HomeMy WebLinkAboutGrant Guidelines CRCA-NBS-RFP-2022-Final1
Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy
Climate Resilience and Community Access
Grant Program
Funded by the State of California General Fund
Request for Proposals No. CRCA - 02
November 21, 2022
Pre-Application Deadline: January 27, 2023
Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy
73-710 Fred Waring Drive, Suite 112
Palm Desert, CA 92260
(760) 776-5026
www.cvmc.ca.gov
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The Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy (the “Conservancy”) is pleased to offer up
to $2,917,000.00 in local assistance grants as part of its latest request for proposals under
its Climate Resilience and Community Access Grant Program (“Program”). The Program
was created in 2021 and seeks to support programs that address climate adaptation and
resilience or enhance access to outdoor recreation or education. Further details about
the Program can be found in the Program Guidelines. The first RFP was issued in late
2021 and sought proposals that focused on expanding the capacity of local organizations
and agencies to address climate change and create recreational opportunities. This RFP
No. CRCA - 02seeks applications that apply “Nature-Based Solutions” approaches to the
objectives of the Program.
RFP Objectives
The Conservancy currently seeks applications for projects or program that use Nature-
Based Solutions (NBS) to achieve the objectives of the Program. NBS refer to
sustainable management and use of natural features and processes to tackle socio-
environmental challenges. NbS address climate change mitigation and adaptation,
resiliency building, disaster risk reduction, and water security. At its core NbS are
actions to protect, sustainably manage and restore natural and modified ecosystems in
ways that address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, to provide both human
well-being and biodiversity benefits. Nature-Based Solutions:
• Recognize natural systems and processes as critical infrastructure
• Consider climate impacts on priority CVMCSHP natural assets
• Consider equity implications in their design and application to avoid
unintended consequences
• Are planned and implemented with the engagement of local stakeholders
and residents to ensure that not only key climate-related hazards and
risks are addressed, but are done so in ways that support the
community’s own vision for its future
• Ensure positive biodiversity benefits
• Seek to protect or restore critical natural infrastructure
• Give natural features and processes space to function
• Address hazards and risks posed by historical inequities in patterns of
settlement, land use, and property ownership. For example, many lower
income communities have low levels of tree cover, lack equitable access
to parks and other open spaces, and are susceptible to flooding from
stormwater.
Grant Eligibility
Eligible applicants include state and local public entities, nonprofit organizations, Indian
tribes and mutual water companies.
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Any project that fulfils one or more of the objectives of the Program is eligible for
consideration, but the Conservancy specifically encourages applications for:
(a) People and Communities: Community-based innovations, education, greenhouse
gas reduction, public awareness and public health, urban greening infrastructure,
and water conservation.
(b) Wildlife and Ecosystems: Restoration, enhancing natural systems, reducing edge
development.
(c) Land Use or Management: Conservation land management, prevention of
conversion of agricultural lands to urban use, soil health, and protecting open
spaces.
(d) Community Access: Parks, trails, transportation, cultural, recreational, historical
resources; education on habitat conservation, and the effects of climate change on
nature.
Projects that meet more than one objective will receive priority for funding. Refer to the
Guidelines for more details on eligibility.
Application Process and Key Dates
Steps Task Deadlines
1 Applicant
Submits Pre-Application Friday, Jan. 27, 2023
2 CVMC
Notifies Applicant of Full Application Eligibility Status February 6 - 17, 2023
3 Applicant
Submits Full Application
12:00 Noon
Friday, Mar. 17, 2023
4 CVMC
Reviews and Scores Full Applications March 20-31, 2023
5 CVMC
Notifies Applicant of Full Application Review Status April 3 - 7, 2023
6 CVMC
Conservancy Board Awards Grant April or May 2023
7 Grantee
Commences Grant Project Upon Grant Agreement Execution
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Applications will be reviewed, scored and ranked in accordance with the competitive
process established by the Guidelines, with final awards to be made by the Conservancy
Board. The Board reserves the discretion to award available funds in this round of
funding based on the strength of responses to this RFP. If funds remain, one or more
additional RFPs will be issued in 2023.
Further Information
All Grant Program documents, including the Guidelines and any addenda to this RFP are
available for review at www.cvmc.ca.gov. If you have questions, please contact Rick
Youngblood, CMVC Project Coordinator at (760) 776-5026 or
richard.youngblood@cvmc.ca.gov.
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Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy
CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND COMMUNITY ACCESS
GRANT PROGRAM
Funded by the California General Fund
Grant Proposal Pre-Application Form
Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy
73-710 Fred Waring Drive, Suite 112
Palm Desert, CA 92260
(760) 776-5026
www.cvmc.ca.gov
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We fully understand that your project information may be preliminary and subject to
change. Our main purpose is to understand what you hope to accomplish with
program funding. Pre-application submissions will be reviewed by CVMC staff and
may follow up with questions, comments, clarifications as needed. Applicants whose
projects are deemed eligible will be notified with further instructions as to completing
the full application narrative.
1. Name of Applicant(s):
2. Representative and contact information:
3. Please attach a brief, one-page project description that summarizes key
objectives, work tasks and deliverables.
4. Was the project part of any other project that has undergone environmental review
under CEQA or NEPA? ________If so, please identify the project and type of
environmental document.
5. Please attach a map that depicts the location of the project or the areas to be
served.
6. Does the applicant own the project site? ________ If not, how will you achieve
site control?
7. Tentative amount of funding to be requested? $______________. Please attach
a summary budget.
8. Do you have, or are you seeking, other funding for the project? __________
Projects that provide at least 20% in matching funds are priorities for funding.
9. Does the project serve severely disadvantaged communities (i.e., with median
household incomes of less than 60 percent of the statewide average)?
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10. Would conservation corps services be appropriate for your project (if
appropriate)?
Further Information
All CRCA Grant Program documents, are available for review at www.cvmc.ca.gov. If you
have questions, please contact Rick Youngblood, CVMC Project Coordinator at (760)
776-5026 or richard.youngblood@cvmc.ca.gov