Multi-Family Housing Non-Profit Transfer Technical Assistance Grants, 70433-70438 [2021-26757]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Rural Housing Service

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 235 (Friday, December 10, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70433-70438]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-26757]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Housing Service

[Docket No. RHS-21-MFH-0013]


Multi-Family Housing Non-Profit Transfer Technical Assistance 
Grants

AGENCY: Rural Housing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA).

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SUMMARY: The Rural Housing Service (RHS), a Rural Development agency 
(Agency) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), 
announces the availability of $3 million and the timeframe to submit 
applications for Multi-Family Housing Non-Profit Transfer Technical 
Assistance (MFHNPTA) Grants program from qualified nonprofits (NP) and 
public housing authorities (PHA) to provide technical assistance to RHS 
Multi-Family Housing (MFH) borrowers and applicants to facilitate the 
acquisition of Section 515 properties by NPs and PHAs.

DATES: The closing deadline for receipt of all applications in response 
to this NOFA is 11:59 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time on February 8, 2022. 
See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for additional information.

ADDRESSES: Applications in response to this NOFA must be submitted 
electronically to the CloudVault. Specific instructions on how to 
submit applications electronically are provided below within this 
Notice under the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section and can also be 
viewed at: https://www.grants.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephanie Vergin, Preservation and 
Production Division, Multi-Family Housing, at (651) 602-7820 (this is 
not a toll-free number) or via email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority

    This NOFA is authorized pursuant to Section 749 of the Consolidated 
Appropriations Act, 2018 (Pub. L. 115-141), Section 746 of the 
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 (Pub. L. 116-6), and Section 764 
of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (Pub. L. 116-94).

Overview Information

    Federal Agency Name: Rural Housing Service.
    Funding Opportunity Title: Notice of Funding Availability for the 
Multi-Family Housing Non-Profit Transfer Technical Assistance (MFHNPTA) 
Grants for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022.
    Announcement Type: Initial Announcement.
    Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 10.494. (formerly Catalog of 
Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA).
    Dates: The deadline for receipt of all applications in response to 
this NOFA is 11:59 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time, on February 8, 2022.
    Submissions: Applications must be submitted electronically to 
CloudVault. Applications must be received by the closing deadline.
    The process for submitting an electronic application to the Agency 
via CloudVault is as follows:
    At least three business days prior to the application deadline for 
the applicable funding round, the applicant must email the Agency a 
request to create a shared folder in CloudVault. The email must be sent 
to the following address: [email protected]. The email must contain the 
following information:
     Subject line: Non-Profit Technical Assistance NOFA 
Submission.
     Body of email: Applicant Name and Applicant Contact 
Information.
     Request language: ``Please create a shared CloudVault 
folder so that we may submit our application documents.''
    Once the email request to create a shared CloudVault folder has 
been received, a shared folder will be created within two business 
days. When the shared CloudVault folder is created by the Agency, the 
system will automatically send an email to the applicant's submission 
email with a link to the shared folder. All required application 
documents in accordance with this NOFA must be loaded into the shared 
CloudVault folder. When the submission deadline is reached, the 
applicant's access to the shared CloudVault folder will be removed. Any 
document uploaded to the shared CloudVault folder after the application 
deadline will not be reviewed or considered.
    The applicant should upload a Table of Contents of all the 
documents that have been uploaded to the shared CloudVault folder. 
Last-minute requests and submissions may not allow adequate time for 
the submission process to take place prior to the deadline. Applicants 
are reminded that all submissions must be submitted electronically via 
CloudVault and received by the deadline.
    Documents received after the deadline will not be evaluated. Upon 
request, the Agency will provide the responding entities with a written 
acknowledgement of receipt.

A. Funding Opportunity Description

    The technical assistance (TA) grants offered under this NOFA are 
for the purpose of facilitating the transfer and preservation of 
existing Rural Rental Housing properties under Section 515 of the 
Housing Act of 1949, as amended (42 U.S.C. 1485). Agency regulations 
for the Section 515 program are published at 7 CFR part 3560.
    Applications must demonstrate the responding entity's experience 
and expertise in the acquisition and rehabilitation of affordable MFH 
properties and their capacity to provide advisory services in 
affordable housing. Responding entities may submit applications to 
serve a single-state or multi-state area.

B. Award Information

    The Agency will evaluate and score the grant applications according 
to the criteria set forth in this NOFA. The maximum award per funded 
application will be $350,000.
    The Agency was granted authority for this pilot program under 
Section 749 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (Pub. L. 115-
141); Section 746 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 (Pub. L. 
116-6); and Section 764 of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 
2020 (Pub. L. 116-94). In addition, the Agency is authorized to utilize 
the appropriations from each fiscal year for a total appropriation of 
$3 million to provide grants to qualified NPs and PHAs who will then 
provide technical assistance, including financial and legal services, 
to MFH borrowers to facilitate the acquisition of Section 515MFH 
properties by NPs and PHAs. These grants will be provided in areas 
where the USDA Secretary determines there is a risk of loss of 
affordable housing to keep such properties in the MFH program. Risk of 
loss of affordable housing may be driven by market conditions or may be 
due to property-specific factors, including mortgages

[[Page 70434]]

reaching maturity, owner ability to prepay existing Agency loans, poor 
physical condition of the property, or failing ownership. Funds that 
are not obligated to initial awardees by May 1, 2022, may be awarded to 
other NP and/or PHA applicants waiting for the TA grants based on 
scoring set forth in this NOFA.
    When selecting a grantee, the Agency may request changes to the 
Scope of Work (SOW). See Section D of this NOFA. Grantees must execute 
a Grant Agreement that will incorporate a SOW agreed to by the Agency. 
If the selected grantee does not accept the terms of the Agency and/or 
does not deliver an executed Grant Agreement within ten business days 
after receiving the Grant Agreement with the agreed upon SOW, the 
Agency may choose to rescind the award and select another grantee 
without further notice.
    The grant term is 24 months with an extension allowed up to an 
additional 12 months at the Agency's discretion.
    Grant funds are available for obligation through July 1, 2022. The 
grant term will be defined in the Grant Agreement and will become 
effective once signed by the grantee and the Agency.

C. Eligibility Information

    Eligibility for grants under this NOFA is limited to NPs and PHAs 
meeting the requirements specified in this Notice. NPs must meet the 
definition of nonprofit organization in 7 CFR part 3560. Qualified NPs 
and PHAs include tribally designated housing entities (TDHE) and tribal 
housing NPs.
    1. Expertise and Capacity.
    Eligible grantees must have the knowledge, ability, technical 
expertise, practical experience, and capacity necessary to develop and 
package Section 515 property transfer transactions. They must also 
demonstrate the ability to provide technical assistance to NPs and/or 
PHAs to facilitate their acquisition of Section 515 properties. In 
addition, all eligible grantees must demonstrate the ability to 
exercise leadership, organize work, and prioritize assignments to meet 
work demands in a cost-efficient and timely manner within the 24-month 
grant term. Eligible grantees will include a proposed SOW (see Section 
D of this NOFA) which will be evaluated as part of the application.
    2. Organization Status.
    Responding entities must document each of the following in their 
response:
    a. Status (i.e., Articles of Incorporation) as a NP and/or PHA.
    b. Good standing within the state in which the entity is organized.
    c. Legal authority to provide services stated in the application 
under the applicable laws for the state(s) in which operation is 
proposed. Examples of acceptable documentation include but are not 
limited to bylaws, organizational charters, and statutes or 
regulations.
    d. No current or unresolved default or violation of any other 
federal, state, or local grant or loan agreement(s).
    e. Experience in providing technical assistance for Section 515 MFH 
affordable housing (describe in the SOW).
    The requirements above will also apply to any entity performing 
services on behalf of the respondent.

D. Scope of Work

    Responding entities must submit a detailed SOW that includes the 
following requirements:
    a. Introduction/overview with a description of the proposed plan to 
provide technical assistance to NPs and PHAs in the acquisition of 
Section 515 properties within the prescribed 24-month grant term.
    b. The organization's capabilities to execute the proposed plan 
within the prescribed 24-month grant term, focusing on the elements 
described in Section C. 1. of this NOFA.
    c. The organization's plan to identify potential sellers of Section 
515 properties.
    d. The organization's plan to identify and provide services to NPs 
and PHAs interested in acquiring these properties.
    e. Types of proposed technical assistance and legal and/or 
financial services that will enable NPs and/or PHAs to submit 
successful transfer applications to the Agency within the prescribed 
24-month grant term. Clearly explain the services to be provided 
directly by your organization and all services that will be provided by 
third-parties. See Section F.5.b. of this NOFA for additional 
information.
    f. The organization's experience in identifying and successfully 
assisting entities in the acquisition, repair, and rehabilitation of 
Section 515 MFH properties.
    g. Grant funds usage projection that corresponds with a 24-month 
timeline for service delivery and illustrates direct and indirect 
administrative costs in dollars, and as a percentage of the technical 
assistance services provided. See Section E of this NOFA for more 
information regarding eligible costs.
    h. Any other strength and/or capability not included above that you 
believe qualifies the organization to deliver services under this 
grant.

E. Eligible Purposes

    Entities responding to this NOFA are required to provide technical 
assistance to NPs and/or PHAs acquiring Section 515 projects to 
increase the TA recipients capacity (knowledge, skills, and ability) 
in, but not limited to, the following areas: Locating potential Section 
515 properties for transfer; completing the transfer analysis, 
negotiation, application, underwriting, and closing processes; and 
identifying and securing funding from the Agency and/or other sources 
for the purpose of acquisition, repair and/or rehabilitation. Costs 
will be limited to those allowed under 2 CFR part 200.
    Eligible purposes/costs may include soft costs such as financial 
analysis, transaction structuring analysis and completion of other 
transaction details such as Capital Needs Assessments, appraisals, and 
market surveys or other consultation, advisory and non-construction 
services required as part of the application process. Ineligible 
purposes/costs include building materials, labor costs or expenditures 
otherwise typically included as any hard costs for actual construction 
or repairs, prepayment, interest, or principal payments.
    Grant funds cannot be used by the grantee for activities that are 
not directly related to specific transactions (such as outreach, 
conferences, provider personnel education/training, etc.).
    Grant funds cannot be used by the grantee for activities or 
transactions in which they have any direct or indirect ownership 
interest (regardless of whether it is an interest as a current or 
prospective owner).

F. Application and Submission Information

    All materials must be submitted via CloudVault.
    1. Summary.
    The application must include a summary page listing the following 
items:
    a. Responding entity's name,
    b. Responding entity's Taxpayer Identification Number,
    c. Responding entity's address,
    d. Responding entity's telephone number,
    e. Responding entity's contact person's name, telephone number, and 
address,
    f. Amount of grant requested,
    g. The state or states for which the application is submitted, and
    h. Responding entity's Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering 
System (DUNS) number, registration in the System for Award Management

[[Page 70435]]

(SAM) prior to submitting an application pursuant to 2 CFR 25.200(b), 
and other supporting information to substantiate their legal authority 
and good standing. Organizations can receive a DUNS number at no cost 
by calling the dedicated toll-free DUNS Number request line at (866) 
705-5711 or via the internet at https://www.dnb.com/. Additional 
information concerning this requirement can be obtained at https://www.grants.gov. All applicants must be registered in SAM prior to 
submitting an application, unless determined exempt under 2 CFR 25.110 
by the Agency. A Federal award recipient 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. Similarly, all recipients of Federal financial 
assistance are required to report information about first-tier sub-
awards and executive compensation in accordance with 2 CFR part 170, so 
long as an entity respondent does not have an exception under 2 CFR 
170.110(b), the grantee must have the necessary processes and systems 
in place to comply with the reporting requirements should the 
responding entity receive funding. See 2 CFR 170.200(b).
    2. Form SF 424, ``Application for Federal Assistance.''
    3. Felonies and Federal Tax Delinquencies.
    Awards made under this NOFA are subject to the provisions contained 
in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Pub. L. 116-260) Division 
E, Sections 745 and 746 regarding felony convictions and corporate 
Federal tax delinquencies. To comply with these provisions, applicants 
that are, or propose to be, corporations will submit form AD-3030, 
``Representations Regarding Felony Conviction and Tax Delinquent Status 
for Corporate Applicants,'' as part of their application. Form AD-3030 
can be found at: https://www.ocio.usda.gov/document/ad3030.
    4. Organizational and Financial Status.
    The responding entity must include organizational status documents 
reflecting the criteria in Section C 2. of this NOFA, as well as 
financial statements, to show evidence of the responding entity's 
status as a properly organized private or public NP, or PHA, and its 
financial ability to carry out the objectives of the grant program. If 
other entities will be working on behalf of the grantee, current 
working agreements between the respondent and those entities must be 
submitted as part of the application and any associated cost must be 
included in the responding entity's budget.
    The responding entity must also disclose all MFH Section 515 
projects in which the respondent and or its third-party affiliates have 
a direct or indirect ownership interest.
    5. Organizational Expertise and Experience.
    The responding entity must provide a capabilities statement 
describing the respondent's qualifications under Section C. 1 to 
provide technical assistance on Section 515 transfers and loan 
applications.
    a. Narrative.
    The responding entity must include a narrative describing its 
knowledge, demonstrated ability, and practical experience in completing 
transfers of Section 515 properties and/or providing training and 
technical assistance to NPs and PHAs for the transfer and 
rehabilitation of Section 515 properties. If the responding entity 
intends to have other entities working on its behalf, the narrative 
must identify those entities and address their ability to meet the 
stated eligibility requirements and experience in delivering approved 
technical assistance services. Applicants must identify Section 515 
transfer transactions completed by the applicant and/or organizations 
to whom the responding entity and/or other entity working on its behalf 
has provided technical assistance on applications for the transfer of 
Section 515 projects in the last five years. For the projects and 
applications above, the applicant must provide the Section 515 property 
name and location (city and state), technical assistance recipient 
organizational name and location (city and state), source of technical 
assistance funding, and outcome of the transaction (i.e., no ownership 
change, transaction in process, transfer completed).
    The responding entity must specify the states and/or service areas 
in which they will offer technical assistance services and the states 
and/or service areas in which any proposed third-party contractors/
subrecipients will offer technical assistance services. Respondents 
must specify why each targeted service area and/or property is at risk 
of loss of affordable housing.
    b. Key Personnel and Staffing Plan.
    Applications must include the resumes of the key staff personnel 
that will perform the following functions: (1) Delivery of technical 
assistance and (2) administration of the grant. (CNAs, appraisals, and 
market surveys are not considered to be key personnel services). 
Describe each individual's ability to perform the proposed activities 
and/or past experience in successfully managing service delivery of TA 
grants. Include a staffing chart complete with name, job title, salary, 
hours, timelines, and descriptions of employee duties to achieve the 
objectives of the grant program.
    c. Consulting Services.
    The Agency's goal is to increase the capacity of NP and PHA staff 
to directly deliver technical assistance services to recipients. To 
support this goal, the Agency is limiting the use of contractors for 
the delivery of technical assistance services to a maximum of 10% of 
the grantee's key personnel services budget. If the respondent intends 
to contract key personnel services from outside its organization (not 
to exceed the 10% limit), a plan must be outlined to address how the 
outside entities working on the applicant's behalf will deliver key 
personnel services in each targeted geographic area specified. 
Moreover, a resume, hourly contract rate, and description of the 
contractor duties aimed at achieving the grant objectives must be 
provided for each proposed third-party contractor/subrecipient.
    6. Scope of Work.
    Applications must include a detailed SOW covering a 24-month period 
(see Section D of this NOFA).
    7. Scoring Criteria Worksheet.
    Applications must include a separate one-page information sheet 
listing each of the ``Scoring Criteria'' contained in Section G of this 
NOFA, followed by the page numbers of all relevant material and 
documentation contained in the application to support these criteria.

G. Scoring Criteria

    Only those respondents deemed qualified under Sections C and F of 
this NOFA will be scored under this section. The review process 
designed for this NOFA will evaluate the degree to which the 
application sets forth measurable realistic objectives that are 
consistent with this NOFA and can be completed within a 24-month grant 
term consistent with the application and processing guidance 
established by Agency transfer regulations.
    Selection points will be awarded as follows:
    1. Applicant Experience (RHS Section 515).
    a. Applicant has successful, verifiable experience completing 
Section 515 transfers during the past five years. To receive points, 
transfers must be completed or there must be a submitted

[[Page 70436]]

transfer application currently pending approval and/or closing with the 
Agency:

 1-2 Section 515 project transfers: 10 points
 3-5 Section 515 project transfers: 20 points
 6-8 Section 515 project transfers: 30 points
 9 or more Section 515 project transfers: 40 points

    b. Applicant has successful, verifiable experience providing 
technical assistance that has increased the capacity of NPs and/or PHAs 
to complete Section 515 transfers. The number of NP and/or PHA clients 
to whom the respondent has provided Section 515 technical assistance 
during the past five years:

 1-4 Section 515 technical assistance clients: 10 points
 5-8 Section 515 technical assistance clients: 20 points
 9 or more Section 515 technical assistance clients: 30 points

    2. Applicant Experience (Other Affordable Multi-Family Housing 
Programs).
    a. Applicant has successful, verifiable experience completing 
affordable MFH project transfers during the past five years. To receive 
points, projects must have been completed or have at a minimum obtained 
funding approval:

 1-2 affordable housing project transfers: 5 points
 3-5 affordable housing project transfers: 10 points
 6-8 affordable housing project transfers: 15 points
 9 or more affordable housing project transfers: 20 points

    b. Applicant has successful, verifiable experience providing 
technical assistance that has increased the capacity of NPs and/or PHAs 
to complete affordable MFH project transfers. The number of NP and/or 
PHA clients to whom the respondent has provided affordable MFH project 
technical assistance during the past five years:

 1-4 affordable housing project clients: 5 points
 5-8 affordable housing project clients: 10 points
 9 or more affordable housing project clients: 15 points

    3. Proposed Outcomes.
    a. Applicant uses technical assistance resources to maximize the 
number of Section 515 projects assisted with grant funding. Scoring is 
based on the project plan in Section D: Scope of Work. Number of 
projects assisted under the grant:

 1-5 projects: 5 points
 6-10 projects: 10 points
 11 or more projects: 15 points

    b. Applicant uses technical assistance resources to increase the 
capacity of NPs and PHAs to complete transfers of Section 515 
properties. Scoring is based on the project plan in Section D: Scope of 
Work. Number of NPs or PHAs served under the grant:

 1-3 NPs/PHAs: 5 points
 4-6 NPs/PHAs: 10 points
 7 or more NPs/PHAs: 15 points

    4. Grant Administration
    a. Applicant uses grant resources to maximize the funding available 
for direct program delivery to TA recipients. Administrative costs as a 
percentage of grant funds used:

 10% to 19%: 5 points
 Less than 10%: 10 points

    b. Applicant has successful, verifiable experience managing service 
delivery or technical assistance through the grant lifecycle (including 
submitting timely requests for funding, meeting reporting requirements, 
and closing out awards) during the past five years:

 1-4 grants: 5 points
 5 or more grants: 10 points

Applicants must score a minimum of 35 total points in Sections G. 1 and 
2 and 55 total points in Sections G. 1, 2, 3 and 4 to be eligible for 
funding.
    5. Multi-Family Housing Program Delivery Goals. Applicants that 
meet the minimum scoring requirements may be eligible for up to 15 
points to support MFH program delivery goals.
    a. Geographic coverage (up to 10 points): The applicant proposes to 
serve a geographic area that is underserved by other technical 
assistance providers areas or proposes to serve areas with a 
significant number of properties in need of preservation.
    b. TA service delivery models (up to 5 points): The applicant 
proposes a TA service delivery model that is different from other 
proposed models. The agency seeks to test a range of TA delivery models 
to assess the methods of TA delivery that are most effective to 
facilitate preservation.
    6. Administrator Discretionary Points: Applicants that meet the 
minimum scoring requirements may be considered for up to 15 
discretionary scoring points (5 points for each category) as determined 
by the Administrator, which advance any or all of the Agency's three 
key funding priorities, provided that all other requirements set forth 
in this notice are otherwise met. The three key priorities are:
    (i) COVID-19 Impacts (up to 5 points): Priority points may be 
awarded if the project is located in or serving one of the top 10% of 
counties or county equivalents based upon county risk score in the 
United States. Information on whether your project qualifies for 
priority points can be found at the following website: https://www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points.
    (ii) Equity (up to 5 points): Priority points may be awarded if the 
project is located in or serving a community with score 0.75 or above 
on the CDC Social Vulnerability Index. Information on whether your 
project qualifies for priority points can be found at the following 
website: https://www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points.
    (iii) Climate Impacts (up to 5 points): Priority points may be 
awarded if the project is located in or serving coal, oil and gas, and 
power plant communities whose economic well-being ranks in the most 
distressed tier of the Distressed Communities Index. Information on 
whether your project qualifies for priority points can be found at the 
following website: https://www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points.
    Final scores are determined by the Agency. Meeting the minimum 
scoring requirements and/or receiving discretionary points from the 
Administrator does not guarantee a funding award.
    The Agency will notify all responding entities whether their 
application has been accepted or rejected and provide appeal rights 
under 7 CFR part 11, as appropriate.

H. Federal Award Administration Information

    1. Federal Award Notices. The Agency will notify, in writing, 
applicants whose applications have been selected for funding. At the 
time of notification, the Agency will advise the applicant what further 
information and documentation is required along with a timeline for 
submitting the additional information. If the Agency determines it is 
unable to select the application for funding, the applicant will be 
informed in writing. Such notification will include the reasons the 
applicant was not selected. The Agency will advise applicants, whose 
applications did not meet eligibility and/or selection criteria, of 
their review rights or appeal rights in accordance with 7 CFR part 11.
    2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements. The Agency is 
encouraging applications for projects that will support rural areas 
with persistent poverty. This emphasis will support the Agency's 
mission of improving the quality of life for Rural Americans and 
commitment to directing resources to those who most need them.

[[Page 70437]]

    (a) The following additional requirements apply to grantees 
selected for this program:
    (1) Complete Form RD 1942-46 ``Letter of Intent to Meet 
Conditions.''
    (2) Complete Form RD 1940-1, ``Request for Obligations of Funds.''
    (3) Complete FMMI Vendor Code Request Form.
    (4) Provide a copy of the organization's Negotiated Indirect Cost 
Rate Agreement.
    (5) Certify that all work completed for the award will benefit a 
rural area.
    (6) Certify that the applicant will comply with the Federal Funding 
Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 and report information 
about subawards and executive compensation.
    (7) Certify that the U.S. has not obtained an outstanding judgment 
against the organization in a Federal Court (other than in the United 
States Tax Court).
    (8) Execute Form SF-424B, ``Assurance--Non-Construction Programs.''
    (9) Execute Form SF-LLL, ``Disclosure Form to Report Lobbying,'' if 
applicable or certify that the organization does not lobby.
    (b) The applicant must provide evidence of compliance with other 
federal statutes, including but not limited to the following:
    (1) Debarment and suspension information is required in accordance 
with 2 CFR part 417 (Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension) 
supplemented by 2 CFR part 180, if it applies. The section heading is 
``What information must I provide before entering into a covered 
transaction with a Federal agency?'' located at 2 CFR 180.335. It is 
part of OMB's Guidance for Grants and Agreements concerning Government-
wide Debarment and Suspension.
    (2) All of the organization's known workplaces by including the 
actual address of buildings (or parts of buildings) or other sites 
where work under the award takes place. Workplace identification is 
required under the drug-free workplace requirements in Subpart B of 2 
CFR part 421, which adopts the Governmentwide implementation (2 CFR 
part 182) of the Drug-Free Workplace Act.
    (3) 2 CFR parts 200 and 400 (Uniform Administrative Requirements, 
Cost Principles and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards).
    (4) 2 CFR part 182 (Governmentwide Requirements for Drug-Free 
Workplace (Financial Assistance)) and 2 CFR part 421 (Requirements for 
Drug Free Workplace (Financial Assistance)).
    (5) Executive Order 13166, ``Improving Access to Services for 
Persons with Limited English Proficiency.'' For information on limited 
English proficiency and agency-specific guidance, go to https://www.lep.gov.
    (6) All applicants will be screened for eligibility to participate 
in the grant program using Treasury's Do Not Pay Portal in compliance 
with the Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Improvement Act.
    The following forms for acceptance of a federal award are now 
collected through registration or annual recertification in SAM.gov in 
the Financial Assistance General Certifications and Representations 
section:
     Form AD-1047, ``Certification Regarding Debarment, 
Suspension, and Other Responsibility Matters-Primary Covered 
Transactions.''
     Form AD-1048, ``Certification Regarding Debarment, 
Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion. Lower Tier Covered 
Transactions.''
     Form AD-1049, ``Certification Regarding Drug-Free 
Workplace Requirements (Grants).''
     Form AD-3031, ``Assurance Regarding Felony Conviction or 
Tax Delinquent Status for Corporate Applicants.''
    3. Reporting. Post-award reporting requirements can be found in the 
Grant Agreement. The grantee will provide an audit report or financial 
statements in accordance with Uniform Audit Requirements for Federal 
Awards at 2 CFR part 200, subpart F.

I. Other Information

Paperwork Reduction Act

    Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), OMB 
must approve all ``collection of information'' as a requirement for 
``answers to * * * identical reporting or recordkeeping requirements 
imposed on ten or more persons * * *.'' (44 U.S.C. 3502(3)(A).) RHS has 
concluded that the reporting requirements contained in this rule/
funding announcement will involve less than 10 persons and do not 
require approval under the provisions of the Act.

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.

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 1-866-705-5711 or online at https://fedgov.dnb.com/webform. 
Similarly, all grant applicants must be registered in the System for 
Award Management (SAM) prior to submitting an application. Applicants 
may register for the SAM at https://www.sam.gov/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.

Non-Discrimination Statement

    In accordance with Federal civil rights laws and U.S. Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its 
Mission Areas, agencies, staff offices, 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.
    Program information may be made available in languages other than 
English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of 
communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large 
print, audiotape, American Sign Language) should contact the 
responsible Mission Area, agency, or staff office; the USDA TARGET 
Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY); or the Federal Relay Service 
at (800) 877-8339.
    To file a program discrimination complaint, a complainant should 
complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, 
which can be obtained online at https://www.ocio.usda.gov/document/ad-3027, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a 
letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant's 
name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the 
alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the 
Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature

[[Page 70438]]

and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 
form or letter must be submitted 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,
    (2) Fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
    (3) Email: [email protected].
    USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Joaquin Altoro,
Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-26757 Filed 12-9-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-P