Notice2023-21129
Notice of Funding Opportunity for Calendar Year 2022 Disaster Circuit Rider Technical Assistance Grants Program; Water and Environmental Programs
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Published
September 28, 2023
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentRural Utilities Service
Abstract
The Rural Utilities Service (RUS or the Agency), a Rural Development (RD) mission area of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), announces acceptance of applications under the Calendar Year (CY) 2022 Disaster Circuit Rider Technical Assistance (CY 2022 Disaster CRTA) Grants Program. The Agency will have up to $8,000,000 in grant funding provided through the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023. Grant funds will be made available to qualified organizations to provide technical assistance on a national basis to rural communities and federally recognized tribes with water infrastructure systems damaged by CY 2022 Presidentially declared disasters. Purposes include supporting eligible communities, including federally recognized tribes, identified through the Presidential disaster declarations by providing on-site technical assistance to support post-disaster mitigation of eligible events, to identify and evaluate solutions to impacted water, wastewater, stormwater and solid waste challenges, help communities develop and prepare applications for water and waste loans and grants, deliver training and other resources to operators, managers, and other system personnel, and pay certain expenses associated with the provision of such services. Applicants are responsible for any expenses incurred in developing their application.
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 187 (Thursday, September 28, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 187 (Thursday, September 28, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66797-66802]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-21129]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
[Docket #: RUS-23-WATER-0013]
Notice of Funding Opportunity for Calendar Year 2022 Disaster
Circuit Rider Technical Assistance Grants Program; Water and
Environmental Programs
AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS or the Agency), a Rural
Development (RD) mission area of the United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA), announces acceptance of applications under the
Calendar Year (CY) 2022 Disaster Circuit Rider Technical Assistance (CY
2022 Disaster CRTA) Grants Program. The Agency will have up to
$8,000,000 in grant funding
[[Page 66798]]
provided through the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act,
2023. Grant funds will be made available to qualified organizations to
provide technical assistance on a national basis to rural communities
and federally recognized tribes with water infrastructure systems
damaged by CY 2022 Presidentially declared disasters. Purposes include
supporting eligible communities, including federally recognized tribes,
identified through the Presidential disaster declarations by providing
on-site technical assistance to support post-disaster mitigation of
eligible events, to identify and evaluate solutions to impacted water,
wastewater, stormwater and solid waste challenges, help communities
develop and prepare applications for water and waste loans and grants,
deliver training and other resources to operators, managers, and other
system personnel, and pay certain expenses associated with the
provision of such services. Applicants are responsible for any expenses
incurred in developing their application.
DATES: Electronic applications must be submitted between September 28,
2023 and 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on October 30, 2023. Late or
incomplete applications will not be accepted.
ADDRESSES: Applications and supporting information must be submitted
electronically through <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> via <a href="https://www.grants.gov">https://www.grants.gov</a>.
Instructions and additional resources, to include an application guide,
are available at <a href="https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/water-environmental-programs/calendar-year-2022-disaster-circuit-rider-technical-assistance-grants-program">https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/water-environmental-programs/calendar-year-2022-disaster-circuit-rider-technical-assistance-grants-program</a> under the ``To Apply'' tab.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Penny Douglas, Grant Manager, Water
and Environmental Programs, RUS, USDA, by phone at (202) 253-0504 or by
email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e6b187928394cbb4a2a693958287c8818990"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1641776273643b4452566365727738717960">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Overview
Federal Awarding Agency Name: Rural Utilities Service.
Funding Opportunity Title: Calendar Year 2022 Disaster Circuit
Rider Technical Assistance Grants Program.
Announcement Type: Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
Funding Opportunity Number: RD-RUS-CY22DisasterCRTA.
Assistance Listing: 10.761, Technical Assistance and Training
Grants.
Dates: Completed electronic applications must be submitted through
<a href="http://www.grants.gov">www.grants.gov</a> between September 28, 2023 and 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time
on October 30, 2023. Late or incomplete applications will not be
accepted.
Rural Development Key Priorities: The Agency encourages applicants
to consider projects that will advance the following key priorities:
<bullet> Assisting rural communities recover economically through
more and better market opportunities and through improved
infrastructure;
<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.
A. Program Description
1. Purpose of the Program. The CY 2022 Disaster CRTA Grants Program
is designed to award funding to qualified organizations that will
provide technical assistance on a national basis to water, wastewater,
stormwater, and solid waste systems in rural areas with populations of
up to 35,000. Grant funds must be used to support water infrastructure
systems damaged by Presidentially declared disasters in CY 2022.
Eligible uses of funds include providing on-site technical assistance
to support post-disaster mitigation of eligible events, to identify and
evaluate solutions to water, wastewater, stormwater, and solid waste
challenges, help communities develop and prepare applications for water
and waste loans and grants, deliver training and other resources to
operators, managers, and other system personnel, and pay certain
expenses associated with the provision of such services. For the most
current list of Presidentially declared disasters, visit the United
States (U.S.) Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) website at: <a href="https://www.fema.gov/disaster/declarations">https://www.fema.gov/disaster/declarations</a>.
2. Statutory and Regulatory Authority. The CY22 CRTA Grants Program
is authorized pursuant to section 306(a)(22) of the Consolidated Farm
and Rural Development Act (Pub. L. 87-128); Division N of the
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Pub. L. 117-328); and 2 CFR
parts 200 and 400, Uniform and Administrative Requirements, Cost
Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. This program is
implemented under the provisions of 7 CFR 1775, Technical Assistance
Grants, Subpart A, General Provisions, and B, Grant Application
Processing, and this NOFO. Other federal statutes and regulations are
listed at 7 CFR 1775.8, Other Federal statutes.
3. Definitions. The definitions applicable to this notice are
published at 7 CFR 1775.2, Definitions, and this Notice. The terms and
conditions provided in this Notice are applicable to and for purposes
of this Notice only. This Notice takes precedence related to any
definition found both within both 7 CFR 1775 and this Notice.
Actual Capacity. Possess the necessary resources to provide
technical assistance to water infrastructure systems through its own
staff or be assisted by an affiliate or member organization which has
such background and experience, and which agrees in writing that it
will provide the assistance for the duration of the grant performance
period, or contract with a nonaffiliated organization for not more than
49 percent of the grant to provide the proposed assistance.
Affiliated Organization. A company that is related to another
company, usually by being in the position of a member or a subordinate
role (must be verified by organizational documentation). Two companies
may be affiliated if one company has control over the other or if both
are controlled by a third company. One corporation can be affiliated
with another corporation by shareholdings, by holding a minority
interest, or one corporation might be a subsidiary of another.
Agency. RUS or its successors, and the USDA RD employees acting on
behalf of RUS in accordance with the appropriate delegations of
authority.
Calendar Year 2022. The dates beginning January 1, 2022, and ending
December 31, 2022.
Federally Recognized Tribe. Any Indian or Alaska Native tribe,
band, nation, pueblo, village or community as defined by the Federally
Recognized Indian Tribe List Act (List Act) of 1994 (Pub. L. 103-454).
Prefabricated Homes Communities. Mobile, manufactured, and modular
homes that share a private public water and/or sewer system.
Presidentially Declared Disaster. A declaration made in accordance
with applicable statues by the President that a disaster exists,
necessitating assistance in the recovery of the impacted area.
Rural or Rural Area. Any area in a city, town, or unincorporated
area with a population not in excess of 35,000 inhabitants, according
to the latest Agency-implemented decennial census of the United States.
The population of the community is as adjusted by the exclusion of
individuals incarcerated on a long-term or regional basis, and the
exclusion of the first 1,500 individuals who reside in housing located
on a
[[Page 66799]]
military base. The area to be served may be made up of combinations of
these eligible areas. If the applicable population figure cannot be
obtained from the most recent decennial Census, RUS will determine the
applicable population figure based on available population data.
Facilities receiving technical assistance under this grant program may
be located in non-rural areas. However, funds may be used to benefit
only that portion of the facility serving rural areas, regardless of
facility location.
4. Application of Awards. The Agency will review, evaluate, and
score applications received in response to this Notice as indicated
here and with further clarification found in the CY 2022 Disaster CRTA
Grants Program Application Guide. Awards under the CY 2022 Disaster
CRTA Grants Program will be made on a competitive basis using specific
selection criteria contained in the Notice and further detailed in the
Application Guide. The Agency advises all interested parties that the
applicant bears the full burden in preparing and submitting an
application in response to this notice.
B. Federal Award Information
Type of Award: Grant.
Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2023.
Available Funds: Up to $8,000,000. RUS may at its discretion
increase the total level of funding available in this funding round
from any available source provided the awards meet the requirements of
the statute which made the funding available to the Agency.
Award Amounts: No minimum or maximum award amount.
Anticipated Award Date: September 30, 2023.
Performance Period: Projects begin as denoted in the Grant
Agreement and may go up to 24 months. Applicant must reference the
performance period in its project narrative.
Renewal or Supplemental Awards: This is a new program; no prior
grants have been awarded under the CY 2022 CRTA Grants Program.
Type of Assistance Instrument: Grant Agreement.
C. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants. CY 2022 Disaster CRTA grant funding is
available to associations, including corporations not operated for
profit, Indian tribes on Federal and State reservations and other
federally recognized Indian tribes, and public and quasi-public
agencies. Additionally, an applicant must:
(a) Be legally established prior to submitting the application and
be located within a State as defined in Sec. 1775.2, and
(b) Possess and document legal authority to receive and administer
a federal award, and to provide the proposed technical assistance on a
national basis, to eligible communities, including federally recognized
tribes, and
(c) Document proven technical, managerial and financial capacity
and experience to carry out the objectives of this program and to
comply with state and federal laws and regulations, as evidenced by the
applicant's satisfactory accomplishment of technical assistance similar
to that proposed, and
(d) Have no delinquent debt to the federal government or
outstanding judgments to repay a federal debt, and
(e) Not be a corporation that has been convicted of a felony or had
an officer or agent acting on behalf of the corporation convicted of a
felony, within the past 24 months. Any corporation that has any unpaid
federal tax liability that has been assessed, for which all judicial
and administrative remedies have been exhausted or have lapsed, and
that is not being paid in a timely manner pursuant to an agreement with
the authority responsible for collecting the tax liability is not
eligible.
2. Eligible Grant Purposes. Technical assistance that may be
provided to eligible communities, including federally recognized
tribes, through the CY 2022 Disaster CRTA Grants program includes:
(a) Short-term disaster and emergency assistance, including on-site
technical assistance and troubleshooting;
(b) Identifying and evaluating long-term solutions, inclusive of
Risk and Resilience Assessments, Emergency Response Plans, and other
planning documentation;
(c) Providing training and other resources to operators and
management; and,
(d) Application development, including any technical work such as
feasibility, engineering, and environmental reports.
(e) Certain other technical assistance efforts that support the
resiliency and capacity of eligible systems.
3. Cost Sharing or Matching. No cost sharing or matching
requirement is associated with this grant.
D. Application and Submission Information
1. Address to Request Application Package. Application information
is available at <a href="http://www.grants.gov">www.grants.gov</a> and <a href="https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/water-environmental-programs/calendar-year-2022-disaster-circuit-rider-technical-assistance-grants-program">https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/water-environmental-programs/calendar-year-2022-disaster-circuit-rider-technical-assistance-grants-program</a>.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission. To be considered for
funding, applicants must meet the eligibility criteria outlined in this
notice and must submit a complete application by the deadline date.
Applicants should consult the cost principles and general
administrative requirements found in 2 CFR part 200 for grants
pertaining to their organizational type to prepare the budget and
complete other parts of the application. Applications should be
prepared in conformance with program regulations, and departmental and
other applicable regulations including 2 CFR parts 180, 182, 200, 400,
417, 418, and 421, or any successor regulations.
Applications should be prepared in accordance with the requirements
of this Notice, further elaborated on in the CY 2022 Disaster CRTA
Grants Application Guide (Application Guide). The Application Guide
provides specific, detailed instructions for each item of a complete
application. The Agency emphasizes the importance of including every
item and strongly encourages applicants to follow the instructions
carefully, using examples and illustrations in the Application Guide.
Applicants should ensure they are using the most updated version of the
application guide before submitting an application. Any updates to the
application guide will be posted at www.<a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> and <a href="https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/water-environmental-programs/calendar-year-2022-disaster-circuit-rider-technical-assistance-grants-program">https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/water-environmental-programs/calendar-year-2022-disaster-circuit-rider-technical-assistance-grants-program</a>. The items at 7 CFR 1775.10(c)(3), (4), and (5) are no longer
required to be separately submitted as part of the application, as they
are covered under the Financial Assistance General Certifications and
Representations referenced in item 3(c) of this notice.
3. System for Award Management and Unique Entity Identifier.
(a) At the time of application, each applicant must have an active
registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) before submitting
its application in accordance with 2 CFR part 25. In order to register
in SAM, entities will be required to obtain a Unique Entity Identifier
(UEI). Instructions for obtaining the UEI are available at <a href="https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration">https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration</a>.
(b) Applicant 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
[[Page 66800]]
consideration by a Federal awarding agency.
(c) Applicant must ensure the Financial Assistance General
Certifications and Representations are completed in SAM.
(d) Applicant must provide a valid UEI in its application, unless
determined exempt under 2 CFR 25.110.
(e) The Agency will not make an award until the applicant has
complied with all SAM requirements including providing the UEI. 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.
4. Submission Dates and Times. Completed applications must be
submitted through <a href="http://www.grants.gov">www.grants.gov</a> between September 28, 2023 and 11:59
p.m. Eastern Time on October 30, 2023. Late or incomplete applications
will not be accepted. If the submission deadline falls on Saturday,
Sunday, or a Federal holiday, the application is due the next business
day.
The Agency will not solicit or consider new scoring or eligibility
information that is submitted after the application deadline. RUS also
reserves the right to ask applicants for clarifying information and
additional verification of assertions in the application.
5. Intergovernmental Review. Executive Order (E.O.) 12372,
Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs, does not apply to this
program.
6. Funding Restrictions. Applications must be for eligible purposes
as defined above, and in consideration of any restrictions found within
7 CFR 1775.5, Limitations and this Notice. Funds under this program
must be used to address impacts from Presidentially declared disasters
that occurred in Calendar Year 2022.
7. Other Submission Requirements.
Applications must be submitted electronically through https://
www.<a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a>. RUS may request original signatures later for any
electronically signed documents. All electronic documents must be
submitted in Excel, Word, or PDF format. If system errors or technical
difficulties occur, use the customer support resources available at the
<a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> website.
E. Application Review Information
1. Criteria. All applications that are complete and eligible will
be scored and ranked competitively. The categories for scoring criteria
used are the following:
(a) Applicant's Experience: Experience level in developing and
implementing successful technical assistance or training programs
similar to the proposed project (up to 15 points).
More than ten years (15 points)
Six to ten years (10 points)
Up to five years (5 points)
No experience (0 points)
(b) Applicant's Actual Capacity: Use of grant funds for grantee's
staff versus contract personnel to carry out the technical assistance
or training (up to 15 points).
At least 75 percent staff (15 points)
50 percent to 74.99 percent staff (10 points)
Fewer than 50 percent staff (0 points)
(c) Population of the proposed area or areas to be served--based on
the 2010 U.S. Census, available at this link: <a href="https://go.usa.gov/xMwbH">https://go.usa.gov/xMwbH</a>
(up to 15 points).
Fewer than 5,500 (15 points)
5,500 to 9,999 (10 points)
10,000 or more (0 points)
(d) Application Development. Technical Assistance is for pre-
development or activities related to an application filed under the CY
2022 Disaster Water Grant Program (RD-RUS-CY22DISASTER available at
<a href="https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=348809">https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=348809</a>).
(up to 15 points)
(e) Needs assessment. Clearly addresses and defines the need(s) and
is supported by data. (up to 10 points)
(f) Goals and objectives. Establishes and defines clear measurable
goals and objectives, which are tied to the need as defined in the
Needs Assessment. (up to 10 points)
(g) Work Plan. Clearly articulates a well-thought-out approach to
accomplishing objectives and clearly identifies who will be benefitted
by the technical assistance. Includes a timeframe for completing the
goals and objectives. (up to 30 points possible)
(h) Evaluation Methods. Outlines evaluation method(s) specific to
each activity, which are clearly defined, measurable, and stipulate
expected project outcome(s. (up to 10 points)
(i) Administrative Discretionary Points. In order to be considered
for Administrator Discretionary Points, the applicant must provide
adequate documentation to address that the project is located in a
Disadvantaged Community or a Distressed Community. A Disadvantaged
Community will be determined by the Agency by using the Council on
Environmental Quality's Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool
(which is incorporated into the USDA look-up map) which identifies
communities burdened by climate change and environmental injustice.
Additionally, all communities within the boundaries of Federally
Recognized Tribes and Alaska Native Villages will also be determined to
be Disadvantaged Communities by the Agency. A Distressed Community will
be determined by the Agency by using the Economic Innovation Group's
Distressed Communities Index (which is incorporated into the USDA look-
up map), which uses several socio-economic measures to identify
communities with low economic well-being. To determine if your project
is located in a Disadvantaged Community or a Distressed Community,
please use the following USDA look-up map: <a href="https://ruraldevelopment.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=4acf083be4c44bb7864d90f97de0c788">https://ruraldevelopment.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=4acf083be4c44bb7864d90f97de0c788</a>. The Administrator
Discretionary Points will be awarded solely on these criteria. (15
points)
2. Review and Selection Process. RUS will acknowledge the
application's receipt via an email to the applicant within 30 days of
the closing of the application window. The following actions will be
taken:
(a) Incomplete or ineligible applications as of the deadline for
submission will not be considered. If an application is determined to
be incomplete or ineligible, the applicant will be notified in writing.
(b) Complete, eligible applications will be evaluated competitively
by a review team, composed of at least three RUS employees. They will
make overall recommendations based on the program elements found in 7
CFR part 1775 and this Notice, including review criteria presented in
Section E above. They will award points as described in the scoring
criterion within this notice. Each application will receive a score
based on the averages of the reviewers' scores and discretionary points
awarded by the RUS Administrator. RUS reserves the right to request
additional information once an application is determined to be complete
to minimize the risk of duplication of other federal efforts.
(c) Applications will be ranked, and grants awarded based upon the
scoring results and funding availability. RUS reserves the right to
offer the applicant less than the grant funding requested. At RUS's
discretion, projects scoring too low may not be awarded funding even if
funding remains available.
(d) Regardless of the score an application receives, if RUS
determines that the project is technically infeasible, RUS will notify
the applicant, in
[[Page 66801]]
writing, and no further action will be taken.
F. Federal Award Administration Information
1. Federal Award Notices
(a) Application Outcomes. There are four possible outcomes
following the submission of an application under the CY 2022 Disaster
CRTA Grant Program. RUS reserves the right to make no grant awards if
all applications are ineligible, incomplete or do not meet the
established program objectives and priorities. RUS may determine that
the application is:
(1) Eligible and selected for funding at the requested amount,
(2) Eligible but offered fewer funds than requested,
(3) Eligible but not selected for funding, or
(4) Ineligible for the grant.
(b) Award Notices. Applicants selected for funding will be sent an
award letter, accompanied by a grant agreement, which outlines the
terms and conditions of the award, and other applicable documents.
Pursuant to the grant agreement, grant funds may be released over the
course of the grant period in reimbursement for the performance of
eligible, approved activities which do not duplicate similar federal
efforts or tasks. The grant agreement may also include reporting and
pre-approval requirements which if not met, may result in a delay in
reimbursement, disallowance of expense, or a suspension of the grant.
(c) Payments/Reimbursements. Grantees will be reimbursed as
delineated at 7 CFR 1775.18, this Notice, and the Grant Agreement.
(d) Scope of Services. Any change in the scope of the project,
budget adjustments of more than 10 percent, or other modifications must
get written prior approval in accordance with 7 CFR 1775.19, this
Notice, and the Grant Agreement.
(e) Prevailing Wages. All laborers, apprentices and mechanics
employed by contractors and subcontractors on projects funded directly
by or assisted in whole or in part by and through the Federal
Government pursuant to this Act shall be paid wages at rates not less
than those prevailing on projects of a character similar in the
locality as determined by the Secretary of Labor in accordance with
United States Code, Title 40, Chapter 31, Subchapter IV (also known as
the Davis-Bacon Act). Further details on eligible applicants and
projects may be found in the relevant regulations listed in Section C
of this Notice.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements. This Notice is
subject to the terms and requirements of Departmental and other
regulations, including 2 CFR parts 180, 182, 200, 400, 417, 418, 421
and any successor regulations implementing the appropriate
administrative and national policy requirements.
3. Reporting. Performance reporting, including applicable forms,
narratives, and other documentation, are to be completed and submitted
in accordance with the provisions of 7 CFR 1775.20, this Notice, and
the Grant Agreement. Further, all grantees must submit an audit or
financial information covering the defined period of performance as
outlined in 7 CFR 1775.21, this Notice, and the Grant Agreement.
G. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts
For general questions about this notice please see point of contact
listed in For Further Information Contact section of this notice.
H. Other Information
1. Paperwork Reduction Act. In accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35), the information
collection requirements associated with this program, as covered in
this notice, have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) under OMB Control Number 0572-0138.
2. National Environmental Policy Act. All recipients under this
notice are subject to the requirements of 7 CFR part 1970. However,
awards for technical assistance under this notice are classified as a
Categorical Exclusion in accordance with 7 CFR 1970.53(b), and usually
do not require any additional documentation. RUS will review each grant
application to determine its compliance with 7 CFR part 1970. The
applicant may be asked to provide additional information or
documentation to assist RUS with this determination.
3. Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act. All
applicants, in accordance with 2 CFR part 25, must be registered in SAM
and have a UEI number as stated in Section D.3 of this notice. All
recipients of Federal financial assistance are required to report
information about first-tier sub-awards and executive total
compensation in accordance with 2 CFR part 170.
4. Civil Rights Act. All grants made under this notice are subject
to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as required by USDA (7 CFR
part 15 subpart A, Nondiscrimination in Federally-Assisted Programs of
the Department of Agriculture, which is the effectuation of title VI of
the Civil Rights Act of 1964) and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
of 1973, title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, title IX of the
Education Amendments Act of 1972, Executive Order 13166 (Limited
English Proficiency), Executive Order 11246 (Equal Employment
Opportunity), and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974.
5. Nondiscrimination Statement. In accordance with Federal civil
rights laws and U.S. Department of Agriculture (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, or the 711 Relay
Service.
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.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf">https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf</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 (ASCR) about
the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation.
The completed Form AD-3027 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; or
(2) Fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
[[Page 66802]]
(3) Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#69191b060e1b08044700071d08020c291c1a0d08470e061f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d7a7a5b8b0a5b6baf9beb9a3b6bcb297a2a4b3b6f9b0b8a1">[email protected]</span></a>.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
Christopher A. McLean,
Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service, USDA Rural Development.
[FR Doc. 2023-21129 Filed 9-27-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on September 28, 2023.
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