Notice of Funding Availability for the Rural Energy for America Program, 25564-25569 [2014-10054]
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25564
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 86 / Monday, May 5, 2014 / Notices
duties on behalf of the Board, subject to
approval by the DFO.
Equal opportunity practices are
followed in all appointments to the
Board in accordance with USDA
policies. To ensure that the
recommendations of the Board have
been taken into account the needs of
diverse groups, served by the Black
Hills National Forest, membership shall
include, to the extent practicable,
individuals with demonstrated ability to
represent minorities, women, and
persons with disabilities.
Dated: April 29, 2014.
Gregory Parham,
Assistant Secretary of Administration.
[FR Doc. 2014–10188 Filed 5–2–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Sabine-Angelina Resource Advisory
Committee
Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Solicitation of nominees.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the Secure
Rural Schools and Community SelfDetermination Act (Pub. L. 110–343)
(the Act) and the Federal Advisory
Committee Act (FACA) (5 U.S.C., App.
2), the Sabine-Angelina Resource
Advisory Committee (RAC) announces
the solicitation of nominees to fill
vacancies. The purpose of the
committee is to improve collaborative
relationships and to provide advice and
recommendations to the Forest Service
concerning projects and funding
consistent with Title II of the Act. The
RAC covers the Angelina and Sabine
National Forests.
DATES: Nominations must be received
on or before September 30, 2014.
Nominations must contain a completed
application package that includes the
following:
(1) Nominee’s name,
(2) Resume, and
(3) Completed Form AD–755
(Advisory Committee or Research and
Promotion Background Information).
The package must be sent to the
address listed below.
ADDRESSES: Send nominations and
applications to Kimpton M. Cooper,
District Ranger or Becky Nix, RAC
Coordinator, Sabine Ranger District,
5050 State Hwy 21 East, Hemphill,
Texas 75948.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kimpton M. Cooper by phone at 409–
625–1940 or 936–897–1068 or via email
at kmcooper@fs.fed.us.
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Individuals who use
telecommunication devices for the deaf
(TDD) may call the Federal Information
Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339
between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.,
Eastern Standard Time, Monday
through Friday.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On October 2, 2013, the Helium
Stewardship Act of 2013 (Pub. L. 113–
40) reauthorized the Act. The purpose of
the RAC is to improve collaborative
relationships among the people that use
and care for the National Forests and to
provide advice and recommendations to
the Forest Service concerning projects
and funding consistent with Title II of
the Act. The duties of the RAC include
monitoring projects, advising the
Secretary on the progress and results of
the monitoring efforts, and making
recommendations to the Forest Service
for any appropriate changes or
adjustments to the projects being
monitored by the RACs.
RAC Membership
The RAC will be comprised of 15
members approved by the Secretary of
Agriculture. RAC membership will be
fairly balanced in terms of the points of
view represented and functions to be
performed. The RAC members will
serve 4-year terms. The RAC shall
include representation from the
following interest areas:
(1) Five persons who represent:
(a) Organized Labor or Non-Timber
Forest Product Harvester Groups,
(b) Developed Outdoor Recreation,
Off-Highway Vehicle Users, or
Commercial Recreation Activities,
(c) Energy and Mineral Development,
or Commercial or Recreational Fishing
Groups,
(d) Commercial Timber Industry, or
(e) Federal Grazing Permit or Other
Land Use Permit Holders, or
Representative of Non-Industrial Private
Forest Land Owners, within the area for
which the committee is organized.
(2) Five persons who represent:
(a) Nationally or Regionally
Recognized Environmental
Organizations,
(b) Regionally or Locally Recognized
Environmental Organizations,
(c) Dispersed Recreational Activities,
(d) Archaeology and History, or
(e) Nationally or Regionally
Recognized Wild Horse and Burro
Interest, Wildlife Hunting
Organizaitons, or Watershed
Associations.
(3) Five persons who represent:
(a) Hold State-Elected Office,
(b) Hold County or Local-Elected
Office,
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(c) American Indian Tribes within or
adjacent to the area for which the
committee is organized,
(d) Area School Officials or Teachers,
or
(e) Affected Public at Large.
In the event that a vacancy arises, the
DFO may fill the vacancy with a
replacement member appointed by the
Secretary, if an appropriate replacement
member is available.
Nominations and Applications
Information
The appointment of members to the
RAC will be made by the Secretary of
Agriculture. Any individual or
organization may nominate one or more
qualified persons to represent the
interest areas listed above. To be
considered for membership, nominees
must:
1. Be a resident of Texas;
2. Identify what interest group they
would represent and how they are
qualified to represent that interest
group;
3. State why they want to serve on the
RAC and what they can contribute;
4. Show their past experience in
working successfully as part of a
working group on forest management
activities; and
5. Complete Form AD–755, Advisory
Committee or Research and Promotion
Background Information.
You may contact the person listed
above to receive the Form AD–755. All
nominations will be vetted by the
Agency.
Equal opportunity practices, in line
with the USDA policies, will be
followed in all appointments to the
RACs. To ensure that the
recommendations of the RACs have
taken into account the needs of the
diverse groups served by the
Department, membeship should
include, to the extent practicable,
individuals with demonstrated ability to
represent the needs of all racial and
ethnic groups, women and men, and
persons with disabilities.
Dated: April 25, 2014.
Gregory Parham,
Assistant Secretary of Administration.
[FR Doc. 2014–10232 Filed 5–2–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Business-Cooperative Service
Notice of Funding Availability for the
Rural Energy for America Program
Rural Business-Cooperative
Service, USDA.
AGENCY:
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ACTION:
Notice.
This Notice of Funding
Availability (NOFA) announces the
acceptance of applications under the
Rural Energy for America Program
(REAP) for Fiscal Year 2014 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. The Notice also
announces the availability of mandatory
budget authority carried over from
Fiscal Year 2013 of approximately $24.7
million and $3.5 million of
discretionary budget authority made
available by Fiscal Year 2014
appropriations. The budget authority
will support the above referenced REAP
activities, for approximately $12.38
million in grant program level and
approximately $57.8 million in
guaranteed loan program level. The
funding being announced does not
include mandatory funding provided by
the Agricultural Act of 2014 (2014 Farm
Bill). The Rural Business-Cooperative
Service (Agency) intends to publish a
final rule for REAP later this fiscal year.
The final rule will modify the interim
rule for REAP based on comments
received on the interim rule, which was
published in the Federal Register on
April 14, 2011 (76 FR 21110), and the
proposed rule, which was published on
April 12, 2013 (78 FR 22044). The
Agency will publish a subsequent notice
announcing the mandatory funds for
fiscal year 2014 provided by the 2014
Farm Bill simultaneously with the final
rule.
The 2014 Farm Bill repealed the
authority for the feasibility study
component of REAP and also removed
the ability to provide assistance for
flexible fuel pumps. Therefore
applications for flexible fuel pumps and
feasibility studies will not be
determined eligible or awarded funds in
Fiscal Year 2014 under REAP.
DATES: In order to be considered for
Fiscal Year 2014 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: July 7,
2014.
For renewable energy system and
energy efficiency improvement
guaranteed loan only applications: On a
continuous basis up to July 31, 2014.
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ADDRESSES: See
INFORMATION for
the SUPPLEMENTARY
addresses concerning
applications for REAP for Fiscal Year
2014 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
identified via the following link: https://
www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_Energy_
CoordinatorList.html.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Fiscal Year 2014 Applications for the
Rural Energy for America Program
Applications. Application materials
may be obtained by contacting one of
Rural Development’s Energy
Coordinators, as identified via the
following link: https://
www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_Energy_
CoordinatorList.html. In addition, for
grant applications, applicants may
obtain electronic grant applications for
REAP from https://www.Grants.gov.
Application Submittal. 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.
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.
Overview
Federal Agency Name: Rural
Business-Cooperative Service.
Contract Proposal Title: Rural Energy
for America Program.
Announcement Type: Initial
announcement.
Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance (CFDA) Number. 10.868.
Dates: Grant applications and
combined grant and guaranteed loan
applications for renewable energy
systems and energy efficiency
improvement projects under this Notice
will be accepted up to July 7, 2014.
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Guaranteed loan only applications for
renewable energy system and energy
efficiency improvement projects will be
accepted on a continuous basis, but to
compete for Fiscal Year 2014 funding,
complete applications must be
submitted to the Agency by July 31,
2014.
For all applications submitted under
this Notice, complete applications must
be received by the appropriate USDA
Rural Development State Office no later
than 4:30 p.m. local time of the
applicable application deadline date in
order to be considered for Fiscal Year
2014 funds. Any application received
after its applicable date and time,
regardless of the postmark on the
application, will not be considered for
Fiscal Year 2014 funds.
Availability of Notice. This Notice is
available through the USDA Rural
Development Web site at https://
www.rurdev.usda.gov/Energy.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 2014 will
be approximately $12.38 million in
mandatory grant program level and
approximately $57.8 million in
guaranteed loan program level. For
renewable energy system and energy
efficiency improvement grant 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. To ensure
compliance with 7 U.S.C. 8107–(e), the
Agency will use not less than 20 percent
of the funds made available to REAP in
Fiscal Year 2014 to fund grants of
$20,000 or less.
B. Approximate Number of Awards.
The number of awards will depend on
amount of funds made available and on
the number of eligible applicants
participating in this program.
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C. State and National Competitions.
Renewable energy system and energy
efficiency improvement applications for
Fiscal Year 2014 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; and (2) guaranteed loan
only applications. Grant only and grant
and guaranteed loan combination
applications will have one State
competition. All unfunded eligible grant
only and grant and guaranteed loan
combination applications received by
July 7, 2014, will be competed against
other grant only and grant and
guaranteed loan combination
applications from other States at a final
national competition. National
competitions will be held monthly for
guaranteed loan only applications. A
minimum score of 50 is required for
guaranteed loan only applications to
compete in the National competitions.
Finally, all unfunded eligible
guaranteed loan only applications
received by July 31, 2014, 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.
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 2014 based on
the total amount of renewable energy
system and energy efficiency
improvement grants awarded to an
entity under REAP.
(2) Maximum percentage of Agency
funding. The Food, Conservation, and
Energy Act of 2008, Public Law 110–
234, 122 Stat. 93 (May 22, 2008) (2008
Farm Bill) 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
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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) 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.
(4) 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.
(5) 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.
F. Universal Identifier and System for
Awards Management (SAM). Unless
exempt under 2 CFR 25.110, all
applicants must:
(1) Be registered in the SAM prior to
submitting an application or plan;
(2) Maintain an active SAM
registration with current information at
all times during which it has an active
Federal award or an application or plan
under consideration by the Agency; and
(3) Provide its Dun and Bradstreet
Data Universal Numbering System
(DUNS) number in each application or
plan it submits to the Agency.
(4) At the time the Agency is ready to
make an award, if the applicant has not
complied with paragraph F(1) through
F(3) of this section, the Agency may
determine the applicant is not eligible to
receive the award.
G. 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
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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).
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, or 7 CFR 4280.122.
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)(3)(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, and 7 CFR 4280.123, as
applicable.
IV. Fiscal Year 2014 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
2014 competitions cannot be considered
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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 identified via the
following link: https://
www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_Energy_
CoordinatorList.html. In addition, for
grant applications, applicants may
access the electronic grant application
for REAP 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 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.
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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 2014 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 2014 funds.
C. Where To Submit
All renewable energy system and
energy efficiency improvement
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 available via the
following link: https://
www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_Energy_
CoordinatorList.html. 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
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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 apply for only one
renewable energy system project and
one energy efficiency improvement
project in Fiscal Year 2014.
(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. 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
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25567
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 identified via the following link:
https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_
Energy_CoordinatorList.html, 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 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
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apply to guaranteed loans for renewable
energy system and energy efficiency
improvement projects. For Fiscal Year
2014, 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.
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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 2014
funds.
E. Resubmittal of Fiscal Year 2013
Renewable Energy System and Energy
Efficiency Improvement Applications
If an application for a project was
submitted for the first time in Fiscal
Year 2013 and that initial application
was determined eligible but was not
funded, the Agency will consider that
initial Fiscal Year 2013 application for
funding in Fiscal Year 2014 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 2012 or
earlier), the applicant must submit a
new application meeting the
requirements of this Notice in order to
be considered for Fiscal Year 2014
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 2013
application for Fiscal Year 2014 funds.
(i) For a guaranteed loan and grant
combination application, both the
lender and applicant must submit the
written request to the Agency in order
to be considered for Fiscal Year 2014
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
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17:56 May 02, 2014
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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 2013 applications for Fiscal
Year 2014 funds may be submitted at
any time during Fiscal Year 2014, by the
applicable submission date and time,
identified in the DATES section of this
Notice. Written requests received after
the identified time and date will not be
accepted by the Agency and the
applicant’s Fiscal Year 2013 application
will not be considered for Fiscal Year
2014 funds and be withdrawn.
(2) Balance sheet and income
statements. Upon receipt of the balance
sheet and income statements required
under paragraph E(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 E(3) apply. If
there is no change to the application’s
score, then the provisions of either
paragraph E(3) or E(4) apply as
applicable.
(3) Revisions/change in score to Fiscal
Year 2013 applications. If an applicant
plans to make any revisions to its Fiscal
Year 2013 application or if the current
balance sheet and income statement
submitted under paragraph E(1)(ii) of
this Notice results in a change to the
application’s score (even if no other
revisions to the Fiscal Year 2013
application are planned), a new
application meeting the requirements of
this Notice must be submitted in order
to be considered for Fiscal Year 2014
funds and a new submission date of
record will be established.
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
(4) No revisions/changes in score to
Fiscal Year 2013 applications. If an
applicant does not plan to make any
revisions to its Fiscal Year 2013
application and the current balance and
income statement submitted under
paragraph E(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 2013 submittal date.
F. Award Process
In addition to the process for
awarding funding under 7 CFR 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), or 7 CFR
4280.129(c), 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
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05MYN1
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 86 / Monday, May 5, 2014 / Notices
lower scoring application. Before this
occurs, the Agency will provide the
applicants of the higher scoring
applications the opportunity to reduce
the amount of the applicants’ request to
the amount of funds available. If the
applicant(s) agrees to lower their
request, the applicant(s) 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
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.
bases will apply to all programs and/or
employment activities.)
If you wish to file a Civil Rights
program complaint of discrimination,
complete the USDA Program
Discrimination Complaint Form (PDF),
found online at https://
www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_
cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call
(866) 632–9992 to request the form. You
may also write a letter containing all of
the information requested in the form.
Send your completed complaint form or
letter to us by mail at U.S. Department
of Agriculture, Director, Office of
Adjudication, 1400 Independence
Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250–
9410, by fax (202) 690–7442 or email at
program.intake@usda.gov.
Individuals who are deaf, hard of
hearing or have speech disabilities and
you wish to file either an EEO or
program complaint please contact
USDA through the Federal Relay
Service at (800) 877–8339 or (800) 845–
6136 (in Spanish).
Persons with disabilities, who wish to
file a program complaint, please see
information above on how to contact us
by mail directly or by email. If you
require alternative means of
communication for program information
(e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.)
please contact USDA’s TARGET Center
at (202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD).
Dated: April 18, 2014.
Andrew Jermolowicz,
Acting Administrator, Rural BusinessCooperative Service.
[FR Doc. 2014–10054 Filed 5–2–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–XY–P
VII. Agency Contacts
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
For assistance on this program, please
contact a USDA Rural Development
Energy Coordinator, as identified via the
following link: https://
www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_Energy_
CoordinatorList.html.
Submission for OMB Review;
Comment Request
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
VIII. Nondiscrimination Statement
The U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) prohibits discrimination against
its customers, employees, and
applicants for employment on the bases
of race, color, national origin, age,
disability, sex, gender identity, religion,
reprisal, and where applicable, political
beliefs, marital status, familial or
parental status, sexual orientation, or all
or part of an individual’s income is
derived from any public assistance
program, or protected genetic
information in employment or in any
program or activity conducted or funded
by the Department. (Not all prohibited
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:56 May 02, 2014
Jkt 232001
The Department of Commerce will
submit to the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) for clearance the
following proposal for collection of
information under the provisions of the
Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C.
chapter 35).
Agency: U.S. Census Bureau.
Title: Monthly Wholesale Trade
Survey.
OMB Control Number: 0607–0190.
Form Number(s): SM4212–A, SM–
4212–E.
Type of Request: Extension of a
currently approved collection.
Burden Hours: 5,880.
Number of Respondents: 4,200.
Average Hours per Response: 7
minutes.
Needs and Uses: The Monthly
Wholesale Trade Survey (MWTS)
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
25569
canvasses firms primarily engaged in
merchant wholesale trade that are
located in the United States, excluding
manufacturers’ sales branches and
offices (MSBOs). This survey provides
the only continuous measure of monthly
wholesale sales, end-of-month
inventories, and inventories-to-sales
ratios. The sales and inventories
estimates produced from the MWTS
provide current trends of economic
activity by kind of business for the
United States. Also, the estimates
compiled from this survey provide
valuable information for economic
policy decisions by the government and
are widely used by private businesses,
trade organizations, professional
associations, and other business
research and analysis organizations.
As one of the U.S. Census Bureau’s
principal economic indicators, the
estimates produced by the MWTS are
critical to the accurate measurement of
total economic activity of the United
States. The estimates of sales made by
wholesale locations represent only
merchant wholesalers, excluding
MSBOs, who typically take title to
goods bought for resale to other
companies. Wholesalers normally sell to
industrial distributors, retail operations,
cooperatives, and other businesses. The
sales estimates include sales made on
credit as well as on a cash basis, but
exclude receipts from sales taxes and
interest charges from credit sales.
The estimates of inventories represent
all merchandise held in wholesale
locations, warehouses, and offices, as
well as goods held by others for sale on
consignment or in transit for
distribution to wholesale
establishments. The estimates of
inventories exclude fixtures and
supplies not for resale, as well as
merchandise held on consignment,
which are owned by others. Inventories
are an important component in the
Bureau of Economic Analysis’ (BEA)
calculation of the investment portion of
the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
We publish wholesale sales and
inventories estimates based on the
North American Industry Classification
System (NAICS), which has been widely
adopted throughout both the public and
private sectors.
The Census Bureau tabulates the
collected data to provide, with
measurable reliability, statistics on
sales, end-of-month inventories, and
inventories-to-sales ratios for merchant
wholesalers, excluding MSBOs.
The BEA is the primary Federal user
of data collected in the MWTS. The BEA
uses estimates from this survey to
prepare the national income and
product accounts (NIPA), input-output
E:\FR\FM\05MYN1.SGM
05MYN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 86 (Monday, May 5, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25564-25569]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-10054]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Business-Cooperative Service
Notice of Funding Availability for the Rural Energy for America
Program
AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.
[[Page 25565]]
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 2014 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. The Notice also announces the
availability of mandatory budget authority carried over from Fiscal
Year 2013 of approximately $24.7 million and $3.5 million of
discretionary budget authority made available by Fiscal Year 2014
appropriations. The budget authority will support the above referenced
REAP activities, for approximately $12.38 million in grant program
level and approximately $57.8 million in guaranteed loan program level.
The funding being announced does not include mandatory funding provided
by the Agricultural Act of 2014 (2014 Farm Bill). The Rural Business-
Cooperative Service (Agency) intends to publish a final rule for REAP
later this fiscal year. The final rule will modify the interim rule for
REAP based on comments received on the interim rule, which was
published in the Federal Register on April 14, 2011 (76 FR 21110), and
the proposed rule, which was published on April 12, 2013 (78 FR 22044).
The Agency will publish a subsequent notice announcing the mandatory
funds for fiscal year 2014 provided by the 2014 Farm Bill
simultaneously with the final rule.
The 2014 Farm Bill repealed the authority for the feasibility study
component of REAP and also removed the ability to provide assistance
for flexible fuel pumps. Therefore applications for flexible fuel pumps
and feasibility studies will not be determined eligible or awarded
funds in Fiscal Year 2014 under REAP.
DATES: In order to be considered for Fiscal Year 2014 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:
July 7, 2014.
For renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement
guaranteed loan only applications: On a continuous basis up to July 31,
2014.
ADDRESSES: See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for addresses concerning
applications for REAP for Fiscal Year 2014 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 identified via the following link: https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_Energy_CoordinatorList.html.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Fiscal Year 2014 Applications for the Rural Energy for America Program
Applications. Application materials may be obtained by contacting
one of Rural Development's Energy Coordinators, as identified via the
following link: https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_Energy_CoordinatorList.html. In addition, for grant applications, applicants
may obtain electronic grant applications for REAP from https://www.Grants.gov.
Application Submittal. 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.
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.
Overview
Federal Agency Name: Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
Contract Proposal Title: Rural Energy for America Program.
Announcement Type: Initial announcement.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number. 10.868.
Dates: Grant applications and combined grant and guaranteed loan
applications for renewable energy systems and energy efficiency
improvement projects under this Notice will be accepted up to July 7,
2014. Guaranteed loan only applications for renewable energy system and
energy efficiency improvement projects will be accepted on a continuous
basis, but to compete for Fiscal Year 2014 funding, complete
applications must be submitted to the Agency by July 31, 2014.
For all applications submitted under this Notice, complete
applications must be received by the appropriate USDA Rural Development
State Office no later than 4:30 p.m. local time of the applicable
application deadline date in order to be considered for Fiscal Year
2014 funds. Any application received after its applicable date and
time, regardless of the postmark on the application, will not be
considered for Fiscal Year 2014 funds.
Availability of Notice. This Notice is available through the USDA
Rural Development Web site at https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/Energy.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 2014
will be approximately $12.38 million in mandatory grant program level
and approximately $57.8 million in guaranteed loan program level. For
renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement grant
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. To ensure compliance with 7 U.S.C. 8107-(e), the Agency will use
not less than 20 percent of the funds made available to REAP in Fiscal
Year 2014 to fund grants of $20,000 or less.
B. Approximate Number of Awards. The number of awards will depend
on amount of funds made available and on the number of eligible
applicants participating in this program.
[[Page 25566]]
C. State and National Competitions. Renewable energy system and
energy efficiency improvement applications for Fiscal Year 2014 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; and (2) guaranteed loan only
applications. Grant only and grant and guaranteed loan combination
applications will have one State competition. All unfunded eligible
grant only and grant and guaranteed loan combination applications
received by July 7, 2014, will be competed against other grant only and
grant and guaranteed loan combination applications from other States at
a final national competition. National competitions will be held
monthly for guaranteed loan only applications. A minimum score of 50 is
required for guaranteed loan only applications to compete in the
National competitions. Finally, all unfunded eligible guaranteed loan
only applications received by July 31, 2014, 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.
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 2014 based on the total amount of
renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement grants
awarded to an entity under REAP.
(2) Maximum percentage of Agency funding. The Food, Conservation,
and Energy Act of 2008, Public Law 110-234, 122 Stat. 93 (May 22, 2008)
(2008 Farm Bill) 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) 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.
(4) 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.
(5) 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.
F. Universal Identifier and System for Awards Management (SAM).
Unless exempt under 2 CFR 25.110, all applicants must:
(1) Be registered in the SAM prior to submitting an application or
plan;
(2) Maintain an active SAM registration with current information at
all times during which it has an active Federal award or an application
or plan under consideration by the Agency; and
(3) Provide its Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System
(DUNS) number in each application or plan it submits to the Agency.
(4) At the time the Agency is ready to make an award, if the
applicant has not complied with paragraph F(1) through F(3) of this
section, the Agency may determine the applicant is not eligible to
receive the award.
G. 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).
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, or 7
CFR 4280.122.
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)(3)(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, and
7 CFR 4280.123, as applicable.
IV. Fiscal Year 2014 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 2014 competitions cannot be considered
[[Page 25567]]
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 identified via the following link: https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_Energy_CoordinatorList.html. In addition, for
grant applications, applicants may access the electronic grant
application for REAP 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 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 2014
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 2014 funds.
C. Where To Submit
All renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement
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
available via the following link: https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_Energy_CoordinatorList.html. 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 apply for only one
renewable energy system project and one energy efficiency improvement
project in Fiscal Year 2014.
(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. 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 identified via the following link: https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_Energy_CoordinatorList.html, 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 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
[[Page 25568]]
apply to guaranteed loans for renewable energy system and energy
efficiency improvement projects. For Fiscal Year 2014, 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 2014 funds.
E. Resubmittal of Fiscal Year 2013 Renewable Energy System and Energy
Efficiency Improvement Applications
If an application for a project was submitted for the first time in
Fiscal Year 2013 and that initial application was determined eligible
but was not funded, the Agency will consider that initial Fiscal Year
2013 application for funding in Fiscal Year 2014 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 2012 or
earlier), the applicant must submit a new application meeting the
requirements of this Notice in order to be considered for Fiscal Year
2014 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 2013 application for Fiscal Year
2014 funds.
(i) For a guaranteed loan and grant combination application, both
the lender and applicant must submit the written request to the Agency
in order to be considered for Fiscal Year 2014 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 2013 applications for
Fiscal Year 2014 funds may be submitted at any time during Fiscal Year
2014, by the applicable submission date and time, identified in the
DATES section of this Notice. Written requests received after the
identified time and date will not be accepted by the Agency and the
applicant's Fiscal Year 2013 application will not be considered for
Fiscal Year 2014 funds and be withdrawn.
(2) Balance sheet and income statements. Upon receipt of the
balance sheet and income statements required under paragraph E(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 E(3) apply. If there
is no change to the application's score, then the provisions of either
paragraph E(3) or E(4) apply as applicable.
(3) Revisions/change in score to Fiscal Year 2013 applications. If
an applicant plans to make any revisions to its Fiscal Year 2013
application or if the current balance sheet and income statement
submitted under paragraph E(1)(ii) of this Notice results in a change
to the application's score (even if no other revisions to the Fiscal
Year 2013 application are planned), a new application meeting the
requirements of this Notice must be submitted in order to be considered
for Fiscal Year 2014 funds and a new submission date of record will be
established.
(4) No revisions/changes in score to Fiscal Year 2013 applications.
If an applicant does not plan to make any revisions to its Fiscal Year
2013 application and the current balance and income statement submitted
under paragraph E(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 2013 submittal date.
F. Award Process
In addition to the process for awarding funding under 7 CFR 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), or 7 CFR 4280.129(c), 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
[[Page 25569]]
lower scoring application. Before this occurs, the Agency will provide
the applicants of the higher scoring applications the opportunity to
reduce the amount of the applicants' request to the amount of funds
available. If the applicant(s) agrees to lower their request, the
applicant(s) 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 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 identified via the following link:
https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_Energy_CoordinatorList.html.
VIII. Nondiscrimination Statement
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination
against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the
bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender
identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs,
marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all
or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance
program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any
program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all
prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment
activities.)
If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of
discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form
(PDF), found online at https://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the
form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information
requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to
us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of
Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410,
by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov.
Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech
disabilities and you wish to file either an EEO or program complaint
please contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339
or (800) 845-6136 (in Spanish).
Persons with disabilities, who wish to file a program complaint,
please see information above on how to contact us by mail directly or
by email. If you require alternative means of communication for program
information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) please
contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).
Dated: April 18, 2014.
Andrew Jermolowicz,
Acting Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-10054 Filed 5-2-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XY-P