Notice of Funding Availability for the Rural Energy for America Program, 19183-19190 [2013-07275]
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 61 / Friday, March 29, 2013 / Notices
generated reinspection assignments and
received and stored reinspection results.
The egg products import request form
(FSIS Form 5200–8) information was
entered into the Egg Product Database,
which was used to track imported egg
products and identify shipments for
reinspection.
On May 29, 2012, FSIS replaced AIIS
and the Egg Product Database with the
import component of PHIS. PHIS has
replaced many of the Agency’s current
systems and has automated many
business processes. PHIS provides a
streamlined, electronic alternative to the
paper-based import inspection
application process.
PHIS electronically links with CBP’s
ACE system, the Web-based portal for
the collection and use of international
trade data, to create a unified import
processing system for entering data.
Currently, the PHIS interface with ACE
enables the transfer to FSIS of a limited
number of data elements collected by
CBP that are also required by FSIS. The
PGA Message Set defines the additional
information FSIS requires from
importers to complete the Agency’s
import application process. The PGA
Message Set will enable U.S. importers
and customs brokers to enter FSIS
import inspection application
information directly into the Automated
Broker Interface (ABI), which transfers
data into ACE as part of the CBP entry
process.
The PGA Message Set is a harmonized
data set containing information that CBP
will collect electronically from U.S.
importers and brokers for PGAs, like
FSIS. This capability will provide a
complete import application, which will
facilitate FSIS data entry and clearance
of shipments presented for reinspection
without using the paper forms currently
employed. The PGA Message Set will
ultimately provide U.S. importers and
brokers with a ‘‘single window’’ to
electronically transmit all required
import data to the U.S. Government.
Import inspection application
information filed with ACE will be sent
to PHIS through a data transfer in
advance of a shipment’s arrival. The
electronic receipt of this import
information to PHIS will expedite data
entry and shipment clearance by FSIS.
To facilitate the implementation of
the electronic filing of FSIS-specific
data elements, FSIS has developed the
draft compliance guide Data Samples
and Guidelines for Using the PGA
Message Set for Electronic Completion
of the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA), Food Safety Inspection Service
(FSIS) Application for Import
Inspection(FSIS Form 9540–1). The draft
compliance guide is intended to help
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U.S. importers and brokers understand
the additional FSIS data that will need
to be submitted through CBP’s ACE
system in order to complete the import
application process. FSIS has posted
this draft compliance guide on its Web
page (https://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/
Data_Samples_Guidelines_PGA_
Message_Set.pdf) and is requesting
comments on the guidance.
Pilot Program
FSIS intends to initiate a pilot
program on May 28, 2013 to test the
transfer of data from the PGA Message
Set in ACE to PHIS. The Agency
encourages U.S. importers and brokers
to request to join this pilot program.
Instead of submitting the paper-based
FSIS Form 9540–1, participating U.S.
importers and brokers will use the PGA
Message Set to send the additional FSISspecific data elements through ACE to
PHIS before their cargo arrives in to the
United States. The specific data
elements are outlined in the draft
compliance guide. FSIS will determine
whether sending data from the PGA
Message Set in ACE to PHIS expedites
the clearance process. FSIS anticipates
that this pilot program will help prepare
for the efficient transition from the
paper-based FSIS Form 9540–1 to PHIS.
Additional Public Notification
FSIS will announce this notice online through the FSIS Web page located
at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/
regulations_&_policies/
Federal_Register_Notices/index.asp.
FSIS also will make copies of this
Federal Register publication available
through the FSIS Constituent Update,
which is used to provide information
regarding FSIS policies, procedures,
regulations, Federal Register notices,
FSIS public meetings, and other types of
information that could affect or would
be of interest to constituents and
stakeholders. The Update is
communicated via Listserv, a free
electronic mail subscription service for
industry, trade groups, consumer
interest groups, health professionals and
other individuals who have asked to be
included. The Update is available on the
FSIS Web page. Through the Listserv
and the Web page, FSIS is able to
provide information to a much broader
and more diverse audience.
In addition, FSIS offers an email
subscription service which provides
automatic and customized access to
selected food safety news and
information. This service is available at
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/
News_&_Events/Email_Subscription/.
Options range from recalls to export
information to regulations, directives
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19183
and notices. Customers can add or
delete subscriptions themselves, and
have the option to password protect
their accounts.
Done in Washington, DC on: March 25,
2013.
Alfred V. Almanza,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2013–07385 Filed 3–28–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–DM–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Business-Cooperative Service
Notice of Funding Availability for the
Rural Energy for America Program
Rural Business-Cooperative
Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: This Notice of Funding
Availability (NOFA) announces the
acceptance of applications under the
Rural Energy for America Program
(REAP) for Fiscal Year 2013 for financial
assistance as follows: grants, guaranteed
loans, and combined grants and
guaranteed loans for the development
and construction of renewable energy
systems and for energy efficiency
improvement projects; and grants for
conducting renewable energy system
feasibility studies. The Notice also
announces the availability of up to
$20.8 million of Fiscal Year 2013 budget
authority to fund these REAP activities,
which will support up to $10.4 million
in grant program level and up to $43.4
million in guaranteed loan program
level.
In order to be considered for
Fiscal Year 2013 funds, complete
applications under this Notice must be
received by the appropriate USDA Rural
Development State Office no later than
4:30 p.m. local time of the dates as
follows:
For renewable energy system and
energy efficiency improvement grant
applications and combination grant and
guaranteed loan applications: April 30,
2013.
For renewable energy system and
energy efficiency improvement
guaranteed loan only applications: On a
continuous basis up to July 15, 2013.
For renewable energy system
feasibility study applications: April 30,
2013.
Energy audits and renewable energy
development assistance, grant funding
will not be available for Fiscal Year
2013, due to the statutory timeframe to
award and obligate funds by April 1,
2013.
DATES:
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ADDRESSES: See
INFORMATION for
the SUPPLEMENTARY
addresses concerning
applications for the Rural Energy for
America Program for Fiscal Year 2013
funds.
(907) 761–7718,
chad.stovall@ak.usda.gov
American Samoa (See Hawaii)
For
information about this Notice, please
contact Mr. Kelley Oehler, Branch Chief,
USDA Rural Development, Energy
Division, 1400 Independence Avenue
SW., Washington, DC 20250. Telephone:
(202) 720–6819. Email:
kelley.oehler@wdc.usda.gov.
For further information on this
program, please contact the applicable
USDA Rural Development Energy
Coordinator for your respective State, as
provided in the SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION section of this Notice.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Fiscal Year 2013 Applications for the
Rural Energy for America Program
Applications. Application materials
may be obtained by contacting one of
Rural Development’s Energy
Coordinators. In addition, for grant
applications, applicants may access the
electronic grant application for the
Rural Energy for America Program at
https://www.grants.gov. To locate the
downloadable application package for
this program, the applicant must use the
program’s Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance (CFDA) Number 10.868 or
FedGrants Funding Opportunity
Number, which can be found at https://
www.grants.gov.
Application submittal. For renewable
energy system, energy efficiency
improvement, and feasibility study
applications, submit complete paper
applications to the Rural Development
State Office in the State in which the
applicant’s proposed project is located.
Submit electronic grant only
applications at https://www.grants.gov,
following the instructions found on this
Web site.
Rural Development Energy
Coordinators
Note: Telephone numbers listed are not
toll-free.
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Arkansas
Laura Tucker, USDA Rural
Development, 700 West Capitol
Avenue, Room 3416, Little Rock, AR
72201–3225, (501) 301–3280,
laura.tucker@ar.usda.gov
California
Steven Nicholls, USDA Rural
Development, 430 G Street, #4169,
Davis, CA 95616, (530) 792–5805,
steven.nicholls@ca.usda.gov
Colorado
Janice Pond, USDA Rural
Development, Denver Federal Center,
Building 56, Room 2300, P.O. Box
25426, Denver, CO 80225–0426, (720)
544–2907, janice.pond@co.usda.gov
Commonwealth of the Northern
Marianas Islands—CNMI (See Hawaii)
Connecticut (see Massachusetts)
Delaware/Maryland
Bruce Weaver, USDA Rural
Development, 1221 College Park
Drive, Suite 200, Dover, DE 19904,
(302) 857–3629,
bruce.weaver@de.usda.gov
Federated States of Micronesia (See
Hawaii)
Florida/Virgin Islands
Angela Prioleau, USDA Rural
Development, 4440 NW. 25th Place,
Gainesville, FL 32606, (352) 338–
3412, angela.prioleua@fl.usda.gov
Georgia
J. Craig Scroggs, USDA Rural
Development, 111 E. Spring St., Suite
B, Monroe, GA 30655, (770) 267–
1413, ext. 113,
craig.scroggs@ga.usda.gov
Guam (See Hawaii)
Alabama
Marcia Johnson, USDA Rural
Development, Suite 601, Sterling
Centre, 4121 Carmichael Road,
Montgomery, AL 36106–3683, (334)
279–3453,
marcia.johnson@al.usda.gov
Alaska
Chad Stovall, USDA Rural
Development, 800 West Evergreen,
Suite 201, Palmer, AK 99645–6539,
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Arizona
Gary Mack, USDA Rural Development,
230 North First Avenue, Suite 206,
Phoenix, AZ 85003–1706, (602) 280–
8717, gary.mack@az.usda.gov
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Hawaii
Hawaii/Guam/Republic of Palau/
Federated States of Micronesia/Republic
of the Marshall Islands/American
Samoa/Commonwealth of the Northern
Marianas Islands—CNMI
Tim O’Connell, USDA Rural
Development, Federal Building, Room
311, 154 Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo,
HI 96720, (808) 933–8313,
tim.oconnell@hi.usda.gov
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Idaho
Brian Buch, USDA Rural Development,
9173 W. Barnes Drive, Suite A1,
Boise, ID 83709, (208) 378–5623,
brian.buch@id.usda.gov
Illinois
Mary Warren, USDA Rural
Development, 2118 West Park Court,
Suite A, Champaign, IL 61821, (217)
403–6218, mary.warren@il.usda.gov
Indiana
Jerry Hay, USDA Rural Development,
5975 Lakeside Boulevard, Indianapolis,
IN 46278, (812) 346–3411, ext. 126,
jerry.hay@in.usda.gov
Iowa
Kate Sand, USDA Rural Development,
909 E. 2nd Avenue, Suite C,
Indianola, IA 50125, (515) 961–5365,
ext.130, kate.sand@ia.usda.gov
Kansas
David Kramer, USDA Rural
Development, 1303 SW. First
American Place, Suite 100, Topeka,
KS 66604–4040, (785) 271–2736,
david.kramer@ks.usda.gov
Kentucky
Scott Maas, USDA Rural
Development, 771 Corporate Drive,
Suite 200, Lexington, KY 40503, (859)
224–7435, scott.maas@ky.usda.gov
Louisiana
Kevin Boone, USDA Rural
Development, 905 Jefferson Street, Suite
320, Lafayette, LA 70501, (337) 262–
6601, ext. 133, kevin.boone@la.usda.gov
Maine
Beverly Stone, USDA Rural
Development, 967 Illinois Avenue,
Suite 4, P.O. Box 405, Bangor, ME
04402–0405, (207) 990–9125,
beverly.stone@me.usda.gov
Maryland (see Delaware)
Massachusetts/Rhode Island/
Connecticut
Anne Correia, USDA Rural
Development, 15 Cranberry Highway,
West Wareham, MA 01002, (508) 295–
5151, ext. 3,
anne.correia@ma.usda.gov
Michigan
Rick Vanderbeek, USDA Rural
Development, 3001 Coolidge Road,
Suite 200, East Lansing, MI 48823,
(517) 324–5157,
rick.vanderbeek@mi.usda.gov
Minnesota
Ron Omann, USDA Rural Development,
375 Jackson St., Suite 410, St. Paul,
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Ohio
MN 55101, (651) 602–7796,
ron.omann@mn.usda.gov
G. Gary Jones, USDA Rural
Development, 100 W. Capital Street,
Suite 831,Jackson, MS 39269, (601)
965–5457, george.jones@ms.usda.gov
Randy Monhemius, USDA Rural
Development, Federal Building, Room
507, 200 North High Street,
Columbus, OH 43215–2418, (614)
255–2424,
randy.monhemius@oh.usda.gov
Missouri
Oklahoma
Matt Moore, USDA Rural Development,
601 Business Loop 70 West, Parkade
Center, Suite 235, Columbia, MO
65203, (573) 876–9321,
matt.moore@mo.usda.gov
Jody Harris, USDA Rural Development,
100 USDA, Suite 108, Stillwater, OK
74074–2654, (405) 742–1036,
jody.harris@ok.usda.gov
Mississippi
Montana
Bill Barr, USDA Rural Development,
2229 Boot Hill Court, P.O. Box 850,
Bozeman, MT 59771, (406) 585–2545,
bill.barr@mt.usda.gov
Nebraska
Oregon
Don Hollis, USDA Rural Development,
200 SE Hailey Ave, Suite 105,
Pendleton, OR 97801, (541) 278–8049,
ext. 129, don.hollis@or.usda.gov
Pennsylvania
Debra Yocum, USDA Rural
Development, 100 Centennial Mall
North, Room 152, Federal Building,
Lincoln, NE 68508, (402) 437–5554,
debra.yocum@ne.usda.gov
Amanda Krugh, USDA Rural
Development, 1 Credit Union Place,
Suite 330, Harrisburg, PA 17110–
2996, (717) 237–2289,
amanda.krugh@pa.usda.gov
Nevada
Puerto Rico
Mark Williams, USDA Rural
Development, 1390 South Curry
Street, Carson City, NV 89703, (775)
887–1222, ext. 116,
mark.williams@nv.usda.gov
Luis Garcia, USDA Rural Development,
IBM Building, 654 Munoz Rivera
Avenue, Suite 601, Hato Rey, PR
00918–6106, (787) 766–5091, ext. 251,
luis.garcia@pr.usda.gov
New Hampshire (See Vermont)
Republic of Palau (See Hawaii)
New Jersey
Republic of the Marshall Islands (See
Hawaii)
Victoria Fekete, USDA Rural
Development, 8000 Midlantic Drive,
5th Floor North, Suite 500, Mt. Laurel,
NJ 08054, (856) 787–7752,
victoria.fekete@nj.usda.gov
New Mexico
Jesse Bopp, USDA Rural Development,
6200 Jefferson Street, NE., Room 255,
Albuquerque, NM 87109, (505) 761–
4952, jesse.bopp@nm.usda.gov
New York
Rhode Island (see Massachusetts)
South Carolina
Shannon Legree, USDA Rural
Development, Strom Thurmond
Federal Building, 1835 Assembly
Street, Room 1007, Columbia, SC
29201, (803) 253–3150,
shannon.legree@sc.usda.gov
South Dakota
Darlene Bresson USDA Rural
Development, 1720 4th Street, NE.,
Suite 2, Watertown, SD 57201 (605)
886–8202, ext. 120,
darlene.bresson@sd.usda.gov
North Carolina
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Scott Collins, USDA Rural
Development, 9025 River Road,
Marcy, NY 13403, (315) 736–3316,
ext. 4, scott.collins@ny.usda.gov
Tennessee
David Thigpen, USDA Rural
Development, 4405 Bland Rd. Suite
260, Raleigh, NC 27609, (919) 873–
2065, david.thigpen@nc.usda.gov
Will Dodson, USDA Rural Development,
3322 West End Avenue, Suite 300,
Nashville, TN 37203–1084, (615) 783–
1350, will.dodson@tn.usda.gov
North Dakota
Dennis Rodin, USDA Rural
Development, Federal Building, Room
208, 220 East Rosser Avenue, P.O.
Box 1737, Bismarck, ND 58502–1737,
(701) 530–2068,
dennis.rodin@nd.usda.gov
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Texas
Billy Curb, USDA Rural Development,
Federal Building, Suite 102, 101
South Main Street, Temple, TX 76501,
(254) 742–9775,
billy.curb@tx.usda.gov
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Utah
Perry Mathews, USDA Rural
Development, Wallace F. Bennett
Federal Building, 125 South State
Street, Room 4311, Salt Lake City, UT
84138, (801) 524–4301,
perry.mathews@ut.usda.gov
Vermont/New Hampshire
Cheryl Ducharme, USDA Rural
Development, 89 Main Street, 3rd
Floor, Montpelier, VT 05602, (802)
828–6083,
cheryl.ducharme@vt.usda.gov
Virginia
Laurette Tucker, USDA Rural
Development, Culpeper Building,
Suite 238, 1606 Santa Rosa Road,
Richmond, VA 23229, (804) 287–
1594, laurette.tucker@va.usda.gov
Virgin Islands (see Florida)
Washington
Mary Traxler, USDA Rural
Development, 1835 Black Lake Blvd.
SW., Suite B, Olympia, WA 98512,
(360) 704–7762,
mary.traxler@wa.usda.gov
West Virginia
Lisa Sharp, USDA Rural Development,
1550 Earl Core Road, Suite 101,
Morgantown, WV 26505–7500, (304)
284–4871, lisa.sharp@wv.usda.gov
Wisconsin
Brenda Heinen, USDA Rural
Development, 4949 Kirschling Court,
Stevens Point, WI 54481, (715) 345–
7615, Ext. 139,
brenda.heinen@wi.usda.gov
Wyoming
Nancy Veres, USDA Rural Development,
Dick Cheney Federal Building, 100
East B Street, Room 1005, P.O. Box
11005, Casper, WY 82602, (307) 233–
6710, nancy.veres@wy.usda.gov.
Paperwork Reduction Act
In accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995, the information
collection requirements associated with
renewable energy system and energy
efficiency improvement grants and
guaranteed loans, as covered in this
Notice, has been approved by the Office
of Management and Budget (OMB)
under OMB Control Number 0570–0050.
The information collection requirements
associated with renewable energy
feasibility study grants has also been
approved by OMB Control Number
0570–0061, respectively.
Overview
Federal Agency Name: Rural
Business-Cooperative Service.
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Contract Proposal Title: Rural Energy
for America Program.
Announcement Type: Initial
announcement.
Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance Number. 10.868.
Dates: In order to be considered for
Fiscal Year 2013 funds, complete
applications under this Notice must be
received by the appropriate USDA Rural
Development State Office no later than
4:30 p.m. local time of the dates as
follows:
For renewable energy system and
energy efficiency improvement grant
applications and combination grant and
guaranteed loan applications: April 30,
2013.
For renewable energy system and
energy efficiency improvement
guaranteed loan only applications: On a
continuous basis up to July 15, 2013.
For renewable energy system
feasibility study applications: April 30,
2013.
Energy audits and renewable energy
development assistance grants, grant
funding will not be available for Fiscal
Year 2013, due to the statutory
timeframe to award and obligate funds
by April 1, 2013.
Any application received after its
applicable date and time, regardless of
the postmark on the application, will
not be considered for Fiscal Year 2013
funds.
Availability of Notice. This Notice for
the Rural Energy for America Program is
available through the USDA Rural
Development Web site at https://
www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_Reap.html.
I. Funding Opportunity Description
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A. Purpose of the Rural Energy for
America Program. The program is
designed to help agricultural producers
and rural small businesses reduce
energy costs and consumption and help
meet the Nation’s critical energy needs.
B. Statutory Authority. This program
is authorized under 7 U.S.C. 8107.
C. Definition of Terms. The
definitions applicable to this Notice are
published at 7 CFR 4280.103. In
addition, the following definition
applies to this Notice.
Hybrid. A combination of two or more
renewable energy technologies that are
incorporated into a unified system to
support a single project.
II. Award Information
A. Available funds. The amount of
funds available for renewable energy
systems and energy efficiency
improvements in Fiscal Year 2013 will
be up to $53.6 million. For renewable
energy system and energy efficiency
improvement projects only, there will
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be an allocation of funds to each State,
and the Rural Development’s National
Office will maintain a reserve of funds.
The amount of grant funds available
for renewable energy system feasibility
studies in Fiscal Year 2013 will be up
to $250,000. The balance of the funds
unused for the feasibility study grants
may be utilized in any of the renewable
energy system and energy efficiency
improvement National competitions.
In order to ensure that small projects
have a fair opportunity to compete for
the funding and are consistent with the
priorities set forth in the statute, the
Agency will set-aside up to $4.1 million
to fund grants of $20,000 or less.
Obligations of these funds will take
place through June 30, 2013. Any
unobligated balances will be moved to
the renewable energy budget authority
account as of July 1, 2013. These funds
may be utilized in any of the renewable
energy system and energy efficiency
improvement National competitions.
B. Approximate number of awards.
The number of awards will depend on
the amount of funds made available and
on the number of eligible applicants
participating in this program.
C. State and National competitions.
Renewable energy system and energy
efficiency improvement applications for
Fiscal Year 2013 funds will compete for
funds allocated to their State for
competition. Separate competitions will
be held for (1) grant only and grant and
guaranteed loan combination
applications; (2) grants of $20,000 or
less applications, and (3) guaranteed
loan only applications. Grant only and
grant and guaranteed loan combination
applications and grants of $20,000 or
less applications will each have one
State competition. All unfunded eligible
grant only and grant and guaranteed
loan combination applications received
by April 30, 2013, will be competing
against other grant only and grant and
guaranteed loan combination
applications from other States at a final
National competition. However, the
Agency reserves the right to hold a
separate National competition for grants
of $20,000 or less if funding remains
after the State competition. Obligations
of these funds will take place through
June 30, 2013. State competitions will
be held bi-weekly for guaranteed loan
only applications. A minimum score of
50 is required for guaranteed loan only
applications to compete in the State
competitions. If a State does not have
sufficient funds to make a guaranteed
loan award, funding may be obtained
from the guaranteed loan reserves held
at the National Office. The guaranteed
loan application will not have to
compete any further. Finally, all
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unfunded eligible guaranteed loan only
applications received by July 15, 2013,
will be competed against other
guaranteed loan only applications from
other States at a final National
competition if the guaranteed loan
reserves have not been completely
depleted. If funds remain after the final
guaranteed loan only National
competition, the Agency may elect to
utilize budget authority to fund
additional grant only and grant and
guaranteed loan combination
applications that competed in the
National competition. Renewable energy
system feasibility study grant
applications will compete in separate
National competition.
D. Type of instrument. Grant,
guaranteed loan, and grant/guaranteed
loan combinations.
E. Funding limitations. The following
funding limitations apply to
applications submitted under this
Notice.
(1) Maximum grant assistance to an
entity. For the purposes of this Notice,
the maximum amount of grant
assistance to an entity will not exceed
$750,000 for Fiscal Year 2013 based on
the total amount of renewable energy
system, energy efficiency improvement,
and renewable energy feasibility study
grants awarded to an entity under the
Rural Energy for America Program.
(2) Maximum percentage of Agency
funding. The REAP authorizing statute
at 7 USC 8107 mandates the maximum
percentages of funding that USDA Rural
Development will provide. Within the
maximum funding amounts specified in
this Notice, renewable energy system
and energy efficiency improvement
funding approved for guaranteed loan
only requests and for combination
guaranteed loan and grant requests will
not exceed 75 percent of eligible project
costs, with the grant portion not to
exceed 25 percent of total eligible
project costs, whether the grant is part
of a combination request or is a standalone grant.
(3) Reallocation of loan and grants
funds. The Agency reserves the right, at
its discretion, to move funds between
grant and loan budget authority after
June 29, 2013, based upon the demand
of applications received under this
Notice.
(4) Universal identifier and System for
Awards Management (SAM). Unless
exempt under 2 CFR 25.110, all grant
applicants must:
(a) Be registered in the SAM prior to
submitting a grant application or plan;
(b) Maintain an active SAM
registration with current information at
all times during which it has an active
Federal award or grant application or
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plan under consideration by the
Agency; and
(c) Provide its Dun and Bradstreet
Data Universal Numbering System
(DUNS) number in each grant
application or plan it submits to the
Agency.
(5) Transparency Act Reporting. All
recipients of Federal financial assistance
are required to report information about
first-tier subawards and executive
compensation in accordance with 2 CFR
part 170. So long as an entity applicant
does not have an exception under 2 CFR
170.110(b), the applicant must have the
necessary processes and systems in
place to comply with the reporting
requirements should the applicant
receive funding. See 2 CFR 170.200(b).
(6) Renewable energy system and
energy efficiency improvement grantonly applications. For renewable energy
system grants, the minimum grant is
$2,500 and the maximum is $500,000.
For energy efficiency improvement
grants, the minimum grant is $1,500 and
the maximum grant is $250,000.
(7) Renewable energy system and
energy efficiency improvement loan
guarantee-only applications. For
renewable energy system and energy
efficiency improvement loan guarantees,
the minimum guaranteed loan amount
is $5,000 and the maximum amount of
a guaranteed loan to be provided to a
borrower is $25 million.
(8) Renewable energy system and
energy efficiency improvement
guaranteed loan and grant combination
applications. Funding for grant and loan
combination packages for renewable
energy systems and energy efficiency
improvement projects are subject to the
funding limitations specified in Section
II.E.(2). The maximum amount for the
grant portion is $500,000 for renewable
energy systems and $250,000 for energy
efficiency improvements. The minimum
amount of the grant portion is $1,500 for
either renewable energy systems or
energy efficiency improvements. For the
guarantee portion, the maximum
amount is $25 million and the
minimum amount is $5,000.
(9) Renewable energy system
feasibility study grant applications. The
maximum amount of grant funds that
will be made available for an eligible
feasibility study project under this
subpart to any one recipient will not
exceed $50,000 or 25 percent of the total
eligible project cost of the study,
whichever is less.
(10) Felony Conviction and Tax
Delinquent Status. Applications from
corporate applicants submitted under
this Notice must include Form AD 3030
Representations Regarding Felony
Conviction and Tax Delinquent Status
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for Corporate Applicants. Corporate
applicants who receive an award under
this Notice will be required to sign Form
AD 3031 Assurance Regarding Felony
Conviction or Tax Delinquent Status for
Corporate Applicants. Both forms can be
found online at https://
www.ocio.usda.gov/forms/
ocio_forms.html.
order to be considered. Due to the
competitive nature of this program,
information received by the Agency,
that would impact the priority score and
ranking of an application in Fiscal Year
2013 competitions cannot be considered
by the Agency if received after the dates
published in the Dates section of this
Notice.
III. Eligibility Information
A. Eligible applicants. To be eligible
for this program, an applicant must
meet the eligibility requirements
specified in 7 CFR 4280.109, 7 CFR
4280.110(c), and, as applicable, 7 CFR
4280.112, 7 CFR 4280.122, 7 CFR
4280.170, or 7 CFR 4280.186.
For the purpose of this Notice, and in
addition to meeting the small business
size determination as defined under
small business in 7 CFR 4280.103, rural
small business applicants must
demonstrate that the majority (i.e., 51
percent or more) of their past 3 years’
annual receipts from their business
operation are derived from a rural area.
If the rural small business applicant has
not engaged in business operations for
the past 3 years, then information for as
long as the rural small business
applicant has been in business must be
submitted. To ensure that there is
sufficient information for the Agency to
make this determination; rural small
business applicants, as part of their
application requirements in 7 CFR
4280.116(b)(v)(A), should list the
physical address, total annual receipts
and number of employees for each
urban or rural location. The Agency will
make this determination for rural small
business applicants that do not have any
annual receipts (new businesses only)
on the location of the rural small
business applicant.
B. Eligible lenders. To be eligible for
this program, lenders must meet the
eligibility requirements in 7 CFR
4280.130.
C. Eligible projects. To be eligible for
this program, a project must meet the
eligibility requirements specified in 7
CFR 4280.113, 7 CFR 4280.123, 7 CFR
4280.171, and 7 CFR 4280.187, as
applicable.
A. Where To Obtain Applications
Applicants may obtain applications
from any USDA Rural Development
Energy Coordinator, as provided in the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of
this Notice. In addition, for grant
applications, applicants may access the
electronic grant application for the
Rural Energy for America Program at
https://www.grants.gov. To locate the
downloadable application package for
this program, the applicant must use the
program’s CFDA Number 10.868 or
FedGrants Funding Opportunity
Number, which can be found at https://
www.grants.gov.
When you enter the grants.gov site,
you will find information about
submitting an application electronically
through the site. To use grants.gov, all
applicants must have a Dun and
Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering
System (DUNS) number (unless the
applicant is an individual), which can
be obtained at no cost via a toll-free
request line at 1–866–705–5711 or
online at https://fedgov.dnb.com/
webform. USDA Rural Development
strongly recommends that applicants do
not wait until the application deadline
date to begin the application process
through grants.gov.
IV. Fiscal Year 2013 Application and
Submission Information
Applicants seeking to participate in
this program must submit applications
in accordance with this Notice and 7
CFR part 4280, subpart B, as applicable.
Applicants must submit complete
applications containing all parts
necessary for the Agency to determine
applicant and project eligibility, to score
the application, and to conduct the
technical evaluation, as applicable in
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B. When To Submit
Complete applications submitted
under this Notice must be received by
the appropriate USDA Rural
Development State Office no later than
4:30 p.m. local time on the applicable
date as identified in the DATES section
of this Notice, in order to be considered
for Fiscal Year 2013 funds. Any
application received after 4:30 p.m.
local time on the applicable date,
regardless of the postmark on the
application, will not be considered for
Fiscal Year 2013 funds.
C. Where To Submit
All renewable energy system, energy
efficiency improvement, and renewable
energy system feasibility study
applications are to be submitted to the
USDA Rural Development Energy
Coordinator in the State in which the
applicant’s proposed project is located.
A list of USDA Rural Development
Energy Coordinators is provided in the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of
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this Notice. Alternatively, for grant only
applications, applicants may submit
their electronic applications to the
Agency via the grants.gov Web site.
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D. How To Submit
Applicants may submit their
applications either as hard copy or
electronically as specified in the
following paragraphs. When submitting
an application as hard copy, applicants
must submit one original.
(1) Grant applications. All grant
applications may be submitted either as
hard copy to the appropriate Rural
Development Energy Coordinator or
electronically using the Governmentwide grants.gov Web site. Users of
grants.gov who download a copy of the
application package may complete it off
line and then upload and submit the
application via the grants.gov site,
including all information typically
included on the application, and all
necessary assurances and certifications.
After electronically submitting an
application through the Web site, the
applicant will receive an automated
acknowledgement from grants.gov that
contains a grants.gov tracking number.
(2) Guaranteed loan applications.
Guaranteed loan only applications (i.e.,
those that are not part of a guaranteed
loan/grant combination request) must be
submitted as hard copy.
(3) Guaranteed loan/grant
combination applications. Applications
for guaranteed loans/grants
(combination applications) must be
submitted as hard copy.
E. Other Submission Requirements and
Information
(1) Application restrictions.
Applicants may only submit one
renewable energy system and one
energy efficiency improvement
application in Fiscal Year 2013. A
renewable energy system application
cannot be submitted in Fiscal Year 2013
if a REAP feasibility study grant
application for the same renewable
energy system is submitted in Fiscal
Year 2013 and vice versa.
Applicants may only submit one
renewable energy system feasibility
study application for Fiscal Year 2013
funds.
(2) Environmental information. For
the Agency to consider an application,
the application must include all
environmental review documents with
supporting documentation in
accordance with 7 CFR part 1940,
subpart G. Applications for financial
assistance for planning purposes or
management and feasibility studies are
typically categorically excluded from
the environmental review process by 7
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CFR 1940.310(e)(1). Any required
environmental review must be
completed in full prior to obligation of
funds or the approval of the application.
(3) Original signatures. USDA Rural
Development may request that the
applicant provide original signatures on
forms submitted through grants.gov at a
later date.
(4) Form AD 2106. Each applicant is
requested to submit Form AD 2106,
‘‘Form to Assist in Assessment of USDA
Compliance with Civil Rights Laws,’’
with their application. This form
requests information on the applicant’s
race, ethnicity, and gender. The
information contained in this form will
allow the Agency to evaluate its
outreach efforts to under-served and
under-represented populations.
Applicants are encouraged to furnish
this form and the information requested
with their application, but are not
required to do so. Not furnishing this
information will neither affect an
applicant’s eligibility nor the likelihood
of an applicant receiving an award.
This form is available from any USDA
Rural Development Energy Coordinator,
as provided in the SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION section of this Notice, and
from https://forms.sc.egov.usda.gov/
eForms/welcomeAction.do?Home.
(5) Award considerations. In
determining the amount of a renewable
energy system or energy efficiency
improvement grant or loan guarantee,
the Agency will consider the six criteria
specified in 7 CFR 4280.115(g) or 7 CFR
4280.124(f), as applicable.
(6) Hybrid projects. If the application
is for a hybrid project, technical reports,
as required under 7 CFR 4280.116(b)(7),
must be prepared for each technology
that comprises the hybrid project.
(7) Multiple facilities. Applicants may
submit a single application that
proposes to apply the same renewable
energy system (including the same
hybrid project) or energy efficiency
improvement across multiple facilities.
For example, a rural small business
owner owns five retail stores and wishes
to install solar panels on each store. The
rural small business owner may submit
a single application for installing the
solar panels on the five stores. However,
if this same owner wishes to install
solar panels on three of the five stores
and wind turbines for the other two
stores, the owner can only submit an
application for either the solar panels or
for the wind turbines in the same fiscal
year.
subpart B applicable to each type of
funding available under REAP.
A. General
The provisions specified in 7 CFR
4280.101 through 4280.111 apply to this
Notice.
B. Renewable Energy System and Energy
Efficiency Improvement Project Grants
In addition to the other provisions of
this Notice, the requirements specified
in 7 CFR 4280.112 through 4280.121
apply to renewable energy system and
energy efficiency improvement projects
grants.
C. Renewable Energy System and Energy
Efficiency Improvement Project
Guaranteed Loans
In addition to the other provisions of
this Notice, the requirements specified
in 7 CFR 4280.122 through 4280.160
apply to guaranteed loans for renewable
energy system and energy efficiency
improvement projects. For Fiscal Year
2013, the guarantee fee amount is 1
percent of the guaranteed portion of the
loan and the annual renewal fee is 0.250
percent (one-quarter of 1 percent) of the
guaranteed portion of the loan.
D. Renewable Energy System and Energy
Efficiency Improvement Project Grant
and Guaranteed Loan Combined
Requests
In addition to the other provisions of
this Notice, the requirements specified
in 7 CFR 4280.165 apply to a combined
grant and guaranteed loan for renewable
energy system and energy efficiency
improvement projects. Any applicant
that submits a combined grant and
guaranteed loan application will not be
allowed to modify their application to a
grant only or guaranteed loan only
application after the applicable
submission date and time, as identified
in the DATES section of this Notice, and
remain eligible for Fiscal Year 2013
funds.
E. Renewable Energy System Feasibility
Study Grants
In addition to the other provisions of
this Notice, the requirements specified
in 7 CFR 4280.170 through 4280.182
apply to renewable energy system
feasibility study grants. Feasibility
studies are required to be prepared by
an independent, qualified third party
consultant. Applicants cannot prepare
their own feasibility study.
V. Program Provisions
F. Resubmittal of Fiscal Year 2012
Renewable Energy System and Energy
Efficiency Improvement Applications
This section of the Notice identifies
the provisions of 7 CFR part 4280,
If an application for a project was
submitted for the first time in Fiscal
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Year 2012 and that initial application
was determined eligible but was not
funded, the Agency will consider that
initial Fiscal Year 2012 application for
funding in Fiscal Year 2013 as provided
in this section. If an applicant has
already re-submitted in an earlier fiscal
year (i.e. initial application was
submitted in Fiscal Year 2011 or
earlier), the applicant must submit a
new application meeting the
requirements of this Notice in order to
be considered for Fiscal Year 2013
funds for that project and a new
submission date of record will be
established.
(1) Written request. An applicant must
submit a written request for the Agency
to consider its Fiscal Year 2012
application for Fiscal Year 2013 funds.
(i) For a guarantee loan and grant
combination application, both the
lender and grant applicant must submit
the written request to the Agency in
order to be considered for Fiscal Year
2013 funds.
(ii) Except for simplified applications,
the applicant must provide, with the
written request, the applicant’s current
balance sheet and income statement that
meets the program requirements
outlined in 7 CFR 4280.116(b)(4).
Notwithstanding the requirements
outlined in 7 CFR 4280.116(b)(4), the
current balance sheet and income
statement must not be more than 90
days old relative to the date the
applicant submits the written request.
(iii) The Agency is requesting that
each applicant submit Form AD 2106,
‘‘Form to Assist in Assessment of USDA
Compliance with Civil Rights Laws,’’
with their written request. This form
requests information on the applicant’s
race, ethnicity, and gender. The
information contained in this form will
allow the Agency to evaluate its
outreach efforts to under-served and
under-represented populations.
Applicants are encouraged to furnish
this form and the information requested
with their application, but are not
required to do so. An applicant’s
eligibility or the likelihood of receiving
an award will not be impacted by
furnishing or not furnishing this
information. This form is available from
any USDA Rural Development Energy
Coordinator, as provided in the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of
this Notice, and from https://
forms.sc.egov.usda.gov/eForms/
welcomeAction.do?Home.
(iv) Written requests to consider
Fiscal Year 2012 applications for Fiscal
Year 2013 funds may be submitted at
any time during Fiscal Year 2013, up to
and including 4:30 p.m. local time on
April 30, 2013. Written requests
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17:34 Mar 28, 2013
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received after this time and date will not
be accepted by the Agency and the
applicant’s Fiscal Year 2012 application
will not be considered for Fiscal Year
2013 funds and be withdrawn.
(2) Balance sheet and income
statements. Upon receipt of the balance
sheet and income statements required
under paragraph F(1)(ii) of this Notice,
the Agency will determine whether
there is any change to the application’s
score. If there is a change to the
application’s score, then the provisions
specified in paragraph F(3) apply. If
there is no change to the application’s
score, then the provisions of either
paragraph F(3) or F(4) apply as
applicable.
(3) Revisions/change in score to Fiscal
Year 2012 applications. If an applicant
plans to make any revisions to its Fiscal
Year 2012 application or if the current
balance sheet and income statement
submitted under paragraph F(1)(ii) of
this Notice results in a change to the
application’s score (even if no other
revisions to the Fiscal Year 2012
application are planned), a new
application meeting the requirements of
this Notice must be submitted in order
to be considered for Fiscal Year 2013
funds and a new submission date of
record will be established.
(4) No revisions/changes in score to
Fiscal Year 2012 applications. If an
applicant does not plan to make any
revisions to its Fiscal Year 2012
application and the current balance and
income statement submitted under
paragraph F(1)(ii) of this Notice does not
result in a change to the application’s
score, a new application is not required
and the submission date of record
remains unchanged from its original
Fiscal Year 2012 submittal date.
G. Award Process
In addition to the process for
awarding funding under 7 CFR part
4280, subpart B, the Agency will make
awards using the following
considerations:
(1) Funding renewable energy system
and energy efficiency improvement
grant and grant/guaranteed loan
awards. Considering the availability of
funds, the Agency will fund those grant
only applications and grant/guaranteed
loan applications that score the highest
based on the grant score of the
application; that is, the grant score an
application receives will be compared to
the grant scores of other applications,
with higher scoring applications
receiving first consideration for funding.
(2) Guaranteed loan only awards.
Considering the availability of funds,
the Agency will fund those guaranteed
loan only applications that score the
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19189
highest compared to the scores of other
applications, with higher scoring
applications receiving first
consideration for funding.
(3) Evaluation criteria. Agency
personnel will score each application
based on the evaluation criteria
specified in 7 CFR 4280.117(c), 7 CFR
4280.129(c), 7 CFR 4280.178, or 7 CFR
4280.192, as applicable.
For hybrid applications, each
technical report will be evaluated and
scored based on its own merit. The
scores for the technologies will be
consolidated using a weighted average
approach based on the percentage of the
cost for each system to the total eligible
project cost.
Example: A hybrid project contains a
wind and solar photovoltaic components.
The wind system will cost $30,000 (75
percent of total eligible project cost) and the
solar will cost $10,000 (25 percent of total
eligible project cost). The wind technical
report was evaluated and assigned a total
score of 22 points, while the solar report was
evaluated and assigned a total score of 31
points. In this scenario, the final technical
score would be assigned as follows: (22 × 75
percent) + (31 × 25 percent) = 24.25.
(4) Applications that receive the same
score. If applications score the same and
if remaining funds are insufficient to
fund each such application, the Agency
may distribute the remaining funds to a
lower scoring application. Before this
occurs, the Agency will provide the
applicant of the higher scoring
application the opportunity to reduce
the amount of the applicant’s request to
the amount of funds available. If the
applicant agrees to lower its request, the
applicant must certify that the purposes
of the project will be met and provide
the remaining total funds needed to
complete the project. At its discretion,
the Agency may also elect to allow the
remaining funds to be carried over to
the next fiscal year rather than selecting
a lower scoring application or
distributing funds on a pro-rata basis.
VI. Administration Information
A. Notifications
(1) Applicants. The notification
provisions of 7 CFR 4280.111 apply to
this Notice.
(2) Lenders. The notification
provisions of 7 CFR 4280.129(a) apply
to this Notice.
B. Administrative and National Policy
Requirements
(1) Exception authority. The
provisions of 7 CFR 4280.104 apply to
this Notice.
(2) Appeals. A person may seek a
review of an Agency decision or appeal
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to the National Appeals Division in
accordance with 7 CFR 4280.105.
(3) Conflict of interest. The provisions
of 7 CFR 4280.106 apply to this Notice.
(4) USDA Departmental Regulations
and other laws that contains other
compliance requirements. The
provisions of 7 CFR 4280.107 and 7 CFR
4280.108 apply to this Notice.
VII. Agency Contacts
For assistance on this program, please
contact a USDA Rural Development
Energy Coordinator, as provided in the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of
this Notice.
VIII. Nondiscrimination Statement
USDA prohibits discrimination in all
its programs and activities on the basis
of race, color, national origin, age,
disability, and where applicable, sex,
marital status, familial status, parental
status, religion, sexual orientation,
genetic information, political beliefs,
reprisal, or because all or part of an
individual’s income is derived from any
public assistance program. (Not all
prohibited bases apply to all programs.)
Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means for communication of
program information (Braille, large
print, audiotape, etc.) should contact
USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720–
2600 (voice and TDD).
To file a complaint of discrimination,
write to: USDA, Assistant Secretary for
Civil Rights, Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400
Independence Avenue SW., Stop 9410,
Washington, DC 20250–9410 or call tollfree at (866) 632–9992 (English) or (800)
877–8339 (TDD) or (866) 377–8642
(English Federal-relay) or (800) 845–
6136 (Spanish Federal-relay). USDA is
an equal opportunity provider and
employer.
Dated: February 27, 2013.
Dallas Tonsager,
Under Secretary, Rural Development.
[FR Doc. 2013–07275 Filed 3–28–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–XY–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
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U.S. Census Bureau
Proposed Information Collection;
Comment Request; 2013 Company
Organization Survey
U.S. Census Bureau,
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Department of
Commerce, as part of its continuing
effort to reduce paperwork and
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17:34 Mar 28, 2013
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respondent burden, invites the general
public and other Federal agencies to
take this opportunity to comment on
proposed and/or continuing information
collections, as required by the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
Public Law 104–13 (44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A)).
DATES: To ensure consideration, written
comments must be submitted on or
before May 28, 2013.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments
to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental
Paperwork Clearance Officer,
Department of Commerce, Room 6616,
14th and Constitution Avenue NW.,
Washington, DC 20230 (or via the
Internet at jjessup@doc.gov).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Requests for additional information or
copies of the information collection
instrument(s) and instructions should
be directed to Joy P. Pierson, Economic
Planning and Coordination Division,
U.S. Census Bureau, Room 8K319,
Washington, DC 20233–6100 (or by
email at Joy.P.Pierson@census.gov)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The Census Bureau conducts the
annual Company Organization Survey
(COS) to update and maintain a central,
multipurpose Business Register (BR)
database. In particular, the COS
supplies critical information on the
composition, organizational structure,
and operating characteristics of multilocation companies.
The BR serves two fundamental
purposes:
First and most important, it provides
sampling populations and enumeration
lists for the Census Bureau’s economic
surveys and censuses, and it serves as
an integral part of the statistical
foundation underlying those programs.
Essential for this purpose is the BR’s
ability to identify all known United
States business establishments and their
parent companies. Further, the BR must
accurately record basic business
attributes needed to control sampling
and enumeration. These attributes
include industrial and geographic
classifications, and name and address
information.
Second, it provides establishment
data that serve as the basis for the
annual County Business Patterns (CBP)
statistical series. The CBP publications
present data on number of
establishments, first quarter payroll,
annual payroll, and mid-March
employment summarized by industry
and employment size class for the
United States, the District of Columbia,
island areas, counties, and country-
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equivalents. No other annual or more
frequent series of industry statistics
provides comparable detail, particularly
for small geographic areas.
II. Method of Collection
The Census Bureau will conduct the
2013 COS in a similar manner as the
2011 COS. (In 2012 the COS was
conducted in conjunction with the 2012
Economic Census to minimize response
burden). The 2013 COS will request
company-level information from a
selection of multi-establishment
enterprises, which comprise roughly
42,000 parent companies and more than
1.4 million establishments.
Additionally, the panel will include
approximately 5,000 large singlelocation companies that may have
added locations during the year. The
primary collection medium for the COS
is a paper questionnaire; however, many
enterprises will submit automated/
electronic COS reports. Electronic
reporting will be available to all 2013
COS respondents. Companies will
receive and return responses by secure
Internet transmission. Companies that
cannot use the Internet will receive a
CD–ROM containing their electronic
data. All respondents will be allowed to
mail the data via diskette or CD–ROM
or submit their responses via the
Internet. COS content is identical for all
of the reporting modes.
The instrument will include inquiries
on ownership or control by domestic or
foreign parent, ownership of foreign
affiliates, and leased employment.
Further, the instrument will list an
inventory of establishments belonging to
the company and its subsidiaries, and
request updates to these inventories,
including additions, deletions, and
changes to information on EIN, name
and address, and industrial
classification, end-of-year operating
status, mid-March employment, first
quarter payroll, and annual payroll.
Additionally, the Census Bureau will
ask certain questions in the 2013 COS
in order to enhance content. We will
include questions on ownership or
control by domestic or foreign parents,
ownership of foreign affiliates, research
and development, leased employment,
and manufacturing activities related to
the Enterprise Statistics Program.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0607–0444.
Form Number: NC–99001 (for multiestablishment enterprises) and NC–
99007 (for single-location companies).
Type of Review: Regular submission.
Affected Public: Business and not-forprofit institutions.
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[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 61 (Friday, March 29, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19183-19190]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-07275]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Business-Cooperative Service
Notice of Funding Availability for the Rural Energy for America
Program
AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) announces the
acceptance of applications under the Rural Energy for America Program
(REAP) for Fiscal Year 2013 for financial assistance as follows:
grants, guaranteed loans, and combined grants and guaranteed loans for
the development and construction of renewable energy systems and for
energy efficiency improvement projects; and grants for conducting
renewable energy system feasibility studies. The Notice also announces
the availability of up to $20.8 million of Fiscal Year 2013 budget
authority to fund these REAP activities, which will support up to $10.4
million in grant program level and up to $43.4 million in guaranteed
loan program level.
DATES: In order to be considered for Fiscal Year 2013 funds, complete
applications under this Notice must be received by the appropriate USDA
Rural Development State Office no later than 4:30 p.m. local time of
the dates as follows:
For renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement grant
applications and combination grant and guaranteed loan applications:
April 30, 2013.
For renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement
guaranteed loan only applications: On a continuous basis up to July 15,
2013.
For renewable energy system feasibility study applications: April
30, 2013.
Energy audits and renewable energy development assistance, grant
funding will not be available for Fiscal Year 2013, due to the
statutory timeframe to award and obligate funds by April 1, 2013.
[[Page 19184]]
ADDRESSES: See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for addresses concerning
applications for the Rural Energy for America Program for Fiscal Year
2013 funds.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about this Notice,
please contact Mr. Kelley Oehler, Branch Chief, USDA Rural Development,
Energy Division, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250.
Telephone: (202) 720-6819. Email: kelley.oehler@wdc.usda.gov.
For further information on this program, please contact the
applicable USDA Rural Development Energy Coordinator for your
respective State, as provided in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section
of this Notice.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Fiscal Year 2013 Applications for the Rural Energy for America Program
Applications. Application materials may be obtained by contacting
one of Rural Development's Energy Coordinators. In addition, for grant
applications, applicants may access the electronic grant application
for the Rural Energy for America Program at https://www.grants.gov. To
locate the downloadable application package for this program, the
applicant must use the program's Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
(CFDA) Number 10.868 or FedGrants Funding Opportunity Number, which can
be found at https://www.grants.gov.
Application submittal. For renewable energy system, energy
efficiency improvement, and feasibility study applications, submit
complete paper applications to the Rural Development State Office in
the State in which the applicant's proposed project is located.
Submit electronic grant only applications at https://www.grants.gov,
following the instructions found on this Web site.
Rural Development Energy Coordinators
Note: Telephone numbers listed are not toll-free.
Alabama
Marcia Johnson, USDA Rural Development, Suite 601, Sterling Centre,
4121 Carmichael Road, Montgomery, AL 36106-3683, (334) 279-3453,
marcia.johnson@al.usda.gov
Alaska
Chad Stovall, USDA Rural Development, 800 West Evergreen, Suite 201,
Palmer, AK 99645-6539, (907) 761-7718, chad.stovall@ak.usda.gov
American Samoa (See Hawaii)
Arizona
Gary Mack, USDA Rural Development, 230 North First Avenue, Suite 206,
Phoenix, AZ 85003-1706, (602) 280-8717, gary.mack@az.usda.gov
Arkansas
Laura Tucker, USDA Rural Development, 700 West Capitol Avenue, Room
3416, Little Rock, AR 72201-3225, (501) 301-3280,
laura.tucker@ar.usda.gov
California
Steven Nicholls, USDA Rural Development, 430 G Street, 4169,
Davis, CA 95616, (530) 792-5805, steven.nicholls@ca.usda.gov
Colorado
Janice Pond, USDA Rural Development, Denver Federal Center,
Building 56, Room 2300, P.O. Box 25426, Denver, CO 80225-0426, (720)
544-2907, janice.pond@co.usda.gov
Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands--CNMI (See Hawaii)
Connecticut (see Massachusetts)
Delaware/Maryland
Bruce Weaver, USDA Rural Development, 1221 College Park Drive, Suite
200, Dover, DE 19904, (302) 857-3629, bruce.weaver@de.usda.gov
Federated States of Micronesia (See Hawaii)
Florida/Virgin Islands
Angela Prioleau, USDA Rural Development, 4440 NW. 25th Place,
Gainesville, FL 32606, (352) 338-3412, angela.prioleua@fl.usda.gov
Georgia
J. Craig Scroggs, USDA Rural Development, 111 E. Spring St., Suite B,
Monroe, GA 30655, (770) 267-1413, ext. 113, craig.scroggs@ga.usda.gov
Guam (See Hawaii)
Hawaii
Hawaii/Guam/Republic of Palau/Federated States of Micronesia/Republic
of the Marshall Islands/American Samoa/Commonwealth of the Northern
Marianas Islands--CNMI
Tim O'Connell, USDA Rural Development, Federal Building, Room 311, 154
Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720, (808) 933-8313,
tim.oconnell@hi.usda.gov
Idaho
Brian Buch, USDA Rural Development, 9173 W. Barnes Drive, Suite A1,
Boise, ID 83709, (208) 378-5623, brian.buch@id.usda.gov
Illinois
Mary Warren, USDA Rural Development, 2118 West Park Court, Suite A,
Champaign, IL 61821, (217) 403-6218, mary.warren@il.usda.gov
Indiana
Jerry Hay, USDA Rural Development, 5975 Lakeside Boulevard,
Indianapolis, IN 46278, (812) 346-3411, ext. 126, jerry.hay@in.usda.gov
Iowa
Kate Sand, USDA Rural Development, 909 E. 2nd Avenue, Suite C,
Indianola, IA 50125, (515) 961-5365, ext.130, kate.sand@ia.usda.gov
Kansas
David Kramer, USDA Rural Development, 1303 SW. First American Place,
Suite 100, Topeka, KS 66604-4040, (785) 271-2736,
david.kramer@ks.usda.gov
Kentucky
Scott Maas, USDA Rural Development, 771 Corporate Drive, Suite 200,
Lexington, KY 40503, (859) 224-7435, scott.maas@ky.usda.gov
Louisiana
Kevin Boone, USDA Rural Development, 905 Jefferson Street, Suite
320, Lafayette, LA 70501, (337) 262-6601, ext. 133,
kevin.boone@la.usda.gov
Maine
Beverly Stone, USDA Rural Development, 967 Illinois Avenue, Suite 4,
P.O. Box 405, Bangor, ME 04402-0405, (207) 990-9125,
beverly.stone@me.usda.gov
Maryland (see Delaware)
Massachusetts/Rhode Island/Connecticut
Anne Correia, USDA Rural Development, 15 Cranberry Highway, West
Wareham, MA 01002, (508) 295-5151, ext. 3, anne.correia@ma.usda.gov
Michigan
Rick Vanderbeek, USDA Rural Development, 3001 Coolidge Road, Suite 200,
East Lansing, MI 48823, (517) 324-5157, rick.vanderbeek@mi.usda.gov
Minnesota
Ron Omann, USDA Rural Development, 375 Jackson St., Suite 410, St.
Paul,
[[Page 19185]]
MN 55101, (651) 602-7796, ron.omann@mn.usda.gov
Mississippi
G. Gary Jones, USDA Rural Development, 100 W. Capital Street, Suite
831,Jackson, MS 39269, (601) 965-5457, george.jones@ms.usda.gov
Missouri
Matt Moore, USDA Rural Development, 601 Business Loop 70 West, Parkade
Center, Suite 235, Columbia, MO 65203, (573) 876-9321,
matt.moore@mo.usda.gov
Montana
Bill Barr, USDA Rural Development, 2229 Boot Hill Court, P.O. Box
850, Bozeman, MT 59771, (406) 585-2545, bill.barr@mt.usda.gov
Nebraska
Debra Yocum, USDA Rural Development, 100 Centennial Mall North, Room
152, Federal Building, Lincoln, NE 68508, (402) 437-5554,
debra.yocum@ne.usda.gov
Nevada
Mark Williams, USDA Rural Development, 1390 South Curry Street, Carson
City, NV 89703, (775) 887-1222, ext. 116, mark.williams@nv.usda.gov
New Hampshire (See Vermont)
New Jersey
Victoria Fekete, USDA Rural Development, 8000 Midlantic Drive, 5th
Floor North, Suite 500, Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054, (856) 787-7752,
victoria.fekete@nj.usda.gov
New Mexico
Jesse Bopp, USDA Rural Development, 6200 Jefferson Street, NE., Room
255, Albuquerque, NM 87109, (505) 761-4952, jesse.bopp@nm.usda.gov
New York
Scott Collins, USDA Rural Development, 9025 River Road, Marcy, NY
13403, (315) 736-3316, ext. 4, scott.collins@ny.usda.gov
North Carolina
David Thigpen, USDA Rural Development, 4405 Bland Rd. Suite 260,
Raleigh, NC 27609, (919) 873-2065, david.thigpen@nc.usda.gov
North Dakota
Dennis Rodin, USDA Rural Development, Federal Building, Room 208, 220
East Rosser Avenue, P.O. Box 1737, Bismarck, ND 58502-1737, (701) 530-
2068, dennis.rodin@nd.usda.gov
Ohio
Randy Monhemius, USDA Rural Development, Federal Building, Room 507,
200 North High Street, Columbus, OH 43215-2418, (614) 255-2424,
randy.monhemius@oh.usda.gov
Oklahoma
Jody Harris, USDA Rural Development, 100 USDA, Suite 108, Stillwater,
OK 74074-2654, (405) 742-1036, jody.harris@ok.usda.gov
Oregon
Don Hollis, USDA Rural Development, 200 SE Hailey Ave, Suite 105,
Pendleton, OR 97801, (541) 278-8049, ext. 129, don.hollis@or.usda.gov
Pennsylvania
Amanda Krugh, USDA Rural Development, 1 Credit Union Place, Suite 330,
Harrisburg, PA 17110-2996, (717) 237-2289, amanda.krugh@pa.usda.gov
Puerto Rico
Luis Garcia, USDA Rural Development, IBM Building, 654 Munoz Rivera
Avenue, Suite 601, Hato Rey, PR 00918-6106, (787) 766-5091, ext. 251,
luis.garcia@pr.usda.gov
Republic of Palau (See Hawaii)
Republic of the Marshall Islands (See Hawaii)
Rhode Island (see Massachusetts)
South Carolina
Shannon Legree, USDA Rural Development, Strom Thurmond Federal
Building, 1835 Assembly Street, Room 1007, Columbia, SC 29201, (803)
253-3150, shannon.legree@sc.usda.gov
South Dakota
Darlene Bresson USDA Rural Development, 1720 4th Street, NE., Suite 2,
Watertown, SD 57201 (605) 886-8202, ext. 120,
darlene.bresson@sd.usda.gov
Tennessee
Will Dodson, USDA Rural Development, 3322 West End Avenue, Suite 300,
Nashville, TN 37203-1084, (615) 783-1350, will.dodson@tn.usda.gov
Texas
Billy Curb, USDA Rural Development, Federal Building, Suite 102, 101
South Main Street, Temple, TX 76501, (254) 742-9775,
billy.curb@tx.usda.gov
Utah
Perry Mathews, USDA Rural Development, Wallace F. Bennett Federal
Building, 125 South State Street, Room 4311, Salt Lake City, UT 84138,
(801) 524-4301, perry.mathews@ut.usda.gov
Vermont/New Hampshire
Cheryl Ducharme, USDA Rural Development, 89 Main Street, 3rd Floor,
Montpelier, VT 05602, (802) 828-6083, cheryl.ducharme@vt.usda.gov
Virginia
Laurette Tucker, USDA Rural Development, Culpeper Building, Suite 238,
1606 Santa Rosa Road, Richmond, VA 23229, (804) 287-1594,
laurette.tucker@va.usda.gov
Virgin Islands (see Florida)
Washington
Mary Traxler, USDA Rural Development, 1835 Black Lake Blvd. SW., Suite
B, Olympia, WA 98512, (360) 704-7762, mary.traxler@wa.usda.gov
West Virginia
Lisa Sharp, USDA Rural Development, 1550 Earl Core Road, Suite 101,
Morgantown, WV 26505-7500, (304) 284-4871, lisa.sharp@wv.usda.gov
Wisconsin
Brenda Heinen, USDA Rural Development, 4949 Kirschling Court, Stevens
Point, WI 54481, (715) 345-7615, Ext. 139, brenda.heinen@wi.usda.gov
Wyoming
Nancy Veres, USDA Rural Development, Dick Cheney Federal Building, 100
East B Street, Room 1005, P.O. Box 11005, Casper, WY 82602, (307) 233-
6710, nancy.veres@wy.usda.gov.
Paperwork Reduction Act
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the
information collection requirements associated with renewable energy
system and energy efficiency improvement grants and guaranteed loans,
as covered in this Notice, has been approved by the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) under OMB Control Number 0570-0050. The
information collection requirements associated with renewable energy
feasibility study grants has also been approved by OMB Control Number
0570-0061, respectively.
Overview
Federal Agency Name: Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
[[Page 19186]]
Contract Proposal Title: Rural Energy for America Program.
Announcement Type: Initial announcement.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number. 10.868.
Dates: In order to be considered for Fiscal Year 2013 funds,
complete applications under this Notice must be received by the
appropriate USDA Rural Development State Office no later than 4:30 p.m.
local time of the dates as follows:
For renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement grant
applications and combination grant and guaranteed loan applications:
April 30, 2013.
For renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement
guaranteed loan only applications: On a continuous basis up to July 15,
2013.
For renewable energy system feasibility study applications: April
30, 2013.
Energy audits and renewable energy development assistance grants,
grant funding will not be available for Fiscal Year 2013, due to the
statutory timeframe to award and obligate funds by April 1, 2013.
Any application received after its applicable date and time,
regardless of the postmark on the application, will not be considered
for Fiscal Year 2013 funds.
Availability of Notice. This Notice for the Rural Energy for
America Program is available through the USDA Rural Development Web
site at https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_Reap.html.
I. Funding Opportunity Description
A. Purpose of the Rural Energy for America Program. The program is
designed to help agricultural producers and rural small businesses
reduce energy costs and consumption and help meet the Nation's critical
energy needs.
B. Statutory Authority. This program is authorized under 7 U.S.C.
8107.
C. Definition of Terms. The definitions applicable to this Notice
are published at 7 CFR 4280.103. In addition, the following definition
applies to this Notice.
Hybrid. A combination of two or more renewable energy technologies
that are incorporated into a unified system to support a single
project.
II. Award Information
A. Available funds. The amount of funds available for renewable
energy systems and energy efficiency improvements in Fiscal Year 2013
will be up to $53.6 million. For renewable energy system and energy
efficiency improvement projects only, there will be an allocation of
funds to each State, and the Rural Development's National Office will
maintain a reserve of funds.
The amount of grant funds available for renewable energy system
feasibility studies in Fiscal Year 2013 will be up to $250,000. The
balance of the funds unused for the feasibility study grants may be
utilized in any of the renewable energy system and energy efficiency
improvement National competitions.
In order to ensure that small projects have a fair opportunity to
compete for the funding and are consistent with the priorities set
forth in the statute, the Agency will set-aside up to $4.1 million to
fund grants of $20,000 or less. Obligations of these funds will take
place through June 30, 2013. Any unobligated balances will be moved to
the renewable energy budget authority account as of July 1, 2013. These
funds may be utilized in any of the renewable energy system and energy
efficiency improvement National competitions.
B. Approximate number of awards. The number of awards will depend
on the amount of funds made available and on the number of eligible
applicants participating in this program.
C. State and National competitions. Renewable energy system and
energy efficiency improvement applications for Fiscal Year 2013 funds
will compete for funds allocated to their State for competition.
Separate competitions will be held for (1) grant only and grant and
guaranteed loan combination applications; (2) grants of $20,000 or less
applications, and (3) guaranteed loan only applications. Grant only and
grant and guaranteed loan combination applications and grants of
$20,000 or less applications will each have one State competition. All
unfunded eligible grant only and grant and guaranteed loan combination
applications received by April 30, 2013, will be competing against
other grant only and grant and guaranteed loan combination applications
from other States at a final National competition. However, the Agency
reserves the right to hold a separate National competition for grants
of $20,000 or less if funding remains after the State competition.
Obligations of these funds will take place through June 30, 2013. State
competitions will be held bi-weekly for guaranteed loan only
applications. A minimum score of 50 is required for guaranteed loan
only applications to compete in the State competitions. If a State does
not have sufficient funds to make a guaranteed loan award, funding may
be obtained from the guaranteed loan reserves held at the National
Office. The guaranteed loan application will not have to compete any
further. Finally, all unfunded eligible guaranteed loan only
applications received by July 15, 2013, will be competed against other
guaranteed loan only applications from other States at a final National
competition if the guaranteed loan reserves have not been completely
depleted. If funds remain after the final guaranteed loan only National
competition, the Agency may elect to utilize budget authority to fund
additional grant only and grant and guaranteed loan combination
applications that competed in the National competition. Renewable
energy system feasibility study grant applications will compete in
separate National competition.
D. Type of instrument. Grant, guaranteed loan, and grant/guaranteed
loan combinations.
E. Funding limitations. The following funding limitations apply to
applications submitted under this Notice.
(1) Maximum grant assistance to an entity. For the purposes of this
Notice, the maximum amount of grant assistance to an entity will not
exceed $750,000 for Fiscal Year 2013 based on the total amount of
renewable energy system, energy efficiency improvement, and renewable
energy feasibility study grants awarded to an entity under the Rural
Energy for America Program.
(2) Maximum percentage of Agency funding. The REAP authorizing
statute at 7 USC 8107 mandates the maximum percentages of funding that
USDA Rural Development will provide. Within the maximum funding amounts
specified in this Notice, renewable energy system and energy efficiency
improvement funding approved for guaranteed loan only requests and for
combination guaranteed loan and grant requests will not exceed 75
percent of eligible project costs, with the grant portion not to exceed
25 percent of total eligible project costs, whether the grant is part
of a combination request or is a stand-alone grant.
(3) Reallocation of loan and grants funds. The Agency reserves the
right, at its discretion, to move funds between grant and loan budget
authority after June 29, 2013, based upon the demand of applications
received under this Notice.
(4) Universal identifier and System for Awards Management (SAM).
Unless exempt under 2 CFR 25.110, all grant applicants must:
(a) Be registered in the SAM prior to submitting a grant
application or plan;
(b) Maintain an active SAM registration with current information at
all times during which it has an active Federal award or grant
application or
[[Page 19187]]
plan under consideration by the Agency; and
(c) Provide its Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System
(DUNS) number in each grant application or plan it submits to the
Agency.
(5) Transparency Act Reporting. All recipients of Federal financial
assistance are required to report information about first-tier
subawards and executive compensation in accordance with 2 CFR part 170.
So long as an entity applicant does not have an exception under 2 CFR
170.110(b), the applicant must have the necessary processes and systems
in place to comply with the reporting requirements should the applicant
receive funding. See 2 CFR 170.200(b).
(6) Renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement
grant-only applications. For renewable energy system grants, the
minimum grant is $2,500 and the maximum is $500,000. For energy
efficiency improvement grants, the minimum grant is $1,500 and the
maximum grant is $250,000.
(7) Renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement loan
guarantee-only applications. For renewable energy system and energy
efficiency improvement loan guarantees, the minimum guaranteed loan
amount is $5,000 and the maximum amount of a guaranteed loan to be
provided to a borrower is $25 million.
(8) Renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement
guaranteed loan and grant combination applications. Funding for grant
and loan combination packages for renewable energy systems and energy
efficiency improvement projects are subject to the funding limitations
specified in Section II.E.(2). The maximum amount for the grant portion
is $500,000 for renewable energy systems and $250,000 for energy
efficiency improvements. The minimum amount of the grant portion is
$1,500 for either renewable energy systems or energy efficiency
improvements. For the guarantee portion, the maximum amount is $25
million and the minimum amount is $5,000.
(9) Renewable energy system feasibility study grant applications.
The maximum amount of grant funds that will be made available for an
eligible feasibility study project under this subpart to any one
recipient will not exceed $50,000 or 25 percent of the total eligible
project cost of the study, whichever is less.
(10) Felony Conviction and Tax Delinquent Status. Applications from
corporate applicants submitted under this Notice must include Form AD
3030 Representations Regarding Felony Conviction and Tax Delinquent
Status for Corporate Applicants. Corporate applicants who receive an
award under this Notice will be required to sign Form AD 3031 Assurance
Regarding Felony Conviction or Tax Delinquent Status for Corporate
Applicants. Both forms can be found online at https://www.ocio.usda.gov/forms/ocio_forms.html.
III. Eligibility Information
A. Eligible applicants. To be eligible for this program, an
applicant must meet the eligibility requirements specified in 7 CFR
4280.109, 7 CFR 4280.110(c), and, as applicable, 7 CFR 4280.112, 7 CFR
4280.122, 7 CFR 4280.170, or 7 CFR 4280.186.
For the purpose of this Notice, and in addition to meeting the
small business size determination as defined under small business in 7
CFR 4280.103, rural small business applicants must demonstrate that the
majority (i.e., 51 percent or more) of their past 3 years' annual
receipts from their business operation are derived from a rural area.
If the rural small business applicant has not engaged in business
operations for the past 3 years, then information for as long as the
rural small business applicant has been in business must be submitted.
To ensure that there is sufficient information for the Agency to make
this determination; rural small business applicants, as part of their
application requirements in 7 CFR 4280.116(b)(v)(A), should list the
physical address, total annual receipts and number of employees for
each urban or rural location. The Agency will make this determination
for rural small business applicants that do not have any annual
receipts (new businesses only) on the location of the rural small
business applicant.
B. Eligible lenders. To be eligible for this program, lenders must
meet the eligibility requirements in 7 CFR 4280.130.
C. Eligible projects. To be eligible for this program, a project
must meet the eligibility requirements specified in 7 CFR 4280.113, 7
CFR 4280.123, 7 CFR 4280.171, and 7 CFR 4280.187, as applicable.
IV. Fiscal Year 2013 Application and Submission Information
Applicants seeking to participate in this program must submit
applications in accordance with this Notice and 7 CFR part 4280,
subpart B, as applicable. Applicants must submit complete applications
containing all parts necessary for the Agency to determine applicant
and project eligibility, to score the application, and to conduct the
technical evaluation, as applicable in order to be considered. Due to
the competitive nature of this program, information received by the
Agency, that would impact the priority score and ranking of an
application in Fiscal Year 2013 competitions cannot be considered by
the Agency if received after the dates published in the Dates section
of this Notice.
A. Where To Obtain Applications
Applicants may obtain applications from any USDA Rural Development
Energy Coordinator, as provided in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
section of this Notice. In addition, for grant applications, applicants
may access the electronic grant application for the Rural Energy for
America Program at https://www.grants.gov. To locate the downloadable
application package for this program, the applicant must use the
program's CFDA Number 10.868 or FedGrants Funding Opportunity Number,
which can be found at https://www.grants.gov.
When you enter the grants.gov site, you will find information about
submitting an application electronically through the site. To use
grants.gov, all applicants must have a Dun and Bradstreet Data
Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number (unless the applicant is an
individual), which can be obtained at no cost via a toll-free request
line at 1-866-705-5711 or online at https://fedgov.dnb.com/webform. USDA
Rural Development strongly recommends that applicants do not wait until
the application deadline date to begin the application process through
grants.gov.
B. When To Submit
Complete applications submitted under this Notice must be received
by the appropriate USDA Rural Development State Office no later than
4:30 p.m. local time on the applicable date as identified in the DATES
section of this Notice, in order to be considered for Fiscal Year 2013
funds. Any application received after 4:30 p.m. local time on the
applicable date, regardless of the postmark on the application, will
not be considered for Fiscal Year 2013 funds.
C. Where To Submit
All renewable energy system, energy efficiency improvement, and
renewable energy system feasibility study applications are to be
submitted to the USDA Rural Development Energy Coordinator in the State
in which the applicant's proposed project is located. A list of USDA
Rural Development Energy Coordinators is provided in the SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION section of
[[Page 19188]]
this Notice. Alternatively, for grant only applications, applicants may
submit their electronic applications to the Agency via the grants.gov
Web site.
D. How To Submit
Applicants may submit their applications either as hard copy or
electronically as specified in the following paragraphs. When
submitting an application as hard copy, applicants must submit one
original.
(1) Grant applications. All grant applications may be submitted
either as hard copy to the appropriate Rural Development Energy
Coordinator or electronically using the Government-wide grants.gov Web
site. Users of grants.gov who download a copy of the application
package may complete it off line and then upload and submit the
application via the grants.gov site, including all information
typically included on the application, and all necessary assurances and
certifications. After electronically submitting an application through
the Web site, the applicant will receive an automated acknowledgement
from grants.gov that contains a grants.gov tracking number.
(2) Guaranteed loan applications. Guaranteed loan only applications
(i.e., those that are not part of a guaranteed loan/grant combination
request) must be submitted as hard copy.
(3) Guaranteed loan/grant combination applications. Applications
for guaranteed loans/grants (combination applications) must be
submitted as hard copy.
E. Other Submission Requirements and Information
(1) Application restrictions. Applicants may only submit one
renewable energy system and one energy efficiency improvement
application in Fiscal Year 2013. A renewable energy system application
cannot be submitted in Fiscal Year 2013 if a REAP feasibility study
grant application for the same renewable energy system is submitted in
Fiscal Year 2013 and vice versa.
Applicants may only submit one renewable energy system feasibility
study application for Fiscal Year 2013 funds.
(2) Environmental information. For the Agency to consider an
application, the application must include all environmental review
documents with supporting documentation in accordance with 7 CFR part
1940, subpart G. Applications for financial assistance for planning
purposes or management and feasibility studies are typically
categorically excluded from the environmental review process by 7 CFR
1940.310(e)(1). Any required environmental review must be completed in
full prior to obligation of funds or the approval of the application.
(3) Original signatures. USDA Rural Development may request that
the applicant provide original signatures on forms submitted through
grants.gov at a later date.
(4) Form AD 2106. Each applicant is requested to submit Form AD
2106, ``Form to Assist in Assessment of USDA Compliance with Civil
Rights Laws,'' with their application. This form requests information
on the applicant's race, ethnicity, and gender. The information
contained in this form will allow the Agency to evaluate its outreach
efforts to under-served and under-represented populations. Applicants
are encouraged to furnish this form and the information requested with
their application, but are not required to do so. Not furnishing this
information will neither affect an applicant's eligibility nor the
likelihood of an applicant receiving an award.
This form is available from any USDA Rural Development Energy
Coordinator, as provided in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of
this Notice, and from https://forms.sc.egov.usda.gov/eForms/welcomeAction.do?Home.
(5) Award considerations. In determining the amount of a renewable
energy system or energy efficiency improvement grant or loan guarantee,
the Agency will consider the six criteria specified in 7 CFR
4280.115(g) or 7 CFR 4280.124(f), as applicable.
(6) Hybrid projects. If the application is for a hybrid project,
technical reports, as required under 7 CFR 4280.116(b)(7), must be
prepared for each technology that comprises the hybrid project.
(7) Multiple facilities. Applicants may submit a single application
that proposes to apply the same renewable energy system (including the
same hybrid project) or energy efficiency improvement across multiple
facilities. For example, a rural small business owner owns five retail
stores and wishes to install solar panels on each store. The rural
small business owner may submit a single application for installing the
solar panels on the five stores. However, if this same owner wishes to
install solar panels on three of the five stores and wind turbines for
the other two stores, the owner can only submit an application for
either the solar panels or for the wind turbines in the same fiscal
year.
V. Program Provisions
This section of the Notice identifies the provisions of 7 CFR part
4280, subpart B applicable to each type of funding available under
REAP.
A. General
The provisions specified in 7 CFR 4280.101 through 4280.111 apply
to this Notice.
B. Renewable Energy System and Energy Efficiency Improvement Project
Grants
In addition to the other provisions of this Notice, the
requirements specified in 7 CFR 4280.112 through 4280.121 apply to
renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement projects
grants.
C. Renewable Energy System and Energy Efficiency Improvement Project
Guaranteed Loans
In addition to the other provisions of this Notice, the
requirements specified in 7 CFR 4280.122 through 4280.160 apply to
guaranteed loans for renewable energy system and energy efficiency
improvement projects. For Fiscal Year 2013, the guarantee fee amount is
1 percent of the guaranteed portion of the loan and the annual renewal
fee is 0.250 percent (one-quarter of 1 percent) of the guaranteed
portion of the loan.
D. Renewable Energy System and Energy Efficiency Improvement Project
Grant and Guaranteed Loan Combined Requests
In addition to the other provisions of this Notice, the
requirements specified in 7 CFR 4280.165 apply to a combined grant and
guaranteed loan for renewable energy system and energy efficiency
improvement projects. Any applicant that submits a combined grant and
guaranteed loan application will not be allowed to modify their
application to a grant only or guaranteed loan only application after
the applicable submission date and time, as identified in the DATES
section of this Notice, and remain eligible for Fiscal Year 2013 funds.
E. Renewable Energy System Feasibility Study Grants
In addition to the other provisions of this Notice, the
requirements specified in 7 CFR 4280.170 through 4280.182 apply to
renewable energy system feasibility study grants. Feasibility studies
are required to be prepared by an independent, qualified third party
consultant. Applicants cannot prepare their own feasibility study.
F. Resubmittal of Fiscal Year 2012 Renewable Energy System and Energy
Efficiency Improvement Applications
If an application for a project was submitted for the first time in
Fiscal
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Year 2012 and that initial application was determined eligible but was
not funded, the Agency will consider that initial Fiscal Year 2012
application for funding in Fiscal Year 2013 as provided in this
section. If an applicant has already re-submitted in an earlier fiscal
year (i.e. initial application was submitted in Fiscal Year 2011 or
earlier), the applicant must submit a new application meeting the
requirements of this Notice in order to be considered for Fiscal Year
2013 funds for that project and a new submission date of record will be
established.
(1) Written request. An applicant must submit a written request for
the Agency to consider its Fiscal Year 2012 application for Fiscal Year
2013 funds.
(i) For a guarantee loan and grant combination application, both
the lender and grant applicant must submit the written request to the
Agency in order to be considered for Fiscal Year 2013 funds.
(ii) Except for simplified applications, the applicant must
provide, with the written request, the applicant's current balance
sheet and income statement that meets the program requirements outlined
in 7 CFR 4280.116(b)(4). Notwithstanding the requirements outlined in 7
CFR 4280.116(b)(4), the current balance sheet and income statement must
not be more than 90 days old relative to the date the applicant submits
the written request.
(iii) The Agency is requesting that each applicant submit Form AD
2106, ``Form to Assist in Assessment of USDA Compliance with Civil
Rights Laws,'' with their written request. This form requests
information on the applicant's race, ethnicity, and gender. The
information contained in this form will allow the Agency to evaluate
its outreach efforts to under-served and under-represented populations.
Applicants are encouraged to furnish this form and the information
requested with their application, but are not required to do so. An
applicant's eligibility or the likelihood of receiving an award will
not be impacted by furnishing or not furnishing this information. This
form is available from any USDA Rural Development Energy Coordinator,
as provided in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this Notice,
and from https://forms.sc.egov.usda.gov/eForms/welcomeAction.do?Home.
(iv) Written requests to consider Fiscal Year 2012 applications for
Fiscal Year 2013 funds may be submitted at any time during Fiscal Year
2013, up to and including 4:30 p.m. local time on April 30, 2013.
Written requests received after this time and date will not be accepted
by the Agency and the applicant's Fiscal Year 2012 application will not
be considered for Fiscal Year 2013 funds and be withdrawn.
(2) Balance sheet and income statements. Upon receipt of the
balance sheet and income statements required under paragraph F(1)(ii)
of this Notice, the Agency will determine whether there is any change
to the application's score. If there is a change to the application's
score, then the provisions specified in paragraph F(3) apply. If there
is no change to the application's score, then the provisions of either
paragraph F(3) or F(4) apply as applicable.
(3) Revisions/change in score to Fiscal Year 2012 applications. If
an applicant plans to make any revisions to its Fiscal Year 2012
application or if the current balance sheet and income statement
submitted under paragraph F(1)(ii) of this Notice results in a change
to the application's score (even if no other revisions to the Fiscal
Year 2012 application are planned), a new application meeting the
requirements of this Notice must be submitted in order to be considered
for Fiscal Year 2013 funds and a new submission date of record will be
established.
(4) No revisions/changes in score to Fiscal Year 2012 applications.
If an applicant does not plan to make any revisions to its Fiscal Year
2012 application and the current balance and income statement submitted
under paragraph F(1)(ii) of this Notice does not result in a change to
the application's score, a new application is not required and the
submission date of record remains unchanged from its original Fiscal
Year 2012 submittal date.
G. Award Process
In addition to the process for awarding funding under 7 CFR part
4280, subpart B, the Agency will make awards using the following
considerations:
(1) Funding renewable energy system and energy efficiency
improvement grant and grant/guaranteed loan awards. Considering the
availability of funds, the Agency will fund those grant only
applications and grant/guaranteed loan applications that score the
highest based on the grant score of the application; that is, the grant
score an application receives will be compared to the grant scores of
other applications, with higher scoring applications receiving first
consideration for funding.
(2) Guaranteed loan only awards. Considering the availability of
funds, the Agency will fund those guaranteed loan only applications
that score the highest compared to the scores of other applications,
with higher scoring applications receiving first consideration for
funding.
(3) Evaluation criteria. Agency personnel will score each
application based on the evaluation criteria specified in 7 CFR
4280.117(c), 7 CFR 4280.129(c), 7 CFR 4280.178, or 7 CFR 4280.192, as
applicable.
For hybrid applications, each technical report will be evaluated
and scored based on its own merit. The scores for the technologies will
be consolidated using a weighted average approach based on the
percentage of the cost for each system to the total eligible project
cost.
Example: A hybrid project contains a wind and solar
photovoltaic components. The wind system will cost $30,000 (75
percent of total eligible project cost) and the solar will cost
$10,000 (25 percent of total eligible project cost). The wind
technical report was evaluated and assigned a total score of 22
points, while the solar report was evaluated and assigned a total
score of 31 points. In this scenario, the final technical score
would be assigned as follows: (22 x 75 percent) + (31 x 25 percent)
= 24.25.
(4) Applications that receive the same score. If applications score
the same and if remaining funds are insufficient to fund each such
application, the Agency may distribute the remaining funds to a lower
scoring application. Before this occurs, the Agency will provide the
applicant of the higher scoring application the opportunity to reduce
the amount of the applicant's request to the amount of funds available.
If the applicant agrees to lower its request, the applicant must
certify that the purposes of the project will be met and provide the
remaining total funds needed to complete the project. At its
discretion, the Agency may also elect to allow the remaining funds to
be carried over to the next fiscal year rather than selecting a lower
scoring application or distributing funds on a pro-rata basis.
VI. Administration Information
A. Notifications
(1) Applicants. The notification provisions of 7 CFR 4280.111 apply
to this Notice.
(2) Lenders. The notification provisions of 7 CFR 4280.129(a) apply
to this Notice.
B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
(1) Exception authority. The provisions of 7 CFR 4280.104 apply to
this Notice.
(2) Appeals. A person may seek a review of an Agency decision or
appeal
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to the National Appeals Division in accordance with 7 CFR 4280.105.
(3) Conflict of interest. The provisions of 7 CFR 4280.106 apply to
this Notice.
(4) USDA Departmental Regulations and other laws that contains
other compliance requirements. The provisions of 7 CFR 4280.107 and 7
CFR 4280.108 apply to this Notice.
VII. Agency Contacts
For assistance on this program, please contact a USDA Rural
Development Energy Coordinator, as provided in the SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION section of this Notice.
VIII. Nondiscrimination Statement
USDA prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on
the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where
applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status,
religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs,
reprisal, or because all or part of an individual's income is derived
from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to
all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means
for communication of program information (Braille, large print,
audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600
(voice and TDD).
To file a complaint of discrimination, write to: USDA, Assistant
Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil
Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Stop 9410, Washington, DC 20250-
9410 or call toll-free at (866) 632-9992 (English) or (800) 877-8339
(TDD) or (866) 377-8642 (English Federal-relay) or (800) 845-6136
(Spanish Federal-relay). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and
employer.
Dated: February 27, 2013.
Dallas Tonsager,
Under Secretary, Rural Development.
[FR Doc. 2013-07275 Filed 3-28-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XY-P
