Notice2023-12849
Amended Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Empowering Rural America (New ERA) Program
Primary source
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Published
June 16, 2023
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentRural Utilities Service
Abstract
The Rural Utilities Service (RUS or the Agency), a Rural Development (RD) agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), announced its intent to solicit Letters of Interest (LOI) for applications under the Empowering Rural America (New ERA) Program in a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) on May 16, 2023, in the Federal Register. In addition, the NOFO announced the eligibility requirements, application process and deadlines, and the criteria that RUS will use to assess New ERA Applications. This notice is making corrections and amendments to clarify timelines for application submission, ensure applicants know they are required to establish a Verified eAuthentication ID, inform applicants that they are eligible for the New ERA Program even if they are subject to a "cooling off period" under the Rural Electrification Act, and to notify applicants that the Agency will provide general assistance to applicants through the RUS' General Field Representatives (GFRs) prior to LOI submissions.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 116 (Friday, June 16, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 116 (Friday, June 16, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39395-39396]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-12849]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
[Docket No. RUS-23-ELECTRIC-0005]
Amended Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Empowering Rural
America (New ERA) Program
AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice; amendment.
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SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS or the Agency), a Rural
Development (RD) agency of the United States Department of Agriculture
(USDA), announced its intent to solicit Letters of Interest (LOI) for
applications under the Empowering Rural America (New ERA) Program in a
Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) on May 16, 2023, in the Federal
Register. In addition, the NOFO announced the eligibility requirements,
application process and deadlines, and the criteria that RUS will use
to assess New ERA Applications. This notice is making corrections and
amendments to clarify timelines for application submission, ensure
applicants know they are required to establish a Verified
eAuthentication ID, inform applicants that they are eligible for the
New ERA Program even if they are subject to a ``cooling off period''
under the Rural Electrification Act, and to notify applicants that the
Agency will provide general assistance to applicants through the RUS'
General Field Representatives (GFRs) prior to LOI submissions.
DATES: Letters of Interest can be submitted beginning at 11:59 p.m.
Eastern Time (ET) on July 31, 2023, and until 11:59 p.m. ET on August
31, 2023. Letters of Interest will not be accepted after 11:59 p.m. ET
on August 31, 2023.
Application Process: Applicants must submit an LOI in order to be
considered for an Invitation to Proceed. An Eligible Entity that is
invited by RUS to proceed will receive an Invitation to Proceed and
will have sixty (60) days to complete and submit a New ERA Application
beginning from the date the Invitation to Proceed is emailed to the
Applicant. If the sixty (60)-day deadline to submit the completed
application falls on Saturday, Sunday, or a Federal holiday, the
application is due the next business day. RUS reserves the right, in
its sole discretion, to extend the sixty (60)-day deadline upon the
written request of the Applicant if the Applicant demonstrates to the
satisfaction of the Administrator that exceptional circumstances exist
to warrant the extension. New ERA Awards will be made as soon as
possible following the submission of a New ERA Application, and all New
ERA funds must be fully disbursed on or before September 30, 2031.
ADDRESSES:
Letters of Interest (LOI) Submissions. All LOIs must be submitted
to RUS electronically through an RUS on-line application portal. The
Agency will finalize the specific requirements of submitting the LOI
through the on-line application portal by separate notice in the
Federal Register, the RUS website at <a href="https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/electric-programs/empowering-rural-america-new-era-program">https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/electric-programs/empowering-rural-america-new-era-program</a>,
and <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> on or before July 31, 2023.
Application Submissions. Eligible Entities selected to proceed with
the New ERA Application must submit a completed New ERA Application
package in accordance with the instructions that will be provided in
the RUS Invitation to Proceed.
Other Information: Additional information, resources, and sample
LOI are available at <a href="https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/electric-programs/empowering-rural-america-new-era-program">https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/electric-programs/empowering-rural-america-new-era-program</a>. The IRA
Funding for Rural Development website is located at <a href="http://www.rd.usda.gov/inflation-reduction-act">www.rd.usda.gov/inflation-reduction-act</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher McLean, Assistant
Administrator, Electric Program, Rural Utilities Service, Rural
Development, United States Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence
Avenue SW, STOP 1568, Washington, DC 20250-1560; Telephone: 202-690-
4492. Email to: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#97c4dab9c5d3b9c5c2c4b9dec5d6b9c6e2f2e4e3fef8f9e4d7e2e4f3f6b9f0f8e1"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a2f1ef8cf0e68cf0f7f18cebf0e38cf3d7c7d1d6cbcdccd1e2d7d1c6c38cc5cdd4">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Corrections and Amendments
This program was initially announced in the Federal Register on May
16, 2023, in FR Doc 2023-10393. As of this publication, the following
changes are being implemented.
1. On page 31225, in the first column, section D.2. in paragraph
ii, the number of days to submit an application package after receipt
of an Invitation to Proceed is amended from 90 day to 60 days. This
section is amended and restated to read as follows:
ii. Phase 2--Application Submission. Upon receiving an Invitation
to Proceed, the Applicant must submit its application package within
sixty (60) days of receipt of such invitation. The Applicant's
application package must contain the applicable information and
documents required in 7 CFR part 1710, subpart D as well as the
following information and documentation:
2. On page 31227, in the third column, section D.7, paragraph ii is
being corrected from ninety (90) days to sixty (60) days. This section
is amended and restated to read as follows:
ii. By submitting the LOI, the Eligible Entity certifies to RUS
that it has the intent and ability to submit a complete New ERA
Application within sixty (60) days of RUS emailing an Invitation to
Proceed should RUS provide such Invitation to Proceed.
3. On page 31228, in the second column, section D.7 is being
amended to add two new paragraphs, ix and x to read as follows:
ix. Prior to accessing the online application window to submit an
LOI or an Application, an Applicant must obtain a Verified USDA
eAuthentication (eAuth) account for each member of their staff
requiring access to the online application window. If an Applicant or
staff member does not have a Verified eAuth account, they will need to
create an account or upgrade an existing account. To do so, a person
will need to follow the instructions on the USDA eAuth website to
create a Verified eAuth account or upgrade an existing account from
``unverified'' to ``verified.'' The USDA eAuth website can be found at:
<a href="https://www.eauth.usda.gov/eauth/b/usda/home">https://www.eauth.usda.gov/eauth/b/usda/home</a>.
x. The 120-month or 180-month exclusions referenced in sec. 306B of
the RE Act and related regulations do not apply to financing under this
program.
4. On page 31232, in the second column, section I is being amended
to add a new paragraph 9 to read as follows:
9. Application of General Assistance. Prior to official submission
of an LOI,
[[Page 39396]]
Applicants may request general assistance from the Agency if such
requests are made prior to August 17, 2023. The Agency may provide
general assistance as it is able, and Applicants may request assistance
in the form of general assistance and consultation with an RUS GFR.
Please note that RUS GFR shall not provide strategic submission or
strategic LOI advice, and applicants are fully responsible for their
submissions. Assistance may also be requested to Agency staff in the
form of requests to speak at meetings, events, and conferences to
explain program provisions and answer questions about this funding
announcement. Such requests and responses will be posted to the New ERA
FAQ page. Information on contacting an RUS GFR can be found at <a href="https://www.rd.usda.gov/contact-us/electric-gfr">https://www.rd.usda.gov/contact-us/electric-gfr</a>. For requests regarding
speaking engagements, please email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4516086b17016b1710166b0c17046b14302036312c2a2b3605303621246b222a33"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="085b45265a4c265a5d5b26415a4926597d6d7b7c6167667b487d7b6c69266f677e">[email protected]</span></a>.
Andrew Berke,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service, USDA Rural Development.
[FR Doc. 2023-12849 Filed 6-15-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P
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