Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS IA ACEP 16 01
The Iowa Monarch Butterfly Habitat Improvement Fiscal Year 2016 opportunity is a USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) cooperative agreement focused on upgrading habitat conditions for monarch butterflies and other pollinators on lands already protected under NRCS conservation easements in Iowa. The work is centered on existing Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) easements, with the potential to include Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Floodplain Easements as well. Because these easements are intended to restore, protect, and enhance wetland functions, the grant emphasizes habitat restoration approaches that fit wetland conservation goals while also adding or strengthening native plant communities that support monarch breeding and migration.
At its core, the project aims to improve the vegetation on WRP and EWP easement acres so that it contains plant species considered critical habitat for monarchs, a species that has experienced major population declines and, at the time of the announcement, was undergoing a federal status review for possible listing. The habitat emphasis is broad enough to include migratory and breeding needs, meaning projects are expected to support milkweed and diverse native nectar plants as part of a larger restoration strategy. NRCS also frames the effort as beneficial to a wider suite of pollinators, including native bees and other butterflies, by rebuilding diverse native plant structure and reducing invasive or weedy pressure.
The selected recipient is expected to carry out the on-the-ground services needed to implement restoration plans to NRCS standards. The scope includes typical restoration phases such as site assessment and planning, site preparation, and establishment of native vegetation. Specific activities may include prescribed burning, herbaceous weed control through mowing, herbicide application, and disking where appropriate, along with seed procurement and installation using no-till drill seeding or broadcast seeding methods. All practices must follow NRCS standards and specifications, with technical direction tied to the NRCS Field Office Technical Guide (eFOTG) referenced in the notice. In practical terms, this means the awardee must be able to implement conservation practices in a way that aligns with NRCS-approved methods, documentation, and performance expectations for wetland and habitat restoration work.
Quality assurance and accountability are built into the award requirements. The awardee is responsible not only for completing installation work in a timely and effective manner, but also for providing inspection and quality control of implemented practices. Reporting is ongoing rather than end-loaded: the recipient must provide NRCS with at least monthly status reports describing work in progress, which implies regular communication, tracking of implementation steps, and documentation of progress across multiple sites or phases.
From a competition standpoint, applications are first screened by NRCS staff for completeness and compliance with the notice requirements. Submissions that are incomplete or do not meet the stated provisions are removed from consideration and applicants are notified. Applications that pass this threshold review are then evaluated by an evaluation team using the program’s published evaluation criteria, after which the team provides recommendations to the State Conservationist, who makes the final selection and award decision.
The opportunity is listed as mandatory and uses a cooperative agreement funding instrument, indicating substantial federal involvement or coordination during implementation rather than a hands-off grant structure. Eligible applicants are described as unrestricted, suggesting a wide range of entities may apply if they can meet the technical and administrative requirements. The funding opportunity number is USDA NRCS IA ACEP 16 01, it references CFDA numbers 10.923 and 10.931, and it anticipated a single award with an award ceiling of $2,000,000. The posting was created on April 11, 2016, with an original closing date of June 10, 2016.Apply for USDA NRCS IA ACEP 16 01
- The Utah State Office in the agriculture, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Iowa Monarch Butterfly Habitat Improvement Fiscal Year 2016" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.923, 10.931.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2016-04-11.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2016-06-10. (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 $2,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.
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FAQs: Iowa Monarch Butterfly Habitat Improvement (FY 2016) - USDA NRCS Cooperative Agreement
What is the Iowa Monarch Butterfly Habitat Improvement FY 2016 opportunity?
It is a USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) cooperative agreement aimed at upgrading habitat conditions for monarch butterflies and other pollinators on lands in Iowa that are already protected under NRCS conservation easements.
What lands are targeted by this opportunity?
The work is centered on existing Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) easements in Iowa, with the potential to include Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Floodplain Easements as well.
Why does NRCS focus on WRP and EWP easement lands for this project?
These easements are intended to restore, protect, and enhance wetland functions. The opportunity emphasizes habitat restoration approaches that fit wetland conservation goals while also adding or strengthening native plant communities that support monarch breeding and migration.
What is the main purpose of the project?
The primary goal is to improve vegetation on WRP and EWP easement acres so that it includes plant species considered critical habitat for monarchs, addressing monarch population declines and supporting both breeding and migratory needs.
Does the project only benefit monarch butterflies?
No. While monarch habitat is a central focus, NRCS frames the effort as beneficial to a wider suite of pollinators, including native bees and other butterflies, by rebuilding diverse native plant structure and reducing invasive or weedy pressure.
What types of plants are emphasized for habitat improvement?
Projects are expected to support milkweed and diverse native nectar plants as part of a broader restoration strategy that addresses monarch breeding and migration habitat needs.
What kinds of on-the-ground activities are expected under this cooperative agreement?
The selected recipient is expected to carry out services needed to implement restoration plans to NRCS standards. The scope includes site assessment and planning, site preparation, and establishment of native vegetation.
Which specific restoration practices may be included?
Specific activities may include prescribed burning; herbaceous weed control through mowing; herbicide application; disking where appropriate; seed procurement; and seed installation using no-till drill seeding or broadcast seeding methods.
Are there required technical standards for implementing the work?
Yes. All practices must follow NRCS standards and specifications, with technical direction tied to the NRCS Field Office Technical Guide (eFOTG) referenced in the notice.
What does it mean that this opportunity is a cooperative agreement?
The opportunity uses a cooperative agreement funding instrument and is listed as mandatory. This indicates substantial federal involvement or coordination during implementation rather than a purely hands-off grant structure.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are described as unrestricted, suggesting a wide range of entities may apply as long as they can meet the technical and administrative requirements described in the notice.
How many awards does NRCS anticipate making?
The notice anticipated a single award.
What is the maximum funding amount available?
The award ceiling is $2,000,000.
What quality assurance responsibilities does the recipient have?
The awardee is responsible for completing installation work in a timely and effective manner and must provide inspection and quality control of implemented practices.
What reporting is required during the project?
Reporting is ongoing. The recipient must provide NRCS with at least monthly status reports describing work in progress, implying regular communication, tracking, and documentation of implementation steps across sites or phases.
How are applications reviewed and selected?
Applications are first screened by NRCS staff for completeness and compliance with the notice requirements. Incomplete or noncompliant submissions are removed from consideration and applicants are notified. Applications that pass are evaluated by an evaluation team using the published evaluation criteria, and the team provides recommendations to the State Conservationist, who makes the final selection and award decision.
What happens if an application is incomplete or does not meet the notice provisions?
NRCS removes it from consideration and notifies the applicant.
Who makes the final award decision?
The NRCS State Conservationist makes the final selection and award decision after considering recommendations from the evaluation team.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is USDA NRCS IA ACEP 16 01.
Which CFDA numbers are referenced for this opportunity?
The notice references CFDA numbers 10.923 and 10.931.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The posting was created on April 11, 2016, with an original closing date of June 10, 2016.
What is the conservation context behind this habitat effort?
The notice highlights that monarchs have experienced major population declines and that, at the time of the announcement, the species was undergoing a federal status review for possible listing, reinforcing the focus on improving critical habitat components within wetland-focused easements.
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