[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 99 (Thursday, May 22, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29399-29405]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-11700]
[[Page 29399]]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
Notice of Funding Availability and Grant Application Deadlines
AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of Funds Availability.
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SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an agency of the United
States Department of Agriculture (USDA), announces the availability of
$19,300,000 in grant funds and solicits applications for the Distance
Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grant Program for the Fiscal Year (FY)
2014 competition.
DATES: You may submit completed applications for grants on paper or
electronically by the following deadline:
Paper submissions: Paper submissions must be postmarked
and mailed, shipped, or sent overnight no later than July 7, 2014 to be
eligible for FY 2014 grant funding. Late or incomplete applications
will not be eligible for FY 2014 grant funding.
Electronic submissions: Electronic submissions must be
received by July 7, 2014 to be eligible for FY 2014 grant funding. Late
or incomplete applications will not be eligible for FY 2014 grant
funding.
If the submission deadline falls on Saturday, Sunday, or a
Federal holiday, the application is due the next business day.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the FY 2014 Application Guide and materials for
the DLT grant program may be obtained by the following:
(1) The DLT Web site: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/UTP_DLTResources.html and
(2) Contacting the DLT Program at 202-720-0665.
Completed applications may be submitted in the following ways:
(1) Paper: Paper applications are to be submitted to the Rural
Utilities Service, Telecommunications Program, 1400 Independence Ave.
SW., Room 2845, STOP 1550, Washington, DC 20250-1550. Applications
should be marked ``Attention: Acting Director, Advanced Services
Division.''
(2) Electronic: Electronic applications must be submitted through
Grants.gov. Information on how to submit applications electronically is
available on the Grants.gov Web site (http://www.grants.gov).
Applicants must successfully pre-register with Grants.gov to use the
electronic applications option. Application information may be
downloaded from Grants.gov without preregistration.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sam Morgan, Program Management
Analyst, Advanced Services Division, Telecommunications Program, Rural
Utilities Service, email: [email protected], telephone: (202)
690-4493, fax: (202) 720-1051. Additional point of contact: Norberto
Esteves, Acting Director, Advanced Services Division at
[email protected] or at same phone numbers previously
listed.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Overview
Federal Agency: Rural Utilities Service (RUS).
Funding Opportunity Title: Distance Learning and Telemedicine
Grants.
Announcement Type: Initial announcement.
Funding Opportunity Number: RUS-14-01-DLT.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.855.
Dates: You may submit completed applications for grants on paper or
electronically according to the deadlines indicated in paragraph IV.F.
Items in Supplementary Information
I. Funding Opportunity: Brief introduction to the DLT program.
II. Minimum and Maximum Application Amounts: Projected Available
Funding.
III. Eligibility Information: Who is eligible, and what kinds of
projects are eligible, what criteria determine basic eligibility.
IV. Application and Submission Information: Where to get
application materials, what constitutes a completed application, how
and where to submit applications, deadlines, and items that are
eligible.
V. Application Review Information: Considerations and
preferences, scoring criteria, review standards, and selection
information.
VI. Award Administration Information: Award notice information,
award recipient and reporting requirements.
VII. Agency Contacts: Web, phone, fax, email, contact name.
I. Funding Opportunity
DLT grants are specifically designed to provide access to
education, training and health care resources for rural Americans.
The DLT Program provides financial assistance to encourage and
improve telemedicine services and distance learning services in rural
areas through the use of telecommunications, computer networks, and
related advanced technologies to be used by students, teachers, medical
professionals, and rural residents.
The grants, which are awarded through a competitive process, may be
used to fund telecommunications-enabled information, audio and video
equipment, and related advanced technologies which extend educational
and medical applications into rural areas. Grants are intended to
benefit end users in rural areas, who are often not in the same
location as the source of the educational or health care service.
As in years past, the FY 2014 DLT Grant Application Guide has been
updated based on program experience. All applicants should carefully
review and prepare their applications according to instructions in the
FY 2014 Application Guide and sample materials when compiling a DLT
grant application.
II. Maximum and Minimum Amount of Applications
Under 7 CFR 1703.124, the Administrator has determined the maximum
amount of a grant to be made available to an applicant in FY 2014 is
$500,000, and the minimum amount of a grant is $50,000, subject to
availability of funding.
Award documents specify the term of each award. The Agency will
make awards and execute documents appropriate to the project prior to
any advance of funds to successful applicants. Prior DLT grants cannot
be renewed; however, applications from existing DLT awardees for new
projects are acceptable (grant applications must be submitted during
the application window) and will be evaluated as new applications.
III. Eligibility Information
A. Who is eligible for a grant? (See 7 CFR 1703.103.)
1. Only entities legally organized as one of the following are
eligible for DLT financial assistance:
a. An incorporated organization or partnership,
b. An Indian tribe or tribal organization, as defined in 25 U.S.C.
450b,
c. A state or local unit of government,
d. A consortium, as defined in 7 CFR 1703.102,
e. A library, or
f. Other legal entity, including a private corporation organized on
a for-profit or not-for-profit basis.
2. Individuals are not eligible for DLT program financial
assistance directly.
3. Electric and telecommunications borrowers under the Rural
Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 950aaa et seq.) are not eligible
for grants.
4. Corporations that have been convicted of a felony (or had an
officer or agency acting on behalf of the corporation convicted of a
felony)
[[Page 29400]]
within the past 24 months are not eligible. Any corporation that has
any unpaid federal tax liability that has been assessed, for which all
judicial and administrative remedies have been exhausted or have
lapsed, and that is not being paid in a timely manner pursuant to an
agreement with the authority responsible for collecting the tax
liability, is not eligible for financial assistance.
B. What are the basic eligibility requirements for a project?
1. Required matching contributions for grants: See 7 CFR
1703.125(g) and the FY 2014 Application Guide for information on
required matching contributions.
a. Grant applicants must demonstrate matching contributions, in
cash or in kind (new, non-depreciated items), of at least fifteen (15)
percent of the total amount of financial assistance requested. Matching
contributions must be used for eligible purposes of DLT grant
assistance (see 7 CFR 1703.121, paragraphs IV.H.1.b of this Notice and
the FY 2014 Application Guide).
b. Greater amounts of eligible matching contributions may increase
an applicant's score (see 7 CFR 1703.126(b)(4) and the FY 2014
Application Guide).
c. Applications that do not provide evidence of the required
fifteen percent match will be declared ineligible. See paragraphs
IV.H.1.c and V.A.1 of this Notice, and the FY 2014 Application Guide
for more information on matching contributions.
d. Matching contributions which are not sufficiently documented, as
described in the Application Guide, are subject to disallowance and may
result in an ineligible application.
2. The DLT grant program is designed to bring the benefits of
distance learning and telemedicine to residents of rural America.
Therefore, to be eligible, applicants must deliver distance learning or
telemedicine services to entities that operate a rural community
facility or to residents of rural areas, at rates calculated to ensure
that the benefit of the financial assistance is passed through to such
entities or to residents of rural areas.
3. Rurality.
a. All projects proposed for DLT grant assistance must meet a
minimum rurality threshold, to ensure that benefits from the projects
flow to rural residents. The minimum eligibility score is 20 points.
b. Each application must apply the following criteria to each of
its end-user sites, and hubs that are also proposed as end-user sites,
to determine a rurality score. The rurality score is the average of all
end-user sites' rurality scores.
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Criterion Character Population DLT points
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Exceptionally Rural Area.............. any area of the USA not <=5000.................. 45
included within the
boundaries of any
incorporated or
unincorporated city, village,
or borough having a
population in excess of 5,000
inhabitants.
Rural Area............................ any area of the USA included >5000 and <=10,000...... 30
within the boundaries of any
incorporated or
unincorporated city, village,
or borough having a
population over 5,000 and not
in excess of 10,000
inhabitants.
Mid-Rural Area........................ any area of the USA included >10,000 and <=20,000.... 15
within the boundaries of any
incorporated or
unincorporated city, village,
or borough having a
population over 10,000 and
not in excess of 20,000
inhabitants.
Urban Area............................ any area of the USA included >20,000................. 0
within the boundaries of any
incorporated or
unincorporated city, village,
or borough having a
population in excess of
20,000 inhabitants.
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c. The rurality score is one of the competitive scoring criteria
applied to grant applications.
4. Projects located in areas covered by the Coastal Barrier
Resources Act (16 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) are not eligible for financial
assistance from the DLT Program. Please see 7 CFR 1703.123(a).
C. Where to find full discussion of a Complete Application. See
Section IV of this Notice and the FY 2014 Application Guide for a
discussion of the items that comprise a complete application. For
requirements of completed applications you may also refer to 7 CFR
1703.125 for grant applications. The FY 2014 Application Guide provides
specific, detailed instructions for each item that constitutes a
complete application. The Agency strongly emphasizes the importance of
including every required item (as explained in the FY 2014 Application
Guide) and strongly encourages applicants to follow the instructions
carefully, using the examples and illustrations in the FY 2014
Application Guide. Applications which do not include all items that
determine project eligibility and applicant eligibility by the
application deadline will be returned as ineligible. Scoring and
eligibility information not provided by the application deadline will
not be solicited or considered by the Agency. Applications that do not
include all items necessary for scoring, depending on the specific
scoring criteria, may still be eligible applications, but may not
receive full or any credit if the information cannot be verified.
Please see the FY 2014 Application Guide for a full discussion of each
required item and for samples and illustrations.
IV. Application and Submission Information
A. Where to get application information. FY 2014 Application
Guides, copies of necessary forms and samples, and the DLT Program
regulation are available from these sources:
1. The Internet: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/UTP_DLTResources.html.
2. The DLT Program for paper copies of these materials: 202-720-
0665.
B. Emphasis in FY 2014
1. Applicants are reminded that the DLT Grant Program is intended
to meet the educational and health care needs of rural America. Hub
sites may be located in rural or non-rural areas, but end-user sites
need to be located in rural areas. Non-fixed sites serving a
geographical service area may include non-rural areas. However, for
determining rurality and NSLP scores every incorporated and non-
incorporated city, village or borough must be listed and scored
accordingly, including those jurisdictions which are more populated
than those defined as rural. The necessary inclusion of non-rural
jurisdictions in these types of projects could cause a lower rurality
score by virtue of the project's geographic and demographic layout.
Because of this, the
[[Page 29401]]
applicant should make an effort to reveal how their project will focus
the delivery of service to the rural residents of their service
territory. From a competitive standpoint, applicants could offset the
loss of rurality points by attempting to score higher in the subjective
areas of needs and benefits, innovativeness, and cost effectiveness
with well-crafted narratives. The FY 2014 Application Guide contains
language clarifying this provision of the regulation.
2. If a grant application includes a site that is included in any
other DLT grant application for FY 2014, or a site that has been
included in any DLT grant funded in FY 2013 or FY 2012, the application
should contain a detailed explanation of the related applications or
grants. The Agency must make a nonduplication finding for each grant
approved; however, an apparent but unexplained duplication of funding
for a site can prevent such a finding.
C. What constitutes a completed application for a DLT Grant?
1. Detailed information on each item included in the Table of
Required Elements of a Completed Grant Application found in paragraph
IV.C.8 of this Notice can be found in the sections of the DLT Program
regulation listed in the table, and the DLT grant Application Guide.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to read and apply both the
regulation and the Applications Guide, which elaborates and explains
the regulation.
a. When the table refers to a narrative, it means a written
statement, description or other written material prepared by the
applicant, for which no form exists. The Agency recognizes that each
project is unique and requests narratives to allow applicants to
explain their request for financial assistance.
b. When documentation is requested, it means letters,
certifications, legal documents, or other third-party documentation
that provide evidence that the applicant meets the listed requirement.
For example, to confirm rurality scores, applicants can use printouts
from the Web site http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml. Leveraging documentation generally will be letters of
commitment from the funding sources. In-kind matches must be items
purchased or donated after the application deadline date that are
essential to the project and documentation from the vendor or donor
must demonstrate the relationship of each item to the project's
function. Evidence of legal existence is sometimes proven by submitting
articles of incorporation. The examples here are not intended to limit
the types of documentation that must be submitted to fulfill a
requirement. DLT Program regulations and the Application Guide provide
specific guidance on each of the items in the table.
2. The DLT Application Guide and ancillary materials provide all
necessary sample forms and worksheets.
3. While the table in paragraph IV.C.8 of this Notice includes all
items of a completed application, the Agency may ask for additional or
clarifying information for applications submitted by the deadline which
appear to demonstrate that they meet eligibility requirements, but
which may require follow up for the Agency.
4. Given the high volume of program interest, to expedite
processing applicants are asked to submit the required application
items in the order depicted in the FY 2014 Application Guide. The FY
2014 Application Guide specifies the format and order of all required
items. Applications that are not assembled and tabbed in the order
specified prevent timely determination of eligibility. For applications
with inconsistency among submitted copies, the Agency will base its
evaluation on the original signed application received by the Agency.
5. DUNS Number. The applicant for a grant must supply a Dun and
Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number as part of an
application. The Standard Form 424 (SF-424) contains a field for the
DUNS number. The applicant can obtain the DUNS number free of charge by
calling Dun and Bradstreet. Please see http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform
for more information on how to obtain a DUNS number or how to verify
your organization's number.
6. Prior to submitting an application, the applicant must register
in the System for Award Management (SAM) (formerly Central Contractor
Registry, (CCR)).
a. Applicants must register for the SAM at https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/.
b. SAM registration must remain active with current information at
all times while RUS is considering an application or while a Federal
grant award or loan is active. To maintain SAM registration the
applicant must review and update the information in the SAM database
annually from date of initial registration or from the date of the last
update. The applicant must ensure that the information in the database
is current, accurate, and complete.
7. Compliance with other federal statutes. The applicant must
provide evidence of compliance with other federal statutes and
regulations, including, but not limited to the following:
a. 7 CFR part 15, subpart A--Nondiscrimination in Federally
Assisted Programs of the Department of Agriculture--Effectuation of
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
b. 7 CFR part 3015--Uniform Federal Assistance Regulations.
c. 2 CFR part 417--Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Non-
procurement).
d. 7 CFR part 3018--New Restrictions on Lobbying.
e. 7 CFR part 3019--Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants
and Other Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals,
and Non-profit Organizations.
f. 2 CFR part 421--Governmentwide Requirements for Drug-Free
Workplace (Financial Assistance).
g. Executive Order 13166, ``Improving Access to Services for
Persons with Limited English Proficiency. '' For information on limited
English proficiency and agency-specific guidance, go to http://www.LEP.gov.
h. Federal Obligation Certification on Delinquent Debt.
8--Table of Required Elements of a Completed Grant Application
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Required Items, unless otherwise noted
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Application Item Grants (7 CFR
1703.125 and 7 Comment
CFR 1703.126)
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SF-424 (Application for Yes.............. Completely filled
Federal Assistance form). out.
Site Worksheet................ Yes.............. Agency worksheet.
Survey on Ensuring Equal Optional......... OMB Form.
Opportunity for Applicants.
[[Page 29402]]
Evidence of Legal Authority to Yes.............. Documentation.
Contract with the Government.
Evidence of Legal Existence... Yes.............. Documentation.
Executive Summary............. Yes.............. Narrative.
Telecommunications System Plan Yes.............. Narrative &
and Scope of Work. documentation such
as maps and
diagrams.
Budget........................ Yes.............. Agency Worksheets
with documentation.
Financial Information/ Yes.............. Narrative.
Sustainability.
Statement of Experience....... Yes.............. Narrative 3-page,
single-spaced limit.
Rurality Worksheet............ Yes.............. Agency worksheet with
documentation.
National School Lunch Program Yes.............. Agency worksheet with
(NSLP) Worksheet. documentation.
Leveraging Evidence and Yes.............. Agency worksheet and
Funding Commitments from all source
Sources. documentation.
Empowerment Zone designation.. Yes.............. Documentation.
Request for Additional NSLP... Optional......... Agency Worksheet and
narrative.
Need for and Benefits derived Yes.............. Narrative &
from Project. documentation.
Innovativeness of the Project. Yes.............. Narrative &
documentation.
Cost Effectiveness of Project. Yes.............. Narrative &
documentation.
Consultation with the USDA Yes.............. Documentation.
State Director, Rural
Development, and evidence
that application conforms to
State Strategic Plan, if any.
Certifications
Equal Opportunity and Yes.............. Form provided in FY
Nondiscrimination. 2014 Application
Tool Kit.
Architectural Barriers........ Yes.............. Form provided in FY
2014 Application
Tool Kit.
Flood Hazard Area Precautions. Yes.............. Form provided in FY
2014 Application
Tool Kit.
Uniform Relocation Assistance Yes.............. Form provided in FY
and Real Property Acquisition 2014 Application
Policies Act of 1970. Tool Kit.
Drug-Free Workplace........... Yes.............. Form provided in FY
2014 Application
Tool Kit.
Debarment, Suspension, and Yes.............. Form provided in FY
Other Responsibility Matters-- 2014 Application
Primary Covered Transactions. Tool Kit.
Lobbying for Contracts, Yes.............. Form provided in FY
Grants, Loans, and 2014 Application
Cooperative Agreements. Tool Kit.
Non-Duplication of Services... Yes.............. Form provided in FY
2014 Application
Tool Kit.
Environmental Impact/Historic Yes.............. Form provided in FY
Preservation Certification. 2014 Application
Tool Kit.
Assurance Regarding Felony Yes.............. Form provided in the
Conviction or Tax Delinquent FY 2014 Application
Status for Corporate Tool Kit.
Applicants.
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D. How many copies of an application are required?
1. Applications submitted on paper.
a. Submit the original application and two (2) copies to RUS; and
b. Submit one (1) additional copy to the state government single
point of contact (if one has been designated) at the same time as you
submit the application to the Agency for the State where the project is
located. If the project is located in more than one State, submit a
copy to each state government single point of contact. See http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants_spoc for an updated listing of State
government single points of contact.
2. Electronically submitted applications. Grant applications may be
submitted electronically. Please carefully read the FY 2014 Application
Guide for guidance on submitting an electronic application. In
particular, we ask that you identify and number each page in the same
way you would a paper application so that we can assemble them as you
intended.
a. The additional paper copy is not necessary if you submit the
application electronically through Grants.gov.
b. Submit one (1) copy to the state government single point of
contact (if one has been designated) at the same time as you submit the
application to the Agency. If the project is located in more than one
State, submit a copy to each state government single point of contact.
See http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants_spoc for an updated listing
of State government single points of contact.
E. How and where to submit an application. Grant applications may
be submitted on paper or electronically.
1. Submitting applications on paper.
a. Address paper applications to the Telecommunications Program,
RUS, United States Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave.
SW., Room 2845, STOP 1550, Washington, DC 20250-1550. Applications
should be marked ``Attention: Acting Director, Advanced Services
Division.''
b. Paper grant applications must show proof of mailing or shipping
by the deadline consisting of one of the following:
(i) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service (USPS) postmark;
(ii) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the
USPS; or
(iii) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial
carrier.
c. Due to screening procedures at the Department of Agriculture,
packages arriving via regular mail through the USPS are irradiated,
which can damage the contents and delay delivery to the DLT Program.
RUS encourages applicants to consider the impact of this procedure in
selecting their application delivery method.
2. Electronically submitted applications.
a. Applications will not be accepted via fax or electronic mail.
b. Electronic applications for grants must be submitted through the
Federal
[[Page 29403]]
government's Grants.gov initiative at http://www.grants.gov/.
c. How to use Grants.gov.
(i) Grants.gov contains full instructions on all required
passwords, credentialing and software.
(ii) System for Award Management. Submitting an application through
Grants.gov requires that your organization list in the System for Award
Management (SAM) (formerly Central Contractor Registry, CCR). The
Agency strongly recommends that you obtain your organization's DUNS
number and SAM listing well in advance of the deadline specified in
this notice.
(iii) Credentialing and authorization of applicants. Grants.gov
will also require some credentialing and online authentication
procedures. These procedures may take several business days to
complete, further emphasizing the need for early action by applicants
to complete the sign-up, credentialing and authorization procedures at
Grants.gov before you submit an application at that Web site.
(iv) Some or all of the SAM and Grants.gov registration,
credentialing and authorizations require updates. If you have
previously registered at Grants.gov to submit applications
electronically, please ensure that your registration, credentialing and
authorizations are up to date well in advance of the grant application
deadline.
d. RUS encourages applicants who wish to apply through Grants.gov
to submit their applications in advance of the deadlines.
e. If a system problem occurs or you have technical difficulties
with an electronic application, please use the customer support
resources available at the Grants.gov Web site.
F. Deadlines
1. Paper grant applications must be postmarked and mailed, shipped,
or sent overnight no later than July 7, 2014 to be eligible for FY 2014
grant funding. Late applications, applications which do not include
proof of mailing or shipping as described in paragraph IV.E.1.b, and
incomplete applications are not eligible for FY 2014 grant funding.
2. Electronic grant applications must be received by July 21, 2014
to be eligible for FY 2014 funding. Late or incomplete applications
will not be eligible for FY 2014 grant funding.
3. If the submission deadline falls on Saturday, Sunday, or a
Federal holiday, the application is due the next business day.
G. Intergovernmental Review. The DLT grant program is subject to
Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal
Programs.'' As stated in paragraph IV.D.1 of this Notice, a copy of a
DLT grant application must be submitted to the state single point of
contact if one has been designated. Please see http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants_spoc to determine whether your state has
a single point of contact.
H. Funding Restrictions
1. Ineligible purposes.
a. Hub sites that are not located in rural areas are not eligible
for grant assistance unless they are necessary to provide DLT services
to end-users in rural areas. Please see the Application Guide and 7 CFR
1703.101(h).
b. To fulfill the policy goals laid out for the DLT Program in 7
CFR 1703.101, the following table lists purposes for financial
assistance and whether each purpose is generally considered to be
eligible for the form of financial assistance. Please consult the FY
2014 Application Guide and the regulations (7 CFR 1703.102) for
definitions, in combination with the portions of the regulation cited
in the table) for detailed requirements for the items in the table. RUS
strongly recommends that applicants exclude ineligible items from the
grant and match portions of grant application budgets. However, some
items ineligible for funding or matching contributions may be vital to
the project. RUS encourages applicants to document those costs in the
application's budget. Please see the FY 2014 Application Guide for a
recommended budget format, and detailed budget compilation
instructions.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Grants
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lease or purchase of new eligible DLT Yes, equipment only.
equipment and facilities.
Acquire new instructional programming Yes.
that is a capital asset.
Technical assistance, develop Yes, up to 10% of the grant.
instructional material for the
operation of the equipment, and
engineering or environmental studies
in the implementation of the project.
Telemedicine or distance learning Yes.
equipment or facilities necessary to
the project.
Vehicles using distance learning or No.
telemedicine technology to deliver
services.
Teacher-student links located at the No.
same facility.
Links between medical professionals No.
located at the same facility.
Site development or building No.
alteration, except for equipment
installation and associated inside
wiring.
Land or building purchase.............. No.
Building Construction.................. No.
Acquiring telecommunications No (such facilities are only
transmission facilities. eligible for DLT loans).
Internet services, telecommunications No.
services or other forms of
connectivity.
Salaries, wages, benefits for medical No.
or educational personnel.
Salaries or administrative expenses of No.
applicant or project.
Recurring project costs or operating No (equipment & facility leases
expenses. are not recurring project
costs).
Equipment to be owned by the LEC or No.
other telecommunications service
provider, if the provider is the
applicant.
Duplicative distance learning or No.
telemedicine services.
Any project that for its success No.
depends on additional DLT financial
assistance or other financial
assistance that is not assured.
Application Preparation Costs.......... No.
Other project costs not in regulation.. No.
Cost (amount) of facilities providing No.
distance learning broadcasting.
Reimburse applicants or others for No.
costs incurred prior to RUS receipt of
completed application.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 29404]]
c. Discounts. The DLT Program regulation provides that
manufacturers' and service providers' discounts are not eligible
matches. In the past, the Agency did not consider as eligible any
proposed match from a vendor, manufacturer, or service provider whose
products or services would also be purchased for the DLT project.
However, the agency has now determined that if a vendor can demonstrate
that the donated product is normally sold at the in-kind matching
price, then it will accept such products for in-kind matches, and not a
discount. Similarly, if a vendor, manufacturer, or other service
provider proposes a cash match (or any in-kind match) when their
products or services will be purchased with grant or match funds, such
products must be shown to be normally offered at, or higher than, the
contract price of the services to be provided on the project.
2. Eligible Equipment & Facilities. Please see the FY 2014
Application Guide for more information regarding eligible and
ineligible items. In addition, see 7 CFR 1703.102 for definitions of
eligible equipment, eligible facilities, and telecommunications
transmission facilities as used in the table above.
3. Apportioning budget items. Many DLT applications propose to use
items for a blend of specific DLT eligible project purposes and other
purposes. RUS will consider funding such items in the overall context
of the project, but such items will affect the competitive value of the
project compared with other projects. The proposed project could
receive a lower score in the subjective areas of the grant to the
extent that its budget requests items that have limited or questionable
value to the purposes of distance learning or telemedicine. See the FY
2014 Application Guide for detailed information on how to apportion use
and apportioning illustrations.
V. Application Review Information
A. Special Considerations or Preferences
1. American Samoa, Guam, Virgin Islands, and Northern Mariana
Islands applications are exempt from the matching requirement up to a
match amount of $200,000 (see 48 U.S.C. 1469a; 91 Stat. 1164).
2. Special Consideration Areas. RUS will offer special
consideration to applications that contain at least one end-user site
within a trust area or a tribal jurisdictional area. Such applications
will be awarded 15 points. The application will need to include a map
showing the end-user site(s) located in the trust area or tribal
jurisdictional area, as well as the geographical coordinate(s), and
physical address(es) of the end-user site(s). The applicant will also
need to submit evidence indicating that the area where the end-user
site is located is a trust area or a tribal jurisdictional area.
RUS will use one or more of the following resources in determining
whether a particular ends-user site is located in trust area or tribal
jurisdictional area:
(a) Official maps of Federal Indian Reservations based on
information compiled by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of
Indian Affairs and made available to the public;
(b) Title Status Reports issued by the U.S. Department of the
Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs showing that title to such land is
held in trust or is subject to restrictions imposed by the United
States;
(c) Trust Asset and Accounting Management System data, maintained
by the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs;
(d) Official maps of the Department of Hawaiian Homelands of the
State of Hawaii identifying land that has been given the status of
Hawaiian home lands under the provisions of section 204 of the Hawaiian
Homes Commission Act, 1920;
(e) Official records of the U.S. Department of the Interior, the
State of Alaska, or such other documentation of ownership as the RUS
may determine to be satisfactory, showing that title is owned by a
Regional Corporation or a Village Corporation as such terms are defined
in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq);
(f) Evidence that the land is located on Guam, American Samoa or
the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and is eligible for
use in the Veteran's Administration direct loan program for veterans
purchasing or constructing homes on communally owned land; and
(g) Any other evidence submitted by the applicant that is
satisfactory to RUS to establish that area where the end-user site is
located is a trust area or a tribal jurisdictional area within the
meaning of 38 U.S.C. 3765(1).
B. Criteria
1. Grant application scoring criteria (total possible points: 235).
See 7 CFR 1703.125 for the items that will be reviewed during scoring,
7 CFR 1703.126 and section V.A.2 of this NOFA for scoring criteria.
2. Grant applications are scored competitively subject to the
criteria listed below.
a. Rurality category--Rurality of the proposed service area (up to
45 points).
b. NSLP category--percentage of students eligible for the NSLP in
the proposed service area (up to 35 points).
c. Leveraging category--matching funds above the required matching
level (up to 35 points).
d. Need for services proposed in the application and the benefits
that will be derived if the application receives a grant (up to 55
points).
(i) Additional NSLP category--up to 10 of the possible 55 possible
points are to recognize economic need not reflected in the project's
National School Lunch Program (NSLP) score, and can be earned only by
applications whose overall NSLP eligibility is less than 50%. To be
eligible to receive points under this, the application must include an
affirmative request for consideration of the possible 10 points, and
compelling documentation of reasons why the NSLP eligibility percentage
does not represent the economic need of the proposed project
beneficiaries.
(ii) Needs and Benefits category--up to 45 of the 55 possible
points under this criterion are available to all applicants. Points are
awarded based on the required narrative crafted by the applicant. RUS
encourages applicants to carefully read the cited portions of the
Program regulation and the FY 2014 Application Guide for full
discussions of this criterion.
e. Innovativeness category--level of innovation demonstrated by the
project (up to 15 points).
f. Cost Effectiveness category--system cost-effectiveness (up to 35
points).
g. Special Consideration Areas--Application must contain at least
one end-user site within a trust area or a tribal jurisdictional area
(15 points).
C. Grant Review standards.
1. In addition to the scoring criteria that rank applications
against each other, the Agency evaluates grant applications for
possible awards on the following items, according to 7 CFR 1703.127:
a. Financial feasibility.
b. Technical considerations. If the application contains flaws that
would prevent the successful implementation, operation or
sustainability of a project, the Agency will not award a grant.
c. Other aspects of proposals that contain inadequacies that would
undermine the ability of the project to comply with the policies of the
DLT Program.
2. The FY 2014 grant Application Guide specifies the format and
order of all required items.
[[Page 29405]]
3. Most DLT grant projects contain numerous project sites. The
Agency requires that site information be consistent throughout an
application. Sites must be referred to by the same designation
throughout all parts of an application. The Agency has provided a site
worksheet that requests the necessary information, and can be used as a
guide by applicants. RUS strongly recommends that applicants complete
the site worksheet, listing all requested information for each site.
Applications without consistent site information will be returned as
ineligible.
4. As stated above, DLT grant applications which have non-fixed
end-user sites, such as ambulance and home health care services, are
scored according to the applicant's entire service area. See the FY
2014 Application Guide for specific guidance on preparing an
application with non-fixed end users.
D. Selection Process. Grants applications are ranked by final
score. RUS selects applications based on those rankings, subject to the
availability of funds. In addition, the Agency has the authority to
limit the number of applications selected in any one state, or for one
project, during a fiscal year. See 7 CFR 1703.127.
VI. Award Administration Information
A. Award Notices
RUS generally notifies by mail applicants whose projects are
selected for awards. The Agency follows the award letter with an
agreement that contains all the terms and conditions for the grant. A
copy of the standard agreement is posted on the RUS Web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/UTP_DLTResources.html. An applicant must execute
and return the agreement, accompanied by any additional items required
by the agreement, within the number of days shown in the selection
notice letter.
B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
The items listed in Section V of this notice, the DLT Program
regulation, FY 2014 Application Guide and accompanying materials
implement the appropriate administrative and national policy
requirements.
C. Reporting
1. Performance reporting. All recipients of DLT financial
assistance must provide annual performance activity reports to RUS
until the project is complete and the funds are expended. A final
performance report is also required; the final report may serve as the
last annual report. The final report must include an evaluation of the
success of the project in meeting DLT Program objectives. See 7 CFR
1703.107.
2. Financial reporting. All recipients of DLT financial assistance
must provide an annual audit, beginning with the first year in which a
portion of the financial assistance is expended. Audits are governed by
United States Department of Agriculture audit regulations. Please see 7
CFR 1703.108.
3. Recipient and Subrecipient Reporting. The applicant must have
the necessary processes and systems in place to comply with the
reporting requirements for first-tier sub-awards and executive
compensation under the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency
Act of 2006 in the event the applicant receives funding unless such
applicant is exempt from such reporting requirements pursuant to 2 CFR
part 170, Sec. 170.110(b). The reporting requirements under the
Transparency Act pursuant to 2 CFR part 170 are as follows:
a. First Tier Sub-Awards of $25,000 or more in non-Recovery Act
funds (unless they are exempt under 2 CFR part 170) must be reported by
the Recipient to http://www.fsrs.gov no later than the end of the month
following the month the obligation was made. Please note that currently
underway is a consolidation of eight Federal procurement systems,
including the Sub-award Reporting System (FSRS), into one system, the
System for Award Management (SAM). As a result the FSRS will soon be
consolidated into and accessed through https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/.
b. The Total Compensation of the Recipient's Executives (5 most
highly compensated executives) must be reported by the Recipient (if
the Recipient meets the criteria under 2 CFR part 170) to https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/ by the end of the month following the
month in which the award was made.
c. The Total Compensation of the Subrecipient's Executives (5 most
highly compensated executives) must be reported by the Subrecipient (if
the Subrecipient meets the criteria under 2 CFR part 170) to the
Recipient by the end of the month following the month in which the
subaward was made.
4. Record Keeping and Accounting.
The grant contract will contain provisions relating to record
keeping and accounting requirements.
VII. Agency Contacts
A. Web site: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/UTP_DLT.html. The DLT Web
site maintains up-to-date resources and contact information for DLT
programs.
B. Telephone: 202-720-0665.
C. Fax: 202-720-1051.
D. Email: [email protected].
E. Main point of contact: Norberto Esteves, Acting Director,
Advanced Services Division, Telecommunications Program, Rural Utilities
Service.
Dated: April 29, 2014.
John Charles Padalino,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-11700 Filed 5-21-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P