Community Development Revolving Loan Fund Access for Credit Unions, 14976-14979 [2019-07337]

Agencies

• National Credit Union Administration

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 71 (Friday, April 12, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14976-14979]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-07337]


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NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION


Community Development Revolving Loan Fund Access for Credit 
Unions

ACTION: Notice of Funding Opportunity.

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    Funding Opportunity Title: Community Development Revolving Loan 
Fund (CDRLF) Grant Program.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 44.002.

SUMMARY: The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) is issuing 
this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to announce the availability 
of technical assistance grants (awards) for low-income designated 
credit unions (LICUs) through the CDRLF program. The CDRLF program 
serves as a source of financial support in the form of awards that 
better enables LICUs to support the communities in which they operate. 
All grant awards made under this NOFO are subject to funds availability 
and are at the NCUA's discretion.

Table of Contents

A. Program Description
B. Federal Award Information
C. Eligibility Information
D. Application and Submission Information
E. Application Review Information
F. Federal Award Administration
G. Federal Awarding Agency

A. Program Description

    The purpose of the CDRLF program is to assist LICUs in providing 
basic financial services to their members to stimulate economic 
activities in their communities. Through the CDRLF program, the NCUA 
provides financial

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support in the form of awards to LICUs serving predominantly low-income 
members. These funds help improve and expand the availability of 
financial services to these members.
    The CDRLF program consists of Congressional appropriations that are 
administered by the NCUA. CDRLF awards may be used for various projects 
that support the efforts of credit unions providing basic financial and 
related services to residents in their communities; enhancing their 
capacity to better serve their members and the communities in which 
they operate, and strengthening the national system of cooperative 
credit.
    The NCUA will consider requests for various funding initiatives. 
More detailed information about the purpose of each initiative, amount 
of funds available, funding priorities, permissible uses of funds, 
funding limits, deadlines and other pertinent details will be defined 
in the Grant Round Guidelines. In addition, the NCUA may periodically 
publish information regarding the CDRLF program in official Letters to 
Credit Unions, press releases, and/or on the NCUA website.

1. Funding Initiatives

    The list of potential funding initiatives available during 2019 
includes the following:
    i. Counselor Certification (new);
    ii. Digital Services and Security;
    iii. Pilot Program (new);
    iv. Training; and
    v. Underserved Outreach.

2. Authority and Regulations

    i. Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1756, 1757(5)(D), and (7)(I), 1766, 1782, 
1784, 1785 and 1786; 12 CFR part 705.
    ii. Regulations: The regulation governing the CDRLF program is 
found at 12 CFR part 705. In general, this regulation is used by the 
NCUA to govern the CDRLF program and set forth the program 
requirements. Additional regulations related to the CDRLF program are 
found at 12 CFR parts 701 and 741. For the purposes of this NOFO, an 
Applicant is a Qualifying Credit Union that submits a complete 
Application to the NCUA under the CDRLF program. The NCUA encourages 
Applicants to review the regulations, this NOFO, the Grant Round 
Guidelines, and other program materials for a complete understanding of 
the program. Capitalized terms in this NOFO are defined in the 
authorizing statutes, regulations, and program materials.

B. Federal Award Information

    Approximately $2 million in awards will be available through this 
NOFO. The NCUA reserves the right to: (i) Award more or less than the 
amounts cited above; (ii) fund, in whole or in part, any, all, or none 
of the applications submitted in response to this NOFO; and (iii) 
reallocate funds from the amount that is anticipated to be available 
under this NOFO to other programs, particularly if the NCUA determines 
that the number of awards made under this NOFO is fewer than projected. 
General information about the purpose of each funding initiative and 
the maximum award amount is provided below.

1. Purpose of Funding Initiatives

    i. Counselor Certification: The Counselor Certification initiative 
is designed to provide credit union staff with a certified set of 
skills and knowledge that improves the financial health of members, as 
well as the credit union. With a certified financial or housing 
counselor on staff, credit unions are more equipped to implement 
solutions that help members yield healthy financial behaviors and make 
better decisions. The objective of this initiative is to help credit 
unions serve its membership by obtaining a certification in financial 
and/or housing counseling, and use the certification to build 
partnerships that expand the credit union's capacity to fully serve the 
underserved communities.
    ii. Digital Services and Security: The Digital Services and 
Security initiative helps credit unions implement the infrastructure to 
build a digital relationship with their members and safeguard credit 
union information from cybersecurity threats. Access to digital 
financial services will improve the ability of credit unions to serve 
underserved communities. It is crucial for credit unions to expand 
financial products and services for members through digital channels. 
Ensuring that the appropriate processes are in place to continually 
safeguard the credit union's digital assets and activities is equally 
important. The objective of this initiative is to help credit unions 
establish a new digital service or security that will ultimately 
benefit the members. This initiative is not intended to fund continuous 
projects or cover costs associated with normal maintenance of digital 
services.
    iii. Training: The Training initiative focuses on helping credit 
unions develop the skills and talents of employees through specialized 
management programs and advanced training courses. The goal of this 
initiative is to enhance the operational knowledge of credit union 
employees and support staff professional development.
    iv. Underserved Outreach: The Underserved Outreach initiative is 
designed to help credit unions implement innovative outreach strategies 
that will improve the financial well-being of individuals living in 
underserved areas. This initiative focuses on providing quality 
financial products and services to underserved population segments such 
as minority groups, youth & millennials, veterans, and immigrants. The 
goal of this initiative is for credit unions to employ outreach 
strategies that produce positive growth outcomes for the credit union 
and improve the financial health of individuals in underserved 
communities.
    v. Pilot Program: The Pilot Program initiative is designed to test 
new and innovative funding ideas that can help credit unions fulfill 
the CDRLF program's objectives. This initiative will explore the 
feasibility of new funding initiatives prior to full-scale development 
and deployment through small scale trials. The objective is to 
determine whether an initiative is appropriate, configurable, and ready 
for full-scale deployment. The specific details regarding the Pilot 
Program initiative are in the development stage and will not be 
finalized at the time this NOFO is published. However, the NCUA will 
make this information available on its website and the CFDA Assistance 
Listings when it is available.

2. Maximum Award Amount

    The maximum amount for a CDRLF award is determined by the type of 
funding initiative. There is no minimum amount for CDRLF awards. The 
maximum award amount for each funding initiative is provided below.

i. Counselor Certification--$5,000
ii. Digital Services and Security--$8,000
iii. Training--$5,000
iv. Underserved Outreach--$100,000
v. Pilot Program--To be determined

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

    This NOFO is open to credit unions that meet the eligibility 
requirements defined in 12 CFR part 705. A credit union must have a 
low-income designation, or equivalent in the case of a Qualifying 
State-chartered Credit Union, in order to participate in the CDRLF 
program. Requirements for obtaining the designation are defined in 12 
CFR 701.34.
    i. Non-Federally Insured Applicants: Each Applicant that is a non-
federally insured, state-chartered credit union

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must submit additional application materials. These additional 
materials are more fully described in 12 CFR 705.7(b)(3) and in the 
Application.
    a. Non-federally insured, state-chartered credit unions must agree 
to be examined by the NCUA. The specific terms and covenants pertaining 
to this condition will be provided in the award agreement of the 
Participating Credit Union.

2. Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number

    The Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number is a unique nine-
character number used to identify your organization. The federal 
government uses the DUNS number to track how federal money is 
allocated. Registering for a DUNS number is FREE. Applicants can obtain 
a DUNS number by visiting the Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) website or calling 
1-866-705-5711. The NCUA will not consider an Application that does not 
include a valid DUNS number issued by Dun and Bradstreet (D&B). Such an 
Application will be deemed incomplete and will be declined.

3. Employer Identification Number

    Each Application must include a valid and current Employer 
Identification Number (EIN) issued by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service 
(IRS). The NCUA will not consider an Application that does not include 
a valid and current EIN. Such an Application will be deemed incomplete 
and will be declined. Information on how to obtain an EIN may be found 
on the IRS's website.

4. System for Award Management

    All Applicants are required by federal law to have an active 
registration with the federal government's System for Award Management 
(SAM) prior to applying for funding. SAM is a web-based, government-
wide application that collects, validates, stores, and disseminates 
business information about the federal government's trading partners in 
support of the contract awards, grants, and electronic payment 
processes. The SAM registration process is FREE. Applicants can 
register by visiting the SAM website. An active SAM account status and 
CAGE number is required to apply for the NCUA's CDRLF program. 
Applicants that have an existing registration with SAM must recertify 
and maintain an active status annually. The SAM recertification process 
is FREE. The NCUA will not consider an Applicant that does not have an 
active SAM status. Such an Application will be deemed incomplete and 
will be declined.

5. Other Eligibility Requirements

    i. Financial Viability: Applicants must meet the underwriting 
standards established by the NCUA, including those pertaining to 
financial viability, as set forth in the application and defined in 12 
CFR 705.7(c).
    ii. Compliance with Past Agreements: In evaluating funding requests 
under this NOFO, the NCUA will consider an Applicant's record of 
compliance with past agreements. The NCUA, in its sole discretion, will 
determine whether to consider an Application from an Applicant with a 
past record of noncompliance, including any deobligation (i.e. removal 
of unused awards) of funds.
    a. If an Applicant is in default of a previously executed agreement 
with the NCUA, the NCUA will not consider an Application for funding 
under this NOFO.
    b. If an Applicant is a prior Awardee under the CDRLF program and 
has unused awards as of the date of Application, the NCUA may request a 
narrative from the Applicant that addresses the reason for its record 
of noncompliance. The NCUA, in its sole discretion, will determine 
whether the reason is sufficient to proceed with the review of the 
Application.

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Application Form

    Under this NOFO, all Applications must be submitted online in the 
NCUA's web-based application system, CyberGrants, in order to be 
considered. Applications must be submitted online at https://www.cybergrants.com/ncua/applications. The application form and related 
documents are also located on the NCUA's website at https://www.ncua.gov/services/Pages/resources-expansion/grants-loans.aspx.

2. Minimum Application Content

    A complete Application will consist of similar components for each 
CDRLF funding initiative. At a minimum, each initiative requires a 
narrative response that describes the Applicant's proposed use of the 
CDRLF award. The NCUA reserves the right to waive this requirement for 
any funding initiatives with a defined list of allowable project 
activities. The NCUA will identify the funding initiatives that do not 
require a narrative response in the Grant Round Guidelines. Other 
application contents that are specific to a particular funding 
initiative will be defined in the Grant Round Guidelines.

3. Submission Dates and Times

    The NCUA will accept Applications beginning June 2, 2019, at 9:00 
a.m. eastern time (ET). Applications must be submitted by July 20, 
2019, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Late Applications will not be considered. The 
submission dates and times in this NOFO apply to each funding 
initiative except for the Pilot Program. The submission dates and times 
for the Pilot Program will be announced in forthcoming guidance.

E. Application Review Information

1. Eligibility and Completeness Review

    The NCUA will review each Application to determine whether it is 
complete and that the Applicant meets the eligibility requirements 
described in the Regulations, the Grant Round Guidelines, and in this 
NOFO. An incomplete Application or one that does not meet the 
eligibility requirements will be declined without further 
consideration.

2. Evaluation Criteria

    Each funding initiative, due to its structure and impact, may have 
varying degrees of evaluation criteria assigned. The evaluation 
criteria for each funding initiative is fully described in the Grant 
Round Guidelines.

3. Substantive Review

    The purpose of the substantive review is to determine whether an 
Application satisfies the criteria set forth for each particular 
funding initiative. The NCUA will evaluate each Application that 
receives a substantive review in accordance with the criteria and 
procedures described in the Grant Round Guidelines. The NCUA reserves 
the right to contact the Applicant during its review for the purpose of 
clarifying or confirming information contained in the Application. If 
so contacted, the Applicant must respond within the time specified by 
the NCUA or the NCUA, in its sole discretion, may decline the 
application without further consideration.

4. Scoring and Funding Decision

    The NCUA will make its funding decision based on a uniform scoring 
system that establishes a ranking position for each Application. The 
Applications will be ranked according to the scoring criteria set forth 
for each funding initiative in the Grant Round Guidelines.

F. Federal Award Administration

1. Federal Award Notice

    The NCUA will notify each Applicant of its funding decision by 
email. In

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addition, the NCUA will announce the successful Applications through a 
press release that includes a list of the Awardees. Applicants that are 
approved for funding will also receive instructions on how to proceed 
with the post-award activities.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    i. Award Agreement: The specific terms and conditions will be 
established in the award agreement each Participating Credit Union must 
sign prior to formally accepting an award. Each Participating Credit 
Union under this NOFO must enter into an Agreement with the NCUA before 
the NCUA will disburse the award funds. The Agreement includes the 
terms and conditions of funding, including but not limited to the: (i) 
Award amount; (ii) grant award details; (iii) roles and 
responsibilities; (iv) accounting treatment; (v) signature pages; and 
(vi) reporting requirements.
    ii. Failure to Sign Agreement: The NCUA, in its sole discretion, 
may rescind an award if the Applicant fails to sign and return the 
agreement or any other requested documentation, within the time 
specified by the NCUA.

3. Reporting

    Applicants that are approved for funding will be responsible for 
the complete and timely submission of the post-award activities. This 
includes, but it is not limited to, signing the award agreement and 
completing a reimbursement request. Successful Applicants must submit a 
reimbursement request in order to receive the awarded funds. The 
reimbursement requirements are different depending on the funding 
initiative. The NCUA will define the reimbursement requirements for 
each funding initiative in the Post-Award Guidelines.
    The reimbursement request may require, all or a combination of, the 
following items: (i) Evidence of expenses, (ii) project related 
documentation, (iii) a summary of project accomplishments and outcomes, 
or (iv) a certification form signed by a credit union official (e.g. 
CEO, manager, or Board Chairperson) authorized to request the 
reimbursement and make the certifications. The NCUA, in its sole 
discretion, may modify these requirements. In general, successful 
Applicants are required to submit the reimbursement request before the 
expiration date specified in the award agreement.

G. Federal Awarding Agency

1. Methods of Contact

    Further information can be found at https://www.ncua.gov/services/Pages/resources-expansion/grants-loans.aspx. For questions email: 
National Credit Union Administration, Office of Credit Union Resources 
and Expansion at [email protected].

2. Information Technology Support

    People who have visual or mobility impairments that prevent them 
from using the NCUA's website should call (703) 518-6610 for guidance 
(this is not a toll free number).

    By the National Credit Union Administration Board on April 9, 
2019.
Gerard Poliquin,
Secretary of the Board.
[FR Doc. 2019-07337 Filed 4-11-19; 8:45 am]
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