[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 156 (Wednesday, August 13, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47427-47436]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-19132]
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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 2014
AGENCY: Rural Housing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This Notice announces the availability of $5,967,000 in Fiscal
Year (FY) 2014 funding for competitive grant funds for the Rural
Community Development Initiative (RCDI) program through the Rural
Housing Service (RHS), an agency within the USDA Rural Development
mission area herein referred to as the Agency. 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 that will
support the community.
This Notice lists the information needed to submit an application
for these funds.
DATES: The deadline for receipt of an application is 4 p.m. local time,
November 12, 2014. The application
[[Page 47428]]
date and time are 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/HAD-RCDI_Grants.html.
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 can be found via http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/SupportDocuments/RCDI_State_Contacts.pdf.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Rural Development office for the
state the applicant is located. A list of Rural Development State
Office contacts can be found via http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/SupportDocuments/RCDI_State_Contacts.pdf.
Paperwork Reduction Act
The paperwork burden has been cleared by the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) under OMB Control Number 0575-0180.
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.
Dates: The deadline for receipt of an application is 4 p.m. local
time, November 12, 2014. The application date and time are 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.
Part I--Funding Opportunity Description
Congress, in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014 (Pub. L.
113-76) authorized the RCDI to develop the capacity and ability of
qualified private, nonprofit community-based housing and community
development organizations, low-income rural communities, and federally
recognized Native American Tribes to undertake projects related to
housing, community facilities, or community and economic development in
rural areas.
Part II--Award Information
Congress appropriated $5,967,000 in FY 2014 for the RCDI program.
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 $250,000.
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 and philanthropic foundations), 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.
Conflict of interest--A situation in which a person or entity has
competing personal, professional, or financial interests that make it
difficult for the person or business to act impartially. Regarding use
of both grant and matching funds, Federal procurement standards
prohibit transactions that involve a real or apparent conflict of
interest for owners, employees, officers, agents, or their immediate
family members having a financial or other interest in the outcome of
the project; or that restrict open and free competition for
unrestrained trade. Specifically, project funds may not be used for
services or goods going to, or coming from, a person or entity with a
real or apparent conflict of interest, including, but not limited to,
owner(s) and their immediate family members. An example of conflict of
interest occurs when the grantee's employees, board of directors, or
the immediate family of either, have the appearance of a professional
or personal financial interest in the recipients receiving the benefits
or services of the grant.
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 and philanthropic 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 income is at or below 80 percent of either the
state or national Median Household Income as measured by the 2010
Census.
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.
Recipient--The entity that receives the financial and technical
assistance from the Intermediary. The recipient
[[Page 47429]]
must be a nonprofit 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 are cash or confirmed funding commitments and 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. Matching funds must be used to support
the overall purpose of the RCDI program.
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.
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 Office contacts can be found
via http:[sol][sol]www.rurdev.usda.gov/SupportDocuments/RCDI--State--
Contacts.pdf. A map showing eligible rural areas can be found at the
following link: http:[sol][sol]eligibility.test.sc.egov.usda.gov/
eligibility/welcomeAction.do?pageAction=RBSmenu&NavKey=property@13.
2. The recipient must be a nonprofit, which may include a faith-
based organization, philanthropic foundation, community-based housing
and development organization, low-income rural community, or federally
recognized tribe 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).
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 only submit
one application for RCDI funds under this Notice. 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. The
services described in multiple RCDI grant applications 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.
[[Page 47430]]
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 System for
Award Management (SAM) prior to submitting a pre-application pursuant
to 2 CFR 25.200(b). In addition, an entity applicant must maintain
registration in SAM 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 subawards 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).
E. 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, e.g., 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 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.
F. Ineligible Fund Uses
The following is a list of ineligible grant 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 purpose prohibited in 7 CFR parts 3015, 3016, or 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.
G. 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 and meet the
criteria outlined in this Notice 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
[[Page 47431]]
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
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/HAD-RCDI_Grants.html.
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 office contacts can be found via http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/SupportDocuments/RCDI_State_Contacts.pdf.
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 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, e.g., 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 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 3 years after grant closing except that the records
shall be retained beyond the 3-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 2010 census data to verify the
population, and evidence that the median household income is at, or
below, 80 percent of either the State or national median household
income. We will only accept data and printouts from http://www.census.gov.
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 May 6, 2013 (78 FR 26384) or from the 2014
list which can be found at http://www.bia.gov/cs/groups/public/documents/text/idc006989.
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'' criteria 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).
[[Page 47432]]
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. 13 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. (A statement acknowledging whether or not a
relationship exists is required).
20. For grants, the applicant's Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal
Numbering Systems (DUNS) number and registration in the System for
Award Management (SAM) 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 may register for SAM at https://www.sam.gov or by calling 1-866-606-8220.
The DUNS number should be identified in the ``Organizational DUNS''
field on Standard Form (SF) 424, ``Application for Federal
Assistance.'' Since there are no specific fields for a Commercial and
Government Entity (CAGE) code and expiration date, they may be
identified anywhere on the Form SF 424. If the applicant does not
provide the CAGE code and expiration date and the DUNS number in the
application, it will not be considered for funding. The required forms
and certifications can be downloaded from the RCDI Web site at: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/HAD-RCDI_Grants.html.
C. Other Submission Information
Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants, OMB No. 1894-
0010 (applies only to nonprofit 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 can be found via http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/SupportDocuments/RCDI_State_Contacts.pdf.
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 System for Award Management (SAM), 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 SAM 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.
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, however, 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 cannot be used for meetings; they can, however, 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 (including meals and
incidental 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. 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.
Grantees and recipients will be restricted to traveling coach class
on common carrier airlines. 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
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
[[Page 47433]]
development that will benefit the community. 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.
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.
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.
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 2010 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:[sol][sol]www.census.gov; click on
``American FactFinder,'' fill in field 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 $51,914.
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 2010 census. The data can be
accessed on the Internet at http://www.census.gov; click on ``American
FactFinder,'' fill in field 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
[[Page 47434]]
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;
and
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. Investing in Manufacturing Communities--Maximum 25 Points
Grant applicants demonstrating a technical assistance plan to help
boost investing in manufacturing communities will be awarded a maximum
of 25 additional points.
The applicant must demonstrate how their efforts will attract
manufacturers and their supply chain of local innovators, producers,
and distributors to create new jobs and strengthen the local economy.
Applicant must demonstrate how it will support the redevelopment of
manufacturing communities that have had major plant closings, in
partnership with local leaders, workers and businesses. The maximum 25
points for this criterion will be awarded as follows:
a. Demonstrates how this project will attract manufacturing to the
region. (10 points)
b. The ability to provide technical assistance to develop and
implement long term strategies to orient the communities' and regions'
economies for innovation, job creation, and export promotion. (5
Points)
c. Emphasizes some combination of public-private partnership,
including higher education collaboration. (5 Points)
d. Demonstrates how this project will lead to further development
of the region's industrial ecosystem. (5 points)
10. State Director's Points Based on Project Merit--Maximum 20 Points
a. This criterion will be addressed by the Agency, not the
applicant.
b. Up to 20 points may be awarded by the Rural Development State
Director to any application that benefits their state regardless of
whether the applicant is headquartered in their state.
c. When an intermediary submits an application that will benefit a
state that is not the same as the state in which the intermediary is
headquartered, it is the intermediary's responsibility to notify the
State Director of the state which is receiving the benefit of their
application. In such cases, State Directors awarding points to
applications benefiting their state must notify the reviewing state in
writing.
d. State Directors have a maximum of 20 points per state that may
be awarded to one or more applications.
e. The total points that may be awarded to any application may not
exceed 20.
f. Assignment of any points under this criterion requires a written
justification and must be tied to and awarded based on how closely the
application aligns with the Rural Development State Office's strategic
goals.
11. Support of Agency's Strategic Goals--Maximum 20 Points
This criterion will be addressed by the Agency, not the applicant.
The Agency Administrator may award up to 20 points to any application
to the extent that the application supports Strategic Goal One in the
USDA Strategic Plan 2014-2018. This plan can be found at the following
link: www.usda.gov/documents/usda-strategic-plan-fy-2014-2018.pdf.
12. StrikeForce, Promise Zones and census tracts with poverty rates
greater than or equal to 20 percent--Maximum 20 Points
Applicants can receive 20 points if their project is based in or
serving StrikeForce, Promise Zones or census tracts with poverty rates
greater than or equal to 20 percent and are eligible under this RCDI
program. This emphasis will support Rural Development's mission of
improving the quality of life for rural Americans and our commitment to
directing resources to those who most need them.
USDA's StrikeForce for Rural Growth and Opportunity Initiative is
part of the Agency's commitment to growing economies, increasing
investments and creating opportunities in poverty-stricken rural
communities. The Promise Zone Initiative designates a number of high
poverty urban, rural and tribal communities as Promise Zones, where the
federal government will partner with and invest in communities to
create jobs, leverage private investment, increase economic activity,
expand educational opportunities, and improve public safety. For a
listing of StrikeForce areas and designated Promise Zones, click on the
following link: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?navid=STRIKE_FORCE, then click the StrikeForce or Promise
Zones button from the left menu. For a mapping tool identifying census
tracts with poverty rates greater than or equal to 20 percent, click on
the following link: http://rdgdwe.sc.egov.usda.gov/rdpoverty/index.html.
The maximum 20 points for this criterion will be awarded for any of
the following:
a. StrikeForce--The project serves a StrikeForce area. Identify the
StrikeForce area and clearly demonstrate to what extent the project
will support the StrikeForce area.
b. Promise Zones--The project serves a Promise Zone, and eligible
applicant provides evidence of partnership with a Promise Zone Lead
Applicant organization. Identify the specific Promise Zone, the
expected benefits of the project to the Promise Zone strategy, and a
statement expressing the nature of the partnership with the Promise
Zone Lead Applicant organization. Or,
c. Poverty greater than or equal to 20 percent--At least 50 percent
of the combined recipient(s) service area includes census tracts with
poverty rates greater than or equal to 20 percent. Must provide the
address and census tract in which the recipient will conduct or deliver
approved project activity.
B. Review and Selection Process
1. Rating and ranking
Applications will be rated and ranked on a national basis by a
review panel
[[Page 47435]]
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.
2. 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.
a. Recipients were not located in eligible rural areas based on the
definition in this Notice.
b. Applicants failed to provide evidence of recipient's status,
i.e., documentation supporting nonprofit evidence of organization.
c. 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.
d. Application did not follow the RCDI structure with an
intermediary and recipients.
e. Recipients were not identified in the application.
f. Intermediary did not provide evidence it had been incorporated
for at least 3 years as the applicant entity.
g. Applicants failed to address the ``Evaluation Criteria.''
h. The purpose of the proposal did not qualify as an eligible RCDI
purpose.
i. Inappropriate use of funds (e.g., construction or renovations).
j. The applicant proposed providing financial and technical
assistance directly to individuals.
k. The application package not received by closing date and time.
Part VI--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. 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.''
Unsuccessful applicants will receive notification including appeal
rights by mail.
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 IX of the Education Amendments of 1972,
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Executive Order 12250,
and 7 CFR part 1901, subpart 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).
D. Reporting
Reporting requirements can be found in the Grant Agreement.
Part VII--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 VIII--Nondiscrimination Statement
Non-Discrimination Policy
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination
against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the
bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender
identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs,
marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all
or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance
program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any
program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all
prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment
activities.)
[[Page 47436]]
To File a Program Complaint
If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of
discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form
(PDF), found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the
form.
You may also write a letter containing all of the information
requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to
us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of
Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410,
by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at [email protected].
Persons With Disabilities
Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech
disabilities and you wish to file either an EEO or program complaint
please contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339
or (800) 845-6136 (in Spanish).
Persons with disabilities who wish to file a program complaint,
please see information above on how to contact us by mail directly or
by email.
If you require alternative means of communication for program
information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) please
contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).
Part IX--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.
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.
Dated: August 1, 2014.
Tony Hernandez,
Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-19132 Filed 8-12-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-P