Office of Small Credit Unions (OSCUI) Grant Program Access for Credit Unions, 77721-77722 [2013-30554]

Agencies

• National Credit Union Administration

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 247 (Tuesday, December 24, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77721-77722]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-30554]


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NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION


Office of Small Credit Unions (OSCUI) Grant Program Access for 
Credit Unions

AGENCY: National Credit Union Administration (NCUA).

ACTION: Notice of Funding Opportunity.

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SUMMARY: The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) is issuing a 
Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to invite eligible credit unions 
to submit applications for participation in the OSCUI Grant Program 
(a.k.a. Community Development Revolving Loan Fund (CDRLF)), subject to 
funding availability. The OSCUI Grant Program serves as a source of 
financial support, in the form of technical assistance grants, for 
credit unions serving predominantly low-income members. It also serves 
as a source of funding to help low-income designated credit unions 
(LICUs) respond to emergencies arising in their communities.

DATES: There will be various application open periods from January 1, 
2014 thru December 31, 2014 for different grant initiatives offered 
thoughout the year. For each initiative funds may be exhausted prior to 
the deadlines, at which time the programs/funds will no longer be 
available.

ADDRESSES: Applications must be submitted online at 
www.cybergrants.com/ncua/applications.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Further information can be found at: 
www.ncua.gov/OSCUI/grantsandloans. For questions email: National Credit 
Union Administration, Office of Small Credit Union Initiatives at 
OSCUIAPPS@ncua.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Description of Funding Opportunity

    The purpose of the OSCUI Grant Program is to assist specially 
designated credit unions in providing basic financial services to their 
low-income members to stimulate economic activities in their 
communities. Through the OSCUI Grant Program, NCUA provides financial 
support in the form of technical assistance grants to LICUs. These 
funds help improve and expand the availability of financial services to 
these members. The OSCUI Grant Program also serves as a source of 
funding to help LICUs respond to emergencies. The Grant Program 
consists of Congressional appropriations that are administered by 
OSCUI, an office of the NCUA.
    From February 3, 2014 to February 14, 2014 OSCUI will accept 
applications from credit unions under the first 2014 grant round. The 
first grant round will include initiatives for student interns, new 
products & services, and Community Development Financial Institution 
(CDFI) certification applications.
    OSCUI intends to offer additional grant round funding throughout 
the year under this NOFO. Information about the OSCUI Grant Program, 
including more details regarding the first 2014 grant round, other 
funding initiatives, amount of funds available, funding priorities, 
permissible uses of funds, funding limits, deadlines and other 
pertinent details, are periodically published in NCUA Letters to Credit 
Unions, in the OSCUI e-newsletter and on the NCUA Web site at 
www.ncua.gov/OSCUI/GrantsandLoans.
    A. Program Regulation: Part 705 of NCUA's regulations implements 
the OSCUI Grant and Loan Program. 12 CFR 705. A revised Part 705 was 
published on November 2, 2011. 76 FR 67583. Additional requirements are 
found at 12 CFR Parts 701 and 741. Applicants should review these 
regulations in addition to this NOFO. Each capitalized term in this 
NOFO is more fully defined in the regulations and grant guidelines. For 
the purposes of this NOFO, an Applicant is a Qualifying Credit Union 
that submits a complete Application to NCUA under the OSCUI Grant 
Program.
    B. Funds Availability: Congress has not made an appropriation to 
the OSCUI Grant Program for Fiscal Years 2014-2015. NCUA expects to 
award the entire amount appropriated under this NOFO. NCUA reserves the 
right to: (i) Award more or less than the amount appropriated; (ii) 
fund, in whole or in part, any, all, or none of the applications 
submitted in response to this NOFO; and (iii) reallocate funds from the 
amount that is anticipated to be available under this NOFO to other 
programs, particularly if NCUA determines that the number of awards 
made under this NOFO is fewer than projected.

II. Description of Grant Program

    OSCUI grants are made to LICUs that meet the requirements in the 
program regulation and this NOFO, subject to funds availability.
    A. Eligibility Requirements: The regulations specify the 
requirements a credit union must meet in order to be eligible to apply 
for assistance under this NOFO. See 12 CFR 705. A credit union must be 
a LICU, or equivalent in the case of a Qualifying State-Chartered 
Credit Union, in order to participate in the OSCUI Grant Program. 
Requirements for obtaining the designation are found at 12 CFR Sec.  
701.34.
    B. Permissible Uses of Funds: NCUA will consider requests for funds 
consistent with the purpose of the OSCUI Grant Program. 12 CFR 705.1. 
Per Sec.  705.10 of the regulation permissible uses for the grant fund 
include: (i) Development of new products or services for members 
including new or expanded share draft or credit card programs; (ii) 
Partnership arrangements with community based service organizations or 
government agencies; (iii) Enhancement and support credit union 
internal capacity to serve its members and better enable it to provide 
financial services to the community in which the credit union is 
located.
    NCUA will consider other proposed uses of funds that in its sole 
discretion it determines are consistent with the purpose of the OSCUI 
Grant Program, the requirements of the regulations, and this NOFO.
    C. Terms: The specific terms and conditions governing a grant will 
be established in the grant guidelines for each initiative.

III. Application Requirements

    A. Application Form: The application and related documents can be 
found on NCUA's Web site at www.ncua.gov/OSCUI/GrantsandLoans.
    B. Minimum Application Content: Each Applicant must complete and 
submit information regarding the applicant and requested funding. In 
addition, applicants will be required to certify applications prior to 
submission.
    1. DUNS Number: Based on an Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
policy directive effective October 31, 2003, credit unions must have a 
Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number issued by Dun and 
Bradstreet (D&B) in order to be eligible to receive funding from the 
OSCUI Grant Program. NCUA will not consider an Application that does 
not include a valid DUNS number. Such an Application will be deemed 
incomplete and will be declined. Information on how to obtain a DUNS 
number may be found on D&B's Web site at https://fedgov.dnb.com/webform 
or by calling D&B, toll-free, at 1-866-705-5711.
    2. Employer Identification Number: Each Application must include a 
valid

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and current Employer Identification Number (EIN) issued by the U.S. 
Internal Revenue Service (IRS). NCUA will not consider an application 
that does not include a valid and current EIN. Such an Application will 
be deemed incomplete and will be declined. Information on how to obtain 
a EIN may be found on the IRS's Web site at www.irs.gov.
    3. Application: An Applicant requesting a grant must complete an 
online grant application form which includes required responses. The 
required responses will address the proposed use of funds and how the 
credit union will assess the impact of the funding.
    C. Submission of Application: Under this NOFO, Applications must be 
submitted online at www.cybergrants.com/ncua/applications.

IV. Application Review

A. Review Process

    1. Eligibility and Completeness Review: NCUA will review each 
Application to determine whether it is complete and that the Applicant 
meets the eligibility requirements described in the Regulations, 
Section II of this NOFO, and the grant guidelines. An incomplete 
Application or one that does not meet the eligibility requirements will 
be declined without further consideration.
    2. Substantive Review: After an Applicant is determined eligible 
and its Application is determined complete, NCUA will conduct a 
substantive review in accordance with the criteria and procedures 
described in the Regulations, this NOFO, and the grant guidelines. NCUA 
reserves the right to contact the Applicant during its review for the 
purpose of clarifying or confirming information contained in the 
Application. If so contacted, the Applicant must respond within the 
time specified by NCUA or NCUA, in its sole discretion, may decline the 
application without further consideration.
    3. Evaluation and Scoring: The evaluation criteria for each 
initiative will be more fully described in the grant guidelines.
    4. Input from Examiners: NCUA will not approve an award to a credit 
union for which its NCUA regional examining office or State Supervisory 
Agency (SSA), if applicable, indicates it has safety and soundness 
concerns. If the NCUA regional office or SSA identifies a safety and 
soundness concern, OSCUI, in conjunction with the regional office or 
SSA, will assess whether the condition of the Applicant is adequate to 
undertake the activities for which funding is requested, and the 
obligations of the loan and its conditions. NCUA, in its sole 
discretion, may defer decision on funding an Application until the 
credit union's safety and soundness conditions improve.

V. Award Process

    A. Award Selection: In general, NCUA will make its award selections 
based on a consistent scoring system where each applicant will receive 
an individual score. NCUA will consider the impact of the funding. When 
grant demand is high applications may be ranked based on the 
aforementioned in addition to factors listed in the grant guidelines.
    B. Notice of Award: NCUA will notify each Applicant of its funding 
decision. Notification will generally be by email. Applicants that are 
approved for funding will also receive instructions on how to proceed 
with the reimbursement request for disbursement of funds.

VI. Post-Award Requirements

    A. Reporting Requirements: Each awarded credit union must submit a 
reimbursement request in order to receive the awarded funds. The 
reimbursement requirements are specific to each initiative. In general, 
the reimbursement request will require an explanation of the impact of 
funding and any success or failure to meet objectives for use of 
proceeds, outcome, or impact. NCUA, in its sole discretion, may modify 
these requirements.

VII. Agency Contacts

    A. Methods of Contact: For further information, contact NCUA by 
email at OSCUIAPPS@ncua.gov.
    B. Information Technology Support: People who have visual or 
mobility impairments that prevent them from using NCUA's Web site 
should call (703) 518-6610 for guidance (this is not a toll free 
number).

    Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1756, 1757(5)(D), and (7)(I), 1766, 1782, 
1784, 1785 and 1786; 12 CFR 705.

    By the National Credit Union Administration Board on December 
17, 2013.
Gerard Poliquin,
Secretary of the Board.
[FR Doc. 2013-30554 Filed 12-23-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7535-01-P