The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is requesting proposals from qualified individuals and organizations that share a common interest in the conservation and restoration of floodplain resources throughout Iowa under the framework of a five-year agreement with approximately $5 million in funding, if available.
Donor Name: Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
State: Iowa
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 07/10/2023
Size of the Grant: $5,000,000
Grant Duration: 5 years
Details:
The Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program – Floodplain Easement (EWPP-FPE) is a voluntary program providing NRCS the opportunity to purchase floodplain easements as an alternative measure to traditional EWP recovery where it is determined that acquiring an easement in lieu of recovery is the more economical and prudent approach to reducing a threat to life or property or as specifically authorized through individual appropriations. NRCS may request the services of, and enter into cooperative agreements with, non-Federal entities to assist in providing specialized assistance necessary to implement conservation plans under this program. To that end, NRCS is directing resources toward the restoration of floodplains across the state of Iowa.
The purpose of voluntary conservation easement program such as EWPP-FPE is to conserve, protect, and enhance the nation’s floodplain ecosystems. Restoration on floodplain easements will include all necessary conservation practices, measures, and activities required to restore the floodplain functions and values to the natural conditions to the greatest extent practicable. Restoration of natural conditions should result in a close approximation or mimicry of conditions and functions that existed prior to the conversion or manipulation of the site so as to recover the floodplain functions of the site. Restoration may include both structural and nonstructural conservation practices to restore the floodplain functions and values including water storage and flow, erosion control, vegetative and biological communities, and to improve the practical management of the easement.
The objective of conservation easement restoration is to provide specialized assistance to landowners in planning, designing, and implementing floodplain wetland and associated upland restoration plans. Applicants will be responsible for assisting NRCS by providing specialized assistance to implement conservation easement restoration plans. Performance may include any part or all operations necessary to complete vegetative and hydrology restoration of conservation easements in a timely and effective manner. Work shall include any or all of the following activities: restoration practice implementation, implementation of management activities for various floodplain wetland restoration and enhancement practices; vegetative planting and maintenance activities and related conservation practices that meet NRCS standards and specifications.
Awardee will, in accordance with NRCS Standards & Specifications where applicable:
- Solicit bids for implementation of floodplain restoration practices
- Provide administrative oversight for all aspects of the restoration implementation process
- Oversee day to day implementation and inspection of restoration practices
- Organize and conduct necessary meetings to facilitate implementation of the restoration plan, to include pre-bid, pre-construction, and post-construction checkout, as well as any necessary intermediate progress checks.
- Compile daily field notes on progress of implementation activities and provide them to NRCS upon completion of the project
- Promptly communicate to NRCS any complications encountered during implementation of restoration practices which may require modifications to the task order
- Conduct final inspection/check out consistent with NRCS specifications
- Provide as-built documentation, stamped by a licensed, Professional Engineer, to NRCS upon completion of restoration implementation in a format agreed to by both parties
- The awardee will provide to the NRCS a status report (no less than monthly) of work in progress and any other documentation as may be required by the NRCS standards and specifications.
Funding Information
- Estimated Total Program Funding: $5,000,000
- Award Ceiling: $5,000,000
- Award Floor: $1,200,000
Performance Period
Projects may be between one and five years in duration.
Eligibility Criteria
Eligibility for this opportunity is limited to the following entity types:
- County governments
- 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
- Public and State-controlled institutions of higher education
- Small businesses
- State governments
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
