Give a detailed description of how the project
will be

organized and managed. Include a list of key project personnel, their
relevant

educations or experiences, and their anticipated contributions to the
project.

Explain the level of participation required in the project by government
and

non-government entities. Identify who will participate in monitoring and

evaluating the project;

h\. Benefits or results expected and transferability: Identify the
results and

benefits to be derived from the proposed project activities. Identify
project

beneficiaries---for example, agricultural producers by type or region or
sector;

rural communities; municipalities. Explain how these entities will
benefit. In

addition, describe how results will be communicated to others via
outreach

activities;

i\. Project evaluation: Describe the methodology or procedures to be
followed to

evaluate the project, determine technical feasibility, and quantify the
results of

the project for the final report. Grant recipients will be required to
provide a

biannual report of progress, quarterly financial reports, and a final
project report

to NRCS. Instructions for submitting reports will be detailed in the
grant

agreement; and,

j\. Environmental impacts: Describe the anticipated environmental
effects of the

proposed project. This description will be used to determine whether an

Environmental Assessment (EA) or Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is

needed for any given project, prior to the awarding of grant funds. The

applicant is responsible for the cost of an EA or EIS, should one be
required.

This cost may be counted as part of the grantee's in-kind contribution.

**4. Budget Information**: Use Standard Form 424A to document budget
needs. Standard

Form 424A can be found at
[[www.grants.gov/agencies/aapproved_standard_forms.jsp]{.underline}](http://www.grants.gov/agencies/aapproved_standard_forms.jsp).
In addition, provide a detailed narrative in support of the budget for
the project, broken down by each project year. Itemize the costs
necessary for successful completion of the proposed project. Indicate
the total amount (both cash and in-kind) of non-Federal matching support
that will be provided to the proposed project. Identify and provide
documentation of the source(s), the amount, and the nature (cash or
in-kind) of the matching funds. An indirect cost-rate agreement must be
included if the applicant is claiming indirect costs. In-kind costs of
equipment or project personnel cannot exceed 50 percent of the
applicant's match (except in the case of projects carried out by either
a beginning or limited resource farmer or rancher, or Indian Tribe, or a
community-based organization comprised of or representing these
entities. The remainder of the match must be provided in cash.

**5. Declaration of EQIP Eligibility**: Applicants must make a
declaration in writing that

they, or parties involved in the project, are eligible for EQIP.

**6. Declaration of Beginning Farmer or Rancher or Limited Resource
Farmer or**

**Rancher, or Indian Tribe**: If an applicant wishes to compete in the
10 percent set-aside

funding pool (see section III.B. that describes the provision of a
set-aside pool of funding

for Beginning and Limited Resource Farmers or Ranchers, and Indian
Tribes) and avail

themselves of the in-kind contribution exception, applicants must make a
declaration in

writing of their status as a Beginning Farmer or Rancher or Limited
Resource Farmer or

Rancher, or Indian Tribe, or a community-based organization comprised of
or

representing these entities.

**7. Certifications**: All applications must include a signed Standard
Form (SF) 424B -

Assurances, Non-construction Programs. SF 424B may be found at:

[[www.grants.gov/agencies/aapproved_standard_forms.jsp]{.underline}](http://www.grants.gov/agencies/aapproved_standard_forms.jsp).
Applicants, by signing and submitting an application, assure and certify
that they are in compliance with the following from 7 Code of Federal
Register (CFR):

a\. Part 3017, Government-wide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement)

(http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_04/7cfr3017_04.html);

b\. Part 3021, Government-wide Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace
(Financial

Assistance)
http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_04/7cfr3021_04.html).

**8. DUNS Number:** A Dun and Bradstreet (D&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.

Therefore, potential applicants should verify that they have a DUNS
number or take the

steps needed to obtain one. 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.

**9. 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.

**C. How to Submit a Written Proposal**

Applicants must submit one signed original and **five** complete copies
of each project

application. Each copy of the proposal must be stapled securely in the
upper left-hand

corner. Hard copies must be accompanied by an electronic copy on a
compact disc (CD). Electronic files must be either Microsoft Word or
Acrobat (pdf) files. Applications submitted via facsimile or e-mail will
not be accepted.

Submit written proposals to:

Dollie Gonzales

Natural Resources Conservation Service

655 Parfet Street, Room E200C

Lakewood, CO 80215

**D. How to Submit a Proposal Electronically:**

Applicants may submit proposals electronically through Grants.gov, the
Federal

government's e-grants portal. Applications submitted through Grants.gov
must contain

all of the elements of a complete application outlined above.
Instructions for

electronically submitting the required standard forms, abstract,
narrative, and declarations

are included in the CIG Grants.gov notice. Applications submitted
electronically are date-stamped and time-stamped by Grants.gov and must
be received by the identified closing date. **Note that NRCS is not
responsible for any technical malfunctions or website problems related
to Grants.gov submissions. Applicants should begin the Grants.gov
process well before the submission deadline to avoid problems.**

**E. Proposal Due Date**

Proposals must be received in the Colorado NRCS State Office by 4:30
p.m., Mountain

Standard Time (MST) on March 31, 2008. A proposal's postmark date is not
a factor in

whether an application is received on time. The applicant assumes the
risk of any delays

in proposal delivery. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit
completed

applications via overnight mail or delivery service to ensure timely
receipt by NRCS.

**F. Acknowledgement of Submission**

Proposals received by the due date will be acknowledged with an official
letter. If an

applicant has not received an acknowledgment within 60 days of the
submission, the

applicant must contact the administrative contact (see "Agency Contacts"
below)

immediately. Failure to do so may result in the application not being
considered for

funding by the peer review panel.

**G. Funding Restrictions**

The indirect costs (F&A) for CIG awards may not exceed 15 percent of the
total Federal

funds provided under each award. Awardees may not use unrecovered
indirect costs as

part of their matching funds.

CIG funds may not be used to pay any of the following costs unless
otherwise permitted

by law, or approved in writing by the Authorized Departmental Officer in
advance of

incurring such costs:

a\. Costs above the amount of funds authorized for the project;

b\. Costs incurred prior to the effective date of the grant;

c\. Costs which lie outside the scope of the approved project and any

amendments thereto;

d\. Entertainment costs, regardless of their apparent relationship to
project

objectives;

e\. Compensation for injuries to persons, or damage to property arising
out of

project activities;

f\. Consulting services performed by a Federal employee during official
duty

hours when such consulting services result in the payment of additional

compensation to the employee; and,

g\. Renovation or refurbishment of research or related spaces; the
purchase or

installation of fixed equipment in such spaces; and the planning,
repair,

rehabilitation, acquisition, or construction of buildings or facilities.

This list is not exhaustive. Questions regarding the allowances of
particular items of cost

should be directed to the administrative contact person listed below.

**H. Patents and Inventions**

Allocation of rights to patents and inventions shall be in accordance
with USDA

regulation 7 CFR 3019.36. This regulation provides that small businesses
normally may

retain the principal worldwide patent rights to any invention developed
with USDA

support. In accordance with 7 CFR 3019.2, this provision will also apply
to commercial

organizations for the purposes of CIG. USDA receives a royalty-free
license for Federal

Government use, reserves the right to require the patentee to license
others in certain

circumstances, and requires that anyone exclusively licensed to sell the
invention in the

United States must normally manufacture it domestically.

**V. APPLICATION REVIEW**

**A. Proposal Review and Selection Process**

Prior to technical review, each application will be screened for
completeness and

compliance with the provisions of this notice. Incomplete applications
and those that do

not meet the provisions of this notice will be eliminated from
competition, and

notification of elimination will be mailed to the applicant.

Applications meeting the provisions of this notice will be scored by a
Peer Review Panel

against the Criteria for Proposal Evaluation listed above. Scored
applications will be

forwarded to the Assistant State Conservationist for Programs, which
will certify the rankings from the peer review panels, and ensure that
the proposal evaluations are consistent with program objectives. The
State Conservationist will make the final selections and funding
decisions.

**B. Criteria for Proposal Evaluation**

Peer review panels will use the following criteria to evaluate project
proposals. Each of

the four criterion carries an equal weight of 25 percent.

1\. Purpose and goals:

a\. The purpose and goals of the project are clearly stated;

b\. The project adheres to the natural resource conservation concerns
for FY 2008

stated in this notice; and,

c\. There is clear and significant potential for a positive and
measurable outcome.

2\. Soundness of approach or design:

a\. The project adheres to the description of innovative projects or
activities found

in section I.C. of this notice;

b\. Technical design and implementation strategy is based on sound
science;

c\. There is a good likelihood of project success;

d\. The project substantively involves EQIP eligible producers; and,

e\. The project promotes environmental enhancement and protection in

conjunction with agricultural production.

3\. Project management:

a\. The proposal has clear milestones and timelines, designated staff,
and

demonstrates collaboration;

b\. The project staff has the technical expertise needed to do the work;
and

c\. The budget is reasonable and adequately justified.

4\. Transferability:

a\. There is great potential to transfer the approach or technology to
others and/or

to other geographical areas; and,

b\. The project will result in the development of technical or related
materials (e.g.,

technical standards, technical notes, manuals, handbooks, software) that
will

help foster adoption of the innovative technology or approach by other

producers, and in other geographic areas.

**C. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates**

CIG awards are anticipated to be announced by on or about April 30,
2008.

**VI. AWARD INFORMATION**

**A. Award Notification**

Applicants who have been selected will be notified by the State
Conservationist. The official notice signed by the authorizing official
indicates that awardees may proceed with their projects.

**B. Grant Agreement**

The CCC, through NRCS, will use a grant agreement with selected
applicants to

document participation in the CIG component of EQIP. The grant agreement
will

include:

• project purpose;

• project objectives and deliverables;

• project progress and budget reporting requirements;

• award amount and budget information;

• information regarding requests for advance of funds or reimbursement;

• other requirements and terms deemed necessary by the CCC to protect
the

interests of the United States.

Neither the approval of any application nor the award of any grant
agreement commits or

obligates the United States to provide further support of a project or
any portion thereof

or implies any endorsement.

**C. Reporting Requirements**

Grantees receiving Federal funds of more than \$25,000 are required to
submit a SF-272

(Report of Federal Cash Transactions), and when necessary, the
continuation sheet, SF-

272-A, no later than 15 days following the end of each quarter or 90
days after project

completion. These reports are used to monitor cash advanced to
recipients and to obtain

disbursement and outlay information for each award.

Grantees must submit a Financial Status Report (SF 269) no later than 30
days after the

end of each quarter and 90 days after completion of project.

In addition, every six months the grantee must submit a written
performance progress

report to the Colorado NRCS State Office. This report is distinct from
the quarterly

financial report described above. Each progress report shall cover work
performed

during the previous 6-month period, including any funded or unfunded
time extensions, a

comparison of actual accomplishments to project goals, and a statement
of work

projected to be completed in the next 6-month period. A progress report
template can be provided to grantees by NRCS upon request. To satisfy
the requirements of EQIP (7 CFR 1466) compliance measures, the grantee
is required to submit as a component of the biannual progress report:

a\. A list of producers, identified by name and social security number,
of all

EQIP-eligible producers or entities involved in the project.

b\. The dollar amount of direct and indirect payment made to each
individual

producer or entity for any structural, vegetative, or management
practices.

Both quarterly and cumulative payment amounts must be submitted.

c\. A self-certification indicating that each individual or entity
receiving a

direct or indirect payment through this grant is in compliance with the
EQIP

Payment Limitation, AGI, HEL, and Wetlands Conservation Compliance

Farm Bill provisions.

NRCS will designate a Federal Grant Representative (FGR) and a Technical
Contact for

the project. These individuals will have technical oversight
responsibility for the project.

The grantee must send copies of each biannual progress report to the FGR
and technical

contact, and comply with any requests for information from these
individuals. NRCS

recommends that the grantee work closely with these subject matter
experts throughout

the course of the project.

Upon passage of the completion date of the project, a final report must
be submitted

within 90 days detailing project activities, funding received and
expended, results, and

potential for transferability of results.

**VII. CIG CONTACTS**

For programmatic questions (e.g., natural resource concerns), please
contact:

Tim Carney, Assistant State Conservationist - Programs

Natural Resources Conservation Service

655 Parfet Street, Room E200C

Lakewood, CO 80215

Phone: (720) 544-2805

<tim.carney@co.usda.gov>

For administrative questions (e.g., indirect costs, contracts), please
contact:

Bethany Mills

Natural Resources Conservation Service

655 Parfet Street, Room E200C

Lakewood, CO 80215

Phone: (720) 544-2827

<bethany.mills@co.usda.gov>

Additional information about CIG, including fact sheets and FAQs, is
available on the

Colorado NRCS webpage:

[www.nrcs.co.usda.gov](http://www.nrcs.co.usda.gov/)

Allen Green

State Conservationist

Colorado Natural Resources Conservation Service