Notice of Solicitation of Applications for Inviting Applications for the Rural Business Development Grant Programs for Fiscal Year 2021, 8160-8165 [2021-02343]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Rural Business-Cooperative Service

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 22 (Thursday, February 4, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8160-8165]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-02343]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

[Docket No. RBS-BUSINESS-0042]


Notice of Solicitation of Applications for Inviting Applications 
for the Rural Business Development Grant Programs for Fiscal Year 2021

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice is to invite applications for grants under the 
Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) Program for fiscal year (FY) 
2021, subject to the availability of funding. This notice is being 
issued in order to allow applicants sufficient time to leverage 
financing, prepare and submit their applications, and give the Agency 
time to process applications within FY 2021. Successful applications 
will be selected by the Agency for funding and subsequently awarded to 
the extent that funding may ultimately be made available through 
appropriations. An announcement on the website at https://www.rd.usda.gov/newsroom/notices-solicitation-applications-nosas will 
identify the amount available in FY 2021 for RBDG applications.
    All applicants are responsible for any expenses incurred in 
developing their applications.

DATES: Applications must be submitted to the USDA Rural Development 
State Office for the State where the Project is located. Complete 
applications may be submitted in paper or electronic format to the 
appropriate Rural Development State Office and must be received by 4:30 
p.m. local time on March 31, 2021. A list of the USDA Rural Development 
State Offices can be found at: https://www.rd.usda.gov/page/state-offices.

ADDRESSES: Applications must be submitted to the USDA Rural Development 
State Office for the State where the Project is located. For Projects 
involving multiple states, the application must be filed in the Rural 
Development State Office where the Applicant is located. Applications 
may be submitted in paper or electronic format to the appropriate Rural 
Development State Office and must be received by 4:30 p.m. local time 
on the deadline date. Applicants are encouraged to contact their 
respective Rural Development State Office for an email contact to 
submit an electronic application prior to the submission deadline date. 
A list of the USDA Rural Development State Office contacts can be found 
at: https://www.rd.usda.gov/page/state-offices.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Chestnut, Branch Chief, Program 
Management Division, at (202) 692-5233, or [email protected], 
Rural Business-Cooperative Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
1400 Independence Avenue SW, MS 3226, Room 5801-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. A list of Rural 
Development State Office contacts is provided at the following link: 
https://www.rd.usda.gov/page/state-offices.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The agency encourages applications that will 
help advance equity and improve outcomes in rural America. Applicants 
are encouraged to consider projects that provide measurable results in 
helping rural communities build robust and sustainable economies 
through strategic investments in infrastructure, partnerships and 
innovation. Please note that this Notice does not award points for 
these strategies.

Overview

    Solicitation Opportunity Type: Rural Business Development Grant.
    Announcement Type: Initial Solicitation Announcement.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 10.351.
    Dates: The deadline for completed applications to be received in 
the USDA Rural Development State Office has been established as no 
later than 4:30 p.m. (local time) on March 31, 2021. A list of the USDA 
Rural Development State Offices can be found at: https://www.rd.usda.gov/page/state-offices.
    Set Aside Funding:
    The Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020, DIV III, Title 
B--Agriculture, Rural Development designated funding for Federally-
Recognized Native American Tribes, Rural Empowerment Zone/Enterprise 
Communities/Rural Economic Area Partnerships, and projects in 
Persistent Poverty areas, Native American Persistent Poverty areas and 
for Strategic Economic and Community Development (SECD) projects in 
Fiscal Year 2020. Set aside funding may ultimately be made available 
through appropriations in FY2021 where continued emphasis is given to 
financial assistance for projects located in these areas. Eligible 
applicants for the set aside funds, if available, must demonstrate that 
at least 75 percent of the benefits of an approved grant will assist 
beneficiaries in the designated areas. The completed application 
deadline for these set aside funds, if available, is consistent with 
the application deadline date of March 31,

[[Page 8161]]

2021. Applicants for set aside funds must indicate that they are 
applying for set aside funds and may not submit a duplicate application 
for regular RBDG funds. Eligible applications for set aside funding 
that are not funded due to insufficient funds will be allowed to 
compete for available FY2021 regular RBDG funds in the State where the 
Project is located.
    Persistent poverty counties:
    The Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020, SEC. 740 
designates funding for projects in Persistent Poverty counties. 
Persistent Poverty counties as defined in SEC. 740 is ``any county that 
has had 20 percent or more of its population living in poverty over the 
past 30 years, as measured by the 1990 and 2000 decennial censuses, and 
2007-2011 American Community Survey 5-year average, or any territory or 
possession of the United States''. Another provision in SEC. 740 
expands the eligible population in Persistent Poverty counties to 
include any county seat of such a persistent poverty county that has a 
population that does not exceed the authorized population limit by more 
than 10 percent. This provision expands the current 50,000 population 
limit to 55,000 for only county seats located in Persistent Poverty 
counties. Therefore, beneficiaries of technical assistance services 
located in Persistent Poverty county seats with populations up to 
55,000 (per the 2010 Census) are eligible.

A. Program Description

    1. Purpose of the Program. The purpose of the program is to promote 
economic development and job creation projects through the awarding of 
grant funds to eligible entities. Applications will compete in two 
separate categories, business opportunity grants and business 
enterprise grants, for use in funding various business projects that 
serve rural areas. Business opportunity projects may be used to 
establish business support centers or provide funds for job training 
and leadership development in rural areas. Business opportunity 
projects must be consistent with any local and area-wide strategic 
plans for community and economic development, coordinated with other 
economic development activities in the project area, and consistent 
with any Rural Development State Strategic Plan. Business enterprise 
projects must be used to finance or develop small and emerging 
businesses in rural areas. Enterprise funded project purposes must be 
in compliance with 7 CFR 4280.417(a)(2) which includes the acquisition 
and development of land, access streets and roads, and the conversion 
or modernization of buildings, machinery and equipment.
    2. Statutory and Regulatory Authority. These Programs are 
authorized under 5 U.S.C. 301: 940c and 7 U.S.C. 1932(c) and 
implemented by 7 CFR part 4280, subpart E. Assistance provided under 
this subpart will be made to eligible entities and will be used for 
funding various business opportunity and business enterprise projects 
that serve Rural Areas.
    Awards under the RBDG Programs will be made on a competitive basis 
using specific selection criteria contained in 7 CFR part 4280, subpart 
E. Information required to be in the application package includes 
Standard Form (SF) 424, ``Application for Federal Assistance;'' a copy 
of applicants organizational documents; a proposed scope of work; 
Resolution of the Board of Directors; SF LLL, ``Restrictions on 
Lobbying;'' RD 400-1, ``Equal Opportunity Agreement;'' RD 400-4, 
``Assurance Agreement;'' Assurance Statement for the Uniform Act; 
paperwork required in accordance with 7 CFR part 1970, ``Environmental 
Policies and 7 CFR 4280.427 Application.
    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 found in 7 CFR part 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 whether or not funding is 
appropriated for these Programs in FY 2021.

B. Federal Award Information

    Type of Awards: Grants.
    Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2021.
    Available Funds: Anyone interested in submitting an application for 
funding under these Programs is encouraged to consult the Rural 
Development Notices of Solicitation of Applications website at https://www.rd.usda.gov/newsroom/notices-solicitation-applications-nosas.
    Anticipated Award Dates: If Applicable, Set Aside awards: May 31, 
2021. Regular awards: August 31, 2021.
    Performance Period: June 1, 2021, through September 30, 2023.
    Renewal or Supplemental Awards: None.

C. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants.
    Grants may be made to a Public Body/Government Entity; an Indian 
Tribe; or a Nonprofit entity primarily serving rural areas. In 
accordance with 7 CFR 4280.416(d), applicants that are not delinquent 
on any Federal debt or not otherwise disqualified from participation in 
these Programs are eligible to apply. The Agency will check the System 
for Award Management (SAM) to determine if the applicant has been 
debarred or suspended. Applicants must be registered in the System for 
Award Management (SAM) prior to submitting an application and maintain 
an active SAM registration with current information at all times during 
which it has an active Federal award or an application under 
consideration by the Agency. All other restrictions in this notice will 
apply.
    The Agency requires information to make an eligibility 
determination through applications that 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 
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. Grant funds may be used for projects identified in 
Sec.  4280.417(a) as either a business opportunity type grant or a 
business enterprise type grant. The scope of work must include 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. In accordance with 7 CFR 4280.421, a Project 
must reasonably be expected to be completed within 1 full year after it 
has begun.
    (d) A written narrative that includes, at a minimum, the following 
items:
    (1) An explanation of why the Project is needed, the benefits of 
the proposed Project, and how the Project meets the grant eligible 
purposes;
    (2) Area to be served, identifying each governmental unit, i.e. 
town, county, Indian reservation, etc., to be affected by the Project;
    (3) Description of how the Project will coordinate Economic 
Development activities with other Economic Development activities 
within the Project area;
    (4) Business to be assisted, if appropriate; and Economic 
Development to be accomplished;
    (5) An explanation of how the proposed Project will result in newly

[[Page 8162]]

created, increased or supported jobs in the area and the number of 
projected new and supported jobs within the next 3 years;
    (6) A description of the applicant's demonstrated capability and 
experience in providing the proposed Project assistance or similar 
Economic Development activities, including experience of key staff 
members and persons who will be providing the proposed Project 
activities and managing the Project;
    (7) The method and rationale used to select the areas and 
businesses that will receive the service;
    (8) A brief description of how the work will be performed including 
whether organizational staff or consultants or contractors will be 
used;
    (9) Please note that no assistance or funding can be provided to 
hemp producers or processors unless they have a valid license issued 
from an approved State, Tribal or Federal plan as per Section 10113 of 
the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, Public Law 115-334. 
Verification of valid hemp licenses will occur at the time of award; 
and
    (10) Other information the Agency may request to assist 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) Intergovernmental review comments from the State Single Point 
of Contact, or evidence that the State has elected not to review the 
program under Executive Order 12372;
    (g) Documentation regarding the availability and amount of other 
funds to be used in conjunction with the funds from the RBDG; Agency 
employees must make a determination that the other funds proposed are 
in place as part of their financial analysis toward the feasibility of 
the project. If there is not a firm commitment in writing of the other 
funding, it may not be considered for leveraging and scoring purposes 
and the project must be feasible without those funds;
    (h) A budget which includes salaries, fringe benefits, consultant 
costs, indirect costs, and other appropriate direct costs for the 
Project; and
    (i) RBDG construction Project grants must conform with 7 CFR part 
1924, subpart A and the 7 CFR 1970 environmental requirements.
    2. General Processing and Scoring Provisions.
    The Agency will review each application for assistance in 
accordance with the priorities established in Sec.  4280.435. The 
Agency will assign each application a priority rating and will select 
applications for funding based on the priority ratings and the total 
funds available to the program for opportunity-type projects and 
enterprise-type projects.
    (a) The Agency will score each application based on the information 
contained in the application and its supporting information. All 
applications submitted for funding must contain sufficient information 
to permit the Agency to complete a thorough priority rating. Agency 
employees may not consider any information that is not provided by the 
applicant in writing for scoring purposes. Applications will not be 
considered for funding if they do not provide sufficient information to 
determine eligibility or are missing required elements. Total possible 
points for the scoring criteria is 240 plus discretionary points that 
may be awarded by the Administrator or State Director with 
justification and only for those projects submitting an initial grant 
application. Points will be awarded to an eligible application as 
follows:
    (1) Leveraging. If the grant will fund a critical element of a 
larger program of Economic Development, without which the overall 
program either could not proceed or would be far less effective, or if 
the program to be assisted by the grant will also be partially funded 
from other sources, points will be awarded if Rural Development's 
funding is: (i) Less than 20 percent of the project costs--30 points; 
(ii) between 20 percent and up to 50 percent of the project--20 points; 
(iii) between 50 percent and up to 75 percent of the project--10 
points.
    (2) Demographics. Points will be awarded for each of the following 
criteria met by the community or communities that will receive the 
benefit of the grant, up to a total of 40 points from all categories: 
(i) Communities experiencing trauma due to a major natural disaster 
that occurred not more than 3 years prior to the filing of the 
application for assistance will be awarded 15 points; (ii) Communities 
that have suffered a loss of 20 percent or more in their total jobs 
caused by the closure of a military facility or other employers within 
the last 3 years will be awarded 15 points; (iii) Communities that have 
experienced Long-Term poverty as demonstrated by being a former Rural 
empowerment zone, Rural economic area partnership zone, Rural 
enterprise community, champion community, or a persistent poverty 
county as determined by USDA's Economic Research Service will receive 
10 points; and (iv) If the community has experienced Long-Term 
population decline as demonstrated by the latest three decennial 
censuses, 10 points will be awarded.
    (3) Population. Points will be awarded if the proposed project(s) 
will be located in a community of: (i) Under 5,000 population--15 
points; (ii) Between 5,000 and less than 15,000 population--10 points; 
or (iii) Between 15,000 and 25,000 population--5 points.
    (4) Unemployment. If the proposed project(s) will be located in 
areas where the unemployment rate: (i) Exceeds the State rate by 25 
percent or more--20 points will be awarded; (ii) exceeds the State rate 
by less than 25 percent--10 points will be awarded; or (iii) is equal 
to or less than the State rate--0 points will be awarded.
    (5) Median household income. If the proposed project(s) will be 
located in areas where Median Household Income (MHI) as prescribed by 
section 673(2) of the Community Services Block Grant Act for a family 
of 4 for the State is: (i) Less than the poverty line--25 points will 
be awarded; (ii) More than the poverty line but less than 65 percent of 
State MHI--15 points will be awarded; (iii) Between 65 and 85 percent 
of the State MHI--10 points will be awarded; or (iv) If the area has 
greater than 85 percent of the State MHI--0 points will be awarded.
    (6) Experience. If the applicant provides evidence of successful 
experience in the type of activity proposed based on its current 
employees' resumes demonstrating: (i) 10 or more years of experience--
30 points will be awarded; (ii) At least 5 but less than 10 years of 
experience--20 points will be awarded; (iii) At least 3 years but less 
than 5 years of experience--10 points will be awarded; or (iv) At least 
1 but less than 3 years of experience--5 points will be awarded.
    (7) Small business start-up or expansion. If the Applicant has 
evidence that small business development will be supported by startup 
or expansion as a result of the activities to be carried out under the 
grant by written evidence provided to the Agency from a small, or a 
Small and Emerging Business that includes the number of jobs that will 
be supported and created, 5 points will be awarded for each letter up 
to a total of 25 points. Generic or duplicated letters are not 
acceptable, letters must address the specific business producing the 
letter, the connection to the project activities

[[Page 8163]]

and further provide information relative to jobs to meet the criteria.
    (8) Jobs created or supported. Points will be awarded if the 
anticipated development, expansion, or furtherance of business 
enterprises as a result of the proposed Project will create and/or 
support existing jobs associated with the affected businesses. The 
number of jobs must be evidenced by a written commitment from the 
business(es) to be assisted. Points will be awarded based on the ratio 
of jobs to be supported by the amount of grant funds. For projects 
supporting: (i) One job for less than $5,000 of grant funds--25 points 
will be awarded; (ii) one job for $5,000 but less than $10,000 of grant 
funds--20 points; (iii) one job for $10,000 but less than $15,000--15 
points; (iv) one job for $15,000 but less than $20,000--10 points; or 
(v) one job for $20,000 but less than $25,000 of grant funds--5 points 
will be awarded.
    (9) Size of grant request. Projects utilizing grant funds of: (i) 
Less than $100,000--25 points will be awarded; (ii) Grant requests of 
$100,000 to $200,000--15 points will be awarded; or (iii) applications 
for more than $200,000 but equal to or less than $500,000--10 points 
will be awarded.
    (10) Indirect cost. If the applicant is not requesting grant funds 
to cover their administrative or indirect costs, 5 points will be 
awarded.
    (b) Unfunded applications. The Agency will notify eligible 
applicants if funds are not available. If an applicant wishes to have 
their application maintained in an active file for future 
consideration, the applicant must revise and update their application 
in writing for the Agency to reconsider in a future funding cycle. 
Agency employees will notify unsuccessful applicants who did not 
receive funding due to insufficient funds in writing that their 
application will not be funded. The potential grantee will be permitted 
to respond in writing that they wish their application to be 
reconsidered in the next funding cycle. The applicant at that time may 
provide additional updated information to be considered in that funding 
cycle.
    (c) Unfunded applications for set aside funding. The Agency will 
notify eligible applicants in writing if set aside funds are not 
available or they did not receive funding due to insufficient funds. 
Unfunded applications for set aside funds will be allowed to compete 
for available FY2021 regular RBDG funds in the State where the Project 
is located. For Projects involving multiple states, the application 
must be filed in the Rural Development State Office where the Applicant 
is located and will compete for funds in that State.

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.
    Prior to official submission of grant applications, applicants may 
request technical assistance or other application guidance from the 
Agency, as long as such requests are made at least 15 days prior to the 
submission deadline. Technical assistance is not meant to be an 
analysis or assessment of the quality of the materials submitted, a 
substitute for agency review of completed applications, nor a 
determination of eligibility, if such determination requires in-depth 
analysis. The Agency will not solicit or consider scoring or 
eligibility information that is submitted after the application 
deadline. The Agency reserves the right to contact applicants to seek 
clarification information on materials contained in the submitted 
application.
    Applications may be submitted in paper or electronic format to the 
appropriate Rural Development State Office and must be received by 4:30 
p.m. local time on March 31, 2021. Applicants are encouraged to contact 
their respective Rural Development State Office for an email contact to 
submit an electronic application prior to the submission deadline 
date(s). 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 applying for grant funds (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 and be 
submitted in one package. Each selection priority criterion outlined in 
7 CFR 4280.427 must be addressed in the application. Failure to address 
any of the criterion will result in a zero-point score for that 
criterion and will impact the overall evaluation of the application. 
Copies of 7 CFR 4280, subpart E, will be provided to any interested 
applicant making a request to a Rural Development State Office. An 
original copy of the application must be filed with the Rural 
Development State Office for the State where the Project is located. 
For Projects involving multiple states, the application must be filed 
in the Rural Development State Office where the Applicant is located.
    The applicant documentation and forms needed for a complete 
application are located in the PROGRAM DESCRIPTION section of this 
notice, and 7 CFR 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. Any form that 
requires an original signature but is signed electronically in the 
application submission must be signed in ink by the authorized person 
prior to the disbursement of funds.
    (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.
    3. Submission Dates and Times.
    (a) Application Deadline Dates: Applications must be submitted to 
the Rural Development State Office no later than 4:30 p.m. (local time) 
on March 31, 2021.
    (b) The deadline date means that the completed application package 
must be received in the USDA Rural Development State Office by the 
established deadline date and time. All

[[Page 8164]]

application documents identified in this notice are required in the 
submission to be considered a complete application.
    (c) The Agency will determine the application receipt date for 
paper applications based on the actual date postmarked. The date of 
electronic application submissions will be the date received in the 
Rural Development State Office by the designated Agency staff person.
    (d) If completed applications are not received by the March 31, 
2021 deadline, the application will neither be reviewed nor considered 
for funding under any circumstances.
    (e) Indirect costs will be permitted in accordance with applicable 
law and in accordance with 2 CFR part 200. Pre-Federal award costs will 
only be permitted with prior written approval by the Agency.
    (f) Applicants may submit applications in hard copy or electronic 
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.
    (g) 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, 
subpart E. 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.
    2. Review and Selection Process.
    The Rural Development State Offices will review applications to 
determine if they are eligible for assistance based on requirements 
contained in 7 CFR parts 4280.416 and 4280.417. Funding of projects is 
subject to the Applicant's satisfactory submission of the items 
required by 7 CFR 4280 subpart E and this Notice in addition to any 
conditions specifically outlined in any issued USDA Rural Development 
Letter of Conditions if available funds are to be awarded.
    Applications will compete at the state level in their respective 
category, business opportunity grants or business enterprise grants, 
for funding made available through Rural Development State allocated 
funds. Applications will be reviewed, prioritized by score, and funded 
by ranking each Project in highest to lowest score order until 
available funds are exhausted. If funds are exhausted at the state 
level, each State's highest scoring unfunded business enterprise 
project will have the opportunity to compete for funding through a 
final national competition.
    The Agency reserves the right to award additional discretionary 
points under 7 CFR 4280.435. Discretionary points may be awarded to 
accomplish geographic distribution of funds, special Secretary of 
Agriculture initiatives such as Priority Communities, or a state's 
strategic goals. Discretionary points may only be awarded to initial 
grants.

F. Federal Award Administration Information

    1. Federal Award Notices.
    Successful applicants will receive notification for funding from 
the Rural Development State Office. Applicants must comply with all 
applicable statutes and regulations before the grant award can be 
approved and funded. If an application is withdrawn by the applicant, 
it can be resubmitted and will be evaluated as a new application in the 
period submitted.
    2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements.
    Additional requirements that apply to grantees selected for these 
Programs can be found in 7 CFR 4280, subpart E. Awards are subject to 
USDA grant regulations at 2 CFR Chapter IV which incorporated the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations 2 CFR 200.
    All successful applicants will be notified by letter which will 
include a Letter of Conditions, and a Letter of Intent to Meet 
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 these 
Programs can be found in 7 CFR 4280, subpart E; the Grants and 
Agreements regulations of the U.S. Department of Agriculture codified 
in 2 CFR 400.1 to 400.2 and 2 CFR part 415 to 422, 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). The applicant 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 
exempt under 2 CFR 170.110(b)).
    The following additional requirements apply to grantees selected 
for these Programs:
    (a) Form RD 4280-2 ``Rural Business-Cooperative Service Financial 
Assistance 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) SF LLL, ``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities,'' if applicable.
    (f) Grantees will use Form SF 270, ``Request for Advance or 
Reimbursement'' when requesting grant funds from the Agency.
    You no longer must complete the following forms for acceptance of a 
Federal award. This information is now collected through your 
registration or annual recertification in SAM.gov in the Financial 
Assistance General Certifications and Representations section:
     Form RD 400-4, ``Assurance Agreement.''
     Form AD-3031, ``Assurance Regarding Felony Conviction or 
Tax Delinquent Status for Corporate Applicants.''
    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. 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 
grantee will complete the Project within the total time 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 RBDG grant if applicable. The 
Project performance reports must include, but not be limited to, the 
following:

[[Page 8165]]

    (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 of the Letter 
of Conditions.
    (5) Within 90 days after the conclusion of the Project, the 
Intermediary 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 report, Project performance, and 
financial status report are received and approved by the Agency.
    (b) In addition to any reports required by 2 CFR part 200 and 2 CFR 
400.1 to 400.2 and 2 CFR part 415 to 422, the grantee must provide 
reports as required by 7 CFR part 4280, subpart E.

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. Civil Rights Requirements

    All grants made under this notice are subject to Title VI of the 
Civil Rights Act of 1964 as required by the USDA (7 CFR part 15, 
subpart A) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title 
VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, Title IX, Executive Order 13166 
(Limited English Proficiency), Executive Order 11246, and the Equal 
Credit Opportunity Act of 1974.

I. Other Information

Paperwork Reduction Act

    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
information collection requirement contained in this notice is approved 
by OMB under OMB Control Number 0570-0070.

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 applying for grant funds must be registered 
in SAM prior to submitting an application. Applicants may register for 
the SAM at https://www.sam.gov/SAM. All recipients of Federal financial 
grant assistance are required to report information about first-tier 
sub-awards and executive total compensation in accordance with 2 CFR 
part 170.

Nondiscrimination Statement

    In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its 
agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or 
administering USDA Programs are prohibited from discriminating based on 
race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including 
gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital 
status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance 
program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil 
rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA 
(not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing 
deadlines vary by program or incident.
    Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of 
communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, 
audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible 
Agency or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or 
contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. 
Additionally, program information may be made available in languages 
other than English.
    To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA 
Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at https://www.usda.gov/oascr/how-to-file-a-program-discrimination-complaint and 
at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in 
the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a 
copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed 
form or letter to USDA by:
    Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant 
Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 
20250-9410; or
    (1) Email: [email protected].
    USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Mark Brodziski,
Acting Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-02343 Filed 2-3-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XY-P