Inviting Applications for Agriculture Innovation Demonstration Center Grants, 33969-33978 [2021-13675]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Rural Business-Cooperative Service

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 121 (Monday, June 28, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33969-33978]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-13675]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Business--Cooperative Service

[Docket #RBS-21-Business-0023]


Inviting Applications for Agriculture Innovation Demonstration 
Center Grants

AGENCY: Rural Business--Cooperative Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of solicitation of applications.

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SUMMARY: This Notice announces that the Rural Business-Cooperative 
Service (Agency) is accepting fiscal year (FY) 2021 applications for 
the Agriculture Innovation Demonstration Center (AIC) program. In FY 
2021, the program has $7,392,479 available for grant funding.
    The purpose of this program is to establish and operate Agriculture 
Innovation Centers (Centers) that provide technical and business 
development assistance to agricultural producers seeking to engage in 
the marketing or the production of Value-Added products. Eligible 
applicants include nonprofit and for-profit corporations, public 
bodies, and institutions of higher education. Consortiums are also 
eligible to apply, but they must select a single organization to 
represent the consortium as the applicant. Only the applicant 
organization must meet the eligibility requirements. This program 
supports Rural Development's (RD) mission of improving the quality of 
life for rural Americans and commitment to directing resources to those 
who most need them.

DATES: We will offer two training sessions for potential applicants 
approximately one month after this Notice is published. The training 
sessions will be similar and will be offered on different dates and at 
different times to accommodate applicants in different time zones. The 
training sessions will provide an overview of the requirements for the 
program and address questions posed by potential applicants. It is 
expected that the sessions will be offered via webinar and will have a 
duration of approximately two hours. Details regarding the specific 
dates, times, and access information will be posted at least two weeks 
prior to the sessions on the program's website at: https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/agriculture-innovation-center-program. A summary will be posted on the website after the sessions are 
completed.
    Completed applications for grants must be submitted electronically 
by no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, September 27, 2021, through 
Grants.gov. Late applications are not eligible for funding under this 
Notice and will not be evaluated.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gail Thuner, Grants Division, 
Cooperative Programs, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, United States 
Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, MS 3201, Room 
5803--South, Washington, DC 20250-3250, or call 202-720-1400, or email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Overview

    Federal Agency Name: USDA Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
    Funding Opportunity Title: Agriculture Innovation Demonstration 
Center.

[[Page 33970]]

    Announcement Type: Initial Notice.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 10.377.
    Dates: Application Deadline. Your application must be received by 
https://www.grants.gov/ no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, 
September 27, 2021, or it will not be considered for funding.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, the paperwork 
burden associated with this Notice has been approved by the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) under OMB Control Number 0570-0045.

A. Program Description

    The AIC program is authorized by section 7608 of the Farm Security 
and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 1632b) and is implemented by 
7 CFR part 4284 Subparts A and K, which are incorporated by reference 
into this Notice. The primary objective of the AIC program is to 
provide technical assistance to agricultural producers to market value-
added agricultural products through Centers. Grants are available to 
public bodies, institutions of higher education, nonprofit 
corporations, and for-profit corporations. Consortiums are also 
eligible to apply, but they must select a single organization to 
represent the consortium as the applicant. Only the applicant 
organization must meet the eligibility requirements. It is expected 
that recipients will establish and operate independently-governed 
Centers whose boards of directors meet the representation requirements 
described in Section D.2(j) of this Notice.

Definitions

    The terms you need to understand are defined and published at 7 CFR 
4284.3, 7 CFR 4284.1004, and 7 CFR 4284.902. The term ``you'' 
referenced throughout this Notice should be understood to mean ``you'' 
the applicant. Additional definitions are included below.
    Agricultural Commodity Organization means an organization that 
exclusively represents a single Agricultural Commodity or group of 
similar commodities either on behalf of the commodity itself or on 
behalf of the agricultural producers who grow or raise it. The 
representation can be at a local, State, regional, or national level. 
Examples are Agricultural Commodity Marketing Boards established by 
States, a national association representing corn growers, and a 
regional association representing vegetable and berry growers.
    Conflict of Interest means a situation in which a person or entity 
has competing personal, professional, or financial interests that make 
it difficult for the person or business to act impartially. Federal 
procurement standards prohibit transactions that involve a real or 
apparent conflict of interest for owners, employees, officers, agents, 
or their immediate family members having a financial or other interest 
in the outcome of the project; or that restrict open and free 
competition for unrestrained trade. Specifically, neither grant nor 
matching funds may be used for services or goods going to, or coming 
from, a person or entity with a real or apparent conflict of interest, 
including, but not limited to, owner(s) and their immediate family 
members. Examples of conflicts of interest include using grant or 
matching funds to pay a member of the applicant's board of directors to 
provide Producer Services and using grant or matching funds to pay an 
immediate family member of the applicant to provide Producer Services. 
Note that the Conflict of Interest does not include cases when the 
State's Secretary of Agriculture or an employee of the State's 
Department of Agriculture acts as a member of the Board of Directors.
    General Agricultural Organization means an organization that 
represents agriculture in general, without restriction to any specific 
group, commodity, or sector. Representing agriculture through policy-
making, education, and/or marketing must be the sole purpose of the 
organization. The organization must represent agricultural producers, 
although it may represent processors and other stakeholders as well. 
The representation can occur at the State, regional, or national level. 
Examples include organizations that represent farmers and ranchers and 
organizations that represent sustainable farming. Note that 
organizations representing organic agriculture and credit organizations 
are not considered part of this definition.
    Product Development means idea generation, concept testing, 
feasibility and cost analysis, product taste-testing, demographic and 
other types of consumer analysis, production analysis, evaluation of 
packaging and labeling options, and brand development for a value-added 
product.
    Qualified Board of Directors means a Board of Directors that 
includes, but is not limited to, representatives from each of the 
following groups: (1) Two General Agricultural Organizations with the 
greatest number of members in the State in which the Center is located, 
(2) the department of agriculture, or similar State department or 
agency or a State legislator, of the State in which the Center is 
located, and (3) four Agricultural Commodity Organizations representing 
different commodities produced in the State in which the Center is 
located. Note that no representative may represent more than one group 
or organization. Board of Director representatives must not have any 
Conflicts of Interest. Note that this definition supersedes the 
existing definition in 7 CFR 4284.1004 based on the revision 
established by Public Law 115-334 (the 2018 Farm Bill).

B. Federal Award Information

    Type of Award: Competitive Grant.
    Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2021.
    Total Funding: $7,392,479.
    Minimum Award: $400,000.
    Maximum Award: $1,000,000.
    Project Period: 2 years.
    Anticipated Award Date: February 23, 2022.

C. Eligibility Information

    You must meet all of the following eligibility requirements. 
Applicants and/or applications which fail to meet any of these 
requirements by the application deadline will not be evaluated further 
or considered for funding.
    1. Eligible Applicants. Grants may be made to public bodies 
(including local governments, State governments, and Federally-
Recognized Tribes), institutions of higher education, nonprofit 
corporations, and for-profit corporations. Consortiums are also 
eligible to apply, but they must select a single organization to 
represent the consortium as the applicant. Only the applicant 
organization must meet the eligibility requirements. Note that 
applicant organizations must be prepared to act as Centers to provide 
Producer Services. Grant awards are not made directly to businesses or 
agricultural producers to market Value-Added products. Organizations 
that propose to use grant award funds to earn revenue processing and 
selling value-added products are not eligible.
    (a) An applicant is ineligible if they have been debarred or 
suspended or otherwise excluded from or ineligible for participation in 
Federal assistance programs under Executive Order 12549, ``Debarment 
and Suspension.'' In addition, an applicant will be considered 
ineligible for a grant due to an outstanding judgment obtained by the 
U.S. in a Federal Court (other than U.S. Tax Court), is delinquent on 
the payment of Federal income taxes, or is delinquent on Federal debt. 
The applicant must certify as part of the application that they do not 
have an outstanding judgment against them. The

[[Page 33971]]

Agency will check the Do Not Pay system to verify the certification. 
(See also Section D.2.f of this Notice.)
    (b) Any corporation (i) that has been convicted of a felony 
criminal violation under any Federal law within the past 24 months or 
(ii) 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, is not eligible for financial assistance provided with funds 
appropriated by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Pub. L. 116-
260), 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. (See also 
Section D.2.e of this Notice.)
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching. Matching funds are required for at 
least one-third of the total project budget. For example, if the total 
project budget is $1,500,000, matching funds must be at least $500,000. 
Matching funds may be provided in cash by the applicant or a third 
party or in-kind by a third party. They must be available for use 
during the period of performance, and they must be used for allowable 
expenses. Applicants may propose to use unrecovered indirect costs as 
matching funds, subject to the review and approval of the agency, if an 
award is approved. (See also Section D.2.j of this Notice.)
    3. Other Eligibility Requirements.
    Independent Governance: The Center must be independently governed, 
although it does not have to be a separate legal entity from the 
applicant organization. If the applicant is a parent organization or 
institution of higher education, you must demonstrate that there is a 
separate Board of Directors for the Center and that the Center has 
independent governance. We consider the Center to have independent 
governance if it has control over personnel decisions, including hiring 
and firing employees and contractors; setting policies and procedures, 
including personnel and procurement; developing and approving its 
budget; and selecting its own Board of Directors, which shall not 
include any members who are affiliated with the parent organization. 
(See also Section D.2.k of this Notice.)
    Qualified Board of Directors: The Board of Directors for the Center 
must meet the definition for Qualified Board of Directors in Sec. A. 
Definitions of this Notice. (See also Section D.2.l of this Notice.)
    Existing Capability to Provide Services: You must be able to 
demonstrate that you have previously provided services similar to the 
Producer Services defined in 7 CFR 4284.1004 or that you have the 
capability to provide those services. In order to be considered 
qualified, you must either demonstrate at least three years of 
experience during the last five years providing the same type of 
Producer Services as those proposed in the application and show a 
record of at least three positive outcomes or you must demonstrate that 
you currently have at least two key personnel committed to the project 
who have the same level of experience and positive outcomes, even if 
they have not worked for you for at least three years. (See also 
Section D.2.m of this Notice.)
    Support of Agricultural Community: You must demonstrate that at 
least three relevant agricultural organizations support your project. 
We will consider the support to be relevant if the supporting 
organization is based in the State or region in which the project will 
take place and if the organization serves the same group of producers 
(either directly or through commodity/marketing efforts) targeted by 
the proposed project. (See also Section D.2.n of this Notice.)
    Improving Value-Added Markets: Your project must focus on 
increasing and improving the ability of local agricultural producers to 
develop markets and processes for Value-Added agricultural commodities 
or products. (See also D.2.s of this Notice.)
    Use of Funds: Grant Award funds may be used only to provide the 
following services directly to agricultural producers for the purpose 
of producing and marketing a value-added agricultural product:

 Financial advisory services related to the development, 
expansion, or operation of a business owned by an agricultural 
producer(s) that will produce a value-added agricultural product, as 
long as the assistance is not to support forming a joint marketing 
effort by a group of producers, such as a farmers market, roadside 
stand, community-supported agriculture, and online sales
 Process development services, including:
     Engineering services, including scale-up of production 
systems (not to include cost of renovating or constructing a facility 
or system)
     Scale production assessments, defined as studies that 
analyze facilities, including processing facilities, for potential 
value-added activities to determine the size that optimizes 
construction and other cost efficiencies
     Systems development
     Other technical assistance and applied research related to 
development, implementation, improvement and operations of processes 
and systems to produce and market a value-added agricultural product
 Organizational assistance, including legal and technical 
advisory services related to the development, expansion, or operation 
of a business owned by an agricultural producer(s) that will produce a 
value-added agricultural product, as long as this assistance is not 
provided to support forming a joint marketing effort of food and food 
products by a group of producers, such as a farmers market, roadside 
stand, community-supported agriculture, and online sales
 Outreach assistance, limited to assistance with connecting an 
agricultural producer to a distribution system, processing facility, or 
commercial kitchen
 Technical assistance for product development (excluding R&D), 
where product development has the following definition: Stages involved 
in bringing a product from idea or concept through commercial-scale 
production, including concept testing, feasibility and cost analysis, 
product taste-testing, demographic and other types of consumer 
analysis, production analysis, and evaluation of packaging and labeling 
options
 Costs associated with establishing and operating a Center, 
such as legal services, accounting services, clerical assistance, 
technical services, hiring employees, monitoring contracts, and Board 
of Director travel
 Grants of $5,000 or less to agricultural producers for the 
above services, where the aggregate amount of all such matching grants 
made by the Center does not exceed $50,000. Note that these ``mini-
grants'' are considered pass-through awards. Therefore Centers and the 
subrecipients must comply with all Federal and programmatic 
requirements for pass-through entities and awards, including, but not 
limited to, Pre-Award Requirements, Award Requirements, Post-Award 
Requirements, Property Standards, Procurement Standards, Performance 
and Financial Monitoring and Reporting, Subrecipient Monitoring and 
Reporting, Record Retention and Access, Remedies for Noncompliance,

[[Page 33972]]

Closeout, Post-Closeout Adjustments and Continuing Responsibilities. 
Pass-Through Entities are responsible for acting on behalf of the 
Federal Agency when determining eligibility for the mini-grants as well 
as compliance with Federal and program requirements. Subrecipients of 
the mini-grants must be eligible to receive a Federal award, use grant 
award and matching funds for allowable costs, provide at least one-
third of the total project costs in matching funds, and meet all other 
Federal and program requirements for this program.

    In addition to the above uses of Grant Award funds, your Matching 
Funds contribution can be used to provide the following services 
directly to agricultural producers for the purpose of producing and 
marketing a value-added agricultural product:

 Business development services, such as feasibility studies, 
business plans, and other types of technical assistance and applied 
research that support business development, including support to 
forming a joint marketing effort by a group of producers, such as a 
farmers market, roadside stand, community-supported agriculture, and 
online sales
 Market development and outreach services, such as marketing 
plans, branding, and customer identification including support to 
forming a joint marketing effort by a group of producers, such as a 
farmers market, roadside stand, community-supported agriculture, and 
online sales
    For information on selected items that are not allowable for 
funding under this Notice, please review section D(6) of this Notice, 
``Funding Restrictions.''
    Period of Performance. The proposed period of performance must be 
two years or less or the application will not be considered for 
funding. Note that in the future, any recipients that have already 
received funding through this program will be limited to one-year 
project periods while new recipients will be allowed up to two years. 
This difference in time is to allow new recipients additional time for 
start-up activities. The proposed start date must be no earlier than 
three months after the expected award date and no later than six months 
after the expected award date. Extensions may be approved on a case-by-
case basis at our discretion if circumstances beyond the recipient's 
control cause a significant delay in the performance of the award. 
However, in no case, will we approve a period of performance (including 
any extension period) for longer than two years.
    Satisfactory Performance. We will check the Federal Awardee 
Performance and Integrity Information System as well as the Do Not Pay 
system prior to awarding funds. These systems track all Federal awards. 
If you have deficiencies identified in either system, we may either 
discontinue processing your application if the deficiencies are 
significant or indicate a lack of capability to accomplish the proposed 
project or we may impose special conditions to address the 
deficiencies. Special conditions may include, but are not limited to, 
more frequent reporting, more detailed reporting, and the addition of 
benchmarks or checkpoints to assess progress.
    Financial Capability. We will assess the financial statements from 
your most recent audit to confirm that you possess sufficient financial 
capabilities for the proposed project. In particular, you must have a 
current ratio of at least 1:1 and the ability to provide sufficient 
cash flow to cover at least three months of total project costs to 
account for the lag between when expenses are incurred, and award funds 
are disbursed. If you do not meet these requirements, you are not 
eligible for funding. We will also review your audit and any notes and 
findings, and if we determine that your financial capability would 
preclude you from properly managing Federal funds, your organization 
will not be eligible for an award. We may also identify any concerns 
that might require special conditions if an award is made. (See also 
Section D.2.h.)
    Application Completeness: Your application must provide all the 
information requested in Section D.2 of this Notice. Applications 
lacking sufficient information to determine eligibility and scoring 
will not be considered for funding.
    No Duplication of Current Services. Your application must 
demonstrate that you are providing services to new customers or new 
services to current customers. (See also Section D.2.s of this Notice.)
    Number of Applications. You may only submit one application in 
response to this Notice.
    Number of Applicants. Only one organization can be listed as an 
applicant on an application, even if the project will be completed by a 
consortium or partnership. Collaboration and partnerships are 
encouraged, but one organization must be responsible for administering 
the award, if approved. Typically, we would expect collaborations to 
involve contributions of matching funds or procurement contracts.
    Collaboration, Contracts, and Subawards. While we support 
collaboration between and among Centers, you must limit any contracts 
or subawards with other Centers to 10% or less of project costs. We 
consider collaboration to occur when two or more Centers work jointly 
on an activity, but each Center controls its own budget for its 
involvement. Any collaboration with other Centers must be identified in 
the proposed Work Plan. The collaborators or contractors do not have to 
meet the eligibility requirements for the program. Only the applicant 
organization is required to meet the requirements.

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Web Address To Access Application Package

    The application template for applying for this funding opportunity 
is located at https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/agriculture-innovation-center-program. Use of the application template is strongly 
recommended to assist you with the application process.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

    Your application must be submitted electronically through 
Grants.gov. Your application must contain all required information. You 
must follow the instructions for this funding announcement at https://www.grants.gov/. Note that we cannot accept applications through mail 
or courier delivery, in-person delivery, email, or fax.
    You can locate the Grants.gov downloadable application package for 
this program by using a keyword, the program name, or the Catalog of 
Federal Domestic Assistance Number for this program.
    When you enter the Grants.gov website, you will find information 
about applying electronically through the site, as well as the hours of 
operation. We have included additional information about how to 
register and use the Grants.gov website in our Application Guide.
    To use Grants.gov, you must already have a Unique Entity Identifier 
number and you must also be registered and maintain registration in 
SAM. We strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application 
deadline date to begin the application process through Grants.gov 
because it can take up to four weeks to complete the registration 
process.
    You must submit all application documents electronically through

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Grants.gov. Applications must include electronic signatures. Original 
signatures may be required if funds are awarded.
    After applying electronically through Grants.gov, you will receive 
an automatic acknowledgement from Grants.gov that contains a Grants.gov 
tracking number.
    Your application must contain the following required forms and 
other components:
    (a) Standard Form SF-424, ``Application for Federal Assistance,'' 
to include your Unique Entity Identifier and SAM Commercial and 
Government Entity (CAGE) code and expiration date. If you do not 
include your DUNS number and your CAGE code or your DUNS number or Cage 
code is inactive or expired, we will not consider your application for 
funding.
    (b) Form SF-424A, ``Budget Information-Non-Construction Programs.'' 
This form must be completed and submitted as part of the application 
package.
    (c) You must certify that there are no current outstanding Federal 
judgments against your property and that you will not use grant funds 
to pay for any judgment obtained by the United States. You must also 
certify that you are not delinquent on the payment of Federal income 
taxes, or any Federal debt. To satisfy the Certification requirement, 
you must include this statement in your application: ``[INSERT NAME OF 
APPLICANT] certifies that the United States has not obtained an 
unsatisfied judgment against its property, is not delinquent on the 
payment of Federal income taxes, or any Federal debt, and will not use 
grant funds to pay any judgments obtained by the United States.'' A 
separate signature is not required.
    (d) Certification on Lobbying. Your authorized representative must 
sign a certification which contains the entire statement from 2 CFR 
part 418, Appendix A.
    (e) Financial Capability. You must include your most recent audit 
(including the Letter to the Managers).
    (f) Applicant Eligibility. You must verify your legal status and 
demonstrate your eligibility for the program.
     Public bodies must provide the legal citation that 
authorizes their organization.
     Non-profit and for-profit corporations must submit the 
State's Certificate of Good Standing (or the equivalent tribal 
documentation if incorporated under tribal law) and your Articles of 
Incorporation.
     Institutions of Higher Education must demonstrate that you 
qualify as an Institution of Higher Education as defined at 20 U.S.C. 
1001. The most common way to demonstrate this qualification is to 
provide the legal citation that authorizes the institution.
    (g) Verification of Matching Funds. Matching funds must be provided 
for at least one-third of the total project cost. For example, if your 
total project cost is $1,500,000, you must provide at least $500,000 in 
matching funds. Matching funds can be provided in cash by the applicant 
organization or a third-party. They can also be provided in-kind by a 
third-party organization. You must verify the amount of funds to be 
contributed, the source of the funds, the availability of the funds, 
and the purpose for which the funds will be used. All verification must 
be done on an organization's letterhead and be signed by the 
organization's authorized representative.
    (h) Governance Structure of the Center. The Center does not need to 
be an independent legal entity; however, it must be independently 
governed. You must provide an explanation of how the governance of the 
Center works (or will work if it hasn't been established at the time of 
application). In particular, you must address how the Center carries 
out personnel decisions, including hiring and firing employees and 
contractors; sets its policies and procedures, including personnel and 
procurement; develops and approves its budget; and selects its own 
Board of Directors.
    (i) Board of Directors. You must provide the following information:
    For the representatives from the two General Agricultural 
Organizations with the greatest number of members in your State, you 
must identify the representatives, the organizations, their purposes, 
and the number of members they have in your State. You must also 
explain how you determined that the organizations have the most (or 
second most) members. Acceptable sources for this information can 
include the state Department of Agriculture, or its equivalent, or a 
third-party, reliable source, such as a trade journal or university 
agriculture department.
    For the representative from the State Department of Agriculture (or 
equivalent) or State legislator, you must identify the representative 
and include the person's title and job responsibility if from the 
Department of Agriculture or identify the district the State legislator 
represents.
    For representatives from four Agricultural Commodity Organizations, 
you must identify each representative and the organization they 
represent. You must use data from the State Department of Agriculture, 
or its equivalent, to demonstrate that the commodities are produced in 
your state and provide a copy of the information used.
    You must also submit a signed statement from each representative 
stating that they either are currently on the Center's Board of 
Directors or that they commit to being on the Center's Board of 
Directors during the proposed period of performance.
    If your application is selected for funding, we will confirm the 
Board of Directors still meets the requirements. If at any time, the 
Center's Board of Directors does not meet the requirements during the 
period of performance, the award will either be suspended until the 
requirements can be met or it will be terminated if the requirements 
can no longer be met.
    (j) Existing Capability to Provide Services. The applicant 
organization must be able to demonstrate that it has previously 
provided services similar to the Producer Services defined in 7 CFR 
4284.1004 or that it has the capability to provide those services.
    To demonstrate previously providing services, you must include a 
chart or narrative that describes the services provided during the last 
three to five years, as needed, to show that you can meet the 
requirement. The description must include the specific type of service 
provided, the role of the Center in providing the service, how many 
times it has been provided, and the outcomes of the services provided 
(preferably with quantitative measurements).
    If the Center does not have at least three years of experience 
providing Producer Services during the last five years, you must 
provide a chart or narrative that describes the key personnel's 
experience with providing Producer Services during the last three to 
five years, as needed, to show that you can meet the requirement. The 
narrative must include a description of the services provided, the role 
of the key personnel in providing the service, how many times it has 
been provided, and the outcomes of the services provided (preferably 
with quantitative measurements).
    We will assess the capability of each applicant organization based 
only on what is submitted with the application.
    (k) Support of the Agricultural Community. You must include at 
least three letters of support from agricultural organizations, other 
than the applicant organization, that are relevant to the project. 
Evidence of support includes contributions of cash or in-kind matching 
funds. Other examples of support include referring clients and intent 
to collaborate. We will consider

[[Page 33974]]

the support to be relevant if the organization is based in the State or 
region in which the project will take place and if the organization 
serves the same group of producers (either directly or through 
commodity/marketing efforts) targeted by the proposed project. Note 
that support from organizations that are not agricultural in nature 
(such as local chambers of commerce) is not considered relevant for the 
purpose of meeting this requirement.
    (l) Strategic Coordination and Alliances. Describe arrangements in 
place or planned with end users (for example, processing and 
distribution companies and regional grocers) as well as with entities 
that have technical research capabilities, broad support from the 
agricultural community in the State or region, significant coordination 
with end users, strategic alliances with entities having technical 
research capabilities and a focused delivery plan for reaching out to 
the producer community.
    (m) Title Page. Your application must contain a Title Page. It is 
recommended that your Title Page include a short title for your 
proposed project as well as contact information or other application 
identifying information.
    (n) Table of Contents. Your application must contain a detailed 
Table of Contents (TOC). The TOC must include page numbers for each 
part of the application, including each evaluation criterion. Page 
numbers should begin immediately following the TOC.
    (o) Executive Summary. A summary of the proposal, not to exceed one 
page, must briefly describe the Project, tasks to be completed, and 
other relevant information that provides a general overview of the 
Project.
    (p) Goals of the Project. You must include a listing of each 
Producer Service to be offered during the project. You must also 
identify one or more specific goals relating to increasing and 
improving the ability of identified local agricultural producers to 
develop a market or process for Value-Added agricultural commodities or 
products.
    (q) Work Plan. You must include a description of your proposed work 
for the project, including how your project focuses on increasing and 
improving the ability of local agricultural producers to develop 
markets and processes for Value-Added agricultural commodities or 
products. This description must include the actions that will be taken 
in order for the Producer Services to be available from the Center. 
Each action should include a target date for completion. General start-
up tasks should be listed, followed by specific tasks listed for each 
Producer Service to be offered. Tasks associated with the start-up of 
the Center should include a focused marketing and delivery plan 
directed at the local agricultural producers that were identified in 
the Goals section of your application. The actions to be taken should 
include steps for identifying customers, hiring key personnel (if not 
already hired), contracting for services for the Center, and making 
arrangements for strategic alliances. Each defined task needs to have a 
description, assigned key personnel, and an expected time frame for 
accomplishment. You must also clearly demonstrate how your project will 
provide services to new customers or provide new services to existing 
customers.
    Note that the work you propose to accomplish must be allowable 
based on Sec. C.3 of this Notice. Funding restrictions are described in 
Sec. D.6.
    (r) Budget Justification. You must provide additional information 
regarding the budget you submit on the SF-424A, including your matching 
funds. This additional information must describe each category of 
expense and what specific costs are included in each category as well 
as how your Matching Funds will be used. For example, the Salaries 
justification must include the names of each staff member (not just key 
personnel) who will be paid and how much they will be paid. The Fringe 
Benefits category must include a description of how fringe benefits are 
calculated and what is included. The Contracts category must identify 
the contractors by name (if known) as well as the amounts expected for 
each contract and the purpose of each contract. The Other category must 
include the expected expenses (e.g., supplies) that will be included. 
The Travel category must identify specific trips that will be taken, 
who will be traveling, and the reason for the travel. Additionally, if 
there are any unusual expenses, you should describe them and why they 
are appropriate for the award.
    (s) Scoring Criteria. Each of the scoring criteria in this Notice 
must be addressed in narrative form, with a maximum of three pages for 
each individual scoring criterion, unless otherwise specified. Failure 
to address each scoring criteria will result in the application being 
determined ineligible.

3. Unique Entity Identifier and SAM

    System for Awards Management. All program applicants must be 
registered in the System for Awards Management (SAM) prior to 
submitting an application, unless determined exempt under 2 CFR 25.110. 
Grant recipients must 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. The applicant must 
ensure that the information in the database is current, accurate, and 
complete. Applicants must ensure they complete the Financial Assistance 
General Certifications and Representations in SAM.
    To be eligible, you are required to:
    (a) Provide a valid Unique Entity Identifier (formerly known as the 
DUNS number) in your application, which can be obtained at no cost via 
a toll-free request line at (866) 705-5711 or at https://fedgov.dnb.com/webform.
    (b) Register in SAM at no cost at https://sam.gov/content/home 
before submitting your application and provide your SAM CAGE Code and 
expiration date.
    (c) Continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current 
information at all times during which you have an active Federal award 
or an application or plan under consideration by a Federal awarding 
agency.
    If you have not fully complied with all applicable Unique Entity 
Identifier and SAM requirements, the Agency may determine that the 
applicant is not qualified to receive a Federal award and the Agency 
may use that determination as a basis for making an award to another 
applicant. Please refer to Section F.2 for additional submission 
requirements that apply to grantees selected for this program.

4. Submission Dates and Times

    Application Deadline Date: September 27, 2021.
    Explanation of Deadlines: Applications must be RECEIVED by https://www.grants.gov/ by midnight Eastern Time September 27, 2021, to be 
eligible for funding. Please review the Grants.gov website at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants.html for instructions on the 
process of registering your organization as soon as possible to ensure 
you can meet the electronic application deadline. Grants.gov will not 
accept applications submitted after the deadline.

5. Intergovernmental Review

    Executive Order (E.O.) 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs,'' applies to this program. This E.O. requires that Federal 
agencies provide opportunities for consultation on proposed assistance 
with State and local governments. Many States have established a Single 
Point of Contact

[[Page 33975]]

(SPOC) to facilitate this consultation. For a list of States that 
maintain a SPOC, please see the White House website: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/SPOC-4-13-20.pdf.
    If your State has a SPOC, you may submit a copy of the application 
directly for review. Any comments obtained through the SPOC must be 
provided to us for consideration as part of your application. If your 
State has not established a SPOC, or if you do not want to submit a 
copy of the application, we will submit your application to the SPOC or 
other appropriate agency or agencies.

6. Funding Restrictions

    No funds made available under this solicitation shall be used to:
    (a) Plan, repair, rehabilitate, acquire, or construct a building or 
facility, including a processing facility;
    (b) Purchase, rent, or install fixed equipment, including 
processing equipment;
    (c) Purchase vehicles, including boats;
    (d) Pay for the preparation of the grant application;
    (e) Pay expenses not directly related to the funded Project;
    (f) Fund political or lobbying activities;
    (g) Fund any activities considered unallowable by the applicable 
grant cost principles, including 2 CFR part 200, subpart E and the 
Federal Acquisition Regulation;
    (h) Fund architectural work for a specific physical facility;
    (i) Fund any direct expenses for the production of any commodity or 
product to which value will be added, including seed, rootstock, labor 
for harvesting the crop, and delivery of the commodity to a processing 
facility;
    (j) Fund manufacturing or processing expenses;
    (k) Purchase land;
    (l) Duplicate current activities or activities paid for by another 
Federal grant program;
    (m) Pay costs of the Project incurred prior to the date of award 
approval;
    (n) Pay for assistance to any private business enterprise that does 
not have at least 51 percent ownership by those who are either citizens 
of the United States or reside in the United States after being legally 
admitted for permanent residence;
    (o) Pay any judgment or debt owed to the United States;
    (p) Pay for Research and Development; or
    (q) Pay for any goods or services from a person who has a Conflict 
of Interest with the recipient.
    In addition, your application will not be considered for funding if 
it does any of the following:
     Requests less than the minimum or more than the maximum 
grant amount;
     Focuses assistance on only one agriculture producer or 
business;
     Proposes ineligible costs that equal more than 10 percent 
of total grant funds requested;
     Earns revenue from processing or selling a product as part 
of the project. Centers may charge fees for services provided, but they 
cannot earn revenue on actually processing a product or from sales 
associated with a product they helped develop; or
     Provides services to entities other than Agricultural 
Producers on behalf of and at the request of Agricultural Producers.
    We will consider your application for funding if it includes 
ineligible costs of 10 percent or less of total grant funds requested, 
if it is determined eligible otherwise. However, if your application is 
successful, those ineligible costs must be removed. If time permits, 
the Agency may allow those ineligible costs to be replaced with 
allowable costs. Otherwise, the amount of the grant award will be 
reduced accordingly. If we cannot determine the percentage of 
ineligible costs, your application will not be considered for funding.

7. Other Submission Requirements

    (a) National Environmental Policy Act. This Notice has been 
reviewed in accordance with 7 CFR part 1970, ``Environmental Policies 
and Procedures.'' We have determined that an Environmental Impact 
Statement is not required in connection with the issuance of this 
Notice because the issuance of regulations and instructions, as well as 
amendments to them, describing administrative and financial procedures 
for processing, approving, and implementing the Agency's financial 
programs is categorically excluded in the Agency's National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulation found at 7 CFR 1970.53(f). 
We have determined that this Notice does not constitute a major Federal 
action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment.
    The Agency will review each grant application to determine its 
compliance with 7 CFR part 1970. The applicant may be asked to provide 
additional information or documentation to assist the Agency with this 
determination.
    (b) Civil Rights Compliance Requirements. All grants made under 
this Notice are subject to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as 
required by USDA (7 CFR part 15, subpart A) and Section 504 of the 
Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

E. Application Review Information

    We will review applications to determine if they are eligible for 
assistance based on requirements in this Notice, and other applicable 
Federal laws and regulations. If we determine that your application is 
eligible for assistance, your application will be scored by a panel of 
USDA employees based on the Scoring Criteria specified in this Notice. 
The highest scoring application will be funded up to the maximum amount 
available. Additional applications that cannot be fully funded may be 
offered partial funding at the Agency's discretion.

1. Scoring Criteria

    All eligible and complete applications will be evaluated based on 
the following criteria. Evaluators will base scores only on the 
information provided in the application. This is a competitive program, 
so you will receive scores based on the quality of the information 
provided. Simply addressing the criteria will not guarantee higher 
scores. The total points possible for the criteria are 80.
    (a) Ability to Deliver (maximum score of 15 points). The 
application will be evaluated as to whether it evidences unique 
abilities to deliver Producer Services so as to create sustainable 
Value-Added ventures. Abilities that are transferable to a wide range 
of agricultural Value-Added commodities are preferred over highly 
specialized skills. Strong skills must be accompanied by a credible and 
thoughtful plan.
    Points will be awarded as follows:
    (i) 0 points will be awarded if you do not substantively address 
the criterion.
    (ii) 1-4 points will be awarded for unique abilities, that is, 
abilities that are not available through other organizations in the 
Center's service area.
    (iii) 1-4 points will be awarded for the expected sustainability of 
the Value-Added ventures supported by the project. For example, 
applications that propose to work with ventures where the expected 
sustainability has been assessed will receive more points than 
applications that do not address expected sustainability. By 
sustainability, we mean that the venture assisted will generate wealth 
(e.g., if the project adds retained earnings to the balance sheet, not 
just an increase in cash flow).
    (iv) 1-4 points will be awarded for the transferability of the 
abilities identified. Abilities that are transferable to a wide

[[Page 33976]]

range of commodities will receive more points.
    (v) 1-3 points will be awarded for plans to accomplish work that 
are thoughtful and seem reasonable. For example, do the services the 
Center will provide match the stated goals (from Section D.2.q). Are 
the results measurable and attainable within the proposed project 
period?
    (b) Successful Track Record (maximum score of 15 points). The 
applicant organization's track record in achieving Value-Added 
successes will be evaluated.
    Points will be awarded as follows:
    (i) 0 points will be awarded if you do not substantively address 
the criterion.
    (ii) 1-3 points will be awarded if the applicant has more than 
three years of experience in accomplishing Value-Added successes. More 
points will be given for more years of experience, based on the 
distribution of what all eligible applicants submit. No credit will be 
given for activities that did not directly result in a Value-Added 
success. Note that we consider a success to include working with an 
organization and providing coaching to indicate that the proposed 
venture is not feasible.
    (iii) 1-4 points will be awarded based on the number of Value-Added 
successes. More points will be given for higher numbers, based on the 
distribution of what eligible applicants submit.
    (iv) 1-4 points will be awarded based on the significance of Value-
Added successes. More points will be given for more significant 
successes, based on the distribution of what eligible applicants 
submit.
    (v) 1-4 points will be awarded based on the complexity of the role 
that the applicant organization played in the Value-Added successes.
    (c) Work Plan/Budget (maximum of 15 points). We will review the 
work plan for detailed actions and an accompanying timetable for 
implementing the proposed work. We will review budgets for completeness 
and the strength of non-Federal funding commitments. Note that there is 
no additional information required for this criterion. We will use the 
Work Plan and Budget Justification for our evaluation.
    Points will be awarded as follows:
    (i) 0 points will be awarded if you do not substantively address 
this criterion.
    (ii) 1-6 points will be awarded for work plans that describe each 
task, including objectives and potential outcomes, and how that task 
connects to the goal of the project. More points will be awarded for 
work plans that completely describe tasks and show measurable outcomes 
as well as for work plans that show a cohesive plan for the achievement 
of the goal(s) of the project.
    (iii) 1-3 points will be awarded for work plans that show a 
reasonable and differentiated timetable for the proposed tasks. For 
example, a work plan that shows a schedule for how a Center will begin 
operation, then market its services, and then provide its services 
would be awarded more points that a work plan that simply states all 
Producer Services will be offered for 12 months. We will also consider 
how you will identify customers. Applications with a specific 
description of customer identification will receive more points.
    (iv) 1-3 points will be awarded for the budget justification. More 
points will be awarded for justifications that completely describe all 
categories of cost, including indirect costs. We consider that a 
complete description includes identification of key personnel 
(including any contractors) and the salaries and fringe benefits 
associated with their time on the project as well as identification of 
all travel events (including who will be traveling and what the purpose 
of the trip is), individual contract amounts and purposes, and items 
that are categorized, such as computers, printers, scanners, copiers, 
and other office items.
    (v) 1-3 points will be awarded for higher quality matching funds. 
We consider cash match to be of higher quality than in-kind. Thus, we 
will award more points for applications that have a larger percentage 
of matching funds coming from cash, based on the distribution of what 
is submitted by applicants.
    (d) Qualifications of Key Personnel (maximum of 15 points). 
Describe the qualifications of the key personnel for the project. Key 
personnel may include employees of the Center or consultants/
contractors, but they do not include administrative or financial staff 
whose purpose is to support the administrative requirements of the 
award. Your description should include the number of years of 
experience that a person has doing the type of work that will be 
assigned during the project as well as metrics indicating the number of 
times the person has provided the assistance and the outcomes of that 
assistance. You must also include the total hours that will be 
contributed to the project by each person. Points will be awarded as 
follows:
    (i) 0 points will be awarded if you do not adequately address this 
criterion.
    (ii) 1-5 points based on the percentage of work that will be 
carried out by Center employees. We will calculate the percentage by 
adding the hours of the key personnel and dividing the number of hours 
from Center employees by the total hours.
    a. 1 point for 10-20% of the work carried out by Center employees;
    b. 2 points for 21-40% of the work carried out by Center employees;
    c. 3 points for 41-60% of the work carried out by Center employees;
    d. 4 points for 61-80% of the work carried out by Center employees; 
and
    e. 5 points for 81-100% of the work carried out by Center 
employees.
    (iii) 1-10 points based on the qualifications of the key personnel. 
More points will be awarded in cases where the key personnel are 
assigned to specific tasks that match their experience and skills.
    (e) Local support (maximum of 5 points). You must show that the 
Center has local support from and coordination with other developmental 
organizations in the proposed service area and with tribal, state, and 
local institutions. Support documentation should include recognition of 
rural values that balance employment opportunities with environmental 
stewardship and other rural amenities.
    Points will be awarded as follows:
    (i) 0 points are awarded if you do not adequately address this 
criterion or if you do not provide at least three letters of support.
    (ii) 1 point will be awarded for a support letter from a 
developmental organization in the proposed service area that shows 
coordination with your project.
    (iii) 1 point will be awarded for a support letter from a state 
institution.
    (iv) 1 point will be awarded for a support letter from a tribal 
institution.
    (v) 1 point will be awarded for a support letter from a local 
institution.
    (vi) 1 point will be awarded for support that includes recognition 
of rural values that balance employment opportunities with 
environmental stewardship and other rural amenities.
    You may submit a maximum of 3 letters of support for this criterion 
(or you may reference other letters submitted with the application). 
When awarding points for this criterion, we will only consider support 
letters from developmental organizations in the proposed service area, 
and state and local institutions. Additionally, identical form letters 
signed by multiple organizations will not be included in the count of 
support letters received. Support letters must be included as an 
attachment to the application.
    (f) Future support (maximum of 15 points). Describe the vision for 
funding

[[Page 33977]]

Center operations for future years, including diversification of 
funding sources and building in-house technical assistance capacity.
    Points will be awarded as follows:
    (i) 0 points will be awarded if you do not substantively address 
the criterion.
    (ii) 1-5 points will be awarded for applications that describe a 
specific plan for obtaining future funding for the Center. More points 
will be awarded for plans that show concrete actions for at least 3 
years into the future.
    (iii) 1-5 points will be awarded for applications that show a 
diversification of funding sources. Possible funding sources include 
Federal awards, tribal, state and local awards, private donations, and 
pay-for-service plans. More points will be awarded for plans that 
include multiple, committed funding sources. You may summarize the 
funding sources/support in a chart or narrative and you must include 
the following information for each source: Name of the organization, 
the amount of funds committed, the expected time period for commitment, 
and the purpose for which the funds can be used.
    (iv) 1-5 points will be awarded for applications that show how in-
house capacity for providing technical assistance will be improved. 
More points will be awarded for Centers that have a specific plan for 
training and hiring in-house technical assistance experts.

2. Review and Selection Process

    We will review applications to determine if they are eligible for 
assistance based on requirements in this Notice, and other applicable 
Federal laws and regulations. If we determine that your application 
meets the requirements, it will be scored by a panel of USDA employees 
in accordance with the Scoring Criteria and point allocation specified 
in this Notice. The review panel will convene to reach a consensus on 
the scores for each of the eligible applications. Applications will be 
ranked solely based on the points awarded, and they will be funded in 
rank order until available funds are expended or a minimum score of 40 
points is reached. If an application cannot be fully funded, we will 
offer partial funding to the extent funds are available. If the 
applicant offered partial funding does not accept, we will offer the 
funding to the next highest-ranked applicant until we find an applicant 
that accepts the funding or no additional eligible applicants exist.
    If your application is ranked and not funded, it will not be 
carried forward into the next competition.

F. Federal Award Administration Information

1. Federal Award Notices

    If you are selected for funding, you will receive a signed Letter 
of Conditions containing instructions on requirements necessary to 
proceed with execution and performance of the award. If you are able to 
meet the conditions of the award within the specified time frame 
(typically up to 90 calendar days), we will proceed with approving an 
award. If you are not able to meet the conditions of the award, we may 
terminate consideration of your application at our discretion and 
choose to award the funds to the next highest-ranked applicant.
    If you are not selected for funding, you will be notified in 
writing and informed of any review and appeal rights. Funding of 
successfully appealed applications will be limited to available FY 2021 
funding.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    Additional requirements that apply to grantees selected for this 
program can be found in 2 CFR parts 200, 400, 415, 417, 418, and 421. 
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 reporting requirements (See 2 CFR 170.200(b), 
unless you are exempt under 2 CFR 170.110(b)). These regulations may be 
obtained at: The following link: https://ecfr.io/.
    Applicants selected for this program will be required to execute 
the following additional documentation:
     Agency-approved Grant Agreement.
     Form RD 1940-1, ``Request for Obligation of Funds.''
     Form RD 1942-46, ``Letter of Intent to Meet Conditions.''
     Form RD 400-4, ``Assurance Agreement.'' By signing Form 
400-4, Assurance Agreement, recipients affirm that they will operate 
the program free from discrimination. The recipient will maintain the 
race and ethnic data on the board members and beneficiaries of the 
program. The Recipient will provide alternative forms of communication 
to persons with limited English proficiency. The Agency will conduct 
Civil Rights Compliance Reviews on recipients to identify the 
collection of racial and ethnic data on Program beneficiaries. In 
addition, the Compliance review will ensure that equal access to the 
Program benefits and activities are provided for persons with 
disabilities and language barriers.
     SF LLL, ``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities,'' if 
applicable.
     Certification of Lobbying. Your authorized representative 
must sign a certification which contains the entire statement from 2 
CFR part 418, Appendix A.

3. Reporting

    After award approval, you will be required to provide the 
following:
    a. A SF-425, ``Federal Financial Report,'' and a project 
performance report will be required on a quarterly basis (due 30 
calendar days after end of each quarter) for the first year of the 
project to ensure that all recipients are able to complete start-up 
activities and begin providing technical assistance. Recipients may 
submit financial and performance reports on a semi-annual basis for the 
second year of the project, provided they are on schedule for project 
completion. For the purposes of this program, quarters end on March 31, 
June 30, September 30, and December 31. The project performance reports 
shall include a comparison of actual accomplishments to the objectives 
established for that period.
    b. Reasons why established objectives were not met, if applicable.
    c. Reasons for any 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 objectives during established time 
periods. This disclosure shall be accompanied by a statement of the 
action taken or planned to resolve the situation.
    d. Objectives and timetable established for the next reporting 
period.
    e. Provide a final project and financial status report within 90 
calendar days after the expiration or termination of the award.
    f. Provide outcome project performance reports and final 
deliverables.

G. Agency Contacts

    For general questions about this announcement and for program 
Technical Assistance, please contact National Office staff: Gail 
Thuner, Management and Program Analyst, [email protected], or call 
202-720-1400.

[[Page 33978]]

H. Other Information

Non-Discrimination 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:

(1) Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant 
Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 
20250-9410;

or

email: [email protected].

Mark Brodziski,
Acting Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-13675 Filed 6-25-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XY-P