Notice2025-01323
Notice of Funds Availability
Primary source
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
January 17, 2025
Issuing agencies
Treasury DepartmentCommunity Development Financial Institutions Fund
Abstract
Through the NACA Program, the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund provides (i) FA awards to Certified Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) serving Native American, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian populations or Native American areas defined as federally-designated reservations, Hawaiian homelands, Alaska Native Villages and U.S. Census Bureau- designated Tribal Statistical Areas (collectively, "Native Communities") to build their financial capacity to lend to Eligible Markets and/or their Target Markets, and (ii) TA awards to build Certified, and Emerging CDFIs' organizational capacity to serve Eligible Markets and/or their Target Markets, and Sponsoring Entities' ability to create Certified CDFIs that serve Native Communities. All awards provided through this NOFA are subject to funding availability. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 11 (Friday, January 17, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 11 (Friday, January 17, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6076-6097]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-01323]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Community Development Financial Institutions Fund
Notice of Funds Availability
Announcement Type: Announcement of funding opportunity.
Funding Opportunity Title: Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA)
inviting Applications for Financial Assistance (FA) or Technical
Assistance (TA) awards under the Native American CDFI Assistance (NACA
Program) fiscal year (FY) 2025 Funding Round.
Funding Opportunity Number: CDFI-2025-NACA.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 21.012.
Dates:
Table 1--FY 2025 NACA Program Funding Round Critical Deadlines for Applicants
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Description Deadline Time (eastern time--ET) Submission method
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Last day to create an AMIS February 18, 2025........... 11:59 p.m. ET............... AMIS.
Account (all Applicants).
Last day to enter Employer February 18, 2025........... 11:59 p.m. ET............... AMIS.
Identification Number (EIN) and
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)
in AMIS (all Applicants).
Last day to submit SF-424 February 18, 2025........... 11:59 p.m. ET............... Electronically via
Mandatory Form (Application for <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a>.
Federal Assistance).
Last day to contact NACA Program March 19, 2025.............. 5:00 p.m. ET................ Service Request
staff. via AMIS Or CDFI
Fund Helpdesk:
202-653-0421.
Last day to contact AMIS-IT Help March 21, 2025.............. 5:00 p.m. ET................ Service Request
Desk (regarding AMIS technical via AMIS Or 202-
problems only). 653-0422 Or
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#62232f2b31220106040b4c16100703114c050d14"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c584888c9685a6a1a3acebb1b7a0a4b6eba2aab3">[email protected]</span></a>.
Last day to submit Title VI March 21, 2025.............. 11:59 p.m. ET............... AMIS.
Compliance Worksheet (all
Applicants) \1\.
Last day to submit NACA Program March 21, 2025.............. 11:59 p.m. ET............... AMIS.
Application for Financial
Assistance (FA) or Technical
Assistance (TA).
Last day to submit Excel Housing April 4, 2025............... 11:59 p.m. ET............... Service Request
Production FA (HP-FA) via AMIS.
Application.
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Executive Summary: Through the NACA Program, the Community
Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund provides (i) FA awards
to Certified Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs)
serving Native American, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian populations
or Native American areas defined as federally-designated reservations,
Hawaiian homelands, Alaska Native Villages and U.S. Census Bureau-
designated Tribal Statistical Areas (collectively, ``Native
Communities'') to build their financial capacity to lend to Eligible
Markets and/or their Target Markets, and (ii) TA awards to build
Certified, and Emerging CDFIs' organizational capacity to serve
Eligible Markets and/or their Target Markets, and Sponsoring Entities'
ability to create Certified CDFIs that serve Native Communities. All
awards provided through this NOFA are subject to funding availability.
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\1\ This requirement also applies to Subsidiary Insured
Depository Institutions that will carry out the activities on behalf
of Depository Institution Holding Company Applicants.
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I. Program Description
A. History: The CDFI Fund was established by the Riegle Community
Development Banking and Financial Institutions Act of 1994 to promote
economic revitalization and community development through investment in
and assistance to CDFIs. The Native American CDFI Assistance (NACA)
Program made its first awards in 2002, after the CDFI Program began
making awards in 1996.
B. Priorities: Through the NACA Program's FA and TA awards, the
CDFI Fund invests in and builds the capacity of for-profit and non-
profit community-based lending organizations known as CDFIs. These
organizations, Certified as CDFIs by the CDFI Fund, serve Native
Communities.
C. Authorizing Statutes and Regulations: The CDFI Program is
authorized by the Riegle Community Development Banking and Financial
Institutions Act of 1994 (Pub. L. 103-325, 12 U.S.C. 4701 et seq.)
(Authorizing Statute). The regulations governing the NACA Program are
found at 12 CFR parts 1805 and 1815 (the Regulations) and are used by
the CDFI Fund to govern, in general, the NACA Program, setting forth
evaluation criteria and other program requirements. The CDFI Fund
encourages Applicants to review the Regulations; this NOFA; the NACA
Program Application for Financial Assistance or Technical Assistance
(the Application); all related materials and guidance documents found
on the CDFI Fund's website (Application materials); and the Uniform
Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements
for Federal Awards (2 CFR part 1000), which is the Department of the
Treasury's codification of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
government-wide framework for Federal financial assistance management
at 2 CFR part 200 Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles,
and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Administrative
Requirements) for a complete understanding of the NACA Program.
Capitalized terms in this NOFA are defined in the Authorizing Statute,
the Regulations, this NOFA, the Application, Application materials, or
the Uniform
[[Page 6077]]
Administrative Requirements. Details regarding Application content
requirements are found in the Application and Application materials.
D. Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit
Requirements for Federal Awards (2 CFR part 1000): The Uniform
Administrative Requirements codify financial, administrative,
procurement, and program management standards that Federal award
agencies must follow. When evaluating Applications, awarding agencies
must evaluate the risks posed by each Applicant, and each Applicant's
merits and eligibility. These requirements are designed to ensure that
Applicants for Federal assistance receive a fair and consistent review
prior to an award decision. This review will assess items such as the
Applicant's financial stability, quality of management systems, the
soundness of its business plan, history of performance, ability to
achieve measurable impacts through its products and services, and audit
findings. In addition, the Uniform Administrative Requirements include
guidance on audit requirements and other award compliance requirements
for Recipients.
E. Funding limitations: The CDFI Fund reserves the right to fund,
in whole or in part, any, all, or none of the Applications submitted in
response to this NOFA. The CDFI Fund also reserves the right to
reallocate funds from the amount that is anticipated to be available
through this NOFA to other CDFI Fund initiatives that are designed to
benefit Native Communities, particularly if the CDFI Fund determines
that the number of awards made through this NOFA is fewer than
projected.
II. Federal Award Information
A. Funding Availability:
1. FY 2025 Funding Round: Subject to final appropriations, the CDFI
Fund expects to award, through this NOFA, approximately $28 million
specifically for NACA through Base-FA, PPC-FA, and TA, as indicated in
table 2. NACA Applicants may also access the supplemental funding
programs of DF-FA, HFFI, and HP-FA, though NACA Applicants compete with
CDFI Program Applicants for these funds. There is not a set-aside for
NACA under these supplemental programs.
Table 2--FY 2025 Funding Round Anticipated Category Amounts
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Estimated Award amount
Funding categories (see total amount -------------------------------- Estimated Estimated
definition in table 7 for TA or to be awarded number of average amount
table 8 for FA) (millions) FY Minimum Maximum * awards FY 2025 to be awarded
2025 FY 2025
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Base-FA......................... $22.2 $150,000 $1,500,000 27 $822,000
Persistent Poverty Counties-- 2.8 100,000 400,000 10 280,000
Financial Assistance (PPC-FA)..
TA.............................. 3.0 10,000 200,000 15 200,000
Total (Base-FA, PPC-FA, and TA). 28.0 .............. .............. 52 ..............
Disability Funds--Financial 20.0 100,000 1,000,000 20 1,000,000
Assistance (DF-FA) **..........
Healthy Food Financing 24.0 500,000 5,000,000 15 1,600,000
Initiative--Financial
Assistance (HFFI-FA) **........
Housing Production--Financial 100.0 1,000,000 * 5,000,000 50 2,000,000
Assistance (HP-FA) **..........
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* Note that, regardless of the stated maximum award in each award category, in no case will the sum of an
Applicant's Base-FA, TA, PPC-FA and HP-FA Awards in the last three years exceed $5 million.
** DF-FA, HFFI-FA, and HP-FA funding will be allocated in one competitive round between the NACA and CDFI
Program NOFAs.
The CDFI Fund reserves the right to award more or less than the
amounts cited above in each category, based upon available funding and
other factors, as appropriate.
2. Funding Availability for the FY 2025 Funding Round: Funds for
the FY 2025 Funding Round are subject to change based on passage of a
final FY 2025 appropriations bill; if Congress does not appropriate
funds for the NACA Program there will not be an FY 2025 Funding Round.
If funds are appropriated for FY 2025, the amount of such funds may be
greater or less than the amounts set forth above. The CDFI Fund
reserves the right to contact Applicants to seek additional information
in the event that final FY 2025 appropriations for the NACA Program
necessitate change to any of the requirements of this NOFA. As of the
date of this NOFA, the CDFI Fund is operating under a continuing
funding resolution as enacted by the Continuing Appropriations and
Extensions Act, 2025 (Pub. L. 118-83). The HP-FA awards are funded
through interest and dividend payments and sale proceeds received under
the Department of the Treasury's Emergency Capital Investment Program
(ECIP). The amount available for HP-FA awards is estimated based on
projected ECIP proceeds and may vary based on the actual proceeds
received by the CDFI Fund.
3. Anticipated Start Date and Period of Performance: The Period of
Performance for TA awards begins with the date of the award
announcement and includes either (i) an Emerging CDFI Recipient's three
full consecutive fiscal years after the date of the award announcement,
or (ii) a Certified CDFI Recipient's two full consecutive fiscal years
after the date of the award announcement, or (iii) a Sponsoring Entity
Recipient's four full years after the date of the award announcement,
during which the Recipient must meet the Performance Goals and Measures
(PG&Ms) set forth in the Assistance Agreement. The Period of
Performance for FA awards begins with the date of the award
announcement and includes a Recipient's three full consecutive fiscal
years after the date of the award announcement, during which time the
Recipient must meet the PG&Ms set forth in the Assistance Agreement.
B. Types of Awards: Through the NACA Program, the CDFI Fund
provides two types of awards: Financial Assistance (FA) and Technical
Assistance (TA) awards. An Applicant may submit an Application for a TA
award or an FA award under the NACA Program, but not both. FA awards
include the Base Financial Assistance (Base-FA) award and the following
awards that are provided as a supplement to the Base-FA award: Healthy
Food Financing Initiative-Financial Assistance (HFFI-FA), Persistent
Poverty Counties-Financial Assistance (PPC-FA), Disability Funds-
Financial Assistance (DF-FA), and Housing Production-Financial
Assistance (HP-FA). The HFFI-FA, PPC-FA, DF-FA, and HP-FA Applications
will be evaluated independently from the Base-FA Application and will
not affect the Base-FA Application evaluation or Base-FA award amount.
Alternatively, an Applicant may request only HP-FA by submitting an FA
Application with no Base-FA award request and submitting the Excel HP-
FA Application as well. Additional information on how to
[[Page 6078]]
complete an FA Application under this circumstance is provided in the
Application Guidance.
However, Applicants that qualify for the NACA Program may submit
two Applications in certain circumstances: one Application (either for
a TA award or an FA award, but not both) through the CDFI Program, and
one Application (either for a TA award or an FA award, but not both)
through the NACA Program. NACA qualified Applicants that choose to
apply for awards through both the CDFI Program and the NACA Program
must apply for the same type of award under both programs. For example,
an Applicant that applies for an FA award under the NACA Program may
apply for an FA award under the CDFI Program, but not for a TA award
under the CDFI Program. NACA qualified FA Applicants that choose to
apply for an FA award under both the NACA Program and CDFI Program and
are selected for an award under both Programs will be provided the FA
award under the NACA Program. NACA qualified TA Applicants that choose
to apply for a TA award under both the NACA Program and CDFI Program
and are selected for an award under both Programs will be provided the
TA award under the NACA Program. NACA Applicants cannot receive an
award under both Programs within the same funding round. Further, NACA
qualified Applicants who seek to only apply for an HP-FA award with no
Base-FA award can do so by submitting either a CDFI Program FA
Application or a NACA Program FA Application; the FA Application should
be submitted with no Base-FA award request and the additional Excel HP-
FA Application. Further instructions are found in the Application
Guidance. If a NACA qualified Applicant seeks to apply for HP-FA award
only, they should apply through either the CDFI Program or the NACA
Program, but not both. If a NACA qualified Applicant submits an
eligible HP-FA only Application under one program and an eligible
Application with a Base-FA award request under the other program, only
the Application with the Base-FA award request will be reviewed. The
HP-FA only Application will be deemed ineligible.
The Indian Community Economic Enhancement Act of 2020 (Pub. L. 116-
261) permanently waived the Matching Funds \2\ requirement for Native
American CDFIs,\3\ and as a result, Native American CDFI FA Applicants
are not required to provide Matching Funds. HP-FA Applicants are not
required to provide Matching Funds for HP-FA award requests, as
Matching Funds are not required under the Consolidated Appropriations
Act, 2021 (Pub. L. 116-260). TA Applicants are not required to provide
Matching Funds.
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\2\ Matching Funds shall mean funds from sources other than the
Federal Government as defined in accordance with the CDFI Program
Regulations at 12 CFR 1805.500.
\3\ A Native American CDFI (Native CDFI) is one that Primarily
Serves a Native Community. Primarily Serves is defined as 50% or
more of an Applicant's activities being directed to a Native
Community.
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1. Base-FA Awards: Base-FA awards are provided in the form of a
grant. The CDFI Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to
provide a Base-FA award in an amount other than that which the
Applicant requests; however, the award amount will not exceed the
Applicant's award request as stated in its Application.
2. Persistent Poverty Counties--Financial Assistance (PPC-FA)
Awards: PPC-FA awards will be provided as a supplement to Base-FA
awards; therefore, only those Applicants that are selected to receive a
Base-FA award through the NACA Program FY 2025 Funding Round will be
eligible to receive a PPC-FA award. PPC-FA awards are provided in the
form of a grant. The CDFI Fund reserves the right, in its sole
discretion, to provide a PPC-FA award in an amount other than that
which the Applicant requests; however, the award amount will not exceed
the Applicant's award request as stated in its Application.
3. Disability Funds--Financial Assistance (DF-FA) Awards: DF-FA
awards will be provided as a supplement to Base-FA awards; therefore,
only those Applicants that have been selected to receive a Base-FA
award through the NACA Program FY 2025 Funding Round will be eligible
to receive a DF-FA award. DF-FA awards are provided in the form of a
grant to Native American CDFIs. The CDFI Fund reserves the right, in
its sole discretion, to provide a DF-FA award in an amount other than
that which the Applicant requests; however, the award amount will not
exceed the Applicant's award request as stated in its Application.
4. Healthy Food Financing Initiative--Financial Assistance (HFFI-
FA) Awards: HFFI-FA awards will be provided as a supplement to Base-FA
awards; therefore, only those Applicants that have been selected to
receive a Base-FA award through the NACA Program FY 2025 Funding Round
will be eligible to receive an HFFI-FA award. HFFI-FA awards are
provided in the form of a grant to Native American CDFIs. The CDFI Fund
reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to provide an HFFI-FA award
in an amount other than that which the Applicant requests; however, the
award amount will not exceed the Applicant's award request as stated in
its Application.
5. Housing Production--Financial Assistance (HP-FA) Awards:
Applicants may apply for an HP-FA award as a supplement to a Base-FA
award or may apply only for an HP-FA award (without a Base-FA award).
If an Applicant applies for an HP-FA award as a supplement to a Base-FA
award, it must be selected to receive a Base-FA award through the FY
2025 NACA Program Funding Round to be eligible to receive an HP-FA
award. Alternatively, an Applicant may choose to apply for only an HP-
FA award (with no Base-FA award) by completing an FA Application as
instructed in the Application Guidance and submitting the Excel HP-FA
Application as well. If an Applicant chooses to apply only for an HP-FA
Award (with no Base-FA award), it will be ineligible to receive a Base-
FA, PPC-FA, DF-FA, or HFFI-FA award. HP-FA awards will be provided in
the form of a grant. Because HP-FA awards are funded by proceeds
received from ECIP under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, HP-
FA awards are not subject to the Matching Funds requirements. The CDFI
Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to provide an HP-FA
award in an amount other than that which the Applicant requests;
however, the award amount will not exceed the Applicant's award request
as stated in its Application.
6. TA Awards: TA is provided in the form of grants. The CDFI Fund
reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to provide a TA award in an
amount other than that which the Applicant requests; however, the TA
award amount will not exceed the Applicant's request as stated in its
Application.
C. Eligible Activities:
1. FA Awards: Base-FA, PPC-FA, DF-FA, HFFI-FA, and HP-FA award
funds may be expended for activities serving Commercial Real Estate,
Small Business, Microenterprise, Community Facilities, Consumer
Financial Products, Consumer Financial Services, Commercial Financial
Products, Commercial Financial Services, Affordable Housing,
Intermediary Lending to Non-Profits and CDFIs, Climate-Focused
Financing, and other lines of business as deemed appropriate by the
CDFI Fund in the following categories: (i) Financial Products; (ii)
Financial Services; (iii) Loan Loss
[[Page 6079]]
Reserves; (iv) Development Services; \4\ (v) Capital Reserves; and (vi)
Direct Administrative Expenses, subject to certain restrictions
outlined in this section. The FA Budget is the amount of the award and
must be expended in the five eligible activity categories prior to the
end of the Budget Period.\5\ None of the eligible activity categories
will be authorized for Indirect Costs or an associated Indirect Cost
Rate. All FA eligible activities must be in an Eligible Market or the
Applicant's approved Target Market. Eligible Market is defined as (i) a
geographic area meeting the requirements set forth in 12 CFR
1805.201(b)(3)(ii), or (ii) individuals that are Low-Income, African
American, Hispanic, Native American, Native Hawaiian, Alaska Native,
Other Pacific Islander, Filipino, Vietnamese, or Persons with
Disabilities.
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\4\ Although some financial education for youth under 18 years
old do not fall under the definition of Development Services and
thus is not eligible to support Certification, the CDFI Fund allows
FA award funds to be used to provide such financial education.
Financial education for youth means education designed to prepare
youth to engage with the financial system. This includes accessing
Financial Products when they are legally able to and accessing
Financial Services offered by the Applicant or a third party.
\5\ Budget Period means the time interval from the start date of
a funded portion of an award to the end date of that funded portion
during which Recipients are authorized to expend the funds awarded.
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Base-FA Recipients must meet PG&Ms, which will be derived from
projections and attestations provided by the Applicant in its
Application, to achieve one of the following FA Objectives: (i)
Increase Volume of Financial Products in an Eligible Market(s) and/or
in the Applicant's approved Target Market and/or Increase Volume of
Financial Services in an Eligible Market(s) and/or in the Applicant's
approved Target Market; (ii) Serve Eligible Market(s) or the
Applicant's approved Target Market in New Geographic Area or Areas;
(iii) Provide New Financial Products in an Eligible Market(s) and/or in
the Applicant's approved Target Market; and (iv) Serve New Targeted
Population or Populations. At the end of each year of the Period of
Performance, 50% or more of the Financial Products closed by NACA
Recipients must be in Native Communities. FA awards may only be used
for Direct Costs associated with an eligible activity; no indirect
expenses are allowed. Up to 15% of the FA award may be used for Direct
Administrative Expenses associated with an eligible FA activity.
``Direct Administrative Expenses'' shall mean Direct Costs, as
described in section 2 CFR 200.413 of the Uniform Administrative
Requirements, which are incurred by the Recipient to carry out the
Financial Assistance. Direct Costs incurred to provide Development
Services or Financial Services are not deemed to be Direct
Administrative Expenses and therefore are not subject to the 15%
limitation.
The Recipient must comply, as applicable, with the Buy American Act
of 1933, 41 U.S.C. 8301-8303 and section 2 CFR 200.216 of the Uniform
Administrative Requirements,\6\ with respect to any Direct Costs. For
purposes of this NOFA, the five eligible activity categories are
defined in table 3.
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\6\ Sec. 200.216 Prohibition on certain telecommunications and
video surveillance services or equipment.
(a) Recipients and Subrecipients are prohibited from obligating
or expending loan or grant funds to:
(1) Procure or obtain;
(2) Extend or renew a contract to procure or obtain; or
(3) Enter into a contract (or extend or renew a contract) to
procure or obtain, equipment, services, or systems that uses covered
telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or
essential component of any system, or as critical technology as part
of any system. As described in Public Law 115-232, section 889,
covered telecommunications equipment is telecommunications equipment
produced by Huawei Technologies Company or ZTE Corporation (or any
Subsidiary or Affiliate of such entities).
Table 3--Base-FA, PPC-FA, DF-FA, HFFI-FA, and HP-FA Eligible Activity Categories
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eligible CDFI institution
FA eligible activity FA eligible activity definition types
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
i. Financial Products................... FA expended as loans, Equity Investments, All.
loan guarantees, and similar financing
activities (as determined by the CDFI
Fund) including the purchase of loans
originated by Certified CDFIs and the
purchase of loans originated by entities
that do not have the CDFI Certification
but were made to members of the
Applicant's Target Market. In the case of
CDFI Intermediaries, Financial Products
may also include loans to CDFIs and/or
Emerging CDFIs, and deposits in Insured
Credit Union CDFIs, Emerging Insured
Credit Union CDFIs, and/or State-Insured
Credit Union CDFIs.
For HFFI-FA, however, financing for
prepared food outlets are not eligible
activities, including the purchase of
loans, loan refinancing, or any other
type of financing for prepared food
outlets.
ii. Financial Services.................. FA expended for providing checking, Regulated Institutions \7\
savings accounts, check cashing, money only.
orders, certified checks, automated Not applicable for HFFI-FA
teller machines, deposit taking, safe or HP-FA Recipients.
deposit box services, and other similar
services.
iii. Loan Loss Reserves................. FA set aside in the form of cash reserves, All.
or through accounting-based accrual
reserves, to cover losses on loans,
accounts, and notes receivable or for
related purposes that the CDFI Fund deems
appropriate.
iv. Development Services................ FA expended for activities undertaken by a All.
CDFI, its Affiliate or contractor that
(i) promote community development and
(ii) prepare or assist current or
potential borrowers or investees to use
the CDFI's Financial Products or
Financial Services. For example, such
activities include financial or credit
counseling; homeownership counseling;
business planning; and management
assistance.
v. Capital Reserves..................... FA set aside as reserves to support the Regulated Institutions
Applicant's ability to leverage other only.
capital, for such purposes as increasing Not applicable for DF-FA.
its net assets or providing financing, or
for related purposes as the CDFI Fund
deems appropriate.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. DF-FA Award: DF-FA award funds may only be expended for eligible
FA activities (referenced in table 3) to directly or indirectly benefit
individuals with disabilities. The DF-FA Recipient must close Financial
Products for the primary purpose of directly or indirectly benefiting
people with disabilities, where the majority of the DF-FA supported
loans or investments benefit individuals with disabilities, in an
amount equal to or greater than 85% of the total DF-FA provided.
Eligible DF-FA financing activities may include, among other
activities, loans to develop or purchase affordable, accessible, and
safe housing; loans to provide or facilitate employment opportunities;
[[Page 6080]]
and loans to purchase assistive technology.
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\7\ Regulated Institutions include Insured Credit Unions,
Insured Depository Institutions, State-Insured Credit Unions and
Depository Institution Holding Companies.
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For the purposes of DF-FA, a person with a disability is a person
who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one
or more major life activities, a person who has a record of such an
impairment, or a person who is regarded as having such an impairment,
as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 42 U.S.C.
12102.
3. HFFI-FA Award: HFFI-FA award funds may only be expended for
eligible FA activities referenced in table 3. The HFFI-FA investments
must comply with the following guidelines:
a. Recipient must close Financial Products for Healthy Food Retail
Outlets and Healthy Food Non-Retail Outlets in its approved Target
Market in an amount equal to or greater than 100% of the total HFFI
Financial Assistance provided. Eligible financing activities to Healthy
Food Retail Outlets and Healthy Food Non-Retail Outlets require that
the majority of the loan or investment be devoted to offering a range
of Healthy Food choices, which may include, among other activities,
investments supporting an existing retail store or wholesale operation
upgrade to offer an expanded range of Healthy Food choices, or
supporting a nonprofit organization that expands the availability of
Healthy Foods in underserved areas.
b. Recipient must demonstrate that it has closed Financial Products
to Healthy Food Retail Outlets located in Low-Income and Low-Access
Food Areas in the Recipient's approved Target Market in an amount equal
to 75% of the total HFFI Financial Assistance provided.
Definitions:
Healthy Foods: Healthy Foods include unprepared nutrient-dense
foods and beverages as set forth in the USDA Dietary Guidelines for
Americans 2020-2025 including whole fruits and vegetables, whole
grains, fat free or low-fat dairy foods, lean meats, and poultry
(fresh, refrigerated, frozen or canned). Healthy Foods should have low
or no added sugars, and be low-sodium, reduced sodium, or no-salt-
added. (See USDA Dietary Guidelines: <a href="https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov">https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov</a>).
Healthy Food Retail Outlets: Commercial sellers of Healthy Foods
including, but not limited to, grocery stores, mobile food retailers,
farmers markets, retail cooperatives, corner stores, bodegas, stores
that sell other food and non-food items along with a range of Healthy
Foods.
Healthy Food Non-Retail Outlets: Wholesalers of Healthy Foods
including, but not limited to, wholesale food outlets, wholesale
cooperatives, or other non-retail food producers that supply for sale a
range of Healthy Food options; entities that produce or distribute
Healthy Foods for eventual retail sale, and entities that provide
consumer education regarding the consumption of Healthy Foods.
Low-Income and Low-Access Food Areas: Distressed geographic areas
where either a substantial number or share of residents has low access
to a supermarket or large grocery store. For the purpose of satisfying
this requirement, a Low-Income and Low-Access Food Area must either:
(1) be a census tract determined to be a Low-Income and Low-Access Food
Area by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), in its USDA Food
Access Research Atlas; (2) be a census tract adjacent to a census tract
determined to be a Low-Income and Low-Access Food Area by the USDA, in
its USDA Food Access Research Atlas; which has a median family income
less than or equal to 120% of the applicable Area Median Family Income;
or (3) be a Geographic Unit as defined in 12 CFR part
1805.201(b)(3)(ii)(B), which (i) individually meets at least one of the
criteria in 12 CFR part 1805.201(b)(3)(ii)(D), and (ii) has been
identified as having low access to a supermarket or grocery store
through a methodology that has been adopted for use by another
governmental or philanthropic healthy food initiative.
4. PPC-FA Award: PPC-FA award funds may only be expended for
eligible FA activities referenced in table 3. The PPC-FA Recipient must
close Financial Products in PPC: (1) in an Eligible Market or in the
Applicant's approved Target Market and (2) in an amount equal to or
greater than 100% of the total PPC-FA award. The specific counties that
meet the criteria for ``persistent poverty'' can be found at: <a href="https://www.cdfifund.gov/sites/cdfi/files/2024-05/PPC_2020_ACS_May_10_2024.xlsx">https://www.cdfifund.gov/sites/cdfi/files/2024-05/PPC_2020_ACS_May_10_2024.xlsx</a>.
5. HP-FA Award: HP-FA award funds may only be expended for eligible
FA activities authorized in table 3. Additionally, HP-FA award funds
must comply with the following guidelines:
a. Recipient must close Financial Products that finance the
production of rental Housing projects affordable to families making at
or below 120% Area Median Income (AMI) and/or the production of
Homeownership projects affordable to families making at or below 150%
of AMI in an amount equal to or greater than 100% of the total HP-FA
assistance provided to the Recipient. The CDFI Fund will prioritize
funding Applications that focus on financing Homeownership and rental
Housing affordable to families at or below 80% AMI and further income
targeting restrictions will be specified in the Assistance Agreement
based on the Recipient's Application strategy.
b. Recipient must increase the volume of housing units financed
from the baseline period (Recipient's most recent three historic fiscal
years) to the Performance Period, as specified in the Assistance
Agreement.
c. For rental Housing, the Recipient must finance projects that
have a financing gap and are projected to be completed and ready for
occupancy by the end of the Period of Performance as evidenced by a
certificate of occupancy or equivalent. For Homeownership, the
Recipient must finance the development of new for-sale Housing and/or
the acquisition and rehabilitation of for-sale Housing, where such
Housing will be completed and ready for occupancy by the end of the
Period of Performance as evidenced by a certificate of occupancy or
equivalent.
Definitions:
Homeownership means ownership interest in a home in fee simple, or
by condominium, cooperative, mutual housing, or ground lease title
interest, as allowed under State law, in one- to four-unit Single-
family housing, or ownership of a manufactured housing unit. The
ownership interest is subject to the following additional requirements:
(1) Ownership interest may not merely consist of a right of possession
under a contract for deed, installment contract, or land contract
pursuant to which the deed is not given until the final payment is
made; and (2) Ownership interest is subject to the restrictions on
affordability permitted under the Assistance Agreement and this part;
mortgages, deeds of trust, or other liens or instruments securing debt
on the property; or any other restrictions or encumbrances that do not
impair the good and marketable nature of title to the ownership
interest.
Housing means Single-family and Multi-family residential units
including, but not limited to, manufactured housing, permanent
supportive housing, single-room occupancy (SRO) housing, assisted
living, and group homes that are permanent in nature and not temporary,
short term, transitional, or a dormitory, as further set forth by the
CDFI Fund.
Multi-family housing means residential properties consisting of
five or more dwelling units, such as a condominium unit, cooperative
unit, or an apartment.
[[Page 6081]]
Single-family housing means a one- to four-unit family residence, a
condominium unit, a cooperative unit, mutual housing, a manufactured
housing unit only, or the combination of a manufactured housing unit
and lot.
6. TA Awards: TA award funds may be expended for the following
eight eligible activity categories: (i) Compensation--Personal
Services; (ii) Compensation--Fringe Benefits; (iii) Professional
Service Costs; (iv) Travel Costs; (v) Training and Education Costs;
(vi) Equipment; (vii) Supplies; and (viii) Incorporation Costs. Only
Sponsoring Entities may use TA award funds for Incorporation Costs. The
TA Budget is the amount of the award and must be expended in the eight
eligible activity categories before the end of the Budget Period. None
of the eligible activity categories will be authorized for Indirect
Costs or an associated Indirect Cost Rate. Any expenses that are
prohibited by the Uniform Administrative Requirements are unallowable
and are generally found in Subpart E--Cost Principles. The Recipient
must comply, as applicable, with the Buy American Act of 1933, 41
U.S.C. 8301-8303 and section 2 CFR 200.216 of the Uniform
Administrative Requirements, with respect to any Direct Costs. For
purposes of this NOFA, the eight eligible activity categories are
defined in table 4.
Table 4--TA Eligible Activity Categories, Subject to the Applicable
Provisions of the Uniform Administrative Requirements
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(i) Compensation--Personal TA paid to cover all remuneration paid
Services. currently or accrued, for services of
Applicant's employees rendered during
the Period of Performance under the TA
award, in accordance with section 2 CFR
200.430 of the Uniform Administrative
Requirements, is allowed.
Any work performed directly but unrelated
to the purposes of the TA award may not
be paid as Compensation through a TA
award. For example, the salaries for
building maintenance would not carry out
the purpose of a TA award and would be
deemed unallowable.
(ii) Compensation--Fringe TA paid to cover allowances and services
Benefits. provided by the Applicant to its
employees as Compensation in addition to
regular salaries and wages, in
accordance with section 2 CFR 200.431 of
the Uniform Administrative Requirements,
is allowed. Such expenditures are
allowable, as long as they are made
under formally established and
consistently applied organizational
policies of the Applicant.
(iii) Professional Service TA paid to cover professional and
Costs. consultant services (e.g., such as
strategic and marketing plan
development), rendered by persons who
are members of a particular profession
or possess a special skill (e.g., credit
analysis, portfolio management), and who
are not officers or employees of the
Applicant, in accordance with section 2
CFR 200.459 of the Uniform
Administrative Requirements, is allowed.
Payment for a consultant's services may
not exceed the current maximum of the
daily equivalent rate paid to an
Executive Schedule Level IV Federal
employee. Professional and consultant
services must build the capacity of the
CDFI. For example, professional services
that provide direct Development Services
to the customers do not build the
capacity of the CDFI to provide those
services and would not be eligible. The
Applicant must comply, as applicable,
with section 2 CFR 200.216 of the
Uniform Administrative Requirements,
with respect to payment of Professional
Service Costs.
(iv) Travel Costs............ TA paid to cover costs of transportation,
lodging, subsistence, and related items
incurred by the Applicant's personnel
who are on travel status on business
related to the TA award, in accordance
with section 2 CFR 200.475 of the
Uniform Administrative Requirements, is
allowed. Travel Costs do not include
costs incurred by the Applicant's
consultants who are on travel status.
Any payments for travel expenses
incurred by the Applicant's personnel
but unrelated to carrying out the
purpose of the TA award would be deemed
unallowable. As such, documentation must
be maintained that justifies the travel
as necessary to the TA award.
(v) Training and Education TA paid to cover the cost of training and
Costs. education provided by the Applicant for
employees' development, in accordance
with section 2 CFR 200.473 of the
Uniform Administrative Requirements, is
allowed. TA can only be used to pay for
training costs incurred by the
Applicant's employees. Training and
Education Costs may not be incurred by
the Applicant's consultants.
(vi) Equipment............... TA paid to cover tangible personal
property, having a useful life of more
than one year and a per-unit acquisition
cost of at least $10,000, in accordance
with section 2 CFR 200.1 of the Uniform
Administrative Requirements, is allowed.
For example, items such as office
furnishings and information technology
systems are allowable as Equipment
costs. The Applicant must comply, as
applicable, with the Buy American Act of
1933, 41 U.S.C. 8301-8303 and section 2
CFR 200.216 of the Uniform
Administrative Requirements, with
respect to the purchase of Equipment.
(vii) Supplies............... TA paid to cover tangible personal
property with a per unit acquisition
cost of less than $10,000, in accordance
with section 2 CFR 200.1 of the Uniform
Administrative Requirements, is allowed.
For example, a desktop computer costing
$1,000 is allowable as a Supply cost.
The Applicant must comply, as
applicable, with the Buy American Act of
1933, 41 U.S.C. 8301-8303 and section 2
CFR 200.216 of the Uniform
Administrative Requirements, with
respect to the purchase of Supplies.
(viii) Incorporation Costs TA paid to cover incorporation fees in
(Sponsoring Entities only). connection with the establishment or
reorganization of an organization as a
CDFI, in accordance with section 2 CFR
200.455 of the Uniform Administrative
Requirements, is allowed. Incorporation
Costs are allowable for NACA Program
Sponsoring Entity Applicants only.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
III. Eligibility Information
A. Eligible Applicants: For the purposes of this NOFA, table 5
through table 8 set forth the eligibility criteria to receive an award
from the CDFI Fund, along with certain definitions of terms. There are
four categories of Applicant eligibility criteria: (1) CDFI
Certification criteria (table 5); (2) requirements that apply to all
Applicants (table 6); (3) requirements that apply to TA Applicants
(table 7); and (4) requirements that apply to FA Applicants (table 8).
Table 5--CDFI Certification Criteria Definitions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Certified CDFI............... An entity that the CDFI Fund has
officially notified that it meets all
CDFI Certification requirements.
Emerging CDFI (TA Applicants) <bullet> A non-Certified entity that
demonstrates to the CDFI Fund in its
Application that it has an acceptable
plan to meet CDFI Certification
requirements by the end of its Period of
Performance, or another date that the
CDFI Fund selects.
<bullet> An Emerging CDFI that has prior
award(s) must comply with CDFI
Certification PG&M(s) stated in its
prior Assistance Agreement(s).
<bullet> An Emerging CDFI selected to
receive a TA award will be required to
become a Certified CDFI by a date
specified in the Assistance Agreement.
Sponsoring Entity............ <bullet> Sponsoring Entities include any
legal organization that primarily serves
a Native Community with ``primary''
meaning, at least 50% of its activities
are directed toward the Native
Community.
[[Page 6082]]
<bullet> An eligible organization that
proposes to create a separate legal
organization that will become a
Certified CDFI serving Native
Communities.
<bullet> Each Sponsoring Entity selected
to receive a TA award will be required
to create a CDFI and ensure that this
newly created CDFI becomes Certified by
the dates specified in the Assistance
Agreement.
Definitions relating to For Target Market assessment purposes,
Native Other Targeted the CDFI Fund uses the following
Populations as Target definitions, set forth in the Office of
Markets. Management and Budget (OMB) Notice,
Revisions to the Standards for the
Classification of Federal Data on Race
and Ethnicity (October 30, 1997), as
amended and supplemented:
<bullet> American Indian or Alaskan
Native: A person having origins in
any of the original peoples of North
and South America (including Central
America), and who maintains tribal
affiliation or community attachment;
and
<bullet> Native Hawaiian: A person
having origins in any of the original
peoples of Hawaii.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\8\ Depository Institution Holding Company or DIHC means a Bank
Holding Company or a Savings and Loan Holding Company.
Table 6--Eligibility Requirements for All Applicants
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Applicant.................... <bullet> An Applicant must be duly
organized as a legal entity (within the
United States or its territories).
<bullet> Only the entity that will carry
out the proposed award activities may
apply for an award (other than
Depository Institution Holding Companies
(DIHC) \8\--see below, and Sponsoring
Entities). Recipients may not create a
new legal entity to carry out the
proposed award activities (except for
Sponsoring Entities).
<bullet> The information in the
Application should only reflect the
activities of the Applicant, including
the presentation of financial and
portfolio information (other than DIHCs-
see below). Do not include financial or
portfolio information from parent
companies, Affiliates, or Subsidiaries
in the Application unless it relates to
the provision of Development Services.
<bullet> An Applicant that applies on
behalf of another organization will be
rejected without further consideration,
other than DIHCs (see below).
Application type and <bullet> Applicants must submit the
submission overview through Required Application Documents listed in
<a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> and Awards table 10.
Management Information <bullet> The CDFI Fund will only accept
System (AMIS). Applications that use the official
Application templates provided on the
<a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> and AMIS websites.
Applications submitted with alternative
or altered templates will not be
considered.
<bullet> Applicants undergo a two-step
process that requires the submission of
Application documents by two separate
deadlines in two different systems: (1)
the SF-424 in <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> and (2) all
other Required Application Documents in
AMIS.
<bullet> <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> and the SF-424:
[cir] <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a>: Applicants must
submit the Standard Form (SF) SF-424,
Application for Federal Assistance.
[cir] All Applicants must register in
the <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> system to successfully
submit an Application. The <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a>
registration process can take 30 days
or more to complete. The CDFI Fund
strongly encourages Applicants to
register as early as possible.
[cir] The CDFI Fund will not extend
the SF-424 application deadline for
any Applicant that started the
<a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> registration process on,
before, or after the date of the
publication of this NOFA, but did not
complete it by the deadline except in
the case of a Federal Government
administrative or technological error
that directly resulted in a late
submission of the SF-424.
[cir] The SF-424 must be submitted in
<a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> on or before the deadline
listed in table 1. Applicants are
strongly encouraged to submit their
SF-424 as early as possible in the
<a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> system.
[cir] The deadline for the <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a>
submission is before the AMIS
submission deadline.
[cir] The SF-424 must be submitted
under the NACA Program Funding
Opportunity Number for the NACA
Program Application. NACA Program
Applicants should be careful to not
select the CDFI Program Funding
Opportunity Number when submitting
their SF-424 for the NACA Program.
NACA Program Applicants that submit
their SF-424 for the NACA Program
Application under the CDFI Program
Funding Opportunity Number will be
deemed ineligible for the NACA
Program Application.
[cir] If the SF-424 is not accepted by
<a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> by the deadline, the CDFI
Fund will not review any material
submitted in AMIS and the Application
will be deemed ineligible.
<bullet> AMIS and all other Required
Application Documents listed in table
10:
[cir] AMIS is an enterprise-wide
information technology system.
Applicants will use AMIS to submit
and store organization and
Application information with the CDFI
Fund.
[cir] Applicants are only allowed one
NACA Program Application submission
in AMIS.
[cir] Each Application in AMIS must be
signed by an Authorized
Representative.
[cir] Applicants must ensure that the
Authorized Representative is an
employee or officer of the Applicant,
authorized to sign legal documents on
behalf of the organization.
Consultants working on behalf of the
organization may not be designated as
Authorized Representatives.
[cir] Only the Authorized
Representative or Application Point
of Contact, included in the
Application, may submit the
Application in AMIS.
[cir] All Required Application
Documents must be submitted in AMIS
on or before the deadline specified
in table 1.
[cir] The CDFI Fund will not extend
the deadline for any Applicant except
in the case of a Federal Government
administrative or technological error
that directly resulted in the late
submission of the Application in
AMIS.
Employer Identification <bullet> Applicants must have a unique
Number (EIN). EIN assigned by the Internal Revenue
Service (IRS).
<bullet> The CDFI Fund will reject an
Application submitted with the EIN of a
parent or Affiliate organization.
<bullet> The EIN in the Applicant's AMIS
account must match the EIN in the
Applicant's System for Award Management
(SAM) account. The CDFI Fund reserves
the right to reject an Application if
the EIN in the Applicant's AMIS account
does not match the EIN in its SAM
account.
<bullet> Applicants must enter their EIN
into their AMIS profile on or before the
deadline specified in table 1.
Unique Entity Identifier <bullet> The transition from the Dun and
(UEI). Bradstreet Universal Numbering System
(DUNS) to UEI is a Federal Government-
wide initiative.
<bullet> An Applicant must apply using
its UEI in <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a>.
<bullet> The CDFI Fund will reject an
Application submitted with the UEI of a
parent or Affiliate organization.
[[Page 6083]]
<bullet> The UEI in the Applicant's AMIS
account must match the UEI in the
Applicant's <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> and SAM accounts.
The CDFI Fund will reject an Application
if the UEI in the Applicant's AMIS
account does not match the UEI in its
<a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> and SAM accounts.
<bullet> Applicants must enter their UEI
into their AMIS profile on or before the
deadline specified in table 1.
System for Award Management <bullet> SAM is a web-based, government-
(SAM). wide application that collects,
validates, stores, and disseminates
business information about the Federal
Government's trading partners in support
of the contract awards, grants, and
electronic payment processes.
<bullet> Applicants must register in SAM
as part of the <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> registration
process.
<bullet> Applicants that have an active
SAM registration have been assigned a
UEI. Applicants must also have an EIN in
order to register in SAM.
<bullet> Applicants must be registered in
SAM in order to submit an SF-424 in
<a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a>.
<bullet> The CDFI Fund reserves the right
to deem an Application ineligible if the
Applicant's SAM account expires during
the Application evaluation period, or is
set to expire before September 30, 2025,
and the Applicant does not re-activate,
or renew, as applicable, the account
within the deadlines that the CDFI Fund
communicates to affected Applicants
during the Application evaluation
period.
AMIS Account................. <bullet> Each Applicant must register as
an organization in AMIS and submit all
Required Application Documents listed in
table 10 through the AMIS system.
<bullet> The Application of any
organization that does not properly
register in AMIS by the deadline set
forth in table 1--FY 2025 NACA Program
Funding Round Critical Deadlines for
Applicants--will be rejected without
further consideration.
<bullet> The Authorized Representative
and/or Application Point of Contact must
be included as ``users'' in the
Applicant's AMIS account.
<bullet> An Applicant that fails to
properly register and update its AMIS
account may miss important communication
from the CDFI Fund and/or may not be
able to successfully submit an
Application.
501 (c)(4) status............ <bullet> Pursuant to 2 U.S.C. 1611, any
501(c)(4) organization that engages in
lobbying activities is not eligible to
receive a CDFI or NACA Program award.
Compliance with <bullet> An Applicant * may not be
Nondiscrimination and Equal eligible to receive an award if
Opportunity Statutes, proceedings have been instituted against
Regulations, and Executive it in, by, or before any court,
Orders. governmental agency, or administrative
body, and a final determination has been
issued within the time period beginning
three years prior to the publication of
this NOFA until the execution of the
Assistance Agreement that indicates the
Applicant has violated any Federal civil
rights laws or regulations, including:
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of
1964, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2000d); the
Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 3601 et
seq.); the Equal Credit Opportunity Act
(15 U.S.C. 1691 et seq.); section 504 of
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29
U.S.C. 794); and the Age Discrimination
Act of 1975, (42 U.S.C. 6101-6107).
<bullet> Applicants * will be required to
submit the Title VI Compliance Worksheet
(Worksheet) once annually to assist the
CDFI Fund in determining whether
Applicants are compliant with the
Treasury regulations implementing Title
VI of the Civil Rights Act (Title VI),
set forth in 31 CFR part 22. These
requirements are set forth in the United
States Department of the Treasury
regulations implementing Title VI
located in 31 CFR part 22,
Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Race,
Color, or National Origin in Programs or
Activities Receiving Federal Financial
Assistance from the Department of the
Treasury.
<bullet> In addition, an Applicant* must
be compliant with Federal civil rights
requirements in order to be deemed
eligible to receive an award from the
CDFI Fund. The CDFI Fund will consider
an Application submitted by an Applicant
that has pending Title VI noncompliance
issues, if the CDFI Fund has not yet
made a final compliance determination.
<bullet> The Title VI Compliance
Worksheet and program award terms and
conditions do not impose
antidiscrimination requirements on
Tribal governments beyond what would
otherwise apply under Federal law.
Depository Institution <bullet> In the case where a Depository
Holding Company Applicant. Institution Holding Company Applicant
intends to carry out the activities of
an award through its Subsidiary Insured
Depository Institution, the Application
must be submitted by the Depository
Institution Holding Company and reflect
the activities and financial performance
of the Subsidiary Insured Depository
Institution.
<bullet> If a Depository Institution
Holding Company and its Subsidiary
Insured Depository Institution (through
which it will carry out the activities
of the award) both apply for an award
under this NOFA, only the Depository
Institution Holding Company will receive
an award, not both. In such instances,
the Subsidiary Insured Depository
Institution will be deemed ineligible.
<bullet> Authorized Representatives of
both the Depository Institution Holding
Company and the Subsidiary Insured
Depository Institution must certify that
the information included in the
Application represents that of the
Subsidiary Insured Depository
Institution, and that the award funds
will be used to support the Subsidiary
Insured Depository Institution for the
eligible activities outlined in the
Application.
Use of award................. <bullet> All awards made through this
NOFA must be used to support the
Applicant's activities in at least one
of the FA or TA Eligible Activity
Categories (see section II. (C)).
<bullet> With the exception of Depository
Institution Holding Company Applicants
and Sponsoring Entities, awards may not
be used to support the activities of, or
otherwise be passed through,
transferred, or co-awarded to, third-
party entities, whether Affiliates,
Subsidiaries, or others, unless done
pursuant to a merger or acquisition or
similar transaction, and with the CDFI
Fund's prior written consent.
<bullet> The Recipient of any award made
through this NOFA must comply, as
applicable, with the Buy American Act of
1933, 41 U.S.C. 8301-8303 and section 2
CFR 200.216 of the Uniform
Administrative Requirements, with
respect to any Direct Costs.
Requested award amount....... <bullet> An Applicant must state its
requested award amount in the
Application in AMIS. An Applicant that
does not include this amount will not be
allowed to submit an Application.
Pending resolution of <bullet> If an Applicant (or Affiliate of
noncompliance or default. an Applicant identified in AMIS) that is
a prior Recipient or Allocatee under any
CDFI Fund program: (i) has demonstrated
it is in noncompliance with or default
of a previous Assistance Agreement,
Award Agreement, Allocation Agreement,
Bond Loan Agreement, or Agreement to
Guarantee and (ii) the CDFI Fund has yet
to make a final determination as to
whether the entity is in noncompliance
with or default of its previous
agreement, the CDFI Fund will consider
the Applicant's Application under this
NOFA pending full resolution, in the
sole determination of the CDFI Fund, of
the noncompliance or default.
Noncompliance or default <bullet> The CDFI Fund will not consider
status. an Application submitted by an Applicant
that is a prior CDFI Fund award
recipient or allocatee under any CDFI
Fund program if, as of the AMIS
Application deadline in this NOFA, (i)
the CDFI Fund has made a final
determination in writing that such
Applicant (or Affiliate of an Applicant
identified in AMIS) is in noncompliance
with or default of a previously executed
Assistance Agreement, Award Agreement,
Allocation Agreement, bond loan
agreement, or agreement to guarantee,
and (ii) the CDFI Fund has provided
written notification that the Applicant
is ineligible to apply for or receive
any future CDFI Fund awards or
allocations. Such entities will be
ineligible to submit an Application for
such time period as specified by the
CDFI Fund in writing.
<bullet> Additionally, regardless of
whether a sanction or remedy is imposed,
the CDFI Fund will not consider an
Application submitted by an Applicant if
the default on a prior Allocation
Agreement of the Applicant or an
Affiliate occurs during the time period
beginning 12 months prior to the
Application deadline and ending with the
FY 2025 award announcement.
<bullet> The CDFI Fund will not consider
any Applicant that has defaulted on a
loan from the CDFI Fund within five
years of the Application deadline.
Debarment/Do Not Pay <bullet> The CDFI Fund will contact the
Verification. Do Not Pay Business Center to conduct a
debarment check on the Applicant. The
CDFI Fund will not consider any
Applicant that is debarred.
[[Page 6084]]
<bullet> If the Do Not Pay Business
Center reports that the Applicant has a
pending or delinquent debt to the
Federal Government, the Applicant will
be required to demonstrate that it has
resolved such pending or delinquent
debt. Applicants that fail to
demonstrate resolution of the pending or
delinquent Federal debt will be found
ineligible to receive an award.
<bullet> In the case where a Depository
Institution Holding Company Applicant
intends to carry out the activities of
an award through its Subsidiary Insured
Depository Institution, the above
debarment requirements apply both to the
Depository Institution Holding Company
and its Subsidiary Insured Depository
Institution.
<bullet> The Do Not Pay Business Center
was developed to support Federal
agencies in their efforts to reduce the
number of improper payments made through
programs funded by the Federal
Government.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* This requirement also applies to Subsidiary Insured Depository
Institutions that will carry out award activities on behalf of
Depository Institution Holding Company Applicants.
Table 7--Eligibility Requirements for TA Applicants
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CDFI Certification status.... Certified CDFIs, Emerging CDFIs, or
Sponsoring Entities (see definitions in
table 5).
If a TA Applicant is a Certified CDFI at
the time of Application but loses its
CDFI Certification at any point prior to
the award announcement, the Application
will be deemed ineligible and no longer
be considered for an award by the CDFI
Fund.
Matching Funds............... <bullet> Matching Funds documentation is
not required for TA awards.
Limitation on Awards......... <bullet> An Emerging CDFI serving Native
Communities may not receive a TA award
if it has previously received three or
more TA awards in the preceding ten
fiscal years.
<bullet> A Sponsoring Entity is only
eligible to apply for an award if (i) it
does not have an active prior award or
(ii) the CDFI Certification goal in its
active award's Assistance Agreement has
been satisfied and it proposes to create
another CDFI that will serve one or more
Native Communities.
$5 Million funding cap....... <bullet> The CDFI Fund is prohibited from
obligating more than $5 million in CDFI
and NACA Program awards, in the
aggregate, to any one organization and
its Subsidiaries and Affiliates during
any three-year period from the
announcement date.
<bullet> The CDFI Fund will include CDFI
and NACA Program final awards in the cap
calculation that were provided to an
Applicant (and/or its Subsidiaries or
Affiliates) under the FY 2024 funding
round, as well as the requested FY 2025
award. The $5 million funding cap
includes TA, Base-FA, PPC-FA, and HP-FA
awards but excludes DF-FA and HFFI-FA
awards.
Proposed Activities.......... <bullet> Applicants must propose to
directly undertake eligible activities
with TA awards. For example, an
uncertified CDFI Applicant must propose
to become Certified as part of its
Application and a Certified CDFI
Applicant must propose activities that
build its capacity to serve its Target
Market or an Eligible Market.
<bullet> With the exception of Sponsoring
Entities, Applicants may not propose to
use a TA award to create a separate
legal entity to become a Certified CDFI
or otherwise carry out the TA award
activities.
Regulated Institution........ <bullet> Each Regulated Institution TA
Applicant must have a CAMELS/CAMEL
rating (rating for Insured Depository
Institutions and Credit Unions,
respectively) or equivalent type of
rating by its regulator (collectively
referred to as ``CAMELS/CAMEL rating'')
of at least ``4.''
<bullet> TA Applicants with CAMELS/CAMEL
ratings of ``5'' will not be eligible
for awards.
<bullet> In the case of a Depository
Institution Holding Company Applicant
that intends to carry out the award
through a Subsidiary Insured Depository
Institution, the CAMELS/CAMEL rating
eligibility requirements noted above
apply to both the Depository Institution
Holding Company Applicant as well as the
Subsidiary Insured Depository
Institution.
<bullet> The CDFI Fund will not approve a
TA award for an Insured Depository
Institution Applicant that has a
Community Reinvestment Act (CRA)
assessment rating of below
``Satisfactory'' on its most recent
examination.
<bullet> In the case of a Depository
Institution Holding Company Applicant
that intends to carry out the award
through a Subsidiary Insured Depository
Institution, the CDFI Fund will not
approve a TA award if the Subsidiary
Insured Depository Institution has a
Community Reinvestment Act (CRA)
assessment rating of below
``Satisfactory'' on its most recent
examination.
<bullet> The CDFI Fund will also evaluate
material concerns identified by the
Appropriate Federal Banking Agency in
determining the eligibility of Regulated
Institution Applicants.
Target Market................ <bullet> TA Applicants must demonstrate
that the Certified CDFI, Emerging CDFI,
or the CDFI to be created by the
Sponsoring Entity will primarily serve
one or more Native Communities as its
Target Market.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 8--Eligibility Requirements for FA Applicants
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CDFI Certification status.... <bullet> Each FA Applicant must be a
Certified CDFI as of the publication
date of this NOFA in the Federal
Register.
<bullet> In the case of a Depository
Institution Holding Company Applicant
that intends to carry out the award
through a Subsidiary Insured Depository
Institution, both the Depository
Institution Holding Company and its
Subsidiary Insured Depository
Institution must be Certified CDFIs as
of the publication date of this NOFA in
the Federal Register.
<bullet> The CDFI Fund will consider an
Application submitted by an Applicant
that has pending noncompliance issues
with its Annual Certification and Data
Collection Report (ACR) if the CDFI Fund
has not yet made a final compliance
determination.
<bullet> If a Certified CDFI loses its
CDFI Certification at any point prior to
the award announcement, the Application
will be deemed ineligible and no longer
be considered for an award by the CDFI
Fund.
Activities in Native <bullet> For consideration under this
Communities. NOFA, each FA Applicant must:
[cir] Demonstrate that at least 50% of
its past activities were in one or
more Native Communities; and
[cir] Describe how it will target its
lending/investing activities to one
or more Native Communities.
Target Market................ <bullet> For consideration under this
NOFA, an FA Applicant's CDFI
Certification Target Market must have
one or more of the following
characteristics:
[cir] For qualifying with an
Investment Area, the Applicant must
demonstrate that the Investment Area
approved for CDFI Certification is
also a geographic area of federally-
designated reservations, Hawaiian
homelands, Alaska Native Villages and
U.S. Census Bureau designated Tribal
Statistical Areas; and/or
[cir] For qualifying with an Other
Targeted Population (OTP), the
Applicant's Target Market approved
for CDFI Certification must be one or
more of the following OTPs: of Native
American, Native Alaskan, or Native
Hawaiian.
<bullet> Any FA Applicant whose CDFI
Certification Target Market does not
meet either of the conditions above will
not be eligible for an FA award under
this NOFA.
Community Collaboration...... <bullet> All FA Applicants must
demonstrate strong community
collaboration with Native Communities.
Matching Funds documentation. <bullet> Native American CDFIs are not
required to provide Matching Funds.
$5 Million funding cap....... <bullet> The CDFI Fund is prohibited from
obligating more than $5 million in CDFI
and NACA Program awards, in the
aggregate, to any one organization and
its Subsidiaries and Affiliates during
any three-year period from the
announcement date.
[[Page 6085]]
<bullet> The CDFI Fund will include CDFI
and NACA Program final awards in the cap
calculation that were awarded to an
Applicant (and/or its Subsidiaries or
Affiliates) under the FY 2024 funding
round, as well as the requested FY 2025
award. The $5 million funding cap
includes TA, Base-FA, PPC-FA, and HP-FA
awards but excludes DF-FA and HFFI-FA
awards.
FA Applicants with Community <bullet> A NACA Applicant can apply for
Partners. assistance jointly with a Community
Partner. The NACA Applicant must
complete the NACA Program Application
and address the Community Partnership in
its business plan and other sections of
the Application as specified in the
Application materials.
<bullet> The NACA Applicant must be a
Certified CDFI as defined in table 5.
<bullet> An Application with a Community
Partner must:
[cir] Describe how the NACA Applicant
and Community Partner will each
participate in the partnership and
how the partnership will enhance
eligible activities serving the
Investment Area and/or Targeted
Population.
[cir] Demonstrate that the Community
Partnership activities are consistent
with the strategic plan submitted by
the NACA Applicant.
<bullet> Assistance provided upon
approval of an Application with a
Community Partner shall only be
entrusted to the NACA Applicant and
shall not be used to fund any activity
carried out directly by the Community
Partner or an Affiliate or Subsidiary
thereof.
<bullet> Applicants for HP-FA only (with
no Base-FA request) are not eligible to
apply with a Community Partner. Only
Certified CDFIs may apply for HP-FA only
(with no Base-FA request).
Regulated Institution........ <bullet> Each Regulated Institution FA
Applicant must have a CAMELS/CAMEL
rating (rating for Insured Depository
Institutions and Credit Unions,
respectively) or equivalent type of
rating by its regulator (collectively
referred to as ``CAMELS/CAMEL rating'')
of at least ``3.''
<bullet> FA Applicants with CAMELS/CAMEL
ratings of ``4'' or ``5'' will not be
eligible for awards.
<bullet> In the case of a Depository
Institution Holding Company Applicant
that intends to carry out the award
through a Subsidiary Insured Depository
Institution, the CAMELS/CAMEL rating
eligibility requirements noted above
apply to both the Depository Institution
Holding Company Applicant as well as the
Subsidiary Insured Depository
Institution. The CDFI Fund will not
approve an FA award for an Insured
Depository Institution Applicant that
has a Community Reinvestment Act (CRA)
assessment rating of below
``Satisfactory'' on its most recent
examination.
<bullet> In the case of a Depository
Institution Holding Company Applicant
that intends to carry out the award
through a Subsidiary Insured Depository
Institution, the CDFI Fund will not
approve an FA award if the Subsidiary
Insured Depository Institution has a
Community Reinvestment Act (CRA)
assessment rating of below
``Satisfactory'' on its most recent
examination.
<bullet> The CDFI Fund will also evaluate
material concerns identified by the
Appropriate Federal Banking Agency in
determining the eligibility of Regulated
Institution Applicants.
PPC-FA....................... <bullet> All PPC-FA Applicants must:
[cir] Submit a CDFI or NACA Program FA
Application;
[cir] Meet all NACA FA award
eligibility requirements;
[cir] Submit the PPC-FA Application;
and
[cir] Provide a PPC-FA award request
amount in AMIS.
DF-FA........................ <bullet> All DF-FA Applicants must:
[cir] Submit a CDFI or NACA Program FA
Application;
[cir] Meet all NACA FA award
eligibility requirements;
[cir] Submit the DF-FA Application;
and
[cir] Provide a DF-FA award request
amount in AMIS.
HFFI-FA...................... <bullet> All HFFI-FA Applicants must:
[cir] Submit a CDFI or NACA Program FA
Application;
[cir] Meet all NACA FA award
eligibility requirements;
[cir] Submit the HFFI-FA Application;
and
[cir] Provide a HFFI-FA award request
amount in AMIS.
HP-FA........................ <bullet> Applicants applying for only HP-
FA (with no Base-FA request) must:
[cir] Submit a CDFI or NACA Program FA
Application;
[cir] Meet all NACA FA award
eligibility requirements;
[cir] Indicate intention to apply for
only HP-FA in the CDFI or NACA
Program FA Application;
[cir] Submit the Excel HP-FA
Application;
[cir] Have a track record of having
financed Housing in each of the last
3 historic fiscal years; and
[cir] Provide an HP-FA award request
amount.
<bullet> Applicants applying for HP-FA as
a supplement to Base-FA request must:
[cir] Submit a CDFI or NACA Program FA
Application;
[cir] Meet all NACA FA award
eligibility requirements;
[cir] Indicate intention to apply for
both a Base-FA award and an HP-FA
award in the CDFI Program or NACA
Program FA Application;
[cir] Submit the Excel HP-FA
Application;
[cir] Have a track record of having
financed Housing in each of the last
3 historic fiscal years; and
[cir] Provide an HP-FA award request
amount.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
B. Matching Funds Requirements: Native American CDFIs are not
required to provide Matching Funds.
Table 9--Reserved
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
IV. Application and Submission Information
A. Address to Request an Application Package: Application materials
can be found on the CDFI Fund's website at <a href="https://www.cdfifund.gov/native">https://www.cdfifund.gov/native</a>. Applicants may request a paper version of any Application
material by contacting the CDFI Fund Help Desk at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#593a3d3f30313c3529193a3d3f30772d2b3c382a773e362f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5e3d3a3837363b322e1e3d3a3837702a2c3b3f2d70393128">[email protected]</span></a>. Paper versions of Application materials will
only be
[[Page 6086]]
provided if an Applicant cannot access the CDFI Fund's website.
B. Content and Form of Application Submission: All Applications
must be prepared using the English language, and calculations must be
computed in U.S. dollars. The following table lists the Required
Application Documents for the FY 2025 Funding Round. The CDFI Fund
reserves the right to request and review other pertinent or public
information that has not been specifically requested in this NOFA or
the Application. Information submitted by the Applicant that the CDFI
Fund has not specifically requested will not be reviewed or considered
as part of the Application. Financial data, portfolio, and activity
information provided in the Application should only include the
Applicant's activities. Information submitted must accurately reflect
the Applicant's activities (other than Depository Institution Holding
Companies--see table 6).
Table 10--Required Application Documents
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Application documents Applicant type Submission format
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Active AMIS Account............. All Applicants.... AMIS.
SF-424.......................... All Applicants.... Fillable PDF in
<a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a>.
Title VI Compliance Worksheet *. All Applicants.... AMIS.
NACA Program Application All Applicants.... AMIS.
Components:.
<bullet> Funding Application
Detail.
<bullet> Data, Charts, and
Narrative sections as
listed in AMIS and outlined
in Application materials.
PPC-FA Application Components:.. PPC-FA Applicants. AMIS.
<bullet> Funding Application
Detail.
<bullet> Narratives.........
<bullet> AMIS Charts........
DF-FA Application Components:... DF-FA Applicants.. AMIS.
<bullet> Funding Application
Detail.
<bullet> Narratives.........
<bullet> AMIS Charts........
HFFI-FA Application Components:. HFFI-FA Applicants AMIS.
<bullet> Funding Application
Detail.
<bullet> Narratives.........
<bullet> AMIS charts........
HP-FA Application Components: HP-FA Applicants.. Attachment to AMIS
The Excel HP-FA Application Service Request.
will not be completed as part
of the AMIS Application. The
Application component is
anticipated to be released at a
later date than the other
Application components under
this NOFA and will be due at a
later date, as noted in table
1. Applicants will be provided
at least 30 days to complete
the Excel HP-FA Application
which will be an Excel
spreadsheet that contains two
sections:.
<bullet> Narratives.............
<bullet> Tables.................
Attachments to the Application:
Key Staff Resumes............... All Applicants.... PDF or Word
document in AMIS.
Organizational Chart............ All Applicants.... PDF in AMIS.
Completed, final audited FA Applicants and PDF in AMIS.
financial statements for the TA Applicants, if
Applicant's Three Most Recent available: loan
Historic Fiscal Years. funds, Venture
Capital Funds **,
and other non-
Regulated
Institutions.
Unaudited financial statements FA and TA PDF in AMIS.
for Applicant's Three Most Applicants, if
Recent Historic Years (required available: loan
if available, and only if funds, Venture
audited financial statements Capital Funds,
are not available). and other non-
Regulated
Institutions.
Community Partnership Agreement. FA Applicants, if PDF or Word
applicable. document in AMIS.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* This requirement also applies to Subsidiary Insured Depository
Institutions that will carry out award activities on behalf of
Depository Institution Holding Company Applicants.
** A Venture Capital Fund is an organization that predominantly invests
funds in businesses, typically in the form of either Equity
Investments or subordinated debt with equity features such as revenue
participation or warrants, and generally seeks to participate in the
upside returns of such businesses in an effort to at least partially
offset the risk of its investments.
C. Application Submission: The CDFI Fund has a multiple step
process that requires the submission of Required Application Documents
(listed in table 10) on separate deadlines and locations. The SF-424
must be submitted through <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> and all other Required Application
Documents through the CDFI Fund's Award Management Information System
(AMIS). The CDFI Fund will not accept Applications via email, mail,
facsimile, or other forms of communication, except in extremely rare
circumstances that have been pre-approved in writing by the CDFI Fund.
The deadlines for submitting the relevant Application materials are
listed in table 1.
First, all Applicants must register in the <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> system to
successfully submit the SF-424. The <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> registration process can
take 45 days or longer to complete and the CDFI Fund strongly
encourages Applicants to start the <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> registration process as
early as possible (refer to the following link: <a href="https://www.grants.gov/register">https://www.grants.gov/register</a>). Since the <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> registration process requires
Applicants to have a UEI and an EIN, Applicants without these
[[Page 6087]]
required items should allow for additional time to complete the
<a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> registration process. The CDFI Fund will not extend the
Application deadline for any Applicant that started the <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a>
registration process but did not complete it by the deadline. An
Applicant that has previously registered with <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> must verify
that its registration is current and active. Applicants should contact
<a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> directly with questions related to the registration or
submission process as the CDFI Fund does not maintain the <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a>
system.
Each Application must be signed by a designated Authorized
Representative in AMIS before it can be submitted. The Excel HP-FA
Application must be submitted via a Service Request in AMIS by an
Authorized Representative of the Applicant or an Application Point of
Contact. Applicants must ensure that an Authorized Representative is an
employee or officer and is authorized to sign legal documents on behalf
of the Applicant. Consultants working on behalf of the Applicant may
not be designated as Authorized Representatives. Only a designated
Authorized Representative or Application Point of Contact, included in
the Application, may submit the Application in AMIS. If an AMIS
Application is not submitted by an Authorized Representative or
Application Point of Contact, the Application will be deemed
ineligible.
D. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): The UEI has replaced the Dun and
Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number. The UEI,
generated in the System for Award Management (<a href="http://SAM.gov">SAM.gov</a>), has become the
official identifier for doing business with the Federal Government.
This transition allows the Federal Government to streamline the entity
identification and validation process, making it easier and less
burdensome for entities to do business with the Federal Government. If
an entity is registered in <a href="http://SAM.gov">SAM.gov</a> today, its UEI has already been
assigned and is viewable in <a href="http://SAM.gov">SAM.gov</a>, including inactive registrations.
New registrants will be assigned a UEI as part of their SAM
registration.
E. System for Award Management (SAM): Any entity applying for
Federal grants or other forms of Federal financial assistance through
<a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> must be registered in SAM before submitting its Application.
When accessing <a href="http://SAM.gov">SAM.gov</a>, users will be asked to create a <a href="http://Login.gov">Login.gov</a> user
account (if they don't already have one). Going forward, users will use
their <a href="http://Login.gov">Login.gov</a> username and password every time when logging into
<a href="http://SAM.gov">SAM.gov</a>. Registration in SAM is required as part of the <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a>
registration process. The SAM registration process may take one month
or longer to complete. An original, signed notarized letter identifying
the authorized entity administrator for the entity associated with the
UEI is required. This requirement is applicable to new entities
registering in SAM or an existing registration where there is no
existing entity administrator. Existing entities with registered entity
administrators do not need to submit an annual notarized letter.
Applicants without an EIN should allow for additional time as an
Applicant cannot register in SAM without an EIN. Applicants that have
previously completed the SAM registration process must verify that
their SAM accounts are current and active. Each Applicant must continue
to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all
times during which it has an active Federal award or an Application
under consideration by a Federal awarding agency. The CDFI Fund will
deem ineligible any Applicant that fails to properly register or
activate its SAM account and, as a result, is unable to submit the SF-
424 in <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> or Application in AMIS by the applicable Application
deadlines. These restrictions also apply to organizations that have not
yet received a UEI or EIN by the established deadline. Applicants must
contact SAM directly with questions related to registration or SAM
account changes as the CDFI Fund does not maintain this system and has
no ability to make changes or correct errors of any kind. For more
information about SAM, visit <a href="https://www.sam.gov">https://www.sam.gov</a>.
Table 11_Grants.gov Registration Timeline Summary
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated
Step Agency minimum time to
complete
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Obtain an EIN................. Internal Revenue Two (2) Weeks.*
Service (IRS).
Register in <a href="http://SAM.gov">SAM.gov</a>........... System for Award Four (4) Weeks.*
Management (<a href="http://SAM.gov">SAM.gov</a>).
This step will
include obtaining a
UEI.
Register in <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a>........ <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a>............ One (1) Week.**
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Applicants are advised that the stated durations are estimates only
and represent minimum timeframes. Actual timeframes may take longer.
The CDFI Fund will deem ineligible any Applicant that fails to
properly register or activate its SAM account, has not yet received a
UEI or EIN, and/or fails to properly register in <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a>.
** This estimate assumes an Applicant has a UEI, an EIN, and is already
registered in <a href="http://SAM.gov">SAM.gov</a>.
F. Submission Instructions:
1. Submission Deadlines: Table 1 provides the critical deadlines
for the FY 2025 Funding Round.
2. Confirmation of Application Submission in <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> and AMIS:
Applicants are required to submit the SF-424, Application for Federal
Assistance through the <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> system, under the NACA Program
Funding Opportunity Number by the applicable deadline. All other
Required Application Documents (listed in table 10) must be submitted
through the AMIS website by the applicable deadline. Note, the Excel
HP-FA Application will be submitted separately via a Service Request in
AMIS by the date specified in table 1. Applicants must submit the SF-
424 prior to submitting the Application in AMIS. If the SF-424 is not
successfully accepted by <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> by the deadline, the CDFI Fund will
not review the Application submitted in AMIS, and the Application will
be deemed ineligible.
a. <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> Submission Information: Each Applicant will receive
an email from <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> immediately after submitting the SF-424
confirming that the submission has entered the <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> system. This
email will contain a tracking number for the submitted SF-424. Within
48 hours, the Applicant will receive a second email, which will
indicate if the submitted SF-424 was either successfully validated or
rejected with errors. However, Applicants should not rely on the email
notification from <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> to confirm that their SF-424 was
validated. Applicants are strongly encouraged to use the tracking
number provided in the first email to closely monitor the status of
their SF-424 by contacting the
[[Page 6088]]
helpdesk at <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> directly. The Application material submitted in
AMIS is not officially accepted by the CDFI Fund until <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> has
validated the SF-424.
b. AMIS Submission Information: AMIS is a web-based system where
Applicants will directly enter their Application information and add
the required attachments listed in table 10. The Base-FA, PPC-FA, DF-
FA, HFFI-FA, and TA Application components will all be submitted as
part of a single AMIS Application. AMIS will verify that the Applicant
provided the minimum information required to submit an Application.
Applicants are responsible for the quality and accuracy of the
information and attachments included in the Application submitted in
AMIS. The Excel HP-FA Application will be a fillable Excel spreadsheet
and must be separately submitted as an attachment to a Service Request
in AMIS. The CDFI Fund strongly encourages Applicants to allow for
sufficient time to review and complete all Required Application
Documents listed in table 10 and remedy any issues prior to the
Application deadline. Each Application submitted in AMIS must be signed
by an Authorized Representative listed in the organization's AMIS
account before it can be submitted. Applicants must ensure that the
Authorized Representative is an employee or officer and is authorized
to sign legal documents on behalf of the Applicant. Consultants working
on behalf of the Applicant may not be designated as Authorized
Representatives. Only an Authorized Representative or an Application
Point of Contact may submit an Application. If an Application is not
submitted by an Authorized Representative or Application Point of
Contact, the Application will be deemed ineligible. Applicants may only
submit one Base-FA or TA Application under the NACA Program. Upon
submission, the Application will be locked and cannot be resubmitted,
edited, or modified in any way. The CDFI Fund will not unlock or allow
multiple Application submissions.
3. Late Submission or AMIS Account Creation: The CDFI Fund will not
accept an Application if the SF-424 is not submitted and accepted by
<a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> by the SF-424 deadline listed in table 1. Additionally, the
CDFI Fund will not accept an Application if it is not signed by an
Authorized Representative and submitted in AMIS by the Application
deadline or if an Applicant did not submit the required Title VI
Compliance Worksheet by the Application deadline listed in table 1. The
CDFI Fund will also not accept an Application from an Applicant that
failed to create an AMIS account by the deadlines specified in table 1.
The CDFI Fund will not accept the Excel HP-FA Application if it is not
submitted via a Service Request in AMIS by the deadline in table 1. In
these cases, the CDFI Fund will not review any material submitted, and
the Application will be deemed ineligible.
However, in cases where a Federal Government administrative or
technological error directly resulted in precluding an Applicant from
submitting the SF-424, from submitting the AMIS Application, from
submitting the Excel HP-FA Application, from creating an AMIS account,
or from submitting the Title VI Compliance Worksheet by the deadlines
stated in this NOFA, Applicants are provided the opportunity to submit
a written request for acceptance of late submissions. Be aware that
unexpected delay in a Federal Government process does not in and of
itself constitute a Federal Government administrative or technological
error. The CDFI Fund will only approve the late submission of the SF-
424, the AMIS Application, the Excel HP-FA Application, the Title VI
Compliance worksheet, or the late creation of an AMIS account if the
Applicant demonstrates that an unexpected delay was the direct result
of a Federal Government administrative or technological error.
a. Creation of AMIS Account: In cases where a Federal Government
administrative or technological error directly resulted in precluding
an Applicant from creating an AMIS account by the required deadline,
the Applicant must submit a written request for approval to create its
AMIS account after the deadline, and include documentation of the
error, no later than two business days after the AMIS account creation
deadline. The CDFI Fund will not respond to requests for creating an
AMIS account after that time. Applicants must submit such request via
an AMIS Service Request to the CDFI Program or an email to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4c2f282a252429203c0c2f282a2562383e292d3f622b233a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e08384868988858c90a083848689ce9492858193ce878f96">[email protected]</span></a> with a subject line of ``AMIS Account Creation
Deadline Extension Request.''
b. SF-424 Late Submission: In cases where a Federal Government
administrative or technological error directly resulted in precluding
an Applicant from submitting the SF-424 by the required deadline, the
Applicant must submit a written request for acceptance of the late SF-
424 submission and include documentation of the error no later than two
business days after the SF-424 deadline. The CDFI Fund will not respond
to requests for acceptance of late SF-424 submissions after that time
period. Applicants must submit late SF-424 submission requests to the
CDFI Fund via an AMIS Service Request to the NACA Program with a
subject line of ``Late SF-424 Submission Request.''
c. Title VI Compliance Worksheet Late Submission: In cases where a
Federal Government administrative or technological error directly
precluded an Applicant from submitting the Title VI Compliance
Worksheet by the required deadline, the Applicant must submit a written
request for approval to submit the Worksheet after the deadline, and
include documentation of the error, no later than two business days
after the Title VI Compliance Worksheet submission deadline. The CDFI
Fund will not respond to requests for submitting a Title VI Compliance
Worksheet after that time. Applicants must submit such request via an
AMIS Service Request to the CDFI Program with a subject line of ``CDFI
Program--Title VI Compliance Worksheet Deadline Extension Request.''
d. AMIS Application Late Submission, including Late Excel HP-FA
Application Submission: In cases where a Federal Government
administrative or technological error directly resulted in precluding
an Applicant from submitting the Application in AMIS by the required
deadline, the Applicant must submit a written request for acceptance of
the late Application submission and include documentation of the error
no later than two business days after the Application deadline. The
CDFI Fund will not respond to requests for acceptance of late
Application submissions after that time period. Applicants must submit
late Application submission requests to the CDFI Fund via an AMIS
Service Request to the NACA Program with a subject line of ``Late
Application Submission Request.''
G. Funding Restrictions: Base-FA, PPC-FA, DF-FA, HFFI-FA, HP-FA,
and TA awards are limited by the following:
1. Base-FA Awards:
a. A Recipient shall use Base-FA award funds only for the eligible
activities described in section II. (C)(1) of this NOFA and its
Assistance Agreement.
b. With the exception of Depository Institution Holding Company
Applicants, Base-FA awards may not be used to support the activities
of, or otherwise be passed through, transferred, or co-awarded to,
third-party entities, whether Affiliates, Subsidiaries, or others,
unless done pursuant to a merger or acquisition or
[[Page 6089]]
similar transaction, and with the CDFI Fund's prior written consent.
c. Base-FA award funds shall only be paid to the Recipient.
d. The CDFI Fund, in its sole discretion, may pay Base-FA award
funds in amounts, or under terms and conditions, which are different
from those requested by an Applicant.
e. The Recipient must comply, as applicable, with the Buy American
Act of 1933, 41 U.S.C. 8301-8303 and section 2 CFR 200.216 of the
Uniform Administrative Requirements, with respect to any Direct Costs.
2. PPC-FA Awards:
a. A Recipient shall use PPC-FA award funds only for the eligible
activities described in section II. (C)(5) of this NOFA and its
Assistance Agreement.
b. With the exception of Depository Institution Holding Company
Applicants, PPC-FA awards may not be used to support the activities of,
or otherwise be passed through, transferred, or co-awarded to, third-
party entities, whether Affiliates, Subsidiaries, or others, unless
done pursuant to a merger or acquisition or similar transaction, and
with the CDFI Fund's prior written consent.
c. PPC-FA award funds shall only be paid to the Recipient.
d. The CDFI Fund, in its sole discretion, may pay PPC-FA award
funds in amounts, or under terms and conditions, which are different
from those requested by an Applicant.
e. The Recipient must comply, as applicable, with the Buy American
Act of 1933, 41 U.S.C. 8301-8303 and section 2 CFR 200.216 of the
Uniform Administrative Requirements, with respect to any Direct Costs.
3. DF-FA Awards:
a. A Recipient shall use DF-FA award funds only for the eligible
activities described in section II. (C)(2) of this NOFA and its
Assistance Agreement.
b. With the exception of Depository Institution Holding Company
Applicants, DF-FA awards may not be used to support the activities of,
or otherwise be passed through, transferred, or co-awarded to, third-
party entities, whether Affiliates, Subsidiaries, or others, unless
done pursuant to a merger or acquisition or similar transaction, and
with the CDFI Fund's prior written consent.
c. DF-FA award funds shall only be paid to the Recipient.
d. The CDFI Fund, in its sole discretion, may pay DF-FA award funds
in amounts, or under terms and conditions, which are different from
those requested by an Applicant.
e. The Recipient must comply, as applicable, with the Buy American
Act of 1933, 41 U.S.C. 8301-8303 and section 2 CFR 200.216 of the
Uniform Administrative Requirements, with respect to any Direct Costs.
4. HFFI-FA Awards:
a. A Recipient shall use HFFI-FA award funds only for the eligible
activities described in section II. (C)(4) of this NOFA and its
Assistance Agreement.
b. With the exception of Depository Institution Holding Company
Applicants, HFFI-FA awards may not be used to support the activities
of, or otherwise be passed through, transferred, or co-awarded to,
third-party entities, whether Affiliates, Subsidiaries, or others,
unless done pursuant to a merger or acquisition or similar transaction,
and with the CDFI Fund's prior written consent.
c. HFFI-FA award funds shall only be paid to the Recipient.
d. The CDFI Fund, in its sole discretion, may pay HFFI-FA award
funds in amounts, or under terms and conditions, which are different
from those requested by an Applicant.
e. The Recipient must comply, as applicable, with the Buy American
Act of 1933, 41 U.S.C. 8301-8303 and section 2 CFR 200.216 of the
Uniform Administrative Requirements, with respect to any Direct Costs.
5. HP-FA Awards:
a. A Recipient shall use HP-FA award funds only for the eligible
activities described in section II. (C)(5) of this NOFA and its
Assistance Agreement.
b. With the exception of Depository Institution Holding Company
Applicants, HP-FA awards may not be used to support the activities of,
or otherwise be passed through, transferred, or co-awarded to, third-
party entities, whether Affiliates, Subsidiaries, or others, unless
done pursuant to a merger or acquisition or similar transaction, and
with the CDFI Fund's prior written consent.
c. HP-FA award funds shall only be paid to the Recipient.
d. The CDFI Fund, in its sole discretion, may pay HP-FA award funds
in amounts, or under terms and conditions, which are different from
those requested by an Applicant.
e. The Recipient must comply, as applicable, with the Buy American
Act of 1933, 41 U.S.C. 8301-8303 and section 2 CFR 200.216 of the
Uniform Administrative Requirements, with respect to any Direct Costs.
6. TA Awards:
a. A Recipient shall use TA award funds only for the eligible
activities described in section II. (C) (3) of this NOFA and its
Assistance Agreement.
b. A Sponsoring Entity Recipient must create the Emerging CDFI as a
legal entity no later than the end of the first year of the Period of
Performance. Upon creation of the Emerging CDFI, the Sponsoring Entity
must request the CDFI Fund to amend the Assistance Agreement to add the
Emerging CDFI as a co-Recipient. The Sponsoring Entity must add the
Emerging CDFI as a co-Recipient within 90 days the end of the first
year of the Period of Performance. The Sponsoring Entity must then
transfer any remaining balances and/or assets derived from the TA award
to the Emerging CDFI.
c. With the exception of Depository Institution Holding Company
Applicants, TA awards may not be used to support the activities of, or
otherwise be passed through, transferred, or co-awarded to, third-party
entities, whether Affiliates, Subsidiaries, or others, unless done
pursuant to a merger or acquisition or similar transaction, and with
the CDFI Fund's prior written consent.
d. TA award funds shall only be paid to the Recipient.
e. The CDFI Fund, in its sole discretion, may pay TA award funds in
amounts, or under terms and conditions, which are different from those
requested by an Applicant.
f. The Recipient must comply, as applicable, with the Buy American
Act of 1933, 41 U.S.C. 8301-8303 and section 2 CFR 200.216 of the
Uniform Administrative Requirements, with respect to any Direct Costs.
V. Application Review Information
A. Criteria: If the Applicant has submitted an eligible
Application, the CDFI Fund will conduct a substantive review in
accordance with the criteria and procedures described in the
Regulations, this NOFA, the Application guidance, and the Uniform
Administrative Requirements. The CDFI Fund reserves the right to
contact the Applicant by telephone, email, or mail for the purpose of
clarifying or confirming Application information. If contacted, the
Applicant must respond within the time period communicated by the CDFI
Fund or risk that its Application will be rejected. The CDFI Fund will
review the Base-FA, DF-FA, PPC-FA, HFFI-FA, HP-FA, and TA Applications
in accordance with the process below. All internal and external
reviewers will complete the CDFI Fund's conflict of interest process.
1. Base-FA Application Scoring, Award Selection, Review, and
Selection Process: The CDFI Fund will evaluate each Application using a
five-step
[[Page 6090]]
review process illustrated in the sections below. Applicants that meet
the minimum criteria will advance to the next step in the review
process. Applicants applying as a Community Partnership must describe
the partnership in the Application pursuant to the requirements set
forth in table 8 and will be evaluated in accordance with the review
process described below.
a. Step 1: Eligibility Review: The CDFI Fund will evaluate each
Application to determine its eligibility status pursuant to section III
of this NOFA.
b. Step 2: Financial Analysis and Compliance Risk Evaluation:
i. Step 2: Financial Analysis: For Regulated Institutions, the CDFI
Fund will consider financial safety and soundness information from the
Appropriate Federal or State Banking Agency. As detailed in table 8,
each Regulated Institution FA Applicant (including a Subsidiary Insured
Depository Institution that will expend and carry out the activities of
an award on behalf of a Depository Institution Holding Company
Applicant) must have a CAMELS/CAMEL rating of at least ``3'' and/or no
significant material concerns from its regulator. Each Insured
Depository Institution Applicant and each Subsidiary Insured Depository
Institution that will expend and carry out the activities of an award
on behalf of a Depository Institution Holding Company Applicant must
have a CRA assessment rating of at least ``Satisfactory.''
For non-regulated Applicants, the CDFI Fund will evaluate the
financial health and viability of each non-regulated Applicant using
financial information provided by the Applicant. For the financial
analysis, each non-regulated Applicant will receive a Total Financial
Composite Score on a scale of one (1) to five (5), with one (1) being
the highest rating. The Total Financial Composite Score is based on the
analysis of twenty-three (23) financial indicators. Applications will
be grouped based on the Total Financial Composite Score. Applicants
must receive a Total Financial Composite Score of one (1), two (2), or
three (3) to advance to Step 3. Applicants that receive an initial
Total Financial Composite Score of four (4) or five (5) will be re-
evaluated and re-scored by CDFI Fund staff. If the Total Financial
Composite Score remains four (4) or five (5) after CDFI Fund staff
review, the Applicant will not advance to Step 3.
ii. Step 2: Compliance Risk Evaluation: For the compliance
analysis, the CDFI Fund will evaluate the compliance risk of each
Applicant using information provided in the Application as well as an
Applicant's reporting history, reporting capacity, and performance risk
with respect to meeting the PG&Ms set forth in the Assistance
Agreement. Each Applicant will receive a Total Compliance Composite
Score on a scale of one (1) to five (5), with one (1) being the highest
rating. Applicants that receive an initial Total Compliance Composite
Score of four (4) or five (5) will be re-evaluated by CDFI Fund staff.
If the Applicant is deemed a high compliance risk after CDFI Fund staff
review, the Applicant will not advance to Step 3.
c. Step 3: Business Plan Review: Applicants that proceed to Step 3
will be evaluated on the soundness of their comprehensive business
plan. Two external non-CDFI Fund Reviewers will conduct the Step 3:
Business Plan Review. Reviewers will evaluate the Application sections
listed in table 12. All Applications will be reviewed in accordance
with standard reviewer evaluation materials. At the conclusion of the
Step 3 evaluation, Applications will be ranked based on Total Business
Plan Scores, in descending order from highest Total Business Plan Score
to lowest Total Business Plan Score. An amount up to but not exceeding
the highest scoring 75% of NACA FA Applicants in the NACA FA Applicant
pool will progress to Step 4. If a tie in Total Business Plan Scores
would prevent an Applicant from advancing to Step 4, all Applicants
with the same score will progress to Step 4. Lastly, the CDFI Fund may
consider the geographic diversity of Applicants based on primary
geographic market served (Major Urban Area, Micropolitan Area, Minor
Urban Area, and Rural Area) when determining the Step 4 Applicant pool.
Based on funding availability for NACA Base-FA Applicants, the CDFI
Fund reserves the right to limit the number of Applicants that progress
from Step 3 to Step 4 to ensure that the CDFI Program can meaningfully
vary award amounts among Applicants with different Step 4 Policy
Objective scores, while maintaining minimum award amounts specified in
table 2. In cases where funding availability is not sufficient to
progress all Applicants within the top 75% of the NACA FA Applicant
pool from Step 3 to Step 4, priority will be given to Applicants that
score highest on the Total Business Plan Score.
Applicants who request only an HP-FA award (with no Base-FA award)
will be evaluated in a separate pool from the Core and SECA Base-FA
Applicant types, utilizing the criteria outlined in table 12. This pool
will combine any HP-FA only Applications under both the CDFI Program
and the NACA Program. The Step 3 review questions under these criteria
will be modified to reflect the fact that Applications requesting only
HP-FA without Base-FA will not have an FA Objective. This review will
be completed by CDFI Fund or other Federal staff, rather than external
reviewers. Upon completion of the Step 3: Business Plan Review, the
Applications requesting only an HP-FA award without a Base-FA award
will be ranked according to Step 3 score. The CDFI Fund will forward
the same percentage of HP-FA only applications to Step 4 as the
percentage of the CDFI Program Core Applicant pool requesting Base-FA
forwarded to Step 4. For example, if the CDFI Fund forwards the highest
scoring 60% of the CDFI Program Core Applicant pool requesting Base-FA
to Step 4, and it received 8 Applications requesting only HP-FA (across
both the CDFI and NACA Programs), it will multiply 8 by 60% to
calculate 4.8 and forward five Applicants to Step 4, as five is the
closest whole number to 4.8.
Table 12--Step 3: Base-FA Business Plan Review Scoring Criteria
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Score needed to
Base-FA application sections Possible score advance
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mission and Community Needs. Scored as a N/A.
component of the
other Base-FA
Application
Sections.
Business Strategy........... 12.................. N/A.
Market and Competitive 7................... N/A.
Analysis.
Products and Services....... 12.................. N/A.
Management and Track Record. 12.................. N/A.
Growth and Projections...... 7................... N/A.
----------------------
[[Page 6091]]
Total Business Plan 50.................. NACA Applicants: Up
Score. to but not
exceeding top 75%
of all NACA
Applicants.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
d. Step 4: Policy Objective Review: The CDFI Fund internal
reviewers will evaluate each Application to determine its ability to
meet policy objectives of the CDFI Fund. Each Applicant will be
evaluated in each of the categories listed in table 13 and will receive
a Total Policy Objective Review Score on a scale of one (1) to five
(5), with one (1) being the highest score. Applicants are then grouped
according to Total Policy Objective Review Scores. For Applications
requesting only HP-FA (with no Base-FA request), the Step 4 policy
objective review will be conducted using the same categories listed in
table 13. Where appropriate, the evaluation criteria for reviewers will
be modified to reflect the fact that Applications requesting only HP-FA
without Base-FA will not have an FA Objective.
The CDFI Fund also conducts a due diligence review for Applicants
that includes an analysis of programmatic risk factors including, but
not limited to: history of performance in managing Federal awards
(including timeliness of reporting and compliance); ability to meet FA
Objectives selected by Base-FA Applicants in their Applications;
reports and findings from audits; and ability to effectively implement
Federal requirements, each of which could impact the Total Policy
Objective Review Score. For Applications requesting only HP-FA (with no
Base-FA), the due diligence review will consist of all of the above
components except the FA Objective due diligence review; due diligence
related to the Application's HP-FA strategy will be conducted as part
of the HP-FA Application review.
Table 13--Step 4: Base-FA Policy Review Scoring Criteria
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Section Possible scores High score Score needed to advance
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Economic Distress.................... 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5................ 1 N/A.
Economic Opportunities............... 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5................ 1 N/A.
Community Collaboration.............. 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5................ 1 N/A.
Total Policy Objective Review 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5................ 1 All Scores Advance.
Composite Score.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
e. Step 5: Award Amount Determination: The CDFI Fund determines an
award amount for each Application based on the Step 4 Total Policy
Objective Review Score, the Applicant's request amount, and on certain
other factors, including, but not limited to, the Applicant's
deployment track record, minimum award size, and funding availability.
Applicants may have award amounts reduced from the requested award
amount or not funded as a result of this analysis. Based on funding
availability for NACA Base-FA, the CDFI Fund reserves the right to not
award all Applicants that advance to Step 5. In cases where funding
availability is not sufficient to award all Applications, priority will
be given to Applicants that score highest on the Step 4: Policy
Objective Review: For NACA FA Applicants, the award cannot exceed 100%
of the Applicant's total portfolio outstanding as of the Applicant's
most recent historic fiscal year end in accordance with the FA
Application Guidance, or the minimum award size as noted in table 2,
whichever is greater.
2. HFFI-FA Application Scoring, Award Selection, Review, and
Selection Process: A CDFI Fund internal reviewer will evaluate each
HFFI-FA Application associated with a Base-FA Application that
progresses to Step 4 of the FA Application review process. The reviewer
will evaluate the Application sections listed in table 14 and assign a
Total HFFI-FA Score up to 60 points. The CDFI Fund will make awards to
the highest scoring Applicants first. All Applications will be reviewed
in accordance with standard reviewer evaluation materials. Applicants
that fail to receive a Base-FA award will not be considered for a HFFI-
FA award.
The CDFI Fund conducts additional levels of due diligence for
Applications that are under consideration for an HFFI-FA award. Award
amounts may be reduced from the requested award amount as a result of
this analysis. The CDFI Fund may reduce awards sizes from requested
amounts based on certain variables, including but not limited to, an
Applicant's deployment track record, total portfolio outstanding, or
compliance with prior HFFI-FA awards. Lastly, the CDFI Fund may
consider the geographic diversity of Applicants when making its funding
decisions.
Table 14--Step 4 HFFI-FA Application Scoring Criteria
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sections Possible score
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target Market Profile...................................... 10 points.
Healthy Food Financial Products............................ 10 points.
Projected HFFI-FA Activities............................... 15 points.
HFFI Track Record.......................................... 20 points.
Management Capacity for Providing Healthy Food Financing... 5 points.
Total HFFI-FA Score........................................ 60 points.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. PPC-FA Application Scoring, Award Selection, Review, and
Selection Process: A CDFI Fund internal reviewer will evaluate the PPC-
FA request of each PPC-FA Application associated with a Base-FA
Application that
[[Page 6092]]
progresses to Step 4 of the FA Application review process. PPC-FA
requests are not scored. PPC-FA award amounts will be determined based
on the total number of eligible Applicants and funding availability,
the Applicant's requested amount, and on certain factors, including but
not limited to, an Applicant's total portfolio outstanding, historical
track record of deployment in PPC, pipeline of projects in PPC, minimum
award size, and funding availability. Applicants that fail to receive a
Base-FA award will not be considered for a PPC-FA award.
4. DF-FA Application Scoring, Award Selection, Review, and
Selection Process: A CDFI Fund internal reviewer will evaluate each DF-
FA Application associated with a Base-FA Application that progresses to
Step 4 of the FA Application review process. The reviewer will evaluate
the Application and assign a Total DF-FA Score on a scale of one (1) to
three (3), with one (1) being the highest score. Applicants are then
grouped according to Total DF-FA Score. All Applications will be
reviewed in accordance with standard reviewer evaluation materials.
Applicants that fail to receive a Base-FA award will not be considered
for a DF-FA award. Award amounts will be determined on the basis of the
Total DF-FA Score, the Applicant's requested amount, and on certain
factors, including but not limited to, an Applicant's deployment track
record, total portfolio outstanding, minimum award size, and funding
availability. Award amounts may be reduced from the requested award
amount as a result of this analysis. The CDFI Fund will make awards to
the highest scoring Applicants first.
Table 15--Step 3 DF-FA Application Scoring Criteria
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Section Possible scores High score
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DF-FA Narrative Questions......... 1, 2, or 3.......... 1
Total DF-FA Score................. 1, 2, or 3.......... 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. HP-FA Application Scoring, Award Selection, Review, and
Selection Process: A CDFI Fund internal reviewer will evaluate each HP-
FA Application that progresses to Step 4 of the review process. The
reviewer will evaluate the Application and assign a Total HP-FA Score
on a scale of one (1) to three (3), with one (1) being the highest
score, based on the Applicant's projected financing activity supporting
housing production, the extent it intends to target 51% or more of
Homeownership and rental Housing to families with incomes at 80% AMI or
below, its track record of financing housing, its projected timeline
for Housing to be completed, and the effectiveness of its strategy to
mitigate any risks. Applicants are then grouped according to Total HP-
FA Score. All Applications will be reviewed in accordance with standard
reviewer evaluation materials. Applicants that would not qualify for an
award based on Step 4 Total Policy Objective Review Score and due
diligence evaluation will not be considered for an HP-FA award.
Applicants that request an HP-FA award as a supplement a Base-FA award
must be selected to receive a Base-FA award to be considered for an HP-
FA award. Award amounts will be determined based on the Total HP-FA
Score, the Applicant's requested amount, and on certain factors,
including but not limited to, an Applicant's deployment track record,
total portfolio outstanding, minimum award size, proximity to the $5
million over three years award cap, geographies served, and funding
availability. The CDFI Fund may reduce an Applicant's award amount as a
result of this analysis. The CDFI Fund will make awards to the highest
scoring Applicants first.
6. TA Application Scoring, Award Selection, Review, and Selection
Process: The CDFI Fund will evaluate each Application to determine its
eligibility pursuant to section III of this NOFA. If the Application
satisfies the eligibility criteria, the CDFI Fund will conduct the TA
Business Plan Review in two parts. Sponsoring Entity or Emerging CDFI
Applicants must receive a rating of Low Risk or Medium Risk in Part I
of the TA Business Plan Review to progress to Part II of the TA
Business Plan Review. Sponsoring Entity, or Emerging CDFI Applicants
that receive a rating of High Risk in Part I of the TA Business Plan
Review will not be considered for an award. Part I of the TA Business
Plan Review is not applicable for Certified CDFI Applicants. Sponsoring
Entity, Emerging CDFI, and Certified CDFI Applicants must receive a
rating of Low Risk or Medium Risk in Part II of the TA Business Plan
Review to be considered for an award. Applicants that receive a rating
of High Risk in Part II of the TA Business Plan Review will not be
considered for an award.
An Applicant that is a Certified CDFI will be evaluated on the
demonstrated need for a TA award to build the CDFI's capacity, further
the Applicant's strategic goals, and achieve impact within the
Applicant's Target Market. An Applicant that is an Emerging CDFI will
be evaluated on the Applicant's demonstrated capability and plan to
achieve CDFI Certification within three years, or if a prior Recipient,
the CDFI Certification PG&M stated in its prior Assistance Agreement.
An Applicant that is an Emerging CDFI will also be evaluated on its
demonstrated need for a TA award to build the CDFI's capacity and
further its strategic goals. An Applicant that is a Sponsoring Entity
will be rated on its demonstrated capability to create a separate legal
entity within one year that will achieve CDFI Certification within four
years. An Applicant that is a Sponsoring Entity will also be rated on
its demonstrated need for a TA award to build the CDFI's capacity and
further its strategic goals. The CDFI Fund will rate each part of the
TA Business Plan Review as indicated in table 16.
Table 16--TA Business Plan Review
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Business plan review component Applicant type Ratings
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Part I:
Primary Mission........... Sponsoring Entity and Low Risk, Medium
Emerging CDFI Risk, or High
Applicants. Risk.
Financing Entity.......... Sponsoring Entity and
Emerging CDFI
Applicants.
Target Market............. Sponsoring Entity and
Emerging CDFI
Applicants.
[[Page 6093]]
Accountability............ Sponsoring Entity and
Emerging CDFI
Applicants.
Development Services...... Sponsoring Entity and
Emerging CDFI
Applicants.
Part II:
Target Market Needs & Sponsoring Entity, Low Risk, Medium
Strategy. Emerging CDFI, and Risk, or High
Certified CDFI Risk.
Applicants.
Organizational Capacity... Sponsoring Entity,
Emerging CDFI, and
Certified CDFI
Applicants.
Management Capacity....... Sponsoring Entity,
Emerging CDFI, and
Certified CDFI
Applicants.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Each TA Application will be evaluated by one internal CDFI Fund
reviewer. The Business Plan Review of all Applications will be reviewed
in accordance with CDFI Fund standard reviewer evaluation materials.
The CDFI Fund conducts additional levels of due diligence for
Applications that are under consideration for an award. This due
diligence includes an analysis of programmatic and financial risk
factors including, but not limited to, financial stability, history of
performance in managing Federal awards (including timeliness of
reporting and compliance), reports and findings from audits, and the
Applicant's ability to effectively implement Federal requirements. The
CDFI Fund will also evaluate the compliance risk of each Applicant
using information provided in the Application as well as an Applicant's
reporting history, reporting capacity, and performance risk with
respect to meeting the PG&Ms set forth in the Assistance Agreement.
Each Applicant will receive a Total Compliance Composite Score on a
scale of one (1) to five (5), with one (1) being the highest rating.
Applicants that receive an initial Total Compliance Composite Score of
four (4) or five (5) will be re-evaluated by CDFI Fund staff. If the
Applicant is deemed a high compliance risk after CDFI staff review, the
Applicant will not be considered for an award. The CDFI Fund will also
evaluate the Applicant's ability to meet CDFI Certification criteria of
being a legal entity and a non-government entity. Award amounts may be
reduced as a result of the due diligence analysis in addition to
consideration of the Applicant's funding request and similar factors.
Lastly, the CDFI Fund may consider the geographic diversity of
Applicants when making its funding decisions.
6. Regulated Institutions: The CDFI Fund will consider safety and
soundness information from the Appropriate Federal or State Banking
Agency. If the Applicant is a Depository Institution Holding Company,
the CDFI Fund will consider information provided by the Appropriate
Federal or State Banking Agencies about both the Depository Institution
Holding Company and the Subsidiary Insured Depository Institution that
will expend and carry out the award. If the Appropriate Federal or
State Banking Agency identifies safety and soundness concerns
(including any concerns for Subsidiary Insured Depository Institutions
carrying out the activities of an award on behalf of a Depository
Institution Holding Company), the CDFI Fund will assess whether such
concerns cause or will cause the Applicant to be incapable of
undertaking the activities for which funding has been requested.
7. Non-Regulated Institutions: The CDFI Fund must ensure, to the
maximum extent practicable, that Recipients which are non-regulated
CDFIs are financially and managerially sound and maintain appropriate
internal controls (12 U.S.C. 4707(f)(1)(A) and 12 CFR 1805.800(b)).
Further, the CDFI Fund must determine that an Applicant's capacity to
operate as a CDFI and its continued viability will not be dependent
upon assistance from the CDFI Fund (12 U.S.C. 4704(b)(2)(A)). If it is
determined that the Applicant is incapable of meeting these
requirements, the CDFI Fund reserves the right to deem the Applicant
ineligible or terminate the award.
8. Consideration of the Three-Year Award Cap: The CDFI Fund is
prohibited from obligating more than $5 million in CDFI and NACA
Program awards, in the aggregate, to any one organization and its
Subsidiaries and Affiliates during any three-year period from the
announcement date. Base-FA, TA, PPC-FA, and HP-FA are expected to be
considered in this determination, based on existing statutory authority
and past appropriations bill language. DF-FA and HFFI-FA were excluded
from consideration towards the three-year award cap in the enacted FY
2024 Consolidated Appropriations Act; however, the final FY 2025
appropriations are still pending. Thus, the CDFI Fund reserves the
right to include FY 2025 DF-FA and HFFI-FA awards in calculating the
three-year award cap if these programs are not excluded in the final FY
2025 CDFI Program appropriations. The CDFI Fund may reduce award
amounts or deny certain supplemental awards if necessary to stay under
the $5 million award cap for a Recipient.
B. Anticipated Award Announcement: The CDFI Fund anticipates making
the NACA Program award announcement before September 30, 2025. However,
the anticipated award announcement date is subject to change without
notice.
C. Application Rejection: The CDFI Fund reserves the right to
reject an Application if information (including administrative errors)
comes to the CDFI Fund's attention that: adversely affects an
Applicant's eligibility for an award; adversely affects the Recipient's
CDFI Certification (to the extent that the award is conditional upon
CDFI Certification); adversely affects the CDFI Fund's evaluation or
scoring of an Application; or indicates fraud or mismanagement on the
Applicant's part. If the CDFI Fund determines any portion of the
Application is incorrect in a material respect, the CDFI Fund reserves
the right, in its sole discretion, to reject the Application. The CDFI
Fund reserves the right to change its eligibility and evaluation
criteria and procedures, if the CDFI Fund deems it appropriate. If the
changes materially affect the CDFI Fund's award decisions, the CDFI
Fund will provide information about the changes through its website.
The CDFI Fund's award decisions are final, and there is no right to
appeal decisions.
D. External Non-CDFI Fund Reviewers: All external non-CDFI Fund
reviewers are selected based on criteria that includes a professional
background in community and economic development finance, and
experience reviewing the financial statements of all CDFI institution
types. Reviewers must complete the CDFI Fund's conflict of
[[Page 6094]]
interest process and be approved by the CDFI Fund.
VI. Federal Award Administration Information
A. Award Notification: Each successful Applicant will receive an
email ``notice of award'' notification from the CDFI Fund stating that
its Application has been approved for an award. Each Applicant not
selected for an award will receive an email stating that a debriefing
notice has been provided in its AMIS account.
B. Assistance Agreement: Each Applicant selected to receive an
award must enter into an Assistance Agreement with the CDFI Fund in
order to receive a payment(s). The Assistance Agreement will set forth
the award's terms and conditions, including but not be limited to the:
(i) award amount; (ii) award type; (iii) award uses; (iv) eligible use
of award funds; (v) PG&Ms; and (vi) reporting requirements. FA
Assistance Agreements have three-year Periods of Performance. TA
Assistance Agreements have two-year Periods of Performance for
Certified CDFIs, three-year Periods of Performance for Emerging CDFIs,
and four-year Periods of Performance for Sponsoring Entity Recipients.
Upon creation of the Emerging CDFI, the Sponsoring Entity must request
the CDFI Fund to amend the Assistance Agreement and add the Emerging
CDFI as a party thereto. The Emerging CDFI, as co-Recipient, will be
subject to all of the terms and conditions of the Assistance Agreement,
including all PG&Ms.
1. Certificate of Good Standing: All FA and TA Recipients that are
not Regulated Institutions will be required to provide the CDFI Fund
with a certificate of good standing from the secretary of state for the
Recipient's jurisdiction of formation prior to closing. This
certificate can often be acquired online on the secretary of state
website for the Recipient's jurisdiction of formation and must
generally be dated within 180 days prior to the Federal Award Date of
the Assistance Agreement. Due to potential backlogs in state government
offices, Applicants are advised to submit requests for certificates of
good standing no later than 60 days after they submit their
Applications.
2. Closing: Pursuant to the Assistance Agreement, there will be an
initial closing at which point the Assistance Agreement and related
documents will be properly executed and delivered, and an initial
payment of FA or TA may be made. The first payment is the estimated
amount of the award that the Recipient states in its Application that
it will use for eligible FA or TA activities in the first 12 months
after the award announcement. The first payment request amount entered
in the Application must be greater than zero. The CDFI Fund reserves
the right to increase the first payment amount on any award to ensure
that any subsequent payments are at least $25,000 for FA and $5,000 for
TA awards.
The CDFI Fund will minimize the time between the Recipient
incurring costs for eligible activities and award payment(s) in
accordance with the Uniform Administrative Requirements. Advanced
payments for eligible activities will occur no more than one year in
advance of the Recipient incurring costs for the eligible activities.
Following the initial closing, there may be subsequent closings
involving additional award payments. Any documentation in addition to
the Assistance Agreement that is connected with such subsequent
closings and payments shall be properly executed and timely delivered
by the Recipient to the CDFI Fund.
3. Requirements Prior to Entering into an Assistance Agreement: If,
prior to entering into an Assistance Agreement, information (including
administrative errors) comes to the CDFI Fund's attention that:
adversely affects the Recipient's eligibility for an award; adversely
affects the Recipient's CDFI Certification (to the extent that the
award is conditional upon CDFI Certification); adversely affects the
CDFI Fund's evaluation of the Application; indicates that the Recipient
is not in compliance with any requirement listed in the Uniform
Administrative Requirements; indicates that the Recipient is not in
compliance with a term or condition of any prior Award Agreement,
Assistance Agreement, and/or Allocation Agreement from the CDFI Fund;
indicates the Recipient has failed to execute and return a prior round
Assistance Agreement to the CDFI Fund within the CDFI Fund's deadlines;
or indicates fraud or mismanagement on the Recipient's part, the CDFI
Fund may, in its discretion and without advance notice to the
Recipient, terminate the award or take such other actions as it deems
appropriate. The CDFI Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion,
to rescind an award if the Recipient fails to return the Assistance
Agreement, signed by the Authorized Representative of the Recipient,
and/or provide the CDFI Fund with any requested documentation, within
the CDFI Fund's deadlines.
In addition, the CDFI Fund reserves the right, in its sole
discretion, to terminate and rescind the Assistance Agreement and the
award made under this NOFA pending the criteria described in table 17.
Table 17--Requirements Prior to Executing an Assistance Agreement
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Requirement Criteria
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Failure to meet reporting <bullet> If a Recipient received a prior
requirements. award or allocation under any CDFI Fund
program and is not current on the
reporting requirements set forth in the
previously executed assistance, award,
allocation, bond loan agreement(s), or
agreement to guarantee, as of the date
of the notice of award, the CDFI Fund
reserves the right, in its sole
discretion, to delay entering into an
Assistance Agreement and/or to delay
making a payment of award, until said
prior Recipient or allocatee is current
on the reporting requirements in the
previously executed assistance, award,
allocation, bond loan agreement(s), or
agreement to guarantee.
<bullet> If such a prior Recipient or
allocatee is unable to meet this
requirement within the timeframe set by
the CDFI Fund, the CDFI Fund reserves
the right, in its sole discretion, to
terminate and rescind the notice of
award and the award made under this
NOFA.
<bullet> Please note that automated
systems employed by the CDFI Fund for
receipt of reports submitted
electronically typically acknowledge
only a report's receipt; such
acknowledgment does not warrant that the
report received was complete, nor that
it met reporting requirements.
Failure to maintain CDFI <bullet> An FA Recipient must be a
Certification. Certified CDFI.
<bullet> If an FA Recipient fails to
maintain CDFI Certification, the CDFI
Fund will not execute the Assistance
Agreement and will terminate and rescind
the award made under this NOFA.
<bullet> If a TA Recipient is a Certified
CDFI at the time of award announcement,
it must maintain CDFI Certification.
<bullet> If a Certified CDFI TA Recipient
fails to maintain CDFI Certification,
the CDFI Fund will not execute the
Assistance Agreement and will terminate
and rescind the award made under this
NOFA.
Pending resolution of <bullet> The CDFI Fund will delay
noncompliance or default. entering into an Assistance Agreement
with a prior Recipient or allocatee (or
Affiliate of the Recipient identified in
AMIS) that has pending noncompliance or
default issues with any of its
previously executed CDFI Fund award(s),
allocation(s), bond loan agreement(s),
or agreement(s) to guarantee.
[[Page 6095]]
<bullet> If said prior Recipient or
allocatee is unable satisfactorily
resolve the compliance issues, the CDFI
Fund reserves the right, in its sole
discretion, to terminate and/or rescind
the notice of award and the award made
under this NOFA.
Noncompliance or default <bullet> If, at any time prior to
status. entering into an Assistance Agreement,
the CDFI Fund determines that a
Recipient (or Affiliate of the Recipient
identified in AMIS) is noncompliant or
found in default with any previously
executed CDFI Fund award(s),
allocation(s), bond loan agreement(s),
or agreement(s) to guarantee, and the
CDFI Fund has provided written
notification that the Recipient is
ineligible to apply for or receive any
future awards or allocations for a time
period specified by the CDFI Fund in
writing, the CDFI Fund may delay
entering into an Assistance Agreement
until the Recipient has cured the
noncompliance and/or default by taking
actions the CDFI Fund has specified
within such specified timeframe.
Additionally, regardless of whether a
sanction or remedy is imposed, the CDFI
Fund will not consider an Application
submitted by an Applicant if the default
on a prior Allocation Agreement of the
Applicant or an Affiliate occurs during
the time period beginning 12 months
prior to the Application deadline and
execution of the FY 2025 Assistance
Agreement. If the Recipient is unable to
cure the noncompliance and/or default
within the specified timeframe, the CDFI
Fund may terminate and rescind the
Assistance Agreement and the award made
under this NOFA.
Compliance with Federal civil <bullet> If, within the period starting
rights requirements. three years prior to this NOFA and
through the date of the Assistance
Agreement, the Recipient received a
final determination, in any proceeding
instituted against the Recipient in, by,
or before any court, governmental, or
administrative body or agency, declaring
that the Recipient violated any Federal
civil rights laws or regulations,
including: Title VI of the Civil Rights
Act of 1964, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2000d
et seq.); Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C.
3601 et seq.); Equal Credit Opportunity
Act (15 U.S.C. 1691 et seq.); section
504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
(29 U.S.C. 794); and the Age
Discrimination Act of 1975 (42 U.S.C.
6101-6107), the CDFI Fund may terminate
and rescind the Assistance Agreement and
the award made under this NOFA. The CDFI
Fund will delay entering into an
Assistance Agreement with a Recipient
that has pending Title VI noncompliance
issues, if the CDFI Fund has not yet
made a final compliance determination.
<bullet> If the Recipient is unable to
satisfactorily resolve the Title VI
noncompliance issues, the CDFI Fund may
terminate and rescind the Assistance
Agreement and the award made under this
NOFA.
<bullet> The Title VI Compliance
Worksheet and program award terms and
conditions do not impose
antidiscrimination requirements on
Tribal governments beyond what would
otherwise apply under Federal law.
Do Not Pay................... <bullet> The Do Not Pay Business Center
was developed to support Federal
agencies in their efforts to reduce the
number of improper payments made through
programs funded by the Federal
Government.
<bullet> If the Do Not Pay Business
Center reports that the Recipient has a
pending or delinquent debt to the
Federal Government, the Recipient will
be required to demonstrate that it has
resolved such pending or delinquent
debt. The CDFI Fund reserves the right,
in its sole discretion, to rescind an
award if the Recipient fails to
demonstrate resolution of the pending or
delinquent Federal debt.
Safety and soundness......... <bullet> If it is determined the
Recipient is, or will be, incapable of
meeting its award obligations, the CDFI
Fund will deem the Recipient to be
ineligible or require it to improve its
safety and soundness prior to entering
into an Assistance Agreement.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
C. Reporting
1. Reporting requirements: On an annual basis during the Period of
Performance, the CDFI Fund may collect information from each Recipient
including, but not limited to, an Annual Report with the following
components (Annual Reporting Requirements):
Table 18--Annual Reporting Requirements *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Financial Statement Audit A Non-profit Recipient (including Insured
Report (Non-profit Recipient Credit Unions and State-Insured Credit
including Insured Credit Unions) must submit a Financial
Unions and State-Insured Statement Audit (FSA) Report in AMIS,
Credit Unions). along with the Recipient's statement of
financial condition audited or reviewed
by an independent certified public
accountant, if any are prepared.
Under no circumstances should this be
construed as the CDFI Fund requiring the
Recipient to conduct or arrange for
additional audits not otherwise required
under Uniform Administrative
Requirements or otherwise prepared at
the request of the Recipient or parties
other than the CDFI Fund.
Financial Statement Audit For-profit Recipients must submit an FSA
Report (For-Profit Report in AMIS, along with the
Recipient). Recipient's statement of financial
condition audited or reviewed by an
independent certified public accountant.
Financial Statement Audit If the Recipient is a Depository
Report (Depository Institution Holding Company or an
Institution Holding Company Insured Depository Institution, it must
and Insured Depository submit an FSA Report in AMIS.
Institution).
Financial Statement Audit A Sponsoring Entity must submit an FSA
Report (Sponsoring Entities). Report in AMIS, along with a statement
of financial condition audited or
reviewed by an independent certified
public accountant, if any are prepared.
Under no circumstances should this be
construed as the CDFI Fund requiring the
Sponsoring Entity to conduct or arrange
for additional audits not otherwise
required under Uniform Requirements or
otherwise prepared at the request of the
Sponsoring Entity or parties other than
the CDFI Fund.
Single Audit Report (Non- A non-profit Recipient must complete an
Profit Recipients, if annual Single Audit pursuant to the
applicable). Uniform Administrative Requirements (see
2 CFR Subpart F--Audit Requirements) if
it expends $1,000,000 or more in Federal
awards in its fiscal year, or such other
dollar threshold established by OMB
pursuant to 2 CFR 200.501. If a Single
Audit is required, it must be submitted
electronically to the Federal Audit
Clearinghouse (FAC) (see 2 CFR Subpart
F--Audit Requirements in the Uniform
Administrative Requirements) and
optionally through AMIS.
Federal Financial Report/OMB The Recipient must annually submit the SF-
Standard Form 425 (SF 425). 425 Federal Financial Report to the CDFI
Fund through AMIS to disclose how much
of the CDFI Program award funds were
expended during the Federal Government's
fiscal year of October 1 through
September 30.
Uses of Award Report......... The Recipient must submit the Uses of
Award Report to the CDFI Fund in AMIS.
If the Recipient is a Depository
Institution Holding Company that deploys
all or a portion of its Financial
Assistance through its Subsidiary
Insured Depository Institution, the
Depository Institution Holding Company
must submit all uses in a Uses of Award
Report.
Performance Progress Report.. The Recipient must submit the Performance
Progress Report through AMIS.
If the Recipient is a Depository
Institution Holding Company that deploys
all or a portion of its Financial
Assistance through its Subsidiary
Insured Depository Institution, the
Depository Institution Holding Company
must submit all deployed activity in a
Performance Progress Report.
Transaction Level Report The Recipient must submit a TLR to the
(TLR). CDFI Fund through AMIS.
If the Recipient is a Depository
Institution Holding Company that deploys
all or a portion of its Financial
Assistance through its Subsidiary
Insured Depository Institution, the
Depository Institution Holding Company
must create and submit the TLR for this
award. The Subsidiary Insured Depository
Institution does not submit and create a
TLR related to this award.
[[Page 6096]]
The full-length TLR completed by FA
Recipients is not required for TA
Recipients. However, TA Recipients who
are Certified CDFIs must complete the
abbreviated TLR through AMIS as a
requirement of CDFI Certification.
Annual Certification and Data TA Recipients that are Certified at the
Collection Report (ACR). time of award announcement and all FA
Recipients must submit the ACR to the
CDFI Fund through AMIS per the ACR
reporting schedule.
If a TA Recipient is a Certified CDFI at
the time of the award announcement, it
must also submit the abbreviated TLR in
conjunction with its ACR to the CDFI
Fund through AMIS as per the ACR and
abbreviated TLR reporting schedule.
If a TA Recipient is an uncertified CDFI
at the time of award announcement, it
must submit the ACR and abbreviated TLR
to the CDFI Fund through AMIS subsequent
to obtaining CDFI Certification as per
the ACR and abbreviated TLR reporting
schedule.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Personally Identifiable Information (PII) is information, which if
lost, compromised, or disclosed without authorization, could result in
substantial harm, embarrassment, inconvenience, or unfairness to an
individual. Although Applicants are required to enter addresses of
individual borrowers/residents of Distressed Communities in AMIS,
Applicants should not include the following PII for the individuals
who received the Financial Products or Financial Services in AMIS or
in the supporting documentation (i.e., name of the individual, Social
Security Number, driver's license or state identification number,
passport number, Alien Registration Number, etc.). This information
should be redacted from all supporting documentation.
Each Recipient is responsible for the timely and complete
submission of the Annual Reporting Requirements. Sponsoring Entities
with co-Recipients will be informed of any changes to reporting
obligations at the time the Emerging CDFI is joined to the Assistance
Agreement. The CDFI Fund reserves the right to require Recipients to
take training on how to accurately complete any reporting required
pursuant to the Assistance Agreement. The CDFI Fund reserves the right
to contact the Recipient and additional entities or signatories to the
Assistance Agreement to request additional information and/or
documentation. The CDFI Fund will use such information to monitor each
Recipient's compliance with the requirements of the Assistance
Agreement and to assess the impact of the NACA Program. The CDFI Fund
reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to modify these reporting
requirements, including increasing the scope and frequency of
reporting, if it determines it to be appropriate and necessary;
however, such reporting requirements will be modified only after notice
to Recipients.
2. Financial Management and Accounting: The CDFI Fund will require
Recipients to maintain financial management and accounting systems that
comply with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions
of the Federal award. These systems must be sufficient to permit the
preparation of reports required by the CDFI Fund to ensure compliance
with the terms and conditions of the NACA Program, including the
tracing of award funds to a level of expenditures adequate to establish
that such award funds have been used in accordance with Federal
statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal
award.
The cost principles used by Recipients must be consistent with
Federal cost principles and support the accumulation of costs as
required by the principles and must provide for adequate documentation
to support costs charged to the NACA Program award. In addition, the
CDFI Fund will require Recipients to: maintain effective internal
controls; comply with applicable statutes, regulations, and the
Assistance Agreement; evaluate and monitor compliance; take appropriate
action when not in compliance; and safeguard personally identifiable
information.
VII. Agency Contacts
A. The CDFI Fund will respond to questions concerning this NOFA and
the Application between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Eastern
Time, starting on the date that the NOFA is published through the date
listed in table 1. The CDFI Fund strongly recommends Applicants submit
questions to the CDFI Fund via an AMIS Service Request to the NACA
Program, Certification, Compliance Monitoring and Evaluation, or IT
Help Desk. The CDFI Fund will post on its website responses to
reoccurring questions received about the NOFA and Application. Other
information regarding the CDFI Fund and its programs may be obtained
from the CDFI Fund's website at <a href="https://www.cdfifund.gov">https://www.cdfifund.gov</a>. Table 19
lists CDFI Fund contact information:
Table 19--Contact Information
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Type of question Preferred method Telephone number (not toll free) Email addresses
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NACA Program..................... Service Request via 202-653-0421, option 1............ <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection" class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="bedddad8d7d6dbd2cefedddad8d790caccdbdfcd">[email protected]</a>
AMIS. .gov.
Compliance Monitoring and Service Request via 202-653-0423...................... <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1675757b73567572707f38626473776538717960"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="beddddd3dbfedddad8d790caccdbdfcd90d9d1c8">[email protected]</span></a>
Evaluation. AMIS. .
CDFI Certification............... Service Request via 202-653-0423...................... <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection" class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="511e1201141234232511323537387f2523343022">[email protected]</a>
AMIS. .gov.
AMIS--IT Help Desk............... Service Request via 202-653-0422...................... <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#eeafa3a7bdae8d8a8887c09a9c8b8f9dc0898198"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e5a4a8acb6a58681838ccb9197808496cb828a93">[email protected]</span></a>
AMIS. .
<a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> Help Desk............. N/A................. (800) 518-4726.................... <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#30434540405f4244705742515e44431e575f46"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="14676164647b6660547366757a60673a737b62">[email protected]</span></a>.
<a href="http://SAM.gov">SAM.gov</a> (Federal Service Desk)... N/A................. (866) 606-8220.................... <a href="https://sam.gov/">https://sam.gov/</a>.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B. Information Technology Support: For IT assistance, the preferred
method of contact is to submit a Service Request within AMIS. For the
Service Request, select ``Technical Issues'' from the Program dropdown
menu of the Service Request. People who have visual or mobility
impairments that prevent them from using the CDFI Fund's website should
call (202) 653-0422 for assistance (this is not a toll-free number).
C. Communication with the CDFI Fund: The CDFI Fund will use the
contact information in AMIS to communicate with Applicants and
Recipients. It is imperative, therefore, that Applicants, Recipients,
Subsidiaries, Affiliates, and signatories maintain accurate contact
information in their accounts. This includes information such as
contact names (especially for the Authorized Representative), email
addresses, fax and phone numbers, and office locations.
D. Revisions to Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act
of 2006: Each Applicant that does not have an exception related to
reporting subaward and executive compensation information under 2 CFR
part 170 must have the necessary processes and systems in place to
comply with reporting requirements should they receive an award.
[[Page 6097]]
E. Civil Rights and Equal Employment Opportunity: Any person who is
eligible to receive benefits or services from the CDFI Fund or
Recipients under any of its programs or activities is entitled to those
benefits or services without being subject to prohibited
discrimination. The Department of the Treasury's Office of Civil Rights
and Equal Employment Opportunity enforces various Federal statutes and
regulations that prohibit discrimination in financially assisted and
conducted programs and activities of the CDFI Fund. If a person
believes that s/he has been subjected to discrimination and/or reprisal
because of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital
status, familial status, disability and/or reprisal, s/he may file a
complaint with: Director, Office of Civil Rights and Equal Employment
Opportunity, 1500 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20230 or (202)
622-1160 (not a toll-free number).
F. Whistleblower Protections: An employee of a Recipient or
Subrecipient must not be discharged, demoted, or otherwise
discriminated against as a reprisal for disclosing to a person or body
described in paragraph (a)(2) of 41 U.S.C. 4712 information that the
employee reasonably believes is evidence of gross mismanagement of a
Federal contract or grant, a gross waste of Federal funds, an abuse of
authority relating to a Federal contract or grant, a substantial and
specific danger to public health or safety, or a violation of law,
rule, or regulation related to a Federal contract (including the
competition for or negotiation of a contract) or grant. The Recipient
and Subrecipient must inform their employees in writing of employee
whistleblower rights and protections under 41 U.S.C. 4712. See
statutory requirements for whistleblower protections at 10 U.S.C. 4701,
41 U.S.C. 4712, 41 U.S.C. 4304, and 10 U.S.C. 4310.
G. Statutory and National Policy Requirements: The CDFI Fund will
manage and administer the Federal award in a manner to ensure that
Federal funding is expended and associated programs are implemented in
full accordance with the U.S. Constitution, Federal law, and public
policy requirements: including but not limited to, those protecting
free speech, religious liberty, public welfare, the environment, and
prohibiting discrimination.
VIII. Other Information
A. Paperwork Reduction Act: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44
U.S.C. chapter 35), an agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection
of information, and an individual is not required to respond to a
collection of information, unless it displays a valid OMB control
number. If applicable, the CDFI Fund may inform Applicants that they do
not need to provide certain Application information otherwise required.
Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act, the CDFI Program and NACA
Program Applications have been assigned the following control number:
1559-0021.
B. Application Information Sessions: The CDFI Fund may conduct
webinars or host information sessions for organizations that are
considering applying to, or are interested in learning about, the CDFI
Fund's programs. For further information, visit the CDFI Fund's website
at <a href="https://www.cdfifund.gov">https://www.cdfifund.gov</a>.
Authority: 12 U.S.C. 4701, et seq.; 12 CFR parts 1805 and 1815; 2
CFR part 200.
Pravina Raghavan,
Director, Community Development Financial Institutions Fund.
[FR Doc. 2025-01323 Filed 1-16-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-05-P
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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.