Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS NHQ SSRA 24 NOFO001387
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), is offering a single cooperative agreement to run a coordinated model intercomparison effort focused on agriculture-related carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The work is designed to support USDA's Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) GHG Quantification efforts, which involve collaboration across multiple USDA agencies. The central aim is to take a clear look at how well current agricultural models estimate soil carbon (C) sequestration and GHG emissions, identify gaps and inconsistencies across models, and drive improvements that strengthen the overall scientific basis for quantifying climate impacts and benefits from agricultural management.
The project is specifically centered on cropland and grassland systems, with attention to how soil carbon and GHG emissions respond to different climate-smart mitigation practices. Rather than funding one modeling team to build a single model, NRCS is funding a "coordination unit" (the primary awardee) to organize, manage, and execute a structured comparison among multiple participating model groups. A key part of the coordinator's job is to identify and engage those model teams through communications and meetings, in alignment with USDA and NRCS priorities and the scope of the intercomparison, while staying within the available budget. The intercomparison can build on existing intercomparison activities or launch a new one, but it must be designed and carried out collaboratively with the participating model groups so that the comparison is credible, transparent, and useful for decision-making.
A major expected deliverable is the development and stewardship of well-organized datasets to support the intercomparison. This includes compiling field measurement datasets as well as model input and output data, then storing and managing them in a way that makes access straightforward for the participating teams and supports ongoing analysis. The emphasis on data infrastructure and shared data products reflects a broader goal: enabling apples-to-apples evaluation of model performance and making it easier to diagnose why models diverge (for example, differences in assumptions, parameterization, process representations, or required input data).
Funding is fixed at an estimated total of $1.9 million, with both the funding floor and ceiling set at $1.9 million, indicating NRCS expects to make one award at that level. The performance period is planned for four years. Applicants must include a clear budget breakdown separating funds for coordination, management, and analysis from the funds that will be issued as subawards to support multiple modeling groups. The notice also specifies that subaward support for model groups is expected to cover three years of the agreement, so applicants need to plan staffing, timelines, and deliverables accordingly.
Eligibility is limited to institutions that are part of the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Network, which generally includes qualified higher education institutions and nonprofit organizations participating in CESU partnerships. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on October 4, 2024. NRCS anticipates making selections by November 15, 2024, with awards executed around January 15, 2025, though those dates are presented as estimates that could change. For submission or platform issues, applicants must work with Grants.gov support rather than NRCS staff; NRCS will only answer narrow clarification questions tied to the notice itself (such as resolving discrepancies or pointing to where a requirement is described), not questions about whether an applicant is eligible or whether a proposed approach is likely to be competitive.
The opportunity also carries several notable compliance and policy expectations. Every proposal must include a data management plan, and all data and deliverables produced under the award must be made publicly available in line with USDA public access requirements (as described in USDA DR 1020-006). NRCS also highlights its commitment to equity and encourages submissions from organizations that represent, partner with, or are made up of producers from communities that have been marginalized and faced barriers to farming and ranching success. In addition, the Build America, Buy America Act preference is flagged as applicable to federal financial assistance infrastructure projects, meaning that if any part of the work involves infrastructure, relevant iron and steel, manufactured products, and construction materials requirements may apply and must flow down appropriately to subawards consistent with USDA award terms and conditions.
In practical terms, the award is intended to create a well-run, multi-model comparison program that produces defensible, publicly accessible datasets and insights into model strengths, weaknesses, and improvement pathways for quantifying soil carbon sequestration and agricultural GHG emissions. The emphasis on coordination, shared protocols, transparent data handling, and subawards to multiple model groups signals that NRCS is looking for a capable lead institution that can manage a complex collaborative scientific effort and translate the results into improved modeling capacity for USDA's climate and conservation objectives.Apply for USDA NRCS NHQ SSRA 24 NOFO001387
- The Natural Resources Conservation Service in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Model Intercomparison and Improvement for Carbon Sequestration and Greenhouse Gas Emission Estimation from Agriculture" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.903.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-08-05.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-10-04. (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 $1,900,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this USDA NRCS funding opportunity about?
This opportunity funds a single cooperative agreement to run a coordinated agricultural model intercomparison focused on soil carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The goal is to compare how current agricultural models perform, identify gaps and inconsistencies across models, and support improvements that strengthen the scientific basis for quantifying climate impacts and benefits from agricultural management.
Which USDA office is offering the award?
The award is offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
How does this project connect to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)?
The work is designed to support USDA's IRA GHG Quantification efforts. Those efforts involve collaboration across multiple USDA agencies, and this intercomparison is intended to improve confidence and consistency in quantifying soil carbon and agricultural GHG emissions.
What is the central objective of the intercomparison?
The central objective is to evaluate and compare agricultural models that estimate soil carbon sequestration and GHG emissions, determine where and why models differ, identify gaps, and drive improvements so USDA has a stronger scientific foundation for decision-making related to climate-smart agriculture.
What agricultural systems are the focus of this project?
The project is specifically centered on cropland and grassland systems.
What kinds of practices or interventions are expected to be considered?
The intercomparison is expected to examine how soil carbon and GHG emissions respond to different climate-smart mitigation practices in cropland and grassland contexts.
Is NRCS funding a single modeling team to build one model?
No. Instead of funding one team to build a single model, NRCS is funding a "coordination unit" to organize, manage, and execute a structured comparison among multiple participating model groups.
What is meant by a "coordination unit" in this notice?
The coordination unit is the primary awardee responsible for running the intercomparison program. This includes organizing the effort, managing participation, setting up shared protocols and workflows, and ensuring the comparison is credible, transparent, and useful for decision-making.
What are the coordinator's responsibilities related to participating model groups?
The coordinator is expected to identify and engage multiple model teams through communications and meetings, aligned with USDA and NRCS priorities and within the available budget. The comparison must be designed and carried out collaboratively with the participating model groups.
Can the intercomparison build on existing efforts, or must it be entirely new?
Either approach is allowed. The intercomparison can build on existing intercomparison activities or launch a new one, but it must be designed and carried out collaboratively with participating model groups.
Why is the project emphasizing shared datasets and data infrastructure?
A major expected deliverable is well-organized datasets that support an apples-to-apples evaluation of model performance. By compiling field measurement datasets along with model inputs and outputs and managing them in a shared structure, the effort aims to make comparisons more transparent and to help diagnose why models diverge (for example, due to different assumptions, parameterization, process representations, or input requirements).
What kinds of data are expected to be developed or stewarded?
The expected data products include compiled field measurement datasets as well as model input and model output data that support the intercomparison.
What is the expected approach to storing and managing data?
The coordinator is expected to store and manage datasets in a way that makes access straightforward for participating model teams and supports ongoing analysis.
How much funding is available?
The estimated total funding is $1.9 million, and both the funding floor and ceiling are set at $1.9 million.
How many awards does NRCS expect to make?
NRCS expects to make one award at the $1.9 million level.
What is the planned performance period?
The planned performance period is four years.
Are subawards expected as part of this project?
Yes. Applicants must include a budget breakdown that separates funds used for coordination, management, and analysis from funds issued as subawards to support multiple modeling groups.
How long is subaward support expected to last?
The notice specifies that subaward support for model groups is expected to cover three years of the agreement.
What does the budget need to clearly show?
The application must include a clear budget breakdown separating (1) funds for coordination, management, and analysis and (2) funds that will be issued as subawards to multiple model groups.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to institutions that are part of the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Network, which generally includes qualified higher education institutions and nonprofit organizations participating in CESU partnerships.
Where must applications be submitted?
Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov.
What is the application deadline?
Applications are due by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on October 4, 2024.
When does NRCS expect to announce selections and make the award?
NRCS anticipates selections by November 15, 2024, with awards executed around January 15, 2025. These dates are estimates and could change.
Who should applicants contact if they have trouble submitting through Grants.gov?
For submission or platform issues, applicants must work with Grants.gov support rather than NRCS staff.
What types of questions will NRCS answer during the application period?
NRCS will only answer narrow clarification questions tied to the notice itself, such as resolving discrepancies or pointing to where a requirement is described.
What types of questions will NRCS not answer?
NRCS will not answer questions about whether an applicant is eligible or whether a proposed approach is likely to be competitive.
Is a data management plan required?
Yes. Every proposal must include a data management plan.
Are award-funded data and deliverables required to be publicly available?
Yes. All data and deliverables produced under the award must be made publicly available in line with USDA public access requirements (as described in USDA DR 1020-006).
Does the opportunity include equity-related expectations or priorities?
NRCS highlights a commitment to equity and encourages submissions from organizations that represent, partner with, or are made up of producers from communities that have been marginalized and faced barriers to farming and ranching success.
Does the Build America, Buy America Act apply to this award?
The notice flags a Build America, Buy America Act preference as applicable to federal financial assistance infrastructure projects. If any part of the work involves infrastructure, requirements related to iron and steel, manufactured products, and construction materials may apply and must be flowed down appropriately to subawards consistent with USDA award terms and conditions.
What is the intended outcome of the funded effort?
The intended outcome is a well-run, multi-model comparison program that produces defensible, publicly accessible datasets and clear insights into model strengths, weaknesses, and improvement pathways for quantifying soil carbon sequestration and agricultural GHG emissions. The emphasis is on coordination, shared protocols, transparent data handling, and effective use of subawards to multiple modeling groups.
Why is NRCS emphasizing transparency and credibility in the intercomparison?
The notice emphasizes that the intercomparison must be credible, transparent, and useful for decision-making. This is supported by collaborative design with participating model groups, shared protocols, and data stewardship that enables consistent, apples-to-apples evaluation.
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