[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 37 (Thursday, February 24, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10321-10327]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-4137]
[[Page 10321]]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
Announcement of Solicitation of Applications and Grant
Application Deadlines
AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of Solicitation of Applications.
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SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an agency of the United
States Department of Agriculture (USDA), announces its Distance
Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) grant program application window for
Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 subject to the availability of funding. This
notice is being issued prior to passage of a final appropriations act
to allow potential applicants time to submit proposals and give the
Agency time to process applications within the current fiscal year. RUS
will publish a subsequent notice identifying the amount received in the
final appropriations act, if any. Expenses incurred in developing
applications will be at the applicant's risk. For FY 2010, Congress
appropriated approximately $30 million. In addition to announcing the
application window, RUS announces the minimum and maximum amounts for
DLT grants applicable for the fiscal year and a change in scoring
necessitated by changes in the Empowerment Zone (EZ), Enterprise
Community (EC) and Champion Community (CC) designations. Finally, the
Agency notes that the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Pub.
L. 110-234) expressly added the category of libraries under Sec. 2333
(c)(1) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7
U.S.C. Sec. 950aaa-2(a)(1)) in order to clearly establish that
libraries are eligible to be recipients of DLT Loans and Grants. This
confirms the longstanding Agency policy of considering libraries to be
eligible entities under the DLT Program. The regulation for the DLT
Grant Program can be found at 7 CFR part 1703, subpart E.
DATES: You may submit completed applications for grants on paper or
electronically in accordance with the following deadlines:
Paper submissions: Paper copies must be postmarked and
mailed, shipped, or sent overnight no later than April 25, 2011 to be
eligible for FY 2011 grant funding. Late or incomplete applications
will not be eligible for FY 2011 grant funding.
Electronic submissions: Electronic copies must be received
by April 25, 2011 to be eligible for FY 2011 grant funding. Late or
incomplete applications will not be eligible for FY 2011 grant funding.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the FY 2011 Application Guides and materials for
the DLT grant program may be obtained at the following sources:
(1) The DLT Web site: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/UTP_DLTResources.html and
(2) You may also request application guides and materials from RUS
by contacting the DLT Program at 202-720-0413.
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 may 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: Acting Director, Advanced Services
Division, Telecommunications Programs, Rural Utilities Service.
Telephone: 202-720-0413, fax: 202-720-1051.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Overview
Federal Agency: Rural Utilities Service (RUS).
Funding Opportunity Title: Distance Learning and Telemedicine
Grants.
Announcement Type: Notice of Funds Availability.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.855.
DATES: You may submit completed applications for grants on paper or
electronically according to the following deadlines:
Paper copies must be postmarked and mailed, shipped, or
sent overnight no later than April 25, 2011 to be eligible for FY 2011
grant funding. Late or incomplete applications are not eligible for FY
2011 grant funding.
Electronic copies must be received by April 25, 2011 to be eligible
for FY 2011 grant funding. Late or incomplete applications are not
eligible for FY 2011 grant funding.
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, 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, items that are eligible.
V. Application Review Information: Considerations and preferences,
scoring criteria, review standards, selection information.
VI. Award Administration Information: Award notice information,
award recipient reporting requirements.
VII. Agency Contacts: Web, phone, fax, e-mail, contact name.
I. Funding Opportunity
Distance learning and telemedicine grants are specifically designed
to provide access to education, training and health care resources for
people in rural America.
The Distance Learning and Telemedicine (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 locations. Grants are made for
projects where the benefit is primarily delivered to end users that are
not at the same location as the source of the education or health care
service.
As in years past, the FY 2011 DLT Grant Application Guide has been
updated based on Program experience. Details of changes from the FY
2010 Application Guide are highlighted throughout this Notice and are
described in full in the FY 2011 Application Guide. All applicants must
carefully review and exactly follow the FY 2011 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 application in FY 2011
[[Page 10322]]
is $500,000, and the minimum amount of a grant is $50,000.
The Agency will make awards and execute documents appropriate to
the project prior to any advance of funds to successful applicants.
DLT grants cannot be renewed. 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. Applications from existing DLT awardees 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 USC
450b (b) and (c),
c. A State or local unit of government,
d. A consortium, as defined in 7 CFR 1703.102, or
e. 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.
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 2011 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 2011 Application Guide).
b. Greater amounts of eligible matching contributions may increase
an applicant's score (see 7 CFR 1703.126(b)(4), paragraph V.B.2.c of
this notice, and the FY 2011 Application Guide).
c. Applications that do not provide evidence of the required
fifteen percent match will be declared ineligible and returned. See
paragraphs IV.H.1.c and V.B.2.c of this Notice, and the FY 2011
Application Guide for specific information on documentation of matching
contributions.
d. Applications that do not document all matching contributions in
form and substance satisfactory to the Agency as described in the
Application Guide are subject to budgetary adjustment by the Agency,
which may result in rejection of an application as ineligible due to
insufficient match.
2. The DLT grant program is designed to bring the benefits of
distance learning and telemedicine to residents of rural America (see 7
CFR 1703.103(a)(2)). Therefore, in order to be eligible, applicants
must:
a. Operate a rural community facility; or
b. 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.
Please see Section IV of this notice, 7 CFR 1703.126(a)(2), and the FY
2011 Application Guide for an explanation of the rurality scoring and
eligibility criterion.
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,
in order to determine a rurality score. The rurality score is the
average of all end-user sites' rurality scores.
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DLT
Criterion Character Population points
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Exceptionally Rural Area................ Area not within an Urbanized <= 5,000.................. 45
Area or Urban Cluster.
Rural Area.............................. Area in an Urban Cluster....... > 5,000 and <= 10,000..... 30
Mid-Rural Area.......................... Area in an Urban Cluster....... >10,000 and <= 20,000..... 15
Urban Area.............................. Area in an Urbanized Area or > 20,000.................. 0
Urban Cluster.
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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)(11), 7
CFR 1703.132(a)(5), and 7 CFR 1703.142(b)(3).
C. Where To Find Full Discussion of a Complete Application
See Section IV of this Notice and the FY 2011 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 2011 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 2011 Application
Guide) and strongly encourages applicants to follow the instructions
carefully, using the examples and illustrations in the FY 2011
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 will be scored as is. Please
see the FY 2011 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 2011 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.
[[Page 10323]]
2. The DLT Program for paper copies of these materials: 202-720-
0413.
B. New and Emphasized in FY 2011
1. The USDA designation of Enterprise Community (EC) expired on
December 31, 2009. The Champion Community designation ended in FY 2010.
The Empowerment Zone designation was extended through December 31, 2011
on December 17, 2010 (See Pub. L. 111-312 at Sect. 753). As a
consequence, points will be awarded only for sites located in USDA
Empowerment Zones. Please refer to the FY 2011 Application Guide for
complete details on this change.
2. Applicants are reminded that end user sites are to be rural
facilities. See 7 CFR 1703.102, Definitions, ``End User'' and ``End
User Site.'' We have experienced an increase in the number of
applications which attempt to include urban educational and medical
facilities as end user sites. Urban facilities can serve as hub sites,
but not end user sites. For projects with non-fixed end user sites,
only those end user sites outside urban areas can be funded. The FY
2011 Application Guide again contains clarifying language to elaborate
on this provision of the regulation.
3. If a grant application includes a site that is included in any
other DLT grant application for FY 2011, or a site that has been
included in any DLT grant funded in FY 2010 or FY 2009, the application
should contain a detailed explanation of the related applications or
grants. The Agency must make a nonduplication finding for each grant
approved, and apparent but unexplained duplication of funding for a
site can prevent such a finding.
C. What constitutes a completed application?
1. For DLT Grants:
a. Detailed information on each item in the table in paragraph
IV.C.1.g. 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.
(1). 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.
(2). 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 use printouts from the
official Census Web site. Leveraging documentation generally will be
letters of commitment from the funding sources. In-kind matches must be
items purchased after the application deadline date that are essential
to the project and documentation from the 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.
b. The DLT Application Guide and ancillary materials provide all
necessary sample forms and worksheets.
c. While the table in paragraph IV.C.1.g of this Notice includes
all items of a completed application, the Agency may ask for additional
or clarifying information for applications which, as submitted by the
deadline, appear to clearly demonstrate that they meet eligibility
requirements. The Agency will not solicit or accept eligibility or
scoring information submitted after the application deadline.
d. Submit the required application items in the order provided in
the FY 2011 Application Guide. The FY 2011 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. Given the high volume of program
interest, incorrectly assembled applications, and applications with
inconsistency among submitted copies, will be returned as ineligible.
e. DUNS Number. As required by the OMB, all applicants for grants
must supply a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS)
number when applying. The Standard Form 424 (SF-424) contains a field
for you to use when supplying your DUNS number. Obtaining a DUNS number
costs nothing and requires a short telephone call to Dun and
Bradstreet. Please see http://www.grants.gov/applicants/request_duns_number.jsp for more information on how to obtain a DUNS number or how
to verify your organization's number.
f. Central Contractor Registration (CCR).
(a) In accordance with 2 CFR part 25, applicants, whether applying
electronically or by paper, must be registered in the CCR prior to
submitting an application. Applicants may register for the CCR at
https://www.uscontractorregistration.com/ or by calling 1-877-252-2700.
Completing the CCR registration process takes up to five business days,
and applicants are strongly encouraged to begin the process well in
advance of the deadline specified in this notice.
(b) The CCR registration must remain active, with current
information, at all times during which an entity has an application
under consideration by an agency or has an active Federal Award. To
remain registered in the CCR database after the initial registration,
the applicant is required to review and update, on an annual basis from
the date of initial registration or subsequent updates, its information
in the CCR database to ensure it is current, accurate and complete.
g. 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:
(i) 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.
(ii) 7 CFR part 3015--Uniform Federal Assistance Regulations.
(iii) 7 CFR part 3017--Government-wide Debarment and Suspension
(Non-procurement).
(iv) 7 CFR part 3018--New Restrictions on Lobbying.
(v) 7 CFR part 3021--Government-wide Requirements for Drug-Free
Workplace.
h. Table of Required Elements of a Completed Grant Application.
[[Page 10324]]
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Required items
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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 out
Federal Assistance form).
Site Worksheet................ Yes.............. Agency worksheet
Survey on Ensuring Equal Optional......... OMB Form
Opportunity for Applicants.
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 documentation
Sources.
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.............. Recommend using
Nondiscrimination. Agency's sample form
Architectural Barriers........ Yes.............. Recommend using
Agency's sample form
Flood Hazard Area Precautions. Yes.............. Recommend using
Agency's sample form
Uniform Relocation Assistance Yes.............. Recommend using
and Real Property Acquisition Agency's sample form
Policies Act of 1970.
Drug-Free Workplace........... Yes.............. Recommend using
Agency's sample form
Debarment, Suspension, and Yes.............. Recommend using
Other Responsibility Matters-- Agency's sample form
Primary Covered Transactions.
Lobbying for Contracts, Yes.............. Recommend using
Grants, Loans, and Agency's sample form
Cooperative Agreements.
Non-Duplication of Services... Yes.............. Recommend using
Agency's sample form
Environmental Impact/Historic Yes.............. Recommend using
Preservation Certification. Agency's sample form
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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.
b. Submit one (1) additional copy to the State government single
point of contact (SPOC) (if one has been designated) at the same time
as you submit the application to the Agency. See http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html 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 2011 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 copies are 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. See http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html 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 will be accepted if submitted
through the Federal 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) Central Contractor Registry. Submitting an application through
Grants.gov requires that you list your organization in the Central
Contractor Registry (CCR). Setting up a CCR listing takes up to five
business days, so the
[[Page 10325]]
Agency strongly recommends that you obtain your organization's DUNS
number and CCR 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 CCR 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 April 25, 2011 to be eligible for FY
2011 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 2011
grant funding.
2. Electronic grant applications must be received by April 25, 2011
to be eligible for FY 2011 funding. Late or incomplete applications
will not be eligible for FY 2011 grant funding.
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.html
to determine whether your State has a single point of contact.
H. Funding Restrictions
1. Eligible purposes.
a. For grants, rural end-user sites may receive financial
assistance; hub sites (rural or non-rural) may also receive financial
assistance if they are necessary to provide DLT services to end-user
sites. 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
2011 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 2011 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 that is Yes.
capital asset.
Technical assistance, develop instructional Yes, up to 10% of the
programming that is a capital asset, grant.
engineering or environmental studies.
Telemedicine or distance learning equipment Yes.
or facilities necessary to the project.
Vehicles using distance learning or No.
telemedicine technology to deliver services.
Teacher-student links located at the same No.
facility.
Links between medical professionals located No.
at the same facility.
Site development or building alteration...... No.
Land of building purchase.................... No.
Building Construction........................ No.
Acquiring telecommunications transmission No.
facilities.
Internet services, telecommunications No.
services or other forms of connectivity.
Salaries, wages, benefits for medical or No.
educational personnel.
Salaries or administrative expenses of No.
applicant or project.
Recurring project costs or operating expenses No, (equipment & facility
leases are not recurring
project costs).
Internet services, telecom services, and No.
other forms of connectivity.
Equipment to be owned by the LEC or other No.
telecommunications service provider, if the
provider is the applicant.
Duplicative distance learning or telemedicine No.
services.
Any project that for its success depends on No.
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 costs No.
incurred prior to RUS receipt of completed
application.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
c. Discounts. The DLT Program regulation has long stated that
manufacturers' and service providers' discounts are not eligible
matches. The Agency will not consider as eligible any proposed match
from a vendor, manufacturer, or service provider whose products or
services will be used in the DLT project as described in the
application. In recent years, the Agency has noted a trend of vendors,
manufacturers and other service providers offering their own products
and services as in-kind matches for a project when their products or
services
[[Page 10326]]
will also be purchased with either grant or cash match funds for that
project. Such activity is a discount and is therefore not an eligible
match. 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 activity is
a discount and is not an eligible match. The Agency actively
discourages such matching proposals and will adjust budgets as
necessary to remove any such matches, which may reduce an application's
score or result in the application's ineligibility due to insufficient
match.
2. Eligible Equipment & Facilities. Please see the FY 2011
Application Guide which supplies a wealth of information and examples
of 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 now fund such items, if the applicants attribute the
proportion (by percentage of use) of the costs of each item to the
project's DLT purpose or to other purposes to enable consideration for
a grant of the portion of the item that is for DLT usage. See the FY
2011 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. 7 CFR 1703.112 directs that RUS Telecommunications Borrowers
receive expedited consideration of a loan application or advance under
the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 901-950aa, et. seq.) if
the loan funds in question are to be used in conjunction with a DLT
grant (See 7 CFR 1737 for loans and 7 CFR 1744 for advances).
B. Criteria
1. Grant application scoring criteria (total possible points: 215).
See 7 CFR 1703.125 for the items that will be reviewed during scoring,
and 7 CFR 1703.126 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 (objectively demonstrates economic need of
the area) (up to 35 points).
c. Leveraging category--matching funds above the required matching
level (up to 35 points). Please see paragraph III.B of this Notice for
a brief explanation of matching contributions.
d. EZ category--project overlap with Empowerment Zones (EZ) current
as of the application deadline (up to 10 points), April 25, 2011. In
the past, an applicant could earn up to 15 points in this category; 10
points for one or more sites located in either an EZ or Enterprise
Community and 5 points for one or more sites located in a Champion
Community. The USDA designation of Enterprise Community expired in
2009. The Champion Community designation expired in 2010. The
Empowerment Zone designation was extended through December 31, 2011 on
December 17, 2010. As a consequence, points will be awarded in this
category only for sites located in an Empowerment Zone. Other USDA
designations such as REAP zones are not eligible for points in this
category. Please refer to the FY 2011 Application Guide for complete
details on this change.
e. 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 2011 Application Guide for full
discussions of this criterion.
f. Innovativeness category--level of innovation demonstrated by the
project (up to 15 points).
g. Cost Effectiveness category--system cost-effectiveness (up to 35
points). As a clear indication of cost-effectiveness, the agency will
give significant weight to cooperation and coordination with any of the
Beacon Communities, which were established under the Beacon Community
Collaborative Program by the Office of the National Coordinator to
improve clinical outcomes, population health, and reduce health costs
nationwide. Information on the Beacon Communities is available from
http://www.beaconcommunityprogram.com.
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. Applications which do not include all items that determine
project eligibility and applicant eligibility by the application
deadline will be returned as ineligible. Applications that do not
include all items necessary for scoring will be scored as is. Please
see the FY 2011 Application Guide for a full discussion of each
required item and for samples and illustrations. The Agency will not
solicit or consider eligibility or scoring information submitted after
the application deadline.
3. The FY 2011 grant Application Guide specifies the format and
order of all required items. Applications that are not assembled and
tabbed in the order specified and incorrectly assembled applications
will be returned as ineligible.
4. 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.
[[Page 10327]]
5. DLT grant applications which have non-fixed end-user sites, such
as ambulance and home health care services, are now scored using a
simplified scoring method that finds the relative rurality of the
applicant's entire service area. See the FY 2011 Application Guide for
specific guidance on this method of scoring. When an application
contains non-fixed sites, it must be scored using the non-fixed site
scoring method.
D. Selection Process
1. Grants. Applications are ranked by final score, and by
application purpose (education or medical). RUS selects applications
based on those rankings, subject to the availability of funds. RUS may
allocate grant awards between medical and educational purposes, but is
not required to do so. 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. The agreement will be
updated for FY 2011 grants to incorporate new regulatory requirements
for grant agreements pertaining to Central Contractor Registration and
DUNS numbers (2 CFR Subtitle A, chapter 1, and part 25, Financial
Assistance Use of Universal Identifier and Central Contractor
Registration) and subawards and executive compensation (2 CFR part 170
RIN 0348-AB61, Requirements for Federal Funding Accountability and
Transparency Act Implementation). 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 IV of this notice, and the DLT Program
regulation, FY 2011 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.
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 http://www.ccr.gov 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: 202-720-0423.
C. Fax: 202-720-1051.
D. E-mail: [email protected].
E. Main point of contact: Acting Director, Advanced Services
Division, Telecommunications Program, Rural Utilities Service.
Dated: February 15, 2011.
Jonathan Adelstein,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-4137 Filed 2-23-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P