Notice2021-16246
Notice of Solicitation of Applications for Inviting Applications for the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program for Fiscal Year 2022
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Published
July 30, 2021
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentRural Business-Cooperative Service
Abstract
The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (Agency), an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is making an initial announcement to invite applications for loans and grants under the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP) for fiscal year (FY) 2022, subject to the availability of funding. This notice is being issued in order to allow applicants sufficient time to leverage financing, prepare and submit their applications, and give the Agency time to process applications within FY22. Successful applications will be selected by the Agency for funding and subsequently awarded to the extent that funding may ultimately be made available through appropriations. RMAP provides the following types of support: loan only, combination loan and technical assistance grant, and subsequent technical assistance grants to Microenterprise Development Organizations (MDO). An announcement will be made on the Agency website: https://www.rd.usda.gov/ regarding any amount received in the FY22 appropriations. All applicants are responsible for any expenses incurred in developing their applications or any costs incurred prior to the obligation date.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 144 (Friday, July 30, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 144 (Friday, July 30, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41004-41007]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-16246]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Business-Cooperative Service
[Docket #: RBS-21-BUSINESS-0021]
Notice of Solicitation of Applications for Inviting Applications
for the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program for Fiscal Year 2022
AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (Agency), an agency of
the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is making an
initial announcement to invite applications for loans and grants under
the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP) for fiscal year
(FY) 2022, subject to the availability of funding. This notice is being
issued in order to allow applicants sufficient time to leverage
financing, prepare and submit their applications, and give the Agency
time to process applications within FY22. Successful applications will
be selected by the Agency for funding and subsequently awarded to the
extent that funding may ultimately be made available through
appropriations. RMAP provides the following types of support: loan
only, combination loan and technical assistance grant, and subsequent
technical assistance grants to Microenterprise Development
Organizations (MDO). An announcement will be made on the Agency
website: <a href="https://www.rd.usda.gov/">https://www.rd.usda.gov/</a> regarding any amount received in the
FY22 appropriations. All applicants are responsible for any expenses
incurred in developing their applications or any costs incurred prior
to the obligation date.
DATES: The deadlines for completed applications to be received in the
USDA Rural Development State Office for quarterly funding competitions
are no later than 4:30 p.m. (local time) on: First Quarter, September
30, 2021; Second Quarter, December 31, 2021; Third Quarter, March 31,
2022; and Fourth Quarter, June 30, 2022.
The subsequent microlender technical assistance grant (existing
MDOs with a microentrepreneur revolving loan fund) will be made, non-
competitively, based on the microlender's microlending activity and
availability of funds. To determine the microlender technical
assistance grant awards for FY22, if available, the Agency will use the
microlender's outstanding balance of microloans as of June 30, 2022, to
calculate the eligible grant amount. MDOs that are in compliance with
the terms of their loan agreement may apply for this annual grant.
ADDRESSES: Applications must be submitted electronically to the USDA
Rural Development State Office for the state where the project is
located. Applicants are encouraged to contact their respective Rural
Development State Office for an email contact to submit an electronic
application prior to the submission deadline date(s). A list of the
USDA Rural Development State Office contacts can be found at: <a href="http://www.rd.usda.gov/contact-us/state-offices">http://www.rd.usda.gov/contact-us/state-offices</a>.
This funding opportunity will be made available for informational
purposes on <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shamika Johnson at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#07746f666a6e6c66296d686f69746869477274636629606871"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7d0e151c1014161c53171215130e12133d080e191c531a120b">[email protected]</span></a>, Program Management Division, Business
Programs, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Mail Stop 3226, Room 5160-S,
Washington, DC 20250-3226, or call (202) 720-1400. For further
information on this notice, please contact the USDA Rural Development
State Office in the State in which the applicant's headquarters is
located. A list of Rural Development State Office contacts is provided
at the following link: <a href="http://www.rd.usda.gov/contact-us/state-offices">http://www.rd.usda.gov/contact-us/state-offices</a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Subtitle E of the Small Business
Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (also known as the
Congressional Review Act or CRA), 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., the Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs in the Office of Management and
Budget designated this action as a major rule, as defined by 5 U.S.C.
804(2), because it is likely to result in an annual effect on the
economy of $100,000,000 or more. Accordingly, there is a 60-day delay
in the effective date of this action. Application rating, ranking and
selection will not begin until after September 30, 2021. Therefore, the
60-day delay required by the CRA is not expected to have a material
impact upon the administration and/or implementation of the RMAP
Program.
Overview
Federal Agency Name: Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
Funding Opportunity Title: Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance
Program.
Announcement Type: Initial Announcement.
Assistance Listing (formally Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
Number): 10.870.
Funding Opportunity Number (grants.gov): RD-RBS-21-01-RMAP.
Dates: The deadlines for completed applications to be received in
the USDA Rural Development State Office for quarterly funding
competitions are no later than 4:30 p.m. (local time) on: First
Quarter, September 30, 2021; Second Quarter, December 31, 2021; Third
Quarter, March 31, 2022, and Fourth Quarter, June 30, 2022.
Administrative: If two or more applications have the same score and
funds are not available to fund both projects, the Administrator may
prioritize applications to help the program achieve overall geographic
diversity. The Agency encourages applicants to consider projects that
will advance the following key priorities:
<bullet> Assisting Rural communities recover economically from the
impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly disadvantaged
communities;
<bullet> Ensuring all rural residents have equitable access to RD
programs and benefits from RD funded projects; and
<bullet> Reducing climate pollution and increasing resilience to
the impacts of climate change through economic support to rural
communities.
I. Program Description
A. Purpose of the Program. The purpose of RMAP is to support the
development and ongoing success of rural Microentrepreneurs and
Microenterprises, each as defined in 7 CFR 4280.302. The regulation can
be accessed online at <a href="https://www.ecfr.gov">https://www.ecfr.gov</a>. To accomplish this purpose,
RMAP provides direct loans and grants to MDOs. Loan funds are used by
the MDO to establish or recapitalize a revolving
[[Page 41005]]
loan program for making microloans to a rural microentrepreneur
business. Grant funds are used by the MDO to provide technical
assistance and entrepreneurship training to rural individuals and
businesses.
B. Statutory Authority. RMAP is authorized by Section 379E of the
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (Pub. L. 87-128), as
amended, and is codified as 7 U.S.C. 2008s. Regulations are contained
in 7 CFR part 4280, subpart D and can be found online at <a href="https://www.ecfr.gov">https://www.ecfr.gov</a>. Assistance provided to rural areas under this program may
include the provision of loans and grants to rural MDOs for the
provision of microloans to rural microenterprises and
microentrepreneurs; provision of business-based training and technical
assistance to rural microborrowers and potential microborrowers; and
other such activities as deemed appropriate by the Secretary to ensure
the development and ongoing success of rural microenterprises. Awards
are made on a competitive basis using specific selection criteria
contained in 7 CFR part 4280, subpart D.
C. Definition of Terms. The definitions applicable to this notice
are published at 7 CFR 4280.302.
D. Application Awards. The Agency will review, evaluate, and score
applications received in response to this notice based on the
provisions found in 7 CFR part 4280, subpart D, and as indicated in
this notice. However, the Agency advises all interested parties that
the applicant bears the burden in preparing and submitting an
application in response to this notice whether or not funding is
appropriated for this program in FY 22. Information required to be in
the application is specified in 7 CFR 4280.315. For entities applying
for program loan funds to become an RMAP microlender only, the
following items are also required: (1) Form RD 1910-11, ``Applicant
Certification Federal Collection Policies for Consumer or Commercial
Debts;'' (2) Demonstration that the applicant is eligible to apply to
participate in this program; and (3) Certification by the applicant
that it cannot obtain sufficient credit elsewhere to fund the
activities called for under this program with similar rates and terms.
Current MDO entities may be eligible for subsequent annual
microlender technical assistance grants that are awarded subject to
funding availability and determined non-competitively based on Agency
appropriations for the FY. The MDO must submit a prescribed worksheet,
listing the outstanding balance of their microloans and unexpended
grant funds as of June 30, 2022, and a letter certifying that their
organization still meets all the requirements set forth in 7 CFR part
4280, subpart D, and that no significant changes have occurred within
the last year that would affect its ability to carry out the MDO
functions. In addition, all MDOs who request Subsequent Annual
Microlender Technical Assistance Grants must complete their reporting
into the Lenders Interactive Network Connection (LINC) for the Federal
fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2022 which will verify the outstanding
balance of their microloans as stated in their request for grant funds.
The deadline for reporting into LINC and requesting a technical
assistance grant is no later than 4:30 p.m. (local time) on August 1,
2022.
II. Federal Award Information
Type of Awards: Loans and/or Grants.
Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2022.
Available Funds. Anyone interested in submitting an application for
funding under these Programs is encouraged to consult the Rural
Development Notices of Solicitation of Applications website at <a href="http://www.rd.usda.gov/newsroom/notices-solicitation-applications-nosas">http://www.rd.usda.gov/newsroom/notices-solicitation-applications-nosas</a>.
Maximum Award: The Agency anticipates the following maximum amounts
per award: Loans--$500,000; Grants--$100,000.
Application Funding Competition Dates: First Quarter, September 30,
2021; Second Quarter, December 31, 2021; Third Quarter, March 31, 2022
and Fourth Quarter, June 30, 2022.
III. Eligibility Information
A. Eligible Applicants. Eligible applicants are domestic
organizations that are non-profit entities, Indian tribes, or public
institutions of higher education, and eligible applicants must provide
training and technical assistance, make microloans, facilitate access
to capital, or have an effective plan or program to deliver such
services. The applicant must meet the eligibility requirements in 7 CFR
4280.310 and must not be delinquent on any Federal debt or otherwise
disqualified from participation in this program to be eligible to
apply. The Agency will check the System for Award Management (SAM) to
determine if the applicant has been debarred or suspended at the time
of application and also prior to funding any grant award. All other
restrictions in this notice will apply.
B. Cost Sharing or Matching. The Federal share of the eligible
project cost of a microborrower's project funded under this notice
shall not exceed 75 percent. The cost share requirement shall be met by
the microlender in accordance with the requirements specified in 7 CFR
4280.311(d).
The MDO is required to provide a match of not less than 15 percent
of the total amount of the grant in the form of matching funds,
indirect costs, or in-kind goods or services.
C. Other Eligibility Requirements. Applications will only be
accepted from eligible MDOs. Eligible MDOs must score a minimum of 60
points out of 100 points to be considered to receive an award. Awards
for each Federal fiscal quarter will be based on ranking with the
highest-ranking applications being funded first, subject to available
funding.
D. Completeness Eligibility. All applications must be submitted as
a complete application, in one package. Applications will not be
considered for funding if they do not provide sufficient information to
determine eligibility or are otherwise not suitable for evaluation.
Such applications will be withdrawn.
IV. Application and Submission Information
A. Address to Request Application Package. For further information,
entities wishing to apply for assistance should contact the Rural
Development State Office as identified in the ADDRESSES section of this
notice to obtain electronic copies of the application package.
An MDO may submit an initial application for a loan with a
microlender technical assistance grant, or an initial or subsequent
loan-only (without a microlender technical assistance grant). Loan
applications must be submitted electronically to the State Office where
the project is located and must be organized in the same order set
forth in 7 CFR 4280.315. Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact
their respective Rural Development State Office for an email contact to
submit an electronic application prior to the submission deadline
date(s).
B. Content and Form of Application Submission. An application must
contain all of the required elements outlined in 7 CFR 4280.315. Each
application must address the applicable scoring criteria presented in 7
CFR 4280.316 for the type of funding being requested.
C. Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System and System
for Award Management. All applicants must have a Dun and Bradstreet
Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number which can be obtained at
no cost via a toll-free request line at (866) 705-5711 or at http://
fedgov.dnb.com/
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webform or any subsequent unique entity identifier number. Each
applicant applying for loan or grant funds must (i) be registered in
the System for Award Management (SAM) before submitting its application
and (ii) provide a valid unique entity identifier in its application,
unless determined exempt under 2 CFR 25.110. Applicants must maintain
an active SAM registration, with current, accurate and complete
information, at all times during which it has an active Federal award
or an application under consideration by a Federal awarding agency.
Applicants must ensure they complete the Financial Assistance General
Certifications and Representations in SAM.
The Agency will not make an award until the applicant has complied
with all applicable DUNS (unique entity identifier) and SAM
requirements. If an applicant has not fully complied with the
requirements by the time the Agency is ready to make an award, the
agency may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a
Federal award and use that determination as a basis for making a
Federal award to another applicant.
D. Submission Dates and Times. Competitions for the available loan
and grant funds will be made quarterly for applications that are
received no later than 11:59 p.m. (local time) on: First Quarter,
September 30, 2021; Second Quarter, December 31, 2021; Third Quarter,
March 31, 2022; and Fourth Quarter, June 30, 2022.
Unless withdrawn by the applicant, completed applications that
receive a score of at least 60 (the minimum required to be considered
for funding), but have not yet been funded, will be retained by the
Agency for consideration in subsequent reviews through a total of four
consecutive quarterly reviews. Applications that remain unfunded after
four quarterly reviews, including the initial quarter in which the
application was competed, will not be considered further for an award.
E. Explanation of Dates. Applications must be in the USDA Rural
Development State Office by the dates and times as indicated above to
compete for available funds in that fiscal quarter. If the due date
falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or Federal holiday, the application is due
the next business day.
F. Intergovernmental Review. This program is subject to Executive
Order 12372, which requires intergovernmental consultation with State
and local officials. Intergovernmental consultation will occur for the
assistance to MDOs in accordance with the process and procedures
outlined in 2 CFR part 415, subpart C. Assistance to rural
microenterprises will not require intergovernmental review.
Applications from Federally recognized Indian tribes are not subject to
this requirement.
Rural Development will conduct intergovernmental consultation using
RD Instruction 1970-I ``Intergovernmental Review,'' available in any
Rural Development office, on the internet at <a href="http://www.rd.usda.gov/sites/default/files/1970i.pdf">http://www.rd.usda.gov/sites/default/files/1970i.pdf</a> and in 2 CFR part 415, subpart C. Note
that not all States have chosen to participate in the intergovernmental
review process. A list of participating States is available at the
following website: <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/management/office-federal-financial-management/">https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/management/office-federal-financial-management/</a>.
G. Funding Restrictions. No funds made available under this notice
shall be used for those ineligible purposes outlined in 7 CFR
4280.313(e).
V. Application Review Information
A. Criteria. All eligible and complete applications for new loan
and grant funds will be evaluated and scored based on the selection
criteria and weights contained in 7 CFR part 4280, subpart D. A copy of
the regulation can be accessed online at <a href="https://www.ecfr.gov">https://www.ecfr.gov</a>. Failure
to address any one of the criteria by the application deadline will
result in the application being determined ineligible and the
application will not be considered for funding. An application must
receive at least 60 points to be considered for funding in the quarter
in which it is scored.
B. Review and Selection Process. The State Offices will review
applications to determine if they are eligible for assistance based on
requirements contained in 7 CFR part 4280, subpart D. If determined
eligible, the application will be submitted to the National Office,
where it will be reviewed and prioritized by ranking each application
received in that quarter, in highest to lowest score order. All
applications will be funded from the highest to lowest score until
funds have been exhausted for each funding cycle. Funding of projects
is subject to the MDO's satisfactory submission of the additional items
required by that subpart and the USDA Rural Development Letter of
Conditions.
VI. Federal Award Administration Information
A. Award Notices. Successful applicants will receive notification
for funding from the USDA Rural Development State Office. Applicants
must comply with all applicable statutes and regulations before the
award will be approved. Provided the application and eligibility
requirements have not changed, an application not selected will be
reconsidered for three subsequent funding competitions for a total of
four competitions. If an application is withdrawn, it can be
resubmitted and will be evaluated as a new application. Unsuccessful
applications will receive notification by mail, detailing why the
application was unsuccessful.
B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements. Additional
requirements that apply to MDOs selected for this program can be found
in 7 CFR part 4280, subpart D. The USDA and the Agency have adopted the
USDA grant regulations at 2 CFR chapter IV. This regulation
incorporates the new Office of Management and Budget regulations 2 CFR
part 200 and 2 CFR part 400 for monitoring and servicing RMAP funding.
C. Reporting. In addition to any reports required by 2 CFR part 200
and 2 CFR part 400, the MDO must provide reports as required by 7 CFR
part 4280, subpart D. All recipients of Federal financial assistance
are required to report information about first-tier sub-awards and
executive compensation (see 2 CFR part 170). You will be required to
have the necessary processes and systems in place to comply with the
Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (Pub. L.
109-282) reporting requirements (see 2 CFR 170.200(b), unless you are
exempt under 2 CFR 170.110(b)).
Intermediaries must collect and maintain data provided by Ultimate
Recipients on race, sex, and national origin and must also ensure that
Ultimate Recipients collect and maintain this data. Race and ethnicity
data will be collected in accordance with Office of Management and
Budget (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.
The applicant and the Ultimate Recipients must comply with Title VI
of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments
of 1972, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Age Discrimination Act of 1975,
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Executive Order 12250, Executive Order 13166 Limited English
Proficiency (LEP), and 7 CFR part 1901, subpart E.
VII. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts
For general questions about this notice, please contact your USDA
Rural Development State Office as provided in the ADDRESSES section of
this notice.
VIII. Paperwork Reduction Act
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the
information collection requirements associated with the Rural
Microentrepreneur Assistance Program, as covered in this notice, have
been approved by OMB under OMB Control Number 0570-0062.
IX. Nondiscrimination Statement
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and USDA civil rights
regulations and policies, the USDA, its Mission Areas, agencies, staff
offices, employees, and institutions participating in or administering
USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color,
national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender
expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status,
family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance
program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil
rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA
(not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing
deadlines vary by program or incident.
Program information may be made available in languages other than
English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of
communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large
print, audiotape, American Sign Language) should contact the
responsible Mission Area, agency, or staff office; the USDA TARGET
Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY); or the Federal Relay Service
at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a complainant should
complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form,
which can be obtained online at <a href="https://www.ocio.usda.gov/document/ad-3027">https://www.ocio.usda.gov/document/ad-3027</a>, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a
letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant's
name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the
alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the
Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights about the nature and date of an
alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter
must be submitted to USDA by:
(1) Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC
20250-9410;
(2) Fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
(2) Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e191938e8693808ccf888f95808a84a194928580cf868e97"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5a2a28353d283b377433342e3b313f1a2f293e3b743d352c">[email protected]</span></a>.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
Mark Brodziski,
Acting Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA Rural
Development.
[FR Doc. 2021-16246 Filed 7-29-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XY-P
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