Notice2024-12606
Notice of Funding Availability for the Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) for Fiscal Year 2024
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Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
June 10, 2024
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentRural Housing Service
Abstract
The Rural Housing Service (RHS or the Agency), a Rural Development (RD) agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), announces the acceptance of applications under the Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) program for fiscal year (FY) 2024. Up to $5 million in funding is available for fiscal year (FY) 2024. These grants will be made to qualified intermediary organizations that will provide financial and technical assistance to recipients to develop their capacity and ability to undertake projects related to housing, community facilities, or community and economic development that will support the community. Applicants are responsible for any expenses incurred in developing their applications.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 112 (Monday, June 10, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 112 (Monday, June 10, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48870-48881]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-12606]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Housing Service
[Docket No. RHS-24-CF-0012]
Notice of Funding Availability for the Rural Community
Development Initiative (RCDI) for Fiscal Year 2024
AGENCY: Rural Housing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Rural Housing Service (RHS or the Agency), a Rural
Development (RD) agency of the United States Department of Agriculture
(USDA), announces the acceptance of applications under the Rural
Community Development Initiative (RCDI) program for fiscal year (FY)
2024. Up to $5 million in funding is available for fiscal year (FY)
2024. These grants will be made to qualified intermediary organizations
that will provide financial and technical assistance to recipients to
develop their capacity and ability to undertake projects related to
housing, community facilities, or community and economic development
that will support the community. Applicants are responsible for any
expenses incurred in developing their applications.
DATES: Completed applications must be submitted using one of the
following methods:
<bullet> Paper submissions: Paper application must be received by 4
p.m. local time by the Rural Development State Office where the
applicant's headquarters is located. July 15, 2024.
<bullet> Electronic submissions: Electronic applications must be
submitted via <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> by 11:59 p.m. eastern time on July 10, 2024.
Prior to official submission of applications, applicants may
request technical assistance or other application guidance from the
Agency, as long as such requests are made prior to July 5, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Applicants wanting to apply for assistance may download the
application documents and requirements as stated in this Notice from
the RCDI website: <a href="http://rd.usda.gov/programs-services/community-facilities/rural-community-development-initiative-grants">rd.usda.gov/programs-services/community-facilities/rural-community-development-initiative-grants</a>. Application information
for electronic submissions may be found at <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a>. Applicants may
also request paper application packages from the Rural Development
office in their State. A list of Rural Development State office
contacts can be found via <a href="http://rd.usda.gov/files/CF_State_Office_Contacts.pdf">rd.usda.gov/files/CF_State_Office_Contacts.pdf</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shirley J. Stevenson, Community
Programs Specialist, Rural Development, United States Department of
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20250, Phone:
(202) 205-9685, Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ebb8838299878e92c5b89f8e9d8e85988485ab9e988f8ac58c849d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7e2d16170c121b07502d0a1b081b100d11103e0b0d1a1f50191108">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Overview
Federal Awarding Agency Name: Rural Housing Service (RHS).
Funding Opportunity Title: Rural Community Development Initiative
(RCDI).
Announcement Type: Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA).
Funding Opportunity Number: USDA-RD-HCFP-RCDI-2024.
Assistance Listing: 10.446.
Dates: Applications must be submitted using one of the following
methods:
<bullet> Paper submissions: The deadline for receipt of a paper
application is 4
[[Page 48871]]
p.m. local time, to the Rural Development State Office where the
applicant's headquarters is located. July 15, 2024. Applicants
intending to mail applications must provide sufficient time to permit
delivery on or before the closing deadline date and time. Acceptance by
the United States Postal Service or private mailer does not constitute
delivery. Facsimile (FAX), electronic mail, and postage due
applications will not be accepted. The application dates and times are
firm. The Agency will not consider any application received after the
deadline.
<bullet> Electronic submission: Electronic applications will be
accepted via <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a>. The deadline for receipt of an electronic
applications via <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> is 11:59 p.m. eastern time on July 10,
2024. The application dates and times are firm. The Agency will not
consider any application received after the deadline. The Agency
recommends not filing electronic submissions too close to the
submission deadline in the event there is a problem with the system.
Applicants that choose to mail applications in lieu of an electronic
submission must provide sufficient time to permit delivery on or before
the closing deadline date and time. Acceptance by the United States
Postal Service or private mailer does not constitute delivery.
Facsimile (FAX), electronic mail and postage due applications will not
be accepted. Prior to official submission of applications, applicants
may request technical assistance or other application guidance from the
Agency, as long as such requests are made prior to July 5, 2024.
Technical assistance is not meant to be an analysis or assessment of
the quality of the materials submitted, a substitute for agency review
of completed applications, nor a determination of eligibility, if such
determination requires in-depth analysis. The Agency will not accept
any applications or consider additional information or documentation
after the application deadline. The application dates and times are
firm. The Agency reserves the right to contact applicants to seek
clarification information on materials contained in the submitted
application.
Rural Development Key Priorities: The Agency encourages applicants
to consider projects that will advance the following key priorities
(more details available at <a href="http://rd.usda.gov/priority-points">rd.usda.gov/priority-points</a>:
<bullet> Addressing Climate Change and Environmental Justice:
Reducing climate pollution and increasing resilience to the impacts of
climate change through economic support to rural communities.
<bullet> Advancing Racial Justice, Place-Based Equity, and
Opportunity: Ensuring all rural residents have equitable access to RD
programs and benefits from RD funded projects.
<bullet> Creating More and Better Market Opportunities: Assisting
rural communities recover economically through more and better market
opportunities and through improved infrastructure.
A. Program Description
1. Purpose of the Program. The program is designed to assist
qualified private organizations, nonprofit organizations, and public
(including Tribal) intermediary organizations, proposing to carry out
financial and technical assistance programs to improve housing,
community facilities, and community and economic development projects
in rural areas. The RCDI program requires the intermediary (Grantee) to
provide a program of financial and technical assistance to recipients.
The recipients will, in turn, provide programs to their communities
(beneficiaries).
2. Statutory and Regulatory Authority. Congress created the RCDI
program in 1999 (Pub. L. 106-78), and funding continued under the
enactment of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (Pub. L. 118-
42), and the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (Pub. L.
118-47). This program is implemented under the guidelines announced in
this Notice and 2 CFR part 200.
3. Definitions.
Agency. The Rural Housing Service or its successor.
Beneficiary. Entities or individuals that receive benefits from
assistance provided by the recipient.
Capacity. The ability of a recipient to implement housing,
community facilities, or community and economic development projects.
Conflict of interest. A situation in which a person or entity has
competing personal, professional, or financial interests that make it
difficult for the person or business to act impartially. Regarding use
of both grant and matching funds, Federal procurement standards
prohibit transactions that involve a real or apparent conflict of
interest for owners, employees, officers, agents, or their immediate
family members having a financial or other interest in the outcome of
the project; or that restrict open and free competition for
unrestrained trade. Specifically, project funds may not be used for
services or goods going to, or coming from, a person or entity with a
real or apparent conflict of interest, including, but not limited to,
owner(s) and their immediate family members. An example of a conflict
of interest occurs when an employee of the grantee, a member of the
grantee's board of directors, or the immediate family of either, has
the appearance of a professional or personal financial interest in a
recipient receiving the benefits or services of the grant.
Federally recognized Tribes. Tribal entities recognized and
eligible for funding and services from the Bureau of Indian Affairs,
based on the most recent notice in the Federal Register published by
the Bureau of Indian Affairs (pursuant to Pub. L. 103-454) and Tribes
that received Federal recognition after the most recent publication.
Tribally designated housing entities (TDHE) are eligible RCDI
recipients.
Financial assistance. For the purpose of this Notice, financial
assistance is grant funds used by the Intermediary to benefit the
recipient. The grant funds, not to exceed $10,000 per award, may be
used by the intermediary to purchase supplies and equipment to build
the recipient's capacity. Grant funds are not directly available to the
recipient.
Funds. The RCDI grant and matching funds that have been provided by
the Grantee.
Intermediary. A qualified private organization, nonprofit
organization (including faith-based and community organizations and
philanthropic organizations), or public (including Tribal) organization
that provides financial and technical assistance to multiple
recipients.
Low-income rural community. An authority, district, economic
development authority, regional council, federally recognized Tribe, or
unit of government representing an incorporated city, town, village,
county, township, parish, Indian reservation or borough whose income is
at or below 80 percent of either the State or national Median Household
Income as measured by the 2020 Census.
Matching funds. Cash or confirmed funding commitments. Matching
funds must be at least equal to the grant amount and committed for a
period of not less than the grant performance period.
Recipient. The entity that receives the financial and technical
assistance from the intermediary. The recipient must be a nonprofit
community-based housing and development organization, a low-income
rural community or a federally recognized Tribe.
Rural and rural area. Any area other than (i) a city or town that
has a population of greater than 50,000 inhabitants and (ii) an
urbanized area (note that the Agency has determined that the reference
to ``urbanized area'' should be read as a reference to ``urban
[[Page 48872]]
area'' because the Census Bureau no longer identifies urbanized areas
individually and instead refers to qualifying areas as ``urban areas'')
that is contiguous and adjacent to such city or town.
Technical assistance. Skilled help in improving the recipient's
abilities in the areas of housing, community facilities, or community
and economic development.
4. Application of Awards. Awards under the RCDI Program are limited
and are awarded through a competitive process. No reimbursement will be
made for any funds expended prior to execution of the RCDI Grant
Agreement unless the intermediary is a nonprofit or educational entity
and has requested and received written Agency approval of the costs
prior to the actual expenditure.
This exception is applicable for up to 90 days prior to grant
closing and only applies to grantees that have received written
approval but have not executed the RCDI Grant Agreement.
The Agency cannot retroactively approve reimbursement for
expenditures prior to execution of the RCDI Grant Agreement.
B. Federal Award Information
Type of Award: Grant.
Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2024.
Available Funds: Up to $5 million. RHS may at its discretion,
increase the total level of funding available in this funding round (or
in any category 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: Grant funds are limited and are awarded through a
competitive process.
Minimum/Maximum Award Amount: The minimum grant award per
intermediary is $50,000 and the maximum award amount is $500,000. The
intermediary must provide a program of financial and technical
assistance to recipients to develop their capacity and ability to
undertake projects related to housing, community facilities, or
community and economic development that will support the community.
Anticipated Award Date: September 15, 2024.
Performance Period: Grant funds must be utilized within three years
from date of the award. A grantee that has an outstanding RCDI grant
over three years old, as of the application due date in this Notice, is
not eligible to apply for this round of funding.
The intermediary must provide a program of financial and technical
assistance to one or more of the following: a private, nonprofit
community-based housing and development organization, a low-income
rural community or a federally recognized Tribe. A non-Tribal
intermediary proposing to serve one or more federally recognized
Tribe(s) must include a resolution of support with its application from
the respective Tribe(s) it proposes to serve. If the resolution of
support is not submitted for each respective Tribe, the Tribe will be
considered ineligible as a recipient. This requirement is being added
to ensure collaboration during the application process between
intermediaries and all Tribes that they propose to serve.
Renewal or Supplemental Awards: Applicants must re-apply for an
additional grant.
Type of Assistance Instrument: Grant agreement.
C. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants. Applicants must meet all the following
eligibility requirements by the application deadline. Applications that
fail to meet any of these requirements by the application deadline will
be deemed ineligible, will not be evaluated further, and will not
receive a Federal award under this funding opportunity:
(a) Qualified private organizations, nonprofit organizations
(including faith-based organizations in accordance with 7 CFR part 16,
community organizations and philanthropic foundations), and public
(including Tribal) intermediary organizations are eligible applicants.
Definitions that describe eligible organizations and other key terms
are listed above.
(b) The recipient must be a nonprofit community-based housing and
development organization, low-income rural community, or federally
recognized Tribe based on the RCDI definitions of these groups.
(c) Private nonprofit, faith, or community-based organizations must
provide a certificate of incorporation and a certificate of good
standing from the Secretary of State of the State of incorporation, or
other similar and valid documentation of current nonprofit status. For
low-income rural community recipients, the Agency requires evidence
that the entity is a public body and census data verifying that the
median household income of the community where the office receiving the
financial and technical assistance is located is at, or below, 80
percent of the State or national median household income, whichever is
higher. For federally recognized Tribes the Agency needs the page
listing their name from the current Federal Register list of Tribal
entities recognized and eligible for funding services (see the
definition of federally recognized Tribes in this Notice for details on
this list).
(d) Any corporation that has been convicted of a felony criminal
violation under any Federal law within the past 24 months; or 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, where the awarding agency is aware of the unpaid tax
liability, unless the agency has considered suspension or debarment of
the corporation and has made a determination that this further action
is not necessary to protect the interests of the Government, is not
eligible for financial assistance in accordance with restrictions in
Sections 744 and 745 outlined in Division B, Title VII, ``General
Provisions--Government-Wide'' of the Further Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2024 (Pub. L. 118-47).
2. Cost Sharing or Matching. Matching funds are required to be
provided in an amount that, at a minimum, is equal to the amount of the
grant. If this matching fund requirement is not met, the application
will be deemed ineligible (see, the ``Application and Submission
Information'' section for the required pre-award and post award
matching funds documentation submission). Partnerships with other
Federal, State, local, private, and nonprofit entities are encouraged.
(a) Matching funds must be in the form of cash or confirmed funding
commitments that, at a minimum, are equal to the grant amount. Matching
funds must also be committed for a period of not less than the grant
performance period. These funds can only be used for eligible RCDI
activities and must be used to support the overall purpose of the RCDI
program.
(b) In-kind contributions such as salaries, donated time and
effort, real and nonexpendable personal property, and goods and
services cannot be used as matching funds.
(c) Grant funds and matching funds must be used in equal
proportions. This does not mean funds have to be used equally by line
item.
(d) Grant funds will be disbursed pursuant to relevant provisions
of 2 CFR parts 200 and 400 (see, the ``Application and Submission
Information'' section) for matching funds documentation and pre-award
requirements.
[[Page 48873]]
(e) The intermediary is responsible for demonstrating that matching
funds are available and committed for a period of not less than the
grant performance period to the RCDI proposal. Matching funds may be
provided by the intermediary or a third party. Other Federal funds may
be used as matching funds if authorized by statute and the purpose of
the funds is an eligible RCDI purpose.
(f) RCDI funds will be disbursed on an advance or reimbursement
basis. Matching funds cannot be expended prior to execution of the RCDI
Grant Agreement. The request for advance or reimbursement and
supporting documentation must show that RCDI fund usage does not exceed
the cumulative amount of matching funds used.
(g) Applicants must provide matching funds in an amount at least
equal to the amount of the Federal grant. Successful applications will
be selected by the Agency for funding and will be awarded from funds
appropriated for the RCDI program.
3. Other Eligibility Requirements. The recipient and beneficiary,
but not the intermediary, must be in an eligible rural area. The
physical location of the recipient's office that will be receiving the
financial and technical assistance must be in an eligible rural area.
If the recipient is a low-income community, the median household income
of the area where the office is located must be at or below 80 percent
of the State or national median household income, whichever is higher.
The applicable Rural Development State Office can assist in determining
the eligibility of an area. A listing of Rural Development State Office
contacts can be found at the following link: <a href="http://rd.usda.gov/files/CF_State_Office_Contacts.pdf">rd.usda.gov/files/CF_State_Office_Contacts.pdf</a>. A map showing eligible rural areas can be
found at the following link: <a href="http://eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov/eligibility/welcomeAction.do?pageAction=RBSmenu">eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov/eligibility/welcomeAction.do?pageAction=RBSmenu</a>.
(a) RCDI grantees that have an outstanding grant over 3 years old,
as of the application due date in this Notice, will not be eligible to
apply for this round of funding. Grant and matching funds must be
utilized in a timely manner to ensure that the goals and objectives of
the program are met.
(b) Individuals cannot be recipients.
(c) The intermediary must provide a program of financial and
technical assistance to the recipient.
(d) The intermediary organization must have been legally organized
for a minimum of three years and have at least three years prior
experience working with private nonprofit community-based housing and
development organizations, low-income rural communities, or Tribal
organizations in the areas of housing, community facilities, or
community and economic development. The intermediary organization may
contract with a nonaffiliated organization for not more than 49 percent
of the awarded grant to provide the proposed technical assistance.
(e) Proposals must be structured to utilize the grant funds within
3 years from the date of the award.
(f) Each applicant, whether individually or jointly, may only
submit one application for RCDI funds under this Notice. This
restriction does not preclude the applicant from providing matching
funds for other applications.
(g) Recipients can benefit from more than one RCDI application;
however, after grant selections are made, the recipient can only
benefit from multiple RCDI grants if the type of financial and
technical assistance the recipient will receive is not duplicative. The
services described in multiple RCDI grant applications must have
separate and identifiable accounts for compliance purposes.
(h) The intermediary and the recipient cannot be the same entity.
The recipient can be a related entity to the intermediary, if it meets
the definition of a recipient, provided the relationship does not
create a Conflict of Interest that cannot be resolved to Rural
Development's satisfaction.
(i) If the recipient is a low-income rural community, identify the
unit of government to which the financial and technical assistance will
be provided (e.g., town council or village board). The financial and
technical assistance must be provided to the organized unit of
government representing that community, not the community at large.
(j) A non-Tribal intermediary proposing to serve one or more
federally recognized Tribes must include a resolution of support with
its application from the Tribes it proposes to serve. If the resolution
of support is not submitted for each Tribe, the Tribe will be
considered ineligible as a recipient. This requirement is being added
to ensure collaboration during the application process between
intermediaries and all Tribes that they propose to serve.
D. Application and Submission Information
1. Address to Request Application Package. Entities wishing to
apply for assistance may download the application documents and
requirements delineated in this Notice from the RCDI website:
<a href="http://rd.usda.gov/programs-services/community-facilities/rural-community-development-initiative-grants">rd.usda.gov/programs-services/community-facilities/rural-community-development-initiative-grants</a>. Application information for electronic
submissions may be found at <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a>.
Applicants may also request paper application packages from the
Rural Development office in their State. A list of Rural Development
State Office contacts can be found via <a href="http://rd.usda.gov/files/CF_State_Office_Contacts.pdf">rd.usda.gov/files/CF_State_Office_Contacts.pdf</a>.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission. If the applicant is
ineligible or the application is incomplete, the Agency will inform the
applicant in writing of the decision, reasons therefore, and its appeal
rights and no further evaluation of the application will occur.
A complete application for RCDI funds must include the following:
(a) A summary page, double-spaced between items, listing the
following:
(This information should not be presented in narrative form.)
<bullet> Applicant's name,
<bullet> Applicant's address,
<bullet> Applicant's telephone number,
<bullet> Name of applicant's contact person, email address and
telephone number,
<bullet> County where applicant is located,
<bullet> Congressional district number where applicant is located,
<bullet> Amount of grant request, and
<bullet> Number of recipients.
(b) A detailed Table of Contents containing page numbers for each
component of the application.
(c) A project overview, no longer than one page, including the
following items, which will also be addressed separately and in detail
under ``Building Capacity and Expertise'' of the ``Evaluation
Criteria.''
<bullet> The type of technical assistance to be provided to the
recipients and how it will be implemented.
<bullet> How the capacity and ability of the recipients will be
improved.
<bullet> The overall goals to be accomplished.
<bullet> The benchmarks to be used to measure the success of the
program.
Benchmarks should be specific and quantifiable.
(d) Organizational documents, such as a certificate of
incorporation and a current good standing certification from the
Secretary of State where the applicant is incorporated and other
similar and valid documentation of current status, from the
intermediary that confirms it has been legally organized for a minimum
of three years as the applicant entity.
(e) Verification of source and amount of matching funds, (e.g., a
copy of a complete bank statement if matching
[[Page 48874]]
funds are in cash or a copy of the confirmed funding commitment from
the funding source).
The verification must show that matching funds are available for
the duration of the grant performance period. The verification of
matching funds must be submitted with the application, or the
application will be considered incomplete.
The applicant will be contacted by the Agency prior to grant award
to verify that the matching funds provided with the application
continue to be available. The applicant will have 15 days from the date
contacted to submit verification that matching funds continue to be
available.
If the applicant is unable to provide the verification within that
timeframe, the application will be considered ineligible. The applicant
must maintain bank statements on file or other documentation for a
period of at least three years after grant closing except that the
records shall be retained beyond the three-year period if audit
findings have not been resolved.
(f) The following information for each recipient:
<bullet> Recipient's entity name,
<bullet> Complete address (mailing and physical location, if
different),
<bullet> County where located,
<bullet> Number for Congressional district where recipient is
located,
<bullet> Contact person's name, email address and telephone number,
and
<bullet> Form RD 400-4, ``Assurance Agreement.'' If the Form RD
400-4 is not submitted for each recipient, the recipient will be
considered ineligible. No information pertaining to that recipient will
be included in the income or population scoring criteria and the
requested funding may be adjusted due to the deletion of the recipient.
(g) Submit evidence that each recipient entity is eligible.
Documentation must be submitted to verify recipient eligibility. Links
to websites are not acceptable. Acceptable documentation varies
depending on the type of recipient:
(1) Nonprofits--provide a current valid letter confirming nonprofit
status from the Secretary of State of the State of incorporation, a
current good standing certification from the Secretary of State of the
State of incorporation, or other valid documentation of current
nonprofit status of each recipient.
A nonprofit recipient must provide evidence that it is a valid
nonprofit when the intermediary applies for the RCDI grant.
Organizations with pending requests for nonprofit designations are not
eligible.
(2) Low-income rural community--provide evidence the entity is a
public body (e.g., copy of Charter, relevant Acts of Assembly, relevant
court orders (if created judicially) or other valid documentation), a
copy of the 2020 census data to verify the population, and 2021
American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (2017-2021 data set)
data as evidence that the median household income is at, or below, 80
percent of either the State or national median household income. We
will only accept data and printouts from <a href="http://data.census.gov/cedsci/">data.census.gov/cedsci/</a>.
(3) Federally recognized Tribes--The 2024 list was published on
January 8, 2024, in the Federal Register (89 FR 994) and is available
by using the following link: <a href="http://federalregister.gov/documents/2024/01/08/2024-00109/indian-entities-recognized-by-and-eligible-to-receive-services-from-the-united-states-bureau-of">federalregister.gov/documents/2024/01/08/2024-00109/indian-entities-recognized-by-and-eligible-to-receive-services-from-the-united-states-bureau-of</a>. For Tribes that received
Federal recognition status publication, outside the publication cited
above, statutory citations and additional documentation will suffice.
An intermediary proposing to serve one or more federally recognized
Tribes must include a resolution of support with its application from
the Tribes it proposes to serve. If the resolution of support is not
submitted for each Tribe, the Tribe will be considered ineligible as a
recipient. This requirement is being added to ensure collaboration
during the application process between intermediaries and all Tribes
that they propose to serve.
(h) Each of the ``Evaluation Criteria'' must be addressed
specifically and individually by category. Present these criteria in
narrative form. Narrative (not including attachments) must be limited
to five pages per criterion. The ``Population and Income'' criteria for
recipient locations can be provided in the form of a list; however, the
source of the data must be included on the page(s).
(i) A timeline identifying specific activities and proposed dates
for completion.
(j) A detailed project budget that includes the RCDI grant amount
and matching funds. This should be a line-item budget, by category.
Categories such as salaries, administrative, other, and indirect costs
that pertain to the proposed project must be clearly defined.
Supporting documentation listing the components of these categories
must be included. The budget should be dated: year 1, year 2, and year
3, as applicable.
(k) The indirect cost category in the project budget should be used
only when a grant applicant has a federally negotiated indirect cost
rate. A copy of the current rate agreement must be provided with the
application. Non-Federal entities that have never received a negotiated
indirect cost rate, except for those non-Federal entities described in
appendix VII to 2 CFR part 200-States and Local Government and Indian
Tribe Indirect Cost Proposals, paragraph (D)(1)(b), may use the de
minimis rate of 10 percent of modified total direct costs (MTDC).
(l) Form SF-424, ``Application for Federal Assistance.''
(Do not complete Form SF-424A, ``Budget Information.'' A separate
line-item budget should be presented as described in Letter (j) of this
section.)
(m) Certification of Non-Lobbying Activities, RD Instruction 1940-Q
Exhibit A-1, ``Certification for Contracts, Grants and Loans'' or
equivalent.
(n) Standard Form LLL, ``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities,'' if
applicable.
Applicants must collect and maintain data provided by recipients on
race, sex, and national origin and ensure Ultimate Recipients collect
and maintain this data. Race and ethnicity data will be collected in
accordance with OMB Federal Register notice, ``Revisions to the
Standards for the Classification of Federal Data on Race and
Ethnicity'' (62 FR 58782), October 30, 1997. Sex data will be collected
in accordance with title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. These
items should not be submitted with the application but should be
available upon request by the Agency.
The applicant and the recipient must comply with title VI of the
Civil Rights Act of 1964, title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972,
the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Executive
Order 12250, Executive Order 13166 Limited English Proficiency (LEP),
and 7 CFR part 1901, subpart E.
(o) Identify and report any association or relationship with Rural
Development employees. (A statement acknowledging whether or not a
relationship exists is required.)
3. System for Award Management and Unique Entity Identifier. 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 (<a href="http://ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-I/part-25">ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-I/part-25</a>). 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="http://sam.gov/content/entity-registration">sam.gov/content/entity-registration</a>.
[[Page 48875]]
(a) 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.
(b) Applicants must ensure they complete the Financial Assistance
General Certifications and Representations in SAM.
(c) Applicants must provide a valid UEI in its application, unless
determined exempt under 2 CFR 25.110 (<a href="http://ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-I/part-25/subpart-A/section-25.110">ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-I/part-25/subpart-A/section-25.110</a>).
(d) Each applicant must provide documentation that it is registered
in SAM and include its UEI number. If the applicant does not provide
documentation confirming that it is registered in SAM and its UEI
number, the application will not be considered for funding.
(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 using one of the following methods:
<bullet> Paper submissions: Paper application must be received by 4
p.m. local time by the Rural Development State Office where the
applicant's headquarters is located. July 15, 2024. Applicants
intending to mail applications must provide sufficient time to permit
delivery on or before the closing deadline date and time. Acceptance by
the United States Postal Service or private mailer does not constitute
delivery. Facsimile (FAX), electronic mail, and ``postage due''
applications will not be accepted. The application dates and times are
firm. The Agency will not consider any application received after the
deadline. To submit a paper application, the original application
package must be submitted to the Rural Development State Office where
the applicant's headquarters is located. The address for the
headquarters of each USDA Rural Development State Office can be
accessed at <a href="http://rd.usda.gov/files/CF_State_Office_Contacts.pdf">rd.usda.gov/files/CF_State_Office_Contacts.pdf</a>. The
applicant should contact the USDA Rural Development State Office to see
if applications may be submitted to Field Offices within the state.
Applicants may also request paper application packages from the
Rural Development office in their State. A list of Rural Development
State Office contacts can be found via <a href="http://rd.usda.gov/files/CF_State_Office_Contacts.pdf">rd.usda.gov/files/CF_State_Office_Contacts.pdf</a>.
<bullet> Electronic submissions: Applications will not be accepted
via FAX or electronic mail. Applicants may file an electronic
application at <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a>. Applicants wanting to apply for assistance
may download the application documents and requirements as stated in
this Notice from the RCDI website: <a href="http://rd.usda.gov/programs-services/community-facilities/rural-community-development-initiative-grants">rd.usda.gov/programs-services/community-facilities/rural-community-development-initiative-grants</a>.
Application information for electronic submissions may be found at
<a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a>. Electronic applications must be submitted via <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> by
11:59 p.m. eastern time on July 10, 2024. The application dates and
times are firm. The Agency will not consider any application received
after the deadline. Follow the instructions at <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> for
registering and submitting an electronic application. If a system
problem or technical difficulty occurs with an electronic application,
please use the customer support resources available at the <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a>
website.
Technical difficulties applying through <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> will not be a
reason to extend the application deadline. If an application is unable
to be submitted through <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a>, a paper application must be
received in the appropriate Rural Development State Office by the
deadline noted previously.
5. Intergovernmental Review. This program is subject to Executive
Order 12372, which requires intergovernmental consultation with State
and local officials. Rural Development conducts intergovernmental
consultation as implemented with 2 CFR part 415, subpart C. 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="http://usda.gov/ocfo/federal-financial-assistance-policy/intergovernmental-review">usda.gov/ocfo/federal-financial-assistance-policy/intergovernmental-review</a>.
6. Funding Restrictions. The following are examples of eligible and
ineligible purposes under the RCDI program. Activities that meet the
objectives of the RCDI program and meet the criteria outlined in this
Notice will be considered eligible. These examples are illustrative and
are not meant to limit the activities proposed in the application:
(a) The intermediary provides training to the recipient on how to
conduct homeownership education classes. The recipient then provides
ongoing homeownership education to the residents of the community--the
ultimate beneficiaries. This ``train the trainer'' concept fully meets
the intent of this initiative. The intermediary is providing technical
assistance that will build the recipient's capacity by enabling it to
conduct homeownership education classes for the public.
This is an eligible purpose. However, if the intermediary directly
provided homeownership education classes to individuals in the
recipient's service area, this would not be an eligible purpose because
the recipient would be bypassed.
(b) If the intermediary is working with a low-income community as
the recipient, the intermediary must provide the technical assistance
to the entity that represents the low-income community and is
identified in the application. Examples of entities representing a low-
income community are a village board or a town council.
If the intermediary provides technical assistance to the Board of
the low-income community on how to establish a cooperative, this would
be an eligible purpose. However, if the intermediary works directly
with individuals from the community to establish the cooperative, this
is not an eligible purpose.
The recipient's capacity is built by learning skills that will
enable it to support sustainable economic development in its community
on an ongoing basis.
(c) The intermediary may provide technical assistance to the
recipient on how to create and operate a revolving loan fund. The
intermediary may not monitor or operate the revolving loan fund. RCDI
funds, including matching funds, cannot be used to fund revolving loan
funds.
(d) The intermediary may work with recipients to build their
capacity to provide planning and leadership development training. The
recipients of this training would be expected to assume leadership
roles in the development and execution of regional strategic plans. The
intermediary would work with multiple recipients in helping communities
recognize their connections to the greater regional and national
economies.
(e) The intermediary could provide training and technical
assistance to the recipients on developing emergency shelter and
feeding, short-term housing, search and rescue, and environmental
accident, prevention, and cleanup
[[Page 48876]]
program plans. For longer term disaster and economic crisis responses,
the intermediary could work with the recipients to develop job
placement and training programs and develop coordinated transit systems
for displaced workers.
7. Other Submission Requirements. Fund uses must be consistent with
the RCDI purpose.
(a) Eligible purposes of grant funds include, but are not limited
to, the following:
(1) Provide technical assistance to develop recipients' capacity
and ability to undertake projects related to housing, community
facilities, or community and economic development, (e.g., the
intermediary hires a staff person to provide technical assistance to
the recipient or the recipient hires a staff person, under the
supervision of the intermediary, to carry out the technical assistance
provided by the intermediary). Hiring must support the intermediary's
training purpose. Additional staff can be hired as a secondary purpose
needed to carry out technical assistance/training to the recipient and
must support the intermediary's training purpose.
(2) Develop the capacity of recipients to conduct community
development programs, (e.g., homeownership education or training for
business entrepreneurs).
(3) Develop the capacity of recipients to conduct developmental
initiatives (e.g., programs that support micro-enterprise and
sustainable development).
(4) Develop the capacity of recipients to increase their leveraging
ability and access to alternative funding sources by providing training
and staffing.
(5) Develop the capacity of recipients to provide the technical
assistance component for essential community facilities projects.
(6) Assist recipients in completing pre-development requirements
for housing, community facilities, or community and economic
development projects by providing resources for professional services,
e.g., architectural, engineering, or legal. While this is an eligible
purpose, applicant needs to ensure the capacity of the recipient is
being expanded with appropriate training during the process.
(7) Improve recipient's organizational capacity by providing
training and resource material on developing strategic plans, board
operations, management, financial systems, and information technology.
(8) Purchase of computers, software, and printers is limited to
$10,000 per award at the recipient level when directly related to the
technical assistance program being undertaken by the intermediary.
(9) Provide funds to recipients for training-related travel costs
and training expenses related to RCDI.
(10) RCDI funds may be used to pay for a speaker as part of a
program, equipment to facilitate the program, and the actual room that
will house the meeting.
(b) The following is a list of ineligible uses of grant funds:
(1) Pass-through grants, and any funds provided to the recipient in
a lump sum that are not reimbursements.
(2) Funding a revolving loan fund (RLF).
(3) Construction (in any form).
(4) Salaries for positions involved in construction, renovations,
rehabilitation, and any oversight of these types of activities.
(5) Intermediary preparation of strategic plans for recipients.
(6) Funding prostitution, gambling, or any illegal activities.
(7) Grants to individuals.
(8) Funding a grant where there may be a conflict of interest, or
an appearance of a conflict of interest, involving any action by the
Agency.
(9) Paying obligations incurred before the beginning date without
prior Agency approval or after the ending date of the grant agreement.
(10) Purchasing real estate.
(11) Improvement or renovation of the grantee or recipient's office
space or for the repair or maintenance of privately-owned vehicles.
(12) Any purpose prohibited in 2 CFR part 200 or 400.
(13) Using grant or matching funds for Individual Development
Accounts.
(14) In accordance with 31 U.S.C. 1345, ``Expenses of Meetings,''
appropriations may not be used for travel, transportation, and
subsistence expenses for a meeting. RCDI grant funds cannot be used for
these meeting-related expenses. Matching funds may, however, be used to
pay for these expenses.
(15) RCDI funds cannot be used for meetings; they can, however, be
used for travel, transportation, or subsistence expenses for program-
related training and technical assistance purposes. Any training not
delineated in the application must be approved by the Agency to verify
compliance with 31 U.S.C. 1345. Travel and per diem expenses (including
meals and incidental expenses) will be allowed in accordance with 2 CFR
parts 200 and 400.
E. Application Review Information
1. Criteria. All eligible and complete applications will be
evaluated and scored based on the selection criteria and weights
contained in this notice. Awards are subject to USDA grant regulations
at 2 CFR part 400, which incorporated the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) regulations at 2 CFR part 200. Failure to address any of
the application criteria by the application deadline will result in the
application being determined ineligible, and the application will not
be considered for funding.
All applications that are complete and eligible will be scored and
ranked competitively. The categories for scoring criteria used are the
following:
(a) Building Capacity and Expertise--Maximum 40 Points
The applicant must demonstrate how it will improve the recipients'
capacity, through a program of financial and technical assistance, as
it relates to the RCDI purposes.
Capacity. Building financial and technical assistance should
provide new functions to the recipients or expand existing functions
that will enable the recipients to undertake projects in the areas of
housing, community facilities, or community and economic development
that will benefit the community. Capacity-building financial and
technical assistance may include, but is not limited to: training to
conduct community development programs (e.g., homeownership education,
or the establishment of minority business entrepreneurs, cooperatives,
or micro-enterprises); organizational development (e.g., assistance to
develop or improve board operations, management, and financial
systems); instruction on how to develop and implement a strategic plan;
instruction on how to access alternative funding sources to increase
leveraging opportunities; and staffing (e.g., hiring a person at
intermediary or recipient level to provide technical assistance to
recipients).
The program of financial and technical assistance that is to be
provided, its delivery, and the measurability of the program's
effectiveness will determine the merit of the application.
All applications will be competitively ranked and the applications
providing the most improvement in capacity development and measurable
activities being ranked the highest.
The narrative response must contain the following items. This list
also contains the points for each item.
(1) Describe the nature of financial and technical assistance to be
provided
[[Page 48877]]
to the recipients and the activities that will be conducted to deliver
the technical assistance (10 Points).
(2) Explain how financial and technical assistance will develop or
increase the recipient's capacity. Indicate whether a new function is
being developed or if existing functions are being expanded or
performed more effectively (7 Points).
(3) Identify which RCDI purpose areas will be addressed with this
assistance: Housing, community facilities, or community and economic
development (3 Points).
(4) Describe how the results of the technical assistance will be
measured and describe the benchmarks to be used to measure
effectiveness. Benchmarks should be specific and quantifiable (5
Points).
(5) Demonstrate that the applicant/intermediary has conducted
programs of financial and technical assistance and achieved measurable
results in the areas of housing, community facilities, or community and
economic development in rural areas (10 Points).
(6) Provide in a chart or excel spreadsheet, the organization name,
point of contact, address, phone number, email address, and the type
and amount of the financial and technical assistance the applicant
organization has provided to the following for the last 3 years (5
Points).
<bullet> Nonprofit organizations in rural areas.
<bullet> Low-income communities in rural areas (also identify the
type of entity, e.g., city government, town council, or village board).
<bullet> Federally recognized Tribes or any other culturally
diverse organizations.
(b) Soundness of Approach--Maximum 15 Points
The applicant can receive up to 15 points for soundness of
approach. The overall proposal will be considered under this criterion.
The maximum of 15 points for this criterion will be based on the
following:
(1) The proposal fits the objectives for which applications were
invited, is clearly stated, and the applicant has defined how this
proposal will be implemented (7 Points).
(2) The ability to provide the proposed financial and technical
assistance based on prior accomplishments (6 Points).
(3) Cost effectiveness will be evaluated based on the budget in the
application. The proposed grant amount and matching funds should be
utilized to maximize capacity building at the recipient level (2
Points).
(c) Population and Income--Maximum 15 Points
Population is based on the average population from the 2020 census
data for the communities in which the recipients are located. The
physical address, not mailing address, for each recipient must be used
for this criterion. Community is defined for scoring purposes as a
city, town, village, county, parish, borough, Indian reservation or
census-designated place where the recipient's office is physically
located.
The applicant must submit the census data from the following
website in the form of a printout to verify the population figures used
for each recipient. The data can be accessed on the internet at
<a href="http://data.census.gov/cedsci">data.census.gov/cedsci</a>. Enter location, P1 (i.e., Parma, Idaho, P1) and
click ``search''; the name and population data for each recipient
location must be listed in this section.
The average population of the recipient locations will be used and
will be scored as follows in the table illustrated below:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scoring
Population (points)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
10,000 or less............................................. 5
10,001 to 20,000........................................... 4
20,001 to 30,000........................................... 3
30,001 to 40,000........................................... 2
40,001 to 50,000........................................... 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The average of the median household income for the communities
where the recipients are physically located will determine the points
awarded. The physical address, not mailing address, for each recipient
must be used for this criterion. Applicants may compare the average
recipient median household income to the State median household income
or the national median household income, whichever yields the most
points. The national median household income to be used is $69,021.
The applicant must submit the income data in the form of a printout
of the applicable information from the following website to verify the
income for each recipient. The data being used is from the 2021
American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (2017-2021 data set).
The data can be accessed on the internet at <a href="http://data.census.gov/cedsci/">data.census.gov/cedsci/</a>;
enter location, S1903 (i.e., Parma, Idaho, S1903), click on ``Search,''
click the ``+'' symbol to expand the table, and select the 2021 ACS-5-
year estimates table. Use the Household and Median Income column. The
name and income data for each recipient location must be listed in this
section. Points will be awarded as follows in the table illustrated
below:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scoring
Average recipient median income (points)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than or equal to 70 percent of State or national 10
median household income...................................
Greater than 70, but less than or equal to 80 percent of 5
State or national median household income.................
In excess of 80 percent of State or national median 0
household income..........................................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(d) State Director's Points Based on Project Merit--Maximum 10
Points
(1) This criterion will be addressed by the Agency, not the
applicant.
(2) The State Director may award up to 10 discretionary points for
the highest priority project in each State, up to 7 points for the
second highest priority project in each State and up to 5 points for
the third highest priority project.
Information on whether your project qualifies for priority points
can be found at the following website: <a href="http://rd.usda.gov/priority-points">rd.usda.gov/priority-points</a>.
Provided that all other requirements set forth in the notice are
otherwise met, the discretionary points may be awarded to applicants
proposing to advance any of the following three key priorities:
(a) Addressing Climate Change and Environmental Justice: Reducing
climate pollution and increasing resilience to the impacts of climate
change through economic support to rural communities.
Priority Points: Applicants may receive priority points (up to 3
points) addressing climate change in three ways:
Option 1: Applicants will receive points if the project is located
in or serves a Disadvantaged Community as defined by the Climate and
Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST), from the White House Council
on Environmental Quality (CEQ). CEJST is a tool to help Federal
agencies identify disadvantaged communities that will benefit from
programs included in the Justice40 initiative. Census tracts are
considered disadvantaged if they meet the thresholds for at least one
of the CEJST's eight (8) categories of burden: Climate, Energy, Health,
Housing, Legacy Pollution, Transportation, Water and Wastewater, or
Workforce Development.
Option 2: Applicants will receive points if the project is located
in or serves an Energy Community as defined by the Inflation Reduction
Act of 2022 (Pub. L. 117-169) (IRA). The IRA defines energy communities
as:
<bullet> A ``brownfield site'' (as defined in certain subparagraphs
of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA))
[[Page 48878]]
<bullet> A ``metropolitan statistical area'' or ``non-metropolitan
statistical area'' that has (or had at any time after 2009):
<bullet> 0.17 percent or greater direct employment or 25% or
greater local tax revenues related to the extraction, processing,
transport, or storage of coal, oil, or natural gas; and has an
unemployment rate at or above the national average unemployment rate
for the previous year
<bullet> A census tract (or directly adjoining census tract) in
which a coal mine has closed after 1999; or in which a coal-fired
electric generating unit has been retired after 2009.
Option 3: Applicants will receive points by demonstrating through
written narrative how proposed climate-impact projects improve the
livelihoods of community residents and meet pollution mitigation or
clean energy goals.
To determine if your project qualifies for priority points under
Option 1 or Option 2, please use the Disadvantaged Community & Energy
Community Look-Up Map.
Information on whether your project qualifies for priority points
can be found at the following website: <a href="http://rd.usda.gov/priority-points">rd.usda.gov/priority-points</a>.
(b) Advancing Racial Justice, Place-Based Equity, and Opportunity:
Ensuring all rural residents have equitable access to RD programs and
benefits from RD funded projects. This priority aligns with the
Executive Order on Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved
Communities Through the Federal Government. The Applicant receives
priority points (up to 3 points) if the project is located in or
serving a community with score 0.75 or above on the CDC Social
Vulnerability Index. Please use Community Look-Up Map to look up map or
list to determine if your project qualifies for priority points.
Applications from federally recognized Tribes, including Tribal
instrumentalities and entities that are wholly owned by Tribes will
receive priority points. Federally recognized Tribes are classified as
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). Please refer to the Bureau of
Indian Affairs for a listing of federally recognized Tribes.
Additionally, projects where at least 50 percent of the project
beneficiaries are members of federally recognized Tribes, will receive
priority points if applications from non-Tribal applicants include a
Tribal Resolution of Consent from the Tribe or Tribes that the
applicant is proposing to serve.
U.S. Territories are considered socially vulnerable and qualify for
priority points.
Applications from or benefiting a Rural Partner's Network's (RPN)
community network will receive priority points (<a href="http://rural.gov">rural.gov</a>) in
applicable funding notices. Currently RPN Networks exist in Alaska,
Arizona, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, North
Carolina, Puerto Rico, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Please use the
Community Look-Up map to determine if your project qualifies for
priority points.
Information on whether your project qualifies for priority points
can be found at the following website: <a href="http://rd.usda.gov/priority-points">rd.usda.gov/priority-points</a>.
(c) Creating More and Better Markets: Assisting rural communities
to recover economically through more and better market opportunities
through improved infrastructure.
Applicants receive priority points (up to 4 points) if the project
is located in or serving a rural community whose economic well-being
ranks in the most distressed tier of the Distressed Communities Index.
The Distressed Communities Index provides a score between 1 and 100 for
every community at the zip code level. The most distressed tier of the
index are those communities with a score over 80. Please use the
Distressed Communities Index Look-Up Map to determine if your project
qualifies for priority points by using the following link: <a href="http://rd.usda.gov/priority-points/rural-develoment-priorities-fy-2024">rd.usda.gov/priority-points/rural-develoment-priorities-fy-2024</a>. For additional
information on data sources used for this priority determination,
please download the Data Sources for Rural Development Priorities
document. Note: U.S. Territories are considered distressed and qualify
for priority points.
U.S. Territories are considered distressed and qualify for priority
points.
Information on whether your project qualifies for priority points
can be found at the following website: <a href="http://rd.usda.gov/priority-points">rd.usda.gov/priority-points</a>.
(3) Additional information:
<bullet> These points may be awarded by the Rural Development State
Director to any application(s) that benefits their State regardless of
whether the applicant is headquartered in their State.
<bullet> When an intermediary submits an application that will
benefit a State that is not the same as the State in which the
intermediary is headquartered, it is the intermediary's responsibility
to notify the State Director of the State which is receiving the
benefit of its application. In such cases, State Directors awarding
points to applications benefiting their State must notify the reviewing
State in writing.
<bullet> Assignment of any points under this criterion requires a
written justification and must be tied to and awarded based on how
closely the application aligns with the Rural Development State
Office's strategic goals.
(e) Administrator Discretionary Points--Maximum 20 Points
The Administrator may award up to 20 discretionary points for
projects to address items such as geographic distribution of funds,
emergency conditions caused by economic problems, natural disasters and
other initiatives identified by the Secretary. The Administrator may
also award points to an application that will advance any of the
following key priorities:
(a) Addressing Climate Change and Environmental Justice: Reducing
climate pollution and increasing resilience to the impacts of climate
change through economic support to rural communities.
Applicants may receive priority points addressing climate change in
three ways:
Option 1: Applicants will receive points if the project is located
in or serves a Disadvantaged Community as defined by the Climate and
Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST), from the White House Council
on Environmental Quality (CEQ). CEJST is a tool to help Federal
agencies identify disadvantaged communities that will benefit from
programs included in the Justice40 initiative. Census tracts are
considered disadvantaged if they meet the thresholds for at least one
of the CEJST's eight (8) categories of burden: Climate, Energy, Health,
Housing, Legacy Pollution, Transportation, Water and Wastewater, or
Workforce Development.
Option 2: Applicants will receive points if the project is located
in or serves an Energy Community as defined by the Inflation Reduction
Act (IRA). The IRA defines energy communities as:
<bullet> A ``brownfield site'' (as defined in certain subparagraphs
of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA))
<bullet> A ``metropolitan statistical area'' or ``non-metropolitan
statistical area'' that has (or had at any time after 2009)
<bullet> 0.17% or greater direct employment or 25% or greater local
tax revenues related to the extraction, processing, transport, or
storage of coal, oil, or
[[Page 48879]]
natural gas; and has an unemployment rate at or above the national
average unemployment rate for the previous year.
<bullet> A census tract (or directly adjoining census tract) in
which a coal mine has closed after 1999; or in which a coal-fired
electric generating unit has been retired after 2009.
Option 3: Applicants will receive points by demonstrating through
written narrative how proposed climate-impact projects improve the
livelihoods of community residents and meet pollution mitigation or
clean energy goals.
Information on whether your project qualifies for priority points
can be found at the following website: <a href="http://rd.usda.gov/priority-points">rd.usda.gov/priority-points</a>.
(2) Advancing Racial Justice, Place-Based Equity, and Opportunity:
Ensuring all rural residents have equitable access to RD programs and
benefits from RD funded projects.
This priority aligns with the Executive Order on Advancing Racial
Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal
Government. Applicant receives priority points if the project is
located in or serving a community with score of 0.75 or above on the
CDC Social Vulnerability Index. Please use the Community Look-Up Map to
review the map or list to determine if your project qualifies for
priority points.
Applications from federally recognized Tribes, including Tribal
instrumentalities and entities that are wholly owned by Tribes will
receive priority points. Federally recognized Tribes are classified as
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). Please refer to the Bureau of
Indian Affairs for a listing of federally recognized Tribes.
Additionally, projects where at least 50 percent of the project
beneficiaries are members of federally recognized Tribes, will receive
priority points if applications from non-Tribal applicants include a
Tribal Resolution of Consent from the Tribe or Tribes that the
applicant is proposing to serve.
Applications from or benefiting a Rural Partner's Network's (RPN)
community network will receive priority points (<a href="http://rural.gov">rural.gov</a>) in
applicable funding notices. Currently RPN Networks exist in Alaska,
Arizona, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, North
Carolina, Puerto Rico, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Please use the
Community Look-Up map to determine if your project qualifies for
priority points.
U.S. Territories are considered socially vulnerable and qualify for
priority points.
Information on whether your project qualifies for priority points
can be found at the following website: <a href="http://rd.usda.gov/priority-points">rd.usda.gov/priority-points</a>.
(3) Creating More and Better Markets: Assisting rural communities
to recover economically through more and better market opportunities
through improved infrastructure.
Applicants receive priority points if the project is located in or
serving a rural community whose economic well-being ranks in the most
distressed tier of the Distressed Communities Index. The Distressed
Communities Index provides a score between 1-100 for every community at
the zip code level. The most distressed tier of the index are those
communities with a score over 80. Please use the Distressed Communities
Index Look-Up Map to determine if your project qualifies for priority
points by using the following link: <a href="http://rd.usda.gov/priority-points/rural-develoment-priorities-fy-2024">rd.usda.gov/priority-points/rural-develoment-priorities-fy-2024</a>. For additional information on data
sources used for this priority determination, please download the Data
Sources for Rural Development Priorities document.
U.S. Territories are considered distressed and qualify for priority
points.
Information on whether your project qualifies for priority points
can be found at the following website: <a href="http://rd.usda.gov/priority-points">rd.usda.gov/priority-points</a>.
2. Review and Selection Process. If requests exceed funds
available, the applications will be rated and ranked on a national
basis by a review panel based on the ``Application Review Information''
contained in this Notice.
(a) If there is a tied score after the applications have been rated
and ranked, the tie will be resolved by reviewing the scores for
``Building Capacity and Expertise'' and the applicant with the highest
score in that category will receive a higher ranking. If the scores for
``Building Capacity and Expertise'' are the same, the scores will be
compared for the next criterion, in sequential order, until the highest
score can be determined.
(b) Initial screening: The Agency will screen each application to
determine eligibility during the period immediately following the
application deadline. Listed below are examples of reasons for
rejection from previous funding rounds. The following reasons for
rejection are not all inclusive; however, they represent the majority
of the applications previously rejected.
<bullet> Recipients were not located in eligible rural areas based
on the definition in this Notice.
<bullet> Applicants failed to provide evidence of recipient's
status, i.e., documentation supporting nonprofit evidence of
organization.
<bullet> Applicants failed to provide evidence of committed
matching funds or matching funds were not committed for a period at
least equal to the grant performance period.
<bullet> Application did not follow the RCDI structure with an
intermediary and recipients.
<bullet> Recipients were not identified in the application.
<bullet> Intermediary did not provide evidence it had been
incorporated for at least three years as the applicant entity.
<bullet> Applicants failed to address the ``Application Review
Information'' in this Notice.
<bullet> The purpose of the proposal did not qualify as an eligible
RCDI purpose.
<bullet> Inappropriate use of funds (e.g., construction or
renovations).
<bullet> The applicant proposed providing financial and technical
assistance directly to individuals.
<bullet> The application package was not received by closing date
and time.
3. Anticipated Announcement and Federal Award Dates. September 15,
2024.
F. Federal Award Administration Information
1. Federal Award Notices. Within the limit of funds available for
such purpose, the awarding official of the Agency shall make grants in
ranked order to eligible applicants under the procedures set forth in
this Notice.
Successful applicants will receive a selection letter by mail
containing instructions on requirements necessary to proceed with
execution and performance of the award. This letter is not an
authorization to begin performance. In addition, selected applicants
will be requested to verify that components of the application have not
changed at the time of selection and on the award obligation date, if
requested by the Agency.
The award is not approved until all information has been verified,
and the awarding official of the Agency has signed Form RD 1940-1,
``Request for Obligation of Funds'' and the grant agreement.
Unsuccessful applicants will receive notification, including
notification of appeal rights, by mail.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements.
Grantees will be required to do the following:
[[Page 48880]]
(i) Execute a Rural Community Development Initiative Grant
Agreement.
(ii) Execute Form RD 1940-1, ``Request for Obligation of Funds.''
(iii) Use Form SF 270, ``Request for Advance or Reimbursement,'' to
request reimbursements. Provide receipts for expenditures, timesheets
and any other documentation to support the request for reimbursement.
(iv) Provide financial status and project performance reports on a
quarterly basis starting with the first full quarter after the grant
award.
(v) Maintain a financial management system that is acceptable to
the Agency.
(vi) Ensure that records are maintained to document all activities
and expenditures utilizing RCDI grant funds and matching funds.
Receipts for expenditures will be included in this documentation.
(vii) Provide annual audited financial statements in accordance
with 2 CFR part 200, subpart F, or management reports on Form RD 442-2,
``Statement of Budget, Income and Equity,'' and Form RD 442-3,
``Balance Sheet,'' depending on the amount of Federal funds expended
and the outstanding balance.
(viii) Collect and maintain data provided by recipients on race,
sex, and national origin and ensure recipients collect and maintain the
same data on beneficiaries. Race and ethnicity data will be collected
in accordance with OMB Federal Register notice, ``Revisions to the
Standards for the Classification of Federal Data on Race and
Ethnicity,'' (62 FR 58782), October 30, 1997. Sex data will be
collected in accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of
1972. These items should not be submitted with the application but
should be available upon request by the Agency.
(ix) Provide a final project performance report.
(x) Identify and report any association or relationship with Rural
Development employees.
(xi) The intermediary and recipient must comply with Title VI of
the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of
1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Executive Order
12250, Age Act of 1975, Executive Order 13166 Limited English
Proficiency, and 7 CFR part 1901, subpart E.
(xii) The grantee must comply with policies, guidance, and
requirements as described in the following applicable Code of Federal
Regulations, and any successor regulations:
(A) 2 CFR parts 200 and 400 (Uniform Administrative Requirements,
Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards).
(B) 2 CFR parts 417 and 180 (Government-wide Debarment and
Suspension (Nonprocurement)).
3. Reporting. After grant approval and through grant completion,
you will be required to provide the following, as indicated in the
Grant Agreement:
(a) SF-425, ``Federal Financial Report'' and SF-PPR, ``Performance
Progress Report'' will be required on a quarterly basis (due 30 working
days after each calendar quarter). The Performance Progress Report
shall include the elements described in the grant agreement.
(b) Final financial and performance reports will be due 120
calendar days after the period of performance end date.
(c) A summary at the end of the final report with elements as
described in the grant agreement to assist in documenting the annual
performance goals of the RCDI program for Congress.
G. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts
Contact the Rural Development State Office where the applicant's
headquarters is located. A list of Rural Development State Offices
contacts can be found via <a href="http://rd.usda.gov/files/CF_State_Office_Contacts.pdf">rd.usda.gov/files/CF_State_Office_Contacts.pdf</a>.
H. Build America, Buy America
Funding to Non-Federal Entities. Awardees that are Non-Federal
Entities, defined pursuant to 2 CFR 200.1 as any State, local
government, Indian Tribe, Institution of Higher Education, or nonprofit
organization, shall be governed by the requirements of section 70914 of
the Build America, Buy America Act (BABAA) within the Infrastructure
Investment and Jobs Act (Pub. L. 117-58), and its implementing
regulations at 2 CFR part 184. Any requests for waiver of these
requirements must be submitted pursuant to USDA's guidance available
online at <a href="http://usda.gov/ocfo/federal-financial-assistance-policy/USDABuyAmericaWaiver">usda.gov/ocfo/federal-financial-assistance-policy/USDABuyAmericaWaiver</a>.
I. Other Information
1. Civil Rights Requirements. All grants made under this Notice are
subject to title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as required by the
USDA in 7 CFR part 15, subpart A, section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
of 1973, title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, title IX,
Executive Order 13166 (Limited English Proficiency), Executive Order
11246, and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974.
2. Paperwork Reduction Act. The paperwork burden has been approved
by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under OMB Control Number
0575-0180.
3. National Environmental Policy Act. All recipients under this
notice are subject to the requirements of 7 CFR part 1970, available
at: <a href="http://rd.usda.gov/resources/environmental-studies/environmental-guidance">rd.usda.gov/resources/environmental-studies/environmental-guidance</a>.
4. Nondiscrimination Statement. In accordance with Federal civil
rights laws 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; or the 711 Federal
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="http://usda.gov/oascr/filing-program-discrimination-complaint-usda-customer">usda.gov/oascr/filing-program-discrimination-complaint-usda-customer</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; or
(2) Fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
(3) Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b2c2c0ddd5c0d3df9cdbdcc6d3d9d7f2c7c1d6d39cd5ddc4"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="fa8a88959d889b97d493948e9b919fba8f899e9bd49d958c">[email protected]</span></a>.
[[Page 48881]]
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
Joaquin Altoro,
Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-12606 Filed 6-7-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on June 10, 2024.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.