Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture

Request for Pre-proposals (RFP) - Summer 2011

NOTE: This RFP no longer is active. Deadline for submissions was August 15, 2011. Our next RFP will be issued in June 2012.

About this RFP

The Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture was established by the Iowa Legislature as part of the Iowa Groundwater Protection Act of 1987. Its mission is to identify and reduce negative environmental and socio-economic impacts of agricultural practices, contribute to the development of profitable farming systems that conserve natural resources, and cooperate with Iowa State University Extension to inform the public of new findings.

The Center’s work is organized in four initiatives—ecology, marketing and food systems, cross-cutting (water, energy, soil and alternative farming systems), and policy. Each initiative has its own section in this RFP. If you have an innovative pre-proposal idea that does not precisely fit the goals identified within an initiative, please contact the initiative coordinator for guidance on submitting your pre-proposal.

Desired long-term outcomes of Leopold Center programs:

  1. Water and Soil: Water resources that increase in quality and quantity over time; improved soil health that ensures long-term productivity and crop yields.
  2. People: Agricultural systems that yield multiple benefits (for people, ecology and profit) and create more opportunities and vibrant communities on the land.
  3. Energy: On-farm energy conservation that is increased with use of low external input systems and innovative energy systems relying on fewer outside energy inputs.
  4. Land Management: Practices that enhance integrity and adaptability of biotic communities and encourage agricultural production systems that anticipate and adapt to greater weather variability.

Important information about the RFP process

Who may submit a pre-proposal? Investigators representing any Iowa nonprofit organization/agency and/or educational institution (i.e., soil and water conservation districts, schools and colleges, and regional development groups). Farmers, landowners, and farm-based businesses are encouraged to participate in the pre-proposal process.

What to include in your pre-proposal? Please refer to the initiative sections to find the best fit for your pre-proposal. Prepare a two- or three-page concept paper with these required elements. (Note that letters of support are not a consideration at this pre-proposal stage.)

  1. Separate cover page with project title, complete contact information for the principal investigator including mailing address, phone number and email address, dollar request per year, and the initiative area – ecology, marketing and food systems, cross-cutting, or policy – that best fits your pre-proposal. Do not count the cover page as part of your page total.
  2. Objectives—What do you want to achieve? Must be well defined and measurable.
  3. Strategies—What activities will help you achieve project objectives? Describe by objective.
  4. Outcomes—What will be the outcomes, both end-of-project and long-term, if you achieve your objectives? How will the proposal contribute to more sustainable agricultural systems or increased resilience on the Iowa landscape?
  5. Outreach—How (and with whom) will you share project results?
  6. Budget estimate and brief financial explanation by calendar year, starting February 1, 2012. Funding may be for multiple years, depending on initiative.
    • Estimate total expenses and itemize by: Salary and Benefits; Equipment/Supplies/Materials; Travel; Subcontracts/Consultants; and Other.
    • Which of the following best describes your estimated budget? Does this change per year of your request? Options: 1) LCSA will provide all funding. 2) LCSA funds are a start, but work is contingent on other funds to meet all desired outcomes. 3) LCSA funds fill a gap in ongoing work sponsored by other funding. 4) LCSA funds will support completing part of the work even if funds from other sources are not received.

What criteria are used to assess each pre-proposal?

  1. Sustainability/resilience. How does the project contribute to increased agricultural sustainability and/or increased resilience* on Iowa landscapes?
  2. Scientific basis. How does the project contribute to building new knowledge or the application/extension of current science as it relates to sustainable agriculture? What does existing literature say and what are potential results?
  3. Outcomes/impacts. To what extent does the proposal have clear, measurable objectives, realistic strategies/methods, and outcomes? If this is funded, what do you/we expect to achieve?
  4. Leverage. To what extent does the proposal have current or future potential to leverage additional resources?
  5. Innovation. What is the evidence that this proposal is original or shows innovation?
  6. Collective impact. To what extent will this proposal increase or enhance the work of other partners within your project and/or other activities (e.g., Value Chain Partnerships or competitive grant projects) conducted by the Leopold Center?

*Resilience is the ability of a system to absorb a disturbance and yet retain its structure and function (Walker and Salt 2006).

How to submit? An electronic copy (sent via e-mail or delivered on a CD) or one hard copy must be received by 5:00 p.m., August 15, 2011. No faxes, please. The electronic version should be a .doc or .txt file or contained within the body of the e-mail. Be sure to combine all elements of your pre-proposal into one document. Send your copy to the appropriate initiative coordinator listed in this RFP, who will acknowledge receipt of your pre-proposal.

What happens after submission? Pre-proposals will be screened for adherence to requirements found in this RFP as well as economic, environmental, community/social sustainability and fit with the Leopold Center mission priorities. An invitation to submit a full proposal will be based upon review of all pre-proposals by the Leopold Center Advisory Board and staff. The Center will notify all applicants in late September 2011 as to whether they will be invited to submit a full proposal. Full proposals will be due November 10 and funding decisions made by late January 2012.