---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 C.F.R. § 1464.21"
title: "7"
number: "1464.21"
heading: "Ranking considerations and proposal selection."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/7/1464.21"
---

# §1464.21. Ranking considerations and proposal selection.

- (a) **Final selection.** NRCS will rank and select proposals for partnership agreements pursuant to the evaluation criteria listed in 1464.20(a)(2).
- (b) **Priority to certain proposals.** NRCS may give a higher priority to proposals for partnership agreements that—
  - (1) Assist producers in meeting or avoiding the need for a natural resource regulatory requirement;
  - (2) Have a high percentage of producers in the area to be covered by the agreement;
  - (3) Significantly leverage non-Federal financial and technical resources and coordinate with other local, State, or national efforts;
  - (4) Build new partnerships with local, State, and private entities to include a diversity of stakeholders in the project;
  - (5) Deliver a high percentage of applied conservation to achieve conservation benefits and address the priority resource concern for a designated CCA;
  - (6) Implement the project consistent with existing watershed, habitat, or other area restoration plans;
  - (7) Provide innovation in conservation methods and delivery, including outcome-based performance measures and methods;
  - (8) **To a significant extent involve—**
    - (i) Historically underserved producers;
    - (ii) A community-based organization comprising, representing, or exclusively working with historically underserved producers;
    - (iii) Developing an innovative conservation approach or technology specifically targeting historically underserved producers' unique needs and limitations; or
    - (iv) An 1890 or 1994 land grant institution ([7 U.S.C. 3222](/usc/7/3222.md) et seq.), Hispanic-serving institution ([20 U.S.C. 1101a](/usc/20/1101a.md)), or other minority-serving institution, such as an historically Black college or university ([20 U.S.C. 1061](/usc/20/1061.md)), a tribally controlled college or university ([25 U.S.C. 1801](/usc/25/1801.md)), or Asian American and Pacific Islander-serving institution ([20 U.S.C. 1059g](/usc/20/1059g.md)); or
  - (9) Meet other factors that are important for achieving the purposes of the program, as determined by NRCS.
- (c) **Proposals in CCAs.**
  - (1) NRCS will select proposals for partnership agreements within CCAs that address one or more priority resource concerns for which the CCA is designated.
  - (2) NRCS will identify the designated CCAs and publish the priority resource concerns for each CCA.
  - (3) NRCS will identify the priority resource concerns and associated ranking criteria in any announcement under [§ 1464.20](/cfr/7/1464.20.md).
  - (4) Lands outside of a CCA are not eligible for consideration under the CCA funding pool, even where such land may influence resource concerns within the CCA.

## Notes

### Amendments

[85 FR 8137, Feb. 13, 2020, as amended at 86 FR 3744, Jan. 15, 2021]

### Authority

Authority: 15 U.S.C. 714b and 714c; 16 U.S.C. 3871 et seq.

### Source

Source: 85 FR 8137, Feb. 13, 2020, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[85 FR 8137, Feb. 13, 2020, as amended at 86 FR 3744, Jan. 15, 2021]