Inviting Rural Business Development Grant Program Applications for Grants To Provide Technical Assistance for Rural Transportation Systems, 44925-44930 [2015-18391]
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 144 / Tuesday, July 28, 2015 / Notices
2015. Copies of the submission(s) may
be obtained by calling (202) 720–8681.
An agency may not conduct or
sponsor a collection of information
unless the collection of information
displays a currently valid OMB control
number and the agency informs
potential persons who are to respond to
the collection of information that such
persons are not required to respond to
the collection of information unless it
displays a currently valid OMB control
number.
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Rural Housing Service
Title: 7 CFR 1944–I, ‘‘Self-Help
Technical Assistance Grants’’.
OMB Control Number: 0575–0043.
Summary of Collection: Authorized
under Public Law 90–448, section 523
of the ‘‘Housing Act of 1949,’’ this
regulation sets forth the policies and
procedures and delegates the authority
for providing technical assistance funds
to eligible applicants to finance
programs of technical and supervisory
assistance for the Mutual and Self-Help
Housing (MSH) program. The MSH
program affords very low and lowincome families the opportunity for
home ownership by constructing their
own homes. The MSH program provides
funds to non-profit organizations for
supervisory and technical assistance to
the homebuilding families. Three types
of funds are available under the MSH
program: (1) Technical assistance grants,
(2) Pre-development grants and (3) Site
option loans.
Need and Use of the Information:
Rural Housing Service (RHS) will
collect information from non-profit
organizations that want to develop a
Self-Help program in their area to
increase the availability of affordable
housing. The information is collected at
the local, district and state levels. The
information requested by RHS includes
financial and organizational information
about the non-profit organization. RHS
needs this information to determine if
the organization is capable of
successfully carrying out the
requirements of the Self-Help program.
The information is collected on an as
requested or needed basis. RHS has
reviewed the program’s need for the
collection of information versus the
burden placed on the public.
Description of Respondents: Not-forprofit institutions; State, Local or Tribal
Government.
Number of Respondents: 105.
Frequency of Responses:
Recordkeeping; Reporting: Monthly,
Annually.
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Total Burden Hours: 3,284.
[FR Doc. 2015–18416 Filed 7–27–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–XV–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Forest Resource Coordinating
Committee Meeting
Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
AGENCY:
The Forest Resource
Coordinating Committee (Committee)
will meet in Washington, DC. The
Committee is authorized under Section
8005 of the Food, Conservation, and
Energy Act of 2008 (the Act) (Pub. L.
110–246). Additional information
concerning the Committee, including
the meeting agenda, supporting
documents and minutes, can be found
by visiting the Committee’s Web site at
https://www.fs.fed.us/spf/coop/frcc/.
DATES: The meeting will be held on
August 4 and 5, 2015, from 8 a.m. to 5
p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). The
meeting is subject to cancellation. For
status of the meeting prior to
attendance, please contact the person
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT.
SUMMARY:
The meeting will be held at
the American Forest Foundation, 2000
M St. Suite 550 NW., Washington, DC.
Members of the public should RSVP to
facilitate entry into the American Forest
Foundation. Written comments may be
submitted as described under
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. All
comments, including names and
addresses when provided, are placed in
the record and are available for public
inspection and copying. The public may
inspect comments placed on the
Committee’s Web site listed above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Andrea Bedell-Loucks, Forest Resource
Coordinating Committee Designated
Federal Officer, Cooperative Forestry
Staff, by phone at 202–205–1190 or
Laurie Schoonhoven, Forest Resource
Coordinating Committee Program
Coordinator, Cooperative Forestry Staff,
by phone at 202–205–0929. 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.
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The
purpose of the meeting is to:
1. Hear updates on new and emerging
private forest land topics;
2. Prioritize recommendations; and
3. Develop communication strategy.
The meeting is open to the public.
The agenda will include time for people
to make oral statements of three minutes
or less. Individuals wishing to make an
oral statement should submit a request
in writing by July 30, 2015 to be
scheduled on the agenda. Anyone who
would like to bring related matters to
the attention of the Committee may file
written statements with the Committee
staff before August 1, 2015. Written
comments and time requests for oral
comments must be sent to Laurie
Schoonhoven, 1400 Independence Ave.
SW., mailstop 1123, Washington, DC
20250, or by email to lschoonhoven@
fs.fed.us. A summary of the meeting will
be posted at https://www.fs.fed.us/spf/
coop/frcc within 21 days after the
meeting.
Meeting Accommodations: If you are
a person requiring reasonable
accommodation, please make requests
in advance for sign language
interpreting, assistive listening devices
or other reasonable accommodations for
access to the facility or proceedings by
contacting the person listed under the
For Further Information Contact. All
reasonable accommodation requests are
managed on a case by case basis.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Charlene Parker,
Departmental Information Collection
Clearance Officer.
ADDRESSES:
44925
Dated: July 22, 2015.
Patricia Hirami,
Associate Deputy Chief, State and Private
Forestry.
[FR Doc. 2015–18486 Filed 7–27–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Business—Cooperative Service
Inviting Rural Business Development
Grant Program Applications for Grants
To Provide Technical Assistance for
Rural Transportation Systems
Rural Business—Cooperative
Service, USDA.
ACTION: Initial notice.
AGENCY:
This Notice is to invite
applications for grants to provide
technical assistance for rural
transportation (RT) systems under the
Rural Business Development Grant
(RBDG) program pursuant to 7 CFR part
4280, subpart E, 2 CFR chapter IV and
2 CFR part 200 for fiscal year (FY) 2015.
Funding shall be made available to
qualified national organizations to
provide technical assistance for rural
SUMMARY:
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transportation (RT) systems and for RT
systems to Federally Recognized Native
American Tribes’ (FRNAT) (collectively
‘‘Programs’’) from funds appropriated
for the RBDG program. The Rural
Business—Cooperative Service (RBS)
will administer these awards under the
RBDG program and 7 U.S.C. 1932(c) for
FY 2015. This Notice is subject to the
terms and funds for the Programs made
available in the Consolidated and
Further Continuing Appropriations Act,
2015 (Pub. L. 113–235) (FY 2015
appropriation).
All applicants are responsible for any
expenses incurred in developing their
applications.
Completed applications must be
received in the USDA Rural
Development State Office no later than
4:30 p.m. (local time) on August 27,
2015. Applications received at a USDA
Rural Development State Office after
that date will not be considered for FY
2015 funding.
ADDRESSES: Submit applications in
paper format to the USDA Rural
Development State Office for the State
where the project is located. A list of the
USDA Rural Development State Office
contacts can be found at: https://
www.rurdev.usda.gov/
StateOfficeAddresses.html.
DATES:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Specialty Programs Division, Business
Programs, Rural Business-Cooperative
Service, United States Department of
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue
SW., MS 3226, Room 4204-South,
Washington, DC 20250–3226, or call
202–720–1400. For further information
on this Notice, please contact the USDA
Rural Development State Office in the
State in which the applicant’s
headquarters is located.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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Overview
Solicitation Opportunity Title: Rural
Business Development Grants.
Announcement Type: Initial
Announcement.
Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance Number: 10.351.
Dates: Completed applications must
be received in the USDA Rural
Development State Office no later than
4:30 p.m. (local time) on August 27,
2015, to be eligible for FY 2015 grant
funding. Applications received after this
date will not be eligible for FY 2015
grant funding.
A. Program Description
1. Purpose of the Program. The
purpose of this program is to improve
the economic conditions of rural areas.
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2. Statutory Authority. This program
is authorized under section 310B(c) of
the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(c)).
Regulations are contained in 7 CFR part
4280, subpart E. The program is
administered on behalf of RBS at the
State level by the USDA Rural
Development State Offices. Assistance
provided to rural areas under the
program may include the provision of
on-site technical assistance to local and
regional governments, public transit
agencies, and related non-profit and forprofit organizations in rural areas; the
development of training materials; and
the provision of necessary training
assistance to local officials and agencies
in rural areas.
Awards under the RBDG passenger
transportation program will be made on
a competitive basis using specific
selection criteria contained in 7 CFR
part 4280, subpart E, and in accordance
with section 310B(c) of the Consolidated
Farm and Rural Development Act (7
U.S.C. 1932(c)). Information required to
be in the application package includes
Standard Form (SF) 424, ‘‘Application
for Federal Assistance;’’ RD 1940–20,
‘‘Request for Environmental
Information;’’ Scope of Work Narrative;
Income Statement; Balance Sheet or
Audit for previous 3 years; AD–1047,
‘‘Debarment/Suspension Certification;’’
AD–1048, ‘‘Certification Regarding
Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility
and Voluntary Exclusion;’’ AD–1049,
‘‘Certification Regarding Drug-Free
Workplace Requirements;’’ SF LLL,
‘‘Disclosure of Lobbying Activities;’’ RD
400–1, ‘‘Equal Opportunity Agreement;’’
RD 400–4, ‘‘Assurance Agreement;’’ a
letter stating Board authorization to
obtain assistance. For the FRNAT grant,
which must benefit FRNATs, at least 75
percent of the benefits of the project
must be received by members of
FRNATs. The project that scores the
greatest number of points based on the
RBDG selection criteria and the
discretionary points will be selected for
each grant.
Applicants must be qualified national
non-profit organizations with
experience in providing technical
assistance and training to rural
communities Nation-wide for the
purpose of improving passenger
transportation service or facilities. To be
considered ‘‘national,’’ RBS requires a
qualified organization to provide
evidence that it operates RT assistance
programming Nation-wide. There is not
a requirement to use the grant funds in
a multi-State area. Grants will be made
to qualified national non-profit
organizations for the provision of
technical assistance and training to rural
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communities for the purpose of
improving passenger transportation
services or facilities.
3. Definition of Terms. The definitions
applicable to this Notice are published
at 7 CFR 4280.403.
4. Application Awards. The Agency
will review, evaluate, and score
applications received in response to this
Notice based on the provisions in 7 CFR
4280, subpart E and as indicated in this
Notice. However, the Agency advises all
interested parties that the applicant
bears the burden in preparing and
submitting an application in response to
this Notice.
B. Federal Award Information
Type of Award: Grants.
Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2015.
Available Funds: Anyone interested
in submitting an application for funding
under this program is encouraged to
consult the Rural Development Web
Newsroom Web site at https://
www.rd.usda.gov/newsroom/noticessolicitation-applications-nosas for
funding information.
Approximate Number of Awards:
Two.
Expected Amounts of Individual
Awards and Amount of Funding per
Federal Award: One single $502,000
grant and another single $250,000 grant
for FRNAT’s.
Maximum Awards: A total of
$502,000 will be awarded for technical
assistance for rural transportation
systems and a maximum of $250,000 for
FRNATs.
Award Date: Prior to September 30,
2015.
Performance Period: October 1, 2015,
through September 30, 2016.
Renewal or Supplemental Awards:
None
C. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants
To be considered eligible, an entity
must be a qualified national non-profit
organization serving rural areas as
evidenced in its organizational
documents and demonstrated
experience, per 7 CFR part 4280,
subpart E. Grants will be competitively
awarded to qualified national non-profit
organizations.
The Agency requires the following
information to make an eligibility
determination that an applicant is a
national non-profit organization. These
applications must include, but are not
limited to, the following:
(a) An original and one copy of SF
424, ‘‘Application for Federal
Assistance (For Non-construction);’’
(b) Copies of applicant’s
organizational documents showing the
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applicant’s legal existence and authority
to perform the activities under the grant;
(c) A proposed scope of work,
including a description of the proposed
Project, details of the proposed activities
to be accomplished and timeframes for
completion of each task, the number of
months duration of the Project, and the
estimated time it will take from grant
approval to beginning of Project
implementation;
(d) A written narrative that includes,
at a minimum, the following items:
(i) An explanation of why the Project
is needed, the benefits of the proposed
Project, and how the Project meets the
grant eligible purposes;
(ii) Area to be served, identifying each
governmental unit, i.e., town, county,
etc., to be affected by the Project;
(iii) Description of how the Project
will coordinate Economic Development
activities with other Economic
Development activities within the
Project area;
(iv) Businesses to be assisted, if
appropriate, and Economic
Development to be accomplished;
(v) An explanation of how the
proposed Project will result in newly
created, increased, or supported jobs in
the area and the number of projected
new and supported jobs within the next
3 years;
(vi) A description of the applicant’s
demonstrated capability and experience
in providing the proposed Project
assistance, including experience of key
staff members and persons who will be
providing the proposed Project activities
and managing the Project;
(vii) The method and rationale used to
select the areas and businesses that will
receive the service;
(viii) A brief description of how the
work will be performed, including
whether organizational staff or
consultants or contractors will be used;
and
(ix) Other information the Agency
may request to assist it in making a
grant award determination;
(e) The latest 3 years of financial
information to show the applicant’s
financial capacity to carry out the
proposed work. If the applicant is less
than 3 years old, at a minimum, the
information should include all balance
sheet(s), income statement(s) and cash
flow statement(s). A current audited
report is required if available;
(f) Documentation regarding the
availability and amount of other funds
to be used in conjunction with the funds
from RBDG;
(g) A budget which includes salaries,
fringe benefits, consultant costs, indirect
costs, and other appropriate direct costs
for the Project.
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2. Cost Sharing or Matching
Matching funds are not required.
3. Other
Applications will only be accepted
from qualified national non-profit
organizations to provide technical
assistance for rural transportation. There
are no ‘‘responsiveness,’’ or ‘‘threshold’’
eligibility criteria for these grants. There
is no limit on the number of
applications an applicant may submit
under this announcement. In addition to
the forms listed under program
description, Form AD–3030 or AD 3031,
‘‘Representations Regarding Felony
Conviction and Tax Delinquent Status
for Corporate Applicants,’’ must be
completed in the affirmative.’’
None of the funds made available by
this or any other Act may be used to
enter into a contract, memorandum of
understanding, or cooperative
agreement with, make a grant to, or
provide a loan or loan guarantee to, any
corporation that has any unpaid Federal
tax liability that has been assessed, for
which all judicial and administrative
remedies have been exhausted or have
lapsed, and that is not being paid in a
timely manner pursuant to an agreement
with the authority responsible for
collecting the tax liability, where the
awarding agency is aware of the unpaid
tax liability, unless a Federal agency has
considered suspension or debarment of
the corporation and has made a
determination that this further action is
not necessary to protect the interests of
the Government.
None of the funds made available by
this or any other Act may be used to
enter into a contract, memorandum of
understanding, or cooperative
agreement with, make a grant to, or
provide a loan or loan guarantee to, any
corporation that was convicted of a
felony criminal violation under any
Federal law within the preceding 24
months, where the awarding agency is
aware of the conviction, unless a
Federal agency has considered
suspension or debarment of the
corporation and has made a
determination that this further action is
not necessary to protect the interests of
the Government.
4. Completeness Eligibility
Applications will not be considered
for funding if they do not provide
sufficient information to determine
eligibility or are missing required
elements.
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44927
D. Application and Submission
Information
1. Address To Request Application
Package
For further information, entities
wishing to apply for assistance should
contact the USDA Rural Development
State Office provided in the ADDRESSES
section of this Notice to obtain copies of
the application package.
Applications must be submitted in
paper format. Applications submitted to
a Rural Development State Office must
be received by the closing date and local
time deadline.
All applicants must have a Dun and
Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering
System (DUNS) number which can be
obtained at no cost via a toll-free request
line at (866) 705–5711 or at https://
fedgov.dnb.com/webform. Each
applicant (unless the applicant is an
individual or Federal awarding agency
that is excepted from the requirements
under 2 CFR 25.110(b) or (c), or has an
exception approved by the Federal
awarding agency under 2 CFR
25.110(d)) is required to: (i) Be
registered in the System for Award
Management (SAM) before submitting
its application; (ii) provide a valid
unique entity identifier in its
application; and (iii) continue to
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 a Federal awarding
agency. The Federal awarding agency
may not make a Federal award to an
applicant until the applicant has
complied with all applicable unique
entity identifier and SAM requirements
and, if an applicant has not fully
complied with the requirements by the
time the Federal awarding agency is
ready to make a Federal award, the
Federal awarding agency may determine
that the applicant is not qualified to
receive a Federal award and use that
determination as a basis for making a
Federal award to another applicant.
2. Content and Form of Application
Submission
An application must contain all of the
required elements. Each application
received in a USDA Rural Development
State Office will be reviewed to
determine if it is consistent with the
eligible purposes contained in section
310B(c) of the Consolidated Farm and
Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C.
1932(c)). Each selection priority
criterion outlined in 7 CFR 4280.435
must be addressed in the application.
Failure to address any of the criteria
will result in a zero-point score for that
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criterion and will impact the overall
evaluation of the application. Copies of
7 CFR part 4280, subpart E, will be
provided to any interested applicant
making a request to a USDA Rural
Development State Office.
All projects to receive technical
assistance through these passenger
transportation grant funds are to be
identified when the applications are
submitted to the USDA Rural
Development State Office. Multiple
project applications must identify each
individual project, indicate the amount
of funding requested for each individual
project, and address the criteria as
stated above for each individual project.
For multiple-project applications, the
average of the individual project scores
will be the score for that application.
The applicant documentation and
forms needed for a complete application
are located in the PROGRAM
DESCRIPTION section of this notice,
and 7 CFR part 4280, subpart E. There
are no specific formats required per this
notice, and applicants may request
forms and addresses from the
ADDRESSES section of this notice.
(a) There are no specific limitations
on the number of pages or other
formatting requirements other than
those described in the PROGRAM
DESCRIPTION section.
(b) There are no specific limitations
on the number of pages, font size and
type face, margins, paper size, number
of copies, and the sequence or assembly
requirements.
(c) The component pieces of this
application should contain original
signatures on the original application.
(d) Since these grants are for technical
assistance for transportation purposes,
no additional information requirements
other than those described in this notice
and 7 CFR part 4280, subpart E.
3. Submission Dates and Times
(a) Application Deadline Date: No
later than 4:30 p.m. (local time)
September 28, 2015.
Explanation of Deadlines:
Applications must be in the USDA
Rural Development State Office by the
local deadline date and time as
indicated above. If the due date falls on
a Saturday, Sunday, or Federal holiday,
the application is due the next business
day.
(b) The deadline date means that the
completed application package must
arrive and be received in the USDA
Rural Development State Office by the
deadline date established above. All
application documents identified in this
Notice are required.
(c) If completed applications are not
received by the deadline established
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above, the application will neither be
reviewed nor considered under any
circumstances. (d) The Agency will
determine the application receipt date
based on the actual date the U.S. Post
Office delivers the completed
application package.
(e) This notice is for rural
transportation technical assistance
grants only and therefore,
intergovernmental reviews are not
required.
(f) These grants are for rural
transportation technical assistance
grants only, no construction or
equipment purchases are permitted. If
the grantee has a previously approved
indirect cost rate, it is permissible,
otherwise, the applicant may elect to
charge the 10 percent indirect cost
permitted under 2 CFR 200.414(f) or
request a determination of its Indirect
Cost Rate. Due to the time required to
evaluate Indirect Cost Rates, it is likely
that all funds will be awarded by the
time the Indirect Cost Rate is
determined. No foreign travel is
permitted. Pre-Federal award costs will
only be permitted with prior written
approval by the Agency.
(g) Applicants must submit
applications in hard copy format as
previously indicated in the
APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION
INFORMATION section of this notice. If
the applicant wishes to hand deliver its
application, the addresses for these
deliveries can be located in the
ADDRESSES section of this notice.
(h) 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).
E. Application Review Information
1. Criteria
All eligible and complete applications
will be evaluated and scored based on
the selection criteria and weights
contained in 7 CFR 4280.435 and will
select grantees subject to the grantees’
satisfactory submission of the additional
items required by 7 CFR part 4280,
subpart E and the USDA Rural
Development Letter of Conditions.
Failure to address any one of the criteria
by the application deadline will result
in the application being determined
ineligible, and the application will not
be considered for funding. The amount
of an RT grant may be adjusted, at RBS’s
discretion, to enable RBS to award RT
grants to the applications with the
highest priority scores in each category.
2. Review and Selection Process
The State Offices will review
applications to determine if they are
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eligible for assistance based on
requirements contained in 7 CFR
4280.416 and 4280.417. If determined
eligible, your application will be
submitted to the National Office.
Funding of projects is subject to the
applicant’s satisfactory submission of
the additional items required by that
subpart and the USDA Rural
Development Letter of Conditions. The
Agency reserves the right to award
additional discretionary points under 7
CFR 4280.435(k).
In awarding discretionary points, the
Agency scoring criteria regularly assigns
points to applications that direct loans
or grants to projects based in or serving
census tracts with poverty rates greater
than or equal to 20 percent. This
emphasis will support Rural
Development’s mission of improving the
quality of life for Rural Americans and
commitment to directing resources to
those who most need them.
F. Federal Award Administration
Information
1. Federal Award Notices
Successful applicants will receive
notification for funding from the USDA
Rural Development State Office.
Applicants must comply with all
applicable statutes and regulations
before the grant award will be approved.
Unsuccessful applications will receive
notification by mail.
2. Administrative and National Policy
Requirements
Additional requirements that apply to
grantees selected for this program can be
found in 7 CFR 4280.408, 4280.410 and
4280.439. Awards are subject to USDA
grant regulations at 2 CFR Chapter IV
which incorporates the new Office of
Management and Budget (OMB)
regulations 2 CFR part 200.
All successful applicants will be
notified by letter which will include a
letter of conditions, and a letter of intent
to meet the conditions. This letter is not
an authorization to begin performance.
If the applicant wishes to consider
beginning performance prior to the grant
being officially closed, all pre-award
costs must be approved in writing and
in advance by the Agency. The grant
will be considered officially awarded
when all conditions in the letter of
conditions have been met and the
Agency obligates the funding for the
project.
Additional requirements that apply to
grantees selected for this program can be
found in 7 CFR part 4280, subpart E; the
Grants and Agreements regulations of
the U.S. Department of Agriculture
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codified in 2 CFR parts 400.1 to 400.18,
and successor regulations to these parts.
In addition, all recipients of Federal
financial assistance are required to
report information about first-tier subawards and executive compensation
(see 2 CFR part 170). You will be
required to have the necessary processes
and systems in place to comply with the
Federal Funding Accountability and
Transparency Act of 2006 (Pub.L. 109–
282) reporting requirements (see 2 CFR
170.200(b), unless you are exempt under
2 CFR 170.110(b)). More information on
these requirements can be found at
https://www.rd.usda.gov/programsservices/value-added-producer-grants.
The following additional
requirements apply to grantees selected
for this program:
(a) Form RD 4280–2 ‘‘Rural Business
and Cooperative Service Grant
Agreement.’’
(b) Letter of Conditions.
(c) Form RD 1940–1, ‘‘Request for
Obligation of Funds.’’
(d) Form RD 1942–46, ‘‘Letter of
Intent to Meet Conditions.’’
(e) Form AD–1047, ‘‘Certification
Regarding Debarment, Suspension, and
Other Responsibility Matters-Primary
Covered Transactions.’’
(f) Form AD–1048, ‘‘Certification
Regarding Debarment, Suspension,
Ineligibility and Voluntary ExclusionLower Tier Covered Transactions.’’
(g) Form AD–1049, ‘‘Certification
Regarding a Drug-Free Workplace
Requirement (Grants).’’
(h) Form AD–3031, ‘‘Assurance
Regarding Felony Conviction or Tax
Delinquent Status for Corporate
Applicants.’’ Must be signed by
corporate applicants who receive an
award under this Notice.
(i) Form RD 400–4, ‘‘Assurance
Agreement.’’
(j) SF LLL, ‘‘Disclosure of Lobbying
Activities,’’ if applicable.
(k) Use Form SF 270, ‘‘Request for
Advance or Reimbursement.’’
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
3. Reporting
(a) A Financial Status Report and a
project performance activity report will
be required of all grantees on a quarterly
basis until initial funds are expended
and yearly thereafter, if applicable,
based on the Federal fiscal year. The
grantee will cause the project to be
completed within the total sums
available to it in accordance with the
Scope of Work and any necessary
modifications thereof prepared by the
grantee and approved by the Agency. A
final project performance report will be
required with the final Financial Status
Report. The final report may serve as the
last quarterly report. The final report
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:17 Jul 27, 2015
Jkt 235001
must provide complete information
regarding the jobs created and
supported as a result of the grant if
applicable. Grantees must continuously
monitor performance to ensure that time
schedules are being met, projected work
by time periods is being accomplished,
and other performance objectives are
being achieved. Grantees must submit
an original of each report to the Agency
no later than 30 days after the end of the
quarter. The project performance reports
must include, but not be limited to, the
following:
(1) A comparison of actual
accomplishments to the objectives
established for that period;
(2) Problems, delays, or adverse
conditions, if any, which have affected
or will affect attainment of overall
project objectives, prevent meeting time
schedules or objectives, or preclude the
attainment of particular project work
elements during established time
periods. This disclosure shall be
accompanied by a statement of the
action taken or planned to resolve the
situation; and
(3) Objectives and timetable
established for the next reporting
period.
(4) Any special reporting
requirements, such as jobs supported
and created, businesses assisted, or
economic development which results in
improvements in median household
incomes, and any other specific
requirements, should be placed in the
reporting section in the Letter of
Conditions.
(5) Within 90 days after the
conclusion of the project, the grantee
will provide a final project evaluation
report. The last quarterly payment will
be withheld until the final report is
received and approved by the Agency.
Even though the grantee may request
reimbursement on a monthly basis, the
last 3 months of reimbursements will be
withheld until a final project, project
performance, and financial status report
are received and approved by the
Agency.
G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s)
For general questions about this
announcement, please contact your
USDA Rural Development State Office
provided in the ADDRESSES section of
this Notice.
H. Other Information
Paperwork Reduction Act
In accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act, the paperwork burden
has been cleared by OMB.
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
44929
Federal Funding Accountability and
Transparency Act
All applicants, in accordance with 2
CFR part 25, must have a DUNS
number, which can be obtained at no
cost via a toll-free request line at (866)
705–5711 or online at https://
fedgov.dnb.com/webform. Similarly, all
applicants must be registered in the
System for Award Management (SAM)
prior to submitting an application.
Applicants may register for the SAM at
https://www.sam.gov. All recipients of
Federal financial assistance are required
to report information about first-tier
sub-awards and executive total
compensation in accordance with 2 CFR
part 170.
I. Nondiscrimination
The U.S. Department of Agriculture
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
wish to file either an EEO or program
complaint may 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.
E:\FR\FM\28JYN1.SGM
28JYN1
44930
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 144 / Tuesday, July 28, 2015 / Notices
Dated: June 10, 2015.
Lillian E. Salerno,
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015–18391 Filed 7–27–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–XY–P
COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS
Agenda and Notice of Public Meeting
of the Maine Advisory Committee
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
BILLING CODE 6335–01–P
Notice is hereby given,
pursuant to the provisions of the rules
and regulations of the U.S. Commission
on Civil Rights (Commission), and the
Federal Advisory Committee Act
(FACA), that a meeting of the Maine
Advisory Committee to the Commission
will convene at 1:00 p.m. at on Tuesday,
August 4, 2015, at Lewiston City Hall,
27 Pine Street, Lewiston, Maine 04240.
The purpose of the subcommittee
meeting is to review projects completed
during the committee’s appointment
term and discuss recruitment efforts for
the committee’s upcoming term.
Members of the public are invited to
submit written comments; the
comments must be received in the
regional office by Friday, September 4,
2015. Written comments may be mailed
to the Eastern Regional Office, U.S.
Commission on Civil Rights, 1331
Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 1150,
Washington, DC 20425, faxed to (202)
376–7548, or emailed to Evelyn Bohor at
ero@usccr.gov. Persons who desire
additional information may contact the
Eastern Regional Office at (202) 376–
7533.
Records and documents discussed
during the meeting will be available for
public viewing as they become available
at https://database.faca.gov/committee/
meetings.aspx?cid=252 and clicking on
the ‘‘Meeting Details’’ and ‘‘Documents’’
links. Records generated from this
meeting may also be inspected and
reproduced at the Eastern Regional
Office, as they become available, both
before and after the meeting. Persons
interested in the work of this advisory
committee are advised to go to the
Commission’s Web site, www.usccr.gov,
or to contact the Eastern Regional Office
at the above phone number, email or
street address.
Agenda
Review of Projects Completed During
Appointment Term
Maine Advisory Committee Members
Recruitment for Future Term
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:17 Jul 27, 2015
Jkt 235001
Dated: July 23, 2015.
David Mussatt,
Chief, Regional Programs Unit.
[FR Doc. 2015–18434 Filed 7–27–15; 8:45 am]
Commission on Civil Rights.
ACTION: Announcement of planning
meeting.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY:
Barbara J. de La Viez, Designated
Federal Official
DATES: Tuesday, August 4, 2015 (EDT).
ADDRESSES: Lewiston City Hall, 27 Pine
Street, Lewiston, Maine 04240.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ivy
L. Davis at ero@usccr.gov, or 202–376–
7533.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Foreign-Trade Zones Board
[B–16–2015]
Authorization of Production Activity;
Foreign-Trade Subzone 37D; Xylem
Water Systems USA LLC; (Centrifugal
and Submersible Pumps) Auburn, New
York
On March 23, 2015, Xylem Water
Systems USA LLC, operator of Subzone
37D, submitted a notification of
proposed production activity to the
Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZ) Board for its
facility located in Auburn, New York.
The notification was processed in
accordance with the regulations of the
FTZ Board (15 CFR part 400), including
notice in the Federal Register inviting
public comment (80 FR 17033–17034,
3–31–2015). The FTZ Board has
determined that no further review of the
activity is warranted at this time. The
production activity described in the
notification is authorized, subject to the
FTZ Act and the FTZ Board’s
regulations, including Section 400.14.
Dated: July 23, 2015.
Andrew McGilvray,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015–18451 Filed 7–27–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of Industry and Security
Order Renewing Order Temporarily
Denying Export Privileges
Washington, DC 20230.
Mahan Airways, Mahan Tower, No. 21,
Azadegan St., M.A. Jenah Exp. Way,
Tehran, Iran
Pejman Mahmood Kosarayanifard, a/k/a
Kosarian Fard, P.O. Box 52404, Dubai,
United Arab Emirates;
Mahmoud Amini, G#22 Dubai Airport Free
Zone, P.O. Box 393754, Dubai, United Arab
Emirates, and P.O. Box 52404, Dubai,
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
United Arab Emirates, and Mohamed
Abdulla Alqaz Building, Al Maktoum
Street, Al Rigga, Dubai, United Arab
Emirates;
Kerman Aviation, a/k/a GIE Kerman
Aviation, 42 Avenue Montaigne 75008,
Paris, France;
Sirjanco Trading LLC, P.O. Box 8709, Dubai,
United Arab Emirates;
Ali Eslamian, 33 Cavendish Square, 4th
Floor, London, W1G0PW, United
Kingdom, and 2 Bentinck Close, Prince
Albert Road St. Johns Wood, London
NW87RY, United Kingdom;
Mahan Air General Trading LLC, 19th Floor
Al Moosa Tower One, Sheik Zayed Road,
Dubai 40594, United Arab Emirates;
Skyco (UK) Ltd., 33 Cavendish Square, 4th
Floor, London, W1G 0PV, United
Kingdom;
Equipco (UK) Ltd., 2 Bentinck Close, Prince
Albert Road, London, NW8 7RY, United
Kingdom;
Mehdi Bahrami, Mahan Airways-Istanbul
Office, Cumhuriye Cad. Sibil Apt No: 101
D:6, 34374 Emadad, Sisli Istanbul, Turkey;
Al Naser Airlines, a/k/a al-Naser Airlines,
a/k/a Alnaser Airlines and, Air Freight
Ltd., Home 46, Al-Karrada, Babil Region,
District 929, St 21, Beside Al Jadirya
Private Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq, and Al
Amirat Street, Section 309, St. 3/H.20, Al
Mansour, Baghdad, Iraq, and P.O. Box
28360, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and
P.O. Box 911399, Amman 11191, Jordan;
Ali Abdullah Alhay, a/k/a Ali Alhay, a/k/a
Ali Abdullah Ahmed Alhay, Home 46, AlKarrada, Babil Region, District 929, St 21,
Beside Al Jadirya Private Hospital,
Baghdad, Iraq, and, Anak Street, Qatif,
Saudi Arabia 61177;
Bahar Safwa General Trading, PO Box
113212, Citadel Tower, Floor–5, Office
#504, Business Bay, Dubai, United Arab
Emirates, and, PO Box 8709, Citadel
Tower, Business Bay, Dubai, United Arab
Emirates;
Sky Blue Bird Group, a/k/a Sky Blue Bird
Aviation, a/k/a Sky Blue Bird Ltd,
a/k/a Sky Blue Bird FZC), P.O. Box 16111,
Ras Al Khaimah Trade Zone, United Arab
Emirates;
Issam Shammout, a/k/a Muhammad Isam
Muhammad Anwar Nur Shammout,
a/k/a Issam Anwar, Philips Building, 4th
Floor, Al Fardous Street, Damascus, Syria,
and Al Kolaa, Beirut, Lebanon 151515, and
17–18 Margaret Street, 4th Floor, London,
W1W 8RP, United Kingdom, and
Cumhuriyet Mah. Kavakli San St. Fulya,
Cad. Hazar Sok. No.14/A Silivri, Istanbul,
Turkey.
Pursuant to Section 766.24 of the
Export Administration Regulations, 15
CFR parts 730 through 774 (2015)
(‘‘EAR’’ or the ‘‘Regulations’’),1 I hereby
1 The Regulations, currently codified at 15 CFR
parts 730–774 (2015), originally issued pursuant to
the Export Administration Act of 1979, as amended
(50 U.S.C. app. §§ 2401–2420 (2000)). Since August
21, 2001, the Act has been in lapse and the
President, through Executive Order 13222 of August
17, 2001 (3 CFR, 2001 Comp. 783 (2002)), which
has been extended by successive Presidential
Notices, the most recent being that of August 7,
E:\FR\FM\28JYN1.SGM
28JYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 144 (Tuesday, July 28, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44925-44930]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-18391]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Business--Cooperative Service
Inviting Rural Business Development Grant Program Applications
for Grants To Provide Technical Assistance for Rural Transportation
Systems
AGENCY: Rural Business--Cooperative Service, USDA.
ACTION: Initial notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This Notice is to invite applications for grants to provide
technical assistance for rural transportation (RT) systems under the
Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) program pursuant to 7 CFR part
4280, subpart E, 2 CFR chapter IV and 2 CFR part 200 for fiscal year
(FY) 2015. Funding shall be made available to qualified national
organizations to provide technical assistance for rural
[[Page 44926]]
transportation (RT) systems and for RT systems to Federally Recognized
Native American Tribes' (FRNAT) (collectively ``Programs'') from funds
appropriated for the RBDG program. The Rural Business--Cooperative
Service (RBS) will administer these awards under the RBDG program and 7
U.S.C. 1932(c) for FY 2015. This Notice is subject to the terms and
funds for the Programs made available in the Consolidated and Further
Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 (Pub. L. 113-235) (FY 2015
appropriation).
All applicants are responsible for any expenses incurred in
developing their applications.
DATES: Completed applications must be received in the USDA Rural
Development State Office no later than 4:30 p.m. (local time) on August
27, 2015. Applications received at a USDA Rural Development State
Office after that date will not be considered for FY 2015 funding.
ADDRESSES: Submit applications in paper format to the USDA Rural
Development State Office for the State where the project is located. A
list of the USDA Rural Development State Office contacts can be found
at: https://www.rurdev.usda.gov/StateOfficeAddresses.html.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Specialty Programs Division, Business
Programs, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, United States Department
of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., MS 3226, Room 4204-South,
Washington, DC 20250-3226, or call 202-720-1400. For further
information on this Notice, please contact the USDA Rural Development
State Office in the State in which the applicant's headquarters is
located.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Overview
Solicitation Opportunity Title: Rural Business Development Grants.
Announcement Type: Initial Announcement.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 10.351.
Dates: Completed applications must be received in the USDA Rural
Development State Office no later than 4:30 p.m. (local time) on August
27, 2015, to be eligible for FY 2015 grant funding. Applications
received after this date will not be eligible for FY 2015 grant
funding.
A. Program Description
1. Purpose of the Program. The purpose of this program is to
improve the economic conditions of rural areas.
2. Statutory Authority. This program is authorized under section
310B(c) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C.
1932(c)). Regulations are contained in 7 CFR part 4280, subpart E. The
program is administered on behalf of RBS at the State level by the USDA
Rural Development State Offices. Assistance provided to rural areas
under the program may include the provision of on-site technical
assistance to local and regional governments, public transit agencies,
and related non-profit and for-profit organizations in rural areas; the
development of training materials; and the provision of necessary
training assistance to local officials and agencies in rural areas.
Awards under the RBDG passenger transportation program will be made
on a competitive basis using specific selection criteria contained in 7
CFR part 4280, subpart E, and in accordance with section 310B(c) of the
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(c)).
Information required to be in the application package includes Standard
Form (SF) 424, ``Application for Federal Assistance;'' RD 1940-20,
``Request for Environmental Information;'' Scope of Work Narrative;
Income Statement; Balance Sheet or Audit for previous 3 years; AD-1047,
``Debarment/Suspension Certification;'' AD-1048, ``Certification
Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary
Exclusion;'' AD-1049, ``Certification Regarding Drug-Free Workplace
Requirements;'' SF LLL, ``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities;'' RD 400-
1, ``Equal Opportunity Agreement;'' RD 400-4, ``Assurance Agreement;''
a letter stating Board authorization to obtain assistance. For the
FRNAT grant, which must benefit FRNATs, at least 75 percent of the
benefits of the project must be received by members of FRNATs. The
project that scores the greatest number of points based on the RBDG
selection criteria and the discretionary points will be selected for
each grant.
Applicants must be qualified national non-profit organizations with
experience in providing technical assistance and training to rural
communities Nation-wide for the purpose of improving passenger
transportation service or facilities. To be considered ``national,''
RBS requires a qualified organization to provide evidence that it
operates RT assistance programming Nation-wide. There is not a
requirement to use the grant funds in a multi-State area. Grants will
be made to qualified national non-profit organizations for the
provision of technical assistance and training to rural communities for
the purpose of improving passenger transportation services or
facilities.
3. Definition of Terms. The definitions applicable to this Notice
are published at 7 CFR 4280.403.
4. Application Awards. The Agency will review, evaluate, and score
applications received in response to this Notice based on the
provisions in 7 CFR 4280, subpart E and as indicated in this Notice.
However, the Agency advises all interested parties that the applicant
bears the burden in preparing and submitting an application in response
to this Notice.
B. Federal Award Information
Type of Award: Grants.
Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2015.
Available Funds: Anyone interested in submitting an application for
funding under this program is encouraged to consult the Rural
Development Web Newsroom Web site at https://www.rd.usda.gov/newsroom/notices-solicitation-applications-nosas for funding information.
Approximate Number of Awards: Two.
Expected Amounts of Individual Awards and Amount of Funding per
Federal Award: One single $502,000 grant and another single $250,000
grant for FRNAT's.
Maximum Awards: A total of $502,000 will be awarded for technical
assistance for rural transportation systems and a maximum of $250,000
for FRNATs.
Award Date: Prior to September 30, 2015.
Performance Period: October 1, 2015, through September 30, 2016.
Renewal or Supplemental Awards: None
C. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants
To be considered eligible, an entity must be a qualified national
non-profit organization serving rural areas as evidenced in its
organizational documents and demonstrated experience, per 7 CFR part
4280, subpart E. Grants will be competitively awarded to qualified
national non-profit organizations.
The Agency requires the following information to make an
eligibility determination that an applicant is a national non-profit
organization. These applications must include, but are not limited to,
the following:
(a) An original and one copy of SF 424, ``Application for Federal
Assistance (For Non-construction);''
(b) Copies of applicant's organizational documents showing the
[[Page 44927]]
applicant's legal existence and authority to perform the activities
under the grant;
(c) A proposed scope of work, including a description of the
proposed Project, details of the proposed activities to be accomplished
and timeframes for completion of each task, the number of months
duration of the Project, and the estimated time it will take from grant
approval to beginning of Project implementation;
(d) A written narrative that includes, at a minimum, the following
items:
(i) An explanation of why the Project is needed, the benefits of
the proposed Project, and how the Project meets the grant eligible
purposes;
(ii) Area to be served, identifying each governmental unit, i.e.,
town, county, etc., to be affected by the Project;
(iii) Description of how the Project will coordinate Economic
Development activities with other Economic Development activities
within the Project area;
(iv) Businesses to be assisted, if appropriate, and Economic
Development to be accomplished;
(v) An explanation of how the proposed Project will result in newly
created, increased, or supported jobs in the area and the number of
projected new and supported jobs within the next 3 years;
(vi) A description of the applicant's demonstrated capability and
experience in providing the proposed Project assistance, including
experience of key staff members and persons who will be providing the
proposed Project activities and managing the Project;
(vii) The method and rationale used to select the areas and
businesses that will receive the service;
(viii) A brief description of how the work will be performed,
including whether organizational staff or consultants or contractors
will be used; and
(ix) Other information the Agency may request to assist it in
making a grant award determination;
(e) The latest 3 years of financial information to show the
applicant's financial capacity to carry out the proposed work. If the
applicant is less than 3 years old, at a minimum, the information
should include all balance sheet(s), income statement(s) and cash flow
statement(s). A current audited report is required if available;
(f) Documentation regarding the availability and amount of other
funds to be used in conjunction with the funds from RBDG;
(g) A budget which includes salaries, fringe benefits, consultant
costs, indirect costs, and other appropriate direct costs for the
Project.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching
Matching funds are not required.
3. Other
Applications will only be accepted from qualified national non-
profit organizations to provide technical assistance for rural
transportation. There are no ``responsiveness,'' or ``threshold''
eligibility criteria for these grants. There is no limit on the number
of applications an applicant may submit under this announcement. In
addition to the forms listed under program description, Form AD-3030 or
AD 3031, ``Representations Regarding Felony Conviction and Tax
Delinquent Status for Corporate Applicants,'' must be completed in the
affirmative.''
None of the funds made available by this or any other Act may be
used to enter into a contract, memorandum of understanding, or
cooperative agreement with, make a grant to, or provide a loan or loan
guarantee to, any corporation that has any unpaid Federal tax liability
that has been assessed, for which all judicial and administrative
remedies have been exhausted or have lapsed, and that is not being paid
in a timely manner pursuant to an agreement with the authority
responsible for collecting the tax liability, where the awarding agency
is aware of the unpaid tax liability, unless a Federal agency has
considered suspension or debarment of the corporation and has made a
determination that this further action is not necessary to protect the
interests of the Government.
None of the funds made available by this or any other Act may be
used to enter into a contract, memorandum of understanding, or
cooperative agreement with, make a grant to, or provide a loan or loan
guarantee to, any corporation that was convicted of a felony criminal
violation under any Federal law within the preceding 24 months, where
the awarding agency is aware of the conviction, unless a Federal agency
has considered suspension or debarment of the corporation and has made
a determination that this further action is not necessary to protect
the interests of the Government.
4. Completeness Eligibility
Applications will not be considered for funding if they do not
provide sufficient information to determine eligibility or are missing
required elements.
D. Application and Submission Information
1. Address To Request Application Package
For further information, entities wishing to apply for assistance
should contact the USDA Rural Development State Office provided in the
ADDRESSES section of this Notice to obtain copies of the application
package.
Applications must be submitted in paper format. Applications
submitted to a Rural Development State Office must be received by the
closing date and local time deadline.
All applicants must have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal
Numbering System (DUNS) number which can be obtained at no cost via a
toll-free request line at (866) 705-5711 or at https://fedgov.dnb.com/webform. Each applicant (unless the applicant is an individual or
Federal awarding agency that is excepted from the requirements under 2
CFR 25.110(b) or (c), or has an exception approved by the Federal
awarding agency under 2 CFR 25.110(d)) is required to: (i) Be
registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) before submitting
its application; (ii) provide a valid unique entity identifier in its
application; and (iii) continue to 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 a
Federal awarding agency. The Federal awarding agency may not make a
Federal award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all
applicable unique entity identifier and SAM requirements and, if an
applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time the
Federal awarding agency is ready to make a Federal award, the Federal
awarding agency may determine that the applicant is not qualified to
receive a Federal award and use that determination as a basis for
making a Federal award to another applicant.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission
An application must contain all of the required elements. Each
application received in a USDA Rural Development State Office will be
reviewed to determine if it is consistent with the eligible purposes
contained in section 310B(c) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(c)). Each selection priority criterion
outlined in 7 CFR 4280.435 must be addressed in the application.
Failure to address any of the criteria will result in a zero-point
score for that
[[Page 44928]]
criterion and will impact the overall evaluation of the application.
Copies of 7 CFR part 4280, subpart E, will be provided to any
interested applicant making a request to a USDA Rural Development State
Office.
All projects to receive technical assistance through these
passenger transportation grant funds are to be identified when the
applications are submitted to the USDA Rural Development State Office.
Multiple project applications must identify each individual project,
indicate the amount of funding requested for each individual project,
and address the criteria as stated above for each individual project.
For multiple-project applications, the average of the individual
project scores will be the score for that application.
The applicant documentation and forms needed for a complete
application are located in the PROGRAM DESCRIPTION section of this
notice, and 7 CFR part 4280, subpart E. There are no specific formats
required per this notice, and applicants may request forms and
addresses from the ADDRESSES section of this notice.
(a) There are no specific limitations on the number of pages or
other formatting requirements other than those described in the PROGRAM
DESCRIPTION section.
(b) There are no specific limitations on the number of pages, font
size and type face, margins, paper size, number of copies, and the
sequence or assembly requirements.
(c) The component pieces of this application should contain
original signatures on the original application.
(d) Since these grants are for technical assistance for
transportation purposes, no additional information requirements other
than those described in this notice and 7 CFR part 4280, subpart E.
3. Submission Dates and Times
(a) Application Deadline Date: No later than 4:30 p.m. (local time)
September 28, 2015.
Explanation of Deadlines: Applications must be in the USDA Rural
Development State Office by the local deadline date and time as
indicated above. If the due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or
Federal holiday, the application is due the next business day.
(b) The deadline date means that the completed application package
must arrive and be received in the USDA Rural Development State Office
by the deadline date established above. All application documents
identified in this Notice are required.
(c) If completed applications are not received by the deadline
established above, the application will neither be reviewed nor
considered under any circumstances. (d) The Agency will determine the
application receipt date based on the actual date the U.S. Post Office
delivers the completed application package.
(e) This notice is for rural transportation technical assistance
grants only and therefore, intergovernmental reviews are not required.
(f) These grants are for rural transportation technical assistance
grants only, no construction or equipment purchases are permitted. If
the grantee has a previously approved indirect cost rate, it is
permissible, otherwise, the applicant may elect to charge the 10
percent indirect cost permitted under 2 CFR 200.414(f) or request a
determination of its Indirect Cost Rate. Due to the time required to
evaluate Indirect Cost Rates, it is likely that all funds will be
awarded by the time the Indirect Cost Rate is determined. No foreign
travel is permitted. Pre-Federal award costs will only be permitted
with prior written approval by the Agency.
(g) Applicants must submit applications in hard copy format as
previously indicated in the APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION
section of this notice. If the applicant wishes to hand deliver its
application, the addresses for these deliveries can be located in the
ADDRESSES section of this notice.
(h) 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).
E. Application Review Information
1. Criteria
All eligible and complete applications will be evaluated and scored
based on the selection criteria and weights contained in 7 CFR 4280.435
and will select grantees subject to the grantees' satisfactory
submission of the additional items required by 7 CFR part 4280, subpart
E and the USDA Rural Development Letter of Conditions. Failure to
address any one of the criteria by the application deadline will result
in the application being determined ineligible, and the application
will not be considered for funding. The amount of an RT grant may be
adjusted, at RBS's discretion, to enable RBS to award RT grants to the
applications with the highest priority scores in each category.
2. Review and Selection Process
The State Offices will review applications to determine if they are
eligible for assistance based on requirements contained in 7 CFR
4280.416 and 4280.417. If determined eligible, your application will be
submitted to the National Office. Funding of projects is subject to the
applicant's satisfactory submission of the additional items required by
that subpart and the USDA Rural Development Letter of Conditions. The
Agency reserves the right to award additional discretionary points
under 7 CFR 4280.435(k).
In awarding discretionary points, the Agency scoring criteria
regularly assigns points to applications that direct loans or grants to
projects based in or serving census tracts with poverty rates greater
than or equal to 20 percent. This emphasis will support Rural
Development's mission of improving the quality of life for Rural
Americans and commitment to directing resources to those who most need
them.
F. Federal Award Administration Information
1. Federal Award Notices
Successful applicants will receive notification for funding from
the USDA Rural Development State Office. Applicants must comply with
all applicable statutes and regulations before the grant award will be
approved. Unsuccessful applications will receive notification by mail.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
Additional requirements that apply to grantees selected for this
program can be found in 7 CFR 4280.408, 4280.410 and 4280.439. Awards
are subject to USDA grant regulations at 2 CFR Chapter IV which
incorporates the new Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations
2 CFR part 200.
All successful applicants will be notified by letter which will
include a letter of conditions, and a letter of intent to meet the
conditions. This letter is not an authorization to begin performance.
If the applicant wishes to consider beginning performance prior to the
grant being officially closed, all pre-award costs must be approved in
writing and in advance by the Agency. The grant will be considered
officially awarded when all conditions in the letter of conditions have
been met and the Agency obligates the funding for the project.
Additional requirements that apply to grantees selected for this
program can be found in 7 CFR part 4280, subpart E; the Grants and
Agreements regulations of the U.S. Department of Agriculture
[[Page 44929]]
codified in 2 CFR parts 400.1 to 400.18, and successor regulations to
these parts.
In addition, all recipients of Federal financial assistance are
required to report information about first-tier sub-awards and
executive compensation (see 2 CFR part 170). You will be required to
have the necessary processes and systems in place to comply with the
Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (Pub.L.
109-282) reporting requirements (see 2 CFR 170.200(b), unless you are
exempt under 2 CFR 170.110(b)). More information on these requirements
can be found at https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/value-added-producer-grants.
The following additional requirements apply to grantees selected
for this program:
(a) Form RD 4280-2 ``Rural Business and Cooperative Service Grant
Agreement.''
(b) Letter of Conditions.
(c) Form RD 1940-1, ``Request for Obligation of Funds.''
(d) Form RD 1942-46, ``Letter of Intent to Meet Conditions.''
(e) Form AD-1047, ``Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension,
and Other Responsibility Matters-Primary Covered Transactions.''
(f) Form AD-1048, ``Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension,
Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion-Lower Tier Covered
Transactions.''
(g) Form AD-1049, ``Certification Regarding a Drug-Free Workplace
Requirement (Grants).''
(h) Form AD-3031, ``Assurance Regarding Felony Conviction or Tax
Delinquent Status for Corporate Applicants.'' Must be signed by
corporate applicants who receive an award under this Notice.
(i) Form RD 400-4, ``Assurance Agreement.''
(j) SF LLL, ``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities,'' if applicable.
(k) Use Form SF 270, ``Request for Advance or Reimbursement.''
3. Reporting
(a) A Financial Status Report and a project performance activity
report will be required of all grantees on a quarterly basis until
initial funds are expended and yearly thereafter, if applicable, based
on the Federal fiscal year. The grantee will cause the project to be
completed within the total sums available to it in accordance with the
Scope of Work and any necessary modifications thereof prepared by the
grantee and approved by the Agency. A final project performance report
will be required with the final Financial Status Report. The final
report may serve as the last quarterly report. The final report must
provide complete information regarding the jobs created and supported
as a result of the grant if applicable. Grantees must continuously
monitor performance to ensure that time schedules are being met,
projected work by time periods is being accomplished, and other
performance objectives are being achieved. Grantees must submit an
original of each report to the Agency no later than 30 days after the
end of the quarter. The project performance reports must include, but
not be limited to, the following:
(1) A comparison of actual accomplishments to the objectives
established for that period;
(2) Problems, delays, or adverse conditions, if any, which have
affected or will affect attainment of overall project objectives,
prevent meeting time schedules or objectives, or preclude the
attainment of particular project work elements during established time
periods. This disclosure shall be accompanied by a statement of the
action taken or planned to resolve the situation; and
(3) Objectives and timetable established for the next reporting
period.
(4) Any special reporting requirements, such as jobs supported and
created, businesses assisted, or economic development which results in
improvements in median household incomes, and any other specific
requirements, should be placed in the reporting section in the Letter
of Conditions.
(5) Within 90 days after the conclusion of the project, the grantee
will provide a final project evaluation report. The last quarterly
payment will be withheld until the final report is received and
approved by the Agency. Even though the grantee may request
reimbursement on a monthly basis, the last 3 months of reimbursements
will be withheld until a final project, project performance, and
financial status report are received and approved by the Agency.
G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s)
For general questions about this announcement, please contact your
USDA Rural Development State Office provided in the ADDRESSES section
of this Notice.
H. Other Information
Paperwork Reduction Act
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, the paperwork
burden has been cleared by OMB.
Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act
All applicants, in accordance with 2 CFR part 25, must have a DUNS
number, which can be obtained at no cost via a toll-free request line
at (866) 705-5711 or online at https://fedgov.dnb.com/webform.
Similarly, all applicants must be registered in the System for Award
Management (SAM) prior to submitting an application. Applicants may
register for the SAM at https://www.sam.gov. All recipients of Federal
financial assistance are required to report information about first-
tier sub-awards and executive total compensation in accordance with 2
CFR part 170.
I. Nondiscrimination
The U.S. Department of Agriculture 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 wish to file either an EEO or program complaint may
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.
[[Page 44930]]
Dated: June 10, 2015.
Lillian E. Salerno,
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-18391 Filed 7-27-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XY-P
