Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS HR ACES 18 001
The Agriculture Conservation Experienced Services (ACES) Program is a Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) initiative designed to expand and strengthen the delivery of conservation technical assistance across the United States and U.S. territories by tapping into the skills of experienced older workers. Through ACES, NRCS seeks to support the conservation-related programs and authorities administered by the Secretary of Agriculture by bringing in individuals age 55 or older to help with practical, on-the-ground technical services. These services commonly include conservation planning assistance, technical consultation for landowners and producers, and support for the design and implementation of conservation practices. A key feature of the program is that ACES participants are not employees of USDA or state agriculture departments, which allows them to contribute their expertise without affecting retirement annuities.
This opportunity is structured as a discretionary cooperative agreement (Funding Opportunity Number: USDA NRCS HR ACES 18 001) and is specifically aimed at nonprofit private agencies and organizations that are eligible under the Community Service Senior Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 3056 et seq.). Eligible applicants are nonprofits with IRS 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education). Rather than providing immediate grant dollars through the initial announcement, NRCS uses this solicitation to select a small number of qualified nonprofit partners that will be awarded national agreements. Those national agreements then make the selected organizations eligible to enter into future, individual agreements that do include funding for specific services and positions. In other words, there is no guaranteed award amount up front, and the published award ceiling is listed as 0, but selected partners can subsequently receive funded work through task- or position-specific agreements.
Geographically, the scope is broad and intended to cover all 50 states and the District of Columbia, along with NRCS-supported areas in the Caribbean and Pacific. That includes Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The timing described in the announcement reflects a transition from expiring agreements to new ones: existing agreements were set to expire on September 30, 2018, with new awards anticipated around August 1, 2018. The new agreements were planned for a five-year period, and NRCS estimated it would make up to five awards total, meaning only a limited number of nonprofit organizations would be selected to serve as national partners.
The roles and responsibilities are clearly divided between NRCS and the nonprofit awardees, which is typical of a cooperative agreement model. NRCS provides the operational framework for the positions, including the funding associated with approved ACES placements, office space, position descriptions, work assignments, and day-to-day technical oversight of the work performed. The nonprofit partner functions as the employment and workforce pipeline: it is responsible for advertising positions, recruiting and screening candidates, hiring, and administering payroll. The program is designed to accommodate a range of job types, so available positions may vary widely in required education and skill level, depending on local conservation needs.
Cost coverage under the funded individual agreements is also described in practical terms. Beyond wages paid to the ACES enrollees, NRCS funding is intended to cover common administrative and employer-side costs such as federal payroll taxes, unemployment compensation, and pay increases, along with administrative fees associated with managing the participants. Because participants are explicitly not federal employees (and not state agriculture department employees), the arrangement provides NRCS with additional technical capacity while maintaining a distinct employment relationship through the nonprofit partner.
In summary, this grant opportunity is essentially a national partner selection process for nonprofits that can recruit and employ individuals age 55+ to deliver conservation technical assistance under NRCS direction. It does not promise immediate funding at the application stage, but it does create a pathway for selected organizations to receive funding later through individual agreements tied to specific ACES positions and assignments. The intent is to rapidly scale technical services supporting NRCS conservation programs while leveraging the experience of older professionals in a way that is administratively manageable for NRCS and financially neutral with respect to participant retirement benefits.Apply for USDA NRCS HR ACES 18 001
- The Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Agriculture Conservation Experienced Services (ACES) Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.912, 10.921, 10.924, 10.931, 10.932.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 14, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 15, 2018. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Agriculture Conservation Experienced Services (ACES) Program?
The Agriculture Conservation Experienced Services (ACES) Program is a Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) initiative that expands and strengthens conservation technical assistance across the United States and U.S. territories by engaging experienced older workers. The program is intended to add practical, on-the-ground capacity to support conservation-related programs and authorities administered by the Secretary of Agriculture.
What is the purpose of this grant opportunity?
This opportunity is designed to select a small number of qualified nonprofit organizations to become national ACES partners through discretionary cooperative agreements. Selected national partners are then eligible to enter into future, individual agreements that include funding for specific services and positions.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this solicitation?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed for this opportunity is USDA NRCS HR ACES 18 001.
What type of award is this?
This opportunity is structured as a discretionary cooperative agreement, which typically involves shared responsibilities between NRCS and the nonprofit awardee (for example, NRCS provides program direction and technical oversight while the nonprofit manages recruitment and employment administration).
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are nonprofit private agencies and organizations that are eligible under the Community Service Senior Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 3056 et seq.). Applicants must have IRS 501(c)(3) status, and institutions of higher education are excluded.
Are institutions of higher education eligible to apply?
No. While the opportunity is limited to IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofits, it explicitly excludes institutions of higher education.
Does this announcement provide immediate grant funding to applicants?
No. The solicitation is used to select national partner organizations, but it does not promise immediate grant dollars at the application stage. The published award ceiling is listed as 0, and funding becomes available later through future, individual agreements tied to specific services and positions.
If the award ceiling is listed as 0, how can an organization receive funding?
The initial selection establishes national agreements with a limited number of nonprofit partners. Those selected partners become eligible to enter into subsequent, funded individual agreements for specific ACES placements (for example, task- or position-specific agreements that include funding).
How many organizations does NRCS expect to select?
NRCS estimated it would make up to five awards total, meaning only a limited number of nonprofit organizations would be selected as national partners.
How long are the new agreements expected to last?
The new agreements were planned for a five-year period.
What geographic areas are included in the program scope?
The scope is intended to cover all 50 states and the District of Columbia, along with NRCS-supported areas in the Caribbean and Pacific. This includes Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
What kinds of services do ACES participants provide?
ACES participants commonly provide conservation planning assistance, technical consultation for landowners and producers, and support for the design and implementation of conservation practices. The intent is to deliver practical, on-the-ground technical services aligned with NRCS conservation programs.
Who can be recruited to fill ACES positions?
The program is designed to bring in individuals age 55 or older, leveraging the skills of experienced older workers to support NRCS conservation technical assistance needs.
Are ACES participants federal employees (USDA employees)?
No. A key feature of ACES is that participants are not employees of USDA (and not employees of state agriculture departments). This allows them to contribute expertise without affecting retirement annuities, and it keeps the employment relationship with the nonprofit partner.
What is NRCS responsible for under this cooperative agreement model?
NRCS provides the operational framework for approved ACES placements. This includes the funding associated with approved placements, office space, position descriptions, work assignments, and day-to-day technical oversight of the work performed.
What is the nonprofit partner responsible for?
The nonprofit partner functions as the employment and workforce pipeline. Responsibilities include advertising positions, recruiting and screening candidates, hiring, and administering payroll for ACES participants.
Will the available ACES positions have the same requirements everywhere?
No. The program is designed to accommodate a range of job types, and positions may vary widely in required education and skill level depending on local conservation needs.
What costs can be covered under funded individual agreements?
Beyond wages paid to ACES enrollees, NRCS funding is intended to cover common administrative and employer-side costs such as federal payroll taxes, unemployment compensation, pay increases, and administrative fees associated with managing participants.
Why does the program emphasize that participants are not federal or state employees?
The structure provides NRCS with added technical capacity while keeping a distinct employment relationship through the nonprofit partner. It is also described as a way for participants to contribute their expertise without affecting retirement annuities.
What was the timing described for the transition to new agreements?
The announcement described a transition from expiring agreements to new ones: existing agreements were set to expire on September 30, 2018, and new awards were anticipated around August 1, 2018.
What does it mean to be selected as a national partner under ACES?
Selection as a national partner means the nonprofit organization is awarded a national cooperative agreement and becomes eligible to enter into future, funded individual agreements for specific ACES services and placements. It is essentially a pathway to funded work tied to specific assignments rather than an up-front grant award.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Natural Resources
Next opportunity: Assessing Species Sensitivity to Contaminants of Emerging Concern by Trans-Activation Assay
Previous opportunity: Mount Rainier Evergreen State College Internship Program
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for USDA NRCS HR ACES 18 001
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (USDA NRCS HR ACES 18 001) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Bat Monitoring Fort Leonard Wood, MO Apply for W912DQ 18 2 0006 Funding Number: W912DQ 18 2 0006 Agency: Department of Defense, Kansas City District Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Cultural Landscape Conservation Crew Apply for P18AS00218 Funding Number: P18AS00218 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $44,000 |
| Chiricahua National Monument Trail Maintenance and Rehab 2018 Apply for P18AS00219 Funding Number: P18AS00219 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $137,500 |
| Grand Canyon Corridor/Rim Trail Rehab. Support FY 18 Apply for NPSNOIGRCAP18AC00510 Funding Number: NPSNOIGRCAP18AC00510 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Exotic Plant Management Team Engaging Youth in Resource Management Apply for P18AS00221 Funding Number: P18AS00221 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $40,400 |
| NOTICE OF INTENT: Native Plant Community Restoration of Bryce Canyon National Park Apply for P18AS00223 Funding Number: P18AS00223 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $62,000 |
| Rehabilitate Otter Creek Trail Apply for P18AS00097 Funding Number: P18AS00097 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $39,840 |
| Umatilla Basin Project Act Exchange: Implementation Phases I & II Apply for BOR PN 18 N008 Funding Number: BOR PN 18 N008 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation - Pacific Northwest Region Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $98,941 |
| Natural Resource Management and Ecological Restoration in the Redwood Creek Apply for P18AS00224 Funding Number: P18AS00224 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $315,400 |
| PNG Biodiversity Program Apply for RFI 492 18 PACIFIC 001 Funding Number: RFI 492 18 PACIFIC 001 Agency: Agency for International Development, Philippines USAID-Manila Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $17,000,000 |
| Youth Experience in Reducing Border Impacts & Hazardous Fuels Monitoring in Saguaro National Park Apply for NPSNOISAGU1800501 Funding Number: NPSNOISAGU1800501 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $39,490 |
| Resource Education Interpretation/Visitor Services Apply for P18AS00102 Funding Number: P18AS00102 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $30,000 |
| CAVE HABS Documentation of the Mission 66 Six-Plex Apply for P18AS00228 Funding Number: P18AS00228 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $26,119 |
| Mitchell's satyr butterfly rearing 2018 Apply for F18AS00143 Funding Number: F18AS00143 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $45,000 |
| Nashua Wild and Scenic River Study Assistance Apply for NPS 18 NERO 0042 Funding Number: NPS 18 NERO 0042 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| York Wild and Scenic River Study Assistance Apply for NPS 18 NERO 0043 Funding Number: NPS 18 NERO 0043 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $60,000 |
| Highlands Conservation Act Grant Program FY 2018 - Base Funding Apply for F18AS00145 Funding Number: F18AS00145 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $1,460,000 |
| Highlands Conservation Act Grant Program - FY 2018 - Competitive Funding Apply for F18AS00147 Funding Number: F18AS00147 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $3,840,000 |
| Continuing Teddy Rooseveltâ¿¿s Legacy through science-based land restoration. Apply for P18AS00234 Funding Number: P18AS00234 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Youth Engagement in Yosemite Valley: Ecological Restoration and Stewardship with a Youth Crew Apply for P18AS00233 Funding Number: P18AS00233 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $35,000 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "USDA NRCS HR ACES 18 001", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.