Notice of Funds Availability, 85972-85995 [2023-27138]

Download as PDF 85972 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 236 / Monday, December 11, 2023 / Notices from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Eastern time). • Third meeting: Wednesday and Thursday, June 26–27, 2024 (with the public session taking place on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Eastern time). • Fourth and final meeting: Wednesday and Thursday, September 18–19, 2024 (with the public portion of the meeting taking place on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Eastern time). DOT does not anticipate publishing any further notices or information about this Task Force in the Federal Register. DOT will post any further information on the Task Force website at https:// www.transportation.gov/ASCR. Signed in Washington, DC. Brian Elliott Black, Facilitator, Aerospace Supply Chain Resiliency Task Force, Office of the Under Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation. [FR Doc. 2023–27085 Filed 12–8–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–9X–P DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY Community Development Financial Institutions Fund Funding Opportunity Title: Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) inviting Applications for Financial Assistance (FA) or Technical Assistance (TA) awards under the Community Development Financial Institutions Program (CDFI Program) fiscal year (FY) 2024 Funding Round. Funding Opportunity Number: CDFI– 2024–FATA. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 21.020. DATES: Notice of Funds Availability Announcement Type: Announcement of funding opportunity. TABLE 1—FY 2024 CDFI PROGRAM FUNDING ROUND CRITICAL DEADLINES FOR APPLICANTS Description Deadline Time (eastern time—ET) Last day to create an AMIS Account (all Applicants) ............... Last day to enter Employer Identification Number (EIN) and Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) in AMIS (all Applicants). Last day to submit SF–424 Mandatory Form (Application for Federal Assistance). Last day to contact CDFI Program staff ................................... January 16, 2024 ....... January 16, 2024 ....... 11:59 p.m. ET ............. 11:59 p.m. ET ............. AMIS. AMIS. January 16, 2024 ....... 11:59 p.m. ET ............. Electronically via Grants.gov. February 13, 2024 ...... 5:00 p.m. ET ............... February 15, 2024 ...... 5:00 p.m. ET ............... February 15, 2024 ...... 11:59 p.m. ET ............. Service Request via AMIS Or CDFI Fund Helpdesk: 202–653–0421. Service Request via AMIS Or 202–653–0422 Or AMIS@cdfi.treas.gov. AMIS. February 15, 2024 ...... 11:59 p.m. ET ............. AMIS. March 1, 2024 ............ 11:59 p.m. ET ............. Service Request 2 via the Awards Management Information System (AMIS). March 5, 2024 ............ 11:59 p.m. ET ............. AMIS. Last day to contact AMIS–IT Help Desk (regarding AMIS technical problems only). Last day to submit Title VI Compliance Worksheet (all Applicants) 1. Last day to submit CDFI Program Application for Financial Assistance (FA) or Technical Assistance (TA). Last day to contact Certification, Compliance Monitoring and Evaluation (CCME) Help Desk regarding CDFI Certification Application for uncertified FA Applicants. Last day to submit CDFI Certification Applications for uncertified FA Applicants. lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 Executive Summary: Through the CDFI Program, the CDFI Fund provides (i) FA awards of up to $2 million to Certified Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) to build their financial capacity to lend to Eligible Markets and/or their Target Markets, and (ii) TA awards of up to $250,000 to build Certified and Emerging CDFIs’ organizational capacity to serve Eligible Markets and/or their Target Markets. All awards provided through this NOFA are subject to funding availability. I. Program Description A. History: The CDFI Fund was established by the Riegle Community Development Banking and Financial Institutions Act of 1994 to promote economic revitalization and community 1 This requirement also applies to Applicants’ prospective sub-recipients that are not direct beneficiaries of Federal financial assistance (e.g., Depository Institution Holding Companies and their Subsidiary CDFI Insured Depository Institutions). 2 Service Request shall mean a written inquiry or notification submitted to the CDFI Fund via AMIS. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:35 Dec 08, 2023 Jkt 262001 development through investment in and assistance to CDFIs. The CDFI Program made its first awards in 1996 and the Native American CDFI Assistance (NACA) Program made its first awards in 2002. B. Priorities: Through the CDFI Program’s FA and TA awards, the CDFI Fund invests in and builds the capacity of for-profit and non-profit community based lending organizations known as CDFIs. These organizations, Certified as CDFIs by the CDFI Fund, serve rural and urban Low-Income people, and communities across the nation that lack adequate access to affordable Financial Products and Financial Services. C. Authorizing Statutes and Regulations: The CDFI Program is authorized by the Riegle Community Development Banking and Financial Institutions Act of 1994 (Pub. L. 103– 325, 12 U.S.C. 4701 et seq.) (Authorizing Statute). The regulations governing the CDFI Program are found at 12 CFR parts 1805 and 1815 (the Regulations) and set forth evaluation criteria and other PO 00000 Frm 00107 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Submission method program requirements. The CDFI Fund encourages Applicants to review the Regulations; this NOFA; the CDFI Program Application for Financial Assistance or Technical Assistance (the Application); all related materials and guidance documents found on the CDFI Fund’s website (Application materials); and the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (2 CFR part 1000), which is the Department of the Treasury’s codification of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) government-wide framework for grants management at 2 CFR part 200 (the Uniform Requirements) for a complete understanding of the program. Capitalized terms in this NOFA are defined in the Authorizing Statute, the Regulations, this NOFA, the Application, Application materials, or the Uniform Requirements. Details regarding Application content requirements are found in the Application and Application materials. E:\FR\FM\11DEN1.SGM 11DEN1 85973 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 236 / Monday, December 11, 2023 / Notices D. Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (2 CFR part 1000): The Uniform Requirements codify financial, administrative, procurement, and program management standards that Federal award agencies must follow. When evaluating Applications, awarding agencies must evaluate the risks posed by each Applicant, and each Applicant’s merits and eligibility. These requirements are designed to ensure that Applicants for Federal assistance receive a fair and consistent review prior to an award decision. This review will assess items such as the Applicant’s financial stability, quality of management systems, the soundness of its business plan, history of performance, ability to achieve measurable impacts through its products and services, and audit findings. In addition, the Uniform Requirements include guidance on audit requirements and other award compliance requirements for Recipients. E. Funding limitations: The CDFI Fund reserves the right to fund, in whole or in part, any, all, or none of the Applications submitted in response to this NOFA. II. Federal Award Information A. Funding Availability: 1. FY 2024 Funding Round: Subject to final appropriations, the CDFI Fund expects to award, through this NOFA, approximately $412 million as indicated in the following table: TABLE 2—FY 2024 FUNDING ROUND ANTICIPATED CATEGORY AMOUNTS Funding categories (see definition in Table 7 for TA or Table 8 for FA) Estimated total amount to be awarded (millions) FY 2024 Base-FA: Category I/Small and/or Emerging CDFI Assistance (SECA). Base-FA: Category II/Core ........................... Award amount Minimum 3 Maximum Estimated number of awards FY 2024 Estimated average amount to be awarded FY 2024 Average amount awarded in FY 2022 $32.0 $125,000 ...................................................... $1,400,000 48 $667,000 $350,000 210.2 2,000,000 185 1,136,000 596,000 41.2 $500,000, or if portfolio outstanding is less than $1,666,700 as of the most recent historic fiscal year end, then 30% of portfolio outstanding. $100,000 ...................................................... 600,000 137 301,000 128,000 20.0 $100,000 ...................................................... 1,000,000 20 1,000,000 500,000 Persistent Poverty Counties—Financial Assistance (PPC–FA). Disability Funds—Financial Assistance (DF– FA) *. Healthy Food Financing Initiative—Financial Assistance (HFFI–FA) *. TA ................................................................. 48.0 $500,000 ...................................................... 10,000,000 10 4,800,000 2,875,000 60.6 $10,000 ........................................................ 300,000 202 300,000 125,000 Total ....................................................... 412 ...................................................................... .................... 602 .................... ...................... lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 * DF–FA and HFFI–FA appropriation will be allocated in one competitive round between the NACA and CDFI Program NOFAs. The CDFI Fund reserves the right to award more or less than the amounts cited above in each category, based upon available funding and other factors, as appropriate. 2. Funding Availability for the FY 2024 Funding Round: Funds for the FY 2024 Funding Round are a combination of appropriations from FY 2023 and FY 2024. FY 2023 funds were appropriated as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Pub. L. 117– 328), but FY 2024 funds are subject to change based on passage of a final FY 2024 appropriations bill. If Congress does not appropriate funds for FY 2024, the award estimates set forth above may be reduced. If funds are appropriated for FY 2024, the amount of such funds may be greater or less than the amounts set forth above. The CDFI Fund reserves the right to contact Applicants to seek additional information in the event that final FY 2024 appropriations for the CDFI Program change any of the requirements of this NOFA. As of the date of this NOFA, the CDFI Fund is 3 The FA Application Guidance defines ‘‘the most recent historic fiscal year’’ based on an Applicant’s fiscal year end. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:35 Dec 08, 2023 Jkt 262001 operating under a continuing funding resolution as enacted by the Further Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, 2024 (Pub. L. 118– 22).DF–FA 3. Anticipated Start Date and Period of Performance: The Period of Performance for TA awards begins with the date of the award announcement and includes either (i) an Emerging CDFI Recipient’s three full consecutive fiscal years after the date of the award announcement, or (ii) a Certified CDFI Recipient’s two full consecutive fiscal years after the date of the award announcement, during which the Recipient must meet the Performance Goals and Measures (PG&Ms) set forth in the Assistance Agreement. The Period of Performance for FA awards begins with the date of the award announcement and includes a Recipient’s three full consecutive fiscal years after the date of the award announcement, during which time the Recipient must meet the PG&Ms set forth in the Assistance Agreement. B. Types of Awards: Through the CDFI Program, the CDFI Fund provides two types of awards: Financial Assistance (FA) and Technical PO 00000 Frm 00108 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Assistance (TA) awards. An Applicant may submit an Application for a TA award or an FA award under the CDFI Program, but not both. FA awards include the Base Financial Assistance (Base-FA) award and the following awards that are provided as a supplement to the Base-FA award: Healthy Food Financing InitiativeFinancial Assistance (HFFI–FA), Persistent Poverty Counties—Financial Assistance (PPC–FA), and Disability Funds—Financial Assistance (DF–FA). There are two categories of Base-FA Applicants: Category I (SECA) and Category II (Core) (see definitions in Table 8). The HFFI–FA, PPC–FA, and DF–FA Applications will be evaluated independently from the Base-FA Application and will not affect the BaseFA Application evaluation or Base-FA award amount. However, Applicants that qualify for the NACA Program may submit two Applications: one Application (either for a TA award or an FA award, but not both) through the CDFI Program, and one Application (either for a TA award or an FA award, but not both) through the NACA Program. NACA qualified Applicants that choose to apply for awards through E:\FR\FM\11DEN1.SGM 11DEN1 85974 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 236 / Monday, December 11, 2023 / Notices lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 both the CDFI Program and the NACA Program may either apply for the same type of award under each Program or for a different type of award under each Program. NACA qualified FA Applicants that choose to apply for an FA award under both the NACA Program and CDFI Program and are selected for an award under both Programs will be provided the FA award under the CDFI Program. NACA qualified TA Applicants that choose to apply for a TA award under both the NACA Program and CDFI Program and are selected for an award under both Programs will be provided the TA award under the NACA Program. NACA qualified Applicants that choose to apply for a TA award and an FA award under separate programs and are selected for an award under both Programs will be provided the larger of the two awards. NACA Applicants cannot receive an award under both Programs within the same funding round. Category II (Core) FA Applicants applying for Base-FA, PPC–FA, and/or DF–FA must provide evidence of acceptable Matching Funds 4 (see Table 9 for more information), except Native American CDFIs 5 applying under this NOFA, which are exempt from the Matching Funds requirement.6 Native American CDFIs that qualify as a Category II (Core) FA Applicant are not required to submit Matching Funds for their award requests. Additionally, the Matching Funds requirement for HFFI– FA and SECA FA Applicants was waived in the enacted FY 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act, and the final FY 2024 appropriations are still pending. Therefore, HFFI–FA and SECA FA Applicants are not required to submit Matching Funds for their award requests at the time of Application. However, the CDFI Fund reserves the right to request Matching Funds from SECA FA Applicants and/or HFFI–FA Applicants if Matching Funds are not 4 Matching Funds shall mean funds from sources other than the federal government as defined in accordance with the CDFI Program Regulations at 12 CFR 1805.500. 5 A Native American CDFI (Native CDFI) is one that Primarily Serves a Native Community. Primarily Serves is defined as 50% or more of an Applicant’s activities being directed to a Native Community. For purposes of this NOFA, a Native Community is defined as Native American, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian populations or Native American areas defined as federally-designated reservations, Hawaiian homelands, Alaska Native Villages and U.S. Census Bureau-designated Tribal Statistical Areas. 6 The Indian Community Economic Enhancement Act of 2020 (Pub. L. 116–261) permanently waives the Matching Funds requirement for Native American CDFIs that receive Assistance from the CDFI Fund. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:35 Dec 08, 2023 Jkt 262001 waived in the final FY 2024 CDFI Program appropriations. TA Applicants are not required to provide Matching Funds. 1. Base-FA Awards: Base-FA awards can be in the form of loans, grants, Equity Investments, deposits, and credit union shares. The form of the Base-FA award is based on the form of the Matching Funds that the Applicant includes in its Application, unless Congress waived the Matching Funds requirement. The Matching Funds requirement was permanently waived for Native American CDFIs. Therefore, the Base-FA award will be in the form of a grant for Native American CDFI Applicants. Matching Funds are required at the time of Application submission for Category II (Core) Applicants (except Native American CDFIs) applying for Base-FA awards, and the CDFI Fund reserves the right to request Matching Funds from Category I (SECA) Applicants applying for Base FA awards if Matching Funds are not waived in the final FY 2024 appropriations for these Applicants. Matching Funds must be from nonFederal sources, and cannot have been used as Matching Funds for any other Federal award. The CDFI Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to provide a Base-FA award in an amount other than that which the Applicant requests; however, the award amount will not exceed the Applicant’s award request as stated in its Application. 2. Persistent Poverty Counties— Financial Assistance (PPC–FA) Awards: PPC–FA awards will be provided as a supplement to Base-FA awards; therefore, only those Applicants that are selected to receive a Base-FA award through the CDFI Program FY 2024 Funding Round will be eligible to receive a PPC–FA award. PPC–FA awards can be in the form of loans, grants, Equity Investment, deposits, and credit union shares. The form of the PPC–FA award is based on the form of the Matching Funds that the Applicant includes in its Application, unless Congress waived the Matching Funds requirement. The Matching Funds requirement was permanently waived for Native American CDFIs. Therefore, the PPC–FA award will be in the form of a grant for Native American CDFI Applicants. Matching Funds are required at the time of Application submission for Category II (Core) Applicants (except Native American CDFIs) applying for PPC–FA awards, and the CDFI Fund reserves the right to request Matching Funds from Category I (SECA) Applicants applying for PPC– FA awards if Matching Funds are not waived in the final FY 2024 PO 00000 Frm 00109 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 appropriations for these Applicants. Matching Funds must be from nonFederal sources, and cannot have been used as Matching Funds for any other Federal award. The CDFI Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to provide a PPC–FA award in an amount other than that which the Applicant requests; however, the award amount will not exceed the Applicant’s award request as stated in its Application. 3. Disability Funds—Financial Assistance (DF–FA) Awards: DF–FA awards will be provided as a supplement to Base-FA awards; therefore, only those Applicants that have been selected to receive a Base-FA award through the CDFI Program FY 2024 Funding Round will be eligible to receive a DF–FA award. DF–FA awards can be in the form of loans, grants, Equity Investments, deposits, and credit union shares. The form of the DF–FA award is based on the form of the Matching Funds that the Applicant includes in its Application unless Congress waived the Matching Funds requirement. The Matching Funds requirement was permanently waived for Native American CDFIs. Therefore, the DF–FA award will be in the form of a grant to Native American CDFI Applicants. Matching Funds are required for Category II (Core) Applicants (except Native American CDFIs) applying for DF–FA awards, and the CDFI Fund reserves the right to request Matching Funds from Category I (SECA) Applicants applying for PPC– FA awards if Matching Funds are not waived in the final FY 2024 appropriations for these Applicants. Matching Funds must be from nonFederal sources and cannot have been used as Matching Funds for any other Federal award. The CDFI Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to provide a DF–FA award in an amount other than that which the Applicant requests; however, the award amount will not exceed the Applicant’s award request as stated in its Application. 4. Healthy Food Financing Initiative— Financial Assistance (HFFI–FA) Awards: HFFI–FA awards will be provided as a supplement to Base-FA awards; therefore, only those Applicants that have been selected to receive a Base-FA award through the CDFI Program FY 2024 Funding Round will be eligible to receive an HFFI–FA award. HFFI–FA awards can be in the form of loans, grants, Equity Investments, deposits, and credit union shares. The form of the HFFI–FA award is based on the form of the Matching Funds that the Applicant includes in its Application unless Congress waived the Matching Funds requirement. The E:\FR\FM\11DEN1.SGM 11DEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 236 / Monday, December 11, 2023 / Notices Matching Funds requirement was permanently waived for Native American CDFIs. Therefore, HFFI–FA awards will be in the form of a grant to Native American CDFI Applicants. The Matching Funds requirement for HFFI– FA Applicants was waived in the final appropriations bill for FY 2023, and the final FY 2024 appropriations are still pending. As a result, HFFI–FA Applicants are not required to submit Matching Funds for their award requests at the time of Application. However, the CDFI Fund reserves the right to request Matching Funds from HFFI–FA Applicants if Matching Funds are not waived in the final FY 2024 CDFI Program appropriations. The CDFI Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to provide an HFFI–FA award in an amount other than that which the Applicant requests; however, the award amount will not exceed the Applicant’s award request as stated in its Application. 5. TA Awards: TA is provided in the form of grants. The CDFI Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to provide a TA award in an amount other than that which the Applicant requests; however, the TA award amount will not exceed the Applicant’s request as stated in its Application. C. Eligible Activities: 1. FA Awards: Base-FA, PPC–FA, DF– FA, and HFFI–FA award funds may be expended for activities serving Commercial Real Estate, Small Business, Microenterprise, Community Facilities, Consumer Financial Products, Consumer Financial Services, Commercial Financial Products, Commercial Financial Services, Affordable Housing, Intermediary Lending to Non-Profits and CDFIs, Climate-Centered Financing, and other lines of business as deemed appropriate by the CDFI Fund in the following five categories: (i) Financial Products; (ii) Financial Services; (iii) Loan Loss Reserves; (iv) Development Services; 7 and (v) Capital Reserves. The FA Budget is the amount of the award and must be expended in the five eligible activity categories prior to the end of the Budget Period.8 None of the eligible activity categories will be authorized for Indirect Costs or an associated Indirect Cost Rate. Base-FA Recipients must meet PG&Ms, which will be derived from projections and attestations provided by the Applicant in its Application, to achieve one of the following FA Objectives: (i) Increase Volume of Financial Products in an Eligible Market(s) and/or in the Applicant’s approved Target Market and/or Increase Volume of Financial Services in an 85975 Eligible Market(s) and/or in the Applicant’s approved Target Market; (ii) Serve Eligible Market(s) or the Applicant’s approved Target Market in New Geographic Area or Areas; (iii) Provide New Financial Products in an Eligible Market(s) and/or in the Applicant’s approved Target Market; and (iv) Serve New Targeted Population or Populations. FA awards may only be used for Direct Costs associated with an eligible activity; no indirect expenses are allowed. Up to 15% of the FA award may be used for Direct Administrative Expenses associated with an eligible FA activity. ‘‘Direct Administrative Expenses’’ shall mean Direct Costs, as described in section 2 CFR 200.413 of the Uniform Requirements, which are incurred by the Recipient to carry out the Financial Assistance. Direct Costs incurred to provide Development Services or Financial Services do not constitute Direct Administrative Expenses. The Recipient must comply, as applicable, with the Buy American Act of 1933, 41 U.S.C. 8301–8303 and section 2 CFR 200.216 of the Uniform Requirements,9 with respect to any Direct Costs. For purposes of this NOFA, the five eligible activity categories are defined in Table 3. TABLE 3—BASE-FA, PPC–FA, DF–FA, AND HFFI–FA ELIGIBLE ACTIVITY CATEGORIES FA eligible activity FA eligible activity definition * i. Financial Products .... FA expended as loans, Equity Investments, and similar financing activities (as determined by the CDFI Fund) including the purchase of loans originated by Certified CDFIs and the provision of loan guarantees. In the case of CDFI Intermediaries, Financial Products may also include loans to CDFIs and/ or Emerging CDFIs, and deposits in Insured Credit Union CDFIs, Emerging Insured Credit Union CDFIs, and/or State-Insured Credit Union CDFIs. For HFFI–FA, however, financing for prepared food outlets are not eligible activities, including the purchase of loans originated by Certified CDFIs, loan refinancing, or any other type of financing for prepared food outlets. FA expended for providing checking, savings accounts, check cashing, money orders, certified checks, automated teller machines, deposit taking, safe deposit box services, and other similar services. ii. Financial Services ... iii. Loan Loss Reserves lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 iv. Development Services. FA set aside in the form of cash reserves, or through accounting-based accrual reserves, to cover losses on loans, accounts, and notes receivable or for related purposes that the CDFI Fund deems appropriate. FA expended for activities undertaken by a CDFI, its Affiliate or contractor that (i) promote community development and (ii) prepare or assist current or potential borrowers or investees to use the CDFI’s Financial Products or Financial Services. For example, such activities include financial or credit counseling; homeownership counseling; business planning; and management assistance. 7 Although some financial education for youth under 18 years old do not fall under the definition of Development Services and thus is not eligible to support Certification, the CDFI Fund allows FA award funds to be used to provide such financial education. Financial education for youth means education designed to prepare youth to engage with the financial system. This includes accessing Financial Products when they are legally able to and accessing Financial Services offered by the Applicant or a third party. 8 Budget Period means the time interval from the start date of a funded portion of an award to the VerDate Sep<11>2014 Eligible CDFI institution types 17:35 Dec 08, 2023 Jkt 262001 end date of that funded portion during which Recipients are authorized to expend the funds awarded. 9 § 200.216 Prohibition on certain telecommunications and video surveillance services or equipment. (a) Recipients and Subrecipients are prohibited from obligating or expending loan or grant funds to: (1) Procure or obtain; (2) Extend or renew a contract to procure or obtain; or PO 00000 Frm 00110 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 All. Regulated Institutions 10 only. Not applicable for HFFI-FA Recipients. All. All. (3) Enter into a contract (or extend or renew a contract) to procure or obtain, equipment, services, or systems that uses covered telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical technology as part of any system. As described in Public Law 115–232, section 889, covered telecommunications equipment is telecommunications equipment produced by Huawei Technologies Company or ZTE Corporation (or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of such entities). E:\FR\FM\11DEN1.SGM 11DEN1 85976 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 236 / Monday, December 11, 2023 / Notices TABLE 3—BASE-FA, PPC–FA, DF–FA, AND HFFI–FA ELIGIBLE ACTIVITY CATEGORIES—Continued FA eligible activity v. Capital Reserves ..... FA eligible activity definition * Eligible CDFI institution types FA set aside as reserves to support the Applicant’s ability to leverage other capital, for such purposes as increasing its net assets or providing financing, or for related purposes as the CDFI Fund deems appropriate. Regulated Institutions only. Not applicable for DF–FA. lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 * All FA eligible activities must be in an Eligible Market or the Applicant’s approved Target Market. Eligible Market is defined as (i) a geographic area meeting the requirements set forth in 12 CFR 1805.201(b)(3)(ii), or (ii) individuals that are Low-Income, African American, Hispanic, Native American, Native Hawaiian, Alaska Native, Other Pacific Islander, Filipino, Vietnamese, or Persons with Disabilities. 2. DF–FA Award: DF–FA award funds may only be expended for eligible FA activities (referenced in Table 3) to directly or indirectly benefit individuals with disabilities. The DF–FA Recipient must close Financial Products for the primary purpose of directly or indirectly benefiting people with disabilities, where the majority of the DF–FA supported loans or investments benefit individuals with disabilities, in an amount equal to or greater than 85% of the total DF–FA provided. Eligible DF– FA financing activities may include, among other activities, loans to develop or purchase affordable, accessible, and safe housing; loans to provide or facilitate employment opportunities; and loans to purchase assistive technology. For the purposes of DF–FA, a person with a disability is a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a person who has a record of such an impairment, or a person who is regarded as having such an impairment, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 42 U.S.C. 12102. 3. HFFI–FA Award: HFFI–FA award funds may only be expended for eligible FA activities referenced in Table 3. The HFFI–FA investments must comply with the following guidelines: a. Recipient must close Financial Products for Healthy Food Retail Outlets and Healthy Food Non-Retail Outlets in its approved Target Market in an amount equal to or greater than 100% of the total HFFI Financial Assistance provided. Eligible financing activities to Healthy Food Retail Outlets and Healthy Food Non-Retail Outlets require that the majority of the loan or investment be devoted to offering a range of Healthy Food choices, which may include, among other activities, investments supporting an existing retail store or wholesale operation upgrade to offer an expanded range of Healthy Food choices, or supporting a nonprofit organization that expands the availability of Healthy Foods in underserved areas. b. Recipient must demonstrate that it has closed Financial Products to Healthy Food Retail Outlets located in Food Deserts in the Recipient’s approved Target Market in an amount equal to 75% of the total HFFI Financial Assistance provided. Definitions: Healthy Foods: Healthy Foods include unprepared nutrient-dense foods and beverages as set forth in the USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020– 2025 including whole fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fat free or lowfat dairy foods, lean meats and poultry (fresh, refrigerated, frozen or canned). Healthy Foods should have low or no added sugars, and be low-sodium, reduced sodium, or no-salt-added. (See USDA Dietary Guidelines: https:// www.dietaryguidelines.gov). Healthy Food Retail Outlets: Commercial sellers of Healthy Foods including, but not limited to, grocery stores, mobile food retailers, farmers markets, retail cooperatives, corner stores, bodegas, stores that sell other food and non-food items along with a range of Healthy Foods. Healthy Food Non-Retail Outlets: Wholesalers of Healthy Foods including, but not limited to, wholesale food outlets, wholesale cooperatives, or other non-retail food producers that supply for sale a range of Healthy Food options; entities that produce or distribute Healthy Foods for eventual retail sale, and entities that provide consumer education regarding the consumption of Healthy Foods. Food Deserts: Distressed geographic areas where either a substantial number or share of residents has low access to a supermarket or large grocery store. For the purpose of satisfying this requirement, a Food Desert must either: (1) be a census tract determined to be a Food Desert by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), in its USDA Food Access Research Atlas; (2) be a census tract adjacent to a census tract determined to be a Food Desert by the USDA, in its USDA Food Access 10 Regulated Institutions include Insured Credit Unions, Insured Depository Institutions, State- Insured Credit Unions and Depository Institution Holding Companies. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:35 Dec 08, 2023 Jkt 262001 PO 00000 Frm 00111 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Research Atlas; which has a median family income less than or equal to 120% of the applicable Area Median Family Income; or (3) be a Geographic Unit as defined in 12 CFR part 1805.201(b)(3)(ii)(B), which (i) individually meets at least one of the criteria in 12 CFR part 1805.201(b)(3)(ii)(D), and (ii) has been identified as having low access to a supermarket or grocery store through a methodology that has been adopted for use by another governmental or philanthropic healthy food initiative. 4. PPC–FA Award: PPC–FA award funds may only be expended for eligible FA activities referenced in Table 3. The PPC–FA Recipient must close Financial Products in PPC: (1) in an Eligible Market or in the Applicant’s approved Target Market and (2) in an amount equal to or greater than 100% of the total PPC–FA award. The specific counties that meet the criteria for ‘‘persistent poverty’’ can be found at: https://www.cdfifund.gov/sites/cdfi/ files/2023-03/PPC_2020_ACS_Jan20_ 2023.xlsx. 5. TA Awards: TA award funds may be expended for the following seven eligible activity categories: (i) Compensation—Personal Services; (ii) Compensation—Fringe Benefits; (iii) Professional Service Costs; (iv) Travel Costs; (v) Training and Education Costs; (vi) Equipment; and (vii) Supplies. The TA Budget is the amount of the award and must be expended in the seven eligible activity categories before the end of the Budget Period. None of the eligible activity categories will be authorized for Indirect Costs or an associated Indirect Cost Rate. Any expenses that are prohibited by the Uniform Requirements are unallowable and are generally found in Subpart ECost Principles. The Recipient must comply, as applicable, with the Buy American Act of 1933, 41 U.S.C. 8301– 8303 and section 2 CFR 200.216 of the Uniform Requirements, with respect to any Direct Costs. For purposes of this NOFA, the seven eligible activity categories are defined in Table 4. E:\FR\FM\11DEN1.SGM 11DEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 236 / Monday, December 11, 2023 / Notices 85977 TABLE 4—TA ELIGIBLE ACTIVITY CATEGORIES, SUBJECT TO THE APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF THE UNIFORM REQUIREMENTS (i) Compensation—Personal Services ..... (ii) Compensation—Fringe Benefits ......... (iii) Professional Service Costs ................ (iv) Travel Costs ...................................... (v) Training and Education Costs ............ (vi) Equipment .......................................... (vii) Supplies ............................................ TA paid to cover all remuneration, paid currently or accrued, for services of Applicant’s employees rendered during the Period of Performance under the TA award in accordance with section 2 CFR 200.430 of the Uniform Requirements, is allowed. Any work performed directly but unrelated to the purposes of the TA award may not be paid as Compensation through a TA award. For example, the salaries for building maintenance would not carry out the purpose of a TA award and would be deemed unallowable. TA paid to cover allowances and services provided by the Applicant to its employees as Compensation in addition to regular salaries and wages, in accordance with section 2 CFR 200.431 of the Uniform Requirements, is allowed. Such expenditures are allowable as long as they are made under formally established and consistently applied organizational policies of the Applicant. TA paid to cover professional and consultant services (e.g., such as strategic and marketing plan development), rendered by persons who are members of a particular profession or possess a special skill (e.g., credit analysis, portfolio management), and who are not officers or employees of the Applicant, in accordance with section 2 CFR 200.459 of the Uniform Requirements, is allowed. Payment for a consultant’s services may not exceed the current maximum of the daily equivalent rate paid to an Executive Schedule Level IV federal employee. Professional and consultant services must build the capacity of the CDFI. For example, professional services that provide direct Development Services to the customers do not build the capacity of the CDFI to provide those services and would not be eligible. The Applicant must comply, as applicable, with section 2 CFR 200.216 of the Uniform Requirements, with respect to payment of Professional Service Costs. TA paid to cover costs of transportation, lodging, subsistence, and related items incurred by the Applicant’s personnel who are on travel status on business related to the TA award, in accordance with section 2 CFR 200.475 of the Uniform Requirements, is allowed. Travel Costs do not include costs incurred by the Applicant’s consultants who are on travel status. Any payments for travel expenses incurred by the Applicant’s personnel but unrelated to carrying out the purpose of the TA award would be deemed unallowable. As such, documentation must be maintained that justifies the travel as necessary to the TA award. TA paid to cover the cost of training and education provided by the Applicant for employees’ development in accordance with section 2 CFR 200.473 of the Uniform Requirements, is allowed. TA can only be used to pay for training costs incurred by the Applicant’s employees. Training and Education Costs may not be incurred by the Applicant’s consultants. TA paid to cover tangible personal property, having a useful life of more than one year and a per-unit acquisition cost of at least $5,000, in accordance with section 2 CFR 200.1 of the Uniform Requirements, is allowed. For example, items such as office furnishings and information technology systems are allowable as Equipment costs. The Applicant must comply, as applicable, with the Buy American Act of 1933, 41 U.S.C. 8301–8303 and section 2 CFR 200.216 of the Uniform Requirements, with respect to the purchase of Equipment. TA paid to cover tangible personal property with a per unit acquisition cost of less than $5,000, in accordance with section 2 CFR 200.1 of the Uniform Requirements, is allowed. For example, a desktop computer costing $1,000 is allowable as a Supply cost. The Applicant must comply, as applicable, with the Buy American Act of 1933, 41 U.S.C. 8301–8303 and section 2 CFR 200.216 of the Uniform Requirements, with respect to the purchase of Supplies. III. Eligibility Information A. Eligible Applicants: For the purposes of this NOFA, Table 5 through Table 8 set forth the eligibility criteria to receive an award from the CDFI Fund, along with certain definitions of terms. There are four categories of Applicant eligibility criteria: (1) CDFI Certification criteria (Table 5); (2) requirements that apply to all Applicants (Table 6); (3) requirements that apply to TA Applicants (Table 7); and (4) requirements that apply to FA Applicants (Table 8). TABLE 5—CDFI CERTIFICATION CRITERIA DEFINITIONS Certified CDFI .......................................... Certifiable CDFI (FA Applicants) ............. Emerging CDFI (TA Applicants) .............. An entity that the CDFI Fund has officially notified that it meets all CDFI Certification requirements. • An FA Applicant that has submitted a CDFI Certification Application to the CDFI Fund by the deadline specified in this NOFA demonstrating that it meets the CDFI Certification requirements but has not yet been officially Certified. (See Table 12 for Application submission deadlines.) • The CDFI Fund will not enter into an Assistance Agreement unless the Applicant’s pending CDFI Certification Application is approved by the CDFI Fund prior to the award announcement date. The CDFI Fund will make CDFI Certification determinations for all Applicants that are Certifiable CDFIs prior to the award announcement date. If the CDFI Certification Application is denied, the Applicant will not be eligible to receive an FA award. There is no right to appeal an Award denial based on denial of the pending CDFI Certification Application. • A non-Certified entity that demonstrates to the CDFI Fund in its Application that it has an acceptable plan to meet CDFI Certification requirements by the end of its Period of Performance, or another date that the CDFI Fund selects. • An Emerging CDFI may or may not have a pending CDFI Certification Application with the CDFI Fund. • An Emerging CDFI that has prior award(s) must comply with CDFI Certification PG&M(s) stated in its prior Assistance Agreement(s). • An Emerging CDFI selected to receive a TA award will be required to become a Certified CDFI by a date specified in the Assistance Agreement. TABLE 6—ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL APPLICANTS lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 Applicant .................................................. • An Applicant must be duly organized as a legal entity (within the United States or its territories). • Only the entity that will carry out the proposed award activities may apply for an award (other than Depository Institution Holding Companies (DIHC) 11—see below). Recipients may not create a new legal entity to carry out the proposed award activities. • The information in the Application should only reflect the activities of the Applicant, including the presentation of financial and portfolio information (other than DIHCs-see below). Do not include financial or portfolio information from parent companies, Affiliates, or Subsidiaries in the Application unless it relates to the provision of Development Services. 11 Depository Institution Holding Company or DIHC means a Bank Holding Company or a Savings and Loan Holding Company. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:35 Dec 08, 2023 Jkt 262001 PO 00000 Frm 00112 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\11DEN1.SGM 11DEN1 85978 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 236 / Monday, December 11, 2023 / Notices TABLE 6—ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL APPLICANTS—Continued Application type and submission overview through Grants.gov and Awards Management Information System (AMIS). Employer Identification Number (EIN) ..... Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) ................... System for Award Management (SAM) ... lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 AMIS Account .......................................... 501(c)(4) status ........................................ Compliance with Nondiscrimination and Equal Opportunity Statutes, Regulations, and Executive Orders. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:35 Dec 08, 2023 • An Applicant that applies on behalf of another organization will be rejected without further consideration, other than DIHCs (see below). • Applicants must submit the Required Application Documents listed in Table 10. • The CDFI Fund will only accept Applications that use the official Application templates provided on the Grants.gov and AMIS websites. Applications submitted with alternative or altered templates will not be considered. • Applicants undergo a two-step process that requires the submission of Application documents by two separate deadlines in two different systems: (1) the SF–424 in Grants.gov and (2) all other Required Application Documents in AMIS. • Grants.gov and the SF–424: Æ Grants.gov: Applicants must submit the Standard Form (SF) SF–424, Application for Federal Assistance. Æ All Applicants must register in the Grants.gov system to successfully submit an Application. The Grants.gov registration process can take 30 days or more to complete. The CDFI Fund strongly encourages Applicants to register as early as possible. Æ The CDFI Fund will not extend the SF–424 application deadline for any Applicant that started the Grants.gov registration process on, before, or after the date of the publication of this NOFA, but did not complete it by the deadline except in the case of a federal government administrative or technological error that directly resulted in a late submission of the SF–424. Æ The SF–424 must be submitted in Grants.gov on or before the deadline listed in Table 1 and Table 12. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their SF–424 as early as possible in the Grants.gov system. Æ The deadline for the Grants.gov submission is before the AMIS submission deadline. Æ The SF–424 must be submitted under the CDFI Program Funding Opportunity Number for the CDFI Program Application. CDFI Program Applicants should be careful to not select the NACA Program Funding Opportunity Number when submitting their SF–424 for the CDFI Program. CDFI Program Applicants that submit their SF–424 for the CDFI Program Application under the NACA Program Funding Opportunity Number will be deemed ineligible for the CDFI Program Application. Æ If the SF–424 is not accepted by Grants.gov by the deadline, the CDFI Fund will not review any material submitted in AMIS and the Application will be deemed ineligible. • AMIS and all other Required Application Documents listed in Table 10: Æ AMIS is an enterprise-wide information technology system. Applicants will use AMIS to submit and store organization and Application information with the CDFI Fund. Æ Applicants are only allowed one CDFI Program Application submission in AMIS. o Each Application in AMIS must be signed by an Authorized Representative. Æ Applicants must ensure that the Authorized Representative is an employee or officer of the Applicant, authorized to sign legal documents on behalf of the organization. Consultants working on behalf of the organization may not be designated as Authorized Representatives. Æ Only the Authorized Representative or Application Point of Contact, included in the Application, may submit the Application in AMIS. Æ All Required Application Documents must be submitted in AMIS on or before the deadline specified in Tables 1 and 12. The CDFI Fund will not extend the deadline for any Applicant except in the case of a federal government administrative or technological error that directly resulted in the late submission of the Application in AMIS. • Applicants must have a unique EIN assigned by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). • The CDFI Fund will reject an Application submitted with the EIN of a parent or Affiliate organization. • The EIN in the Applicant’s AMIS account must match the EIN in the Applicant’s System for Award Management (SAM) account. The CDFI Fund reserves the right to reject an Application if the EIN in the Applicant’s AMIS account does not match the EIN in its SAM account. • Applicants must enter their EIN into their AMIS profile on or before the deadline specified in Tables 1 and 12. • The transition from the Dun and Bradstreet Universal Numbering System (DUNS) to UEI is a federal, government-wide initiative. • An Applicant must apply using its UEI in Grants.gov. • The CDFI Fund will reject an Application submitted with the UEI of a parent or Affiliate organization. • The UEI in the Applicant’s AMIS account must match the UEI in the Applicant’s Grants.gov and SAM accounts. The CDFI Fund will reject an Application if the UEI in the Applicant’s AMIS account does not match the UEI in its Grants.gov and SAM accounts. • Applicants must enter their UEI into their AMIS profile on or before the deadline specified in Tables 1 and 12. • SAM is a web-based, government-wide application that collects, validates, stores, and disseminates business information about the federal government’s trading partners in support of the contract awards, grants, and electronic payment processes. • Applicants must register in SAM as part of the Grants.gov registration process. • Applicants that have an active SAM registration have been assigned a UEI. Applicants must also have an EIN in order to register in SAM. • Applicants must be registered in SAM in order to submit an SF–424 in Grants.gov. • The CDFI Fund reserves the right to deem an Application ineligible if the Applicant’s SAM account expires during the Application evaluation period, or is set to expire before September 30, 2024, and the Applicant does not re-activate, or renew, as applicable, the account within the deadlines that the CDFI Fund communicates to affected Applicants during the Application evaluation period. • Each Applicant must register as an organization in AMIS and submit all Required Application Documents listed in Table 10 through the AMIS system. • The Application of any organization that does not properly register in AMIS by the deadline set forth in Table 1—FY 2024 CDFI Program Funding Round Critical Deadlines for Applicants—will be rejected without further consideration. • The Authorized Representative and/or Application Point of Contact must be included as ‘‘users’’ in the Applicant’s AMIS account. • An Applicant that fails to properly register and update its AMIS account may miss important communication from the CDFI Fund and/or may not be able to successfully submit an Application. • Pursuant to 2 U.S.C. 1611, any 501(c)(4) organization that engages in lobbying activities is not eligible to receive a CDFI or NACA Program award. • An Applicant * may not be eligible to receive an award if proceedings have been instituted against it in, by, or before any court, governmental agency, or administrative body, and a final determination has been issued within the time period beginning three years prior to the publication of this NOFA until the execution of the Assistance Agreement that indicates the Applicant has violated any federal civil rights laws or regulations, including: Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2000d); the Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.); the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (15 U.S.C. 1691 et seq.); Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794); and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, (42 U.S.C. 6101–6107). Jkt 262001 PO 00000 Frm 00113 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\11DEN1.SGM 11DEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 236 / Monday, December 11, 2023 / Notices 85979 TABLE 6—ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL APPLICANTS—Continued Depository Institution Holding Company Applicant. Use of award ........................................... Requested award amount ....................... Pending resolution of noncompliance ..... Noncompliance or default status ............. Debarment/Do Not Pay Verification ........ • Applicants * will be required to submit the Title VI Compliance Worksheet (Worksheet) once annually to assist the CDFI Fund in determining whether Applicants are compliant with the Treasury regulations implementing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act (Title VI), set forth in 31 CFR part 22. These requirements are set forth in the United States Department of the Treasury regulations implementing Title VI located in 31 CFR part 22, Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Race, Color, or National Origin in Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance from the Department of the Treasury. • In addition, an Applicant* must be compliant with federal civil rights requirements in order to be deemed eligible to receive an award from the CDFI Fund. The CDFI Fund will consider an Application submitted by an Applicant that has pending Title VI noncompliance issues, if the CDFI Fund has not yet made a final compliance determination. • The Title VI Compliance Worksheet and program award terms and conditions do not impose antidiscrimination requirements on Tribal governments beyond what would otherwise apply under federal law. • In the case where a CDFI Depository Institution Holding Company Applicant intends to carry out the activities of an award through its Subsidiary CDFI Insured Depository Institution, the Application must be submitted by the CDFI Depository Institution Holding Company and reflect the activities and financial performance of the Subsidiary CDFI Insured Depository Institution. • If a Depository Institution Holding Company and its Certified CDFI Subsidiary Insured Depository Institution (through which it will carry out the activities of the award) both apply for an award under this NOFA, only the Depository Institution Holding Company will receive an award, not both. In such instances, the Subsidiary Insured Depository Institution will be deemed ineligible. • Authorized Representatives of both the Depository Institution Holding Company and the Subsidiary CDFI Insured Depository Institution must certify that the information included in the Application represents that of the Subsidiary CDFI Insured Depository Institution, and that the award funds will be used to support the Subsidiary CDFI Insured Depository Institution for the eligible activities outlined in the Application. • All awards made through this NOFA must be used to support the Applicant’s activities in at least one of the FA or TA Eligible Activity Categories (see Section II. (C)). • With the exception of Depository Institution Holding Company Applicants, awards may not be used to support the activities of, or otherwise be passed through, transferred, or co-awarded to, third-party entities, whether Affiliates, Subsidiaries, or others, unless done pursuant to a merger or acquisition or similar transaction, and with the CDFI Fund’s prior written consent. The Recipient of any award made through this NOFA must comply, as applicable, with the Buy American Act of 1933, 41 U.S.C. 8301–8303 and section 2 CFR 200.216 of the Uniform Requirements, with respect to any Direct Costs. • An Applicant must state its requested award amount in the Application in AMIS. An Applicant that does not include this amount will not be allowed to submit an Application. • If an Applicant that is a prior Recipient or allocatee under any CDFI Fund program: (i) has demonstrated it has been in noncompliance and/or default with a previous Assistance Agreement, Award Agreement, Allocation Agreement, bond loan agreement, or agreement to guarantee and (ii) the CDFI Fund has yet to make a final determination as to whether the entity is in noncompliance with or default of its previous agreement, the CDFI Fund will consider the Applicant’s Application under this NOFA pending full resolution, in the sole determination of the CDFI Fund, of the noncompliance and/or default. • The CDFI Fund will not consider an Application submitted by an Applicant that is a prior CDFI Fund award recipient or allocatee under any CDFI Fund program if, as of the AMIS Application deadline in this NOFA, (i) the CDFI Fund has made a final determination in writing that such Applicant is in noncompliance with or default of a previously executed Assistance Agreement, Award Agreement, Allocation Agreement, bond loan agreement, or agreement to guarantee, and (ii) the CDFI Fund has provided written notification that such entity is ineligible to apply for or receive any future CDFI Fund awards or allocations. Such entities will be ineligible to submit an Application for such time period as specified by the CDFI Fund in writing. The CDFI Fund will not consider any Applicant that has defaulted on a loan from the CDFI Fund within five years of the Application deadline. • The CDFI Fund will conduct a debarment check and will not consider an Application submitted by an Applicant (or Affiliate of an Applicant) if the Applicant is delinquent on any Federal debt. • The Do Not Pay Business Center was developed to support federal agencies in their efforts to reduce the number of improper payments made through programs funded by the federal government. The Do Not Pay Business Center provides delinquency information to the CDFI Fund to assist with the debarment check. * This requirement also applies to Applicants’ prospective sub-recipients that are not direct beneficiaries of Federal financial assistance (e.g., Depository Institutions Holding Companies and their Subsidiary CDFI Insured Depository Institutions). TABLE 7—ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR TA APPLICANTS lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 CDFI Certification status .......................... Matching Funds ....................................... Limitation on Awards ............................... $5 Million funding cap .............................. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:35 Dec 08, 2023 (1) Emerging CDFIs (see definition in Table 5), or (2) Certified CDFIs (see Table 5) that meet the following SECA Applicant criteria: (a) Have total assets as of the end of the Applicant’s most recent historic fiscal year 12 in accordance with the FA Application Guidance (as stated in the Applicant’s AMIS account and verified by internally prepared financial statements and/or audits) in the following amounts: • Insured Depository Institutions and Depository Institution Holding Companies: up to $250 million; • Insured Credit Unions and State-Insured Credit Unions: up to $100 million; • Venture Capital Funds **: up to $5 million; • Other CDFIs: up to $5 million; OR (b) Have begun operations (as indicated by the financing activity start date field in the Applicant’s AMIS account) on or after January 1, 2020. If a TA Applicant is a Certified CDFI at the time of application, but loses its CDFI Certification at any point prior to the award announcement, the Application will be deemed ineligible and no longer be considered by the CDFI Fund. • Matching Funds documentation is not required for TA awards. • An Emerging CDFI may not receive more than three TA awards as an uncertified CDFI. • The CDFI Fund is prohibited from obligating more than $5 million in CDFI and NACA Program awards, in the aggregate, to any one organization and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates during any three-year period from the announcement date. • The CDFI Fund will include CDFI and NACA Program final awards in the cap calculation that were provided to an Applicant (and/or its Subsidiaries or Affiliates) under the FY 2022 funding round, as well as the requested FY 2024 award, excluding DF–FA and HFFI–FA awards. Jkt 262001 PO 00000 Frm 00114 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\11DEN1.SGM 11DEN1 85980 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 236 / Monday, December 11, 2023 / Notices TABLE 7—ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR TA APPLICANTS—Continued Proposed Activities .................................. Regulated Institution ................................ • Applicants must propose to directly undertake eligible activities with TA awards. For example, an uncertified CDFI Applicant must propose to become Certified as part of its Application and a Certified CDFI Applicant must propose activities that build its capacity to serve its Target Market or an Eligible Market. • Applicants may not propose to use a TA award to create a separate legal entity to become a Certified CDFI or otherwise carry out the TA award activities. • Each Regulated Institution TA Applicant must have a CAMELS/CAMEL rating (rating for Insured Depository Institutions and Credit Unions, respectively) or equivalent type of rating by its regulator (collectively referred to as ‘‘CAMELS/ CAMEL rating’’) of at least ‘‘4’’. • TA Applicants with CAMELS/CAMEL ratings of ‘‘5’’ will not be eligible for awards. • The CDFI Fund will not approve a TA award for an Applicant that has a Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) assessment rating of below ‘‘Satisfactory’’ on its most recent examination. • In the case of a Depository Institution Holding Company Applicant that intends to carry out the award through a Subsidiary Insured Depository Institution, the CAMELS/CAMEL rating eligibility requirements noted above apply to both the Depository Institution Holding Company Applicant, as well as the Subsidiary Insured Depository Institution. • The CDFI Fund will also evaluate material concerns identified by the Appropriate Federal Banking Agency in determining the eligibility of Regulated Institution Applicants. ** A Venture Capital Fund is an organization that predominantly invests funds in businesses, typically in the form of either Equity Investments or subordinated debt with equity features such as a revenue participation or warrants, and generally seeks to participate in the upside returns of such businesses in an effort to at least partially offset the risk of its investments. TABLE 8—ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR FA APPLICANTS CDFI Certification status .......................... Matching Funds documentation .............. lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 Consideration as a Native American CDFI. • Each FA Applicant must be a Certified CDFI prior to the date of award announcement. • If a CDFI is uncertified as of the date of NOFA publication, it must have submitted an application for CDFI Certification by the applicable deadline in Table 12 or it will be deemed ineligible to receive an FA award. The CDFI Fund will not extend the deadline for any uncertified Applicant that did not submit the Certification Application by the deadline, except in the case of a federal government administrative or technological error that directly resulted in a late submission of the CDFI Certification Application. • The CDFI Fund will make CDFI Certification determinations for Certifiable Applicants prior to the award announcement date. If the CDFI Certification Application is denied, the Applicant will not be eligible to receive an FA award. • The CDFI Fund will consider an Application submitted by an Applicant that has pending noncompliance issues with its Annual Certification and Data Collection Report (ACR) if the CDFI Fund has not yet made a final compliance determination. If a Certified CDFI loses its CDFI Certification at any point prior to the award announcement, the Application will be deemed ineligible and no longer be considered by the CDFI Fund. • Native American CDFIs are not required to provide Matching Funds. • Applicants that are required to submit Matching Funds (see Table 9) must submit acceptable documentation attesting that they have received or will receive Matching Funds. Applicants that do not complete the Matching Funds section in the FA Application in AMIS, documenting the source(s) of their Matching Funds, will not be evaluated. See Table 9 for additional information on Matching Funds requirements for FY 2024 Funding Round. The Matching Funds requirement for Category I (SECA) FA Applicants and HFFI–FA Applicants was waived in the final FY 2023 appropriations, and the final FY 2024 appropriations are still pending. Therefore HFFI–FA and SECA FA applicants are not required to submit Matching Funds for their award requests at the time of Application. However, the CDFI Fund reserves the right to request Matching Funds from Category I (SECA) FA and HFFI–FA Applicants if Matching Funds are not waived in the final FY 2024 CDFI Program appropriations. Category II (Core) FA Applicants must document their Matching Funds in the Matching Funds section in the FA Application in AMIS. Matching Funds information provided in another format will not be considered. • Unless Congress waived the Matching Funds requirement, awards will be limited to no more than two times the amount of In-Hand or Committed Matching Funds documentation provided at the time of Application (or for Category I (SECA) FA and HFFI–FA Applicants, upon request if applicable). See Table 9 for the definitions of Committed and In-Hand. • Unless Congress waived the Matching Funds requirement, awards will be obligated in like form to the Matching Funds provided at time of Application (or for Category I (SECA) FA and HFFI–FA Applicants, upon request if applicable). See Table 9. Matching Funds ‘‘Determination of Award Form’’ for additional guidance. • Unless Congress waived the Matching Funds requirement, award payments from the CDFI Fund will require eligible dollar-for-dollar In-Hand Matching Funds for the total payment amount. Recipients will not receive a payment until 100% of their Matching Funds are In-Hand. • Unless Congress waived the Matching Funds requirement, the CDFI Fund will reduce and de-obligate the remaining balance of any award that does not demonstrate full dollar-for-dollar Matching Funds equal to the announced award amount by the end of the Matching Funds Window. • For consideration as a Native American CDFI under this NOFA, an FA Applicant must Primarily Serve a Native Community. Primarily Serves is defined as 50% or more of an Applicant’s activities being directed to a Native Community. • For purposes of this NOFA, a Native Community is defined as Native American, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian populations or Native American areas defined as federally-designated reservations, Hawaiian homelands, Alaska Native Villages and U.S. Census Bureau-designated Tribal Statistical Areas. • Applicants that do not meet the above conditions will not be considered as a Native American CDFI under this NOFA. • The Indian Community Economic Enhancement Act of 2020 (Pub. L. 116–261) permanently waived the Matching Funds requirements for Native American CDFIs. Therefore, if the CDFI Fund determines that a Category II (Core) FA Applicant that attests in its Application to meeting the above conditions does not meet the criteria to be considered a Native American CDFI, the Application will be deemed ineligible for failure to provide Matching Funds. 12 For the purposes of this NOFA, an Applicant’s most recent historic fiscal year end is determined as follows: (A) Applicants with a 3/31 fiscal year end date will treat FY 2023 as their most recent historic fiscal year and FY 2024 as their current year. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:35 Dec 08, 2023 Jkt 262001 (B) Applicants with a 6/30 fiscal year end date and a completed FY 2023 audit will treat FY 2023 as their most recent historic fiscal year and FY 2024 as their current year. (C) Applicants with a 6/30 fiscal year end date but without a completed FY 2023 audit will treat FY 2022 as their most recent historic fiscal year and FY 2023 as their current year. PO 00000 Frm 00115 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 (D) Applicants with a 9/30 fiscal year end date will treat FY 2022 as their most recent historic fiscal year and FY 2023 as their current year. (E) Applicants with a 12/31 fiscal year end date will treat FY 2022 as their most recent historic fiscal year and FY 2023 as their current year. E:\FR\FM\11DEN1.SGM 11DEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 236 / Monday, December 11, 2023 / Notices 85981 TABLE 8—ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR FA APPLICANTS—Continued $5 Million funding cap .............................. FA Category I (SECA) ............................. FA Category II (Core) .............................. FA Applicants with Community Partners Regulated Institution ................................ PPC–FA ................................................... DF–FA ...................................................... lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 HFFI–FA .................................................. • The CDFI Fund is prohibited from obligating more than $5 million in CDFI and NACA Program awards, in the aggregate, to any one organization and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates during any three-year period from the announcement date. • The CDFI Fund will include CDFI and NACA Program final awards in the cap calculation that were provided to an Applicant (and/or its Subsidiaries or Affiliates) under the FY 2022 funding round, as well as the requested FY 2024 award, excluding DF–FA and HFFI–FA awards. • To be an eligible SECA Applicant, an Applicant must meet the following criteria: (1) Be either a Certified or Certifiable CDFI as defined in Table 5; (2) Request $1,400,000 or less in Base-FA award funds; AND EITHER (3) Have total assets as of the end of the Applicant’s most recent historic fiscal year in accordance with the FA Application Guidance (as stated in the Applicant’s AMIS account and verified by internally prepared financial statements and/or audits) in the following amounts: • Insured Depository Institutions and Depository Institution Holding Companies: up to $250 million; • Insured Credit Unions and State-Insured Credit Unions: up to $100 million; • Venture Capital Funds: up to $5 million; • Other CDFIs: up to $5 million; OR • Have begun operations (as indicated by the financing activity start date field in the Applicant’s AMIS account) on or after January 1, 2020. • A Core Applicant must be either a Certified or Certifiable CDFI as defined in Table 5. • An Applicant that meets the SECA requirements stated above, and that requests more than $1,400,000 in Base-FA award funds is categorized as an FA Category II (Core) Applicant, regardless of its total assets and/or years in operation. • Such Applicants who meet SECA requirements but wish to apply as a Core FA Applicant by requesting more than $1,400,000 must elect to apply as a Core Applicant upon Application launch in AMIS. The CDFI Fund will not change the Application type (Core FA or SECA FA) after the Application has been launched by the Applicant. • A CDFI Applicant can apply for assistance jointly with a Community Partner. The CDFI Applicant must complete the CDFI Program Application and address the Community Partnership in its business plan and other sections of the Application as specified in the Application materials. • The CDFI Applicant must be either a Certified or Certifiable CDFI as defined in Table 5. • An Application with a Community Partner must: Æ Describe how the CDFI Applicant and Community Partner will each participate in the partnership and how the partnership will enhance eligible activities serving the Investment Area and/or Targeted Population. Æ Demonstrate that the Community Partnership activities are consistent with the strategic plan submitted by the CDFI Applicant. • Assistance provided upon approval of an Application with a Community Partner shall only be entrusted to the CDFI Applicant and shall not be used to fund any activity carried out directly by the Community Partner or an Affiliate or Subsidiary thereof. • Each Regulated Institution FA Applicant must have a CAMELS/CAMEL rating (rating for Insured Depository Institutions and Credit Unions, respectively) or equivalent type of rating by its regulator (collectively referred to as ‘‘CAMELS/ CAMEL rating’’) of at least ‘‘3’’. • FA Applicants with CAMELS/CAMEL ratings of ‘‘4 or 5’’ will not be eligible for awards. • The CDFI Fund will not approve an FA award for an Applicant that has a Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) assessment rating of below ‘‘Satisfactory’’ on its most recent examination. • In the case of a Depository Institution Holding Company Applicant that intends to carry out the award through a Subsidiary Insured Depository Institution, the CAMELS/CAMEL rating eligibility requirements noted above apply to both the Depository Institution Holding Company Applicant as well as the Subsidiary Insured Depository Institution. • The CDFI Fund will also evaluate material concerns identified by the Appropriate Federal Banking Agency in determining the eligibility of Regulated Institution Applicants. • All PPC–FA Applicants must: Æ Submit a CDFI or NACA Program FA Application; Æ Meet all FA award eligibility requirements; and Æ Provide a PPC–FA award request amount in AMIS. • All DF–FA Applicants must: Æ Submit a CDFI or NACA Program FA Application; Æ Meet all FA award eligibility requirements; Æ Submit the DF–FA Application; and Æ Provide a DF–FA award request amount in AMIS. • All HFFI–FA Applicants must: Æ Submit a CDFI or NACA Program FA Application; Æ Meet all FA award eligibility requirements; Æ Submit the HFFI–FA Application; and Æ Provide a HFFI–FA award request amount in AMIS. B. Matching Funds Requirements: In order to receive a Base–FA, PPC–FA, or DF–FA award, an Applicant must provide evidence of eligible dollar-fordollar Matching Funds and attest that it can provide acceptable documentation upon the CDFI Fund’s request as part of the Application, unless Congress waived the Matching Funds requirement. The Matching Funds requirement was permanently waived for Native American CDFIs. Therefore, Native American CDFI Applicants are VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:35 Dec 08, 2023 Jkt 262001 not required to submit Matching Funds for their award requests. The Matching Funds requirement was waived for Category I (SECA) FA Applicants and HFFI–FA Applicants in the final appropriations bill for FY 2023, and the final FY 2024 appropriations are still pending. As a result, Category I (SECA) FA Applicants and HFFI–FA Applicants are not required to submit Matching Funds for their award requests at the time of Application. However, the CDFI Fund reserves the right to request PO 00000 Frm 00116 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Matching Funds from Category I (SECA) FA Applicants and HFFI–FA Applicants if Matching Funds are not waived in the final FY 2024 CDFI Program appropriations. An Applicant that represents that it has Equity Investments and/or deposits Matching Funds InHand at the time of Application submission must provide documentation of such as part of the Application (or for Category I (SECA) FA and HFFI–FA Applicants, upon request if applicable). An Applicant that E:\FR\FM\11DEN1.SGM 11DEN1 85982 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 236 / Monday, December 11, 2023 / Notices uses retained earnings as Matching Funds must provide supporting documentation of In-Hand and/or Committed Matching Funds at the time of Application submission. The CDFI Fund will review Matching Funds information, attestations, and supporting Matching Funds documentation, if applicable, prior to award payment and will pay award funds to a Recipient based upon eligible In-Hand Matching Funds. The CDFI Fund encourages Applicants to review the Regulations, the Uniform Requirements, and the Matching Funds guidance materials available on the CDFI Fund’s website. Table 9 provides a summary of the Matching Funds requirements for Applicants for whom Matching Funds are required. The Matching Funds requirement for Native American CDFIs is permanently waived. Additional details are set forth in the Application materials. TABLE 9—MATCHING FUNDS REQUIREMENTS * In-Hand Matching Funds definition .......... Matching Funds requirements by Application type. Amount of required match ....................... Determination of award form ................... Matching Funds Window definition .......... Matching Funds and form of award ........ Committed Matching Funds definition ..... lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 Limitations on Matching Funds ................ Rights of the CDFI Fund ......................... VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:35 Dec 08, 2023 • Matching Funds are In-Hand when the Applicant receives payment for the Matching Funds from the Matching Funds source and has acceptable documentation that can be provided to the CDFI Fund upon request. Acceptable In-Hand documentation must show the source, form (e.g., grant, loan, deposit, and Equity Investment), amount received, and the date the funds came into physical possession of the Applicant. • The following documentation, depending on the Matching Funds type, must be provided to the CDFI Fund upon request: • loan—the loan agreement and/or promissory note; • grant—the grant letter or agreement; • Equity Investment—the stock certificate, documentation of total equity outstanding, and shareholder agreement; • retained earnings—Retained Earnings Calculator and audited financial statements or call reports from regulating entity for each fiscal year reported in the Retained Earnings Calculator; • third party in-kind contribution- evidence of receipt of contribution and valuation; • deposits—certificates of deposit agreement; • secondary capital—secondary capital agreement and disclosure and acknowledgement statement; AND • clearly legible documentation that demonstrates actual receipt of the Matching Funds including the date of the transaction and the amount, such as a copy of a check or a wire transfer statement. • Unless Congress waived the Matching Funds requirement, Applicants must provide information on their In-Hand Matching Funds in the Matching Funds section of the FA Application in AMIS (refer to Table 10—Required Application Documents) at the time of Application submission. • Although Applicants are not required to provide further documentation for In-Hand Matching Funds at the time of Application submission (other than supporting documentation for retained earnings, deposits, and Equity Investments, which must be provided at the time of Application submission), they must be able to provide documentation to the CDFI Fund upon request. The following Applicants must provide evidence of acceptable Matching Funds at the time of Application: • Category II/Core FA Applicants, with the exception of Native American CDFIs, applying for Base-FA, PPC–FA, and DF– FA The CDFI Fund reserves the right to request Matching Funds from Category I (SECA) FA Applicants and HFFI–FA Applicants if Matching Funds are not waived in the final FY 2024 CDFI Program appropriations. TA Applicants and Native American CDFI FA Applicants are not required to provide Matching Funds. Unless waived by Congress, Applicants must provide evidence of eligible, In-Hand, dollar-for-dollar, non-Federal Matching Funds for every award dollar to be paid by the CDFI Fund. If awarded, Applicants that do not demonstrate 100% InHand Matching Funds at the time of Application submission may experience a longer payment timeline. Unless the Matching Funds requirement is waived by Congress, awards will be made in comparable form and value to the eligible In-Hand and/or Committed Matching Funds submitted by the Applicant. For awards where Congress has waived the Matching Funds requirement, the form of the award will be a grant. • For example, if an Applicant provides documentation of eligible loan Matching Funds for $200,000 and eligible grant Matching Funds of $400,000, the CDFI Fund will obligate $200,000 of the FA award as a loan and $400,000 as a grant. • The CDFI Fund will not permit a Recipient to change the form of a loan award. For awards where Congress waived the Matching Funds requirement, the form of the award will be a grant. • The Applicant must receive eligible In-Hand Matching Funds between January 1, 2022 and January 15, 2025. • A Recipient must provide the CDFI Fund with all documentation demonstrating the receipt of In-Hand Matching Funds by January 31, 2025. • Recipients will be approved for a maximum award size of two times the total amount of eligible In-Hand and/or Committed Matching Funds included in the Application (or for Category I (SECA) FA and HFFI–FA Applicants, upon request if applicable), so long as they do not exceed the requested award amount. • The form of the Matching Funds documented in the Application determines the form of the award. • Matching Funds are Committed when the Applicant has entered into or received a legally binding commitment from the Matching Funds source demonstrating that the Matching Funds will be disbursed to the Applicant at a future date. • The Applicant must provide information on their Committed Matching Funds in the Matching Funds section of the FA Application in AMIS (refer to Table 10—Required Application Documents) at the time of Application submission. • Although the Applicant is not required to provide further documentation for Committed Matching Funds at the time of Application submission (other than supporting documentation for retained earnings, deposits, and Equity Investments, which must be provided at the time of Application submission), it must be able to provide the CDFI Fund, upon request, acceptable written documentation showing the source, form, and amount of the Committed Matching Funds (including, in the case of a loan, the terms thereof), as well as the anticipated payment date of the Committed Matching Funds. • Matching Funds must be from non-Federal sources. • Applicants cannot proffer Matching Funds that were accepted as Matching Funds for a prior award that required Matching Funds under the CDFI Program, NACA Program, or under another Federal grant or award program. • Matching Funds must comply with the Regulations. • The Matching Funds source(s) must support at least one of the five eligible FA activities (see Section II (C) of this NOFA). • The CDFI Fund reserves the right to contact the Matching Funds source to discuss the Matching Funds and the documentation that the Applicant provided. • The CDFI Fund may grant an extension of the Matching Funds Window (defined in Table 9), on a case-by-case basis, if the CDFI Fund deems it appropriate. • The CDFI Fund reserves the right to rescind all or a portion of an award requiring Matching Funds and re-allocate the rescinded award amount to other qualified Applicant(s) if a Recipient fails to provide evidence of In-Hand Matching Funds obtained during the Matching Funds Window totaling its award amount. Jkt 262001 PO 00000 Frm 00117 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\11DEN1.SGM 11DEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 236 / Monday, December 11, 2023 / Notices 85983 TABLE 9—MATCHING FUNDS REQUIREMENTS *—Continued Matching Funds in the form of third-party in-kind contributions. Matching Funds in the form of a loan ..... Matching Funds in the form of Equity Investments. Severe Constraints Waiver ...................... Ineligible Matching Funds ........................ Use of Matching Funds from a prior CDFI Program Recipient. Matching Funds in the form of retained earnings. Special rule for Regulated Institutions ..... lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 ............................................................. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:35 Dec 08, 2023 • Third party in-kind contributions are non-cash contributions (i.e., property or services) provided by non-Federal third parties to the Applicant. • Third party in-kind contributions will be deemed in the form of a grant for Matching Funds purposes. • Third party in-kind contributions may be in the form of real property, equipment, supplies, and other expendable property. The value of goods and services must directly benefit the eligible FA activities. • For third party in-kind contributions, the fair market value of goods and services must be documented as the grant match. • Applicants will be responsible for documenting the value of all in-kind contributions pursuant to the Uniform Requirements. • An award made in the form of a loan will have the following standardized terms: i. A 13-year term with semi-annual interest-only payments due in years 1 through 10, and fully amortizing payments due each year in years 11 through 13; and ii. A fixed interest rate of 4.19%, which was calculated by the CDFI Fund based on the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s 10-year Treasury note. • The Applicant’s Matching Funds loan(s) must: i. have a minimum of a 3-year term (loans presented as Matching Funds with less than a 3-year term will not qualify as eligible match); and ii. be from a non-Federal source. • An Equity Investment source must meet the terms outlined in 12 CFR 1805.401(a): Equity: The CDFI Fund may make non-voting equity investments in a Recipient, including, without limitation, the purchase of non-voting stock. Such stock shall be transferable and, in the discretion of the CDFI Fund, may provide for convertibility to voting stock upon transfer. The CDFI Fund shall not own more than 50 percent of the equity of a Recipient and shall not control its operations. • The CDFI Fund’s ownership of equity is calculated by dividing the shares owned by the CDFI Fund by the total number of shares issued by the Recipient. • The CDFI Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to perform its own valuation of Equity Investment source(s) and to determine if the equity value is acceptable to the CDFI Fund. • In the case of an Applicant demonstrating severe constraints on available sources of Matching Funds, the CDFI Fund, in its sole discretion, may provide a Severe Constraints Waiver, which permits such Applicant to comply with the Matching Funds requirements by reducing such requirements by up to 50%. • In order to be considered eligible for a Severe Constraints Waiver, an Applicant must meet all of the SECA eligibility criteria described in Table 8. Instructions for requesting a Severe Constraints Waiver will be made available if required. • No more than 25% of the total funds available for obligation under this funding round may qualify for a Severe Constraints Waiver. • Applicants will not be given the opportunity to correct or amend the Matching Funds information included in the FA Application after Application submission if the CDFI Fund determines that any portion of the Applicant’s Matching Funds is ineligible. If an Applicant offers Matching Funds documentation from an organization that was a prior Recipient under the CDFI Program or NACA Program, the Applicant must be able to prove to the CDFI Fund’s satisfaction that such funds do not consist, in whole or in part, of CDFI Program funds, NACA Program funds, or other Federal funds. • Retained earnings are eligible for use as Matching Funds in an amount equal to the CDFI Fund’s calculation of: i. the increase in retained earnings that occurred over any one of the Applicant’s fiscal years within the Matching Funds Window, adjusted to remove revenue and expenses derived from Federal sources and Matching Funds used for an award; or ii. the annual average of such increases that occurred over any three consecutive fiscal years of the Applicant with at least one of the fiscal years occurring within the Matching Funds Window, adjusted to remove revenue and expenses derived from Federal sources and Matching Funds used for an award; or iii. any increases as measured in (i) and (ii) will be adjusted to remove Matching Funds used for a prior award.. • Retained earnings will be matched in the form of a grant. • Depository Institution Holding Company Applicants must provide call reports for the Depository Institution Holding Company in order to verify their retained earnings, even if the requested award will support its Subsidiary CDFI Insured Depository Institution. • A Regulated Institution’s retained earnings are eligible for use as Matching Funds in an amount equal to the CDFI Fund’s calculation of: i. the increase in retained earnings that occurred over any one of the Applicant’s fiscal years within the Matching Funds Window, adjusted to remove revenue from Federal sources and Matching Funds used for an award; or ii. the annual average of such increases that occurred over any three consecutive fiscal years of the Applicant with at least one of the fiscal years occurring within the Matching Funds Window, adjusted to remove revenue and expenses derived from Federal sources and Matching Funds used for an award; or iii. the entire retained earnings that have been accumulated since the inception of the Applicant, as provided in the Regulations. • If option (iii) is used for Insured Credit Unions or State-Insured Credit Unions, the Applicant must increase its member and/or non-member shares and/or total loans outstanding by an amount equal to the amount of retained earnings committed as Matching Funds. • This increase (1) will be measured on a quarterly basis from December 31, 2023; (2) must occur by September 30, 2025; and (3) will be based on amounts reported in the Applicant’s National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) form 5300 Call Report, or equivalent. • The CDFI Fund will assess the likelihood of this increase during the Application review process. • An award will not be made to any Applicant that has not demonstrated in the relevant NCUA form 5300 call reports or equivalent that it has increased shares and/or total loans outstanding by at least 25% of the requested FA award amount (including all awards requiring Matching Funds) between December 31, 2021, and December 31, 2022. • The Matching Funds are not In-Hand until the Recipient has increased its member and/or non-member shares, deposits and/or total loans outstanding by the amount of retained earnings since inception that are being used as Matching Funds. Jkt 262001 PO 00000 Frm 00118 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\11DEN1.SGM 11DEN1 85984 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 236 / Monday, December 11, 2023 / Notices TABLE 9—MATCHING FUNDS REQUIREMENTS *—Continued ............................................................. ............................................................. • If option (iii) is used for Insured Depository Institutions or Depository Institution Holding Companies, the Applicant or its Subsidiary CDFI Insured Depository Institution (in the case of a Depository Institution Holding Company) must increase deposits and/or total loans outstanding by an amount equal to the amount of retained earnings committed as Matching Funds. Depository Institution Holding Company Applicants must use the call reports of the Subsidiary CDFI Insured Depository Institution that the requested the FA award will support. • This increase (1) will be measured on a quarterly basis from December 31, 2023; (2) must occur by September 30, 2025; and (3) will be based on amounts reported in the call report. • The CDFI Fund will assess the likelihood of this increase during the Application review process. • An award will not be made to any Applicant that has not demonstrated in the relevant call reports that it has increased deposits and/or total loans outstanding by at least 25% of the requested FA award amount (including all awards requiring Matching Funds) between December 31, 2021, and December 31, 2022. • The Matching Funds are not In-Hand until the Recipient has increased its deposits and/or total loans outstanding by the amount of retained earnings since inception that are being used as Matching Funds. • All regulated Applicants utilizing the option (iii) should refer to the Retained Earnings Guidance included in the Retained Earnings Calculator Excel Workbook found on the CDFI Fund’s website. * The requirements set forth in Table 9 are applicable to Category II (Core) FA Applicants, with the exception of Native American CDFIs, applying for Base–FA, PPC–FA, and DF–FA. The Matching Funds requirements were permanently waived for Native American CDFIs. Therefore, the requirements set forth in Table 9 are not applicable to Native American CDFI Applicants for the FY 2024 Funding Round. Category I (SECA) FA Applicants and HFFI–FA Applicants are not required to submit Matching Funds at the time of Applications submission but the CDFI Fund reserves the right to request Matching Funds from these Applicants if the Matching Funds requirement is not waived in the final FY 2024 CDFI Program appropriations. IV. Application and Submission Information A. Address to Request an Application Package: Application materials can be found on the CDFI Fund’s website at www.cdfifund.gov/cdfi. Applicants may request a paper version of any Application material by contacting the CDFI Fund Help Desk at cdfihelp@ cdfi.treas.gov. Paper versions of Application materials will only be provided if an Applicant cannot access the CDFI Fund’s website. B. Content and Form of Application Submission: All Applications must be prepared using the English language, and calculations must be computed in U.S. dollars. The following table lists the Required Application Documents for the FY 2024 Funding Round. The CDFI Fund reserves the right to request and review other pertinent or public information that has not been specifically requested in this NOFA or the Application. Information submitted by the Applicant that the CDFI Fund has not specifically requested will not be reviewed or considered as part of the Application. Financial data, portfolio, and activity information provided in the Application should only include the Applicant’s activities. Information submitted must accurately reflect the Applicant’s activities (other than Depository Institution Holding Companies—see Table 6). TABLE 10—REQUIRED APPLICATION DOCUMENTS Application documents Applicant type Active AMIS Account ................................................................................. SF–424 ...................................................................................................... Title VI Compliance Worksheet ................................................................. CDFI Program Application Components: .................................................. • Funding Application Detail. • Data, Charts, and Narrative sections as listed in AMIS and outlined in Application materials. • Matching Funds (FA Core Applicants, with the exception of Native American CDFIs). PPC–FA Application Components: ........................................................... • Funding Application Detail. • Narratives. • AMIS Charts. DF–FA Application Components: .............................................................. • Funding Application Detail. • Narratives. • AMIS Charts. HFFI–FA Application Components: ........................................................... • Funding Application Detail. • Narratives. • AMIS Charts. All All All All Applicants Applicants Applicants Applicants Submission format ............................................................... ............................................................... ............................................................... ............................................................... AMIS. Fillable PDF in Grants.gov. AMIS. AMIS. PPC–FA Applicants ..................................................... AMIS. DF–FA Applicants ........................................................ AMIS. HFFI–FA Applicants ..................................................... AMIS. Attachments to the Application lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 Key Staff Resumes ................................................................................... Organizational Chart ................................................................................. Completed, final audited financial statements for the Applicant’s Three Most Recent Historic Fiscal Years. Unaudited financial statements for Applicant’s Three Most Recent Historic Years (required if available, and only if audited financial statements are not available). Current Year to Date—September 30, 2023 Unaudited financial statements. Community Partnership Agreement .......................................................... Retained Earnings Calculator Excel Workbook (required only if using retained earnings as Matching Funds). VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:35 Dec 08, 2023 Jkt 262001 PO 00000 Frm 00119 All Applicants ............................................................... All Applicants ............................................................... FA Applicants and TA Applicants, if available: loan funds, Venture Capital Funds, and other non-Regulated Institutions. FA and TA Applicants, if available: loan funds, Venture Capital Funds, and other non-Regulated Institutions. FA and TA Applicants: loan funds, Venture Capital Funds, and other non-Regulated Institutions. FA Applicants, if applicable ......................................... FA Core Applicants, if applicable ................................ Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\11DEN1.SGM 11DEN1 PDF or Word document in AMIS. PDF in AMIS. PDF in AMIS. PDF in AMIS. PDF in AMIS. PDF or Word document in AMIS. Excel in AMIS. 85985 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 236 / Monday, December 11, 2023 / Notices TABLE 10—REQUIRED APPLICATION DOCUMENTS—Continued Application documents Applicant type Call reports for each fiscal year reported in the Retained Earnings Calculator. Equity Investment Matching Funds Documentation ................................. Deposits Matching Funds Documentation ................................................ C. Application Submission: The CDFI Fund has a two-step process that requires the submission of Required Application Documents (listed in Table 10) on separate deadlines and locations. The SF–424 must be submitted through Grants.gov and all other Required Application Documents through the AMIS system. The CDFI Fund will not accept Applications via email, mail, facsimile, or other forms of communication, except in extremely rare circumstances that have been preapproved in writing by the CDFI Fund. The deadline for submitting the SF–424 is listed in Tables 1 and 12. All Applicants must register in the Grants.gov system to successfully submit the SF–424. The Grants.gov registration process can take 45 days or longer to complete and the CDFI Fund strongly encourages Applicants to start the Grants.gov registration process as early as possible (refer to the following link: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/ register.html). Since the Grants.gov registration process requires Applicants to have a UEI and an EIN, Applicants without these required items should allow for additional time to complete the Grants.gov registration process. The CDFI Fund will not extend the Application deadline for any Applicant that started the Grants.gov registration process but did not complete it by the deadline. An Applicant that has previously registered with Grants.gov must verify that its registration is current and active. Applicants should contact Grants.gov directly with questions related to the registration or submission process as the CDFI Fund does not maintain the Grants.gov system. Each Application must be signed by a designated Authorized Representative Submission format FA Core Applicants: Regulated Institutions that are using retained earnings as Matching Funds. FA Core Applicants: For-profit CDFIs that are using In-Hand Equity Investment(s) as Matching Funds. FA Core Applicants: Regulated Institutions that are using In-Hand Deposits as Matching Funds. in AMIS before it can be submitted. Applicants must ensure that an Authorized Representative is an employee or officer and is authorized to sign legal documents on behalf of the Applicant. Consultants working on behalf of the Applicant may not be designated as Authorized Representatives. Only a designated Authorized Representative or Application Point of Contact, included in the Application, may submit the Application in AMIS. If an Authorized Representative or Application Point of Contact does not submit the Application, the Application will be deemed ineligible. D. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): The UEI has replaced the Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number. The UEI, generated in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov), has become the official identifier for doing business with the federal government. This transition allows the federal government to streamline the entity identification and validation process, making it easier and less burdensome for entities to do business with the federal government. If an entity is registered in SAM.gov today, its UEI has already been assigned and is viewable in SAM.gov, including inactive registrations. New registrants will be assigned a UEI as part of their SAM registration. E. System for Award Management (SAM): Any entity applying for Federal grants or other forms of Federal financial assistance through Grants.gov must be registered in SAM before submitting its Application. When accessing SAM.gov, users will be asked to create a Login.gov user account (if they don’t already have one). Going forward, users will use their Login.gov PDF in AMIS. PDF or Word document in AMIS. PDF or Word document in AMIS. username and password every time when logging into SAM.gov. Registration in SAM is required as part of the Grants.gov registration process. The SAM registration process may take one month or longer to complete. An original, signed notarized letter identifying the authorized entity administrator for the entity associated with the UEI is required. This requirement is applicable to new entities registering in SAM or an existing registration where there is no existing entity administrator. Existing entities with registered entity administrators do not need to submit an annual notarized letter. Applicants without an EIN should allow for additional time as an Applicant cannot register in SAM without an EIN. Applicants that have previously completed the SAM registration process must verify that their SAM accounts are current and active. Each Applicant must continue to 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 a federal awarding agency. The CDFI Fund will deem ineligible any Applicant that fails to properly register or activate its SAM account and, as a result, is unable to submit the SF–424 in Grants.gov or Application in AMIS by the applicable Application deadlines. These restrictions also apply to organizations that have not yet received a UEI or EIN by the established deadline. Applicants must contact SAM directly with questions related to registration or SAM account changes as the CDFI Fund does not maintain this system and has no ability to make changes or correct errors of any kind. For more information about SAM, visit https://www.sam.gov. lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 TABLE 11—GRANTS.GOV REGISTRATION TIMELINE SUMMARY Estimated minimum time to complete Step Agency Obtain an EIN ................................. Register in SAM.gov ....................... Internal Revenue Service (IRS) ............................................................. System for Award Management (SAM.gov). This step will include obtaining a UEI.. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:35 Dec 08, 2023 Jkt 262001 PO 00000 Frm 00120 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\11DEN1.SGM Two (2) Weeks.* Four (4) Weeks.* 11DEN1 85986 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 236 / Monday, December 11, 2023 / Notices TABLE 11—GRANTS.GOV REGISTRATION TIMELINE SUMMARY—Continued Estimated minimum time to complete Step Agency Register in Grants.gov .................... Grants.gov ............................................................................................. One (1) Week.** * Applicants are advised that the stated durations are estimates only and represent minimum timeframes. Actual timeframes may take longer. The CDFI Fund will deem ineligible any Applicant that fails to properly register or activate its SAM account, has not yet received a UEI or EIN, and/or fails to properly register in Grants.gov. ** This estimate assumes an Applicant has a UEI, an EIN, and is already registered in SAM.gov. F. Submission Dates and Times: 1. Submission Deadlines: The following table provides the critical deadlines for the FY 2024 Funding Round. TABLE 12—FY 2024 CDFI PROGRAM FUNDING ROUNDCRITICAL DEADLINES FOR APPLICANTS Description Deadline Time (eastern time- ET) Last day to create an Awards Management Information Systems (AMIS) Account (all Applicants). Last day to enter EIN and UEI in AMIS (all Applicants). Last day to submit SF–424 (Application for Federal Assistance). Last day to contact Certification, Compliance Monitoring and Evaluation (CCME) Help Desk regarding CDFI Certification Applications for uncertified FA Applicants. Last day to contact CDFI Program staff .............. January 5, 2024 ..... 11:59 p.m. ET ........ AMIS. January 5, 2024 ..... 11:59 p.m. ET ........ AMIS. January 5, 2024 ..... 11:59 p.m. ET ........ Electronically via Grants.gov February 2, 2024 ... 11:59 p.m. ET ........ Service Request via AMIS. February 2, 2024 ... 5:00 p.m. ET .......... Last day to contact AMIS–IT Help Desk (regarding AMIS technical problems only). February 6, 2024 ... 5:00 p.m. ET .......... Last day to submit CDFI Certification Applications for uncertified FA Applicants. Last day to submit Title VI Compliance Worksheet (all Applicants)*. Last day to submit CDFI Program Application for Financial Assistance (FA) or Technical Assistance (TA). February 6, 2024 ... 11:59 p.m. ET ........ Service Request via AMIS Or CDFI Fund Helpdesk: 202–653–0421. Service Request via AMIS Or 202–653–0422 Or AMIS@cdfi.treas.gov. AMIS. February 6, 2024 ... 11:59 p.m. ET ........ AMIS. February 6, 2024 ... 11:59 p.m. ET ........ AMIS. Submission method lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 * This requirement also applies to Applicants’ prospective sub-recipients that are not direct beneficiaries of Federal financial assistance (e.g., Depository Institution Holding Companies and their Subsidiary CDFI Insured Depository Institutions). 2. Confirmation of Application Submission in Grants.gov and AMIS: Applicants are required to submit the SF–424, Application for Federal Assistance through the Grants.gov system, under the CDFI Program Funding Opportunity Number by the applicable deadline. All other Required Application Documents (listed in Table 10) must be submitted through the AMIS website by the applicable deadline. Applicants must submit the SF–424 prior to submitting the Application in AMIS. If the SF–424 is not successfully accepted by Grants.gov by the deadline, the CDFI Fund will not review the Application submitted in AMIS, and the Application will be deemed ineligible. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:35 Dec 08, 2023 Jkt 262001 a. Grants.gov Submission Information: Each Applicant will receive an email from Grants.gov immediately after submitting the SF–424 confirming that the submission has entered the Grants.gov system. This email will contain a tracking number for the submitted SF–424. Within 48 hours, the Applicant will receive a second email, which will indicate if the submitted SF– 424 was either successfully validated or rejected with errors. However, Applicants should not rely on the email notification from Grants.gov to confirm that their SF–424 was validated. Applicants are strongly encouraged to use the tracking number provided in the first email to closely monitor the status of their SF–424 by contacting the helpdesk at Grants.gov directly. The PO 00000 Frm 00121 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Application material submitted in AMIS is not officially accepted by the CDFI Fund until Grants.gov has validated the SF–424. b. AMIS Submission Information: AMIS is a web-based system where Applicants will directly enter their Application information and add the required attachments listed in Table 10. AMIS will verify that the Applicant provided the minimum information required to submit an Application. Applicants are responsible for the quality and accuracy of the information and attachments included in the Application submitted in AMIS. The CDFI Fund strongly encourages Applicants to allow for sufficient time to review and complete all Required Application Documents listed in Table E:\FR\FM\11DEN1.SGM 11DEN1 lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 236 / Monday, December 11, 2023 / Notices 10, and remedy any issues prior to the Application deadline. Each Application must be signed by an Authorized Representative in AMIS before it can be submitted. Applicants must ensure that the Authorized Representative is an employee or officer and is authorized to sign legal documents on behalf of the Applicant. Consultants working on behalf of the Applicant may not be designated as Authorized Representatives. Only an Authorized Representative or an Application Point of Contact may submit an Application. If an Authorized Representative or Application Point of Contact does not submit the Application, the Application will be deemed ineligible. Applicants may only submit one Base-FA or TA Application under the CDFI Program. Upon submission, the Application will be locked and cannot be resubmitted, edited, or modified in any way. The CDFI Fund will not unlock or allow multiple Application submissions. 3. Late Submission or AMIS Account Creation: The CDFI Fund will not accept an Application if the SF–424 is not submitted and accepted by Grants.gov by the SF–424 deadline listed in Table 1 and Table 12. Additionally, the CDFI Fund will not accept an Application if it is not signed by an Authorized Representative and submitted in AMIS by the Application deadline or if an Applicant did not submit the required Title VI Compliance Worksheet by the Application deadline listed in Table 1 and Table 12. The CDFI Fund will also not accept an Application from an Applicant that failed to create an AMIS account by the deadlines specified in Table 1 and Table 12. In these cases, the CDFI Fund will not review any material submitted, and the Application will be deemed ineligible. However, in cases where a federal government administrative or technological error directly resulted in precluding an Applicant from submitting the SF–424, the Application, or creating an AMIS account, or precluding an Applicant from submitting the Title VI Compliance Worksheet by the deadlines stated in this NOFA, Applicants are provided the opportunity to submit a written request for acceptance of late submissions. Be aware that unexpected delay in a federal government process does not in and of itself constitute a federal government administrative or technological error. The CDFI Fund will only approve the late submission of the SF–424, the Application, the Title VI Compliance worksheet, or the late creation of an AMIS account if the Applicant demonstrates that an unexpected delay VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:35 Dec 08, 2023 Jkt 262001 was the direct result of a federal government administrative or technological error. a. Creation of AMIS Account: In cases where a federal government administrative or technological error directly resulted in precluding an Applicant from creating an AMIS account by the required deadline, the Applicant must submit a written request for approval to create its AMIS account after the deadline, and include documentation of the error, no later than two business days after the AMIS account creation deadline. The CDFI Fund will not respond to requests for creating an AMIS account after that time. Applicants must submit such request via an AMIS Service Request to the CDFI Program or an email to cdfihelp@cdfi.treas.gov with a subject line of ‘‘AMIS Account Creation Deadline Extension Request.’’ b. SF–424 Late Submission: In cases where a federal government administrative or technological error directly resulted in precluding an Applicant from submitting the SF–424 by the required deadline, the Applicant must submit a written request for acceptance of the late SF–424 submission and include documentation of the error no later than two business days after the SF–424 deadline. The CDFI Fund will not respond to requests for acceptance of late SF–424 submissions after that time period. Applicants must submit late SF–424 submission requests to the CDFI Fund via an AMIS Service Request to the CDFI Program with a subject line of ‘‘Late SF–424 Submission Request.’’ c. Title VI Compliance Worksheet Late Submission: In cases where a federal government administrative or technological error directly precluded an Applicant from submitting the Title VI Compliance Worksheet by the required deadline, the Applicant must submit a written request for approval to submit the Worksheet after the deadline, and include documentation of the error, no later than two business days after the Title VI Compliance Worksheet submission deadline. The CDFI Fund will not respond to requests for submitting a Title VI Compliance Worksheet after that time. Applicants must submit such request via an AMIS Service Request to the CDFI Program with a subject line of ‘‘CDFI Program— Title VI Compliance Worksheet Deadline Extension Request.’’ d. AMIS Application Late Submission: In cases where a federal government administrative or technological error directly resulted in precluding an Applicant from submitting the Application in AMIS by PO 00000 Frm 00122 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 85987 the required deadline, the Applicant must submit a written request for acceptance of the late Application submission and include documentation of the error no later than two business days after the Application deadline. The CDFI Fund will not respond to requests for acceptance of late Application submissions after that time period. Applicants must submit late Application submission requests to the CDFI Fund via an AMIS Service Request to the CDFI Program with a subject line of ‘‘Late Application Submission Request.’’ G. Funding Restrictions: Base-FA, PPC–FA, DF–FA, HFFI–FA and TA awards are limited by the following: 1. Base-FA Awards: a. A Recipient shall use Base-FA award funds only for the eligible activities described in Section II. (C)(1) of this NOFA and its Assistance Agreement. b. With the exception of Depository Institution Holding Company Applicants, Base-FA awards may not be used to support the activities of, or otherwise be passed through, transferred, or co-awarded to, thirdparty entities, whether Affiliates, Subsidiaries, or others, unless done pursuant to a merger or acquisition or similar transaction, and with the CDFI Fund’s prior written consent. c. Base-FA award funds shall only be paid to the Recipient. d. The CDFI Fund, in its sole discretion, may pay Base-FA award funds in amounts, or under terms and conditions, which are different from those requested by an Applicant. e. The Recipient must comply, as applicable, with the Buy American Act of 1933, 41 U.S.C. 8301–8303 and section 2 CFR 200.216 of the Uniform Requirements, with respect to any Direct Costs. 2. PPC–FA Awards: a. A Recipient shall use PPC–FA award funds only for the eligible activities described in Section II. (C)(5) of this NOFA and its Assistance Agreement. b. With the exception of Depository Institution Holding Company Applicants, PPC–FA awards may not be used to support the activities of, or otherwise be passed through, transferred, or co-awarded to, thirdparty entities, whether Affiliates, Subsidiaries, or others, unless done pursuant to a merger or acquisition or similar transaction, and with the CDFI Fund’s prior written consent. c. PPC–FA award funds shall only be paid to the Recipient. d. The CDFI Fund, in its sole discretion, may pay PPC–FA award E:\FR\FM\11DEN1.SGM 11DEN1 lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 85988 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 236 / Monday, December 11, 2023 / Notices funds in amounts, or under terms and conditions, which are different from those requested by an Applicant. e. The Recipient must comply, as applicable, with the Buy American Act of 1933, 41 U.S.C. 8301–8303 and section 2 CFR 200.216 of the Uniform Requirements, with respect to any Direct Costs. 3. DF–FA Awards: a. A Recipient shall use DF–FA award funds only for the eligible activities described in Section II. (C)(2) of this NOFA and its Assistance Agreement. b. With the exception of Depository Institution Holding Company Applicants, DF–FA awards may not be used to support the activities of, or otherwise be passed through, transferred, or co-awarded to, thirdparty entities, whether Affiliates, Subsidiaries, or others, unless done pursuant to a merger or acquisition or similar transaction, and with the CDFI Fund’s prior written consent. c. DF–FA award funds shall only be paid to the Recipient. d. The CDFI Fund, in its sole discretion, may pay DF–FA award funds in amounts, or under terms and conditions, which are different from those requested by an Applicant. e. The Recipient must comply, as applicable, with the Buy American Act of 1933, 41 U.S.C. 8301–8303 and section 2 CFR 200.216 of the Uniform Requirements, with respect to any Direct Costs. 4. HFFI–FA Awards: a. A Recipient shall use HFFI–FA award funds only for the eligible activities described in Section II. (C)(4) of this NOFA and its Assistance Agreement. b. With the exception of Depository Institution Holding Company Applicants, HFFI–FA awards may not be used to support the activities of, or otherwise be passed through, transferred, or co-awarded to, thirdparty entities, whether Affiliates, Subsidiaries, or others, unless done pursuant to a merger or acquisition or similar transaction, and with the CDFI Fund’s prior written consent. c. HFFI–FA award funds shall only be paid to the Recipient. d. The CDFI Fund, in its sole discretion, may pay HFFI–FA award funds in amounts, or under terms and conditions, which are different from those requested by an Applicant. e. The Recipient must comply, as applicable, with the Buy American Act of 1933, 41 U.S.C. 8301–8303 and section 2 CFR 200.216 of the Uniform Requirements, with respect to any Direct Costs. 5. TA Awards: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:35 Dec 08, 2023 Jkt 262001 a. A Recipient shall use TA award funds only for the eligible activities described in Section II.(C)(3) of this NOFA and its Assistance Agreement. b. With the exception of Depository Institution Holding Company Applicants, TA awards may not be used to support the activities of, or otherwise be passed through, transferred, or coawarded to, third-party entities, whether Affiliates, Subsidiaries, or others, unless done pursuant to a merger or acquisition or similar transaction, and with the CDFI Fund’s prior written consent. c. TA award funds shall only be paid to the Recipient. d. The CDFI Fund, in its sole discretion, may pay TA award funds in amounts, or under terms and conditions, which are different from those requested by an Applicant. e. The Recipient must comply, as applicable, with the Buy American Act of 1933, 41 U.S.C. 8301–8303 and section 2 CFR 200.216 of the Uniform Requirements, with respect to any Direct Costs. V. Application Review Information A. Criteria: If the Applicant has submitted an eligible Application, the CDFI Fund will conduct a substantive review in accordance with the criteria and procedures described in the Regulations, this NOFA, the Application guidance, and the Uniform Requirements. The CDFI Fund reserves the right to contact the Applicant by telephone, email, or mail for the purpose of clarifying or confirming Application information. If contacted, the Applicant must respond within the time period communicated by the CDFI Fund or risk that its Application will be rejected. The CDFI Fund will review the Base-FA, DF–FA, PPC–FA, HFFI–FA, and TA Applications in accordance with the process below. All internal and external reviewers will complete the CDFI Fund’s conflict of interest process. The CDFI Fund’s Application conflict of interest policy is located on the CDFI Fund’s website. 1. Base-FA Application Scoring, Award Selection, Review, and Selection Process: The CDFI Fund will evaluate each Application using a five-step review process illustrated in the sections below. Applicants that meet the minimum criteria will advance to the next step in the review process. Applicants applying as a Community Partnership must describe the partnership in the Application pursuant to the requirements set forth in Table 8, and will be evaluated in accordance with the review process described below. PO 00000 Frm 00123 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 a. Step 1: Eligibility Review: The CDFI Fund will evaluate each Application to determine its eligibility status pursuant to Section III of this NOFA. b. Step 2: Financial Analysis and Compliance Risk Evaluation: i. Step 2: Financial Analysis: For Regulated Institutions, the CDFI Fund will consider financial safety and soundness information from the Appropriate Federal or State Banking Agency. As detailed in Table 8, each Regulated Institution FA Applicant (including a subsidiary Depository Institution that will expend and carry out the activities of an award on behalf of a Depository Institution Holding Company Applicant) must have a CAMELS/CAMEL rating of at least ‘‘3’’ and/or no significant material concerns from its regulator and a CRA assessment rating of at least ‘‘Satisfactory’’. For non-regulated Applicants, the CDFI Fund will evaluate the financial health and viability of each nonregulated Applicant using financial information provided by the Applicant. For the financial analysis, each nonregulated Applicant will receive a Total Financial Composite Score on a scale of one (1) to five (5), with one (1) being the highest rating. The Total Financial Composite Score is based on the analysis of twenty-three (23) financial indicators. Applications will be grouped based on the Total Financial Composite Score. Applicants must receive a Total Financial Composite Score of one (1), two (2), or three (3) to advance to Step 3. Applicants that receive an initial Total Financial Composite Score of four (4) or five (5) will be re-evaluated and re-scored by CDFI Fund staff. If the Total Financial Composite Score remains four (4) or five (5) after CDFI Fund staff review, the Applicant will not advance to Step 3. ii. Step 2: Compliance Risk Evaluation: For the compliance analysis, the CDFI Fund will evaluate the compliance risk of each Applicant using information provided in the Application, as well as an Applicant’s reporting history, reporting capacity, and performance risk with respect to meeting the PG&Ms set forth in the Assistance Agreement. Each Applicant will receive a Total Compliance Composite Score on a scale of one (1) to five (5), with one (1) being the highest rating. Applicants that receive an initial Total Compliance Composite Score of four (4) or five (5) will be re-evaluated by CDFI Fund staff. If the Applicant is deemed a high compliance risk after CDFI Fund staff review, the Applicant will not advance to Step 3. c. Step 3: Business Plan Review: Applicants that proceed to Step 3 will E:\FR\FM\11DEN1.SGM 11DEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 236 / Monday, December 11, 2023 / Notices be evaluated on the soundness of their comprehensive business plan. Two external, non-CDFI Fund Reviewers will conduct the Step 3: Business Plan Review. Reviewers will evaluate the Application sections listed in Table 13. All Applications will be reviewed in accordance with standard reviewer evaluation materials. At the conclusion of the Step 3 evaluation, Applications will be ranked based on Total Business Plan Scores, in descending order from highest Total Business Plan Score to lowest Total Business Plan Score. Each category of Applicant type (Core and SECA) will be ranked separately. An amount up to but not exceeding the highest scoring 60% of Core Applicants in the Core Applicant pool and an amount up to, but not exceeding, the highest scoring 70% of SECA Applicants in the SECA Applicant pool will progress to Step 4. Within each category of Applicant type (Core and SECA) respectively, if a tie in Total Business Plan Scores would prevent an Applicant from moving to Step 4, all Applicants with the same score will progress to Step 4. Lastly, the CDFI Fund may consider the geographic diversity of Applicants based on primary geographic market served (Major Urban Area, Micropolitan Area, Minor Urban Area, and Rural Area) when determining the Step 4 Applicant pool. Based on funding availability for Core and SECA Base-FA Applicant types, the 85989 CDFI Fund reserves the right to limit the number of Applicants that progress from Step 3 to Step 4 to ensure that the CDFI Program can meaningfully vary award amounts among Applicants with different Step 4 Policy Objective scores, while maintaining minimum award amounts specified in Table 2. In cases where funding availability is not sufficient to progress all Applicants within the top 60% of the Core Applicant pool and within the top 70% of the SECA Applicant pool from Step 3 to Step 4, priority will be given to Applicants that score highest on the Total Business Plan Score in each Applicant type (Core and SECA). TABLE 13—STEP 3: BASE-FA BUSINESS PLAN REVIEW SCORING CRITERIA Base-FA application sections Possible score Mission and Community Needs .............................................................. N/A. Business Strategy ................................................................................... Market and Competitive Analysis ............................................................ Products and Services ............................................................................ Management and Track Record ............................................................. Growth and Projections ........................................................................... Scored as a component of the other Base-FA Application Sections. 12 ................................................... 7 ..................................................... 12 ................................................... 12 ................................................... 7 ..................................................... Total Business Plan Score ............................................................... 50 ................................................... Core Applicants: Up to, but not exceeding, top 60% of all Core Applicants SECA Applicants: Up to, but not exceeding, top 70% of all SECA Applicants. d. Step 4: Policy Objective Review: The CDFI Fund internal reviewers will evaluate each Application to determine its ability to meet policy objectives of the CDFI Fund. Each Applicant will be evaluated in each of the categories listed in Table 14, and will receive a Total Policy Objective Review Score on a scale of one (1) to five (5), with one (1) being the highest score. Applicants are then grouped according to Total Policy Objective Review Scores. The CDFI Fund also conducts a due diligence review for Applicants that includes an analysis of programmatic risk factors including, but not limited to: history of performance in managing Federal awards (including timeliness of Score needed to advance N/A. N/A. N/A. N/A. N/A. reporting and compliance); ability to meet FA Objective(s) selected by BaseFA Applicants in their Applications; reports and findings from audits; and ability to effectively implement federal requirements, each of which could impact the Total Policy Objective Review Score. lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 TABLE 14—STEP 4: BASE-FA POLICY REVIEW SCORING CRITERIA Section Possible scores Economic Distress ....................................................................... Economic Opportunities ............................................................... Community Collaboration ............................................................. 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 .......................... 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 .......................... 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 .......................... 1 1 1 N/A. N/A. N/A. Total Policy Objective Review Composite Score ................. 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 .......................... 1 All Scores Advance. e. Step 5: Award Amount Determination: The CDFI Fund determines an award amount for each Application based on the Step 4 Total Policy Objective Review Score, the Applicant’s request amount, and on certain other factors, including, but not limited to, the Applicant’s deployment VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:35 Dec 08, 2023 Jkt 262001 track record, minimum award size, and funding availability. Applicants may have award amounts reduced from the requested award amount or not funded as a result of this analysis. Based on funding availability for Core, SECA, and/or NACA Base-FA Applicant types, the CDFI Fund reserves the right to not PO 00000 Frm 00124 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 High score Score needed to advance award all Applicants that advance to Step 5. In cases where funding availability is not sufficient to award all Applications, priority will be given to Applicants that score highest on the Step 4: Policy Objective Review in each Applicant type Category (Core and SECA). For Core FA Applicants, the E:\FR\FM\11DEN1.SGM 11DEN1 85990 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 236 / Monday, December 11, 2023 / Notices award cannot exceed 30% of the Applicant’s total portfolio outstanding as of the Applicant’s most recent historic fiscal year end. For SECA FA Applicants, the award cannot exceed 75% of the Applicant’s total portfolio outstanding as of the Applicant’s most recent historic fiscal year end, or the minimum award size as noted in Table 2, whichever is greater. 2. HFFI–FA Application Scoring, Award Selection, Review, and Selection Process: A CDFI Fund internal reviewer will evaluate each HFFI–FA Application associated with a Base-FA Application that progresses to Step 4 of the FA Application review process. The reviewer will evaluate the Application sections listed in Table 15 and assign a Total HFFI- FA Score up to 60 points. The CDFI Fund will make awards to the highest scoring Applicants first. All Applications will be reviewed in accordance with standard reviewer evaluation materials. Applicants that fail to receive a Base-FA award will not be considered for a HFFI–FA award. The CDFI Fund conducts additional levels of due diligence for Applications that are under consideration for an HFFI–FA award. Award amounts may be reduced from the requested award amount as a result of this analysis. The CDFI Fund may reduce awards sizes from requested amounts based on certain variables, including but not limited to, an Applicant’s loan disbursement activity, total portfolio outstanding, or compliance with prior HFFI–FA awards. Lastly, the CDFI Fund may consider the geographic diversity of Applicants when making its funding decisions. TABLE 15—STEP 4 HFFI–FA APPLICATION SCORING CRITERIA Possible score (points) Sections Target Market Profile ..................................................................................................................................................................... Healthy Food Financial Products .................................................................................................................................................. Projected HFFI–FA Activities ......................................................................................................................................................... HFFI Track Record ........................................................................................................................................................................ Management Capacity for Providing Healthy Food Financing ...................................................................................................... 10 10 15 20 5 Total HFFI-FA Score .............................................................................................................................................................. 60 3. PPC–FA Application Scoring, Award Selection, Review, and Selection Process: A CDFI Fund internal reviewer will evaluate the PPC–FA request of each PPC–FA Application associated with a Base-FA Application that progresses to Step 4 of the FA Application review process. PPC–FA requests are not scored. PPC–FA award amounts will be determined based on the total number of eligible Applicants and funding availability, the Applicant’s requested amount, and on certain factors, including but not limited to, an Applicant’s overall portfolio size, historical track record of deployment in PPC, pipeline of projects in PPC, minimum award size, and funding availability. Applicants that fail to receive a Base-FA award will not be considered for a PPC–FA award. 4. DF–FA Application Scoring, Award Selection, Review, and Selection Process: A CDFI Fund internal reviewer will evaluate each DF–FA Application associated with a Base-FA Application that progresses to Step 4 of the FA Application review process. The reviewer will evaluate the Application and assign a Total DF–FA Score on a scale of one (1) to three (3), with one (1) being the highest score. Applicants are then grouped according to Total DF–FA Score. All Applications will be reviewed in accordance with standard reviewer evaluation materials. Applicants that fail to receive a Base-FA award will not be considered for a DF– FA award. Award amounts will be determined on the basis of the Total DF–FA Score, the Applicant’s requested amount, and on certain factors, including but not limited to, an Applicant’s deployment track record, minimum award size, and funding availability. Award amounts may be reduced from the requested award amount as a result of this analysis. The CDFI Fund will make awards to the highest scoring Applicants first. lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 TABLE 16—STEP 3 DF–FA APPLICATION SCORING CRITERIA Section Possible scores DF–FA Narrative Questions ......................................................................................... 1, 2, or 3 ................................................... 1 Total DF–FA Score ............................................................................................... 1, 2, or 3 ................................................... 1 5. TA Application Scoring, Award Selection, Review, and Selection Process: The CDFI Fund will evaluate each Application to determine its eligibility pursuant to Section III of this NOFA. If the Application satisfies the eligibility criteria, the CDFI Fund will conduct the TA Business Plan Review in two parts. Emerging CDFI Applicants must receive a rating of Low Risk or Medium Risk in Part I of the TA Business Plan Review to progress to Part II of the TA Business Plan Review. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:35 Dec 08, 2023 Jkt 262001 Emerging CDFI Applicants that receive a rating of High Risk in Part I of the TA Business Plan Review will not be considered for an award. Part I of the TA Business Plan Review is not applicable for Certified CDFI Applicants. Emerging CDFI and Certified CDFI Applicants must receive a rating of Low Risk or Medium Risk in Part II of the TA Business Plan Review to be considered for an award. Applicants that receive a rating of High Risk in Part II of the TA Business Plan PO 00000 Frm 00125 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 High score Review will not be considered for an award. An Applicant that is a Certified CDFI will be evaluated on the demonstrated need for a TA award to build the CDFI’s capacity, further the Applicant’s strategic goals, and achieve impact within the Applicant’s Target Market. An Applicant that is an Emerging CDFI will be evaluated on the Applicant’s demonstrated capability and plan to achieve CDFI Certification within three years, or if a prior Recipient, the CDFI E:\FR\FM\11DEN1.SGM 11DEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 236 / Monday, December 11, 2023 / Notices Certification PG&M stated in its prior Assistance Agreement. An Applicant that is an Emerging CDFI will also be evaluated on its demonstrated need for a TA award to build the CDFI’s capacity and further its strategic goals. The CDFI 85991 Fund will rate each part of the TA Business Plan Review as indicated in Table 17. TABLE 17—TA BUSINESS PLAN REVIEW Business plan review component Applicant type lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 Part I: Primary Mission ........................................... Financing Entity ........................................... Target Market .............................................. Accountability .............................................. Development Services ................................ Part II: Target Market Needs & Strategy ................ Organizational Capacity .............................. Management Capacity ................................ Each TA Application will be evaluated by one internal CDFI Fund reviewer. The Business Plan Review of all Applications will be reviewed in accordance with CDFI Fund standard reviewer evaluation materials. The CDFI Fund conducts additional levels of due diligence for Applications that are under consideration for an award. This due diligence includes an analysis of programmatic and financial risk factors including, but not limited to, financial stability, history of performance in managing Federal awards (including timeliness of reporting and compliance), reports and findings from audits, and the Applicant’s ability to effectively implement federal requirements. The CDFI Fund will also evaluate the compliance risk of each Applicant using information provided in the Application as well as an Applicant’s reporting history, reporting capacity, and performance risk with respect to meeting the PG&Ms set forth in the Assistance Agreement. Each Applicant will receive a Total Compliance Composite Score on a scale of one (1) to five (5), with one (1) being the highest rating. Applicants that receive an initial Total Compliance Composite Score of four (4) or five (5) will be re-evaluated by CDFI Fund staff. If the Applicant is deemed a high compliance risk after CDFI staff review, the Applicant will not be considered for an award. The CDFI Fund will also evaluate the Applicant’s ability to meet CDFI Certification criteria of being a legal entity and a non-government entity. Award amounts may be reduced as a result of the due diligence analysis in addition to consideration of the Applicant’s funding request and similar factors. Lastly, the CDFI Fund may consider the geographic diversity of Applicants when making its funding decisions. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:35 Dec 08, 2023 Jkt 262001 Emerging Emerging Emerging Emerging Emerging CDFI CDFI CDFI CDFI CDFI Ratings Applicants .............................. Applicants. Applicants. Applicants. Applicants. Low Risk, Medium Risk, or High Risk. Emerging and Certified CDFI Applicants ......... Emerging and Certified CDFI Applicants. Emerging and Certified CDFI Applicants. Low Risk, Medium Risk, or High Risk. 6. Regulated Institutions: The CDFI Fund will consider safety and soundness information from the Appropriate Federal or State Banking Agency. If the Applicant is a CDFI Depository Institution Holding Company, the CDFI Fund will consider information provided by the Appropriate Federal or State Banking Agencies about both the CDFI Depository Institution Holding Company and the Certified CDFI Subsidiary Insured Depository Institution that will expend and carry out the award. If the Appropriate Federal or State Banking Agency identifies safety and soundness concerns (including any concerns for Subsidiary Depository Institutions carrying out the activities of an award on behalf of a CDFI Depository Institution Holding Company), the CDFI Fund will assess whether such concerns cause or will cause the Applicant to be incapable of undertaking the activities for which funding has been requested. 7. Non-Regulated Institutions: The CDFI Fund must ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that Recipients which are non-regulated CDFIs are financially and managerially sound, and maintain appropriate internal controls (12 U.S.C. 4707(f)(1)(A) and 12 CFR 1805.800(b)). Further, the CDFI Fund must determine that an Applicant’s capacity to operate as a CDFI and its continued viability will not be dependent upon assistance from the CDFI Fund (12 U.S.C. 4704(b)(2)(A)). If it is determined that the Applicant is incapable of meeting these requirements, the CDFI Fund reserves the right to deem the Applicant ineligible or terminate the award. B. Anticipated Award Announcement: The CDFI Fund anticipates making the CDFI Program award announcement before September 30, 2024. However, the anticipated award announcement date is subject to change without notice. PO 00000 Frm 00126 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 C. Application Rejection: The CDFI Fund reserves the right to reject an Application if information (including administrative errors) comes to the CDFI Fund’s attention that: adversely affects an Applicant’s eligibility for an award; adversely affects the Recipient’s CDFI Certification (to the extent that the award is conditional upon CDFI Certification); adversely affects the CDFI Fund’s evaluation or scoring of an Application; or indicates fraud or mismanagement on the Applicant’s part. If the CDFI Fund determines any portion of the Application is incorrect in a material respect, the CDFI Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to reject the Application. The CDFI Fund reserves the right to change its eligibility and evaluation criteria and procedures, if the CDFI Fund deems it appropriate. If the changes materially affect the CDFI Fund’s award decisions, the CDFI Fund will provide information about the changes through its website. The CDFI Fund’s award decisions are final, and there is no right to appeal decisions. D. External Non-CDFI Fund Reviewers: All external non-CDFI Fund reviewers are selected based on criteria that includes a professional background in community and economic development finance, and experience reviewing the financial statements of all CDFI institution types. Reviewers must complete the CDFI Fund’s conflict of interest process and be approved by the CDFI Fund. The CDFI Fund’s Application reader conflict of interest policy is located on the CDFI Fund’s website. VI. Federal Award Administration Information A. Award Notification: Each successful Applicant will receive an email ‘‘notice of award’’ notification from the CDFI Fund stating that its Application has been approved for an E:\FR\FM\11DEN1.SGM 11DEN1 85992 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 236 / Monday, December 11, 2023 / Notices award. Each Applicant not selected for an award will receive an email stating that a debriefing notice has been provided in its AMIS account. B. Assistance Agreement: Each Applicant selected to receive an award must enter into an Assistance Agreement with the CDFI Fund in order to receive a payment(s). The Assistance Agreement will set forth the award’s terms and conditions, including but not be limited to the: (i) award amount; (ii) award type; (iii) award uses; (iv) eligible use of award funds; (v) PG&Ms; and (vi) reporting requirements. FA Assistance Agreements have three-year Periods of Performance. TA Assistance Agreements have two-year Periods of Performance for Certified CDFIs and three-year Periods of Performance for Emerging CDFIs. 1. Certificate of Good Standing: All FA and TA Recipients that are not Regulated Institutions will be required to provide the CDFI Fund with a certificate of good standing from the secretary of state for the Recipient’s jurisdiction of formation prior to closing. This certificate can often be acquired online on the secretary of state website for the Recipient’s jurisdiction of formation and must generally be dated within 180 days prior to the Federal Award Date of the Assistance Agreement. Due to potential backlogs in state government offices, Applicants are advised to submit requests for certificates of good standing no later than 60 days after they submit their Applications. 2. Closing: Pursuant to the Assistance Agreement, there will be an initial closing at which point the Assistance Agreement and related documents will be properly executed and delivered, and an initial payment of FA or TA may be made. FA Recipients that are subject to the Matching Funds requirement will not receive a payment until 100% of their Matching Funds are In-Hand. The first payment is the estimated amount of the award that the Recipient states in its Application that it will use for eligible FA or TA activities in the first 12 months after the award announcement. The first payment request amount entered in the Application must be greater than zero. The CDFI Fund reserves the right to increase the first payment amount on any award to ensure that any subsequent payments are at least $25,000 for FA and $5,000 for TA awards. The CDFI Fund will minimize the time between the Recipient incurring costs for eligible activities and award payment(s) in accordance with the Uniform Requirements. Advanced payments for eligible activities will occur no more than one year in advance of the Recipient incurring costs for the eligible activities. Following the initial closing, there may be subsequent closings involving additional award payments. Any documentation in addition to the Assistance Agreement that is connected with such subsequent closings and payments shall be properly executed and timely delivered by the Recipient to the CDFI Fund. 3. Requirements Prior to Entering into an Assistance Agreement: If, prior to entering into an Assistance Agreement, information (including administrative errors) comes to the CDFI Fund’s attention that: adversely affects the Recipient’s eligibility for an award; adversely affects the Recipient’s CDFI Certification (to the extent that the award is conditional upon CDFI Certification); adversely affects the CDFI Fund’s evaluation of the Application; indicates that the Recipient is not in compliance with any requirement listed in the Uniform Requirements; indicates that the Recipient is not in compliance with a term or condition of any prior Award Agreement, Assistance Agreement, and/or Allocation Agreement from the CDFI Fund; indicates the Recipient has failed to execute and return a prior round Assistance Agreement to the CDFI Fund within the CDFI Fund’s deadlines; or indicates fraud or mismanagement on the Recipient’s part, the CDFI Fund may, in its discretion and without advance notice to the Recipient, terminate the award or take such other actions as it deems appropriate. The CDFI Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to rescind an award if the Recipient fails to return the Assistance Agreement, signed by the Authorized Representative of the Recipient, and/or provide the CDFI Fund with any requested documentation, within the CDFI Fund’s deadlines. In addition, the CDFI Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to terminate and rescind the Assistance Agreement and the award made under this NOFA pending the criteria described in Table 18. TABLE 18—REQUIREMENTS PRIOR TO EXECUTING AN ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT Requirement Criteria Failure to meet reporting requirements. • If a Recipient received a prior award or allocation under any CDFI Fund program and is not current on the reporting requirements set forth in the previously executed assistance, award, allocation, bond loan agreement(s), or agreement to guarantee, as of the date of the notice of award, the CDFI Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to delay entering into an Assistance Agreement and/or to delay making a payment of award, until said prior Recipient or allocatee is current on the reporting requirements in the previously executed assistance, award, allocation, bond loan agreement(s), or agreement to guarantee. • If such a prior Recipient or allocatee is unable to meet this requirement within the timeframe set by the CDFI Fund, the CDFI Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to terminate and rescind the notice of award and the award made under this NOFA. • Please note that automated systems employed by the CDFI Fund for receipt of reports submitted electronically typically acknowledge only a report’s receipt; such acknowledgment does not warrant that the report received was complete, nor that it met reporting requirements. • An FA Recipient must be a Certified CDFI prior to the award announcement date. • If an FA Recipient fails to maintain CDFI Certification, the CDFI Fund will not execute the Assistance Agreement and will terminate and rescind the award made under this NOFA. • If a TA Recipient is a Certified CDFI at the time of award announcement, it must maintain CDFI Certification. • If a Certified CDFI TA Recipient fails to maintain CDFI Certification, the CDFI Fund will not execute the Assistance Agreement and will terminate and rescind the award made under this NOFA. • The CDFI Fund will delay entering into an Assistance Agreement with a prior Recipient or allocatee that has pending noncompliance or default issues with any of its previously executed CDFI Fund award(s), allocation(s), bond loan agreement(s), or agreement(s) to guarantee. lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 Failure to maintain CDFI Certification. Pending resolution of noncompliance. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:44 Dec 08, 2023 Jkt 262001 PO 00000 Frm 00127 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\11DEN1.SGM 11DEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 236 / Monday, December 11, 2023 / Notices 85993 TABLE 18—REQUIREMENTS PRIOR TO EXECUTING AN ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT—Continued Requirement Criteria Noncompliance or default status .... Compliance with federal civil rights requirements. Do Not Pay ..................................... Safety and soundness .................... • If said prior Recipient or allocatee is unable satisfactorily resolve the compliance issues, the CDFI Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to terminate and rescind the notice of award and the award made under this NOFA. • If, at any time prior to entering into an Assistance Agreement, the CDFI Fund determines that a Recipient is noncompliant or found in default with any previously executed CDFI Fund award(s), allocation (s), bond loan agreement(s), or agreement(s) to guarantee, and the CDFI Fund has provided written notification that the Recipient is ineligible to apply for or receive any future awards or allocations for a time period specified by the CDFI Fund in writing, the CDFI Fund may delay entering into an Assistance Agreement until the Recipient has cured the noncompliance and/or default by taking actions the CDFI Fund has specified within such specified timeframe. If the Recipient is unable to cure the noncompliance and/ or default within the specified timeframe, the CDFI Fund may terminate and rescind the Assistance Agreement and the award made under this NOFA. • If, within the period starting three years prior to this NOFA and through the date of the Assistance Agreement, the Recipient received a final determination, in any proceeding instituted against the Recipient in, by, or before any court, governmental, or administrative body or agency, declaring that the Recipient violated any federal civil rights laws or regulations, including: Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.); Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.); Equal Credit Opportunity Act (15 U.S.C. 1691 et seq.); Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794); and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (42 U.S.C. 6101–6107), the CDFI Fund may terminate and rescind the Assistance Agreement and the award made under this NOFA. The CDFI Fund will delay entering into an Assistance Agreement with a Recipient that has pending Title VI noncompliance issues, if the CDFI Fund has not yet made a final compliance determination. • If the Recipient is unable to satisfactorily resolve the Title VI noncompliance issues, the CDFI Fund may terminate and rescind the Assistance Agreement and the award made under this NOFA. • The Title VI Compliance Worksheet and program award terms and conditions do not impose antidiscrimination requirements on Tribal governments beyond what would otherwise apply under federal law. • The Do Not Pay Business Center was developed to support federal agencies in their efforts to reduce the number of improper payments made through programs funded by the federal government. • The CDFI Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to rescind an award if the Recipient (or Affiliate of a Recipient) is determined to be ineligible based on data in the Do Not Pay database. • If it is determined the Recipient is, or will be, incapable of meeting its award obligations, the CDFI Fund will deem the Recipient to be ineligible or require it to improve its safety and soundness prior to entering into an Assistance Agreement. C. Reporting: 1. Reporting requirements: On an annual basis during the Period of Performance, the CDFI Fund may collect information from each Recipient including, but not limited to, an Annual Report with the following components (Annual Reporting Requirements): TABLE 19—ANNUAL REPORTING REQUIREMENTS * Financial Statement Audit Report (Non-profit Recipient including Insured Credit Unions and State-Insured Credit Unions). Financial Statement Audit Report (For-Profit Recipient) ................. Financial Statement Audit Report (Depository Institution Holding Company and Insured Depository Institution). Single Audit Report (Non-Profit Recipients, if applicable) ............... Federal Financial Report/OMB Standard Form 425 (SF–425) ....... lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 Transaction Level Report (TLR) ...................................................... VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:35 Dec 08, 2023 Jkt 262001 PO 00000 A Non-profit Recipient (including Insured Credit Unions and State-Insured Credit Unions) must submit a Financial Statement Audit (FSA) Report in AMIS, along with the Recipient’s statement of financial condition audited or reviewed by an independent certified public accountant, if any are prepared. Under no circumstances should this be construed as the CDFI Fund requiring the Recipient to conduct or arrange for additional audits not otherwise required under Uniform Requirements or otherwise prepared at the request of the Recipient or parties other than the CDFI Fund. For-profit Recipients must submit an FSA Report in AMIS, along with the Recipient’s statement of financial condition audited or reviewed by an independent certified public accountant. If the Recipient is a Depository Institution Holding Company or an Insured Depository Institution, it must submit an FSA Report in AMIS. A non-profit Recipient must complete an annual Single Audit pursuant to the Uniform Requirements (see 2 CFR Subpart F-Audit Requirements) if it expends $750,000 or more in Federal awards in its fiscal year, or such other dollar threshold established by OMB pursuant to 2 CFR 200.501. If a Single Audit is required, it must be submitted electronically to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse (FAC) (see 2 CFR Subpart F-Audit Requirements in the Uniform Requirements) and optionally through AMIS. The Recipient must annually submit the SF–425 Federal Financial Report to the CDFI Fund through AMIS to disclose how much of the CDFI Program award funds were expended during the federal government’s fiscal year of October 1 through September 30. The Recipient must submit a TLR to the CDFI Fund through AMIS. If the Recipient is a Depository Institution Holding Company that deploys all or a portion of its Financial Assistance through its Subsidiary CDFI Insured Depository Institution, that Subsidiary CDFI Insured Depository Institution must also submit a TLR. Furthermore, if the Depository Institution Holding Company itself deploys any portion of the Financial Assistance, the Depository Institution Holding Company must submit a TLR. The TLR is not required for TA Recipients. Frm 00128 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\11DEN1.SGM 11DEN1 85994 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 236 / Monday, December 11, 2023 / Notices TABLE 19—ANNUAL REPORTING REQUIREMENTS *—Continued Uses of Award Report ..................................................................... Shareholders Report ........................................................................ Performance Progress Report ......................................................... Annual Certification and Data Collection Report (ACR) .................. The Recipient must submit the Uses of Award Report to the CDFI Fund in AMIS. If the Recipient is a Depository Institution Holding Company that deploys all or a portion of its Financial Assistance through its Subsidiary CDFI Insured Depository Institution, that Subsidiary CDFI Insured Depository Institution must also submit a Uses of Award Report. Furthermore, if the Depository Institution Holding Company itself deploys any portion of the Financial Assistance, the Depository Institution Holding Company must submit a Uses of Award Report. If the Assistance is in the form of an Equity Investment, the Recipient must submit shareholder information to the CDFI Fund showing the class, series, number of shares and valuation of capital stock held or to be held by each shareholder. The Shareholders Report must be submitted for as long as the CDFI Fund is an equity holder. The Shareholders Report is submitted through AMIS. The Recipient must submit the Performance Progress Report through AMIS. If the Recipient is a Depository Institution Holding Company that deploys all or a portion of its Financial Assistance through its Subsidiary CDFI Insured Depository Institution, that Subsidiary CDFI Insured Depository Institution must also submit a Performance Progress Report. Furthermore, if the Depository Institution Holding Company itself deploys any portion of the Financial Assistance, the Depository Institution Holding Company must submit a Performance Progress Report. TA Recipients that are Certified at the time of award announcement and all FA Recipients must submit the ACR to the CDFI Fund through AMIS. If a TA Recipient is an uncertified CDFI at the time of award announcement, it must submit the ACR to the CDFI Fund through AMIS subsequent to obtaining CDFI Certification as per the ACR reporting schedule. * Personally Identifiable Information (PII) is information, which if lost, compromised, or disclosed without authorization, could result in substantial harm, embarrassment, inconvenience, or unfairness to an individual. Although Applicants are required to enter addresses of individual borrowers/ residents of Distressed Communities in AMIS, Applicants should not include the following PII for the individuals who received the Financial Products or Financial Services in AMIS or in the supporting documentation (i.e., name of the individual, Social Security Number, driver’s license or state identification number, passport number, Alien Registration Number, etc.). This information should be redacted from all supporting documentation. Each Recipient is responsible for the timely and complete submission of the Annual Reporting Requirements. The CDFI Fund reserves the right to contact the Recipient and additional entities or signatories to the Assistance Agreement to request additional information and/or documentation. The CDFI Fund will use such information to monitor each Recipient’s compliance with the requirements of the Assistance Agreement and to assess the impact of the CDFI Program. The CDFI Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to modify these reporting requirements, including increasing the scope and frequency of reporting, if it determines it to be appropriate and necessary; however, such reporting requirements will be modified only after notice to Recipients. 2. Financial Management and Accounting: The CDFI Fund will require Recipients to maintain financial management and accounting systems that comply with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These systems must be sufficient to permit the preparation of reports required by the CDFI Fund to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of the CDFI Program, including the tracing of award funds to a level of expenditures adequate to establish that such award funds have been used in accordance with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. The cost principles used by Recipients must be consistent with federal cost principles and support the accumulation of costs as required by the principles, and must provide for adequate documentation to support costs charged to the CDFI Program award. In addition, the CDFI Fund will require Recipients to: maintain effective internal controls; comply with applicable statutes, regulations, and the Assistance Agreement; evaluate and monitor compliance; take appropriate action when not in compliance; and safeguard personally identifiable information. VII. Agency Contacts A. The CDFI Fund will respond to questions concerning this NOFA and the Application between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, starting on the date that the NOFA is published through the date listed in Table 1 and Table 12. The CDFI Fund strongly recommends Applicants submit questions to the CDFI Fund via an AMIS Service Request to the CDFI Program, Certification, Compliance Monitoring and Evaluation (CCME), or IT Help Desk. The CDFI Fund will post on its website responses to reoccurring questions received about the NOFA and Application. Other information regarding the CDFI Fund and its programs may be obtained from the CDFI Fund’s website at https:// www.cdfifund.gov. Table 20 lists CDFI Fund contact information: TABLE 20—CONTACT INFORMATION lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 Type of question CDFI Program ............................................ Compliance Monitoring and Evaluation ..... CDFI Certification ....................................... AMIS—IT Help Desk .................................. Service Service Service Service B. Information Technology Support: For IT assistance, the preferred method of contact is to submit a Service Request within AMIS. For the Service Request, VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:35 Dec 08, 2023 Telephone number (not toll free) Preferred method Jkt 262001 Request Request Request Request via via via via AMIS AMIS AMIS AMIS .......... .......... .......... .......... 202–653–0421, option 1 .............. 202–653–0423 ............................. 202–653–0423 ............................. 202–653–0422 ............................. select ‘‘Technical Issues’’ from the Program dropdown menu of the Service Request. People who have visual or mobility impairments that prevent them PO 00000 Frm 00129 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Email addresses cdfihelp@cdfi.treas.gov. ccme@cdfi.treas.gov. ccme@cdfi.treas.gov. AMIS@cdfi.treas.gov. from using the CDFI Fund’s website should call (202) 653–0422 for assistance (this is not a toll free number). E:\FR\FM\11DEN1.SGM 11DEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 236 / Monday, December 11, 2023 / Notices C. Communication with the CDFI Fund: The CDFI Fund will use the contact information in AMIS to communicate with Applicants and Recipients. It is imperative, therefore, that Applicants, Recipients, Subsidiaries, Affiliates, and signatories maintain accurate contact information in their accounts. This includes information such as contact names (especially for the Authorized Representative), email addresses, fax and phone numbers, and office locations. D. Civil Rights and Equal Employment Opportunity: Any person who is eligible to receive benefits or services from the CDFI Fund or Recipients under any of its programs or activities is entitled to those benefits or services without being subject to prohibited discrimination. The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Civil Rights and Equal Employment Opportunity enforces various federal statutes and regulations that prohibit discrimination in financially assisted and conducted programs and activities of the CDFI Fund. If a person believes that s/he has been subjected to discrimination and/or reprisal because of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, familial status, disability and/or reprisal, s/he may file a complaint with: Director, Office of Civil Rights and Equal Employment Opportunity, 1500 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20230 or (202) 622–1160 (not a toll-free number). E. Statutory and National Policy Requirements: The CDFI Fund will manage and administer the Federal award in a manner to ensure that Federal funding is expended and associated programs are implemented in full accordance with the U.S. Constitution, federal law, and public policy requirements: including but not limited to, those protecting free speech, religious liberty, public welfare, the environment, and prohibiting discrimination. 85995 organizations that are considering applying to, or are interested in learning about, the CDFI Fund’s programs. For further information, visit the CDFI Fund’s website at https:// www.cdfifund.gov. Authority: 12 U.S.C. 4701, et seq; 12 CFR parts 1805 and 1815; 2 CFR part 200. Marcia Sigal, Acting Director, Community Development Financial Institutions Fund. [FR Doc. 2023–27138 Filed 12–8–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4810–05–P VIII. Other Information A. Paperwork Reduction Act: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35), an agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information, and an individual is not required to respond to a collection of information, unless it displays a valid OMB control number. If applicable, the CDFI Fund may inform Applicants that they do not need to provide certain Application information otherwise required. Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act, the CDFI Program, and NACA Program Application has been assigned the following control number: 1559– 0021, inclusive of PPC–FA, DF–FA, and HFFI–FA. B. Application Information Sessions: The CDFI Fund may conduct webinars or host information sessions for DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY Community Development Financial Institutions Fund Notice of Funds Availability Announcement Type: Announcement of funding opportunity. Funding Opportunity Title: Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) inviting Applications for Financial Assistance (FA) or Technical Assistance (TA) awards under the Native American CDFI Assistance (NACA Program) fiscal year (FY) 2024 Funding Round. Funding Opportunity Number: CDFI– 2024–NACA. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (Cfda) Number: 21.012. Dates: TABLE 1—FY 2024 NACA PROGRAM FUNDING ROUND CRITICAL DEADLINES FOR APPLICANTS Description Deadline Time (eastern time—ET) Last day to create an AMIS Account (all Applicants) ................. Last day to enter Employer Identification Number (EIN) and Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) in AMIS (all Applicants). Last day to submit SF–424 Mandatory Form (Application for Federal Assistance). Last day to contact NACA Program staff .................................... January 16, 2024 ......... January 16, 2024 ......... 11:59 p.m. ET ............... 11:59 p.m. ET ............... AMIS. AMIS. January 16, 2024 ......... 11:59 p.m. ET ............... Electronically via Grants.gov. February 13, 2024 ........ 5 p.m. ET ...................... February 15, 2024 ........ 5 p.m. ET ...................... February 15, 2024 ........ 11:59 p.m. ET ............... Service Request via AMIS or CDFI Fund Helpdesk: 202–653–0421. Service Request via AMIS or 202–653–0422 or AMIS@cdfi.treas.gov. AMIS. February 15, 2024 ........ 11:59 p.m. ET ............... AMIS. March 1, 2024 .............. 11:59 p.m. ET ............... Service Request2 via the Awards Management Information System (AMIS). March 5, 2024 .............. 11:59 p.m. ET ............... AMIS. lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 Last day to contact AMIS–IT Help Desk (regarding AMIS technical problems only). Last day to submit Title VI Compliance Worksheet (all Applicants) 1. Last day to submit NACA Program Application for Financial Assistance (FA) or Technical Assistance (TA). Last day to contact Certification, Compliance Monitoring and Evaluation (CCME) Help Desk regarding CDFI Certification Application for uncertified FA Applicants. Last day to submit CDFI Certification Applications for uncertified FA Applicants. Executive Summary: Through the NACA Program, the Community Development Financial Institutions 1 This requirement also applies to Applicants’ prospective sub-recipients that are not direct beneficiaries of Federal financial assistance (e.g., Depository Institution Holding Companies and their Subsidiary CDFI Insured Depository Institutions). 2 Service Request shall mean a written inquiry or notification submitted to the CDFI Fund via AMIS. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:35 Dec 08, 2023 Jkt 262001 (CDFI) Fund provides (i) FA awards of up to $2 million to Certified Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) serving Native American, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian populations or Native American areas defined as federally-designated reservations, Hawaiian homelands, Alaska Native Villages and U.S. Census Bureau-designated Tribal Statistical PO 00000 Frm 00130 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Submission method Areas (collectively, ‘‘Native Communities’’) to build their financial capacity to lend to Eligible Markets and/ or their Target Markets, and (ii) TA awards of up to $300,000 to build Certified, and Emerging CDFIs’ organizational capacity to serve Eligible Markets and/or their Target Markets, and Sponsoring Entities’ ability to create Certified CDFIs that serve Native E:\FR\FM\11DEN1.SGM 11DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 236 (Monday, December 11, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 85972-85995]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-27138]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Community Development Financial Institutions Fund


Notice of Funds Availability

    Announcement Type: Announcement of funding opportunity.
    Funding Opportunity Title: Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) 
inviting Applications for Financial Assistance (FA) or Technical 
Assistance (TA) awards under the Community Development Financial 
Institutions Program (CDFI Program) fiscal year (FY) 2024 Funding 
Round.
    Funding Opportunity Number: CDFI-2024-FATA.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 21.020.

DATES: 

                  Table 1--FY 2024 CDFI Program Funding Round Critical Deadlines for Applicants
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Description                      Deadline              Time (eastern  time--ET)     Submission method
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Last day to create an AMIS        January 16, 2024............  11:59 p.m. ET...............  AMIS.
 Account (all Applicants).
Last day to enter Employer        January 16, 2024............  11:59 p.m. ET...............  AMIS.
 Identification Number (EIN) and
 Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)
 in AMIS (all Applicants).
Last day to submit SF-424         January 16, 2024............  11:59 p.m. ET...............  Electronically via
 Mandatory Form (Application for                                                               Grants.gov.
 Federal Assistance).
Last day to contact CDFI Program  February 13, 2024...........  5:00 p.m. ET................  Service Request
 staff.                                                                                        via AMIS Or CDFI
                                                                                               Fund Helpdesk:
                                                                                               202-653-0421.
Last day to contact AMIS-IT Help  February 15, 2024...........  5:00 p.m. ET................  Service Request
 Desk (regarding AMIS technical                                                                via AMIS Or 202-
 problems only).                                                                               653-0422 Or
                                                                                               [email protected].
Last day to submit Title VI       February 15, 2024...........  11:59 p.m. ET...............  AMIS.
 Compliance Worksheet (all
 Applicants) \1\.
Last day to submit CDFI Program   February 15, 2024...........  11:59 p.m. ET...............  AMIS.
 Application for Financial
 Assistance (FA) or Technical
 Assistance (TA).
Last day to contact               March 1, 2024...............  11:59 p.m. ET...............  Service Request
 Certification, Compliance                                                                     \2\ via the
 Monitoring and Evaluation                                                                     Awards Management
 (CCME) Help Desk regarding CDFI                                                               Information
 Certification Application for                                                                 System (AMIS).
 uncertified FA Applicants.
Last day to submit CDFI           March 5, 2024...............  11:59 p.m. ET...............  AMIS.
 Certification Applications for
 uncertified FA Applicants.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Executive Summary: Through the CDFI Program, the CDFI Fund provides 
(i) FA awards of up to $2 million to Certified Community Development 
Financial Institutions (CDFIs) to build their financial capacity to 
lend to Eligible Markets and/or their Target Markets, and (ii) TA 
awards of up to $250,000 to build Certified and Emerging CDFIs' 
organizational capacity to serve Eligible Markets and/or their Target 
Markets. All awards provided through this NOFA are subject to funding 
availability.
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    \1\ This requirement also applies to Applicants' prospective 
sub-recipients that are not direct beneficiaries of Federal 
financial assistance (e.g., Depository Institution Holding Companies 
and their Subsidiary CDFI Insured Depository Institutions).
    \2\ Service Request shall mean a written inquiry or notification 
submitted to the CDFI Fund via AMIS.
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I. Program Description

    A. History: The CDFI Fund was established by the Riegle Community 
Development Banking and Financial Institutions Act of 1994 to promote 
economic revitalization and community development through investment in 
and assistance to CDFIs. The CDFI Program made its first awards in 1996 
and the Native American CDFI Assistance (NACA) Program made its first 
awards in 2002.
    B. Priorities: Through the CDFI Program's FA and TA awards, the 
CDFI Fund invests in and builds the capacity of for-profit and non-
profit community based lending organizations known as CDFIs. These 
organizations, Certified as CDFIs by the CDFI Fund, serve rural and 
urban Low-Income people, and communities across the nation that lack 
adequate access to affordable Financial Products and Financial 
Services.
    C. Authorizing Statutes and Regulations: The CDFI Program is 
authorized by the Riegle Community Development Banking and Financial 
Institutions Act of 1994 (Pub. L. 103-325, 12 U.S.C. 4701 et seq.) 
(Authorizing Statute). The regulations governing the CDFI Program are 
found at 12 CFR parts 1805 and 1815 (the Regulations) and set forth 
evaluation criteria and other program requirements. The CDFI Fund 
encourages Applicants to review the Regulations; this NOFA; the CDFI 
Program Application for Financial Assistance or Technical Assistance 
(the Application); all related materials and guidance documents found 
on the CDFI Fund's website (Application materials); and the Uniform 
Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements 
for Federal Awards (2 CFR part 1000), which is the Department of the 
Treasury's codification of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
government-wide framework for grants management at 2 CFR part 200 (the 
Uniform Requirements) for a complete understanding of the program. 
Capitalized terms in this NOFA are defined in the Authorizing Statute, 
the Regulations, this NOFA, the Application, Application materials, or 
the Uniform Requirements. Details regarding Application content 
requirements are found in the Application and Application materials.

[[Page 85973]]

    D. Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit 
Requirements for Federal Awards (2 CFR part 1000): The Uniform 
Requirements codify financial, administrative, procurement, and program 
management standards that Federal award agencies must follow. When 
evaluating Applications, awarding agencies must evaluate the risks 
posed by each Applicant, and each Applicant's merits and eligibility. 
These requirements are designed to ensure that Applicants for Federal 
assistance receive a fair and consistent review prior to an award 
decision. This review will assess items such as the Applicant's 
financial stability, quality of management systems, the soundness of 
its business plan, history of performance, ability to achieve 
measurable impacts through its products and services, and audit 
findings. In addition, the Uniform Requirements include guidance on 
audit requirements and other award compliance requirements for 
Recipients.
    E. Funding limitations: The CDFI Fund reserves the right to fund, 
in whole or in part, any, all, or none of the Applications submitted in 
response to this NOFA.

II. Federal Award Information

    A. Funding Availability:
    1. FY 2024 Funding Round: Subject to final appropriations, the CDFI 
Fund expects to award, through this NOFA, approximately $412 million as 
indicated in the following table:

                           Table 2--FY 2024 Funding Round Anticipated Category Amounts
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                Estimated           Award amount
                                  total    ------------------------------  Estimated    Estimated      Average
   Funding categories  (see     amount  to                                 number of     average       amount
 definition in Table 7 for TA  be  awarded                                 awards  FY   amount  to   awarded in
      or Table 8 for FA)        (millions)    Minimum \3\      Maximum        2024     be  awarded     FY 2022
                                 FY 2024                                                  FY 2024
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Base-FA: Category I/Small and/       $32.0  $125,000.......   $1,400,000           48     $667,000      $350,000
 or Emerging CDFI Assistance
 (SECA).
Base-FA: Category II/Core....        210.2  $500,000, or if    2,000,000          185    1,136,000       596,000
                                             portfolio
                                             outstanding is
                                             less than
                                             $1,666,700 as
                                             of the most
                                             recent
                                             historic
                                             fiscal year
                                             end, then 30%
                                             of portfolio
                                             outstanding.
Persistent Poverty Counties--         41.2  $100,000.......      600,000          137      301,000       128,000
 Financial Assistance (PPC-
 FA).
Disability Funds--Financial           20.0  $100,000.......    1,000,000           20    1,000,000       500,000
 Assistance (DF-FA) *.
Healthy Food Financing                48.0  $500,000.......   10,000,000           10    4,800,000     2,875,000
 Initiative--Financial
 Assistance (HFFI-FA) *.
TA...........................         60.6  $10,000........      300,000          202      300,000       125,000
                              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total....................          412  ...............  ...........          602  ...........  ............
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* DF-FA and HFFI-FA appropriation will be allocated in one competitive round between the NACA and CDFI Program
  NOFAs.

    The CDFI Fund reserves the right to award more or less than the 
amounts cited above in each category, based upon available funding and 
other factors, as appropriate.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ The FA Application Guidance defines ``the most recent 
historic fiscal year'' based on an Applicant's fiscal year end.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    2. Funding Availability for the FY 2024 Funding Round: Funds for 
the FY 2024 Funding Round are a combination of appropriations from FY 
2023 and FY 2024. FY 2023 funds were appropriated as part of the 
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Pub. L. 117-328), but FY 2024 
funds are subject to change based on passage of a final FY 2024 
appropriations bill. If Congress does not appropriate funds for FY 
2024, the award estimates set forth above may be reduced. If funds are 
appropriated for FY 2024, the amount of such funds may be greater or 
less than the amounts set forth above. The CDFI Fund reserves the right 
to contact Applicants to seek additional information in the event that 
final FY 2024 appropriations for the CDFI Program change any of the 
requirements of this NOFA. As of the date of this NOFA, the CDFI Fund 
is operating under a continuing funding resolution as enacted by the 
Further Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, 2024 (Pub. 
L. 118-22).DF-FA
    3. Anticipated Start Date and Period of Performance: The Period of 
Performance for TA awards begins with the date of the award 
announcement and includes either (i) an Emerging CDFI Recipient's three 
full consecutive fiscal years after the date of the award announcement, 
or (ii) a Certified CDFI Recipient's two full consecutive fiscal years 
after the date of the award announcement, during which the Recipient 
must meet the Performance Goals and Measures (PG&Ms) set forth in the 
Assistance Agreement. The Period of Performance for FA awards begins 
with the date of the award announcement and includes a Recipient's 
three full consecutive fiscal years after the date of the award 
announcement, during which time the Recipient must meet the PG&Ms set 
forth in the Assistance Agreement.
    B. Types of Awards: Through the CDFI Program, the CDFI Fund 
provides two types of awards: Financial Assistance (FA) and Technical 
Assistance (TA) awards. An Applicant may submit an Application for a TA 
award or an FA award under the CDFI Program, but not both. FA awards 
include the Base Financial Assistance (Base-FA) award and the following 
awards that are provided as a supplement to the Base-FA award: Healthy 
Food Financing Initiative-Financial Assistance (HFFI-FA), Persistent 
Poverty Counties--Financial Assistance (PPC-FA), and Disability Funds--
Financial Assistance (DF-FA). There are two categories of Base-FA 
Applicants: Category I (SECA) and Category II (Core) (see definitions 
in Table 8). The HFFI-FA, PPC-FA, and DF-FA Applications will be 
evaluated independently from the Base-FA Application and will not 
affect the Base-FA Application evaluation or Base-FA award amount. 
However, Applicants that qualify for the NACA Program may submit two 
Applications: one Application (either for a TA award or an FA award, 
but not both) through the CDFI Program, and one Application (either for 
a TA award or an FA award, but not both) through the NACA Program. NACA 
qualified Applicants that choose to apply for awards through

[[Page 85974]]

both the CDFI Program and the NACA Program may either apply for the 
same type of award under each Program or for a different type of award 
under each Program. NACA qualified FA Applicants that choose to apply 
for an FA award under both the NACA Program and CDFI Program and are 
selected for an award under both Programs will be provided the FA award 
under the CDFI Program. NACA qualified TA Applicants that choose to 
apply for a TA award under both the NACA Program and CDFI Program and 
are selected for an award under both Programs will be provided the TA 
award under the NACA Program. NACA qualified Applicants that choose to 
apply for a TA award and an FA award under separate programs and are 
selected for an award under both Programs will be provided the larger 
of the two awards. NACA Applicants cannot receive an award under both 
Programs within the same funding round.
    Category II (Core) FA Applicants applying for Base-FA, PPC-FA, and/
or DF-FA must provide evidence of acceptable Matching Funds \4\ (see 
Table 9 for more information), except Native American CDFIs \5\ 
applying under this NOFA, which are exempt from the Matching Funds 
requirement.\6\ Native American CDFIs that qualify as a Category II 
(Core) FA Applicant are not required to submit Matching Funds for their 
award requests. Additionally, the Matching Funds requirement for HFFI-
FA and SECA FA Applicants was waived in the enacted FY 2023 
Consolidated Appropriations Act, and the final FY 2024 appropriations 
are still pending. Therefore, HFFI-FA and SECA FA Applicants are not 
required to submit Matching Funds for their award requests at the time 
of Application. However, the CDFI Fund reserves the right to request 
Matching Funds from SECA FA Applicants and/or HFFI-FA Applicants if 
Matching Funds are not waived in the final FY 2024 CDFI Program 
appropriations. TA Applicants are not required to provide Matching 
Funds.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ Matching Funds shall mean funds from sources other than the 
federal government as defined in accordance with the CDFI Program 
Regulations at 12 CFR 1805.500.
    \5\ A Native American CDFI (Native CDFI) is one that Primarily 
Serves a Native Community. Primarily Serves is defined as 50% or 
more of an Applicant's activities being directed to a Native 
Community. For purposes of this NOFA, a Native Community is defined 
as Native American, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian populations or 
Native American areas defined as federally-designated reservations, 
Hawaiian homelands, Alaska Native Villages and U.S. Census Bureau-
designated Tribal Statistical Areas.
    \6\ The Indian Community Economic Enhancement Act of 2020 (Pub. 
L. 116-261) permanently waives the Matching Funds requirement for 
Native American CDFIs that receive Assistance from the CDFI Fund.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    1. Base-FA Awards: Base-FA awards can be in the form of loans, 
grants, Equity Investments, deposits, and credit union shares. The form 
of the Base-FA award is based on the form of the Matching Funds that 
the Applicant includes in its Application, unless Congress waived the 
Matching Funds requirement. The Matching Funds requirement was 
permanently waived for Native American CDFIs. Therefore, the Base-FA 
award will be in the form of a grant for Native American CDFI 
Applicants. Matching Funds are required at the time of Application 
submission for Category II (Core) Applicants (except Native American 
CDFIs) applying for Base-FA awards, and the CDFI Fund reserves the 
right to request Matching Funds from Category I (SECA) Applicants 
applying for Base FA awards if Matching Funds are not waived in the 
final FY 2024 appropriations for these Applicants. Matching Funds must 
be from non-Federal sources, and cannot have been used as Matching 
Funds for any other Federal award. The CDFI Fund reserves the right, in 
its sole discretion, to provide a Base-FA award in an amount other than 
that which the Applicant requests; however, the award amount will not 
exceed the Applicant's award request as stated in its Application.
    2. Persistent Poverty Counties--Financial Assistance (PPC-FA) 
Awards: PPC-FA awards will be provided as a supplement to Base-FA 
awards; therefore, only those Applicants that are selected to receive a 
Base-FA award through the CDFI Program FY 2024 Funding Round will be 
eligible to receive a PPC-FA award. PPC-FA awards can be in the form of 
loans, grants, Equity Investment, deposits, and credit union shares. 
The form of the PPC-FA award is based on the form of the Matching Funds 
that the Applicant includes in its Application, unless Congress waived 
the Matching Funds requirement. The Matching Funds requirement was 
permanently waived for Native American CDFIs. Therefore, the PPC-FA 
award will be in the form of a grant for Native American CDFI 
Applicants. Matching Funds are required at the time of Application 
submission for Category II (Core) Applicants (except Native American 
CDFIs) applying for PPC-FA awards, and the CDFI Fund reserves the right 
to request Matching Funds from Category I (SECA) Applicants applying 
for PPC-FA awards if Matching Funds are not waived in the final FY 2024 
appropriations for these Applicants. Matching Funds must be from non-
Federal sources, and cannot have been used as Matching Funds for any 
other Federal award. The CDFI Fund reserves the right, in its sole 
discretion, to provide a PPC-FA award in an amount other than that 
which the Applicant requests; however, the award amount will not exceed 
the Applicant's award request as stated in its Application.
    3. Disability Funds--Financial Assistance (DF-FA) Awards: DF-FA 
awards will be provided as a supplement to Base-FA awards; therefore, 
only those Applicants that have been selected to receive a Base-FA 
award through the CDFI Program FY 2024 Funding Round will be eligible 
to receive a DF-FA award. DF-FA awards can be in the form of loans, 
grants, Equity Investments, deposits, and credit union shares. The form 
of the DF-FA award is based on the form of the Matching Funds that the 
Applicant includes in its Application unless Congress waived the 
Matching Funds requirement. The Matching Funds requirement was 
permanently waived for Native American CDFIs. Therefore, the DF-FA 
award will be in the form of a grant to Native American CDFI 
Applicants. Matching Funds are required for Category II (Core) 
Applicants (except Native American CDFIs) applying for DF-FA awards, 
and the CDFI Fund reserves the right to request Matching Funds from 
Category I (SECA) Applicants applying for PPC-FA awards if Matching 
Funds are not waived in the final FY 2024 appropriations for these 
Applicants. Matching Funds must be from non-Federal sources and cannot 
have been used as Matching Funds for any other Federal award. The CDFI 
Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to provide a DF-FA 
award in an amount other than that which the Applicant requests; 
however, the award amount will not exceed the Applicant's award request 
as stated in its Application.
    4. Healthy Food Financing Initiative--Financial Assistance (HFFI-
FA) Awards: HFFI-FA awards will be provided as a supplement to Base-FA 
awards; therefore, only those Applicants that have been selected to 
receive a Base-FA award through the CDFI Program FY 2024 Funding Round 
will be eligible to receive an HFFI-FA award. HFFI-FA awards can be in 
the form of loans, grants, Equity Investments, deposits, and credit 
union shares. The form of the HFFI-FA award is based on the form of the 
Matching Funds that the Applicant includes in its Application unless 
Congress waived the Matching Funds requirement. The

[[Page 85975]]

Matching Funds requirement was permanently waived for Native American 
CDFIs. Therefore, HFFI-FA awards will be in the form of a grant to 
Native American CDFI Applicants. The Matching Funds requirement for 
HFFI-FA Applicants was waived in the final appropriations bill for FY 
2023, and the final FY 2024 appropriations are still pending. As a 
result, HFFI-FA Applicants are not required to submit Matching Funds 
for their award requests at the time of Application. However, the CDFI 
Fund reserves the right to request Matching Funds from HFFI-FA 
Applicants if Matching Funds are not waived in the final FY 2024 CDFI 
Program appropriations. The CDFI Fund reserves the right, in its sole 
discretion, to provide an HFFI-FA award in an amount other than that 
which the Applicant requests; however, the award amount will not exceed 
the Applicant's award request as stated in its Application.
    5. TA Awards: TA is provided in the form of grants. The CDFI Fund 
reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to provide a TA award in an 
amount other than that which the Applicant requests; however, the TA 
award amount will not exceed the Applicant's request as stated in its 
Application.
    C. Eligible Activities:
    1. FA Awards: Base-FA, PPC-FA, DF-FA, and HFFI-FA award funds may 
be expended for activities serving Commercial Real Estate, Small 
Business, Microenterprise, Community Facilities, Consumer Financial 
Products, Consumer Financial Services, Commercial Financial Products, 
Commercial Financial Services, Affordable Housing, Intermediary Lending 
to Non-Profits and CDFIs, Climate-Centered Financing, and other lines 
of business as deemed appropriate by the CDFI Fund in the following 
five categories: (i) Financial Products; (ii) Financial Services; (iii) 
Loan Loss Reserves; (iv) Development Services; \7\ and (v) Capital 
Reserves. The FA Budget is the amount of the award and must be expended 
in the five eligible activity categories prior to the end of the Budget 
Period.\8\ None of the eligible activity categories will be authorized 
for Indirect Costs or an associated Indirect Cost Rate. Base-FA 
Recipients must meet PG&Ms, which will be derived from projections and 
attestations provided by the Applicant in its Application, to achieve 
one of the following FA Objectives: (i) Increase Volume of Financial 
Products in an Eligible Market(s) and/or in the Applicant's approved 
Target Market and/or Increase Volume of Financial Services in an 
Eligible Market(s) and/or in the Applicant's approved Target Market; 
(ii) Serve Eligible Market(s) or the Applicant's approved Target Market 
in New Geographic Area or Areas; (iii) Provide New Financial Products 
in an Eligible Market(s) and/or in the Applicant's approved Target 
Market; and (iv) Serve New Targeted Population or Populations. FA 
awards may only be used for Direct Costs associated with an eligible 
activity; no indirect expenses are allowed. Up to 15% of the FA award 
may be used for Direct Administrative Expenses associated with an 
eligible FA activity. ``Direct Administrative Expenses'' shall mean 
Direct Costs, as described in section 2 CFR 200.413 of the Uniform 
Requirements, which are incurred by the Recipient to carry out the 
Financial Assistance. Direct Costs incurred to provide Development 
Services or Financial Services do not constitute Direct Administrative 
Expenses.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ Although some financial education for youth under 18 years 
old do not fall under the definition of Development Services and 
thus is not eligible to support Certification, the CDFI Fund allows 
FA award funds to be used to provide such financial education. 
Financial education for youth means education designed to prepare 
youth to engage with the financial system. This includes accessing 
Financial Products when they are legally able to and accessing 
Financial Services offered by the Applicant or a third party.
    \8\ Budget Period means the time interval from the start date of 
a funded portion of an award to the end date of that funded portion 
during which Recipients are authorized to expend the funds awarded.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Recipient must comply, as applicable, with the Buy American Act 
of 1933, 41 U.S.C. 8301-8303 and section 2 CFR 200.216 of the Uniform 
Requirements,\9\ with respect to any Direct Costs. For purposes of this 
NOFA, the five eligible activity categories are defined in Table 3.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ Sec.  200.216 Prohibition on certain telecommunications and 
video surveillance services or equipment.
    (a) Recipients and Subrecipients are prohibited from obligating 
or expending loan or grant funds to:
    (1) Procure or obtain;
    (2) Extend or renew a contract to procure or obtain; or
    (3) Enter into a contract (or extend or renew a contract) to 
procure or obtain, equipment, services, or systems that uses covered 
telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or 
essential component of any system, or as critical technology as part 
of any system. As described in Public Law 115-232, section 889, 
covered telecommunications equipment is telecommunications equipment 
produced by Huawei Technologies Company or ZTE Corporation (or any 
Subsidiary or Affiliate of such entities).

                    Table 3--Base-FA, PPC-FA, DF-FA, and HFFI-FA Eligible Activity Categories
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      Eligible CDFI institution
         FA eligible activity               FA eligible activity definition *                   types
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
i. Financial Products................  FA expended as loans, Equity Investments,    All.
                                        and similar financing activities (as
                                        determined by the CDFI Fund) including the
                                        purchase of loans originated by Certified
                                        CDFIs and the provision of loan
                                        guarantees. In the case of CDFI
                                        Intermediaries, Financial Products may
                                        also include loans to CDFIs and/or
                                        Emerging CDFIs, and deposits in Insured
                                        Credit Union CDFIs, Emerging Insured
                                        Credit Union CDFIs, and/or State-Insured
                                        Credit Union CDFIs.
                                       For HFFI-FA, however, financing for
                                        prepared food outlets are not eligible
                                        activities, including the purchase of
                                        loans originated by Certified CDFIs, loan
                                        refinancing, or any other type of
                                        financing for prepared food outlets.
ii. Financial Services...............  FA expended for providing checking, savings  Regulated Institutions \10\
                                        accounts, check cashing, money orders,       only.
                                        certified checks, automated teller          Not applicable for HFFI-FA
                                        machines, deposit taking, safe deposit box   Recipients.
                                        services, and other similar services.
iii. Loan Loss Reserves..............  FA set aside in the form of cash reserves,   All.
                                        or through accounting-based accrual
                                        reserves, to cover losses on loans,
                                        accounts, and notes receivable or for
                                        related purposes that the CDFI Fund deems
                                        appropriate.
iv. Development Services.............  FA expended for activities undertaken by a   All.
                                        CDFI, its Affiliate or contractor that (i)
                                        promote community development and (ii)
                                        prepare or assist current or potential
                                        borrowers or investees to use the CDFI's
                                        Financial Products or Financial Services.
                                        For example, such activities include
                                        financial or credit counseling;
                                        homeownership counseling; business
                                        planning; and management assistance.

[[Page 85976]]

 
v. Capital Reserves..................  FA set aside as reserves to support the      Regulated Institutions only.
                                        Applicant's ability to leverage other       Not applicable for DF-FA.
                                        capital, for such purposes as increasing
                                        its net assets or providing financing, or
                                        for related purposes as the CDFI Fund
                                        deems appropriate.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* All FA eligible activities must be in an Eligible Market or the Applicant's approved Target Market. Eligible
  Market is defined as (i) a geographic area meeting the requirements set forth in 12 CFR 1805.201(b)(3)(ii), or
  (ii) individuals that are Low-Income, African American, Hispanic, Native American, Native Hawaiian, Alaska
  Native, Other Pacific Islander, Filipino, Vietnamese, or Persons with Disabilities.

    2. DF-FA Award: DF-FA award funds may only be expended for eligible 
FA activities (referenced in Table 3) to directly or indirectly benefit 
individuals with disabilities. The DF-FA Recipient must close Financial 
Products for the primary purpose of directly or indirectly benefiting 
people with disabilities, where the majority of the DF-FA supported 
loans or investments benefit individuals with disabilities, in an 
amount equal to or greater than 85% of the total DF-FA provided. 
Eligible DF-FA financing activities may include, among other 
activities, loans to develop or purchase affordable, accessible, and 
safe housing; loans to provide or facilitate employment opportunities; 
and loans to purchase assistive technology.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ Regulated Institutions include Insured Credit Unions, 
Insured Depository Institutions, State-Insured Credit Unions and 
Depository Institution Holding Companies.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For the purposes of DF-FA, a person with a disability is a person 
who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one 
or more major life activities, a person who has a record of such an 
impairment, or a person who is regarded as having such an impairment, 
as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 42 U.S.C. 
12102.
    3. HFFI-FA Award: HFFI-FA award funds may only be expended for 
eligible FA activities referenced in Table 3. The HFFI-FA investments 
must comply with the following guidelines:
    a. Recipient must close Financial Products for Healthy Food Retail 
Outlets and Healthy Food Non-Retail Outlets in its approved Target 
Market in an amount equal to or greater than 100% of the total HFFI 
Financial Assistance provided. Eligible financing activities to Healthy 
Food Retail Outlets and Healthy Food Non-Retail Outlets require that 
the majority of the loan or investment be devoted to offering a range 
of Healthy Food choices, which may include, among other activities, 
investments supporting an existing retail store or wholesale operation 
upgrade to offer an expanded range of Healthy Food choices, or 
supporting a nonprofit organization that expands the availability of 
Healthy Foods in underserved areas.
    b. Recipient must demonstrate that it has closed Financial Products 
to Healthy Food Retail Outlets located in Food Deserts in the 
Recipient's approved Target Market in an amount equal to 75% of the 
total HFFI Financial Assistance provided.
    Definitions:
    Healthy Foods: Healthy Foods include unprepared nutrient-dense 
foods and beverages as set forth in the USDA Dietary Guidelines for 
Americans 2020-2025 including whole fruits and vegetables, whole 
grains, fat free or low-fat dairy foods, lean meats and poultry (fresh, 
refrigerated, frozen or canned). Healthy Foods should have low or no 
added sugars, and be low-sodium, reduced sodium, or no-salt-added. (See 
USDA Dietary Guidelines: https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov).
    Healthy Food Retail Outlets: Commercial sellers of Healthy Foods 
including, but not limited to, grocery stores, mobile food retailers, 
farmers markets, retail cooperatives, corner stores, bodegas, stores 
that sell other food and non-food items along with a range of Healthy 
Foods.
    Healthy Food Non-Retail Outlets: Wholesalers of Healthy Foods 
including, but not limited to, wholesale food outlets, wholesale 
cooperatives, or other non-retail food producers that supply for sale a 
range of Healthy Food options; entities that produce or distribute 
Healthy Foods for eventual retail sale, and entities that provide 
consumer education regarding the consumption of Healthy Foods.
    Food Deserts: Distressed geographic areas where either a 
substantial number or share of residents has low access to a 
supermarket or large grocery store. For the purpose of satisfying this 
requirement, a Food Desert must either: (1) be a census tract 
determined to be a Food Desert by the U.S. Department of Agriculture 
(USDA), in its USDA Food Access Research Atlas; (2) be a census tract 
adjacent to a census tract determined to be a Food Desert by the USDA, 
in its USDA Food Access Research Atlas; which has a median family 
income less than or equal to 120% of the applicable Area Median Family 
Income; or (3) be a Geographic Unit as defined in 12 CFR part 
1805.201(b)(3)(ii)(B), which (i) individually meets at least one of the 
criteria in 12 CFR part 1805.201(b)(3)(ii)(D), and (ii) has been 
identified as having low access to a supermarket or grocery store 
through a methodology that has been adopted for use by another 
governmental or philanthropic healthy food initiative.
    4. PPC-FA Award: PPC-FA award funds may only be expended for 
eligible FA activities referenced in Table 3. The PPC-FA Recipient must 
close Financial Products in PPC: (1) in an Eligible Market or in the 
Applicant's approved Target Market and (2) in an amount equal to or 
greater than 100% of the total PPC-FA award. The specific counties that 
meet the criteria for ``persistent poverty'' can be found at: https://www.cdfifund.gov/sites/cdfi/files/2023-03/PPC_2020_ACS_Jan20_2023.xlsx.
    5. TA Awards: TA award funds may be expended for the following 
seven eligible activity categories: (i) Compensation--Personal 
Services; (ii) Compensation--Fringe Benefits; (iii) Professional 
Service Costs; (iv) Travel Costs; (v) Training and Education Costs; 
(vi) Equipment; and (vii) Supplies. The TA Budget is the amount of the 
award and must be expended in the seven eligible activity categories 
before the end of the Budget Period. None of the eligible activity 
categories will be authorized for Indirect Costs or an associated 
Indirect Cost Rate. Any expenses that are prohibited by the Uniform 
Requirements are unallowable and are generally found in Subpart E-Cost 
Principles. The Recipient must comply, as applicable, with the Buy 
American Act of 1933, 41 U.S.C. 8301-8303 and section 2 CFR 200.216 of 
the Uniform Requirements, with respect to any Direct Costs. For 
purposes of this NOFA, the seven eligible activity categories are 
defined in Table 4.

[[Page 85977]]



   Table 4--TA Eligible Activity Categories, Subject to the Applicable
                 Provisions of the Uniform Requirements
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(i) Compensation--Personal          TA paid to cover all remuneration,
 Services.                           paid currently or accrued, for
                                     services of Applicant's employees
                                     rendered during the Period of
                                     Performance under the TA award in
                                     accordance with section 2 CFR
                                     200.430 of the Uniform
                                     Requirements, is allowed.
                                    Any work performed directly but
                                     unrelated to the purposes of the TA
                                     award may not be paid as
                                     Compensation through a TA award.
                                     For example, the salaries for
                                     building maintenance would not
                                     carry out the purpose of a TA award
                                     and would be deemed unallowable.
(ii) Compensation--Fringe Benefits  TA paid to cover allowances and
                                     services provided by the Applicant
                                     to its employees as Compensation in
                                     addition to regular salaries and
                                     wages, in accordance with section 2
                                     CFR 200.431 of the Uniform
                                     Requirements, is allowed. Such
                                     expenditures are allowable as long
                                     as they are made under formally
                                     established and consistently
                                     applied organizational policies of
                                     the Applicant.
(iii) Professional Service Costs..  TA paid to cover professional and
                                     consultant services (e.g., such as
                                     strategic and marketing plan
                                     development), rendered by persons
                                     who are members of a particular
                                     profession or possess a special
                                     skill (e.g., credit analysis,
                                     portfolio management), and who are
                                     not officers or employees of the
                                     Applicant, in accordance with
                                     section 2 CFR 200.459 of the
                                     Uniform Requirements, is allowed.
                                     Payment for a consultant's services
                                     may not exceed the current maximum
                                     of the daily equivalent rate paid
                                     to an Executive Schedule Level IV
                                     federal employee. Professional and
                                     consultant services must build the
                                     capacity of the CDFI. For example,
                                     professional services that provide
                                     direct Development Services to the
                                     customers do not build the capacity
                                     of the CDFI to provide those
                                     services and would not be eligible.
                                     The Applicant must comply, as
                                     applicable, with section 2 CFR
                                     200.216 of the Uniform
                                     Requirements, with respect to
                                     payment of Professional Service
                                     Costs.
(iv) Travel Costs.................  TA paid to cover costs of
                                     transportation, lodging,
                                     subsistence, and related items
                                     incurred by the Applicant's
                                     personnel who are on travel status
                                     on business related to the TA
                                     award, in accordance with section 2
                                     CFR 200.475 of the Uniform
                                     Requirements, is allowed. Travel
                                     Costs do not include costs incurred
                                     by the Applicant's consultants who
                                     are on travel status. Any payments
                                     for travel expenses incurred by the
                                     Applicant's personnel but unrelated
                                     to carrying out the purpose of the
                                     TA award would be deemed
                                     unallowable. As such, documentation
                                     must be maintained that justifies
                                     the travel as necessary to the TA
                                     award.
(v) Training and Education Costs..  TA paid to cover the cost of
                                     training and education provided by
                                     the Applicant for employees'
                                     development in accordance with
                                     section 2 CFR 200.473 of the
                                     Uniform Requirements, is allowed.
                                     TA can only be used to pay for
                                     training costs incurred by the
                                     Applicant's employees. Training and
                                     Education Costs may not be incurred
                                     by the Applicant's consultants.
(vi) Equipment....................  TA paid to cover tangible personal
                                     property, having a useful life of
                                     more than one year and a per-unit
                                     acquisition cost of at least
                                     $5,000, in accordance with section
                                     2 CFR 200.1 of the Uniform
                                     Requirements, is allowed. For
                                     example, items such as office
                                     furnishings and information
                                     technology systems are allowable as
                                     Equipment costs. The Applicant must
                                     comply, as applicable, with the Buy
                                     American Act of 1933, 41 U.S.C.
                                     8301-8303 and section 2 CFR 200.216
                                     of the Uniform Requirements, with
                                     respect to the purchase of
                                     Equipment.
(vii) Supplies....................  TA paid to cover tangible personal
                                     property with a per unit
                                     acquisition cost of less than
                                     $5,000, in accordance with section
                                     2 CFR 200.1 of the Uniform
                                     Requirements, is allowed. For
                                     example, a desktop computer costing
                                     $1,000 is allowable as a Supply
                                     cost. The Applicant must comply, as
                                     applicable, with the Buy American
                                     Act of 1933, 41 U.S.C. 8301-8303
                                     and section 2 CFR 200.216 of the
                                     Uniform Requirements, with respect
                                     to the purchase of Supplies.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

III. Eligibility Information

    A. Eligible Applicants: For the purposes of this NOFA, Table 5 
through Table 8 set forth the eligibility criteria to receive an award 
from the CDFI Fund, along with certain definitions of terms. There are 
four categories of Applicant eligibility criteria: (1) CDFI 
Certification criteria (Table 5); (2) requirements that apply to all 
Applicants (Table 6); (3) requirements that apply to TA Applicants 
(Table 7); and (4) requirements that apply to FA Applicants (Table 8).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ Depository Institution Holding Company or DIHC means a Bank 
Holding Company or a Savings and Loan Holding Company.

            Table 5--CDFI Certification Criteria Definitions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Certified CDFI....................  An entity that the CDFI Fund has
                                     officially notified that it meets
                                     all CDFI Certification
                                     requirements.
Certifiable CDFI (FA Applicants)..   An FA Applicant that has
                                     submitted a CDFI Certification
                                     Application to the CDFI Fund by the
                                     deadline specified in this NOFA
                                     demonstrating that it meets the
                                     CDFI Certification requirements but
                                     has not yet been officially
                                     Certified. (See Table 12 for
                                     Application submission deadlines.)
                                     The CDFI Fund will not
                                     enter into an Assistance Agreement
                                     unless the Applicant's pending CDFI
                                     Certification Application is
                                     approved by the CDFI Fund prior to
                                     the award announcement date. The
                                     CDFI Fund will make CDFI
                                     Certification determinations for
                                     all Applicants that are Certifiable
                                     CDFIs prior to the award
                                     announcement date. If the CDFI
                                     Certification Application is
                                     denied, the Applicant will not be
                                     eligible to receive an FA award.
                                     There is no right to appeal an
                                     Award denial based on denial of the
                                     pending CDFI Certification
                                     Application.
Emerging CDFI (TA Applicants).....   A non-Certified entity that
                                     demonstrates to the CDFI Fund in
                                     its Application that it has an
                                     acceptable plan to meet CDFI
                                     Certification requirements by the
                                     end of its Period of Performance,
                                     or another date that the CDFI Fund
                                     selects.
                                     An Emerging CDFI may or may
                                     not have a pending CDFI
                                     Certification Application with the
                                     CDFI Fund.
                                     An Emerging CDFI that has
                                     prior award(s) must comply with
                                     CDFI Certification PG&M(s) stated
                                     in its prior Assistance
                                     Agreement(s).
                                     An Emerging CDFI selected
                                     to receive a TA award will be
                                     required to become a Certified CDFI
                                     by a date specified in the
                                     Assistance Agreement.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


          Table 6--Eligibility Requirements for All Applicants
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Applicant.........................   An Applicant must be duly
                                     organized as a legal entity (within
                                     the United States or its
                                     territories).
                                     Only the entity that will
                                     carry out the proposed award
                                     activities may apply for an award
                                     (other than Depository Institution
                                     Holding Companies (DIHC) \11\--see
                                     below). Recipients may not create a
                                     new legal entity to carry out the
                                     proposed award activities.
                                     The information in the
                                     Application should only reflect the
                                     activities of the Applicant,
                                     including the presentation of
                                     financial and portfolio information
                                     (other than DIHCs-see below). Do
                                     not include financial or portfolio
                                     information from parent companies,
                                     Affiliates, or Subsidiaries in the
                                     Application unless it relates to
                                     the provision of Development
                                     Services.

[[Page 85978]]

 
                                     An Applicant that applies
                                     on behalf of another organization
                                     will be rejected without further
                                     consideration, other than DIHCs
                                     (see below).
Application type and submission      Applicants must submit the
 overview through Grants.gov and     Required Application Documents
 Awards Management Information       listed in Table 10.
 System (AMIS).                      The CDFI Fund will only
                                     accept Applications that use the
                                     official Application templates
                                     provided on the Grants.gov and AMIS
                                     websites. Applications submitted
                                     with alternative or altered
                                     templates will not be considered.
                                     Applicants undergo a two-
                                     step process that requires the
                                     submission of Application documents
                                     by two separate deadlines in two
                                     different systems: (1) the SF-424
                                     in Grants.gov and (2) all other
                                     Required Application Documents in
                                     AMIS.
                                     Grants.gov and the SF-424:
                                       [cir] Grants.gov: Applicants must
                                        submit the Standard Form (SF) SF-
                                        424, Application for Federal
                                        Assistance.
                                       [cir] All Applicants must
                                        register in the Grants.gov
                                        system to successfully submit an
                                        Application. The Grants.gov
                                        registration process can take 30
                                        days or more to complete. The
                                        CDFI Fund strongly encourages
                                        Applicants to register as early
                                        as possible.
                                       [cir] The CDFI Fund will not
                                        extend the SF-424 application
                                        deadline for any Applicant that
                                        started the Grants.gov
                                        registration process on, before,
                                        or after the date of the
                                        publication of this NOFA, but
                                        did not complete it by the
                                        deadline except in the case of a
                                        federal government
                                        administrative or technological
                                        error that directly resulted in
                                        a late submission of the SF-424.
                                       [cir] The SF-424 must be
                                        submitted in Grants.gov on or
                                        before the deadline listed in
                                        Table 1 and Table 12. Applicants
                                        are strongly encouraged to
                                        submit their SF-424 as early as
                                        possible in the Grants.gov
                                        system.
                                       [cir] The deadline for the
                                        Grants.gov submission is before
                                        the AMIS submission deadline.
                                       [cir] The SF-424 must be
                                        submitted under the CDFI Program
                                        Funding Opportunity Number for
                                        the CDFI Program Application.
                                        CDFI Program Applicants should
                                        be careful to not select the
                                        NACA Program Funding Opportunity
                                        Number when submitting their SF-
                                        424 for the CDFI Program. CDFI
                                        Program Applicants that submit
                                        their SF-424 for the CDFI
                                        Program Application under the
                                        NACA Program Funding Opportunity
                                        Number will be deemed ineligible
                                        for the CDFI Program
                                        Application.
                                       [cir] If the SF-424 is not
                                        accepted by Grants.gov by the
                                        deadline, the CDFI Fund will not
                                        review any material submitted in
                                        AMIS and the Application will be
                                        deemed ineligible.
                                     AMIS and all other Required
                                     Application Documents listed in
                                     Table 10:
                                       [cir] AMIS is an enterprise-wide
                                        information technology system.
                                        Applicants will use AMIS to
                                        submit and store organization
                                        and Application information with
                                        the CDFI Fund.
                                       [cir] Applicants are only allowed
                                        one CDFI Program Application
                                        submission in AMIS.
                                    o Each Application in AMIS must be
                                     signed by an Authorized
                                     Representative.
                                       [cir] Applicants must ensure that
                                        the Authorized Representative is
                                        an employee or officer of the
                                        Applicant, authorized to sign
                                        legal documents on behalf of the
                                        organization. Consultants
                                        working on behalf of the
                                        organization may not be
                                        designated as Authorized
                                        Representatives.
                                       [cir] Only the Authorized
                                        Representative or Application
                                        Point of Contact, included in
                                        the Application, may submit the
                                        Application in AMIS.
                                       [cir] All Required Application
                                        Documents must be submitted in
                                        AMIS on or before the deadline
                                        specified in Tables 1 and 12.
                                        The CDFI Fund will not extend
                                        the deadline for any Applicant
                                        except in the case of a federal
                                        government administrative or
                                        technological error that
                                        directly resulted in the late
                                        submission of the Application in
                                        AMIS.
Employer Identification Number       Applicants must have a
 (EIN).                              unique EIN assigned by the Internal
                                     Revenue Service (IRS).
                                     The CDFI Fund will reject
                                     an Application submitted with the
                                     EIN of a parent or Affiliate
                                     organization.
                                     The EIN in the Applicant's
                                     AMIS account must match the EIN in
                                     the Applicant's System for Award
                                     Management (SAM) account. The CDFI
                                     Fund reserves the right to reject
                                     an Application if the EIN in the
                                     Applicant's AMIS account does not
                                     match the EIN in its SAM account.
                                     Applicants must enter their
                                     EIN into their AMIS profile on or
                                     before the deadline specified in
                                     Tables 1 and 12.
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)....   The transition from the Dun
                                     and Bradstreet Universal Numbering
                                     System (DUNS) to UEI is a federal,
                                     government-wide initiative.
                                     An Applicant must apply
                                     using its UEI in Grants.gov.
                                     The CDFI Fund will reject
                                     an Application submitted with the
                                     UEI of a parent or Affiliate
                                     organization.
                                     The UEI in the Applicant's
                                     AMIS account must match the UEI in
                                     the Applicant's Grants.gov and SAM
                                     accounts. The CDFI Fund will reject
                                     an Application if the UEI in the
                                     Applicant's AMIS account does not
                                     match the UEI in its Grants.gov and
                                     SAM accounts.
                                     Applicants must enter their
                                     UEI into their AMIS profile on or
                                     before the deadline specified in
                                     Tables 1 and 12.
System for Award Management (SAM).   SAM is a web-based,
                                     government-wide application that
                                     collects, validates, stores, and
                                     disseminates business information
                                     about the federal government's
                                     trading partners in support of the
                                     contract awards, grants, and
                                     electronic payment processes.
                                     Applicants must register in
                                     SAM as part of the Grants.gov
                                     registration process.
                                     Applicants that have an
                                     active SAM registration have been
                                     assigned a UEI. Applicants must
                                     also have an EIN in order to
                                     register in SAM.
                                     Applicants must be
                                     registered in SAM in order to
                                     submit an SF-424 in Grants.gov.
                                     The CDFI Fund reserves the
                                     right to deem an Application
                                     ineligible if the Applicant's SAM
                                     account expires during the
                                     Application evaluation period, or
                                     is set to expire before September
                                     30, 2024, and the Applicant does
                                     not re-activate, or renew, as
                                     applicable, the account within the
                                     deadlines that the CDFI Fund
                                     communicates to affected Applicants
                                     during the Application evaluation
                                     period.
AMIS Account......................   Each Applicant must
                                     register as an organization in AMIS
                                     and submit all Required Application
                                     Documents listed in Table 10
                                     through the AMIS system.
                                     The Application of any
                                     organization that does not properly
                                     register in AMIS by the deadline
                                     set forth in Table 1--FY 2024 CDFI
                                     Program Funding Round Critical
                                     Deadlines for Applicants--will be
                                     rejected without further
                                     consideration.
                                     The Authorized
                                     Representative and/or Application
                                     Point of Contact must be included
                                     as ``users'' in the Applicant's
                                     AMIS account.
                                     An Applicant that fails to
                                     properly register and update its
                                     AMIS account may miss important
                                     communication from the CDFI Fund
                                     and/or may not be able to
                                     successfully submit an Application.
501(c)(4) status..................   Pursuant to 2 U.S.C. 1611,
                                     any 501(c)(4) organization that
                                     engages in lobbying activities is
                                     not eligible to receive a CDFI or
                                     NACA Program award.
Compliance with Nondiscrimination    An Applicant * may not be
 and Equal Opportunity Statutes,     eligible to receive an award if
 Regulations, and Executive Orders.  proceedings have been instituted
                                     against it in, by, or before any
                                     court, governmental agency, or
                                     administrative body, and a final
                                     determination has been issued
                                     within the time period beginning
                                     three years prior to the
                                     publication of this NOFA until the
                                     execution of the Assistance
                                     Agreement that indicates the
                                     Applicant has violated any federal
                                     civil rights laws or regulations,
                                     including: Title VI of the Civil
                                     Rights Act of 1964, as amended (42
                                     U.S.C. 2000d); the Fair Housing Act
                                     (42 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.); the Equal
                                     Credit Opportunity Act (15 U.S.C.
                                     1691 et seq.); Section 504 of the
                                     Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29
                                     U.S.C. 794); and the Age
                                     Discrimination Act of 1975, (42
                                     U.S.C. 6101-6107).

[[Page 85979]]

 
                                     Applicants * will be
                                     required to submit the Title VI
                                     Compliance Worksheet (Worksheet)
                                     once annually to assist the CDFI
                                     Fund in determining whether
                                     Applicants are compliant with the
                                     Treasury regulations implementing
                                     Title VI of the Civil Rights Act
                                     (Title VI), set forth in 31 CFR
                                     part 22. These requirements are set
                                     forth in the United States
                                     Department of the Treasury
                                     regulations implementing Title VI
                                     located in 31 CFR part 22,
                                     Nondiscrimination on the Basis of
                                     Race, Color, or National Origin in
                                     Programs or Activities Receiving
                                     Federal Financial Assistance from
                                     the Department of the Treasury.
                                     In addition, an Applicant*
                                     must be compliant with federal
                                     civil rights requirements in order
                                     to be deemed eligible to receive an
                                     award from the CDFI Fund. The CDFI
                                     Fund will consider an Application
                                     submitted by an Applicant that has
                                     pending Title VI noncompliance
                                     issues, if the CDFI Fund has not
                                     yet made a final compliance
                                     determination.
                                     The Title VI Compliance
                                     Worksheet and program award terms
                                     and conditions do not impose
                                     antidiscrimination requirements on
                                     Tribal governments beyond what
                                     would otherwise apply under federal
                                     law.
Depository Institution Holding       In the case where a CDFI
 Company Applicant.                  Depository Institution Holding
                                     Company Applicant intends to carry
                                     out the activities of an award
                                     through its Subsidiary CDFI Insured
                                     Depository Institution, the
                                     Application must be submitted by
                                     the CDFI Depository Institution
                                     Holding Company and reflect the
                                     activities and financial
                                     performance of the Subsidiary CDFI
                                     Insured Depository Institution.
                                     If a Depository Institution
                                     Holding Company and its Certified
                                     CDFI Subsidiary Insured Depository
                                     Institution (through which it will
                                     carry out the activities of the
                                     award) both apply for an award
                                     under this NOFA, only the
                                     Depository Institution Holding
                                     Company will receive an award, not
                                     both. In such instances, the
                                     Subsidiary Insured Depository
                                     Institution will be deemed
                                     ineligible.
                                     Authorized Representatives
                                     of both the Depository Institution
                                     Holding Company and the Subsidiary
                                     CDFI Insured Depository Institution
                                     must certify that the information
                                     included in the Application
                                     represents that of the Subsidiary
                                     CDFI Insured Depository
                                     Institution, and that the award
                                     funds will be used to support the
                                     Subsidiary CDFI Insured Depository
                                     Institution for the eligible
                                     activities outlined in the
                                     Application.
Use of award......................   All awards made through
                                     this NOFA must be used to support
                                     the Applicant's activities in at
                                     least one of the FA or TA Eligible
                                     Activity Categories (see Section
                                     II. (C)).
                                     With the exception of
                                     Depository Institution Holding
                                     Company Applicants, awards may not
                                     be used to support the activities
                                     of, or otherwise be passed through,
                                     transferred, or co-awarded to,
                                     third-party entities, whether
                                     Affiliates, Subsidiaries, or
                                     others, unless done pursuant to a
                                     merger or acquisition or similar
                                     transaction, and with the CDFI
                                     Fund's prior written consent. The
                                     Recipient of any award made through
                                     this NOFA must comply, as
                                     applicable, with the Buy American
                                     Act of 1933, 41 U.S.C. 8301-8303
                                     and section 2 CFR 200.216 of the
                                     Uniform Requirements, with respect
                                     to any Direct Costs.
Requested award amount............   An Applicant must state its
                                     requested award amount in the
                                     Application in AMIS. An Applicant
                                     that does not include this amount
                                     will not be allowed to submit an
                                     Application.
Pending resolution of                If an Applicant that is a
 noncompliance.                      prior Recipient or allocatee under
                                     any CDFI Fund program: (i) has
                                     demonstrated it has been in
                                     noncompliance and/or default with a
                                     previous Assistance Agreement,
                                     Award Agreement, Allocation
                                     Agreement, bond loan agreement, or
                                     agreement to guarantee and (ii) the
                                     CDFI Fund has yet to make a final
                                     determination as to whether the
                                     entity is in noncompliance with or
                                     default of its previous agreement,
                                     the CDFI Fund will consider the
                                     Applicant's Application under this
                                     NOFA pending full resolution, in
                                     the sole determination of the CDFI
                                     Fund, of the noncompliance and/or
                                     default.
Noncompliance or default status...   The CDFI Fund will not
                                     consider an Application submitted
                                     by an Applicant that is a prior
                                     CDFI Fund award recipient or
                                     allocatee under any CDFI Fund
                                     program if, as of the AMIS
                                     Application deadline in this NOFA,
                                     (i) the CDFI Fund has made a final
                                     determination in writing that such
                                     Applicant is in noncompliance with
                                     or default of a previously executed
                                     Assistance Agreement, Award
                                     Agreement, Allocation Agreement,
                                     bond loan agreement, or agreement
                                     to guarantee, and (ii) the CDFI
                                     Fund has provided written
                                     notification that such entity is
                                     ineligible to apply for or receive
                                     any future CDFI Fund awards or
                                     allocations. Such entities will be
                                     ineligible to submit an Application
                                     for such time period as specified
                                     by the CDFI Fund in writing. The
                                     CDFI Fund will not consider any
                                     Applicant that has defaulted on a
                                     loan from the CDFI Fund within five
                                     years of the Application deadline.
Debarment/Do Not Pay Verification.   The CDFI Fund will conduct
                                     a debarment check and will not
                                     consider an Application submitted
                                     by an Applicant (or Affiliate of an
                                     Applicant) if the Applicant is
                                     delinquent on any Federal debt.
                                     The Do Not Pay Business
                                     Center was developed to support
                                     federal agencies in their efforts
                                     to reduce the number of improper
                                     payments made through programs
                                     funded by the federal government.
                                     The Do Not Pay Business Center
                                     provides delinquency information to
                                     the CDFI Fund to assist with the
                                     debarment check.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* This requirement also applies to Applicants' prospective sub-
  recipients that are not direct beneficiaries of Federal financial
  assistance (e.g., Depository Institutions Holding Companies and their
  Subsidiary CDFI Insured Depository Institutions).


           Table 7--Eligibility Requirements for TA Applicants
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CDFI Certification status.........  (1) Emerging CDFIs (see definition
                                     in Table 5), or
                                    (2) Certified CDFIs (see Table 5)
                                     that meet the following SECA
                                     Applicant criteria:
                                       (a) Have total assets as of the
                                        end of the Applicant's most
                                        recent historic fiscal year \12\
                                        in accordance with the FA
                                        Application Guidance (as stated
                                        in the Applicant's AMIS account
                                        and verified by internally
                                        prepared financial statements
                                        and/or audits) in the following
                                        amounts:
                                          Insured Depository
                                          Institutions and Depository
                                          Institution Holding Companies:
                                          up to $250 million;
                                     Insured Credit Unions and
                                     State-Insured Credit Unions: up to
                                     $100 million;
                                          Venture Capital Funds
                                          **: up to $5 million;
                                     Other CDFIs: up to $5
                                     million;
                                    OR
                                       (b) Have begun operations (as
                                        indicated by the financing
                                        activity start date field in the
                                        Applicant's AMIS account) on or
                                        after January 1, 2020.
                                    If a TA Applicant is a Certified
                                     CDFI at the time of application,
                                     but loses its CDFI Certification at
                                     any point prior to the award
                                     announcement, the Application will
                                     be deemed ineligible and no longer
                                     be considered by the CDFI Fund.
Matching Funds....................   Matching Funds
                                     documentation is not required for
                                     TA awards.
Limitation on Awards..............   An Emerging CDFI may not
                                     receive more than three TA awards
                                     as an uncertified CDFI.
$5 Million funding cap............   The CDFI Fund is prohibited
                                     from obligating more than $5
                                     million in CDFI and NACA Program
                                     awards, in the aggregate, to any
                                     one organization and its
                                     Subsidiaries and Affiliates during
                                     any three-year period from the
                                     announcement date.
                                     The CDFI Fund will include
                                     CDFI and NACA Program final awards
                                     in the cap calculation that were
                                     provided to an Applicant (and/or
                                     its Subsidiaries or Affiliates)
                                     under the FY 2022 funding round, as
                                     well as the requested FY 2024
                                     award, excluding DF-FA and HFFI-FA
                                     awards.

[[Page 85980]]

 
Proposed Activities...............   Applicants must propose to
                                     directly undertake eligible
                                     activities with TA awards. For
                                     example, an uncertified CDFI
                                     Applicant must propose to become
                                     Certified as part of its
                                     Application and a Certified CDFI
                                     Applicant must propose activities
                                     that build its capacity to serve
                                     its Target Market or an Eligible
                                     Market.
                                     Applicants may not propose
                                     to use a TA award to create a
                                     separate legal entity to become a
                                     Certified CDFI or otherwise carry
                                     out the TA award activities.
Regulated Institution.............   Each Regulated Institution
                                     TA Applicant must have a CAMELS/
                                     CAMEL rating (rating for Insured
                                     Depository Institutions and Credit
                                     Unions, respectively) or equivalent
                                     type of rating by its regulator
                                     (collectively referred to as
                                     ``CAMELS/CAMEL rating'') of at
                                     least ``4''.
                                     TA Applicants with CAMELS/
                                     CAMEL ratings of ``5'' will not be
                                     eligible for awards.
                                     The CDFI Fund will not
                                     approve a TA award for an Applicant
                                     that has a Community Reinvestment
                                     Act (CRA) assessment rating of
                                     below ``Satisfactory'' on its most
                                     recent examination.
                                     In the case of a Depository
                                     Institution Holding Company
                                     Applicant that intends to carry out
                                     the award through a Subsidiary
                                     Insured Depository Institution, the
                                     CAMELS/CAMEL rating eligibility
                                     requirements noted above apply to
                                     both the Depository Institution
                                     Holding Company Applicant, as well
                                     as the Subsidiary Insured
                                     Depository Institution.
                                     The CDFI Fund will also
                                     evaluate material concerns
                                     identified by the Appropriate
                                     Federal Banking Agency in
                                     determining the eligibility of
                                     Regulated Institution Applicants.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
** A Venture Capital Fund is an organization that predominantly invests
  funds in businesses, typically in the form of either Equity
  Investments or subordinated debt with equity features such as a
  revenue participation or warrants, and generally seeks to participate
  in the upside returns of such businesses in an effort to at least
  partially offset the risk of its investments.

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

    \12\ For the purposes of this NOFA, an Applicant's most recent 
historic fiscal year end is determined as follows:
    (A) Applicants with a 3/31 fiscal year end date will treat FY 
2023 as their most recent historic fiscal year and FY 2024 as their 
current year.
    (B) Applicants with a 6/30 fiscal year end date and a completed 
FY 2023 audit will treat FY 2023 as their most recent historic 
fiscal year and FY 2024 as their current year.
    (C) Applicants with a 6/30 fiscal year end date but without a 
completed FY 2023 audit will treat FY 2022 as their most recent 
historic fiscal year and FY 2023 as their current year.
    (D) Applicants with a 9/30 fiscal year end date will treat FY 
2022 as their most recent historic fiscal year and FY 2023 as their 
current year.
    (E) Applicants with a 12/31 fiscal year end date will treat FY 
2022 as their most recent historic fiscal year and FY 2023 as their 
current year.

           Table 8--Eligibility Requirements for FA Applicants
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CDFI Certification status.........   Each FA Applicant must be a
                                     Certified CDFI prior to the date of
                                     award announcement.
                                     If a CDFI is uncertified as
                                     of the date of NOFA publication, it
                                     must have submitted an application
                                     for CDFI Certification by the
                                     applicable deadline in Table 12 or
                                     it will be deemed ineligible to
                                     receive an FA award. The CDFI Fund
                                     will not extend the deadline for
                                     any uncertified Applicant that did
                                     not submit the Certification
                                     Application by the deadline, except
                                     in the case of a federal government
                                     administrative or technological
                                     error that directly resulted in a
                                     late submission of the CDFI
                                     Certification Application.
                                     The CDFI Fund will make
                                     CDFI Certification determinations
                                     for Certifiable Applicants prior to
                                     the award announcement date. If the
                                     CDFI Certification Application is
                                     denied, the Applicant will not be
                                     eligible to receive an FA award.
                                     The CDFI Fund will consider
                                     an Application submitted by an
                                     Applicant that has pending
                                     noncompliance issues with its
                                     Annual Certification and Data
                                     Collection Report (ACR) if the CDFI
                                     Fund has not yet made a final
                                     compliance determination.
                                    If a Certified CDFI loses its CDFI
                                     Certification at any point prior to
                                     the award announcement, the
                                     Application will be deemed
                                     ineligible and no longer be
                                     considered by the CDFI Fund.
Matching Funds documentation......   Native American CDFIs are
                                     not required to provide Matching
                                     Funds.
                                     Applicants that are
                                     required to submit Matching Funds
                                     (see Table 9) must submit
                                     acceptable documentation attesting
                                     that they have received or will
                                     receive Matching Funds. Applicants
                                     that do not complete the Matching
                                     Funds section in the FA Application
                                     in AMIS, documenting the source(s)
                                     of their Matching Funds, will not
                                     be evaluated. See Table 9 for
                                     additional information on Matching
                                     Funds requirements for FY 2024
                                     Funding Round. The Matching Funds
                                     requirement for Category I (SECA)
                                     FA Applicants and HFFI-FA
                                     Applicants was waived in the final
                                     FY 2023 appropriations, and the
                                     final FY 2024 appropriations are
                                     still pending. Therefore HFFI-FA
                                     and SECA FA applicants are not
                                     required to submit Matching Funds
                                     for their award requests at the
                                     time of Application. However, the
                                     CDFI Fund reserves the right to
                                     request Matching Funds from
                                     Category I (SECA) FA and HFFI-FA
                                     Applicants if Matching Funds are
                                     not waived in the final FY 2024
                                     CDFI Program appropriations.
                                     Category II (Core) FA Applicants
                                     must document their Matching Funds
                                     in the Matching Funds section in
                                     the FA Application in AMIS.
                                     Matching Funds information provided
                                     in another format will not be
                                     considered.
                                     Unless Congress waived the
                                     Matching Funds requirement, awards
                                     will be limited to no more than two
                                     times the amount of In-Hand or
                                     Committed Matching Funds
                                     documentation provided at the time
                                     of Application (or for Category I
                                     (SECA) FA and HFFI-FA Applicants,
                                     upon request if applicable). See
                                     Table 9 for the definitions of
                                     Committed and In-Hand.
                                     Unless Congress waived the
                                     Matching Funds requirement, awards
                                     will be obligated in like form to
                                     the Matching Funds provided at time
                                     of Application (or for Category I
                                     (SECA) FA and HFFI-FA Applicants,
                                     upon request if applicable). See
                                     Table 9. Matching Funds
                                     ``Determination of Award Form'' for
                                     additional guidance.
                                     Unless Congress waived the
                                     Matching Funds requirement, award
                                     payments from the CDFI Fund will
                                     require eligible dollar-for-dollar
                                     In-Hand Matching Funds for the
                                     total payment amount. Recipients
                                     will not receive a payment until
                                     100% of their Matching Funds are In-
                                     Hand.
                                     Unless Congress waived the
                                     Matching Funds requirement, the
                                     CDFI Fund will reduce and de-
                                     obligate the remaining balance of
                                     any award that does not demonstrate
                                     full dollar-for-dollar Matching
                                     Funds equal to the announced award
                                     amount by the end of the Matching
                                     Funds Window.
Consideration as a Native American   For consideration as a
 CDFI.                               Native American CDFI under this
                                     NOFA, an FA Applicant must
                                     Primarily Serve a Native Community.
                                     Primarily Serves is defined as 50%
                                     or more of an Applicant's
                                     activities being directed to a
                                     Native Community.
                                     For purposes of this NOFA,
                                     a Native Community is defined as
                                     Native American, Alaska Native, or
                                     Native Hawaiian populations or
                                     Native American areas defined as
                                     federally-designated reservations,
                                     Hawaiian homelands, Alaska Native
                                     Villages and U.S. Census Bureau-
                                     designated Tribal Statistical
                                     Areas.
                                     Applicants that do not meet
                                     the above conditions will not be
                                     considered as a Native American
                                     CDFI under this NOFA.
                                     The Indian Community
                                     Economic Enhancement Act of 2020
                                     (Pub. L. 116-261) permanently
                                     waived the Matching Funds
                                     requirements for Native American
                                     CDFIs. Therefore, if the CDFI Fund
                                     determines that a Category II
                                     (Core) FA Applicant that attests in
                                     its Application to meeting the
                                     above conditions does not meet the
                                     criteria to be considered a Native
                                     American CDFI, the Application will
                                     be deemed ineligible for failure to
                                     provide Matching Funds.

[[Page 85981]]

 
$5 Million funding cap............   The CDFI Fund is prohibited
                                     from obligating more than $5
                                     million in CDFI and NACA Program
                                     awards, in the aggregate, to any
                                     one organization and its
                                     Subsidiaries and Affiliates during
                                     any three-year period from the
                                     announcement date.
                                     The CDFI Fund will include
                                     CDFI and NACA Program final awards
                                     in the cap calculation that were
                                     provided to an Applicant (and/or
                                     its Subsidiaries or Affiliates)
                                     under the FY 2022 funding round, as
                                     well as the requested FY 2024
                                     award, excluding DF-FA and HFFI-FA
                                     awards.
FA Category I (SECA)..............   To be an eligible SECA
                                     Applicant, an Applicant must meet
                                     the following criteria:
                                       (1) Be either a Certified or
                                        Certifiable CDFI as defined in
                                        Table 5;
                                       (2) Request $1,400,000 or less in
                                        Base-FA award funds;
                                         AND EITHER
                                       (3) Have total assets as of the
                                        end of the Applicant's most
                                        recent historic fiscal year in
                                        accordance with the FA
                                        Application Guidance (as stated
                                        in the Applicant's AMIS account
                                        and verified by internally
                                        prepared financial statements
                                        and/or audits) in the following
                                        amounts:
                                          Insured Depository
                                          Institutions and Depository
                                          Institution Holding Companies:
                                          up to $250 million;
                                          Insured Credit Unions
                                          and State-Insured Credit
                                          Unions: up to $100 million;
                                          Venture Capital Funds:
                                          up to $5 million;
                                          Other CDFIs: up to $5
                                          million;
                                           OR
                                          Have begun operations
                                          (as indicated by the financing
                                          activity start date field in
                                          the Applicant's AMIS account)
                                          on or after January 1, 2020.
FA Category II (Core).............   A Core Applicant must be
                                     either a Certified or Certifiable
                                     CDFI as defined in Table 5.
                                     An Applicant that meets the
                                     SECA requirements stated above, and
                                     that requests more than $1,400,000
                                     in Base-FA award funds is
                                     categorized as an FA Category II
                                     (Core) Applicant, regardless of its
                                     total assets and/or years in
                                     operation.
                                     Such Applicants who meet
                                     SECA requirements but wish to apply
                                     as a Core FA Applicant by
                                     requesting more than $1,400,000
                                     must elect to apply as a Core
                                     Applicant upon Application launch
                                     in AMIS. The CDFI Fund will not
                                     change the Application type (Core
                                     FA or SECA FA) after the
                                     Application has been launched by
                                     the Applicant.
FA Applicants with Community         A CDFI Applicant can apply
 Partners.                           for assistance jointly with a
                                     Community Partner. The CDFI
                                     Applicant must complete the CDFI
                                     Program Application and address the
                                     Community Partnership in its
                                     business plan and other sections of
                                     the Application as specified in the
                                     Application materials.
                                     The CDFI Applicant must be
                                     either a Certified or Certifiable
                                     CDFI as defined in Table 5.
                                     An Application with a
                                     Community Partner must:
                                       [cir] Describe how the CDFI
                                        Applicant and Community Partner
                                        will each participate in the
                                        partnership and how the
                                        partnership will enhance
                                        eligible activities serving the
                                        Investment Area and/or Targeted
                                        Population.
                                       [cir] Demonstrate that the
                                        Community Partnership activities
                                        are consistent with the
                                        strategic plan submitted by the
                                        CDFI Applicant.
                                     Assistance provided upon
                                     approval of an Application with a
                                     Community Partner shall only be
                                     entrusted to the CDFI Applicant and
                                     shall not be used to fund any
                                     activity carried out directly by
                                     the Community Partner or an
                                     Affiliate or Subsidiary thereof.
Regulated Institution.............   Each Regulated Institution
                                     FA Applicant must have a CAMELS/
                                     CAMEL rating (rating for Insured
                                     Depository Institutions and Credit
                                     Unions, respectively) or equivalent
                                     type of rating by its regulator
                                     (collectively referred to as
                                     ``CAMELS/CAMEL rating'') of at
                                     least ``3''.
                                     FA Applicants with CAMELS/
                                     CAMEL ratings of ``4 or 5'' will
                                     not be eligible for awards.
                                     The CDFI Fund will not
                                     approve an FA award for an
                                     Applicant that has a Community
                                     Reinvestment Act (CRA) assessment
                                     rating of below ``Satisfactory'' on
                                     its most recent examination.
                                     In the case of a Depository
                                     Institution Holding Company
                                     Applicant that intends to carry out
                                     the award through a Subsidiary
                                     Insured Depository Institution, the
                                     CAMELS/CAMEL rating eligibility
                                     requirements noted above apply to
                                     both the Depository Institution
                                     Holding Company Applicant as well
                                     as the Subsidiary Insured
                                     Depository Institution.
                                     The CDFI Fund will also
                                     evaluate material concerns
                                     identified by the Appropriate
                                     Federal Banking Agency in
                                     determining the eligibility of
                                     Regulated Institution Applicants.
PPC-FA............................   All PPC-FA Applicants must:
                                       [cir] Submit a CDFI or NACA
                                        Program FA Application;
                                       [cir] Meet all FA award
                                        eligibility requirements; and
                                       [cir] Provide a PPC-FA award
                                        request amount in AMIS.
DF-FA.............................   All DF-FA Applicants must:
                                       [cir] Submit a CDFI or NACA
                                        Program FA Application;
                                       [cir] Meet all FA award
                                        eligibility requirements;
                                       [cir] Submit the DF-FA
                                        Application; and
                                       [cir] Provide a DF-FA award
                                        request amount in AMIS.
HFFI-FA...........................   All HFFI-FA Applicants
                                     must:
                                       [cir] Submit a CDFI or NACA
                                        Program FA Application;
                                       [cir] Meet all FA award
                                        eligibility requirements;
                                       [cir] Submit the HFFI-FA
                                        Application; and
                                       [cir] Provide a HFFI-FA award
                                        request amount in AMIS.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    B. Matching Funds Requirements: In order to receive a Base-FA, PPC-
FA, or DF-FA award, an Applicant must provide evidence of eligible 
dollar-for-dollar Matching Funds and attest that it can provide 
acceptable documentation upon the CDFI Fund's request as part of the 
Application, unless Congress waived the Matching Funds requirement. The 
Matching Funds requirement was permanently waived for Native American 
CDFIs. Therefore, Native American CDFI Applicants are not required to 
submit Matching Funds for their award requests. The Matching Funds 
requirement was waived for Category I (SECA) FA Applicants and HFFI-FA 
Applicants in the final appropriations bill for FY 2023, and the final 
FY 2024 appropriations are still pending. As a result, Category I 
(SECA) FA Applicants and HFFI-FA Applicants are not required to submit 
Matching Funds for their award requests at the time of Application. 
However, the CDFI Fund reserves the right to request Matching Funds 
from Category I (SECA) FA Applicants and HFFI-FA Applicants if Matching 
Funds are not waived in the final FY 2024 CDFI Program appropriations. 
An Applicant that represents that it has Equity Investments and/or 
deposits Matching Funds In-Hand at the time of Application submission 
must provide documentation of such as part of the Application (or for 
Category I (SECA) FA and HFFI-FA Applicants, upon request if 
applicable). An Applicant that

[[Page 85982]]

uses retained earnings as Matching Funds must provide supporting 
documentation of In-Hand and/or Committed Matching Funds at the time of 
Application submission. The CDFI Fund will review Matching Funds 
information, attestations, and supporting Matching Funds documentation, 
if applicable, prior to award payment and will pay award funds to a 
Recipient based upon eligible In-Hand Matching Funds. The CDFI Fund 
encourages Applicants to review the Regulations, the Uniform 
Requirements, and the Matching Funds guidance materials available on 
the CDFI Fund's website. Table 9 provides a summary of the Matching 
Funds requirements for Applicants for whom Matching Funds are required. 
The Matching Funds requirement for Native American CDFIs is permanently 
waived. Additional details are set forth in the Application materials.

                 Table 9--Matching Funds Requirements *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
In-Hand Matching Funds definition.   Matching Funds are In-Hand
                                     when the Applicant receives payment
                                     for the Matching Funds from the
                                     Matching Funds source and has
                                     acceptable documentation that can
                                     be provided to the CDFI Fund upon
                                     request. Acceptable In-Hand
                                     documentation must show the source,
                                     form (e.g., grant, loan, deposit,
                                     and Equity Investment), amount
                                     received, and the date the funds
                                     came into physical possession of
                                     the Applicant.
                                     The following
                                     documentation, depending on the
                                     Matching Funds type, must be
                                     provided to the CDFI Fund upon
                                     request:
                                     loan--the loan agreement
                                     and/or promissory note;
                                     grant--the grant letter or
                                     agreement;
                                     Equity Investment--the
                                     stock certificate, documentation of
                                     total equity outstanding, and
                                     shareholder agreement;
                                     retained earnings--Retained
                                     Earnings Calculator and audited
                                     financial statements or call
                                     reports from regulating entity for
                                     each fiscal year reported in the
                                     Retained Earnings Calculator;
                                     third party in-kind
                                     contribution- evidence of receipt
                                     of contribution and valuation;
                                     deposits--certificates of
                                     deposit agreement;
                                     secondary capital--
                                     secondary capital agreement and
                                     disclosure and acknowledgement
                                     statement;
                                    AND
                                     clearly legible
                                     documentation that demonstrates
                                     actual receipt of the Matching
                                     Funds including the date of the
                                     transaction and the amount, such as
                                     a copy of a check or a wire
                                     transfer statement.
                                     Unless Congress waived the
                                     Matching Funds requirement,
                                     Applicants must provide information
                                     on their In-Hand Matching Funds in
                                     the Matching Funds section of the
                                     FA Application in AMIS (refer to
                                     Table 10--Required Application
                                     Documents) at the time of
                                     Application submission.
                                     Although Applicants are not
                                     required to provide further
                                     documentation for In-Hand Matching
                                     Funds at the time of Application
                                     submission (other than supporting
                                     documentation for retained
                                     earnings, deposits, and Equity
                                     Investments, which must be provided
                                     at the time of Application
                                     submission), they must be able to
                                     provide documentation to the CDFI
                                     Fund upon request.
Matching Funds requirements by      The following Applicants must
 Application type.                   provide evidence of acceptable
                                     Matching Funds at the time of
                                     Application:
                                     Category II/Core FA
                                     Applicants, with the exception of
                                     Native American CDFIs, applying for
                                     Base-FA, PPC-FA, and DF-FA
                                    The CDFI Fund reserves the right to
                                     request Matching Funds from
                                     Category I (SECA) FA Applicants and
                                     HFFI-FA Applicants if Matching
                                     Funds are not waived in the final
                                     FY 2024 CDFI Program
                                     appropriations.
                                    TA Applicants and Native American
                                     CDFI FA Applicants are not required
                                     to provide Matching Funds.
Amount of required match..........  Unless waived by Congress,
                                     Applicants must provide evidence of
                                     eligible, In-Hand, dollar-for-
                                     dollar, non-Federal Matching Funds
                                     for every award dollar to be paid
                                     by the CDFI Fund. If awarded,
                                     Applicants that do not demonstrate
                                     100% In-Hand Matching Funds at the
                                     time of Application submission may
                                     experience a longer payment
                                     timeline.
Determination of award form.......  Unless the Matching Funds
                                     requirement is waived by Congress,
                                     awards will be made in comparable
                                     form and value to the eligible In-
                                     Hand and/or Committed Matching
                                     Funds submitted by the Applicant.
                                     For awards where Congress has
                                     waived the Matching Funds
                                     requirement, the form of the award
                                     will be a grant.
                                     For example, if an
                                     Applicant provides documentation of
                                     eligible loan Matching Funds for
                                     $200,000 and eligible grant
                                     Matching Funds of $400,000, the
                                     CDFI Fund will obligate $200,000 of
                                     the FA award as a loan and $400,000
                                     as a grant.
                                     The CDFI Fund will not
                                     permit a Recipient to change the
                                     form of a loan award.
                                    For awards where Congress waived the
                                     Matching Funds requirement, the
                                     form of the award will be a grant.
Matching Funds Window definition..   The Applicant must receive
                                     eligible In-Hand Matching Funds
                                     between January 1, 2022 and January
                                     15, 2025.
                                     A Recipient must provide
                                     the CDFI Fund with all
                                     documentation demonstrating the
                                     receipt of In-Hand Matching Funds
                                     by January 31, 2025.
Matching Funds and form of award..   Recipients will be approved
                                     for a maximum award size of two
                                     times the total amount of eligible
                                     In-Hand and/or Committed Matching
                                     Funds included in the Application
                                     (or for Category I (SECA) FA and
                                     HFFI-FA Applicants, upon request if
                                     applicable), so long as they do not
                                     exceed the requested award amount.
                                     The form of the Matching
                                     Funds documented in the Application
                                     determines the form of the award.
Committed Matching Funds             Matching Funds are
 definition.                         Committed when the Applicant has
                                     entered into or received a legally
                                     binding commitment from the
                                     Matching Funds source demonstrating
                                     that the Matching Funds will be
                                     disbursed to the Applicant at a
                                     future date.
                                     The Applicant must provide
                                     information on their Committed
                                     Matching Funds in the Matching
                                     Funds section of the FA Application
                                     in AMIS (refer to Table 10--
                                     Required Application Documents) at
                                     the time of Application submission.
                                     Although the Applicant is
                                     not required to provide further
                                     documentation for Committed
                                     Matching Funds at the time of
                                     Application submission (other than
                                     supporting documentation for
                                     retained earnings, deposits, and
                                     Equity Investments, which must be
                                     provided at the time of Application
                                     submission), it must be able to
                                     provide the CDFI Fund, upon
                                     request, acceptable written
                                     documentation showing the source,
                                     form, and amount of the Committed
                                     Matching Funds (including, in the
                                     case of a loan, the terms thereof),
                                     as well as the anticipated payment
                                     date of the Committed Matching
                                     Funds.
Limitations on Matching Funds.....   Matching Funds must be from
                                     non-Federal sources.
                                     Applicants cannot proffer
                                     Matching Funds that were accepted
                                     as Matching Funds for a prior award
                                     that required Matching Funds under
                                     the CDFI Program, NACA Program, or
                                     under another Federal grant or
                                     award program.
                                     Matching Funds must comply
                                     with the Regulations.
                                     The Matching Funds
                                     source(s) must support at least one
                                     of the five eligible FA activities
                                     (see Section II (C) of this NOFA).
Rights of the CDFI Fund...........   The CDFI Fund reserves the
                                     right to contact the Matching Funds
                                     source to discuss the Matching
                                     Funds and the documentation that
                                     the Applicant provided.
                                     The CDFI Fund may grant an
                                     extension of the Matching Funds
                                     Window (defined in Table 9), on a
                                     case-by-case basis, if the CDFI
                                     Fund deems it appropriate.
                                     The CDFI Fund reserves the
                                     right to rescind all or a portion
                                     of an award requiring Matching
                                     Funds and re-allocate the rescinded
                                     award amount to other qualified
                                     Applicant(s) if a Recipient fails
                                     to provide evidence of In-Hand
                                     Matching Funds obtained during the
                                     Matching Funds Window totaling its
                                     award amount.

[[Page 85983]]

 
Matching Funds in the form of        Third party in-kind
 third-party in-kind contributions.  contributions are non-cash
                                     contributions (i.e., property or
                                     services) provided by non-Federal
                                     third parties to the Applicant.
                                     Third party in-kind
                                     contributions will be deemed in the
                                     form of a grant for Matching Funds
                                     purposes.
                                     Third party in-kind
                                     contributions may be in the form of
                                     real property, equipment, supplies,
                                     and other expendable property. The
                                     value of goods and services must
                                     directly benefit the eligible FA
                                     activities.
                                     For third party in-kind
                                     contributions, the fair market
                                     value of goods and services must be
                                     documented as the grant match.
                                     Applicants will be
                                     responsible for documenting the
                                     value of all in-kind contributions
                                     pursuant to the Uniform
                                     Requirements.
Matching Funds in the form of a      An award made in the form
 loan.                               of a loan will have the following
                                     standardized terms:
                                    i. A 13-year term with semi-annual
                                     interest-only payments due in years
                                     1 through 10, and fully amortizing
                                     payments due each year in years 11
                                     through 13; and
                                    ii. A fixed interest rate of 4.19%,
                                     which was calculated by the CDFI
                                     Fund based on the U.S. Department
                                     of the Treasury's 10-year Treasury
                                     note.
                                     The Applicant's Matching
                                     Funds loan(s) must:
                                    i. have a minimum of a 3-year term
                                     (loans presented as Matching Funds
                                     with less than a 3-year term will
                                     not qualify as eligible match); and
                                    ii. be from a non-Federal source.
Matching Funds in the form of        An Equity Investment source
 Equity Investments.                 must meet the terms outlined in 12
                                     CFR 1805.401(a): Equity: The CDFI
                                     Fund may make non-voting equity
                                     investments in a Recipient,
                                     including, without limitation, the
                                     purchase of non-voting stock. Such
                                     stock shall be transferable and, in
                                     the discretion of the CDFI Fund,
                                     may provide for convertibility to
                                     voting stock upon transfer. The
                                     CDFI Fund shall not own more than
                                     50 percent of the equity of a
                                     Recipient and shall not control its
                                     operations.
                                     The CDFI Fund's ownership
                                     of equity is calculated by dividing
                                     the shares owned by the CDFI Fund
                                     by the total number of shares
                                     issued by the Recipient.
                                     The CDFI Fund reserves the
                                     right, in its sole discretion, to
                                     perform its own valuation of Equity
                                     Investment source(s) and to
                                     determine if the equity value is
                                     acceptable to the CDFI Fund.
Severe Constraints Waiver.........   In the case of an Applicant
                                     demonstrating severe constraints on
                                     available sources of Matching
                                     Funds, the CDFI Fund, in its sole
                                     discretion, may provide a Severe
                                     Constraints Waiver, which permits
                                     such Applicant to comply with the
                                     Matching Funds requirements by
                                     reducing such requirements by up to
                                     50%.
                                     In order to be considered
                                     eligible for a Severe Constraints
                                     Waiver, an Applicant must meet all
                                     of the SECA eligibility criteria
                                     described in Table 8. Instructions
                                     for requesting a Severe Constraints
                                     Waiver will be made available if
                                     required.
                                     No more than 25% of the
                                     total funds available for
                                     obligation under this funding round
                                     may qualify for a Severe
                                     Constraints Waiver.
Ineligible Matching Funds.........   Applicants will not be
                                     given the opportunity to correct or
                                     amend the Matching Funds
                                     information included in the FA
                                     Application after Application
                                     submission if the CDFI Fund
                                     determines that any portion of the
                                     Applicant's Matching Funds is
                                     ineligible.
Use of Matching Funds from a prior  If an Applicant offers Matching
 CDFI Program Recipient.             Funds documentation from an
                                     organization that was a prior
                                     Recipient under the CDFI Program or
                                     NACA Program, the Applicant must be
                                     able to prove to the CDFI Fund's
                                     satisfaction that such funds do not
                                     consist, in whole or in part, of
                                     CDFI Program funds, NACA Program
                                     funds, or other Federal funds.
Matching Funds in the form of        Retained earnings are
 retained earnings.                  eligible for use as Matching Funds
                                     in an amount equal to the CDFI
                                     Fund's calculation of:
                                    i. the increase in retained earnings
                                     that occurred over any one of the
                                     Applicant's fiscal years within the
                                     Matching Funds Window, adjusted to
                                     remove revenue and expenses derived
                                     from Federal sources and Matching
                                     Funds used for an award; or
                                    ii. the annual average of such
                                     increases that occurred over any
                                     three consecutive fiscal years of
                                     the Applicant with at least one of
                                     the fiscal years occurring within
                                     the Matching Funds Window, adjusted
                                     to remove revenue and expenses
                                     derived from Federal sources and
                                     Matching Funds used for an award;
                                     or
                                    iii. any increases as measured in
                                     (i) and (ii) will be adjusted to
                                     remove Matching Funds used for a
                                     prior award..
                                     Retained earnings will be
                                     matched in the form of a grant.
                                     Depository Institution
                                     Holding Company Applicants must
                                     provide call reports for the
                                     Depository Institution Holding
                                     Company in order to verify their
                                     retained earnings, even if the
                                     requested award will support its
                                     Subsidiary CDFI Insured Depository
                                     Institution.
Special rule for Regulated           A Regulated Institution's
 Institutions.                       retained earnings are eligible for
                                     use as Matching Funds in an amount
                                     equal to the CDFI Fund's
                                     calculation of:
                                    i. the increase in retained earnings
                                     that occurred over any one of the
                                     Applicant's fiscal years within the
                                     Matching Funds Window, adjusted to
                                     remove revenue from Federal sources
                                     and Matching Funds used for an
                                     award; or
                                    ii. the annual average of such
                                     increases that occurred over any
                                     three consecutive fiscal years of
                                     the Applicant with at least one of
                                     the fiscal years occurring within
                                     the Matching Funds Window, adjusted
                                     to remove revenue and expenses
                                     derived from Federal sources and
                                     Matching Funds used for an award;
                                     or
                                    iii. the entire retained earnings
                                     that have been accumulated since
                                     the inception of the Applicant, as
                                     provided in the Regulations.
                                     If option (iii) is used for
                                     Insured Credit Unions or State-
                                     Insured Credit Unions, the
                                     Applicant must increase its member
                                     and/or non-member shares and/or
                                     total loans outstanding by an
                                     amount equal to the amount of
                                     retained earnings committed as
                                     Matching Funds.
                                     This increase (1) will be
                                     measured on a quarterly basis from
                                     December 31, 2023; (2) must occur
                                     by September 30, 2025; and (3) will
                                     be based on amounts reported in the
                                     Applicant's National Credit Union
                                     Administration (NCUA) form 5300
                                     Call Report, or equivalent.
                                     The CDFI Fund will assess
                                     the likelihood of this increase
                                     during the Application review
                                     process.
                                     An award will not be made
                                     to any Applicant that has not
                                     demonstrated in the relevant NCUA
                                     form 5300 call reports or
                                     equivalent that it has increased
                                     shares and/or total loans
                                     outstanding by at least 25% of the
                                     requested FA award amount
                                     (including all awards requiring
                                     Matching Funds) between December
                                     31, 2021, and December 31, 2022.
                                     The Matching Funds are not
                                     In-Hand until the Recipient has
                                     increased its member and/or non-
                                     member shares, deposits and/or
                                     total loans outstanding by the
                                     amount of retained earnings since
                                     inception that are being used as
                                     Matching Funds.

[[Page 85984]]

 
                                     If option (iii) is used for
                                     Insured Depository Institutions or
                                     Depository Institution Holding
                                     Companies, the Applicant or its
                                     Subsidiary CDFI Insured Depository
                                     Institution (in the case of a
                                     Depository Institution Holding
                                     Company) must increase deposits and/
                                     or total loans outstanding by an
                                     amount equal to the amount of
                                     retained earnings committed as
                                     Matching Funds. Depository
                                     Institution Holding Company
                                     Applicants must use the call
                                     reports of the Subsidiary CDFI
                                     Insured Depository Institution that
                                     the requested the FA award will
                                     support.
                                     This increase (1) will be
                                     measured on a quarterly basis from
                                     December 31, 2023; (2) must occur
                                     by September 30, 2025; and (3) will
                                     be based on amounts reported in the
                                     call report.
                                     The CDFI Fund will assess
                                     the likelihood of this increase
                                     during the Application review
                                     process.
                                     An award will not be made
                                     to any Applicant that has not
                                     demonstrated in the relevant call
                                     reports that it has increased
                                     deposits and/or total loans
                                     outstanding by at least 25% of the
                                     requested FA award amount
                                     (including all awards requiring
                                     Matching Funds) between December
                                     31, 2021, and December 31, 2022.
                                     The Matching Funds are not
                                     In-Hand until the Recipient has
                                     increased its deposits and/or total
                                     loans outstanding by the amount of
                                     retained earnings since inception
                                     that are being used as Matching
                                     Funds.
                                     All regulated Applicants
                                     utilizing the option (iii) should
                                     refer to the Retained Earnings
                                     Guidance included in the Retained
                                     Earnings Calculator Excel Workbook
                                     found on the CDFI Fund's website.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* The requirements set forth in Table 9 are applicable to Category II
  (Core) FA Applicants, with the exception of Native American CDFIs,
  applying for Base-FA, PPC-FA, and DF-FA. The Matching Funds
  requirements were permanently waived for Native American CDFIs.
  Therefore, the requirements set forth in Table 9 are not applicable to
  Native American CDFI Applicants for the FY 2024 Funding Round.
  Category I (SECA) FA Applicants and HFFI-FA Applicants are not
  required to submit Matching Funds at the time of Applications
  submission but the CDFI Fund reserves the right to request Matching
  Funds from these Applicants if the Matching Funds requirement is not
  waived in the final FY 2024 CDFI Program appropriations.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    A. Address to Request an Application Package: Application materials 
can be found on the CDFI Fund's website at www.cdfifund.gov/cdfi. 
Applicants may request a paper version of any Application material by 
contacting the CDFI Fund Help Desk at [email protected]. Paper 
versions of Application materials will only be provided if an Applicant 
cannot access the CDFI Fund's website.
    B. Content and Form of Application Submission: All Applications 
must be prepared using the English language, and calculations must be 
computed in U.S. dollars. The following table lists the Required 
Application Documents for the FY 2024 Funding Round. The CDFI Fund 
reserves the right to request and review other pertinent or public 
information that has not been specifically requested in this NOFA or 
the Application. Information submitted by the Applicant that the CDFI 
Fund has not specifically requested will not be reviewed or considered 
as part of the Application. Financial data, portfolio, and activity 
information provided in the Application should only include the 
Applicant's activities. Information submitted must accurately reflect 
the Applicant's activities (other than Depository Institution Holding 
Companies--see Table 6).

                Table 10--Required Application Documents
------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Application documents         Applicant type     Submission format
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Active AMIS Account.............  All Applicants....  AMIS.
SF-424..........................  All Applicants....  Fillable PDF in
                                                       Grants.gov.
Title VI Compliance Worksheet...  All Applicants....  AMIS.
CDFI Program Application          All Applicants....  AMIS.
 Components:.
     Funding Application
     Detail.
     Data, Charts, and
     Narrative sections as
     listed in AMIS and outlined
     in Application materials..
     Matching Funds (FA
     Core Applicants, with the
     exception of Native
     American CDFIs)..
PPC-FA Application Components:..  PPC-FA Applicants.  AMIS.
     Funding Application
     Detail.
     Narratives.........
     AMIS Charts........
DF-FA Application Components:...  DF-FA Applicants..  AMIS.
     Funding Application
     Detail.
     Narratives.........
     AMIS Charts........
HFFI-FA Application Components:.  HFFI-FA Applicants  AMIS.
     Funding Application
     Detail.
     Narratives.........
     AMIS Charts........
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     Attachments to the Application
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Key Staff Resumes...............  All Applicants....  PDF or Word
                                                       document in AMIS.
Organizational Chart............  All Applicants....  PDF in AMIS.
Completed, final audited          FA Applicants and   PDF in AMIS.
 financial statements for the      TA Applicants, if
 Applicant's Three Most Recent     available: loan
 Historic Fiscal Years.            funds, Venture
                                   Capital Funds,
                                   and other non-
                                   Regulated
                                   Institutions.
Unaudited financial statements    FA and TA           PDF in AMIS.
 for Applicant's Three Most        Applicants, if
 Recent Historic Years (required   available: loan
 if available, and only if         funds, Venture
 audited financial statements      Capital Funds,
 are not available).               and other non-
                                   Regulated
                                   Institutions.
Current Year to Date--September   FA and TA           PDF in AMIS.
 30, 2023 Unaudited financial      Applicants: loan
 statements.                       funds, Venture
                                   Capital Funds,
                                   and other non-
                                   Regulated
                                   Institutions.
Community Partnership Agreement.  FA Applicants, if   PDF or Word
                                   applicable.         document in AMIS.
Retained Earnings Calculator      FA Core             Excel in AMIS.
 Excel Workbook (required only     Applicants, if
 if using retained earnings as     applicable.
 Matching Funds).

[[Page 85985]]

 
Call reports for each fiscal      FA Core             PDF in AMIS.
 year reported in the Retained     Applicants:
 Earnings Calculator.              Regulated
                                   Institutions that
                                   are using
                                   retained earnings
                                   as Matching Funds.
Equity Investment Matching Funds  FA Core             PDF or Word
 Documentation.                    Applicants: For-    document in AMIS.
                                   profit CDFIs that
                                   are using In-Hand
                                   Equity
                                   Investment(s) as
                                   Matching Funds.
Deposits Matching Funds           FA Core             PDF or Word
 Documentation.                    Applicants:         document in AMIS.
                                   Regulated
                                   Institutions that
                                   are using In-Hand
                                   Deposits as
                                   Matching Funds.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    C. Application Submission: The CDFI Fund has a two-step process 
that requires the submission of Required Application Documents (listed 
in Table 10) on separate deadlines and locations. The SF-424 must be 
submitted through Grants.gov and all other Required Application 
Documents through the AMIS system. The CDFI Fund will not accept 
Applications via email, mail, facsimile, or other forms of 
communication, except in extremely rare circumstances that have been 
pre-approved in writing by the CDFI Fund. The deadline for submitting 
the SF-424 is listed in Tables 1 and 12.
    All Applicants must register in the Grants.gov system to 
successfully submit the SF-424. The Grants.gov registration process can 
take 45 days or longer to complete and the CDFI Fund strongly 
encourages Applicants to start the Grants.gov registration process as 
early as possible (refer to the following link: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html). Since the Grants.gov registration process 
requires Applicants to have a UEI and an EIN, Applicants without these 
required items should allow for additional time to complete the 
Grants.gov registration process. The CDFI Fund will not extend the 
Application deadline for any Applicant that started the Grants.gov 
registration process but did not complete it by the deadline. An 
Applicant that has previously registered with Grants.gov must verify 
that its registration is current and active. Applicants should contact 
Grants.gov directly with questions related to the registration or 
submission process as the CDFI Fund does not maintain the Grants.gov 
system.
    Each Application must be signed by a designated Authorized 
Representative in AMIS before it can be submitted. Applicants must 
ensure that an Authorized Representative is an employee or officer and 
is authorized to sign legal documents on behalf of the Applicant. 
Consultants working on behalf of the Applicant may not be designated as 
Authorized Representatives. Only a designated Authorized Representative 
or Application Point of Contact, included in the Application, may 
submit the Application in AMIS. If an Authorized Representative or 
Application Point of Contact does not submit the Application, the 
Application will be deemed ineligible.
    D. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): The UEI has replaced the Dun and 
Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number. The UEI, 
generated in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov), has become the 
official identifier for doing business with the federal government. 
This transition allows the federal government to streamline the entity 
identification and validation process, making it easier and less 
burdensome for entities to do business with the federal government. If 
an entity is registered in SAM.gov today, its UEI has already been 
assigned and is viewable in SAM.gov, including inactive registrations. 
New registrants will be assigned a UEI as part of their SAM 
registration.
    E. System for Award Management (SAM): Any entity applying for 
Federal grants or other forms of Federal financial assistance through 
Grants.gov must be registered in SAM before submitting its Application. 
When accessing SAM.gov, users will be asked to create a Login.gov user 
account (if they don't already have one). Going forward, users will use 
their Login.gov username and password every time when logging into 
SAM.gov. Registration in SAM is required as part of the Grants.gov 
registration process. The SAM registration process may take one month 
or longer to complete. An original, signed notarized letter identifying 
the authorized entity administrator for the entity associated with the 
UEI is required. This requirement is applicable to new entities 
registering in SAM or an existing registration where there is no 
existing entity administrator. Existing entities with registered entity 
administrators do not need to submit an annual notarized letter. 
Applicants without an EIN should allow for additional time as an 
Applicant cannot register in SAM without an EIN. Applicants that have 
previously completed the SAM registration process must verify that 
their SAM accounts are current and active. Each Applicant must continue 
to 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 a federal awarding agency. The CDFI Fund will 
deem ineligible any Applicant that fails to properly register or 
activate its SAM account and, as a result, is unable to submit the SF-
424 in Grants.gov or Application in AMIS by the applicable Application 
deadlines. These restrictions also apply to organizations that have not 
yet received a UEI or EIN by the established deadline. Applicants must 
contact SAM directly with questions related to registration or SAM 
account changes as the CDFI Fund does not maintain this system and has 
no ability to make changes or correct errors of any kind. For more 
information about SAM, visit https://www.sam.gov.

           Table 11_Grants.gov Registration Timeline Summary
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Estimated
             Step                       Agency          minimum time  to
                                                            complete
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Obtain an EIN.................  Internal Revenue        Two (2) Weeks.*
                                 Service (IRS).
Register in SAM.gov...........  System for Award        Four (4) Weeks.*
                                 Management (SAM.gov).
                                 This step will
                                 include obtaining a
                                 UEI..

[[Page 85986]]

 
Register in Grants.gov........  Grants.gov............  One (1) Week.**
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Applicants are advised that the stated durations are estimates only
  and represent minimum timeframes. Actual timeframes may take longer.
  The CDFI Fund will deem ineligible any Applicant that fails to
  properly register or activate its SAM account, has not yet received a
  UEI or EIN, and/or fails to properly register in Grants.gov.
** This estimate assumes an Applicant has a UEI, an EIN, and is already
  registered in SAM.gov.

    F. Submission Dates and Times:
    1. Submission Deadlines: The following table provides the critical 
deadlines for the FY 2024 Funding Round.

                  Table 12--FY 2024 CDFI Program Funding RoundCritical Deadlines for Applicants
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Description                      Deadline               Time (eastern time- ET)     Submission method
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Last day to create an Awards      January 5, 2024.............  11:59 p.m. ET...............  AMIS.
 Management Information Systems
 (AMIS) Account (all Applicants).
Last day to enter EIN and UEI in  January 5, 2024.............  11:59 p.m. ET...............  AMIS.
 AMIS (all Applicants).
Last day to submit SF-424         January 5, 2024.............  11:59 p.m. ET...............  Electronically via
 (Application for Federal                                                                      Grants.gov
 Assistance).
Last day to contact               February 2, 2024............  11:59 p.m. ET...............  Service Request
 Certification, Compliance                                                                     via AMIS.
 Monitoring and Evaluation
 (CCME) Help Desk regarding CDFI
 Certification Applications for
 uncertified FA Applicants.
Last day to contact CDFI Program  February 2, 2024............  5:00 p.m. ET................  Service Request
 staff.                                                                                        via AMIS
                                                                                              Or
                                                                                              CDFI Fund
                                                                                               Helpdesk:
                                                                                              202-653-0421.
Last day to contact AMIS-IT Help  February 6, 2024............  5:00 p.m. ET................  Service Request
 Desk (regarding AMIS technical                                                                via AMIS
 problems only).                                                                              Or
                                                                                              202-653-0422
                                                                                              Or
                                                                                              [email protected].
Last day to submit CDFI           February 6, 2024............  11:59 p.m. ET...............  AMIS.
 Certification Applications for
 uncertified FA Applicants.
Last day to submit Title VI       February 6, 2024............  11:59 p.m. ET...............  AMIS.
 Compliance Worksheet (all
 Applicants)*.
Last day to submit CDFI Program   February 6, 2024............  11:59 p.m. ET...............  AMIS.
 Application for Financial
 Assistance (FA) or Technical
 Assistance (TA).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* This requirement also applies to Applicants' prospective sub-recipients that are not direct beneficiaries of
  Federal financial assistance (e.g., Depository Institution Holding Companies and their Subsidiary CDFI Insured
  Depository Institutions).

    2. Confirmation of Application Submission in Grants.gov and AMIS: 
Applicants are required to submit the SF-424, Application for Federal 
Assistance through the Grants.gov system, under the CDFI Program 
Funding Opportunity Number by the applicable deadline. All other 
Required Application Documents (listed in Table 10) must be submitted 
through the AMIS website by the applicable deadline. Applicants must 
submit the SF-424 prior to submitting the Application in AMIS. If the 
SF-424 is not successfully accepted by Grants.gov by the deadline, the 
CDFI Fund will not review the Application submitted in AMIS, and the 
Application will be deemed ineligible.
    a. Grants.gov Submission Information: Each Applicant will receive 
an email from Grants.gov immediately after submitting the SF-424 
confirming that the submission has entered the Grants.gov system. This 
email will contain a tracking number for the submitted SF-424. Within 
48 hours, the Applicant will receive a second email, which will 
indicate if the submitted SF-424 was either successfully validated or 
rejected with errors. However, Applicants should not rely on the email 
notification from Grants.gov to confirm that their SF-424 was 
validated. Applicants are strongly encouraged to use the tracking 
number provided in the first email to closely monitor the status of 
their SF-424 by contacting the helpdesk at Grants.gov directly. The 
Application material submitted in AMIS is not officially accepted by 
the CDFI Fund until Grants.gov has validated the SF-424.
    b. AMIS Submission Information: AMIS is a web-based system where 
Applicants will directly enter their Application information and add 
the required attachments listed in Table 10. AMIS will verify that the 
Applicant provided the minimum information required to submit an 
Application. Applicants are responsible for the quality and accuracy of 
the information and attachments included in the Application submitted 
in AMIS. The CDFI Fund strongly encourages Applicants to allow for 
sufficient time to review and complete all Required Application 
Documents listed in Table

[[Page 85987]]

10, and remedy any issues prior to the Application deadline. Each 
Application must be signed by an Authorized Representative in AMIS 
before it can be submitted. Applicants must ensure that the Authorized 
Representative is an employee or officer and is authorized to sign 
legal documents on behalf of the Applicant. Consultants working on 
behalf of the Applicant may not be designated as Authorized 
Representatives. Only an Authorized Representative or an Application 
Point of Contact may submit an Application. If an Authorized 
Representative or Application Point of Contact does not submit the 
Application, the Application will be deemed ineligible. Applicants may 
only submit one Base-FA or TA Application under the CDFI Program. Upon 
submission, the Application will be locked and cannot be resubmitted, 
edited, or modified in any way. The CDFI Fund will not unlock or allow 
multiple Application submissions.
    3. Late Submission or AMIS Account Creation: The CDFI Fund will not 
accept an Application if the SF-424 is not submitted and accepted by 
Grants.gov by the SF-424 deadline listed in Table 1 and Table 12. 
Additionally, the CDFI Fund will not accept an Application if it is not 
signed by an Authorized Representative and submitted in AMIS by the 
Application deadline or if an Applicant did not submit the required 
Title VI Compliance Worksheet by the Application deadline listed in 
Table 1 and Table 12. The CDFI Fund will also not accept an Application 
from an Applicant that failed to create an AMIS account by the 
deadlines specified in Table 1 and Table 12. In these cases, the CDFI 
Fund will not review any material submitted, and the Application will 
be deemed ineligible.
    However, in cases where a federal government administrative or 
technological error directly resulted in precluding an Applicant from 
submitting the SF-424, the Application, or creating an AMIS account, or 
precluding an Applicant from submitting the Title VI Compliance 
Worksheet by the deadlines stated in this NOFA, Applicants are provided 
the opportunity to submit a written request for acceptance of late 
submissions. Be aware that unexpected delay in a federal government 
process does not in and of itself constitute a federal government 
administrative or technological error. The CDFI Fund will only approve 
the late submission of the SF-424, the Application, the Title VI 
Compliance worksheet, or the late creation of an AMIS account if the 
Applicant demonstrates that an unexpected delay was the direct result 
of a federal government administrative or technological error.
    a. Creation of AMIS Account: In cases where a federal government 
administrative or technological error directly resulted in precluding 
an Applicant from creating an AMIS account by the required deadline, 
the Applicant must submit a written request for approval to create its 
AMIS account after the deadline, and include documentation of the 
error, no later than two business days after the AMIS account creation 
deadline. The CDFI Fund will not respond to requests for creating an 
AMIS account after that time. Applicants must submit such request via 
an AMIS Service Request to the CDFI Program or an email to 
[email protected] with a subject line of ``AMIS Account Creation 
Deadline Extension Request.''
    b. SF-424 Late Submission: In cases where a federal government 
administrative or technological error directly resulted in precluding 
an Applicant from submitting the SF-424 by the required deadline, the 
Applicant must submit a written request for acceptance of the late SF-
424 submission and include documentation of the error no later than two 
business days after the SF-424 deadline. The CDFI Fund will not respond 
to requests for acceptance of late SF-424 submissions after that time 
period. Applicants must submit late SF-424 submission requests to the 
CDFI Fund via an AMIS Service Request to the CDFI Program with a 
subject line of ``Late SF-424 Submission Request.''
    c. Title VI Compliance Worksheet Late Submission: In cases where a 
federal government administrative or technological error directly 
precluded an Applicant from submitting the Title VI Compliance 
Worksheet by the required deadline, the Applicant must submit a written 
request for approval to submit the Worksheet after the deadline, and 
include documentation of the error, no later than two business days 
after the Title VI Compliance Worksheet submission deadline. The CDFI 
Fund will not respond to requests for submitting a Title VI Compliance 
Worksheet after that time. Applicants must submit such request via an 
AMIS Service Request to the CDFI Program with a subject line of ``CDFI 
Program--Title VI Compliance Worksheet Deadline Extension Request.''
    d. AMIS Application Late Submission: In cases where a federal 
government administrative or technological error directly resulted in 
precluding an Applicant from submitting the Application in AMIS by the 
required deadline, the Applicant must submit a written request for 
acceptance of the late Application submission and include documentation 
of the error no later than two business days after the Application 
deadline. The CDFI Fund will not respond to requests for acceptance of 
late Application submissions after that time period. Applicants must 
submit late Application submission requests to the CDFI Fund via an 
AMIS Service Request to the CDFI Program with a subject line of ``Late 
Application Submission Request.''
    G. Funding Restrictions: Base-FA, PPC-FA, DF-FA, HFFI-FA and TA 
awards are limited by the following:
    1. Base-FA Awards:
    a. A Recipient shall use Base-FA award funds only for the eligible 
activities described in Section II. (C)(1) of this NOFA and its 
Assistance Agreement.
    b. With the exception of Depository Institution Holding Company 
Applicants, Base-FA awards may not be used to support the activities 
of, or otherwise be passed through, transferred, or co-awarded to, 
third-party entities, whether Affiliates, Subsidiaries, or others, 
unless done pursuant to a merger or acquisition or similar transaction, 
and with the CDFI Fund's prior written consent.
    c. Base-FA award funds shall only be paid to the Recipient.
    d. The CDFI Fund, in its sole discretion, may pay Base-FA award 
funds in amounts, or under terms and conditions, which are different 
from those requested by an Applicant.
    e. The Recipient must comply, as applicable, with the Buy American 
Act of 1933, 41 U.S.C. 8301-8303 and section 2 CFR 200.216 of the 
Uniform Requirements, with respect to any Direct Costs.
    2. PPC-FA Awards:
    a. A Recipient shall use PPC-FA award funds only for the eligible 
activities described in Section II. (C)(5) of this NOFA and its 
Assistance Agreement.
    b. With the exception of Depository Institution Holding Company 
Applicants, PPC-FA awards may not be used to support the activities of, 
or otherwise be passed through, transferred, or co-awarded to, third-
party entities, whether Affiliates, Subsidiaries, or others, unless 
done pursuant to a merger or acquisition or similar transaction, and 
with the CDFI Fund's prior written consent.
    c. PPC-FA award funds shall only be paid to the Recipient.
    d. The CDFI Fund, in its sole discretion, may pay PPC-FA award

[[Page 85988]]

funds in amounts, or under terms and conditions, which are different 
from those requested by an Applicant.
    e. The Recipient must comply, as applicable, with the Buy American 
Act of 1933, 41 U.S.C. 8301-8303 and section 2 CFR 200.216 of the 
Uniform Requirements, with respect to any Direct Costs.
    3. DF-FA Awards:
    a. A Recipient shall use DF-FA award funds only for the eligible 
activities described in Section II. (C)(2) of this NOFA and its 
Assistance Agreement.
    b. With the exception of Depository Institution Holding Company 
Applicants, DF-FA awards may not be used to support the activities of, 
or otherwise be passed through, transferred, or co-awarded to, third-
party entities, whether Affiliates, Subsidiaries, or others, unless 
done pursuant to a merger or acquisition or similar transaction, and 
with the CDFI Fund's prior written consent.
    c. DF-FA award funds shall only be paid to the Recipient.
    d. The CDFI Fund, in its sole discretion, may pay DF-FA award funds 
in amounts, or under terms and conditions, which are different from 
those requested by an Applicant.
    e. The Recipient must comply, as applicable, with the Buy American 
Act of 1933, 41 U.S.C. 8301-8303 and section 2 CFR 200.216 of the 
Uniform Requirements, with respect to any Direct Costs.
    4. HFFI-FA Awards:
    a. A Recipient shall use HFFI-FA award funds only for the eligible 
activities described in Section II. (C)(4) of this NOFA and its 
Assistance Agreement.
    b. With the exception of Depository Institution Holding Company 
Applicants, HFFI-FA awards may not be used to support the activities 
of, or otherwise be passed through, transferred, or co-awarded to, 
third-party entities, whether Affiliates, Subsidiaries, or others, 
unless done pursuant to a merger or acquisition or similar transaction, 
and with the CDFI Fund's prior written consent.
    c. HFFI-FA award funds shall only be paid to the Recipient.
    d. The CDFI Fund, in its sole discretion, may pay HFFI-FA award 
funds in amounts, or under terms and conditions, which are different 
from those requested by an Applicant.
    e. The Recipient must comply, as applicable, with the Buy American 
Act of 1933, 41 U.S.C. 8301-8303 and section 2 CFR 200.216 of the 
Uniform Requirements, with respect to any Direct Costs.
    5. TA Awards:
    a. A Recipient shall use TA award funds only for the eligible 
activities described in Section II.(C)(3) of this NOFA and its 
Assistance Agreement.
    b. With the exception of Depository Institution Holding Company 
Applicants, TA awards may not be used to support the activities of, or 
otherwise be passed through, transferred, or co-awarded to, third-party 
entities, whether Affiliates, Subsidiaries, or others, unless done 
pursuant to a merger or acquisition or similar transaction, and with 
the CDFI Fund's prior written consent.
    c. TA award funds shall only be paid to the Recipient.
    d. The CDFI Fund, in its sole discretion, may pay TA award funds in 
amounts, or under terms and conditions, which are different from those 
requested by an Applicant.
    e. The Recipient must comply, as applicable, with the Buy American 
Act of 1933, 41 U.S.C. 8301-8303 and section 2 CFR 200.216 of the 
Uniform Requirements, with respect to any Direct Costs.

V. Application Review Information

    A. Criteria: If the Applicant has submitted an eligible 
Application, the CDFI Fund will conduct a substantive review in 
accordance with the criteria and procedures described in the 
Regulations, this NOFA, the Application guidance, and the Uniform 
Requirements. The CDFI Fund reserves the right to contact the Applicant 
by telephone, email, or mail for the purpose of clarifying or 
confirming Application information. If contacted, the Applicant must 
respond within the time period communicated by the CDFI Fund or risk 
that its Application will be rejected. The CDFI Fund will review the 
Base-FA, DF-FA, PPC-FA, HFFI-FA, and TA Applications in accordance with 
the process below. All internal and external reviewers will complete 
the CDFI Fund's conflict of interest process. The CDFI Fund's 
Application conflict of interest policy is located on the CDFI Fund's 
website.
    1. Base-FA Application Scoring, Award Selection, Review, and 
Selection Process: The CDFI Fund will evaluate each Application using a 
five-step review process illustrated in the sections below. Applicants 
that meet the minimum criteria will advance to the next step in the 
review process. Applicants applying as a Community Partnership must 
describe the partnership in the Application pursuant to the 
requirements set forth in Table 8, and will be evaluated in accordance 
with the review process described below.
    a. Step 1: Eligibility Review: The CDFI Fund will evaluate each 
Application to determine its eligibility status pursuant to Section III 
of this NOFA.
    b. Step 2: Financial Analysis and Compliance Risk Evaluation:
    i. Step 2: Financial Analysis: For Regulated Institutions, the CDFI 
Fund will consider financial safety and soundness information from the 
Appropriate Federal or State Banking Agency. As detailed in Table 8, 
each Regulated Institution FA Applicant (including a subsidiary 
Depository Institution that will expend and carry out the activities of 
an award on behalf of a Depository Institution Holding Company 
Applicant) must have a CAMELS/CAMEL rating of at least ``3'' and/or no 
significant material concerns from its regulator and a CRA assessment 
rating of at least ``Satisfactory''.
    For non-regulated Applicants, the CDFI Fund will evaluate the 
financial health and viability of each non-regulated Applicant using 
financial information provided by the Applicant. For the financial 
analysis, each non-regulated Applicant will receive a Total Financial 
Composite Score on a scale of one (1) to five (5), with one (1) being 
the highest rating. The Total Financial Composite Score is based on the 
analysis of twenty-three (23) financial indicators. Applications will 
be grouped based on the Total Financial Composite Score. Applicants 
must receive a Total Financial Composite Score of one (1), two (2), or 
three (3) to advance to Step 3. Applicants that receive an initial 
Total Financial Composite Score of four (4) or five (5) will be re-
evaluated and re-scored by CDFI Fund staff. If the Total Financial 
Composite Score remains four (4) or five (5) after CDFI Fund staff 
review, the Applicant will not advance to Step 3.
    ii. Step 2: Compliance Risk Evaluation: For the compliance 
analysis, the CDFI Fund will evaluate the compliance risk of each 
Applicant using information provided in the Application, as well as an 
Applicant's reporting history, reporting capacity, and performance risk 
with respect to meeting the PG&Ms set forth in the Assistance 
Agreement. Each Applicant will receive a Total Compliance Composite 
Score on a scale of one (1) to five (5), with one (1) being the highest 
rating. Applicants that receive an initial Total Compliance Composite 
Score of four (4) or five (5) will be re-evaluated by CDFI Fund staff. 
If the Applicant is deemed a high compliance risk after CDFI Fund staff 
review, the Applicant will not advance to Step 3.
    c. Step 3: Business Plan Review: Applicants that proceed to Step 3 
will

[[Page 85989]]

be evaluated on the soundness of their comprehensive business plan. Two 
external, non-CDFI Fund Reviewers will conduct the Step 3: Business 
Plan Review. Reviewers will evaluate the Application sections listed in 
Table 13. All Applications will be reviewed in accordance with standard 
reviewer evaluation materials. At the conclusion of the Step 3 
evaluation, Applications will be ranked based on Total Business Plan 
Scores, in descending order from highest Total Business Plan Score to 
lowest Total Business Plan Score. Each category of Applicant type (Core 
and SECA) will be ranked separately. An amount up to but not exceeding 
the highest scoring 60% of Core Applicants in the Core Applicant pool 
and an amount up to, but not exceeding, the highest scoring 70% of SECA 
Applicants in the SECA Applicant pool will progress to Step 4. Within 
each category of Applicant type (Core and SECA) respectively, if a tie 
in Total Business Plan Scores would prevent an Applicant from moving to 
Step 4, all Applicants with the same score will progress to Step 4. 
Lastly, the CDFI Fund may consider the geographic diversity of 
Applicants based on primary geographic market served (Major Urban Area, 
Micropolitan Area, Minor Urban Area, and Rural Area) when determining 
the Step 4 Applicant pool.
    Based on funding availability for Core and SECA Base-FA Applicant 
types, the CDFI Fund reserves the right to limit the number of 
Applicants that progress from Step 3 to Step 4 to ensure that the CDFI 
Program can meaningfully vary award amounts among Applicants with 
different Step 4 Policy Objective scores, while maintaining minimum 
award amounts specified in Table 2. In cases where funding availability 
is not sufficient to progress all Applicants within the top 60% of the 
Core Applicant pool and within the top 70% of the SECA Applicant pool 
from Step 3 to Step 4, priority will be given to Applicants that score 
highest on the Total Business Plan Score in each Applicant type (Core 
and SECA).

     Table 13--Step 3: Base-FA Business Plan Review Scoring Criteria
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        Score needed to
  Base-FA application sections      Possible score          advance
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mission and Community Needs.....  Scored as a         N/A.
                                   component of the
                                   other Base-FA
                                   Application
                                   Sections.
Business Strategy...............  12................  N/A.
Market and Competitive Analysis.  7.................  N/A.
Products and Services...........  12................  N/A.
Management and Track Record.....  12................  N/A.
Growth and Projections..........  7.................  N/A.
                                 ---------------------------------------
    Total Business Plan Score...  50................  Core Applicants:
                                                       Up to, but not
                                                       exceeding, top
                                                       60% of all Core
                                                       Applicants
                                                      SECA Applicants:
                                                       Up to, but not
                                                       exceeding, top
                                                       70% of all SECA
                                                       Applicants.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    d. Step 4: Policy Objective Review: The CDFI Fund internal 
reviewers will evaluate each Application to determine its ability to 
meet policy objectives of the CDFI Fund. Each Applicant will be 
evaluated in each of the categories listed in Table 14, and will 
receive a Total Policy Objective Review Score on a scale of one (1) to 
five (5), with one (1) being the highest score. Applicants are then 
grouped according to Total Policy Objective Review Scores.
    The CDFI Fund also conducts a due diligence review for Applicants 
that includes an analysis of programmatic risk factors including, but 
not limited to: history of performance in managing Federal awards 
(including timeliness of reporting and compliance); ability to meet FA 
Objective(s) selected by Base-FA Applicants in their Applications; 
reports and findings from audits; and ability to effectively implement 
federal requirements, each of which could impact the Total Policy 
Objective Review Score.

                            Table 14--Step 4: Base-FA Policy Review Scoring Criteria
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Section                  Possible scores      High score            Score needed to advance
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Economic Distress.................  1, 2, 3, 4, or 5....               1  N/A.
Economic Opportunities............  1, 2, 3, 4, or 5....               1  N/A.
Community Collaboration...........  1, 2, 3, 4, or 5....               1  N/A.
                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total Policy Objective Review   1, 2, 3, 4, or 5....               1  All Scores Advance.
     Composite Score.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    e. Step 5: Award Amount Determination: The CDFI Fund determines an 
award amount for each Application based on the Step 4 Total Policy 
Objective Review Score, the Applicant's request amount, and on certain 
other factors, including, but not limited to, the Applicant's 
deployment track record, minimum award size, and funding availability. 
Applicants may have award amounts reduced from the requested award 
amount or not funded as a result of this analysis. Based on funding 
availability for Core, SECA, and/or NACA Base-FA Applicant types, the 
CDFI Fund reserves the right to not award all Applicants that advance 
to Step 5. In cases where funding availability is not sufficient to 
award all Applications, priority will be given to Applicants that score 
highest on the Step 4: Policy Objective Review in each Applicant type 
Category (Core and SECA). For Core FA Applicants, the

[[Page 85990]]

award cannot exceed 30% of the Applicant's total portfolio outstanding 
as of the Applicant's most recent historic fiscal year end. For SECA FA 
Applicants, the award cannot exceed 75% of the Applicant's total 
portfolio outstanding as of the Applicant's most recent historic fiscal 
year end, or the minimum award size as noted in Table 2, whichever is 
greater.
    2. HFFI-FA Application Scoring, Award Selection, Review, and 
Selection Process: A CDFI Fund internal reviewer will evaluate each 
HFFI-FA Application associated with a Base-FA Application that 
progresses to Step 4 of the FA Application review process. The reviewer 
will evaluate the Application sections listed in Table 15 and assign a 
Total HFFI- FA Score up to 60 points. The CDFI Fund will make awards to 
the highest scoring Applicants first. All Applications will be reviewed 
in accordance with standard reviewer evaluation materials. Applicants 
that fail to receive a Base-FA award will not be considered for a HFFI-
FA award.
    The CDFI Fund conducts additional levels of due diligence for 
Applications that are under consideration for an HFFI-FA award. Award 
amounts may be reduced from the requested award amount as a result of 
this analysis. The CDFI Fund may reduce awards sizes from requested 
amounts based on certain variables, including but not limited to, an 
Applicant's loan disbursement activity, total portfolio outstanding, or 
compliance with prior HFFI-FA awards. Lastly, the CDFI Fund may 
consider the geographic diversity of Applicants when making its funding 
decisions.

          Table 15--Step 4 HFFI-FA Application Scoring Criteria
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         Possible score
                       Sections                             (points)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target Market Profile................................                 10
Healthy Food Financial Products......................                 10
Projected HFFI-FA Activities.........................                 15
HFFI Track Record....................................                 20
Management Capacity for Providing Healthy Food                         5
 Financing...........................................
                                                      ------------------
    Total HFFI-FA Score..............................                 60
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    3. PPC-FA Application Scoring, Award Selection, Review, and 
Selection Process: A CDFI Fund internal reviewer will evaluate the PPC-
FA request of each PPC-FA Application associated with a Base-FA 
Application that progresses to Step 4 of the FA Application review 
process. PPC-FA requests are not scored. PPC-FA award amounts will be 
determined based on the total number of eligible Applicants and funding 
availability, the Applicant's requested amount, and on certain factors, 
including but not limited to, an Applicant's overall portfolio size, 
historical track record of deployment in PPC, pipeline of projects in 
PPC, minimum award size, and funding availability. Applicants that fail 
to receive a Base-FA award will not be considered for a PPC-FA award.
    4. DF-FA Application Scoring, Award Selection, Review, and 
Selection Process: A CDFI Fund internal reviewer will evaluate each DF-
FA Application associated with a Base-FA Application that progresses to 
Step 4 of the FA Application review process. The reviewer will evaluate 
the Application and assign a Total DF-FA Score on a scale of one (1) to 
three (3), with one (1) being the highest score. Applicants are then 
grouped according to Total DF-FA Score. All Applications will be 
reviewed in accordance with standard reviewer evaluation materials. 
Applicants that fail to receive a Base-FA award will not be considered 
for a DF-FA award. Award amounts will be determined on the basis of the 
Total DF-FA Score, the Applicant's requested amount, and on certain 
factors, including but not limited to, an Applicant's deployment track 
record, minimum award size, and funding availability. Award amounts may 
be reduced from the requested award amount as a result of this 
analysis. The CDFI Fund will make awards to the highest scoring 
Applicants first.

           Table 16--Step 3 DF-FA Application Scoring Criteria
------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Section                  Possible scores      High score
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DF-FA Narrative Questions.........  1, 2, or 3..........               1
                                   -------------------------------------
    Total DF-FA Score.............  1, 2, or 3..........               1
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    5. TA Application Scoring, Award Selection, Review, and Selection 
Process: The CDFI Fund will evaluate each Application to determine its 
eligibility pursuant to Section III of this NOFA. If the Application 
satisfies the eligibility criteria, the CDFI Fund will conduct the TA 
Business Plan Review in two parts. Emerging CDFI Applicants must 
receive a rating of Low Risk or Medium Risk in Part I of the TA 
Business Plan Review to progress to Part II of the TA Business Plan 
Review. Emerging CDFI Applicants that receive a rating of High Risk in 
Part I of the TA Business Plan Review will not be considered for an 
award. Part I of the TA Business Plan Review is not applicable for 
Certified CDFI Applicants. Emerging CDFI and Certified CDFI Applicants 
must receive a rating of Low Risk or Medium Risk in Part II of the TA 
Business Plan Review to be considered for an award. Applicants that 
receive a rating of High Risk in Part II of the TA Business Plan Review 
will not be considered for an award.
    An Applicant that is a Certified CDFI will be evaluated on the 
demonstrated need for a TA award to build the CDFI's capacity, further 
the Applicant's strategic goals, and achieve impact within the 
Applicant's Target Market. An Applicant that is an Emerging CDFI will 
be evaluated on the Applicant's demonstrated capability and plan to 
achieve CDFI Certification within three years, or if a prior Recipient, 
the CDFI

[[Page 85991]]

Certification PG&M stated in its prior Assistance Agreement. An 
Applicant that is an Emerging CDFI will also be evaluated on its 
demonstrated need for a TA award to build the CDFI's capacity and 
further its strategic goals. The CDFI Fund will rate each part of the 
TA Business Plan Review as indicated in Table 17.

                    Table 17--TA Business Plan Review
------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Business plan review
          component              Applicant type            Ratings
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Part I:
    Primary Mission.........  Emerging CDFI         Low Risk, Medium
                               Applicants.           Risk, or High Risk.
    Financing Entity........  Emerging CDFI
                               Applicants.
    Target Market...........  Emerging CDFI
                               Applicants.
    Accountability..........  Emerging CDFI
                               Applicants.
    Development Services....  Emerging CDFI
                               Applicants.
Part II:
    Target Market Needs &     Emerging and          Low Risk, Medium
     Strategy.                 Certified CDFI        Risk, or High Risk.
                               Applicants.
    Organizational Capacity.  Emerging and
                               Certified CDFI
                               Applicants.
    Management Capacity.....  Emerging and
                               Certified CDFI
                               Applicants.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Each TA Application will be evaluated by one internal CDFI Fund 
reviewer. The Business Plan Review of all Applications will be reviewed 
in accordance with CDFI Fund standard reviewer evaluation materials.
    The CDFI Fund conducts additional levels of due diligence for 
Applications that are under consideration for an award. This due 
diligence includes an analysis of programmatic and financial risk 
factors including, but not limited to, financial stability, history of 
performance in managing Federal awards (including timeliness of 
reporting and compliance), reports and findings from audits, and the 
Applicant's ability to effectively implement federal requirements. The 
CDFI Fund will also evaluate the compliance risk of each Applicant 
using information provided in the Application as well as an Applicant's 
reporting history, reporting capacity, and performance risk with 
respect to meeting the PG&Ms set forth in the Assistance Agreement. 
Each Applicant will receive a Total Compliance Composite Score on a 
scale of one (1) to five (5), with one (1) being the highest rating. 
Applicants that receive an initial Total Compliance Composite Score of 
four (4) or five (5) will be re-evaluated by CDFI Fund staff. If the 
Applicant is deemed a high compliance risk after CDFI staff review, the 
Applicant will not be considered for an award. The CDFI Fund will also 
evaluate the Applicant's ability to meet CDFI Certification criteria of 
being a legal entity and a non-government entity. Award amounts may be 
reduced as a result of the due diligence analysis in addition to 
consideration of the Applicant's funding request and similar factors. 
Lastly, the CDFI Fund may consider the geographic diversity of 
Applicants when making its funding decisions.
    6. Regulated Institutions: The CDFI Fund will consider safety and 
soundness information from the Appropriate Federal or State Banking 
Agency. If the Applicant is a CDFI Depository Institution Holding 
Company, the CDFI Fund will consider information provided by the 
Appropriate Federal or State Banking Agencies about both the CDFI 
Depository Institution Holding Company and the Certified CDFI 
Subsidiary Insured Depository Institution that will expend and carry 
out the award. If the Appropriate Federal or State Banking Agency 
identifies safety and soundness concerns (including any concerns for 
Subsidiary Depository Institutions carrying out the activities of an 
award on behalf of a CDFI Depository Institution Holding Company), the 
CDFI Fund will assess whether such concerns cause or will cause the 
Applicant to be incapable of undertaking the activities for which 
funding has been requested.
    7. Non-Regulated Institutions: The CDFI Fund must ensure, to the 
maximum extent practicable, that Recipients which are non-regulated 
CDFIs are financially and managerially sound, and maintain appropriate 
internal controls (12 U.S.C. 4707(f)(1)(A) and 12 CFR 1805.800(b)). 
Further, the CDFI Fund must determine that an Applicant's capacity to 
operate as a CDFI and its continued viability will not be dependent 
upon assistance from the CDFI Fund (12 U.S.C. 4704(b)(2)(A)). If it is 
determined that the Applicant is incapable of meeting these 
requirements, the CDFI Fund reserves the right to deem the Applicant 
ineligible or terminate the award.
    B. Anticipated Award Announcement: The CDFI Fund anticipates making 
the CDFI Program award announcement before September 30, 2024. However, 
the anticipated award announcement date is subject to change without 
notice.
    C. Application Rejection: The CDFI Fund reserves the right to 
reject an Application if information (including administrative errors) 
comes to the CDFI Fund's attention that: adversely affects an 
Applicant's eligibility for an award; adversely affects the Recipient's 
CDFI Certification (to the extent that the award is conditional upon 
CDFI Certification); adversely affects the CDFI Fund's evaluation or 
scoring of an Application; or indicates fraud or mismanagement on the 
Applicant's part. If the CDFI Fund determines any portion of the 
Application is incorrect in a material respect, the CDFI Fund reserves 
the right, in its sole discretion, to reject the Application. The CDFI 
Fund reserves the right to change its eligibility and evaluation 
criteria and procedures, if the CDFI Fund deems it appropriate. If the 
changes materially affect the CDFI Fund's award decisions, the CDFI 
Fund will provide information about the changes through its website. 
The CDFI Fund's award decisions are final, and there is no right to 
appeal decisions.
    D. External Non-CDFI Fund Reviewers: All external non-CDFI Fund 
reviewers are selected based on criteria that includes a professional 
background in community and economic development finance, and 
experience reviewing the financial statements of all CDFI institution 
types. Reviewers must complete the CDFI Fund's conflict of interest 
process and be approved by the CDFI Fund. The CDFI Fund's Application 
reader conflict of interest policy is located on the CDFI Fund's 
website.

VI. Federal Award Administration Information

    A. Award Notification: Each successful Applicant will receive an 
email ``notice of award'' notification from the CDFI Fund stating that 
its Application has been approved for an

[[Page 85992]]

award. Each Applicant not selected for an award will receive an email 
stating that a debriefing notice has been provided in its AMIS account.
    B. Assistance Agreement: Each Applicant selected to receive an 
award must enter into an Assistance Agreement with the CDFI Fund in 
order to receive a payment(s). The Assistance Agreement will set forth 
the award's terms and conditions, including but not be limited to the: 
(i) award amount; (ii) award type; (iii) award uses; (iv) eligible use 
of award funds; (v) PG&Ms; and (vi) reporting requirements. FA 
Assistance Agreements have three-year Periods of Performance. TA 
Assistance Agreements have two-year Periods of Performance for 
Certified CDFIs and three-year Periods of Performance for Emerging 
CDFIs.
    1. Certificate of Good Standing: All FA and TA Recipients that are 
not Regulated Institutions will be required to provide the CDFI Fund 
with a certificate of good standing from the secretary of state for the 
Recipient's jurisdiction of formation prior to closing. This 
certificate can often be acquired online on the secretary of state 
website for the Recipient's jurisdiction of formation and must 
generally be dated within 180 days prior to the Federal Award Date of 
the Assistance Agreement. Due to potential backlogs in state government 
offices, Applicants are advised to submit requests for certificates of 
good standing no later than 60 days after they submit their 
Applications.
    2. Closing: Pursuant to the Assistance Agreement, there will be an 
initial closing at which point the Assistance Agreement and related 
documents will be properly executed and delivered, and an initial 
payment of FA or TA may be made. FA Recipients that are subject to the 
Matching Funds requirement will not receive a payment until 100% of 
their Matching Funds are In-Hand. The first payment is the estimated 
amount of the award that the Recipient states in its Application that 
it will use for eligible FA or TA activities in the first 12 months 
after the award announcement. The first payment request amount entered 
in the Application must be greater than zero. The CDFI Fund reserves 
the right to increase the first payment amount on any award to ensure 
that any subsequent payments are at least $25,000 for FA and $5,000 for 
TA awards.
    The CDFI Fund will minimize the time between the Recipient 
incurring costs for eligible activities and award payment(s) in 
accordance with the Uniform Requirements. Advanced payments for 
eligible activities will occur no more than one year in advance of the 
Recipient incurring costs for the eligible activities. Following the 
initial closing, there may be subsequent closings involving additional 
award payments. Any documentation in addition to the Assistance 
Agreement that is connected with such subsequent closings and payments 
shall be properly executed and timely delivered by the Recipient to the 
CDFI Fund.
    3. Requirements Prior to Entering into an Assistance Agreement: If, 
prior to entering into an Assistance Agreement, information (including 
administrative errors) comes to the CDFI Fund's attention that: 
adversely affects the Recipient's eligibility for an award; adversely 
affects the Recipient's CDFI Certification (to the extent that the 
award is conditional upon CDFI Certification); adversely affects the 
CDFI Fund's evaluation of the Application; indicates that the Recipient 
is not in compliance with any requirement listed in the Uniform 
Requirements; indicates that the Recipient is not in compliance with a 
term or condition of any prior Award Agreement, Assistance Agreement, 
and/or Allocation Agreement from the CDFI Fund; indicates the Recipient 
has failed to execute and return a prior round Assistance Agreement to 
the CDFI Fund within the CDFI Fund's deadlines; or indicates fraud or 
mismanagement on the Recipient's part, the CDFI Fund may, in its 
discretion and without advance notice to the Recipient, terminate the 
award or take such other actions as it deems appropriate. The CDFI Fund 
reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to rescind an award if the 
Recipient fails to return the Assistance Agreement, signed by the 
Authorized Representative of the Recipient, and/or provide the CDFI 
Fund with any requested documentation, within the CDFI Fund's 
deadlines.
    In addition, the CDFI Fund reserves the right, in its sole 
discretion, to terminate and rescind the Assistance Agreement and the 
award made under this NOFA pending the criteria described in Table 18.

    Table 18--Requirements Prior to Executing an Assistance Agreement
------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Requirement                           Criteria
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Failure to meet reporting            If a Recipient received a
 requirements.                       prior award or allocation under any
                                     CDFI Fund program and is not
                                     current on the reporting
                                     requirements set forth in the
                                     previously executed assistance,
                                     award, allocation, bond loan
                                     agreement(s), or agreement to
                                     guarantee, as of the date of the
                                     notice of award, the CDFI Fund
                                     reserves the right, in its sole
                                     discretion, to delay entering into
                                     an Assistance Agreement and/or to
                                     delay making a payment of award,
                                     until said prior Recipient or
                                     allocatee is current on the
                                     reporting requirements in the
                                     previously executed assistance,
                                     award, allocation, bond loan
                                     agreement(s), or agreement to
                                     guarantee.
                                     If such a prior Recipient
                                     or allocatee is unable to meet this
                                     requirement within the timeframe
                                     set by the CDFI Fund, the CDFI Fund
                                     reserves the right, in its sole
                                     discretion, to terminate and
                                     rescind the notice of award and the
                                     award made under this NOFA.
                                     Please note that automated
                                     systems employed by the CDFI Fund
                                     for receipt of reports submitted
                                     electronically typically
                                     acknowledge only a report's
                                     receipt; such acknowledgment does
                                     not warrant that the report
                                     received was complete, nor that it
                                     met reporting requirements.
Failure to maintain CDFI             An FA Recipient must be a
 Certification.                      Certified CDFI prior to the award
                                     announcement date.
                                     If an FA Recipient fails to
                                     maintain CDFI Certification, the
                                     CDFI Fund will not execute the
                                     Assistance Agreement and will
                                     terminate and rescind the award
                                     made under this NOFA.
                                     If a TA Recipient is a
                                     Certified CDFI at the time of award
                                     announcement, it must maintain CDFI
                                     Certification.
                                     If a Certified CDFI TA
                                     Recipient fails to maintain CDFI
                                     Certification, the CDFI Fund will
                                     not execute the Assistance
                                     Agreement and will terminate and
                                     rescind the award made under this
                                     NOFA.
Pending resolution of                The CDFI Fund will delay
 noncompliance.                      entering into an Assistance
                                     Agreement with a prior Recipient or
                                     allocatee that has pending
                                     noncompliance or default issues
                                     with any of its previously executed
                                     CDFI Fund award(s), allocation(s),
                                     bond loan agreement(s), or
                                     agreement(s) to guarantee.

[[Page 85993]]

 
                                     If said prior Recipient or
                                     allocatee is unable satisfactorily
                                     resolve the compliance issues, the
                                     CDFI Fund reserves the right, in
                                     its sole discretion, to terminate
                                     and rescind the notice of award and
                                     the award made under this NOFA.
Noncompliance or default status...   If, at any time prior to
                                     entering into an Assistance
                                     Agreement, the CDFI Fund determines
                                     that a Recipient is noncompliant or
                                     found in default with any
                                     previously executed CDFI Fund
                                     award(s), allocation (s), bond loan
                                     agreement(s), or agreement(s) to
                                     guarantee, and the CDFI Fund has
                                     provided written notification that
                                     the Recipient is ineligible to
                                     apply for or receive any future
                                     awards or allocations for a time
                                     period specified by the CDFI Fund
                                     in writing, the CDFI Fund may delay
                                     entering into an Assistance
                                     Agreement until the Recipient has
                                     cured the noncompliance and/or
                                     default by taking actions the CDFI
                                     Fund has specified within such
                                     specified timeframe. If the
                                     Recipient is unable to cure the
                                     noncompliance and/or default within
                                     the specified timeframe, the CDFI
                                     Fund may terminate and rescind the
                                     Assistance Agreement and the award
                                     made under this NOFA.
Compliance with federal civil        If, within the period
 rights requirements.                starting three years prior to this
                                     NOFA and through the date of the
                                     Assistance Agreement, the Recipient
                                     received a final determination, in
                                     any proceeding instituted against
                                     the Recipient in, by, or before any
                                     court, governmental, or
                                     administrative body or agency,
                                     declaring that the Recipient
                                     violated any federal civil rights
                                     laws or regulations, including:
                                     Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of
                                     1964, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2000d
                                     et seq.); Fair Housing Act (42
                                     U.S.C. 3601 et seq.); Equal Credit
                                     Opportunity Act (15 U.S.C. 1691 et
                                     seq.); Section 504 of the
                                     Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29
                                     U.S.C. 794); and the Age
                                     Discrimination Act of 1975 (42
                                     U.S.C. 6101-6107), the CDFI Fund
                                     may terminate and rescind the
                                     Assistance Agreement and the award
                                     made under this NOFA. The CDFI Fund
                                     will delay entering into an
                                     Assistance Agreement with a
                                     Recipient that has pending Title VI
                                     noncompliance issues, if the CDFI
                                     Fund has not yet made a final
                                     compliance determination.
                                     If the Recipient is unable
                                     to satisfactorily resolve the Title
                                     VI noncompliance issues, the CDFI
                                     Fund may terminate and rescind the
                                     Assistance Agreement and the award
                                     made under this NOFA.
                                     The Title VI Compliance
                                     Worksheet and program award terms
                                     and conditions do not impose
                                     antidiscrimination requirements on
                                     Tribal governments beyond what
                                     would otherwise apply under federal
                                     law.
Do Not Pay........................   The Do Not Pay Business
                                     Center was developed to support
                                     federal agencies in their efforts
                                     to reduce the number of improper
                                     payments made through programs
                                     funded by the federal government.
                                     The CDFI Fund reserves the
                                     right, in its sole discretion, to
                                     rescind an award if the Recipient
                                     (or Affiliate of a Recipient) is
                                     determined to be ineligible based
                                     on data in the Do Not Pay database.
Safety and soundness..............   If it is determined the
                                     Recipient is, or will be, incapable
                                     of meeting its award obligations,
                                     the CDFI Fund will deem the
                                     Recipient to be ineligible or
                                     require it to improve its safety
                                     and soundness prior to entering
                                     into an Assistance Agreement.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    C. Reporting:
    1. Reporting requirements: On an annual basis during the Period of 
Performance, the CDFI Fund may collect information from each Recipient 
including, but not limited to, an Annual Report with the following 
components (Annual Reporting Requirements):

                Table 19--Annual Reporting Requirements *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Financial Statement Audit Report    A Non-profit Recipient (including
 (Non-profit Recipient including     Insured Credit Unions and State-
 Insured Credit Unions and State-    Insured Credit Unions) must submit
 Insured Credit Unions).             a Financial Statement Audit (FSA)
                                     Report in AMIS, along with the
                                     Recipient's statement of financial
                                     condition audited or reviewed by an
                                     independent certified public
                                     accountant, if any are prepared.
                                    Under no circumstances should this
                                     be construed as the CDFI Fund
                                     requiring the Recipient to conduct
                                     or arrange for additional audits
                                     not otherwise required under
                                     Uniform Requirements or otherwise
                                     prepared at the request of the
                                     Recipient or parties other than the
                                     CDFI Fund.
Financial Statement Audit Report    For-profit Recipients must submit an
 (For-Profit Recipient).             FSA Report in AMIS, along with the
                                     Recipient's statement of financial
                                     condition audited or reviewed by an
                                     independent certified public
                                     accountant.
Financial Statement Audit Report    If the Recipient is a Depository
 (Depository Institution Holding     Institution Holding Company or an
 Company and Insured Depository      Insured Depository Institution, it
 Institution).                       must submit an FSA Report in AMIS.
Single Audit Report (Non-Profit     A non-profit Recipient must complete
 Recipients, if applicable).         an annual Single Audit pursuant to
                                     the Uniform Requirements (see 2 CFR
                                     Subpart F-Audit Requirements) if it
                                     expends $750,000 or more in Federal
                                     awards in its fiscal year, or such
                                     other dollar threshold established
                                     by OMB pursuant to 2 CFR 200.501.
                                     If a Single Audit is required, it
                                     must be submitted electronically to
                                     the Federal Audit Clearinghouse
                                     (FAC) (see 2 CFR Subpart F-Audit
                                     Requirements in the Uniform
                                     Requirements) and optionally
                                     through AMIS.
Federal Financial Report/OMB        The Recipient must annually submit
 Standard Form 425 (SF-425).         the SF-425 Federal Financial Report
                                     to the CDFI Fund through AMIS to
                                     disclose how much of the CDFI
                                     Program award funds were expended
                                     during the federal government's
                                     fiscal year of October 1 through
                                     September 30.
Transaction Level Report (TLR)....  The Recipient must submit a TLR to
                                     the CDFI Fund through AMIS.
                                    If the Recipient is a Depository
                                     Institution Holding Company that
                                     deploys all or a portion of its
                                     Financial Assistance through its
                                     Subsidiary CDFI Insured Depository
                                     Institution, that Subsidiary CDFI
                                     Insured Depository Institution must
                                     also submit a TLR. Furthermore, if
                                     the Depository Institution Holding
                                     Company itself deploys any portion
                                     of the Financial Assistance, the
                                     Depository Institution Holding
                                     Company must submit a TLR.
                                    The TLR is not required for TA
                                     Recipients.

[[Page 85994]]

 
Uses of Award Report..............  The Recipient must submit the Uses
                                     of Award Report to the CDFI Fund in
                                     AMIS. If the Recipient is a
                                     Depository Institution Holding
                                     Company that deploys all or a
                                     portion of its Financial Assistance
                                     through its Subsidiary CDFI Insured
                                     Depository Institution, that
                                     Subsidiary CDFI Insured Depository
                                     Institution must also submit a Uses
                                     of Award Report. Furthermore, if
                                     the Depository Institution Holding
                                     Company itself deploys any portion
                                     of the Financial Assistance, the
                                     Depository Institution Holding
                                     Company must submit a Uses of Award
                                     Report.
Shareholders Report...............  If the Assistance is in the form of
                                     an Equity Investment, the Recipient
                                     must submit shareholder information
                                     to the CDFI Fund showing the class,
                                     series, number of shares and
                                     valuation of capital stock held or
                                     to be held by each shareholder. The
                                     Shareholders Report must be
                                     submitted for as long as the CDFI
                                     Fund is an equity holder. The
                                     Shareholders Report is submitted
                                     through AMIS.
Performance Progress Report.......  The Recipient must submit the
                                     Performance Progress Report through
                                     AMIS.
                                    If the Recipient is a Depository
                                     Institution Holding Company that
                                     deploys all or a portion of its
                                     Financial Assistance through its
                                     Subsidiary CDFI Insured Depository
                                     Institution, that Subsidiary CDFI
                                     Insured Depository Institution must
                                     also submit a Performance Progress
                                     Report. Furthermore, if the
                                     Depository Institution Holding
                                     Company itself deploys any portion
                                     of the Financial Assistance, the
                                     Depository Institution Holding
                                     Company must submit a Performance
                                     Progress Report.
Annual Certification and Data       TA Recipients that are Certified at
 Collection Report (ACR).            the time of award announcement and
                                     all FA Recipients must submit the
                                     ACR to the CDFI Fund through AMIS.
                                    If a TA Recipient is an uncertified
                                     CDFI at the time of award
                                     announcement, it must submit the
                                     ACR to the CDFI Fund through AMIS
                                     subsequent to obtaining CDFI
                                     Certification as per the ACR
                                     reporting schedule.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Personally Identifiable Information (PII) is information, which if
  lost, compromised, or disclosed without authorization, could result in
  substantial harm, embarrassment, inconvenience, or unfairness to an
  individual. Although Applicants are required to enter addresses of
  individual borrowers/residents of Distressed Communities in AMIS,
  Applicants should not include the following PII for the individuals
  who received the Financial Products or Financial Services in AMIS or
  in the supporting documentation (i.e., name of the individual, Social
  Security Number, driver's license or state identification number,
  passport number, Alien Registration Number, etc.). This information
  should be redacted from all supporting documentation.

    Each Recipient is responsible for the timely and complete 
submission of the Annual Reporting Requirements. The CDFI Fund reserves 
the right to contact the Recipient and additional entities or 
signatories to the Assistance Agreement to request additional 
information and/or documentation. The CDFI Fund will use such 
information to monitor each Recipient's compliance with the 
requirements of the Assistance Agreement and to assess the impact of 
the CDFI Program. The CDFI Fund reserves the right, in its sole 
discretion, to modify these reporting requirements, including 
increasing the scope and frequency of reporting, if it determines it to 
be appropriate and necessary; however, such reporting requirements will 
be modified only after notice to Recipients.
    2. Financial Management and Accounting: The CDFI Fund will require 
Recipients to maintain financial management and accounting systems that 
comply with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions 
of the Federal award. These systems must be sufficient to permit the 
preparation of reports required by the CDFI Fund to ensure compliance 
with the terms and conditions of the CDFI Program, including the 
tracing of award funds to a level of expenditures adequate to establish 
that such award funds have been used in accordance with federal 
statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal 
award.
    The cost principles used by Recipients must be consistent with 
federal cost principles and support the accumulation of costs as 
required by the principles, and must provide for adequate documentation 
to support costs charged to the CDFI Program award. In addition, the 
CDFI Fund will require Recipients to: maintain effective internal 
controls; comply with applicable statutes, regulations, and the 
Assistance Agreement; evaluate and monitor compliance; take appropriate 
action when not in compliance; and safeguard personally identifiable 
information.

VII. Agency Contacts

    A. The CDFI Fund will respond to questions concerning this NOFA and 
the Application between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Eastern 
Time, starting on the date that the NOFA is published through the date 
listed in Table 1 and Table 12. The CDFI Fund strongly recommends 
Applicants submit questions to the CDFI Fund via an AMIS Service 
Request to the CDFI Program, Certification, Compliance Monitoring and 
Evaluation (CCME), or IT Help Desk. The CDFI Fund will post on its 
website responses to reoccurring questions received about the NOFA and 
Application. Other information regarding the CDFI Fund and its programs 
may be obtained from the CDFI Fund's website at https://www.cdfifund.gov. Table 20 lists CDFI Fund contact information:

                                          Table 20--Contact Information
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         Telephone number
        Type of question            Preferred method     (not toll free)               Email addresses
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CDFI Program....................  Service Request via  202-653-0421,        [email protected].
                                   AMIS.                option 1.
Compliance Monitoring and         Service Request via  202-653-0423.......  [email protected].
 Evaluation.                       AMIS.
CDFI Certification..............  Service Request via  202-653-0423.......  [email protected].
                                   AMIS.
AMIS--IT Help Desk..............  Service Request via  202-653-0422.......  [email protected].
                                   AMIS.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    B. Information Technology Support: For IT assistance, the preferred 
method of contact is to submit a Service Request within AMIS. For the 
Service Request, select ``Technical Issues'' from the Program dropdown 
menu of the Service Request. People who have visual or mobility 
impairments that prevent them from using the CDFI Fund's website should 
call (202) 653-0422 for assistance (this is not a toll free number).

[[Page 85995]]

    C. Communication with the CDFI Fund: The CDFI Fund will use the 
contact information in AMIS to communicate with Applicants and 
Recipients. It is imperative, therefore, that Applicants, Recipients, 
Subsidiaries, Affiliates, and signatories maintain accurate contact 
information in their accounts. This includes information such as 
contact names (especially for the Authorized Representative), email 
addresses, fax and phone numbers, and office locations.
    D. Civil Rights and Equal Employment Opportunity: Any person who is 
eligible to receive benefits or services from the CDFI Fund or 
Recipients under any of its programs or activities is entitled to those 
benefits or services without being subject to prohibited 
discrimination. The Department of the Treasury's Office of Civil Rights 
and Equal Employment Opportunity enforces various federal statutes and 
regulations that prohibit discrimination in financially assisted and 
conducted programs and activities of the CDFI Fund. If a person 
believes that s/he has been subjected to discrimination and/or reprisal 
because of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital 
status, familial status, disability and/or reprisal, s/he may file a 
complaint with: Director, Office of Civil Rights and Equal Employment 
Opportunity, 1500 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20230 or (202) 
622-1160 (not a toll-free number).
    E. Statutory and National Policy Requirements: The CDFI Fund will 
manage and administer the Federal award in a manner to ensure that 
Federal funding is expended and associated programs are implemented in 
full accordance with the U.S. Constitution, federal law, and public 
policy requirements: including but not limited to, those protecting 
free speech, religious liberty, public welfare, the environment, and 
prohibiting discrimination.

VIII. Other Information

    A. Paperwork Reduction Act: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 
U.S.C. chapter 35), an agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection 
of information, and an individual is not required to respond to a 
collection of information, unless it displays a valid OMB control 
number. If applicable, the CDFI Fund may inform Applicants that they do 
not need to provide certain Application information otherwise required. 
Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act, the CDFI Program, and NACA 
Program Application has been assigned the following control number: 
1559-0021, inclusive of PPC-FA, DF-FA, and HFFI-FA.
    B. Application Information Sessions: The CDFI Fund may conduct 
webinars or host information sessions for organizations that are 
considering applying to, or are interested in learning about, the CDFI 
Fund's programs. For further information, visit the CDFI Fund's website 
at https://www.cdfifund.gov.
    Authority: 12 U.S.C. 4701, et seq; 12 CFR parts 1805 and 1815; 2 
CFR part 200.

Marcia Sigal,
Acting Director, Community Development Financial Institutions Fund.
[FR Doc. 2023-27138 Filed 12-8-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-05-P

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