Notice of Solicitation of Applications for the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program for Fiscal Year 2024, 63054-63057 [2023-19928]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Rural Business-Cooperative Service

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 177 (Thursday, September 14, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63054-63057]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-19928]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

[Docket #: RBS-23-BUSINESS-0012]


Notice of Solicitation of Applications for the Rural 
Microentrepreneur Assistance Program for Fiscal Year 2024

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS or Agency), an 
agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Rural 
Development (RD), is making an initial announcement to invite 
applications for loans and grants under the Rural Microentrepreneur 
Assistance Program (RMAP) for fiscal year (FY) 2024, subject to the 
availability of funding. This notice is being issued prior to the 
passage of a FY 2024 Appropriations Act, which may or may not provide 
funding for this program, in order to allow applicants sufficient time 
to leverage financing, prepare and submit their applications, and give 
the Agency time to process applications within FY 2024. Based on FY 
2023 appropriated funding, the Agency estimates that approximately 
$29,000,000 will be available for FY 2024. Successful applications will 
be selected by the Agency for funding and subsequently awarded to the 
extent that funding may ultimately be made available through 
appropriations. All applicants are responsible for any expenses 
incurred in developing their applications or any costs incurred prior 
to the obligation date.

DATES: The deadlines for completed applications to be received in the 
RD State Office for quarterly funding competitions are no later than 
11:59 p.m. Eastern time on: First Quarter, September 30, 2023; Second 
Quarter, December 31, 2023; Third Quarter, March 31, 2024; and Fourth 
Quarter, June 30, 2024. If the due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or 
Federal holiday, the application is due the next business day.
    The subsequent microlender technical assistance grant (existing 
Microenterprise Development Organizations (MDOs) with a 
microentrepreneur revolving loan fund) will be made, non-competitively, 
based on the microlender's microlending activity and availability of 
funds. To determine the microlender technical assistance grant awards 
for FY2024, if available, the Agency will use the microlender's 
outstanding balance of microloans as of June 30, 2024, to calculate the 
eligible grant amount. MDOs that are in compliance with the terms of 
their loan agreement may apply for this annual grant.

ADDRESSES: Applications must be submitted electronically to the RD 
State Office for the State where the project is located. Applicants are 
encouraged to contact their respective RD State Office for an email 
contact to submit an electronic application prior to the submission 
deadline date(s). A list of the RD State Office contacts can be found 
at: https://www.rd.usda.gov/contact-us/state-offices. This funding 
opportunity will be made available for informational purposes on 
www.grants.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shamika Johnson at 
[email protected], Program Management Division, Business 
Programs, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Mail Stop 3226, Room 5160-S, 
Washington, DC 20250-3226, or call (202) 720-1400. For further 
information on this notice, please contact the RD State Office in the 
State in which the applicant's headquarters is located. A list of RD 
State Office contacts is provided at the following link: https://www.rd.usda.gov/contact-us/state-offices.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Overview

    Federal Awarding Agency Name: Rural Business-Cooperative Service 
(RBCS).
    Funding Opportunity Title: Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance 
Program (RMAP).
    Announcement Type: Notice of Solicitation of Application (NOSA).
    Funding Opportunity Number: RD-RBCS-24-RMAP.
    Assistance Listing: 10.870.
    Dates: The deadlines for completed applications to be received in 
the RD State Office for quarterly funding competitions are no later 
than 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on: First Quarter, September 30, 2023; 
Second Quarter, December 31, 2023; Third Quarter, March 31, 2024, and 
Fourth Quarter, June 30, 2024.
    Rural Development Key Priorities: The Agency encourages applicants 
to consider projects that will advance the following key priorities 
(more details available at https://www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points):
     Assisting rural communities recover economically through 
more and better market opportunities and through improved 
infrastructure;
     Ensuring all rural residents have equitable access to RD 
programs and benefits from RD funded projects; and
     Reducing climate pollution and increasing resilience to 
the impacts of climate change through economic support to rural 
communities.

A. Program Description

    1. Purpose of the Program. The purpose of RMAP is to support the 
development and ongoing success of rural microentrepreneurs and 
microenterprises, each as defined in 7 CFR 4280.302. RMAP provides the 
following types of support: loan only, combination loan and technical 
assistance grant, and subsequent technical assistance grants to 
microenterprise development organizations (MDOs). Loan funds are used 
by the MDO to establish or recapitalize a revolving loan program for 
making microloans to a rural microentrepreneur business. Grant funds 
are used by the MDO to provide technical assistance and 
entrepreneurship training to rural individuals and businesses.
    2. Statutory and Regulatory Authority. RMAP is authorized by 
Section 379E of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (Pub. 
L. 87-128), as amended, and is codified as 7 U.S.C. 2008s and 
implemented by 7 CFR part 4280, subpart D.
    3. Definitions. The definitions applicable to this notice are 
published at 7 CFR 4280.302.
    4. Application Awards. The Agency will review, evaluate, and score 
applications received in response to this

[[Page 63055]]

notice based on the provisions found in 7 CFR part 4280, subpart D, and 
as indicated in this notice. Awards under RMAP will be made using the 
application scoring criteria contained in 7 CFR 4280.316 and this 
notice. The Agency advises all interested parties that the applicant 
bears the burden in preparing and submitting an application in response 
to this notice regardless of whether or not funding is appropriated for 
this program in FY 2024.

B. Federal Award Information

    Type of Award: Loans and/or Grants.
    Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2024.
    Available Funds: Dependent upon FY 2024 appropriations. Funding is 
anticipated to be approximately $29,000,000 based on FY 2023 amounts. 
RBCS may at its discretion, increase the total level of funding 
available in this funding round from any available source provided the 
awards meet the requirements of the statute which made the funding 
available to the Agency.
    Award Amounts: The Agency anticipates the following maximum amounts 
per award: Loans--$500,000; Grants--$100,000.
    Anticipated Award Dates:
    (a) Regular Funding: First Quarter--December 1, 2023, Second 
Quarter--March 1, 2024, Third Quarter--June 1, 2024, Fourth Quarter--
September 1, 2024.
    (b) Subsequent Annual Microlender Technical Assistance Grants: 
September 30, 2024.
    Performance Period: Subsequent Annual Microlender Technical 
Assistance Grants September 30, 2024 to September 30, 2025.
    Renewal or Supplemental Awards: Unless withdrawn by the applicant, 
completed applications that receive a score of at least 60 (7 CFR 
4280.310(c)) but have not yet been funded, will be retained by the 
Agency for consideration in subsequent reviews through a total of four 
consecutive quarterly reviews. Applications that remain unfunded after 
four quarterly reviews, including the initial quarter in which the 
application was competed, will not be considered further for an award.
    Type of Assistance Instrument: Direct Loan, Financial Assistance 
Agreement.

C. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants. Eligible applicants are domestic 
organizations that are non-profit entities, Indian tribes (25 U.S.C. 
5304(e)) or public institutions of higher education. Eligible 
applicants must provide training and technical assistance, make 
microloans, facilitate access to capital, or have an effective plan or 
program to deliver such services. The applicant must meet the 
eligibility requirements in 7 CFR 4280.310 and must not be delinquent 
on any Federal debt or otherwise disqualified from participation in 
this program to be eligible to apply. The Agency will check the Do Not 
Pay portal to determine if the applicant has been debarred or suspended 
at the time of application and also prior to funding any grant award. 
All other restrictions in this notice will apply.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching. The cost share requirement shall be 
met by the microlender in accordance with the requirements specified in 
7 CFR 4280.311(d).
    The MDO is required to provide a match of not less than 15 percent 
of the total amount of the grant in the form of matching funds, 
indirect costs, or in-kind goods or services.
    3. Other Eligibility Requirements. Applications will only be 
accepted from eligible MDOs. Applications will not be considered for 
funding if they do not provide sufficient information to determine 
eligibility or are otherwise not suitable for evaluation. Such 
applications will be withdrawn and not considered for funding.

D. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package. For further information, 
entities wishing to apply for assistance should contact the RD State 
Office as identified in the ADDRESSES section of this notice to obtain 
an electronic copy of the application package.
    An MDO may submit an initial application for a loan with a 
microlender technical assistance grant, or an initial or subsequent 
loan-only (without a microlender technical assistance grant). Loan 
applications must be submitted electronically to the RD State Office 
where the project is located and must be organized in the same order 
set forth in 7 CFR 4280.315. Applicants are strongly encouraged to 
contact their respective RD State Office for an email contact to submit 
an electronic application prior to the submission deadline date(s).
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission. An application must 
contain all of the required elements outlined in 7 CFR 4280.315 and in 
this notice. Each application must address the applicable scoring 
criteria presented in 7 CFR 4280.316 for the type of funding being 
requested.
    For entities applying for program loan funds to become an RMAP 
microlender only, the following items are also required: (1) Form RD 
1910-11, ``Applicant Certification Federal Collection Policies for 
Consumer or Commercial Debts;'' available at https://forms.sc.egov.usda.gov/efcommon/eFileServices/eForms/RD1910-11.PDF; (2) 
Demonstration that the applicant is eligible to apply to participate in 
this program; and (3) Certification by the applicant that it cannot 
obtain sufficient credit elsewhere to fund the activities called for 
under this program with similar rates and terms.
    Current MDO entities may be eligible for subsequent annual 
microlender technical assistance grants that are awarded subject to 
funding availability and determined non-competitively based on Agency 
appropriations for the fiscal year. The MDO must submit a prescribed 
worksheet, listing the outstanding balance of their microloans and 
unexpended grant funds as of June 30, 2024, and a letter certifying 
that their organization still meets all the requirements set forth in 7 
CFR part 4280, subpart D, and that no significant changes have occurred 
within the last year that would affect its ability to carry out the MDO 
functions. In addition, all MDOs who request Subsequent Annual 
Microlender Technical Assistance Grants must complete their reporting 
into the Lenders Interactive Network Connection (LINC) for the Federal 
fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2024 which will verify the outstanding 
balance of their microloans as stated in their request for grant funds. 
The deadline for reporting into LINC and requesting a technical 
assistance grant is no later than 4:30 p.m. (Eastern time) on August 1, 
2024.
    3. System for Award Management and Unique Entity Identifier.
    (a) At the time of application, each applicant must have an active 
registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) before submitting 
its application in accordance with 2 CFR part 25. In order to register 
in SAM, entities will be required to obtain a Unique Entity Identifier 
(UEI). Instructions for obtaining the UEI are available at https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration.
    (b) Applicants must maintain an active SAM registration, with 
current, accurate and complete information, at all times during which 
it has an active Federal award or an application under consideration by 
a Federal awarding agency.
    (c) Applicant must ensure they complete the Financial Assistance 
General Certifications and Representations in SAM.
    (d) Applicants must provide a valid UEI in its application, unless 
determined exempt under 2 CFR 25.110.

[[Page 63056]]

    (e) The Agency will not make an award until the applicant has 
complied with all SAM requirements including providing the UEI. If an 
applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time the 
Agency is ready to make an award, the Agency may determine that the 
applicant is not qualified to receive a Federal award and use that 
determination as a basis for making a Federal award to another 
applicant.
    4. Submission Dates and Times. Competitions for the available loan 
and grant funds will be made quarterly for applications that are 
received no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on: First Quarter, 
September 30, 2023; Second Quarter, December 31, 2024; Third Quarter, 
March 31, 2024; and Fourth Quarter, June 30, 2024.
    Applications must be received by the RD State Office by the dates 
and times as indicated above to compete for available funds in that 
fiscal quarter. If the due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or Federal 
holiday, the application is due the next business day.
    The Agency will not solicit or consider new scoring or eligibility 
information that is submitted after the application deadline. RBCS also 
reserves the right to ask applicants for clarifying information and 
additional verification of assertions in the application.
    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 
(SPOC) to facilitate this consultation. For a list of states that 
maintain a SPOC, please see the White House website: https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/management/office-federal-financial-management/. 
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 your RD State Office for consideration as part of your 
application. If your state has not established a SPOC, you may submit 
your application directly to the Agency. Applications from Federally 
recognized Indian Tribes are not subject to this requirement.
    6. Funding Restrictions. No funds made available under this notice 
shall be used for ineligible purposes outlined in 7 CFR 4280.313(e).
    7. Other Submission Requirements. All applications must be 
submitted as a complete application, in one package.

E. Application Review Information

    1. Criteria. All eligible and complete applications for new loan 
and grant funds will be evaluated and scored based on the selection 
criteria and weights contained in 7 CFR part 4280, subpart D. Failure 
to address any one of the criteria by the application deadline will 
result in the application being determined ineligible and the 
application will not be considered for funding. An application must 
receive at least 60 points out of 100 possible points in the scoring 
criteria stated in 7 CFR 4280.316 to be considered for funding in the 
quarter in which it is scored.
    2. Review and Selection Process. The RD State Offices will review 
applications to determine if they are eligible for assistance based on 
requirements contained in 7 CFR part 4280, subpart D. If determined 
eligible, the application will be submitted to the National Office, 
where it will be reviewed and prioritized by ranking each application 
received in that quarter, from highest to lowest score order. All 
applications will be funded from the highest to lowest score until 
funds have been exhausted for each funding cycle. Funding of projects 
is subject to the MDO's satisfactory submission of the additional items 
required by that subpart and the USDA RD Letter of Conditions.

F. Federal Award Administration Information

    1. Federal Award Notices. Successful applicants will receive 
notification for funding from the RD State Office. Applicants must 
comply with all applicable statutes and regulations before the award 
will be approved. Provided the application and eligibility requirements 
have not changed, an application not selected will be reconsidered for 
three subsequent funding competitions for a total of four competitions. 
If an application is withdrawn, it can be resubmitted and will be 
evaluated as a new application. Unsuccessful applications will receive 
notification by mail, detailing why the application was unsuccessful.
    2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements. Additional 
requirements that apply to MDOs selected for this program can be found 
in 7 CFR part 4280, subpart D. The USDA and the Agency have adopted the 
USDA grant regulations at 2 CFR chapter IV. This regulation 
incorporates the latest revisions to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) regulations 2 CFR part 200 and 2 CFR part 400 for 
monitoring and servicing RMAP funding.
    3. Reporting. In addition to any reports required by 2 CFR part 200 
and 2 CFR part 400, the MDO must provide reports as required by 7 CFR 
part 4280, subpart D.
    Intermediaries must collect and maintain data provided by Ultimate 
Recipients defined by 7 CFR 4280.3 on race, sex, and national origin 
and must also ensure that Ultimate Recipients collect and maintain this 
data. Race and ethnicity data will be collected in accordance with OMB 
Federal Register notice, ``Revisions to the Standards for the 
Classification of Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity'' (62 FR 58782), 
October 30, 1997. Sex data will be collected in accordance with Title 
IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. These items should not be 
submitted with the application but should be available upon request by 
the Agency.
    The applicant and the Ultimate Recipients must comply with Title VI 
of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments 
of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the 
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, 
Executive Order 12250, Executive Order 13166 Limited English 
Proficiency (LEP), and 7 CFR part 1901, subpart E.

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s)

    For general questions about this notice, please contact the RD 
State Office as provided in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.

H. Other Information

    1. Paperwork Reduction Act. In accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35), the information 
collection requirements associated with RMAP, as covered in this 
notice, have been approved by OMB under OMB Control Number 0570-0062.
    2. National Environmental Policy Act. All recipients under this 
notice are subject to the requirements of 7 CFR part 1970. However, 
awards for technical assistance and training under this notice are 
classified as a Categorical Exclusion according to 7 CFR 1970.53(b), 
and usually do not require any additional documentation. RBCS 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 RBCS with this determination.

[[Page 63057]]

    3. Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act. All 
applicants, in accordance with 2 CFR part 25, must be registered in SAM 
and have a UEI number as stated in Section D.3 of this notice.
    4. Civil Rights Act. 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--Nondiscrimination in Federally-Assisted 
Programs of the Department of Agriculture--Effectuation of Title VI of 
the Civil Rights Act of 1964) 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.
    5. Nondiscrimination Statement. In accordance with Federal civil 
rights laws and 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 or the 711 Relay 
Service.
    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.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, 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 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.

Karama Neal,
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA Rural 
Development.
[FR Doc. 2023-19928 Filed 9-13-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XY-P