[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 55 (Wednesday, March 21, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16519-16535]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-6611]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Housing Service
Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) Inviting Applications for the
Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) for Fiscal Year 2011 and
Fiscal Year 2012
AGENCY: Rural Housing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This Notice announces the availability of $8,611,000 of FYs
2011 and 2012 funding of competitive grant funds for the RCDI program
through the Rural Housing Service (RHS), an agency within the USDA
Rural Development mission area (Agency). Appropriation Acts made
available $4,990,000 in FY 2011 and $3,621,000 in FY 2012 for the RCDI
program for a total of $8,611,000 for the two fiscal years.
The RCDI grant program includes an initiative called the Rural Jobs
and Innovation Accelerator Challenge. For FY 2011 and the FY 2012 RCDI
funds will be divided between the traditional RCDI Program and the
Rural Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge as follows: $2,500,000
of the FY 2011 funds and $1,811,000 of the FY 2012 funds will be
available for the traditional RCDI program and $2,490,000 of the FY
2011 funds and $1,810,000 of the FY 2012 will be reserved for awards
through a Federal Funding Opportunity Announcement in partnership with
the Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA)
for the Rural Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge. An application
for ``Rural Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge'' funds must be
submitted to both USDA and EDA by an organization or a team of
organizations that is individually or collectively eligible to receive
funding from USDA and EDA. Additional information regarding the Rural
Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge can be found in Part VI and
Part VII of this NOFA. Requirements outlined in Parts II, III, VIII,
IX, X, and XI of this NOFA apply to both the Traditional RCDI Program
and the Rural Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge.
All applicants must provide matching funds in an amount at least
equal to the Federal grant. These grants will be made to qualified
intermediary organizations that will provide financial and technical
assistance to recipients to develop their capacity and ability to
undertake projects related to housing, community facilities, or
community and economic development. This Notice lists the information
needed to submit an application for these funds.
DATES: The deadline for receipt of an application--May 9, 2012. The
application date is firm. The Agency will not consider any application
received after the deadline. Applicants intending to mail applications
must provide sufficient time to permit delivery on or before the
closing deadline date and time. Acceptance by the United States Postal
Service or private mailer does not constitute delivery. Facsimile (FAX)
and postage due applications will not be accepted.
ADDRESSES: Entities wishing to apply for assistance may download the
application documents and requirements delineated in this Notice from
the RCDI Web site: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/rcdi/index.htm.
Application information for electronic submissions may be found at
http://www.grants.gov. Applicants may also request paper application
packages from the Rural Development office in their state. A list of
Rural Development offices is included in this Notice.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Rural Development office for the
state the applicant is located in. A list of Rural Development State
Office contacts is included in this Notice.
Programs Affected
This program is listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance under Number 10.446. This program is not subject to the
provisions of Executive Order 12372, which requires intergovernmental
consultation with State and local officials because it is not listed by
the Secretary of Agriculture, pursuant to 7 CFR 3015.302, as a covered
program.
Paperwork Reduction Act
The paperwork burden has been cleared by the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) under OMB Control Number 0575-0180.
National Environmental Policy Act
This Notice has been reviewed in accordance with 7 CFR part 1940,
subpart G, ``Environmental Program.'' Rural Development has determined
that an Environmental Impact Statement is not required because the
issuance of regulations and instructions, as well as amendments to
them, describing administrative and financial procedures for
processing, approving and implementing the Agency's financial programs
is categorically excluded in the Agency's NEPA regulation found at 7
CFR 1940.310(e)(3) of Subpart G, Environmental Program. Thus, in
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969
(42 U.S.C. 4321-4347), Rural Development has determined that this NOFA
does not constitute a major Federal action significantly affecting the
quality of the human environment. Furthermore, individual awards under
this NOFA are hereby classified as Categorical Exclusions according to
1940.310(e), the award of financial assistance for planning purposes,
management and feasibility studies, or environmental impact analysis,
which do not require any additional documentation.
[[Page 16520]]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Overview
Federal Agency: Rural Housing Service.
Funding Opportunity Title: Rural Community Development Initiative.
Announcement Type: Initial Announcement.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.446.
Part I--Funding Opportunity Description
Congress initially created the RCDI in Fiscal Year (FY) 2000 to
develop the capacity and ability of nonprofit organizations, low-income
rural communities, or federally recognized tribes to undertake projects
related to housing, community facilities, or community and economic
development in rural areas.
Part II--Award Information
Appropriation Acts have made available a total of $8,611,000 for
RCDI for FYs 2011 and 2012. The FY 2011 and the FY 2012 appropriated
RCDI funds will be divided between the traditional RCDI Program and the
Rural Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge as follows: $2,500,000
of the FY 2011 funds and $1,811,000 of the FY 2012 funds will be
available for the traditional RCDI program and $2,490,000 of the FY
2011 funds and $1,810,000 of the FY 2012 will be reserved for awards
through a Federal Funding Opportunity Announcement in partnership with
the Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration for the
Rural Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge. The Rural Jobs
Accelerator provides resources to support the development of clusters
in approximately 20 regions, selected through a competitive inter-
agency grant process, and assist rural distressed communities
accelerate job creation by: leveraging local assets, building stronger
communities, and creating regional linkages. Opportunities for
accelerated job creation in rural regions can be found in numerous
high-potential industry clusters, including renewable energy, food
production, rural tourism, natural resources, and advanced
manufacturing.
Qualified private, nonprofit and public (including tribal)
intermediary organizations proposing to carry out financial and
technical assistance programs will be eligible to receive the funding.
The intermediary will be required to provide matching funds in an
amount at least equal to the RCDI grant. The respective minimum and
maximum grant amount per intermediary is $50,000 and $300,000. The
intermediary must provide a program of financial and technical
assistance to a private nonprofit, community-based housing and
development organization, a low-income rural community or a federally
recognized tribe.
Part III--Eligibility Information
A. Eligible Applicants
1. Qualified private, nonprofit, including faith-based and
community organizations, in accordance with 7 CFR part 16, and public
(including tribal) intermediary organizations. Definitions that
describe eligible organizations and other key terms are listed below.
2. RCDI grantees that have an outstanding grant over 3 years old,
as of the application due date in this Notice, will not be eligible to
apply for this round of funding. Grant and matching funds must be
utilized in a timely manner to ensure that the goals and objectives of
the program are met.
B. Program Definitions
Agency--The Rural Housing Service (RHS) or its successor.
Beneficiary--Entities or individuals that receive benefits from
assistance provided by the recipient.
Capacity--The ability of a recipient to implement housing,
community facilities, or community and economic development projects.
Federally recognized tribes--Tribal entities recognized and
eligible for funding and services from the Bureau of Indian Affairs,
based on the current notice in the Federal Register published by the
Bureau of Indian Affairs. Tribally Designated Housing Entities are
eligible RCDI recipients.
Financial assistance--Funds, not to exceed $10,000 per award, used
by the intermediary to purchase supplies and equipment to build the
recipient's capacity.
Funds--The RCDI grant and matching money.
Intermediary--A qualified private, nonprofit (including faith-based
and community organizations), or public (including tribal) organization
that provides financial and technical assistance to multiple
recipients.
Low-income rural community--An authority, district, economic
development authority, regional council, or unit of government
representing an incorporated city, town, village, county, township,
parish, or borough whose median household income is at or below 80% of
either the state or national Median Household Income as measured by the
2000 Census.
Recipient--The entity that receives the financial and technical
assistance from the Intermediary. The recipient must be a private, non-
profit community-based housing and development organization, a low-
income rural community or a federally recognized Tribe.
Regional collaboration--Multi-jurisdictional areas typically within
a State, territory, or Federally designated Tribal land but which can
cross State, territory, or Tribal boundaries. The Regional
Collaboration approach is intended to combine the resources of the
Agency with those of State and local governments, educational
institutions, and the private and nonprofit sectors to implement
regional economic and community development strategies.
Rural and rural area--Any area other than (i) a city or town that
has a population of greater than 50,000 inhabitants; and (ii) the
urbanized area contiguous and adjacent to such city or town.
Technical assistance--Skilled help in improving the recipient's
abilities in the areas of housing, community facilities, or community
and economic development.
C. Cost Sharing or Matching
Matching funds--Cash or confirmed funding commitments. Matching
funds must be at least equal to the grant amount and committed for a
period of not less than the grant performance period. These funds can
only be used for eligible RCDI activities. In-kind contributions such
as salaries, donated time and effort, real and nonexpendable personal
property and goods and services cannot be used as matching funds. Grant
funds and matching funds must be used in equal proportions. This does
not mean funds have to be used equally by line item. The request for
advance or reimbursement and supporting documentation must show that
RCDI fund usage does not exceed the cumulative amount of matching funds
used. Grant funds will be disbursed pursuant to relevant provisions of
7 CFR parts 3015, 3016, and 3019, as applicable. Verification of
matching funds must be submitted with the application.
The intermediary is responsible for demonstrating that matching
funds are available, and committed for a period of not less than the
grant performance period to the RCDI proposal. Matching funds may be
provided by the intermediary or a third party. Other Federal funds may
be used as matching funds if authorized by statute and the purpose of
the funds is an eligible RCDI purpose. Matching funds must be used
[[Page 16521]]
to support the overall purpose of the RCDI program. RCDI funds will be
disbursed on an advance or reimbursement basis. Matching funds cannot
be expended prior to execution of the RCDI Grant Agreement. No
reimbursement will be made for any funds expended prior to execution of
the RCDI Grant Agreement unless the intermediary is a non-profit or
educational entity and has requested and received written Agency
approval of the costs prior to the actual expenditure. This exception
is applicable for up to 90 days prior to grant closing and only applies
to grantees that have received written approval but have not executed
the RCDI Grant Agreement. The Agency cannot retroactively approve
reimbursement for expenditures prior to execution of the RCDI Grant
Agreement.
D. Other Program Requirements
1. The recipient and beneficiary, but not the intermediary, must be
located in an eligible rural area. The physical location of the
recipient's office that will be receiving the financial and technical
assistance must be in an eligible rural area. If the recipient is a
low-income community, the median household income of the area where the
office is located must be at or below 80 percent of the State or
national median household income, whichever is higher. The applicable
Rural Development State Office can assist in determining the
eligibility of an area. A listing of Rural Development State Offices is
included in this Notice. A map showing eligible rural areas can be
found at the following link: http://eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov/eligibility/welcomeAction.do?pageAction=RBSmenu&NavKey=property@13.
2. The recipients must be private nonprofit, including faith-based
organizations, community-based housing and development organizations,
low-income rural communities, or federally recognized tribes based on
the RCDI definitions of these groups.
3. Documentation must be submitted to verify recipient eligibility.
Acceptable documentation varies depending on the type of recipient.
Private nonprofit, faith or community-based organizations must provide
a certificate of incorporation and good standing from the Secretary of
the State of incorporation, or other similar and valid documentation of
nonprofit status. For low-income rural community recipients, the Agency
requires evidence that the entity is a public body and census data
verifying that the median household income of the community where the
office receiving the financial and technical assistance is located is
at, or below, 80 percent of the State or national median household
income, whichever is higher. For Federally recognized tribes, the
Agency needs the page listing their name from the current Federal
Register list of tribal entities recognized and eligible for funding
services (see the definition of federally recognized tribes in this
Notice for details on this list). If a tribe has been federally
recognized since the last list of federally recognized tribes was
published in the Federal Register, appropriate documentation from the
Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs must be submitted
that legally verifies that recognition.
4. Individuals cannot be recipients.
5. The intermediary must provide matching funds at least equal to
the amount of the grant. Verification of matching funds must be
submitted with the application. Matching funds must be committed for a
period equal to the grant performance period.
6. The intermediary must provide a program of financial and
technical assistance to the recipient.
7. The intermediary organization must have been legally organized
for a minimum of 3 years and have at least 3 years prior experience
working with private nonprofit community-based housing and development
organizations, low-income rural communities, or tribal organizations in
the areas of housing, community facilities, or community and economic
development.
8. Proposals must be structured to utilize the grant funds within 3
years from the date of the award.
9. Each applicant, whether singularly or jointly, may submit one
application for the traditional RCDI funds and one application for the
Jobs Accelerator funds under this NOFA. This restriction does not
preclude the applicant from providing matching funds for other
applications.
10. Recipients can benefit from more than one RCDI application;
however, after grant selections are made, the recipient can only
benefit from multiple RCDI grants if the type of financial and
technical assistance the recipient will receive is not duplicative.
Funding for services to the same recipients must have separate and
identifiable accounts for compliance purposes.
11. The intermediary and the recipient cannot be the same entity.
The recipient can be a related entity to the intermediary, if it meets
the definition of a recipient, provided the relationship does not
create a conflict of interest that cannot be resolved to Rural
Development's satisfaction.
12. A nonprofit recipient must provide evidence that it is a valid
nonprofit when the intermediary applies for the RCDI grant.
Organizations with pending requests for nonprofit designations are not
eligible.
13. If the recipient is a low-income rural community, identify the
unit of government to which the financial and technical assistance will
be provided, e.g., town council or village board. The financial and
technical assistance must be provided to the organized unit of
government representing that community, not the community at large.
14. If a grantee has an outstanding RCDI grant over 3 years old, as
of the application due date in this Notice, it is not eligible to apply
for this round of funding.
15. The indirect cost category in the project budget should be used
only when a grant applicant has a federally negotiated indirect cost
rate. A copy of the current rate agreement must be provided with the
application.
16. Grant applicants must obtain a Dun and Bradstreet Data
Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and register in the Central
Contractor Registration (CCR) prior to submitting a pre-application
pursuant to 2 CFR 25.200(b). In addition, an entity applicant must
maintain registration in the CCR database at all times during which it
has an active Federal award or an application or plan under
construction by the Agency. Similarly, all recipients of Federal
financial assistance are required to report information about first-
tier sub-awards and executive compensation in accordance to 2 CFR part
170. So long as an entity applicant does not have an exception under 2
CFR 170.110(b), the applicant must have the necessary processes and
systems in place to comply with the reporting requirements should the
applicant receive funding. See 2 CFR 170.200(b).
Eligible Fund Uses
Fund uses must be consistent with the RCDI purpose. A nonexclusive
list of eligible grant uses includes the following:
1. Provide technical assistance to develop recipients' capacity and
ability to undertake projects related to housing, community facilities,
or community and economic development, i.e., the intermediary hires a
staff person to provide technical assistance to the recipient or the
recipient hires a staff person, under the supervision of the
intermediary, to carry out the technical assistance provided by the
intermediary.
2. Develop the capacity of recipients to conduct community
development
[[Page 16522]]
programs, e.g., homeownership education or training for business
entrepreneurs.
3. Develop the capacity of recipients to conduct development
initiatives, e.g., programs that support micro-enterprise and
sustainable development.
4. Develop the capacity of recipients to increase their leveraging
ability and access to alternative funding sources by providing training
and staffing.
5. Develop the capacity of recipients to provide the technical
assistance component for essential community facilities projects.
6. Assist recipients in completing pre-development requirements for
housing, community facilities, or community and economic development
projects by providing resources for professional services, e.g.,
architectural, engineering, or legal.
7. Improve recipient's organizational capacity by providing
training and resource material on developing strategic plans, board
operations, management, financial systems, and information technology.
8. Purchase of computers, software, and printers, limited to
$10,000 per award, at the recipient level when directly related to the
technical assistance program being undertaken by the intermediary.
9. Provide funds to recipients for training-related travel costs
and training expenses related to RCDI.
Ineligible Fund Uses
1. Pass-through grants, capacity grants, and any funds provided to
the recipient in a lump sum that are not reimbursements.
2. Funding a revolving loan fund (RLF).
3. Construction (in any form).
4. Salaries for positions involved in construction, renovations,
rehabilitation, and any oversight of these types of activities.
5. Intermediary preparation of strategic plans for recipients.
6. Funding prostitution, gambling, or any illegal activities.
7. Grants to individuals.
8. Funding a grant where there may be a conflict of interest, or an
appearance of a conflict of interest, involving any action by the
Agency.
9. Paying obligations incurred before the beginning date without
prior Agency approval or after the ending date of the grant agreement.
10. Purchasing real estate.
11. Improvement or renovation of the grantee's, or recipient's
office space or for the repair or maintenance of privately owned
vehicles.
12. Any other purpose prohibited in 7 CFR parts 3015, 3016, and
3019, as applicable.
13. Using funds for recipient's general operating costs.
14. Using grant or matching funds for Individual Development
Accounts.
15. Purchasing vehicles.
Program Examples and Restrictions
The purpose of this initiative is to develop or increase the
recipient's capacity through a program of financial and technical
assistance to perform in the areas of housing, community facilities, or
community and economic development. Strengthening the recipient's
capacity in these areas will benefit the communities they serve. The
RCDI structure requires the intermediary (grantee) to provide a program
of financial and technical assistance to recipients. The recipients
will, in turn, provide programs to their communities (beneficiaries).
The following are examples of eligible and ineligible purposes under
the RCDI program. (These examples are illustrative and are not meant to
limit the activities proposed in the application. Activities that meet
the objectives of the RCDI program will be considered eligible.)
1. The intermediary must work directly with the recipient, not the
ultimate beneficiaries. As an example: The intermediary provides
training to the recipient on how to conduct homeownership education
classes. The recipient then provides ongoing homeownership education to
the residents of the community--the ultimate beneficiaries. This
``train the trainer'' concept fully meets the intent of this
initiative. The intermediary is providing technical assistance that
will build the recipient's capacity by enabling them to conduct
homeownership education classes for the public. This is an eligible
purpose. However, if the intermediary directly provided homeownership
education classes to individuals in the recipient's service area, this
would not be an eligible purpose because the recipient would be
bypassed.
2. If the intermediary is working with a low-income community as
the recipient, the intermediary must provide the technical assistance
to the entity that represents the low-income community and is
identified in the application. Examples of entities representing a low-
income community are a village board or a town council. If the
intermediary provides technical assistance to the Board of the low-
income community on how to establish a cooperative, this would be an
eligible purpose. However, if the intermediary works directly with
individuals from the community to establish the cooperative, this is
not an eligible purpose. The recipient's capacity is built by learning
skills that will enable them to support sustainable economic
development in their communities on an ongoing basis.
3. The intermediary may provide technical assistance to the
recipient on how to create and operate a revolving loan fund. The
intermediary may not monitor or operate the revolving loan fund. RCDI
funds, including matching funds, cannot be used to fund revolving loan
funds.
4. The intermediary may work with recipients in building their
capacity to provide planning and leadership development training. The
recipients of this training would be expected to assume leadership
roles in the development and execution of regional strategic plans. The
intermediary would work with multiple recipients in helping communities
recognize their connections to the greater regional and national
economies.
5. The intermediary could provide training and technical assistance
to the recipients on developing emergency shelter and feeding, short-
term housing, search and rescue, and environmental accident,
prevention, and cleanup program plans. For longer term disaster and
economic crisis responses, the intermediary could work with the
recipients to develop job placement and training programs, and develop
coordinated transit systems for displaced workers.
Part IV--Application and Submission Information for the Traditional
RCDI Program
A. Address To Request Application Package
Entities wishing to apply for assistance may download the
application documents and requirements delineated in this Notice from
the RCDI Web site: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/rcdi. Application
information for electronic submissions may be found at http://www.grants.gov. Applicants may also request paper application packages
from the Rural Development office in their state. A list of Rural
Development State offices is included in this Notice.
B. Content and Form of Application Submission
If the applicant is ineligible or the application is incomplete,
the Agency will inform the applicant in writing of the decision,
reasons therefore, and its
[[Page 16523]]
appeal rights and no further evaluation of the application will occur.
A complete application for RCDI funds must include the following:
1. A summary page, double-spaced between items, listing the
following: (This information should not be presented in narrative
form.)
a. Applicant's name,
b. Applicant's address,
c. Applicant's telephone number,
d. Name of applicant's contact person and telephone number,
e. Applicant's fax number,
f. County where applicant is located,
g. Congressional district number where applicant is located,
h. Amount of grant request, and
i. Number of recipients
2. A detailed Table of Contents containing page numbers for each
component of the application.
3. A project overview, no longer than five pages, including the
following items, which will also be addressed separately and in detail
under ``Building Capacity'' of the ``Evaluation Criteria.''
a. The type of technical assistance to be provided to the
recipients and how it will be implemented.
b. How the capacity and ability of the recipients will be improved.
c. The overall goals to be accomplished.
d. The benchmarks to be used to measure the success of the program.
Benchmarks should be specific and quantifiable.
4. Organizational documents, such as a certificate of incorporation
and a current good standing certification from the Secretary of State
where the applicant is incorporated and other similar and valid
documentation of non-profit status, from the intermediary that confirms
it has been legally organized for a minimum of 3 years as the applicant
entity.
5. Verification of source and amount of matching funds, i.e., a
copy of a bank statement if matching funds are in cash or a copy of the
confirmed funding commitment from the funding source. The verification
must show that matching funds are available for the duration of the
grant performance period. The verification of matching funds must be
submitted with the application or the application will be considered
incomplete.
The applicant will be contacted by the Agency prior to grant award
to verify that the matching funds provided with the application
continue to be available. The applicant will have 15 working days from
the date contacted to submit verification that matching funds continue
to be available. If the applicant is unable to provide the verification
within that timeframe, the application will be considered ineligible.
The applicant must maintain bank statements on file or other
documentation for a period of at least three years after grant closing
except that the records shall be retained beyond the three-year period
if audit findings have not been resolved.
6. The following information for each recipient:
a. Recipient's entity name,
b. Complete address (mailing and physical location, if different),
c. County where located,
d. Number of Congressional district where recipient is located,
e. Contact person's name and telephone number, and
f. Form RD 400-4, ``Assurance Agreement.'' If the Form RD 400-4 is
not submitted for a recipient, the recipient will be considered
ineligible. No information pertaining to that recipient will be
included in the income or population scoring criteria and the requested
funding may be adjusted due to the deletion of the recipient.
7. Submit evidence that each recipient entity is eligible:
a. Nonprofits--provide a current valid letter confirming non-profit
status from the Secretary of the State of incorporation or the IRS, a
current good standing certification from the Secretary of the State of
incorporation, or other valid documentation of nonprofit status of each
recipient.
b. Low-income rural community--provide evidence the entity is a
public body, and a copy of the 2000 census data to verify the
population, and evidence that the median household income is at, or
below, 80 percent of either the State or the national income. We will
only accept data and printouts from http://www.census.gov. The specific
instructions to retrieve data from this site are detailed under the
``Evaluation Criteria'' for ``Population'' and ``Income.''
c. Federally recognized tribes--provide the page listing their name
from the Federal Register list of tribal entities published by the
Bureau of Indian Affairs on October 1, 2010 (75 FR 60810) or a
subsequent updated list or supplement in the Federal Register. If a
tribe has been federally recognized since the last list of federally
recognized tribes was published in the Federal Register, appropriate
documentation from the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian
Affairs must be submitted that legally verifies that recognition.
8. Each of the ''Evaluation Criteria'' must be addressed
specifically and individually by category. Present these criteria in
narrative form. Documentation must be limited to three pages per
criterion. The ``Population'' and ``Income'' criterions for recipient
locations can be provided in the form of a list; however, the source of
the data must be included on the page(s).
9. A timeline identifying specific activities and proposed dates
for completion.
10. A detailed project budget that includes the RCDI grant amount
and matching funds. This should be a line-item budget, by category.
Categories such as salaries, administrative, other, and indirect costs
that pertain to the proposed project must be clearly defined.
Supporting documentation listing the components of these categories
must be included. The budget should be dated: year 1, year 2, year 3,
as applicable.
11. Form SF-424, ``Application for Federal Assistance.'' (Do not
complete Form SF-424A, ``Budget Information.'' A separate line-item
budget should be presented as described in No. 10 of this section.)
12. Form SF-424B, ``Assurances--Non-Construction Programs.''
13. Form AD-1047, ``Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension,
and Other Responsibility Matters--Primary Covered Transactions.''
14. Form AD-1048, ``Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension,
Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion--Lower Tier Covered
Transactions.''
15. Form AD-1049, ``Certification Regarding Drug-Free Workplace
Requirements.''
16. Certification of Non-Lobbying Activities.
17. Standard Form LLL, ``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities,'' if
applicable.
18. Form RD 400-4, ``Assurance Agreement,'' for the applicant.
19. Identify and report any association or relationship with Rural
Development employees.
20. For grants, the applicant's Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal
Numbering Systems (DUNS) number and registration in the Central
Contractor Registration (CCR) database in accordance with 2 CFR part
25. As required by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), all grant
applications must provide a DUNS number when applying for Federal
grants, on or after October 1, 2003. Organizations can receive a DUNS
number at no cost by calling the dedicated toll-free number at 1-866-
705-5711 or via Internet at http:www.dnb.com/us/. Additional
information concerning this requirement can be obtained on the
Grants.gov Web Site at http://www.grants.gov. Similarly, applicants
[[Page 16524]]
may register for the CCR at https://uscontractingregistration.com or by
calling 1-877-252-2700.
The required forms and certifications can be downloaded from the
RCDI Web site at: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/rcdi.
C. Other Submission Information
Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants, OMB No. 1894-
0010 Exp. 05/31/2012 (applies only to non-profit applicants only--
submission is optional).
The original application package must be submitted to the Rural
Development State Office where the applicant's headquarters is located.
A listing of Rural Development State Offices is included in this
Notice. Applications will not be accepted via FAX or electronic mail.
Applicants may file an electronic application at http://www.grants.gov. Grants.gov contains full instructions on all required
passwords, credentialing, and software. Follow the instructions at
Grants.gov for registering and submitting an electronic application.
If a system problem or technical difficulty occurs with an
electronic application, please use the customer support resources
available at the Grants.gov Web site.
Technical difficulties submitting an application through Grants.gov
will not be a reason to extend the application deadline. If an
application is unable to be submitted through Grants.gov, a paper
application must be received in the appropriate Rural Development State
Office by the deadline noted previously.
First time Grants.gov users should carefully read and follow the
registration steps listed on the Web site. These steps need to be
initiated early in the application process to avoid delays in
submitting your application online.
In order to register with the Central Contractor Registry (CCR),
your organization will need a DUNS number. Be sure to complete the
Marketing Partner ID (MPID) and Electronic Business Primary Point of
Contact fields during the CCR registration process. These are mandatory
fields that are required when submitting grant applications through
Grants.gov. Additional application instructions for submitting an
electronic application can be found by selecting this funding
opportunity on Grants.gov.
The deadline for receipt of an application is May 9 by 4 p.m. local
time. The application deadline date and time are firm and apply to
submission of the original application to the Rural Development State
Office where the applicant's headquarters is located. The Agency will
not consider any application received after the deadline. A listing of
Rural Development State Offices, their addresses, telephone numbers,
and contact person is provided elsewhere in this Notice. Applicants
intending to mail applications must allow sufficient time to permit
delivery on or before the closing deadline date and time. Acceptance by
the United States Postal Service or private mailer does not constitute
delivery. Fax, electronic mail or postage due applications will not be
accepted.
D. Funding Restrictions
Meeting expenses. In accordance with 31 U.S.C. 1345, ``Expenses of
Meetings,'' appropriations may not be used for travel, transportation,
and subsistence expenses for a meeting. RCDI grant funds cannot be used
for these meeting-related expenses. Matching funds may be used to pay
for these expenses. RCDI funds may be used to pay for a speaker as part
of a program, equipment to facilitate the program, and the actual room
that will house the meeting. RCDI funds can be used for travel,
transportation, or subsistence expenses for program-related training
and technical assistance purposes. Any training not delineated in the
application must be approved by the Agency to verify compliance with 31
U.S.C. 1345. Travel and per diem expenses will be similar to those paid
to Agency employees. Rates are based upon location. Rate information
can be obtained from the applicable Rural Development State Office.
Grantees and recipients will be restricted to traveling coach class
on common carrier airlines. When lodging is not available at the
government rate, grantees and recipients may exceed the Government rate
for lodging by a maximum of 20 percent. Meals and incidental expenses
will be reimbursed at the same rate used by Agency employees. Mileage
and gas reimbursement will be the same rate used by Agency employees.
This rate may be obtained from the applicable Rural Development State
Office.
Part V--Application Review Information for the Traditional RCDI Program
A. Evaluation Criteria
Applications will be evaluated using the following criteria and
weights:
1. Building Capacity--Maximum 60 Points
The applicant must demonstrate how they will improve the
recipients' capacity, through a program of financial and technical
assistance, as it relates to the RCDI purposes. Capacity-building
financial and technical assistance should provide new functions to the
recipients or expand existing functions that will enable the recipients
to undertake projects in the areas of housing, community facilities, or
community and economic development that will benefit the community. The
program of financial and technical assistance provided, its delivery,
and the measurability of the program's effectiveness will determine the
merit of the application. All applications will be competitively ranked
with the applications providing the most improvement in capacity
development and measurable activities being ranked the highest.
Capacity-building financial and technical assistance may include, but
is not limited to: training to conduct community development programs,
e.g., homeownership education, or the establishment of minority
business entrepreneurs, cooperatives, or micro-enterprises;
organizational development, e.g., assistance to develop or improve
board operations, management, and financial systems; instruction on how
to develop and implement a strategic plan; instruction on how to access
alternative funding sources to increase leveraging opportunities;
staffing, e.g., hiring a person at intermediary or recipient level to
provide technical assistance to recipients.
a. The narrative response must:
i. Describe the nature of financial and technical assistance to be
provided to the recipients and the activities that will be conducted to
deliver the technical assistance;
ii. Explain how financial and technical assistance will develop or
increase the recipient's capacity. Indicate whether a new function is
being developed or if existing functions are being expanded or
performed more effectively;
iii. Identify which RCDI purpose areas will be addressed with this
assistance: housing, community facilities, or community and economic
development; and
iv. Describe how the results of the technical assistance will be
measured. What benchmarks will be used to measure effectiveness?
Benchmarks should be specific and quantifiable.
[[Page 16525]]
b. The maximum 60 points for this criterion will be broken down as
follows:
i. Type of financial and technical assistance and implementation
activities. 35 points.
ii. An explanation of how financial and technical assistance will
develop capacity. 10 points.
iii. Identification of the RCDI purpose. 5 points.
iv. Measurement of outcomes. 10 points.
2. Expertise--Maximum 30 Points
The applicant must demonstrate that it has conducted programs of
financial and technical assistance and achieved measurable results in
the areas of housing, community facilities, or community and economic
development in rural areas. Provide the name, contact information, and
the type and amount of the financial and technical assistance the
applicant organization has provided to the following for the last 3
years:
a. Nonprofit organizations in rural areas.
b. Low-income communities in rural areas, (also include the type of
entity, e.g., city government, town council, or village board).
c. Federally recognized tribes or any other culturally diverse
organizations.
3. Population--Maximum 30 Points
Population is based on the average population from the 2000 census
data for the communities in which the recipients are located. The
physical address, not mailing address, for each recipient must be used
for this criterion. Community is defined for scoring purposes as a
city, town, village, county, parish, borough, or census-designated
place where the recipient's office is physically located. The applicant
must submit the census data from the following Web site in the form of
a printout of the applicable ``Fact Sheet'' to verify the population
figures used for each recipient. The data can be accessed on the
Internet at http://www.census.gov; click on ``American FactFinder''
from the left menu; click on ``Fact Sheet'' from the left menu; at the
right, fill in one or more fields and click ``Go''; the name and
population data for each recipient location must be listed in this
section. The average population of the recipient locations will be used
and will be scored as follows:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scoring
Population (points)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
5,000 or less............................................... 30
5,001 to 10,000............................................. 20
10,001 to 20,000............................................ 10
20,001 to 50,000............................................ 5
------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Income--Maximum 30 Points
The average of the median household income for the communities
where the recipients are physically located will determine the points
awarded. The physical address, not mailing address, for each recipient
must be used for this criterion. Applicants may compare the average
recipient median household income to the State median household income
or the national median household income, whichever yields the most
points. The national median household income to be used is $41,994. The
applicant must submit the income data in the form of a printout of the
applicable information from the following Web site to verify the income
for each recipient. The data being used is from the 2000 census. The
data can be accessed on the Internet at http://www.census.gov; click on
``American FactFinder'' from the left menu; click on ``Fact Sheet''
from the left menu; at the right, fill in one or more fields and click
``Go''; the name and income data for each recipient location must be
listed in this section. Points will be awarded as follows:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scoring
Average recipient median income (points)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than 60 percent of state or national median household 30
income.....................................................
From 60 to 70 percent of state or national median household 20
income.....................................................
Greater than 70 to 80 percent of state or national median 10
household income...........................................
In excess of 80 percent of state or national median 0
household income...........................................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. Soundness of Approach--Maximum 50 Points
The applicant can receive up to 50 points for soundness of
approach. The overall proposal will be considered under this criterion.
Applicants must list the page numbers in the application that address
these factors.
The maximum 50 points for this criterion will be broken down as
follows:
a. The ability to provide the proposed financial and technical
assistance based on prior accomplishments has been demonstrated. 10
Points.
b. The proposed financial and technical assistance program is
clearly stated and the applicant has defined how this proposal will be
implemented. The plan for implementation is viable. 10 Points.
c. Cost effectiveness will be evaluated based on the budget in the
application. The proposed grant amount and matching funds should be
utilized to maximize capacity building at the recipient level. 15
points.
d. The proposal fits the objectives for which applications were
invited. 15 points.
6. Technical Assistance for the Development of Renewable Energy Systems
and Energy Efficiency Improvements--Maximum 20 Points
The applicant must demonstrate how they will improve the
recipients' capacity to carry out activities related to the development
of renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements for
housing, community facilities, or community and economic development.
7. Regional Collaboration Applications--Maximum 20 Points
The Agency encourages applications that promote substantive
economic growth, including job creation, as well as specifically
addressing the circumstances of those sectors within the region that
have fewer prospects and the greatest need for improved economic
opportunity.
A Regional Collaboration project should implement goals, objectives
or actions identified in a Regional Strategic Plan which addresses
priorities specified at a regional scale. Applications should
demonstrate:
a. Clear leadership at the Intermediary level in organizing and
coordinating a regional initiative;
b. Evidence that the Recipient's region has a common economic basis
that supports the likelihood of success in implementing its strategy;
c. Evidence that technical assistance will be provided that will
increase the Recipient's capacity to assess their circumstance,
determine a long term sustainable vision for the region, and implement
a comprehensive strategic plan, including identifying performance
measures and establishing a system to collect the data to allow
assessment of those performance measures.
8. Local Investment Points--Maximum 20 Points
Intermediaries must be physically located in an eligible rural
community and must include evidence of investment in the community. The
intent is to ensure that RCDI funds are expended in the rural
community.
9. State Director's Points Based on Project Merit--Maximum 20 Points
This criterion does not have to be addressed by the applicant. Up
to 20 points may be awarded by the Rural
[[Page 16526]]
Development State Director. Points may be awarded to more than one
application per state or jurisdiction. The total points awarded under
this criterion, to all applications, will not exceed 20. Assignment of
points will include a written justification and be tied to and awarded
based on how closely they align with the Rural Development State
Office's strategic plan.
10. Proportional Distribution Points--20 Points
This criterion does not have to be addressed by the applicant.
After applications have been evaluated and awarded points under the
first 9 criteria, the Agency may award 20 points per application to
promote an even distribution of grant awards between the ranges of
$50,000 to $300,000.
B. Review and Selection Process
Rating and ranking. Applications will be rated and ranked on a
national basis by a review panel based on the ``Evaluation Criteria''
contained in this Notice. If there is a tied score after the
applications have been rated and ranked, the tie will be resolved by
reviewing the scores for ``Building Capacity'' and the applicant with
the highest score in that category will receive a higher ranking. If
the scores for ``Building Capacity'' are the same, the scores will be
compared for the next criterion, in sequential order, until one highest
score can be determined.
Initial screening. The Agency will screen each application to
determine eligibility during the period immediately following the
application deadline. Listed below are examples of reasons for
rejection from previous funding rounds. The following reasons for
rejection are not all inclusive; however, they represent the majority
of the applications previously rejected.
1. Recipients were not located in eligible rural areas based on the
definition in this Notice.
2. Applicants failed to provide evidence of recipient's status,
i.e., documentation supporting nonprofit evidence of organization.
3. Applicants failed to provide evidence of committed matching
funds or matching funds were not committed for a period at least equal
to the grant performance period.
4. Application did not follow the RCDI structure with an
intermediary and recipients.
5. Recipients were not identified in the application.
6. Intermediary did not provide evidence it had been incorporated
for at least 3 years as the applicant entity.
7. Applicants failed to address the ``Evaluation Criteria.''
8. The purpose of the proposal did not qualify as an eligible RCDI
purpose.
9. Inappropriate use of funds (e.g., construction or renovations).
10. The applicant proposed providing financial and technical
assistance directly to individuals.
11. The application package not received by closing date and time.
Part VI--Rural Jobs Accelerator and Innovation Challenge Application
Process
An application for ``Rural Jobs and Innovation Accelerator
Challenge'' funds must be submitted to USDA and EDA by an organization
or a team of organizations that is individually or collectively
eligible to receive funding from USDA and EDA.
Required Application Forms and Content
To be considered complete, an application package must consist of:
(1) Required forms as discussed below;
(2) Project Narrative; and
(3) Addenda to the Project Narrative.
Applications that do not contain all required forms listed below,
or that fail to adhere to the instructions in this Notice, will be
considered non-responsive and will not be considered for funding.
Additional application materials not requested under this Notice will
not be reviewed or evaluated.
Applicants are advised to carefully read the instructions contained
in this Notice and in all forms contained in the application package.
It is the sole responsibility of each applicant to ensure that a
complete application package is received.
Required Forms
All applicants are required to submit the following forms at the
time of application. The forms should be uploaded as separate portable
document format (PDF) files. Forms are available in the application
package at www.grants.gov or on the Rural Jobs Accelerator Web site
under `application submission information'.
Each USDA applicant must submit the following forms.
Form SF-424--Application for Federal Assistance for the
applicant
Form SF-424A--Budget Information- Non-Construction Programs
for the applicant
Form SF-424B--Assurances--Non-Construction Programs for the
applicant
Form CD-511--Certification Regarding Lobbying for the USDA and
EDA applicant
Form RD-400-4--Assurance Agreement, for the applicant and each
RCDI Recipient
Form AD-1047--Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension,
and Other Responsibility Matters--Primary Covered Transactions
Form AD-1048--Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension,
Ineligibility, and Voluntary Exclusion--Lower Tier Covered Transactions
Form AD-1049--Certification Regarding Drug-Free Workplace
Requirements
Identity and report any association or relationship with Rural
Development employees.
Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants, OMB No.
1894-0010 Exp. 05/13/2012 (applies only to non-profit applicants--
submission is optional)
Form SF-LLL--Disclosure of Lobbying Activities, if applicable
Project Description
The Project Description must demonstrate the applicant's capability
to implement the proposed activities in accordance with the
requirements of this NOFA. The Project Description must demonstrate how
each scope of work (individually funded by each Funding Agency) is
integrated into an overarching project.
The full Project Description must include the following components:
Executive Summary:
Not to exceed two pages, the Executive Summary will serve as a
summary of the proposed project and may be shared publicly in the form
originally submitted; therefore, applicants should not include
proprietary, confidential commercial/business, and personally
identifiable information. The Executive Summary must include the
following sections: (a) The project name; (b) the organizations
composing the Applicant Team; (c) the identified region and cluster;
(d) a summary of the integrated project and project objectives; (e) a
brief description of the scopes of work to be funded by each funding
source and the associated performance measures; and (f) a summary of
how the capacity of the recipients will be improved and the regional
strength will be increased.
Project Narrative:
The Project Narrative should be a detailed description of all
activities that will be undertaken by all sources of funds requested
under this solicitation. Within the Project Narrative, applicants
[[Page 16527]]
should address all the evaluation criteria, as outlined in section
VI.A:
1. Region and Cluster of Focus;
2. Integrated Project Concept/Overview;
3. Building Community and Regional Capacity (USDA scope of work);
4. Developing Regional Links (EDA scope of work);
5. ARC or DRA scope of work (only applicable to applicants seeking
funding from ARC or DRA);
6. Project Impact and Measurable Outcomes; and
7. Soundness of Approach.
The length of the Project Narrative is limited to 25 double-spaced,
8.5 x 11 inch pages with 12-point font and 1-inch margins. Applicants
may include a map delineating the region at the end of the Project
Narrative, which will not count towards the 25 page limit. Any Project
Narrative text beyond the specified page limit will not be read.
Applicants must number the pages of the Project Narrative, beginning
with page number 1. The Project Narrative should be submitted as one
PDF file, and only one Project Narrative should be submitted per
application. Note: the page limit described in this section may be
increased to 30 pages if the Applicant Team is also seeking funding
from ARC or DRA.
Integrated Work Plan
Applicants must input details of proposed activities under each
scope of work from the Project Narrative, as well as expected/estimated
impacts of the activities, into an Integrated Work Plan.
Budget Description
A separate budget narrative must be created and submitted to
support the scope of work for each Funding Agency, and each narrative
must provide a description of costs associated with each line item on
each Form SF-424A over the project period. Supporting documentation
listing the components of these categories must be included. The budget
should be dated: Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, as applicable. The budget
narrative should include a personnel plan listing all positions that
will be charged to the Federal and non-Federal portion of the budget
for each year of the applicable project period. The personnel plan must
include the position titles, salaries, percentage of time dedicated to
the project, and amount of salary charged to the project for each staff
member assigned to the project. The sum of all salaries charged to the
project must equal the amount on the ``Personnel'' budget line item on
Form SF-424A. The personnel plan should provide a description of how
the personnel will carry out the proposed plan, including the adequacy
and previous performance of the proposed team to carry out project
activities.
Addenda to the Project Description
The applicant must also submit the following required addenda to
the Project Description in PDF file.
The required addenda to the Project Description are:
Resumes of Key Personnel (by Funding Agency): Applicants
must provide resumes for key personnel staff which generally should not
exceed two pages in length (per resume). Applicants also should provide
a 2 page summary description of all personnel (performing for the
applicant) and contractors named in the application. Resumes should be
uploaded as one PDF file.
Verification of Matching Funds
[cir] Verification of source and amount of matching funds: Each
USDA applicant must provide verification of source and amount of
matching funds, i.e., a copy of a bank statement if matching funds are
in cash or a copy of the confirmed funding commitment from the funding
source. The verification must show that matching funds are available
for the duration of the grant performance period. The verification of
matching funds must be submitted with the application or the
application will be considered incomplete.
Applicant Team Written Agreement: If the USDA Applicant is applying
for funds under this Notice in partnership with and EDA applicant, the
Applicant Team must provide a copy of the written agreement signed by
each team member that reflects a binding commitment to undertake the
proposed project, the respective scopes of work, and perform the roles
and responsibilities identified in the Project Narrative. The Agreement
must include the project title and list each applicant and the source
of funds they are applying for.
Facilities and Administrative or Indirect Cost Rate
Agreement
[cir] The indirect cost category in the project budget should be
used only when a grant applicant has a federally negotiated indirect
cost rate. A copy of the current rate agreement must be provided with
the application.
Non-profit organizations: Non-profit organizations
applying for funding must submit the following, addition to all items
listed above.
[cir] Organization documents, such as a certificate of
incorporation and a current good standing certification from the
Secretary of State where the applicant is incorporated and other
similar and valid documentation of non-profit status, from the
intermediary that confirms it has been legally organized for a minimum
of 3 years as the applicant entity.
Recipient Information: Applicants must provide the
following information for each recipient. Please combine into a single
PDF file.
1. A summary page, double-spaced between items, listing the
following for each recipient (this information should not be presented
in narrative form):
a. Recipient's entity name;
b. Complete address (mailing and physical location, if different);
c. County where located;
d. Number of Congressional district where recipient is located; and
e. Contact person's name and telephone number.
2. Submit evidence that each recipient entity is eligible:
a. Nonprofits--provide a current valid letter confirming non-profit
status from the Secretary of the State of incorporation or the IRS, a
current good standing certification from the Secretary of the State of
incorporation, or other valid documentation of nonprofit status of each
recipient.
b. Low-income rural community--provide evidence the entity is a
public body, and a copy of the most recent available census data to
verify the population, and evidence that the median household income is
at, or below, 80 percent of the national median household income. We
will only accept data and printouts from http://www.census.gov. The
specific instructions to retrieve data from this site are detailed
under the ``Evaluation Criteria'' for ``Population'' and ``Income.''
c. Federally recognized tribes--provide the page listing their name
from the Federal Register list of tribal entities published by the
Bureau of Indian Affairs on October 1, 2010 (75 FR 60810) or a
subsequent updated list or supplement in the Federal Register. If a
tribe has been federally recognized since the last list of federally
recognized tribes was published in the Federal Register, appropriate
documentation from the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian
Affairs must be submitted that legally verifies that recognition.
Part VII--Application Review Process for the Rural Jobs Accelerator
Challenge
Evaluation Criteria
Applications will be evaluated based on their ability to satisfy
the following core evaluation criteria, with each criterion assigned
the points indicated.
[[Page 16528]]
1. Region and Cluster of Focus (15 Points)
The applicant must describe the region of focus (see page 4) for
which the funding is requested, including the economics, clusters, and
the networks and assets that contribute to the region's competitiveness
and potential for growth.
The narrative response must:
Clearly describe the geographic region of the proposed
project. Regions may be single or multi-jurisdictional areas.
Applicants have the flexibility to define their region based on
quantitative and qualitative information about where and how the
cluster targeted for development operates.\1\ The region description
should include the location of project recipients for the Building
Community and Regional Capacity activity. Applicants should provide
information about areas and/or sectors of economic distress.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Regions can be non-contiguous (e.g., cluster ``anchor'' in
one region with networked assets such as research partnerships with
federal labs or supply chain linkages in other regions).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Present a compelling description of the economics of the
region and the specific cluster that will be targeted by the proposed
project. This should demonstrate that the region possesses unique
assets to support the cluster and has a competitive advantage in the
identified industry and identify any specific economic needs and
opportunities for growth. Applicants should include evidence of a
concentration of firms in the identified industry sector, available
industry-specific infrastructure that support the cluster, and clear
leadership at the regional level in organizing and coordinating a
region-wide initiative.
[cir] Fully describe existing regional partnerships that directly
engaged in supporting the targeted cluster, including a discussion of
the extent of participation and effectiveness:
[cir] Private sector leadership and significant participation in
cluster activities;
[cir] Any and all cluster intermediary organization, such as an
economic development organization, workforce development board,
business incubator or accelerator, chamber of commerce, or a
university-based consortium;
[cir] Universities, federally funded labs, or privately funded
research and development centers;
[cir] Federally funded program or center, such as a Manufacturing
Extension Partnership Center (MEP), Small Business Development Center,
and Preferred Sustainability Status holders within the Partnership for
Sustainable Communities;
[cir] Venture development organizations, venture capital firms,
revolving loan funders, angel investment groups, community lenders,
community development financial institutions, and other institutions
focused on expanding access to capital;
[cir] Local and municipal governments, workforce development
entities, communities colleges, and community-based organizations; and
[cir] Private foundations focused on economic or community
development, science, business, and innovation.
2. Integrated Project Concept (10 Points)
Applicants must provide an Integrated Project Concept, which is a
narrative summary that describes the proposed project with a maximum of
5 pages.
The narrative response must:
a. Present how the applicant intends to leverage and utilize
multiple resources to meet project objectives, address identified needs
and capitalize on opportunities;
b. Clearly express how the proposed scopes of work will complement
each other in accelerating competitiveness in rural regions;
c. Describe how the project will promote substantive economic
growth, including job creation.
Note: Applicants requesting ARC or DRA funds must also include
or incorporate the proposed ARC or DRA scopes of work in their
Integrated Project Concept.
3. Building Community and Regional Capacity (20 Points)
The applicant must demonstrate how they will apply USDA funds to
improve the recipients' capacity, through a program of financial and
technical assistance, as it related to the RCDI purposes. Capacity-
building financial and technical assistance should provide new
functions to the recipients or expand existing functions that will
enable the recipients to undertake projects in the areas of housing,
community facilities, or community and economic development that will
benefit the community. The proposed program of financial and technical
assistance provided, its delivery, and the measurability of its
effectiveness will determine the merit of the application.
Capacity-building financial and technical assistance may include:
Training to conduct community development programs, e.g., the
establishment of minority business entrepreneurs, cooperatives, or
micro-enterprises; organizational development, e.g., assistance to
develop or improve board operations, management, and financial systems;
instruction on how to develop and implement a strategic plan;
instruction on how to access alternative funding sources to increase
leveraging opportunities; staffing, e.g., hiring a person at
intermediary or recipient level to provide technical assistance to
recipients.
The narrative response must:
a. Describe the nature of financial and technical assistance to be
provided to the recipients and the activities that will be conducted to
deliver the technical assistance;
b. Explain how financial and technical assistance will develop or
increase the recipient's capacity. Indicate whether a new function is
being developed or if existing functions are being expanded or
performed more effectively;
c. Identify which RCDI purpose areas will be addressed with this
assistance: Housing, community facilities, or community and economic
development.
d. Demonstrate that the applicant has conducted programs of
financial and technical assistance and achieved measurable results in
the areas of housing, community facilities, or community and economic
development in rural areas. Provide the name, contact information, and
the type and amount of the financial and technical assistance the
applicant organization has provided to the following for the last 3
years:
[cir] Nonprofit organizations in the rural areas.
[cir] Low-income communities in rural areas (also include the type
of entity, e.g., city government, town council or village board).
[cir] Federally recognized tribes or any other culturally diverse
organizations.
4. Linking to Regional Clusters and Opportunities (20 Points)
The applicant must demonstrate how they will utilize EDA funds to
link rural communities to markets, networks, industry clusters, and
other regional opportunities and assets to improve the rural regions'
competitiveness, repatriate U.S. jobs, foster job creation, retain
existing jobs, support innovation, and promote private investment in
the regional economy.
The narrative response must:
a. Describe the proposed activity to be implemented by the
applicant and how it will link rural regions to the identified clusters
and opportunities;
b. Explain how the proposed activity will address an identified
need or opportunity to meet activity objectives,
[[Page 16529]]
including supporting innovation and job growth;
c. Explain how the activity will implement goals, objectives or
actions identified in a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy or
Regional Strategic Plan which addresses priorities specified at a
regional scale;
d. Note the entity or entities that will oversee activity
development and implementation and demonstrate that these entities have
experience in the proposed activities and achieved measurable results
in the areas of regional development and cluster development; and
e. Demonstrate financial resources to ensure institutional capacity
to support the projects in the long-term, without significant future
Federal funding.
5. Project Impact and Measurable Outcomes (20 Points)
Applications funded under this competitive solicitation are
expected to identify clear goals and demonstrate potential for
substantial benefits. While each funding source will identify
performance metrics that applicants must track and report, applicants
are encouraged to identify additional metrics that can be used to
assess the impact of requested funding. Applicants must also describe
mechanisms for tracking and reporting on these outcomes.
Applicants are required to submit an Integrated Work Plan (IWP) as
part of their submission package. The IWP is designed to document the
key activities that will be supported by Funding Agency, the
anticipated dates these activities will be completed, and the
anticipated core impacts that each activity is expected to yield in the
short-term (during the 3 year project period) and the long-term (within
three years after project end date). The impacts set forth in the IWP
should be forecasts based on each activity; grantees will be required
to report on progress towards reaching these forecasts throughout the
life of the project.
Applicants should utilize the Excel-based IWP template available on
the Rural Jobs Accelerator Web site, http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/RuralJobsAccelerator. Each measure should be broken down by funding
source (i.e. EDA, USDA, ARC, and DRA), clearly linking proposed funding
to specific outcomes. A copy of the IWP template is included as
Attachment A to this FFO for reference (please note how activities,
expected deadlines, and anticipated impacts are separately reported for
each funding agency).
All applicants are required to utilize and include the following
measures in their IWP to report on anticipated project impacts:
Jobs Created during the Project Period--Applicants should
include an estimate of the number of jobs that will be created during
the three year project period as a direct result of funding from one of
the Funding Partners. Anticipated jobs created should be reported as
full time equivalent (FTE) or equivalents which are annualized for the
entire project period.
Jobs Retained during the Project Period--Applicants should
include an estimate of the number of jobs expected to be retained
during the three year project period as a direct result of funding from
each of the Funding Partners. Anticipated jobs retained should be
reported as FTEs or equivalents which are annualized for the entire
project period.
Private Investment Leverage during the Project Period--
Applicants should include an estimate of the amount of private
investment that will be leveraged during the three year project period
as a direct result of funding from one of the Funding Partners.
Businesses Assisted during the Project Period--Applicants
should include an estimate of the number of businesses expected to be
assisted during the three year project period as a direct result of
funding from one of the Funding Partners.
Engagement and Collaboration of Regional Organizations--
Applicants should include an estimate of the number and types of
organizations within the region expected to be engaged in the project
during the three year project period.
Long-term Jobs Created--Applicants should include an
estimate of the number of jobs expected to be created within three
years after project is completed (within six years from project
inception) that result from funding from one of the Funding Partners.
Anticipated long-term jobs created should be reported as FTEs or
equivalents which are annualized for the entire six year period since
the original grant award.
Long-term Jobs Retained--Applicants should include an
estimate of the number of jobs expected to be retained within three
years after project is completed (within six years from project
inception) that result from funding from one of the Funding Partners.
Anticipated long-term jobs retained should be reported as FTEs or
equivalents which are annualized for the entire six year period since
the original grant award.
Long-term Private Investment Leveraged--Applicants should
include an estimate of the amount of private investment that will be
leveraged within three years after project is completed (within six
years from project inception) that result from funding from one of the
Funding Partners. Funds reported should reflect the cumulative amount
of private investment anticipated to be leveraged for the entire six
year period since the original grant award.
Long-term Businesses Assisted--Applicants should include
an estimate of the number of businesses that will be assisted three
years after project is completed (within six years from project
inception) that result from funding from one of the Funding Partners.
Additionally, applicants are encouraged to provide other self-
identified measures within the IWP which are specific to their proposed
project activities. Such measures should align with the objectives of
the individual project, as well as the overall Rural Jobs Accelerator
initiative. For example, applicants may consider the following types of
measures:
Cooperation:
[cir] Number of organizations actively engaged in the cluster (and
new ones added to the network)
[cir] Number of symposia held by the cluster
[cir] Number of further cooperative agreements as a result of the
supported activity
Innovation:
[cir] Number of new projects developed
[cir] Number of education and training activities related to
innovation
[cir] Number of workshops and seminars related to innovation
Workforce Skills:
[cir] Percentage of employees for which training was provided by
this project
[cir] Average number of qualified applicants per job
[cir] Number of recruitment events at universities and community
colleges
Business Creation:
[cir] Number of newly formed businesses as a result of the
supported activity
[cir] Number of jobs relocated from outside the U.S. to the region
Housing Support:
[cir] Change in available housing units in supported communities
Access to Capital:
[cir] Amount and number of new equity investments in cluster firms
[cir] Amount and number of new loans to cluster firms
Market Development:
[cir] Dollar increase in exports resulting from the project
activities
Applicants should note that the submitted IWP and associated
information will form the basis by
[[Page 16530]]
which selected projects will be monitored. Grantees will be required to
submit regular reports to the Funding Partners which document project
progress against the scopes of work, deadlines, and short-term measures
outlined in the original IWP. Reporting requirements will be outlined
in the terms and conditions of the grant award.
Applicant teams requesting funding from ARC or DRA should include
measures for those funding agencies in the IWP.
Evaluation criterion for this section will be based on the
following:
a. Includes specific and quantifiable measures of project impacts
that benefit the regional economy and will support the cluster;
b. Presents measures that are relevant to the proposed scopes of
work and objectives;
c. Presents measures that will help monitor progress towards
meeting the objectivities of the Rural Jobs Accelerator; and
d. Presents practical and clear tracking and reporting mechanisms.
6. Soundness of Approach (15 Points)
The overall proposal will be considered under this criterion.
Applicants must list the page numbers in the application that address
these factors.
The narrative response must demonstrate:
a. The ability to implement the proposed scopes of work based on
prior accomplishments has been demonstrated for both Building Community
and Regional Capacity and Regional Linkages scopes of work.
b. The proposed technical assistance program and regional linkages
program is clearly stated and the application has defined how this
proposal will be implemented. The plan for implementation is viable for
both Building Community and Regional Capacity and Regional Linkages
scopes of work.
c. Cost effectiveness will be evaluated based on the budget in the
application for both Building Community and Regional Capacity and
Regional Linkages scopes of work. For the Building Community and
Regional Capacity activity the proposed grant amount and matching funds
should be utilized to maximize capacity building at the recipient
level.
d. The proposal fits the objectives for which applications were
invited.
Application and Eligibility Review
Each Funding Agency will conduct an initial application and
eligibility review of applications submitted and received by the
deadline Each Funding Agency will independently review applications to
ensure compliance with its agency-specific requirements. This review
will determine if the application satisfies: (a) All requirements for a
complete submission (including all required forms, documentation of
matching funds, and addenda to the Project Description); (b) agency-
specific eligibility criteria; and (c) agency-specific requirements for
permitted activities. Applications found to be responsive will be
forwarded for merit review.
Merit Review Panels
Upon completion of the application and eligibility review, Merit
Review Panels comprised of Federal employees from the Funding Agencies,
who will review and evaluate applications deemed responsive. Merit
Review Panels may also include experts from Support Agencies. The Merit
Review Panels will evaluate the applications against the evaluation
criteria enumerated. The Merit review Panels will award up to 100
points to each application, rank the applications by consensus, and
forward the evaluation findings and rankings to the Policy Review and
Recommendation Committee.
Policy Review and Recommendation Committee
Upon completion of the merit review, the Policy Review and
Recommendation Committee composed of senior officials from the Primary
Funding Agencies will review the top 30 ranked applications, or
approximately 5 per EDA Region. This Committee will evaluate the
applications based on how well they meet the purposes of the Rural Job
Accelerator initiative. They may consider such factors as, geographic
balance in distribution of program funds, balance of diverse project
types in the distribution of program funds, balanced funding for a
diverse group of organizations including smaller and rural
organizations that may form part of a broader consortium to serve
diverse populations, the availability of funds, the applicant's
performance under previous Federal financial assistance awards, and the
extent to which the applicant integrates and leverages multiple Federal
resources to effectively support rural region and cluster development.
For projects based within regions serviced by the Delta Regional
Authority and the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Policy Review
and Recommendation Committee will give additional consideration to
projects that fully integrate and leverage the resources provided by
these agencies. Based on these combined factors, the Policy Review and
Recommendation Committee will recommend approximately twenty
applications to the agency principals and selecting officials.
Agency Principals and Selecting Officials
Agency principals and selecting officials will work together to
make the final award determinations. The agency principals for the
Primary Funding agencies include the Assistant Secretary of Commerce
for Economic Development and the Undersecretary for Rural Development
of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Selecting officials are authorized to finalize funding decisions
and make awards. The USDA selecting official will be the Tammye
Trevino, Administrator for Rural Housing Service.
Selecting officials may follow the recommendations of the Policy
Review and Recommendation Committee, or may consider additional
information in making their selections. If a selecting official makes a
selection of an application that is not included in the set of
applications recommended by the Policy Review and Recommendation
Committee, the selecting official must document the rationale for the
decision in writing.
Unsuccessful Competition
On occasion, competitive solicitations or competitive panels
produce less than optimum results, such as a competition resulting in
the receipt of no applications, a competition resulting in the receipt
of only unresponsive or unqualified applications, or too few highly
rated applications. In the event that these conditions arise, the
Funding Agencies shall take the most time- and cost-effective approach
available that is in the best interest of the Federal government. This
includes (1) Re-competition, (2) re-paneling, or (3) formal
negotiation.
Transparency
The agencies and bureaus involved in this initiative are committed
to conducting a transparent grant award process and publicizing
information about investment decisions. Applicants are advised that
their respective applications and information related to its review and
evaluation may be shared publicly as permitted by law. In addition,
information about the grant award progress and related results may also
be made publicly available. USDA may release a list of Rural Jobs
[[Page 16531]]
Accelerator applicants including organization, project name, city and
state.
Additional information regarding the ``Rural Jobs and Innovation
Accelerator Challenge'' can be found at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/RuralJobsAccelerator.html.
Submission of Applications
An applicant may obtain the appropriate application package
electronically at Grants.gov. All components of the appropriate
application package may be accessed and downloaded (in a screen-
fillable format) at www.grants.gov/applicants/apply_for_grants.jsp.
The preferred electronic file format for attachments is PDF; however,
electronic files in Microsoft Word, WordPerfect, or Microsoft Excel
will also be accepted. The applicant must complete the Grants.gov
registration process to submit applications through Grants.gov;
however, please note that registration is not required for an applicant
to access, view, or download the application packages. Alternatively,
an applicant may request a paper application package by contacting the
USDA Rural Development State Office listed in this Notice.
Electronic Submission
The Primary Funding Agencies encourage electronic submission of
applications through Grants.gov. Applicants should not wait until the
application closing date to begin the registration and submission
process. In order to submit an application through Grants.gov,
applicants first must register for a Grants.gov user id and password.
Note that this registration process can take between three to five
business days or as long as two weeks if all steps are not completed in
a timely manner (see http://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp). Applicants should register as organizations, not as
individuals. Please note that organizations already registered with
Grants.gov do not need to re-register; however, all registered
organizations must keep their Central Contractor Registration (CCR)
database registration up-to-date and must designate the person
submitting the application on behalf of the organization as an
Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR). See the following
discussion of AOR requirements in this section.
An application that is not validated and time-stamped by Grants.gov
by the applicable deadline will not be processed.
Applicants need to be aware that once an application is submitted,
it undergoes a validation process through Grants.gov in which the
application may be accepted or rejected by the system. The validation
process may take 24 to 48 hours to complete. Applications that contain
errors will be rejected by Grants.gov and will not be forwarded to the
Funding Agencies for review. The applicant must correct the error
before Grants.gov will accept and validate the application. The Funding
Agencies will not accept late applications that were rejected by
Grants.gov due to errors. Accordingly, the Funding Agencies strongly
suggest that applicants submit their applications at least four to five
days before the application deadline to allow the application to be
accepted and validated by Grants.gov and to allow time for errors to be
corrected. The Funding Agencies will consider the time-stamp on the
validation from Grants.gov as the official submission time.
AOR requirement. Applicants must register as organizations, not as
individuals, and must register at least one Authorized Organizational
Representative (AOR) for your organization. AORs registered at
Grants.gov are the only officials with the authority to submit
applications via Grants.gov. If the application is submitted to
Grants.gov by anyone other than your organization's AOR, it will be
rejected by Grants.gov and cannot be considered. Please note: An
Applicant Team must submit its application package using the registered
AOR for the organization applying for EDA funds.
The Funding Agencies will not accept late submissions caused by
Grants.gov registration issues, including CCR and AOR issues.
The following instructions provide step-by-step instructions for
accessing, completing, and submitting an application via Grants.gov.
Save the application package at regular intervals to avoid losing work.
a. Navigate to the URL www.grants.gov.
b. Select ``Apply for Grants'' from the left-hand menu at
Grants.gov.
c. Ensure that you have installed a Grants.gov compatible version
of Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer. Incompatible versions of
Adobe Acrobat Reader may cause errors. Please see compatible versions
of Adobe Reader at http://grants.gov/help/download_software.jsp#adobe811.
d. Select the link ``Download a Grant Application'' package.
e. Enter [[``Rural Jobs Accelerator 2012'']] as the Funding
Opportunity Number and click on ``Download Package.''
f. Click on the ``Download'' link.
g. Click on ``Download Application Package.''
h. Save the application package to your computer or network drive.
Note that the application package file can be shared among multiple
users; however, each user must have a Grants.gov compatible version of
Adobe Acrobat Reader installed in order to save changes to the
application package.
i. Click on each of the documents in the ``Mandatory Documents''
box and, after selecting each one, click on the arrow to move these
into the ``Mandatory Documents for Submission'' box.
j. In the ``Optional Documents'' box, click on Form SF-LLL if non-
Federal funds have been or are planned to be used for lobbying in
connection with a covered federal transaction, including this
competitive solicitation and then move this to the ``Optional Documents
for Submission'' box. If you will submit your application via
Grants.gov, also click on ``Attachments'' and move this to the
``Optional Documents for Submission'' box. The Attachments Form also
allows applicants to attach the Project Description documents, forms,
and other documents required as addenda under this competition. Note
that if the applicant is not submitting electronically, the Project
Description documents and other required forms and addenda all must be
printed and submitted in hard copy via a CD or paper.
k. The application package should pre-populate with all selected
forms embedded. Complete all mandatory fields (highlighted in yellow)
on the forms. Note that mandatory fields will vary based on the type of
applicant and the type of assistance sought. On Form CD-511, type ``not
awarded yet'' in the ``project number'' field.
l. Attach the Project Description documents and other required
forms and addenda. Note, the mandatory USDA forms can be found on the
``Full Announcement'' tab, and must be included as attachments to the
application. The preferred electronic file format for the required
attachments is PDF; however, the Funding Agencies will accept
electronic files in Microsoft Word, WordPerfect, or Excel formats.
m. When all mandatory fields have been completed, scroll to the top
and click on ``Check Package for Errors.''
n. Click ``Save.''
o. Click ``Save and Submit.'' At this point, the registered AOR for
the EDA applicant must be connected to the Internet and will be
prompted to enter
[[Page 16532]]
the appropriate Grants.gov user id and password in order to
electronically submit the application.
Verify submission was successful. Applicants should save and print
written proof of an electronic submission made at Grants.gov.
Applicants can expect to receive multiple emails regarding the status
of their submission. Since email communication can be unreliable,
applicants must proactively check on the status of their application if
they do not receive email notifications within a day of submission. The
first email should confirm receipt of the application, and the second
should indicate that the application has either been successfully
validated by the system before transmission to the Funding Agencies or
has been rejected due to errors. Please note: That it can take up to
two business days after Grants.gov receives an application for
applicants to receive email notification of an error. An applicant will
receive a third email once EDA has retrieved an application from
Grants.gov.
Applicants should refrain from submitting multiple copies of the
same application package. Applicants should save and print both the
submitted application confirmation screen provided on Grants.gov, and
the confirmation email sent by Grants.gov when the application has been
successfully received and validated in the system. If an applicant
receives an email from Grants.gov indicating that the application was
received and subsequently validated, but does not receive an email from
Grants.gov indicating that EDA has retrieved the application package
within 72 hours of that email, the applicant may contact the
appropriate person listed in Appendix F. of this FFO to inquire if EDA
is in receipt of the submission.
It is the applicant's responsibility to verify that its submission
was received and validated successfully at Grants.gov. To see the date
and time your application was received, log on to Grants.gov and click
on the ``Track My Application'' link from the left-hand menu. For a
successful submission, the application must be received and validated
by Grants.gov, and an agency tracking number assigned. If your
application has a status of ``Received'' it is awaiting validation by
Grants.gov. Once validation is complete, the status will change to
``Validated'' or ``Rejected with Errors.'' If the status is ``Rejected
with Errors,'' your application has not been received successfully.
Some of the reasons Grants.gov may reject an application can be found
at http://www.grants.gov/applicants/submit_application_faqs.jsp.
Systems issues. If you experience a Grants.gov ``systems issue''
(technical problems or glitches with the Grants.gov Web site) that you
believe threatens your ability to complete a submission, please (a)
print any error message received and (b) call the Grants.gov Contact
Center at 1-800-518-4726 for immediate assistance. Ensure that you
obtain a case number regarding your communications with Grants.gov.
Please note: Problems with an applicant organization's computer system
or equipment are not considered ``systems issues.'' Similarly, an
applicant's failure to (a) complete the registration, (b) ensure that a
registered AOR with the EDA applicant submits the application, or (c)
notice receipt of an email message from Grants.gov, are not considered
systems issues. A Grants.gov ``systems issue'' is an issue occurring in
connection with the operations of Grants.gov itself, such as the
temporary loss of service by Grants.gov due to an unexpected volume of
traffic or failure of information technology systems, both of which are
highly unlikely.
Applicants should access the following link for assistance in
navigating Grants.gov and for a list of useful resources: http://www.grants.gov/help/help.jsp. Also, the following link lists frequently
asked questions (FAQs): www.grants.gov/applicants/submit_application_faqs.jsp. If you do not find an answer to your question under the
``Applicant FAQs,'' try consulting the ``Applicant User Guide'' or
contacting Grants.gov via email at [email protected] or telephone at
1-800-518-4726. The Grants.gov Contact Center is open 24 hours a day,
seven days a week.
Entities wishing to apply for assistance may download the
application documents and requirements delineated in this Notice from
the RCDI Web site: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/rcdi. Application
information for electronic submissions may be found at http://www.grants.gov.
Applicants may also request paper application packages from the
Rural Development office in their state.
Applicants have the option of submitting their application on a CD
or a completed paper application. Proposals submitted via CD or paper
must be received at or before 5 p.m. Eastern time on May 9, 2012 at the
following address: Attn: Terry D'Addio, U.S. Department of Agriculture,
14th and Independence Avenue SW., Room 6015-S, Washington, DC 20250.
Proposals shall be submitted in sealed envelopes or packages with a
cover page labeled with ``Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 Rural Jobs
Accelerator,'' the project name; and the organizations included in the
application. One original and two copies of the CD or paper submission
must be delivered via postal mail or courier service with a postmark or
courier service's time and date stamp on or before the deadline. USDA
mail security measures may delay receipt of United States Postal
Service mail for up to three weeks. Therefore, applicants that submit
via paper or CD are strongly advised to use carriers with guaranteed
delivery services and that provide confirmation that indicates the
application was delivered by the deadline.
CDs must be labeled with the project name and verified as virus
free. The Funding Agencies will not review any proposals submitted on
CDs on which viruses are detected.
The CD or paper submission must include all the required forms,
Project Description documents and addenda for all applicants proposing
scopes of work for the joint project (see section V.C. of this FFO for
application content requirements).
The applicant may download the appropriate application package in a
screen-fillable format from http://www.grants.gov/applicants/apply_for_grants.jsp, save it electronically, and upload it onto the CD.
If your application is received after the deadline, it will not be
reviewed.
Selection of an organization under this FFO does not constitute
approval of the proposed project as submitted. Before any funds are
awarded, the Funding Agencies may enter into negotiations about such
items as program components, staffing and funding levels, and
administrative systems in place to support implementation of the award.
The amount of available funding may require the final award amount to
be less than that requested by the applicant. If the negotiations do
not result in a mutually acceptable submission, the Grants Officer for
the applicable Funding Agency reserves the right to terminate the
negotiations and decline to fund the application. The Funding Agencies
reserve the right not to fund any application received under this
competitive solicitation.
Unsuccessful Competition
On occasion, competitive solicitations or competitive panels
produce less than optimum results, such as a competition resulting in
the receipt of no
[[Page 16533]]
applications, a competition resulting in the receipt of only
unresponsive or unqualified applications, or too few highly rated
applications. In the event that these conditions arise, the Funding
Agencies shall take the most time- and cost-effective approach
available that is in the best interest of the Federal government. This
includes (1) Re-competition, (2) re-paneling, or (3) formal
negotiation.
Part VIII--Award Administration Information
A. General Information
Within the limit of funds available for such purpose, the awarding
official of the Agency shall make grants in ranked order to eligible
applicants under the procedures set forth in this Notice.
B. Award Notice
Applicants will be notified of selection by letter. Unsuccessful
applicants will receive notification including appeal rights by mail.
In addition, selected applicants will be requested to verify that
components of the application have not changed at the time of selection
and on the award obligation date, if requested by the Agency. The award
is not approved until all information has been verified, and the
awarding official of the Agency has signed Form RD 1940-1, ``Request
for Obligation of Funds.''
C. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
Grantees will be required to do the following:
1. Execute a Rural Community Development Initiative Grant
Agreement.
2. Execute Form RD 1940-1.
3. Use Form SF 270, ``Request for Advance or Reimbursement,'' to
request reimbursements. Provide receipts for expenditures, timesheets
and any other documentation to support the request for reimbursement.
4. Provide financial status and project performance reports on a
quarterly basis starting with the first full quarter after the grant
award.
5. Maintain a financial management system that is acceptable to the
Agency.
6. Ensure that records are maintained to document all activities
and expenditures utilizing RCDI grant funds and matching funds.
Receipts for expenditures will be included in this documentation.
7. Provide annual audits or management reports on Form RD 442-2,
``Statement of Budget, Income and Equity,'' and Form RD 442-3,
``Balance Sheet,'' depending on the amount of Federal funds expended
and the outstanding balance.
8. Collect and maintain data provided by recipients on race, sex,
and national origin and ensure recipients collect and maintain the same
data on beneficiaries. Race and ethnicity data will be collected in
accordance with OMB Federal Register notice, ``Revisions to the
Standards for the Classification of Federal Data on Race and
Ethnicity,'' (62 FR 58782), October 30, 1997. Sex data will be
collected in accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of
1972. These items should not be submitted with the application but
should be available upon request by the Agency.
9. Provide a final project performance report.
10. Identify and report any association or relationship with Rural
Development employees.
11. The intermediary and recipient must comply with Title VI of the
Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968,
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975,
Executive Order 12898, Executive Order 12250 and RD Instruction 7 CFR
part 1901-E.
12. The grantee must comply with policies, guidance, and
requirements as described in the following applicable OMB Circulars and
Code of Federal Regulations:
a. OMB Circular A-87 (Cost Principles for State, Local, and Indian
Tribal Government);
b. OMB Circular A-122 (Cost Principles for Non-profit
Organizations);
c. OMB Circular A-133 (Audits of States, Local Governments, and
Non-Profit Organizations);
d. 7 CFR part 3015 (Uniform Federal Assistance Regulations);
e. 7 CFR part 3016 (Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants
and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments);
f. 2 CFR parts 417 and 180 (Government-wide Debarment and
Suspension (Nonprocurement);
g. 7 CFR part 3019 (Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants
and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and
Other Non-profit Organizations); and
h. 7 CFR part 3052 (Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-
Profit Organizations).
Additional Requirements
No Obligation for Future Funding
If an applicant is awarded funding under this Notice, USDA is not
under any obligation to provide any additional future funding in
connection with that award or to make future award(s). Amendment or
renewal of an award to increase funding or to extend the period of
performance is at the discretion of USDA.
Freedom of Information Act Disclosure
The Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) (FOIA) and the USDA's
implementing regulations at 7 CFR part 1, subpart A set forth the rules
and procedures to make requested material, information and records
publicly available. Unless prohibited by law and to the extent
permitted under FOIA, contents of applications submitted by applicants
may be released in response to FOIA requests.
Past Performance and Non-Compliance With Award Provisions
Unsatisfactory performance under prior Federal awards may result in
an application not being considered for funding. Failure to comply with
any or all of the provisions of an award may have a negative impact on
future funding by the USDA and may be considered grounds for any or all
of the following actions: (1) Establishing an account receivable; (2)
withholding payments to the recipient under any USDA award(s); (3)
changing the method of payment from advance to reimbursement only; (4)
imposing other special award conditions; (5) suspending any active USDA
award(s); and (6) terminating any active USDA award(s).
Part IX--Agency Contact
Contact the Rural Development office in the state where the
applicant's headquarters is located. A list of Rural Development State
Offices is included in this Notice.
Part X--Nondiscrimination Statement
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination
in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color,
national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital
status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation,
genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or
part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance
program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with
disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program
information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact
USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a
complaint of discrimination, write to
[[Page 16534]]
USDA, Director, Office of Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW.,
Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-
6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and
lender.
Part XI--Appeal Process
All adverse determinations regarding applicant eligibility and the
awarding of points as part of the selection process are appealable
pursuant to 7 CFR part 11. Instructions on the appeal process will be
provided at the time an applicant is notified of the adverse decision.
Grant Amount Determination
In the event the applicant is awarded a grant that is less than the
amount requested, the applicant will be required to modify its
application to conform to the reduced amount before execution of the
grant agreement. The Agency reserves the right to reduce or withdraw
the award if acceptable modifications are not submitted by the awardee
within 15 working days from the date the request for modification is
made. Any modifications must be within the scope of the original
application.
Rural Development State Office Contacts
Note: Telephone numbers listed are not toll-free.
Alabama State Office
Suite 601, Sterling Centre, 4121 Carmichael Road, Montgomery, AL
36106-3683, (334) 279-3400, TDD (334) 279-3495, Allen Bowen.
Alaska State Office
800 West Evergreen, Suite 201, Palmer, AK 99645, (907) 761-7778,
TDD (907) 761-8905, Merlaine Kruse.
Arizona State Office
230 North 1st Avenue, Suite 206, Phoenix, AZ 85003, (602) 280-
8747, TDD (602) 280-8705, Leonard Gradillas.
Arkansas State Office
700 W. Capitol Ave., Rm. 3416, Little Rock, AR 72201-3225, (501)
301-3265, TDD (501) 301-3200, Stephen Lagasse.
California State Office
430 G Street, Agency 4169, Davis, CA 95616-4169, (530) 792-5810,
TDD (530) 792-5848, Janice Waddell.
Colorado State Office
Denver Federal Center, Building 56, Room 2300, P.O. Box 25426*,
Denver, CO 80225-0426, (720) 544-2927, TDD (720) 544-2976, Jerry
Tamlin.
Connecticut
Served by Massachusetts State Office.
Delaware and Maryland State Office
1221 College Park Dr., Suite 200, Dover, DE 19904-8713, (302)
857-3627, TDD (302) 857-3585, Denise MacLeish.
Florida & Virgin Islands State Office
4440 NW. 25th Place, P.O. Box 147010, Gainesville, FL 32614-
7010, (352) 338-3485, TDD (352) 338-3499, Michael Langston.
Georgia State Office
Stephens Federal Building, 355 E. Hancock Avenue, Athens, GA
30601-2768, (706) 546-2171, TDD (706) 546-2034, Jerry M. Thomas.
Guam
Served by Hawaii State Office.
Hawaii, Guam, & Western Pacific Territories State Office
Room 311, Federal Building, 154 Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo, HI
96720, (808) 933-8317, TDD (808) 933-8321, Alton Kimura.
Idaho State Office
9173 West Barnes Dr., Suite A1, Boise, ID 83709, (208) 378-5617,
TDD (208) 378-5600, David A. Flesher.
Illinois State Office
2118 West Park Court, Suite A, Champaign, IL 61821, (217) 403-
6209, TDD (217) 403-6240, Michael Wallace.
Indiana State Office
5975 Lakeside Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN 46278-1996, (317) 290-
3100 (ext. 407), TDD (317) 290-3343, Rochelle Owen.
Iowa State Office
873 Federal Building, 210 Walnut Street, Des Moines, IA 50309,
(515) 284-4459, TDD (515) 284-4858, Karla Peiffer.
Kansas State Office
1303 SW. First American Place, Suite 100, Topeka, KS 66604-4040,
(785) 271-2728, TDD (785) 271-2767, Kent Evans.
Kentucky State Office
771 Corporate Drive, Suite 200, Lexington, KY 40503, (859) 224-
7415, TDD (859) 224-7300, Vernon Brown.
Louisiana State Office
3727 Government Street, Alexandria, LA 71302, (318) 473-7965,
TDD (318) 473-7920, Richard Hoffpauir.
Maine State Office
967 Illinois Ave., Suite 4, P.O. Box 405, Bangor, ME 04402-0405,
(207) 990-9124, TDD (207) 942-7331, Ron Lambert.
Maryland
Served by Delaware State Office.
Massachusetts, Connecticut, & Rhode Island State Office
451 West Street, Suite 2, Amherst, MA 01002-2999, (413) 253-
4300, TDD (413) 253-7068, Daniel R. Beaudette.
Michigan State Office
3001 Coolidge Road, Suite 200, East Lansing, MI 48823, (517)
324-5208, TDD (517) 337-6795, Christine M. Maxwell.
Minnesota State Office
410 Farm Credit Service Building, 375 Jackson Street, St. Paul,
MN 55101-1853, (651) 602-7800, TDD (651) 602-3799, Terry Louwagie.
Mississippi State Office
Federal Building, Suite 831, 100 W. Capitol Street, Jackson, MS
39269, (601) 965-4326, TDD (601) 965-5850, Darnella Smith-Murray.
Missouri State Office
601 Business Loop 70 West, Parkade Center, Suite 235, Columbia,
MO 65203, (573) 876-0976, TDD (573) 876-9480, Clark Thomas.
Montana State Office
2229 Boot Hill Court, Bozeman, MT 59715, (406) 585-2520, TDD
(406) 585-2545, Steve Troendle.
Nebraska State Office
Federal Building, Room 152, 100 Centennial Mall N., Lincoln, NE
68508, (402) 437-5559, TDD (402) 437-5551, Denise Brosius-Meeks.
Nevada State Office
1390 South Curry Street, Carson City, NV 89703-9910, (775) 887-
1222 (ext. 113), TDD 7-1-1, Cheryl Couch.
New Hampshire
Served by Vermont State Office.
New Jersey State Office
8000 Midlantic Drive, 5th Floor North, Suite 500, Mt. Laurel, NJ
08054, (856) 787-7753, Kenneth Drewes.
New Mexico State Office
6200 Jefferson St. NE., Room 255, Albuquerque, NM 87109, (505)
761-4954, TDD (505) 761-4938, Martha Torrez.
New York State Office
The Galleries of Syracuse, 441 S. Salina Street, Suite 357,
Syracuse, NY 13202-2541, (315) 477-6400, TDD (315) 477-6447, Gail
Giannotta.
North Carolina State Office
4405 Bland Road, Suite 260, Raleigh, NC 27609, (919) 873-2063,
TDD (919) 873-2003, William A. Hobbs.
North Dakota State Office
Federal Building, Room 208, 220 East Rosser Ave., P.O. Box 1737,
Bismarck, ND 58502-1737, (701) 530-2029, TDD (701) 530-2113, Mark
Wax.
Ohio State Office
Federal Building, Room 507, 200 North High Street, Columbus, OH
43215-2418, (614) 255-2391, TDD (614) 255-2554, David M. Douglas.
Oklahoma State Office
100 USDA, Suite 108, Stillwater, OK 74074-2654, (405) 742-1061,
TDD (405) 742-1007, Jerry Efurd.
Oregon State Office
1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., Suite 801, Portland, OR 97232, (503) 414-
3362, TDD (503) 414-3387, Sam Goldstein.
Pennsylvania State Office
One Credit Union Place, Suite 330, Harrisburg, PA 17110-2996,
(717) 237-2281, TDD (717) 237-2281, Susanne Gantz.
Puerto Rico State Office
654 Mu[ntilde]oz Rivera Avenue, Suite 601, San Juan, PR 00918-
6106, (787) 766-5095, TDD (787) 766-5332, Nereida Rodriguez.
Rhode Island
Served by Massachusetts State Office.
South Carolina State Office
Strom Thurmond Federal Building, 1835 Assembly Street, Room
1007, Columbia, SC 29201, (803) 253-3425, TDD (803) 765-5697, Jesse
T. Risher.
South Dakota State Office
Federal Building, Room 210, 200 Fourth Street SW., Huron, SD
57350, (605) 352-1145, TDD (605) 352-1147, Doug Roehl.
Tennessee State Office
Suite 300, 3322 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN 37203-1071, (615)
783-1345, TDD (615) 783-1397, Keith Head.
[[Page 16535]]
Texas State Office
Federal Building, Suite 102, 101 South Main, Temple, TX 76501,
(254) 742-9787, TDD (254) 742-9749, Michael B. Canales.
Utah State Office
Wallace F. Bennett Federal Building, 125 South State Street,
Room 4311, P.O. Box 11350, Salt Lake City, UT 84138, (801) 524-4326,
TDD (801) 524-3309, Debra Meyer.
Vermont State Office
City Center, 3rd Floor, 89 Main Street, Montpelier, VT 05602,
(802) 828-6033, TDD (802) 223-6365, Rhonda Shippee.
Virgin Islands
Served by Florida State Office.
Virginia State Office
Culpeper Building, Suite 238, 1606 Santa Rosa Road, Richmond, VA
23229, (804) 287-1577, TDD (804) 287-1753, Kent Ware.
Washington State Office
1835 Black Lake Boulevard, SW., Suite B, Olympia, WA 98512-5715,
(360) 704-7737, Peter McMillin.
Western Pacific Territories
Served by Hawaii State Office.
West Virginia State Office
1550 Earl Core Road, Suite 101, Morgantown, WV 26505, (304) 284-
4886, TDD (304) 284-4836, Janna Lowery.
Wisconsin State Office
4949 Kirschling Court, Stevens Point, WI 54481, (715) 345-7615,
TDD (715) 345-7610, Brian Deaner.
Wyoming State Office
Federal Building, Room 1005, 100 East B Street, P.O. Box 11005,
Casper, WY 82602-5006, (307) 233-6700, TDD (307) 233-6719, Alana
Cannon.
Washington, DC
Stop 0787, Room 0175, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington,
DC 20250-0787, (202) 205-9685, Shirley J. Stevenson.
Dated: March 14, 2012.
Cristina Chiappe,
Acting Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-6611 Filed 3-20-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-P