Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Socially Disadvantaged Groups Grant for Fiscal Year 2024, 22979-22988 [2024-07005]
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 65 / Wednesday, April 3, 2024 / Notices
(14) To contractors and their agents,
grantees, experts, consultants, and
others performing or working on a
contract, service, grant, cooperative
agreement, or other assignment for
USDA, when necessary to accomplish
an agency function related to this
system of records. Individuals providing
information under this routine use are
subject to the same Privacy Act
requirements and limitations on
disclosure as are applicable to USDA
officers and employees; and
(15) To the National Archives and
Records Administration (NARA) or
other Federal Government agencies
pursuant to records management
activities being conducted under 44
U.S.C. 2904 and 2906.
DISCLOSURE TO CONSUMER REPORTING
AGENCIES:
None.
POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR STORAGE OF
RECORDS:
Server hard drives are backed up
nightly. The Digital Infrastructure
Services Center retains incremental and
full system tape backups for 1 month.
Backup media is regularly sent to an
offsite backup storage facility for
contingency purposes. The hard copy
components of the system, including
any paper records, and computer files,
tapes, and disks are kept in a
safeguarded environment with access
only by authorized personnel.
POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR RETRIEVAL OF
RECORDS:
Records can be retrieved by any
recorded data field. However, records
are mainly retrieved by the first and last
name, address, or phone number of the
listed contact person for, or the owner
or manager of, the premises or animals
subject to animal disease control or
surveillance programs, animal, flock,
herd, sample, or premises numbers.
POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR RETENTION AND
DISPOSAL OF RECORDS:
Records will be retained permanently
pending approval of a records retention
schedule by the National Archives and
Records Administration.
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ADMINISTRATIVE, TECHNICAL, AND PHYSICAL
SAFEGUARDS:
The system is physically secured in a
locked facility accessible only to
authorized USDA personnel. Badges are
required. Visitors must be accompanied
by authorized staff at all times. Data is
stored and backed up using protocols
established by Digital Infrastructure
Service Center (DISC). Access to the
records in this system is limited to those
individuals who need to know the
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information to perform their official
duties and who have appropriate
clearances or permissions. Users must
have USDA eAuthentication credentials
and sign in using authorized logins and
passwords. Annually, all users must
undergo information security training
and sign rules of behavior. The
Information Technology staff must
additionally complete specialized rolebased training and sign rules of behavior
to ensure privacy integrity. Failure to
comply with rules of behavior can result
in corrective actions, including written
reprimands, temporary suspension from
duty, reassignment, demotion, or
termination, suspension of system
privileges, and possible criminal
prosecution. The system administrators
maintain and monitor audit trails.
The hard copy components of the
system, and computer files, tapes, and
disks are kept in a safeguarded
environment with access only by
authorized personnel.
RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURES:
All requests for access to records must
be in writing and should be submitted
to the APHIS Privacy Act Officer, 4700
River Road Unit 50, Riverdale, MD
20737; or by facsimile (301) 734–5941;
or by email APHISPrivacy@usda.gov. In
accordance with 7 CFR 1.112
(Procedures for requests pertaining to
individual records in a record system),
the request must include the full name
of the individual making the request;
the name of the system of records; and
preference of inspection, in person or by
mail. In accordance with 7 CFR 1.113,
prior to inspection of the records, the
requester shall present sufficient
identification (e.g., driver’s license,
employee identification card, credit
cards) to establish that the requester is
the individual to whom the records
pertain. In addition, if an individual
submitting a request for access wishes to
be supplied with copies of the records
by mail, the requester must include with
his or her request sufficient data for the
agency to verify the requester’s identity.
Individuals seeking to contest or
amend records maintained in this
system of records must direct their
request to the address indicated in the
‘‘RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURES’’
paragraph, above and must follow the
procedures set forth in 7 CFR 1.116
(Request for correction or amendment to
record). All requests must state clearly
and concisely what record is being
contested, the reasons for contesting it,
and the proposed amendment to the
record.
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NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES:
Individuals may be notified if a record
in this system of records pertains to
them when the individuals request
information utilizing the same
procedures as those identified in the
‘‘RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURES’’
paragraph above.
EXEMPTIONS CLAIMED FOR THE SYSTEM:
None.
HISTORY:
On November 28, 2011 (76 FR 72897,
APHIS–2010–0007), USDA/APHIS–15,
‘‘APHIS Animal Health Surveillance
and Monitoring System,’’ was published
as a new system of records and effective
on January 9, 2012.
A report on the modified system of
records, required by 5 U.S.C. 552a(r), as
implemented by Office of Management
and Budget Circular A–108, was sent to
the Chairman and Ranking Members of
the Senate Committee on Homeland
Security and Governmental Affairs, the
Chairwoman and Ranking Members of
the House Committee on Oversight and
Government Reform, and the
Administrator, Office of Information
and Regulatory Affairs, Office of
Management and Budget.
Done in Washington, DC, this 27th day of
March 2024.
Michael Watson,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2024–06941 Filed 4–2–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Business-Cooperative Service
[Docket #: RBS–24–CO–OP–0002]
Notice of Funding Opportunity for the
Socially Disadvantaged Groups Grant
for Fiscal Year 2024
Rural Business-Cooperative
Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
This notice announces that
the Rural Business-Cooperative Service
(RBCS or the Agency), a Rural
Development (RD) agency of the United
States Department of Agriculture
(USDA), invites applications for grants
under the Socially Disadvantaged
Groups Grant (SDGG) program for Fiscal
Year (FY) 2024. This notice is being
issued to allow applicants sufficient
time to leverage financing, prepare and
submit their applications, and give the
Agency time to process applications
within FY 2024. A total of $3,000,000 in
grant funding will be available for FY
SUMMARY:
CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURES:
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 65 / Wednesday, April 3, 2024 / Notices
2024. Successful applications will be
selected by the Agency for funding and
subsequently awarded to the extent that
funding may ultimately be made
available through appropriations. All
applicants are responsible for any
expenses incurred in developing and
submitting their applications.
DATES: Complete applications for grants
must be submitted electronically by
11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on June 3,
2024, through www.grants.gov to be
eligible for grant funding. Applications
received after the deadline are not
eligible for funding under this notice
and will not be evaluated. Applicants
are advised to not wait until the
application deadline date to begin the
application process through Grants.gov.
ADDRESSES: Applicants are encouraged
to contact the USDA RD State Office
prior to May 3, 2024 to discuss the
project and ask any questions about the
application process. Contact
information for USDA RD State Offices
can be found at www.rd.usda.gov/
contact-us/state-offices.
Program guidance as well as
application templates may be obtained
at www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/
socially-disadvantaged-groups-grant or
by contacting the USDA RD State Office.
To submit an electronic application,
follow the instructions for the SDGG
funding announcement located at
www.grants.gov. Applicants are strongly
encouraged to file applications early to
allow sufficient time to manage any
technical issues.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Arti
Kshirsagar at arti.kshirsagar@usda.gov,
Program Management Division, RBCS,
USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW,
Mail Stop 3226, Washington, DC 20250–
3226 or call (202) 720–1400.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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Overview
Federal Awarding Agency Name:
Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
Funding Opportunity Title: Socially
Disadvantaged Groups Grant.
Announcement Type: Notice of
Funding Opportunity.
Funding Opportunity Number: RBCS–
SDGG–22024.
Assistance Listing Number: 10.871.
Dates: Complete applications for
grants must be submitted electronically
no later than 11:59 p.m. ET on June 3,
2024, through www.grants.gov to be
eligible for grant funding. Applications
received after the deadline are not
eligible for funding under this notice
and will not be evaluated.
Rural Development Key Priorities. The
Agency encourages applicants to
consider projects that will advance the
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following key priorities (more details
available at www.rd.usda.gov/prioritypoints):
• Addressing Climate Change and
Environmental Justice; Reducing
climate pollution and increasing
resilience to the impacts of climate
change through economic support to
rural communities.
• Advancing Racial Justice, PlaceBased Equity, and Opportunity;
Ensuring all rural residents have
equitable access to RD programs and
benefits from RD funded projects.
• Creating More and Better Market
Opportunities; Assisting rural
communities recover economically
through more and better market
opportunities and through improved
infrastructure.
A. Program Description
1. Purpose of the Program. The
primary objective of the SDGG program
is to provide technical assistance for
cooperative development to socially
disadvantaged groups through
cooperatives and cooperative
development centers. Grants must be
used to provide technical assistance to
socially disadvantaged groups in rural
areas. Eligible applicants are
cooperative development centers,
individual cooperatives, or groups of
cooperatives (i) that serve socially
disadvantaged groups and (ii) of which
a majority (i.e., greater than 50 percent
rounded to the nearest tenth) of the
board of directors or governing board is
comprised of individuals who are
members of socially disadvantaged
groups.
2. Statutory and Regulatory Authority.
The SDGG program is authorized by the
Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(e)(11)).
Section 736 of Division B of the
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024,
Public Law 118–42 (the ‘‘2024
Appropriations Act’’), designates
funding for projects in persistent
poverty counties. Persistent poverty
counties as defined in Section 736 is
‘‘any county that has had 20 percent or
more of its population living in poverty
over the past 30 years, as measured by
the 1990 and 2000 decennial censuses,
and 2007–2011 American Community
Survey 5-year average, or any territory
or possession of the United States’’.
Another provision in Section 736
expands the eligible population in
persistent poverty counties to include
any county seat of such a persistent
poverty county that has a population
that does not exceed the authorized
population limit by more than 10
percent. This provision expands the
current 50,000 population limit to
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55,000 for county seats located in
persistent poverty counties. Therefore,
applicants and/or beneficiaries of
technical assistance services located in
persistent poverty county seats with
populations up to 55,000 are eligible.
3. Definitions. The following are the
definitions for terms used in this notice.
Additional terms used in this notice are
found in the applicable laws and
regulations, in particular 2 CFR part 200
and 7 CFR part 11. The first letter of
each word in a defined term is
capitalized throughout this notice for
easy identification.
Agency. RBCS, an agency of the
USDA RD or a successor agency.
Board of Directors/Governing Board—
The group of individuals that govern,
manage or direct a cooperative
development center, cooperative, or
group of cooperatives.
Conflict of Interest. A Conflict of
Interest occurs in a situation in which
a person or entity has a competing, or
the appearance of a competing,
personal, professional, or financial
interests that makes it difficult for the
person or entity to act impartially. No
Conflict of Interest or appearance
thereof will be allowed.
For purposes of this program,
contractual relationship/payment from
grant funds among the following
individuals constitute a Conflict of
Interest or appearance of a Conflict of
Interest: (1) Applicant Board of
Directors, employees, consultants, and
contractors, (2) Subrecipients and their
employees, consultants, and contractors,
and (3) Immediate family members of
the above.
Federal procurement standards
prohibit transactions that involve a real
or apparent Conflict of Interest for
owners, employees, officers, agents, or
their immediate family members having
a financial or other interest in the
outcome of the project or that restrict
open and free competition for
unrestrained trade. Specifically, project
funds may not be used for services or
goods going to, or coming from, a person
or entity with a real or apparent Conflict
of Interest, including, but not limited to,
owner(s) and their Immediate family
members.
Conflicts of Interest must be handled
in accordance with 2 CFR parts 200 and
400. The following are examples of
Conflicts of Interest and are intended to
serve as a nonexclusive list of situations
where a real or apparent Conflict of
Interest is present: (1) Using grant funds
to pay a member on the applicant’s
Board of Directors to provide proposed
technical assistance to socially
disadvantaged groups, (2) Applicant
paying a member of a cooperative to
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provide proposed technical assistance to
other members of the same cooperative,
or (3) Paying an Immediate family
member of the applicant to provide
proposed technical assistance to socially
disadvantaged groups.
Cooperative. A business or
organization owned, democratically
governed, controlled and operated by
those who use and benefit from it.
Profits and losses generated by the
organization are distributed in
proportion to use as patronage to the
user-owners, also known as members.
Investment returns to non-members are
limited. Eligible Cooperatives for the
SDGG program are those where a
majority (i.e., greater than 50 percent
rounded to the nearest tenth) of the
Board of Directors or Governing Board
are comprised of individuals who are
members of socially disadvantaged
groups.
Cooperative Development. A type of
technical assistance that establishes and
promotes Cooperative businesses
through hands-on activities, often but
not exclusively, assisting a group
through a series of stages. These stages
include but are not limited to the
following: idea exploration by a group
with shared needs, member-use
analysis, identifying a steering
committee and guiding them through
the development process, modeling
effective democratic processes and good
governance practices, creation of legal
and policy documents, conducting a
membership drive, raising member
equity, acquiring sufficient capital,
supporting operations, ongoing
education and training, ongoing board
development and relations with
management, supporting decisionmaking regarding patronage, and
fostering an environment that is
supportive of Cooperatives.
Cooperative Development Center—A
nonprofit institution or institution of
higher education operated by the
grantee to start or continue Cooperative
Development. An eligible Cooperative
Development Center for the SDGG
program is one where a majority (i.e.,
greater than 50% rounded to the nearest
tenth) of the Board of Directors or
Governing Board is comprised of
individuals who are members of socially
disadvantaged groups. It may or may not
be an independent legal entity separate
from the grantee.
Feasibility Study. An analysis of the
economic, market, technical, financial,
and management feasibility of a
proposed project.
Group of Cooperatives. A Group of
Cooperatives whose primary focus is to
provide assistance to socially
disadvantaged groups; each Cooperative
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must meet the eligibility requirements
set forth in the definition of
‘‘Cooperative’’ herein. One of the
Cooperatives must be designated as the
lead entity and have legal authority to
contract with the federal government.
Immediate Family(ies). A group of
individuals who live in the same
household or who are closely related by
blood, marriage, or adoption, such as a
spouse, domestic partner, parent, child,
sibling, aunt, uncle, grandparent,
grandchild, niece, nephew, or first
cousin.
Key Personnel. Employees, new hires,
consultants, and/or contractors of the
Cooperative Development Center who
provide technical assistance including
Cooperative Development.
Nonprofit Institution. Any
organization or institution, including an
accredited institution of higher
education, no part of the net earnings of
which inures, or may lawfully inure, to
the benefit of any private shareholder or
individual.
Operating Cost. The day-to-day
expenses of running a business; for
example: utilities, rent on the office
space a business occupies, salaries,
depreciation, marketing and advertising,
and other basic overhead items.
Participant Support Costs. Direct
costs for items such as stipends or
subsistence allowances, travel
allowances, and registration fees paid to
or on behalf of participants or trainees
(but not employees) in connection with
conferences or training projects.
Persistent Poverty County(ies). Is any
county that has had 20 percent or more
of its population living in poverty over
the past 30 years, as measured by the
1990 and 2000 decennial censuses, and
2007–2011 American Community
Survey 5-year average, or any territory
or possession of the United States.
Project. Eligible activities to be
funded by the SDGG grant.
Rural and Rural Area. As described in
7 U.S.C. 1991(a)(13), any area not in a
city or town that has a population of
more than 50,000 inhabitants, according
to the latest decennial census of the
United States, or in any urbanized area
(note that the Agency has determined
that the reference to ‘‘urbanized area’’
should be read as a reference to ‘‘urban
area’’ because the Census Bureau no
longer identifies urbanized areas
individually and instead refers to
qualifying areas as ‘‘urban areas’’) that is
contiguous and adjacent to a city or
town that has a population of more than
50,000 inhabitants, and any area that
has been determined to be ‘‘rural in
character’’ by the Under Secretary for
RD, or as otherwise identified in this
definition as follows:
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(1) An area that is attached to the
urbanized area of a city or town with
more than 50,000 inhabitants by a
contiguous area of urbanized census
blocks that is not more than two (2)
census blocks wide. Applicants from
such an area should work with their RD
State Office to request a determination
of whether their Project is located in a
Rural Area under this provision.
(2) Any portion of a Census Bureaudefined ‘‘Urban Area’’ that is not
geographically contiguous and that is
also neither adjacent nor contiguous to
a city or town that has a population of
more than 50,000.
(3) For the purposes of this definition,
cities and towns are incorporated
population centers with definite
boundaries, local self-government, and
legal powers set forth in a charter
granted by the State.
(4) For the purposes of this definition,
populations of individuals incarcerated
on a long-term or regional basis shall
not be included in determining whether
an area is ‘‘rural’’ or a ‘‘rural area’’.
(5) For the purposes of this definition,
the first 1,500 individuals who reside in
housing located on a military base shall
not be included in determining whether
an area is ‘‘rural’’ or a ‘‘rural area’’.
(6) For the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico, the island is considered Rural and
eligible for Business Programs
assistance, except for the San Juan
Census Designated Place (CDP) and any
other CDP with greater than 50,000
inhabitants. CDPs with greater than
50,000 inhabitants, other than the San
Juan CDP, may be determined to be
eligible if they are ‘‘not urban in
character.’’
(7) For the State of Hawaii, all areas
within the County of Honolulu are
considered Rural and eligible for
Business Programs assistance, except for
the Urban Honolulu CDP (‘‘the East
Honolulu CDP’’ OR ‘‘other areas deemed
to be urban in character’’).
(8) For the purpose of defining a Rural
Area in the Republic of Palau, the
Federated States of Micronesia, and the
Republic of the Marshall Islands, the
Agency shall determine what
constitutes Rural and Rural Area based
on available population data.
(9) The determination that an area is
‘‘rural in character’’ will be made by the
Under Secretary of RD. The process to
request a determination under this
provision is outlined in paragraph (6)(ii)
of this definition.
(i) The determination that an area is
‘‘rural in character’’ under this
definition will apply to areas that are
within:
(A) An urbanized area that has two
points on its boundary that are at least
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40 miles apart, which is not contiguous
or adjacent to a city or town that has a
population of greater than 150,000
inhabitants or the urbanized area of
such a city or town; or
(B) An urbanized area contiguous and
adjacent to a city or town of greater than
50,000 inhabitants that is within onequarter mile of a Rural Area.
(ii) Units of local government may
petition the Under Secretary of RD for
a ‘‘rural in character’’ designation by
submitting a petition to both the
appropriate RD State Director and the
Administrator on behalf of the Under
Secretary. The petition shall document
how the area meets the requirements of
paragraph (6)(i)(A) or (B) above and
discuss why the petitioner believes the
area is ‘‘rural in character,’’ including,
but not limited to, the area’s population
density, demographics, and topography
and how the local economy is tied to a
Rural economic base. Upon receiving a
petition, the Under Secretary will
consult with the applicable Governor or
leader in a similar position and request
comments to be submitted within 5
business days, unless such comments
were submitted with the petition. The
Under Secretary will release to the
public a notice of a petition filed by a
unit of local government not later than
30 days after receipt of the petition by
way of publication in a local newspaper
and posting on the Agency’s website,
and the Under Secretary will make a
determination not less than 15 days, but
no more than 60 days, after the release
of the notice. Upon a negative
determination, the Under Secretary will
provide to the petitioner an opportunity
to appeal a determination to the Under
Secretary, and the petitioner will have
10 business days to appeal the
determination and provide further
information for consideration Rural
Development (RD). A mission area
within USDA consisting of the Office of
Under Secretary for RD, RBCS, Rural
Housing Service, and Rural Utilities
Service, and any successors.
Socially Disadvantaged Group. A
group whose members have been
subjected to racial, ethnic, or gender
prejudice because of their identity as
members of a group without regard to
their individual qualities.
State. Includes each of the 50 States,
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the
Virgin Islands of the United States,
Guam, American Samoa, and the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands. References in this program to
State, State government, or State agency
are meant to include the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the
Virgin Islands of the United States,
Guam, American Samoa, the
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Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands, and, as may be determined by
the Secretary to be feasible, appropriate,
and lawful, the Freely Associated States
and the Federated States of Micronesia.
Technical Assistance. The process of
providing targeted support for the
startup, expansion and operational
improvement of cooperatively and
mutually owned businesses typically
delivered via multiple contacts over a
period of time. It includes the transfer
of skills and knowledge through
research and collection of information
to provide guidance and advice;
assessment and analysis through
feasibility studies and business plans,
customized training, written
information, in person or virtual
exchanges, web-based curriculums, and
webinars.
4. Application of Awards. The Agency
will review, evaluate, and score
applications received in response to this
notice based on Section E of this notice.
Awards under the SDGG program will
be made on a competitive basis using
specific selection criteria contained in
Section E.1 of this notice. The Agency
advises all interested parties that the
applicant bears the full burden in
preparing and applying in response to
this notice.
B. Federal Award Information
Type of Award: Grants.
Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2024.
Available Funds: $3,000,000 will be
available for FY 2024. The Agency may,
at its discretion, increase the total level
of funding available in this funding
round (or in any category in this
funding round) from any available
source provided the awards meet the
requirements of the statute which made
the funding available to the Agency.
Award Amount: Maximum is
$175,000.
Anticipated Award Date: September
30, 2024.
Performance Period: One (1) year. See
Section C.3(c) of this notice for
additional guidance on the grant period.
Renewal or Supplemental Awards:
None.
Type of Assistance Instrument:
Financial Assistance Agreement.
C. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants. Grants may be
made to individual Cooperatives,
Groups of Cooperatives, or Cooperative
Development Centers that serve Socially
Disadvantaged Groups and of which a
majority (i.e., greater than 50 percent
rounded to the nearest tenth) of the
Board of Directors or Governing Board
of the applicant is comprised of
individuals who are members of
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Socially Disadvantaged Groups. An
advisory board for the proposed Project
does not meet this requirement.
Federally recognized Tribes have a
government-to-government relationship
with the United States. Therefore,
Tribes may consider using a separate
entity, such as a tribally-owned
business, tribal authority, tribal nonprofit, tribal college, or university to
apply for SDGG funding that would
provide Technical Assistance to
members of the Tribe.
Applications submitted must include
the following for eligibility
determination:
(a) Applicants must verify their legal
structure in the State or the Tribe under
which the applicants are legally
organized or incorporated.
(b) Applicants must demonstrate that
all defined requirements for one of the
three eligible applicant types have been
met (see Section D.2. of this notice). The
three eligible applicant types are:
individual Cooperatives, Groups of
Cooperatives, or Cooperative
Development Centers.
An applicant is ineligible if:
(a) It is a public body or individual.
(b) It has been debarred or suspended
or otherwise excluded from or ineligible
for participation in Federal assistance
programs under Executive Order (E.O.)
12549. The Agency will check the Do
Not Pay (DNP) system to determine if
the applicant has been debarred or
suspended at the time of application
and prior to funding any grant award.
(c) It has an outstanding judgment
obtained by the U.S. in a Federal Court
(other than U.S. Tax Court), is
delinquent on the payment of Federal
income taxes, or is delinquent on
Federal debt. The applicant must
certify, as part of the application, that
there are no outstanding judgments
against them. The applicant is
responsible for resolving any issues that
are reported in the DNP System and if
issues are not resolved by the deadline
found in this notice, the Agency may
proceed to award funds to other eligible
applicants.
(d) Any corporation or Cooperative (i)
that has been convicted of a felony
criminal violation under any Federal
law within the past 24 months or (ii)
that has any unpaid Federal tax liability
that has been assessed, for which all
judicial and administrative remedies
have been exhausted or have lapsed,
and that is not being paid in a timely
manner pursuant to an agreement with
the authority responsible for collecting
the tax liability, is not eligible for
financial assistance provided with funds
appropriated by the 2024
Appropriations Act, unless a Federal
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agency has considered suspension or
debarment of the corporation and has
made a determination that this further
action is not necessary to protect the
interests of the Government.
Certification of compliance with this
provision is now completed during
registration or annual recertification in
the System for Award Management
(SAM) at SAM.gov via the Financial
Assistance General Certifications and
Representations.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching. There is
no cost sharing or matching requirement
associated with this grant.
3. Other Eligibility Requirements.
(a) Use of funds. Applications must
propose Technical Assistance that will
benefit Socially Disadvantaged Groups.
Any recipient of Technical Assistance
must have a membership that consists of
a majority of members from Socially
Disadvantaged Groups. Please review
Section D.6 of this notice carefully.
(b) Project eligibility. Proposed
Projects must only serve members of
Socially Disadvantaged Groups located
in Rural Areas.
(c) Grant period eligibility.
Applications must include a grant
period of one-year or less or it will not
be considered for funding. The
proposed time frame should begin no
earlier than October 1, 2024, and end no
later than December 31, 2025.
Applications that request funds for a
time period ending after December 31,
2025, will not be considered for
funding. Projects must be completed by
December 31, 2025, or within 12 months
of award funding, whichever is earlier.
The Agency may approve requests to
extend the grant period for up to an
additional 12 months at its discretion.
However, applicants may not have more
than one SDGG award during the same
grant period. If you extend the period of
performance for your current award,
you may be deemed ineligible to receive
an SDGG in the next grant cycle. Further
guidance on grant period extensions
will be provided in the award
document.
(d) Satisfactory performance
eligibility. If applicants have an existing
SDGG award, current performance must
be satisfactory to be considered eligible
for a new SDGG award. Satisfactory
performance includes being up to date
on all financial and performance reports
as prescribed in the grant award and
being current on tasks and timeframes
for utilizing grant funds as approved in
the work plan and budget. If applicants
have any unspent grant funds on SDGG
awards from Projects prior to September
30, 2022, the application will not be
considered for funding. If an applicant’s
FY 2023 award has unspent funds of 50
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percent or more than what the approved
work plan and budget projected at the
time of evaluation of the FY 2023
application, the FY 2024 application
may not be considered for funding. The
Agency will verify the performance
status of any FY 2023 awards and make
a determination after the FY 2024
application period closes.
(e) Completeness eligibility.
Applications must provide all the
information requested in Section D.2 of
this notice. Applications lacking
sufficient information to determine
eligibility and scoring criteria will be
considered ineligible.
(f) Duplication of current services.
Applications must demonstrate that
services are being provided to new
customers or new services to current
customers. If the work plan and budget
are duplicative of an existing award, the
application will not be considered for
funding. If the work plan and budget are
duplicative of a previous or existing
Rural Cooperative Development Grant
(RCDG) and/or SDGG award, the
application will not be considered for
funding.
(g) Multiple grant eligibility.
Applicants may submit only one SDGG
grant application each funding cycle. If
two (2) applications are submitted
(regardless of the applicant’s name) that
include the same Executive Director
and/or advisory boards or committees of
an existing Cooperative or Cooperative
Development Center, both applications
will be determined ineligible for
funding.
D. Application and Submission
Information
1. Application Template. An
application template to assist applicants
in applying for this funding opportunity
is located at www.rd.usda.gov/
programs-services/sociallydisadvantaged-groups-grant. Use of the
application template is strongly
recommended to assist with the
application process. Application
information is also available at
www.grants.gov. Applicants may also
contact the USDA RD State Office for
more information at www.rd.usda.gov/
contact-us/state-offices.
2. Content and Form of Application
Submission. An application must
contain all the required forms and
proposal elements outlined below.
(a) Form SF–424, Application for
Federal Assistance. This form should
include the applicant’s Unique Entity
Identifier (UEI) number. The UEI is
assigned automatically to all active
SAM.gov registered entities. If an
applicant does not include the UEI
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number in its application, it will not be
considered for funding.
(b) Form SF–424A, Budget
Information-Non-Construction
Programs. This form must be completed
and submitted as part of the application
package. Applicants are no longer
required to complete the Form SF 424B,
Assurances—Non-Construction
Programs as a part of the application.
This information is now collected
through the applicant registration or
annual recertification in SAM.gov
through the Financial Assistance
General Certifications and
Representations.
(c) Federal Debt and Judgement
Certification. Applicants must certify
that there are no current outstanding
Federal judgments against the
applicant’s property and that no grant
funds will be used to pay for any
judgment obtained by the United States.
Applicants must also certify that they
are not delinquent on the payment of
Federal income taxes, or any Federal
debt. There is no standard form to
complete, but to satisfy the certification
requirement, applicants should include
this statement in the application:
‘‘[INSERT NAME OF APPLICANT]
certifies that the United States has not
obtained an unsatisfied judgment
against its property, is not delinquent on
the payment of Federal income taxes, or
any Federal debt, and will not use grant
funds to pay any judgments obtained by
the United States.’’ A separate signature
is not required.
(d) Table of Contents (TOC).
Applications must contain a detailed
TOC that includes page numbers for
each part of the application. Page
numbers should begin immediately
following the TOC.
(e) Executive Summary. A summary of
the proposal, not to exceed one (1) page,
must briefly describe the Project, tasks
to be completed, and other relevant
information that provides a general
overview of the Project.
(f) Eligibility Discussion. A detailed
discussion, not to exceed four (4) pages,
must describe how the applicant will
meet the following requirements:
(1) Applicant Eligibility. Applicants
must describe how they meet the
definition of a Cooperative, Group of
Cooperatives, or Cooperative
Development Center. Applications must
also show that the individual
Cooperative, Group of Cooperatives or
Cooperative Development Center has a
majority of its Board of Directors or
Governing Board comprised of
individuals who are members of
Socially Disadvantaged Groups, and that
the applicant serves Socially
Disadvantaged Groups. The application
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must include a list identifying the entire
Board of Directors/Governing Board by
name and indicating how each member
meets the definition of Socially
Disadvantaged Groups.
An application will not be considered
for funding if it fails to show that a
majority of the Board of Directors/
Governing Board (i.e., greater than 50
percent rounded to the nearest tenth) is
comprised of individuals who are
members of Socially Disadvantaged
Groups.
Applicants must verify their
incorporation and status in the State in
which they have applied by providing
the State or Tribe’s Certificate of Good
Standing and Articles of Incorporation.
Bylaws may also be submitted if they
provide additional information not
included in the Articles of Incorporation
that will help verify the applicant’s legal
status. If applying as an institution of
higher education, documentation
verifying legal status is not required;
however, the applicant must
demonstrate that it qualifies as an
institution of higher education as
defined at 20 U.S.C. 1001. Each
applicant can only apply as one (1) type
of applicant. The requested verification
documents should be included in
Appendix A of the application. If the
documents are not included, the
application will not be considered for
funding.
(2) Use of Funds. Applications must
include a brief discussion on how the
proposed Project activities meet the
definition of Technical Assistance and
identify the Socially Disadvantaged
Groups that will be assisted.
(3) Project Area. Applications must
provide specific information that details
the location of the Project area and
explain how the area meets the
definition of Rural Area as defined in
Section A.3 of this notice.
(4) Grant Period. Applications must
include a time frame for the proposed
Project and discuss how the Project will
be completed within that time frame.
See Section C.3(c) of this notice for
more information.
(5) Indirect Costs. Applicants should
indicate in the application if there is a
negotiated indirect cost rate agreement
(NICRA), and if so, the rate. The
negotiated indirect cost rate approval
does not need to be included in the
application, but it will be required to be
provided if a grant is awarded. Approval
for indirect costs that are requested in
an application without an approved
indirect cost rate agreement is at the
discretion of the Agency.
(g) Scoring Criteria. Each of the
scoring criteria in Section E.1 of this
notice must be addressed in narrative
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form, with a maximum of three (3) pages
for each individual scoring criterion,
unless otherwise specified. Failure to
address each scoring criterion will
result in the application being
determined ineligible.
(h) Annual Performance Evaluation
Measures. The Agency has established
annual performance evaluation
measures to evaluate the SDGG program
and how the applicant met the
measures. The applicant must provide
estimates on the following performance
evaluation measures as part of the
narrative:
(1) Number of Cooperatives assisted;
and
(2) Number of Socially Disadvantaged
Groups assisted.
And, if applicable:
(3) Number of jobs created/saved.
(4) Number of jobs created/saved in
persistent poverty area and or
underserved and economically
distressed areas.
(5) Number of business plans
developed.
(6) Number of Cooperatives
incorporated.
(7) Number of Feasibility Studies
completed.
(8) Number of workshops/seminars
conducted.
(9) Number of conferences held.
(10) For consumer coops (grocery,
retail), number of people with access to
goods or services.
3. System for Award Management and
Unique Entity Identifier.
(a) At the time of application,
applicants must have an active
registration in the SAM before applying
in accordance with 2 CFR part 25. To
register in SAM, entities will be
required to obtain a UEI. Instructions for
obtaining the UEI are available at
sam.gov/content/entity-registration.
(b) Applicants must maintain an
active SAM registration, with current,
accurate and complete information, at
all times during which it has an active
Federal award or an application under
consideration by a Federal awarding
agency.
(c) Applicants must complete the
Financial Assistance General
Certifications and Representations in
SAM.
(d) Applicants must provide a valid
UEI in its application, unless
determined exempt under 2 CFR 25.110.
(e) The Agency will not make an
award until the applicant has complied
with all SAM requirements including
providing the UEI. If an applicant has
not fully complied with the
requirements by the time the Agency is
ready to make an award, the Agency
may determine that the applicant is not
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qualified to receive a Federal award and
use that determination as a basis for
making a Federal award to another
applicant.
4. Submission Dates and Times.
(a) Application Technical Assistance
Deadline Date. Prior to official
submission of applications, applicants
may request technical assistance or
other application guidance from their
State Office, if such requests are made
prior to May 3, 2024. Agency contact
information can be found in the
ADDRESSES section of this notice.
(b) Application Deadline Date.
Complete applications for grants must
be submitted electronically no later than
11:59 p.m. ET on June 3, 2024, through
www.grants.gov to be eligible for grant
funding. Please review the Grants.gov
website at www.grants.gov/applicants/
applicant-registration for instructions
on the process of registering your
organization as soon as possible to
ensure that you are able to meet the
electronic application deadline. No
secured/password protected documents
are to be uploaded to grants.gov.
Applications received after the
deadline are not eligible for funding
under this notice and will not be
evaluated. The Agency will not solicit
or consider new scoring or eligibility
information that is submitted after the
application deadline. The Agency also
reserves the right to ask applicants for
clarifying information and additional
verification of assertions in the
application.
5. Intergovernmental Review.
Executive Order (E.O.) 12372 applies to
this program. This E.O. requires that
Federal agencies provide opportunities
for consultation on proposed assistance
with State and local governments. Many
States have established a Single Point of
Contact (SPOC), please see the White
House Website: www.whitehouse.gov/
omb/management/office-federalfinancial-management/. If your State
has a SPOC, you may submit a copy of
the application directly for review. Any
comments obtained through the SPOC
must be provided to the USDA RD State
Office for consideration as part of your
application. If your State has not
established a SPOC, you may submit
your application directly to the Agency.
Applications from Federally recognized
Indian Tribes are not subject to this
requirement.
6. Funding Restrictions. Grant funds
must be used for Technical Assistance
as defined.
(a) No funds made available under
this notice shall be used to:
(1) Plan, repair, rehabilitate, acquire,
or construct a building or facility,
including a processing facility;
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(2) Purchase, rent, or install fixed
equipment, including processing
equipment;
(3) Purchase vehicles, including boats;
(4) Pay for the preparation of the grant
application;
(5) Pay expenses not directly related
to the funded Project;
(6) Fund political or lobbying
activities;
(7) Fund any activities considered
unallowable by the applicable grant cost
principles, including 2 CFR part 200,
subpart E and the Federal Acquisition
Regulation as stated in 48 CFR Chapter
1, subchapter E, part 31;
(8) Fund architectural or engineering
design work for a specific physical
facility;
(9) Fund any expenses dealing with
production such as produce any
commodity or product to which value
will be added, including seed, rootstock,
labor for harvesting the crop, and
delivery of the commodity to a
processing facility. Examples also
include, but are not limited to, testing
commodities, building fencing for
livestock, soil amendments, soil
enrichments, soil treatments, tools,
equipment, soil testing supplies,
laboratory fees, hoop houses, software,
subscriptions, and advertising or
publicity expenses for the assisted
Cooperative.
(10) Fund research and development;
(11) Purchase land;
(12) Duplicate current activities or
activities paid for by other Federal grant
programs;
(13) Pay costs of the Project incurred
prior to the date of grant approval;
(14) Pay for assistance to any private
business enterprise that does not have at
least fifty-one (51) percent ownership by
those who are either citizens of the
United States or reside in the United
States after being legally admitted for
permanent residence;
(15) Pay any judgment or debt owed
to the United States;
(16) Pay any Operating Costs of the
Cooperative, Group of Cooperatives, or
Cooperative Development Center not
directly related to the Project;
(17) Pay expenses for applicant
employee training or professional
development not directly related to the
Project;
(18) Pay for any goods or services
from a person or entity who has a
Conflict of Interest with the grantee;
(19) Pay for Technical Assistance
provided to a Cooperative that does not
have a membership that consists of a
majority of members from Socially
Disadvantaged Groups; or
(20) Fund expenses or activities
relating to production, manufacturing-
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based costs, cybersecurity equipment,
supply chain tracing equipment, and
automation costs.
(b) Applications will not be
considered for funding if it does any of
the following:
(1) Requests more than the maximum
grant amount;
(2) Proposes ineligible costs that equal
more than ten (10) percent of total grant
funds requested; or
(3) Proposes Participant Support Costs
that equal more than ten (10) percent of
total grant funds requested.
(c) The Agency will consider an
application for funding if it includes
ineligible costs of ten (10) percent or
less of total grant funds requested if it
is determined eligible otherwise.
However, if the application is
successful, those ineligible costs must
be removed and replaced with eligible
costs before the Agency will make the
grant award or the amount of the grant
award will be reduced accordingly. If
the Agency cannot determine the
percentage of ineligible costs, the
application will not be considered for
funding.
(d) No assistance or funding from this
grant can be provided to a hemp
producer without a valid license issued
from an approved State, Tribal or
Federal plan in accordance with
Subtitle G of the Agricultural Marketing
Act of 1946, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1639o
et seq.). Verification of valid hemp
licenses will occur at the time of award.
The purpose of this program is to
provide Technical Assistance, so
funding to produce hemp or marketing
hemp production is not eligible.
7. Other Submission Requirements.
Applications will not be accepted if the
text is less than an 11-point font.
Applications will not be accepted
through mail or courier delivery, inperson delivery, email, or fax.
Applications must be submitted
electronically through www.grants.gov.
A password is not required to access the
website. Applicants can locate the
Grants.gov downloadable application
package for this program by using a
keyword, the program name, Assistance
Listing number, or the Funding
Opportunity Number for this program.
The Grants.gov website provides
information about applying
electronically through the site, as well
as the hours of operation. Users of
Grants.gov must already have a UEI
number and must also be registered and
maintain registration in SAM as detailed
in Section D.3 of this notice. The UEI
number must be associated with the
correct tax identification number of the
SDGG applicant. It is strongly
recommended that applicants do not
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wait until the application deadline date
to begin the application process through
Grants.gov.
Applications must include electronic
signatures. Original signatures may be
required if funds are awarded. After
applying electronically through
Grants.gov, applicants will receive an
automated acknowledgement from
Grants.gov with a Grants.gov tracking
number.
E. Application Review Information
1. Selection Criteria. All eligible and
complete applications will be evaluated
and scored based on the following
selection criteria and weights.
Evaluators will base scores only on the
information provided or crossreferenced by page number in each
individual evaluation criterion. SDGG is
a competitive program, so applications
will receive scores based on the quality
of the responses. Simply addressing the
criteria will not guarantee higher scores.
The total points possible for the criteria
are 105.
(a) Technical Assistance (maximum
score of 25 points). Three-page limit. A
panel of USDA employees will evaluate
the applications to determine the ability
to assess the needs of and provide
effective Technical Assistance to
Socially Disadvantaged Groups.
Applicants must discuss the following:
(1) Needs of the Socially
Disadvantaged Groups to be assisted
and explain how those needs were
determined,
(2) Proposed Technical Assistance to
be provided to the Socially
Disadvantaged Groups; and
(3) Expected outcomes of the
proposed Technical Assistance,
including how Socially Disadvantaged
Groups will benefit from participating
in the Project. Applicants will score
higher on this criterion if examples of
the entity’s past Projects that
demonstrate successful outcomes in
identifying specific needs and providing
Technical Assistance to Socially
Disadvantaged Groups are provided.
(b) Work Plan/Budget (maximum of
25 points). Six-page limit. Work plans
must provide activities to be completed,
including specific and detailed
descriptions of all tasks. Work plans
must indicate all the Key Personnel,
who will accomplish the Project’s
activities that align with the goals of the
Project. The budget will be reviewed for
completeness. Applicants must list what
tasks are to be done, when the tasks will
be done, who will do the tasks, and a
detailed account of how much each task
will cost. Reviewers must be able to
understand what is being proposed and
how all the grant funds will be spent.
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The budget must provide a detailed
breakdown of estimated costs. These
costs should be allocated to each of the
tasks to be undertaken. (For example:
Joe Smith has committed 20 percent of
his work time. Joe’s salary is $60,000 ×
20% (0.20) = $12,000. This Project
requires travel within the United States.
The distance from Joe’s office to the
airport is 150 miles at $0.585/mile =
$175.50 Round trip. The overnight trip
includes lodging expense with tax at
$189/night for 3 overnights = $567.00.
Supplies include 2 boxes of paper at $50
each = $100 as an example.) A panel of
USDA employees will evaluate the work
plan for detailed actions and an
accompanying timetable for
implementing the proposal. Applicants
will receive a higher score to the extent
that they provide a clear, detailed,
logical, realistic, and efficient plan that
matches and reconciles with the Form
SF424A and that allocates costs to
specific tasks using applicable budget
object class categories (See SF 424–A,
Block 6 a–c, e–h, and j). At a minimum,
the following must be discussed:
(1) Specific tasks to be completed
using grant funds;
(2) How customers will be identified
and selected;
(3) Key Personnel and how their work
and experience is tied to the work plan
task (or if not yet hired, a description of
new employee qualifications must be
tied to the work plan task); and
(4) The evaluation methods to be used
by the applicant to determine the
success of specific tasks and overall
Project activities and objectives. Please
provide qualitative methods of
evaluation. For example, evaluation
methods should be measurable and go
beyond quantitative measurements of
completing surveys or number of
evaluations. Examples include
discussions of pre-test, post-test, and the
evaluation of how task results will be
measured.
(c) Experience (maximum score of 25
points). Three-page limit. A panel of
USDA employees will evaluate the
applicant’s experience, commitment,
and availability for identified staff or
consultants in providing Technical
Assistance, as defined in Section A.3 of
this notice. Applicants must describe
the Technical Assistance experience for
each identified staff member or
consultant, as well as years of
experience in providing that assistance.
Applicants must discuss the
commitment and the availability of
identified staff, consultants, or other
professionals to be hired for the Project,
especially those who may be consulting
on multiple SDGG/RCDG Projects. If
staff or consultants have not been
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selected at the time of application, the
applicants must provide specific
descriptions of the qualifications
required for the positions to be filled. In
addition, resumes for each individual
staff member or consultant must be
included as an attachment in Appendix
B of the application. The attachments
will not count toward the maximum
page total. The Agency will compare the
described experience in this section and
in the resumes to the work plan to
determine relevance of the experience.
Applications that do not include the
attached resumes will not be considered
for funding. Applications that
demonstrate strong credentials,
education, capabilities, experience, and
availability of Project personnel, that
will contribute to a high likelihood of
Project success will receive more points
than those that demonstrate less
potential for success in these areas. In
addition, for SDGG program Key
Personnel, resumes must list all
Cooperatives or Boards of Directors, in
which they are part of.
Points will be awarded as follows:
(1) 0 points will be awarded if you do
not substantively address the criterion.
(2) 1 to 9 points will be awarded if
qualifications and experience of some,
but not all, staff is addressed and, if
necessary, qualifications of unfilled
positions are not provided.
(3) 10 to 14 points will be awarded if
paragraph (2) of this section is met, plus
all Project personnel are identified but
do not demonstrate qualifications or
experience relevant to the Project.
(4) 15 to 19 will be awarded if
paragraphs (2) and (3) of this section are
met, plus most, but not all, Key
Personnel demonstrate strong
credentials and/or experience, and
availability indicating a reasonable
likelihood of success.
(5) 20 to 25 points will be awarded if
paragraphs (2) through (4) of this section
are met, plus all personnel demonstrate
strong, relevant credentials or
experience and availability indicating a
high likelihood of Project success.
(d) Commitment (maximum of 10
points). Three-page limit. A panel of
USDA employees will evaluate the
applicant’s commitment to providing
Technical Assistance to Socially
Disadvantaged Groups in Rural Areas.
Applicants must list the number and
location (full address if known and at a
minimum provide county(ies)) of
Socially Disadvantaged Groups that will
directly benefit from the assistance
provided. Applicants must define and
describe the underserved and
economically distressed areas within
the applicant’s service area and provide
current and relevant statistics that
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support the applicant’s description of
the service area. Projects located in
Persistent Poverty Counties as detailed
in Section A.2 of this notice, if
discussed, will score higher on this
criterion.
(e) Local support (maximum of 10
points). Three-page limit. A panel of
USDA employees will evaluate
applications for local support of the
Technical Assistance activities.
Discussion on local support should
include previous and/or expected local
support and plans for coordinating with
other developmental organizations in
the proposed service area or with Tribal,
State, and local government institutions.
Applications that demonstrate strong
support from potential beneficiaries and
other developmental organizations will
score higher. A maximum of 10 letters
of support may be included with the
application. Points will be awarded as
follows:
(1) 0 points are awarded if the
applicant does not adequately address
this criterion.
(2) A range of 1 to5 points are
awarded if the applicant demonstrates
support from potential beneficiaries and
other developmental organizations in
the discussion but does not provide
letters of support.
(3) Additional 1 point is awarded if 2
or 3 support letters are provided and
show support from potential
beneficiaries and/or support from local
organizations.
(4) Additional 2 points are awarded if
4 or 5 support letters are provided and
show support from potential
beneficiaries and/or support from local
organizations.
(5) Additional 3 points are awarded if
6 or 7 support letters are provided and
show support from potential
beneficiaries and/or support from local
organizations.
(6) Additional 4 points are awarded if
8 or 9 support letters are provided and
show support from potential
beneficiaries and/or support from local
organizations.
(7) Additional 5 points are awarded if
10 support letters are provided and
show support from potential
beneficiaries and/or support from local
organizations.
Support letters should be signed and
dated after the publication date of this
notice and should come from potential
beneficiaries and other local
organizations. Letters received from
Congressional members, or Technical
Assistance providers/contractors paid
with grant funding, will not be included
in the count of support letters received.
Additionally, letters having the
appearance of being identical in form
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and signed by multiple potential
beneficiaries and/or local organizations
will not be included in the count of
support letters received. Support letters
should be included as an attachment to
the application in Appendix C and will
not count against the maximum page
total. Additional letters from industry
groups, commodity groups,
Congressional members, and similar
organizations should be referenced but
not included in the application package.
When referencing these letters, provide
the name of the organization, the date of
the letter, the nature of the support, and
the name and title of the person signing
the letter.
(f) Administrator Discretionary Points
(maximum of 10 points). The
Administrator may choose to award
points to applications where:
(1) The applicant has never received
a SDGG award—5 points; and/or
(2) The applicant seeks to advance
one or more key priorities addressed in
the Supplementary Information,
Overview section of this notice—5
points. Applicants seeking these points
must discuss in the application (1 page
limit) if they are first time applicants
and are seeking to advance one or more
key priorities: (i) Assisting rural
communities recover economically
through more and better market
opportunities and through improved
infrastructure. Applicant would receive
priority points if the project is located
in or serving a rural community whose
economic well-being ranks in the most
distressed tier (distress score of 80 or
higher) of the Distressed Communities
Index using the Distressed Communities
Look-Up Map available at
www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points.
(ii) Ensuring all rural residents have
equitable access to RD programs and
benefits from RD funded projects. Using
the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI)
Look-Up Map (available at
www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points), an
applicant would receive priority points
if the project is:
• Located in or serving a community
with score 0.75 or above on the SVI;
• Is a Federally recognized Tribe,
including Tribal instrumentalities and
entities that are wholly owned by
Tribes; or
• Is a project where at least 50
percent of the project beneficiaries are
members of Federally Recognized Tribes
and non-Tribal applicants include a
Tribal Resolution of Consent from the
Tribe or Tribes that the applicant is
proposing to serve.
(iii) Reducing climate pollution and
increasing resilience to the impacts of
climate change through economic
support to rural communities. Using the
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Disadvantaged Community and Energy
Community Look-Up Map (available at
www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points),
applicants will receive priority in three
ways:
• If the project is located in or serves
a Disadvantaged Community as defined
by the Climate and Economic Justice
Screening Tool (CEJST), from the White
House Council on Environmental
Quality;
• If the project is located in or serves
an Energy Community as defined by the
Inflation Reduction Act (IRA); and
• If applicants can demonstrate
through a written narrative how the
proposed climate-impact projects will
improve the livelihoods of community
residents and meet pollution mitigation
or clean energy goals.
See the website, https://
www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points, for
options.
2. Review and Selection Process.
Applications will be reviewed in the
USDA RD State Offices to determine if
they are eligible for assistance based on
requirements in this notice, and other
applicable Federal regulations. If
determined eligible, applications will be
scored by a panel of USDA employees
in accordance with the point allocation
specified in this notice. The review
panel will convene to reach a consensus
on the scores for each of the eligible
applications. The Administrator may
choose to award up to 10 Administrator
priority points based on Section E.1(f) of
this notice. These points will be added
to the cumulative score for a total
possible score of 105. Applications will
be funded from highest ranking order
until the funding limitation has been
reached. Applications that cannot be
fully funded may be offered partial
funding at the Agency’s discretion. The
Agency reserves the right to offer the
applicant less than the grant funding
requested. Applications that are ranked
and not funded will not be carried
forward into the next competition.
F. Federal Award Administration
Information
1. Federal Award Notices. Applicants
selected for funding will receive a
signed notice of Federal award, by
postal or electronic mail, containing
instructions on requirements necessary
to proceed with execution and
performance of the award.
Applicants not selected for funding
will be notified in writing via postal or
electronic mail and informed of any
review and appeal rights. Funding of
successfully appealed applications will
be limited to available FY 2024 funding.
2. Administrative and National Policy
Requirements. Additional requirements
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22987
that apply to grantees selected for this
program can be found in 2 CFR parts
200, 400, 415, 417, 418, and 421. All
recipients of Federal financial assistance
are required to report information about
first tier subawards and executive
compensation in accordance with 2 CFR
part 170, Appendix A. Recipients will
be required to have the necessary
processes and systems in place to
comply with the Federal Funding
Accountability and Transparency Act
reporting requirements of 2 CFR
170.200(b), unless they are exempt
under 2 CFR 170.110(b).
The following additional
requirements apply to grantees selected
for this program:
(a) Execution of an Agency approved
Grant Agreement.
(b) Acceptance of a written Letter of
Conditions.
(c) Submission of Form RD 1940–1,
Request for Obligation of Funds.
(d) Submission of Form RD 1942–46,
Letter of Intent to Meet Conditions.
(e) Assurance Agreement. By signing
the Financial Assistance General
Certifications and Representations in
SAM, grant recipients affirm that they
will operate the program free from
discrimination. The grant recipients will
maintain the race and ethnic data on
their board members and the
beneficiaries of the program. The grant
recipient will provide alternative forms
of communication to persons with
limited English proficiency. The Agency
will conduct civil rights compliance
reviews on grant recipients to identify
the collection of racial and ethnic data
on program beneficiaries. In addition,
the compliance review will ensure that
equal access to the program benefits and
activities are provided for persons with
disabilities and language barriers.
3. Reporting. After grant approval and
through grant completion, applicants
will be required to provide the
following:
(a) An SF–425, Federal Financial
Report, and a project performance report
will be required on a semiannual basis
(due 30 calendar days after the end of
the semiannual period). The project
performance reports shall include a
comparison of actual accomplishments
to the objectives established for that
period;
(b) A statement providing reasons
why established objectives were not
met, if applicable;
(c) A statement providing reasons for
any problems, delays, or adverse
conditions, if any, which have affected
or will affect attainment of overall
Project objectives, prevent meeting time
schedules or objectives, or preclude the
attainment of objectives during
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 65 / Wednesday, April 3, 2024 / Notices
established time periods, and a
description of the action taken or
planned to resolve the situation;
(d) Objectives and timetable
established for the next reporting
period;
(e) A final Project and financial status
report within 90 days after the
expiration or termination of the grant in
accordance with 2 CFR 200.344; and
(f) Outcome Project performance
reports and final deliverables.
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
G. Agency Contacts
For general questions about this
notice and for program technical
assistance, please see the contact
information in the ADDRESSES and FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT sections
of this notice.
H. Other Information
1. Paperwork Reduction Act. In
accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–13),
the information collection requirements
associated with the program, as covered
in this notice, have been approved by
the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) under OMB Control Number
0570–0052.
2. National Environmental Policy Act.
All recipients under this notice are
subject to the requirements of 7 CFR
part 1970. However, awards for
Technical Assistance and training under
this notice are classified as a Categorical
Exclusion according to 7 CFR
1970.53(b), and usually do not require
any additional documentation. RBCS
will review each grant application to
determine its compliance with 7 CFR
part 1970. The applicant may be asked
to provide additional information or
documentation to assist RBCS with this
determination.
3. Federal Funding Accountability
and Transparency Act. All applicants,
in accordance with 2 CFR part 25, must
be registered in SAM and have a UEI
number as stated in Section D.3 of this
notice. All recipients of Federal
financial assistance are required to
report information about first-tier
subawards and executive total
compensation in accordance with 2 CFR
part 170.
4. Civil Rights Compliance
Requirements. All grants made under
this notice are subject to Title VI of the
Civil Rights Act of 1964 as required by
the USDA in accordance with 7 CFR
part 15, subpart A and Section 504 of
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VIII
of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, Title IX,
Executive Order 13166 (Limited English
Proficiency), Executive Order 11246,
and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act of
1974.
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5. Nondiscrimination Statement. In
accordance with Federal civil rights
laws and USDA civil rights regulations
and policies, the USDA, its Mission
Areas, agencies, staff offices, employees,
and institutions participating in or
administering USDA programs are
prohibited from discriminating based on
race, color, national origin, religion, sex,
gender identity (including gender
expression), sexual orientation,
disability, age, marital status, family/
parental status, income derived from a
public assistance program, political
beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior
civil rights activity, in any program or
activity conducted or funded by USDA
(not all bases apply to all programs).
Remedies and complaint filing
deadlines vary by program or incident.
Program information may be made
available in languages other than
English upon request. All requirements
found in 2 CFR 200.111 must be
adhered to. Persons with disabilities
who require alternative means of
communication to obtain program
information (e.g., Braille, large print,
audiotape, American Sign Language)
should contact the responsible Mission
Area, agency, or staff office; or the 711
Relay Service.
To file a program discrimination
complaint, a complainant should
complete a Form AD–3027, USDA
Program Discrimination Complaint
Form, which can be obtained online at
www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/
documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any
USDA office, by calling (866) 632–9992,
or by writing a letter addressed to
USDA. The letter must contain the
complainant’s name, address, telephone
number, and a written description of the
alleged discriminatory action in
sufficient detail to inform the Assistant
Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about
the nature and date of an alleged civil
rights violation. The completed AD–
3027 form or letter must be submitted to
USDA by:
(1) Mail: U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Washington,
DC 20250–9410; or
(2) Fax: (833) 256–1665 or (202) 690–
7442; or
(3) Email: program.intake@usda.gov.
USDA is an equal opportunity
provider, employer, and lender.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Business-Cooperative Service
[Docket #: RBS–23–BUSINESS–0024]
Notice for the Rural Innovation
Stronger Economy (RISE) Grant
Program for Fiscal Year 2024
Rural Business-Cooperative
Service, USDA.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
Notice.
The Rural BusinessCooperative Service (RBCS, Agency), a
Rural Development (RD) agency of the
United States Department of Agriculture
(USDA), published in the Federal
Register, a Notice of Solicitation of
Applications for the Rural Innovation
Stronger Economy (RISE) program for
fiscal year (FY) 2024 on January 2, 2024
that invited applications for funding
subject to the availability of funding.
However, the Agency did not receive
any funding for FY24, so it will not be
accepting applications this cycle.
SUMMARY:
Completed applications were to
be submitted electronically no later than
11:59 p.m. Eastern Time April 1, 2024
through grants.gov. Effective now, RBCS
is not accepting applications and any
applications submitted to date will not
be funded through the RISE program.
DATES:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Rachel Reister, Program Management
Division, RBCS, USDA, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Mail Stop3226, Washington, DC 20250–3226,
(202) 720–1400 or email: rachel.reister@
usda.gov.
The
Agency invited applications for the
RISE program for FY24 on January 2,
2024, 89 FR 43, in anticipation of
funding appropriations. However, the
program did not receive any funding for
FY24, so it will not be accepting
applications this cycle.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Kathryn E. Dirksen Londrigan,
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative
Service.
[FR Doc. 2024–06999 Filed 4–2–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–XY–P
Kathryn E. Dirksen Londrigan,
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative
Service, Rural Development.
[FR Doc. 2024–07005 Filed 4–2–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–XY–P
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 3, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22979-22988]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-07005]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Business-Cooperative Service
[Docket #: RBS-24-CO-OP-0002]
Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Socially Disadvantaged
Groups Grant for Fiscal Year 2024
AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice announces that the Rural Business-Cooperative
Service (RBCS or the Agency), a Rural Development (RD) agency of the
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), invites applications
for grants under the Socially Disadvantaged Groups Grant (SDGG) program
for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024. This notice is being issued to allow
applicants sufficient time to leverage financing, prepare and submit
their applications, and give the Agency time to process applications
within FY 2024. A total of $3,000,000 in grant funding will be
available for FY
[[Page 22980]]
2024. Successful applications will be selected by the Agency for
funding and subsequently awarded to the extent that funding may
ultimately be made available through appropriations. All applicants are
responsible for any expenses incurred in developing and submitting
their applications.
DATES: Complete applications for grants must be submitted
electronically by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on June 3, 2024, through
www.grants.gov to be eligible for grant funding. Applications received
after the deadline are not eligible for funding under this notice and
will not be evaluated. Applicants are advised to not wait until the
application deadline date to begin the application process through
Grants.gov.
ADDRESSES: Applicants are encouraged to contact the USDA RD State
Office prior to May 3, 2024 to discuss the project and ask any
questions about the application process. Contact information for USDA
RD State Offices can be found at www.rd.usda.gov/contact-us/state-offices.
Program guidance as well as application templates may be obtained
at www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/socially-disadvantaged-groups-grant or by contacting the USDA RD State Office. To submit an
electronic application, follow the instructions for the SDGG funding
announcement located at www.grants.gov. Applicants are strongly
encouraged to file applications early to allow sufficient time to
manage any technical issues.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Arti Kshirsagar at
[email protected], Program Management Division, RBCS, USDA, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Mail Stop 3226, Washington, DC 20250-3226 or
call (202) 720-1400.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Overview
Federal Awarding Agency Name: Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
Funding Opportunity Title: Socially Disadvantaged Groups Grant.
Announcement Type: Notice of Funding Opportunity.
Funding Opportunity Number: RBCS-SDGG-22024.
Assistance Listing Number: 10.871.
Dates: Complete applications for grants must be submitted
electronically no later than 11:59 p.m. ET on June 3, 2024, through
www.grants.gov to be eligible for grant funding. Applications received
after the deadline are not eligible for funding under this notice and
will not be evaluated.
Rural Development Key Priorities. The Agency encourages applicants
to consider projects that will advance the following key priorities
(more details available at www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points):
Addressing Climate Change and Environmental Justice;
Reducing climate pollution and increasing resilience to the impacts of
climate change through economic support to rural communities.
Advancing Racial Justice, Place-Based Equity, and
Opportunity; Ensuring all rural residents have equitable access to RD
programs and benefits from RD funded projects.
Creating More and Better Market Opportunities; Assisting
rural communities recover economically through more and better market
opportunities and through improved infrastructure.
A. Program Description
1. Purpose of the Program. The primary objective of the SDGG
program is to provide technical assistance for cooperative development
to socially disadvantaged groups through cooperatives and cooperative
development centers. Grants must be used to provide technical
assistance to socially disadvantaged groups in rural areas. Eligible
applicants are cooperative development centers, individual
cooperatives, or groups of cooperatives (i) that serve socially
disadvantaged groups and (ii) of which a majority (i.e., greater than
50 percent rounded to the nearest tenth) of the board of directors or
governing board is comprised of individuals who are members of socially
disadvantaged groups.
2. Statutory and Regulatory Authority. The SDGG program is
authorized by the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C.
1932(e)(11)).
Section 736 of Division B of the Consolidated Appropriations Act,
2024, Public Law 118-42 (the ``2024 Appropriations Act''), designates
funding for projects in persistent poverty counties. Persistent poverty
counties as defined in Section 736 is ``any county that has had 20
percent or more of its population living in poverty over the past 30
years, as measured by the 1990 and 2000 decennial censuses, and 2007-
2011 American Community Survey 5-year average, or any territory or
possession of the United States''. Another provision in Section 736
expands the eligible population in persistent poverty counties to
include any county seat of such a persistent poverty county that has a
population that does not exceed the authorized population limit by more
than 10 percent. This provision expands the current 50,000 population
limit to 55,000 for county seats located in persistent poverty
counties. Therefore, applicants and/or beneficiaries of technical
assistance services located in persistent poverty county seats with
populations up to 55,000 are eligible.
3. Definitions. The following are the definitions for terms used in
this notice. Additional terms used in this notice are found in the
applicable laws and regulations, in particular 2 CFR part 200 and 7 CFR
part 11. The first letter of each word in a defined term is capitalized
throughout this notice for easy identification.
Agency. RBCS, an agency of the USDA RD or a successor agency.
Board of Directors/Governing Board--The group of individuals that
govern, manage or direct a cooperative development center, cooperative,
or group of cooperatives.
Conflict of Interest. A Conflict of Interest occurs in a situation
in which a person or entity has a competing, or the appearance of a
competing, personal, professional, or financial interests that makes it
difficult for the person or entity to act impartially. No Conflict of
Interest or appearance thereof will be allowed.
For purposes of this program, contractual relationship/payment from
grant funds among the following individuals constitute a Conflict of
Interest or appearance of a Conflict of Interest: (1) Applicant Board
of Directors, employees, consultants, and contractors, (2)
Subrecipients and their employees, consultants, and contractors, and
(3) Immediate family members of the above.
Federal procurement standards prohibit transactions that involve a
real or apparent Conflict of Interest for owners, employees, officers,
agents, or their immediate family members having a financial or other
interest in the outcome of the project or that restrict open and free
competition for unrestrained trade. Specifically, project funds may not
be used for services or goods going to, or coming from, a person or
entity with a real or apparent Conflict of Interest, including, but not
limited to, owner(s) and their Immediate family members.
Conflicts of Interest must be handled in accordance with 2 CFR
parts 200 and 400. The following are examples of Conflicts of Interest
and are intended to serve as a nonexclusive list of situations where a
real or apparent Conflict of Interest is present: (1) Using grant funds
to pay a member on the applicant's Board of Directors to provide
proposed technical assistance to socially disadvantaged groups, (2)
Applicant paying a member of a cooperative to
[[Page 22981]]
provide proposed technical assistance to other members of the same
cooperative, or (3) Paying an Immediate family member of the applicant
to provide proposed technical assistance to socially disadvantaged
groups.
Cooperative. A business or organization owned, democratically
governed, controlled and operated by those who use and benefit from it.
Profits and losses generated by the organization are distributed in
proportion to use as patronage to the user-owners, also known as
members. Investment returns to non-members are limited. Eligible
Cooperatives for the SDGG program are those where a majority (i.e.,
greater than 50 percent rounded to the nearest tenth) of the Board of
Directors or Governing Board are comprised of individuals who are
members of socially disadvantaged groups.
Cooperative Development. A type of technical assistance that
establishes and promotes Cooperative businesses through hands-on
activities, often but not exclusively, assisting a group through a
series of stages. These stages include but are not limited to the
following: idea exploration by a group with shared needs, member-use
analysis, identifying a steering committee and guiding them through the
development process, modeling effective democratic processes and good
governance practices, creation of legal and policy documents,
conducting a membership drive, raising member equity, acquiring
sufficient capital, supporting operations, ongoing education and
training, ongoing board development and relations with management,
supporting decision-making regarding patronage, and fostering an
environment that is supportive of Cooperatives.
Cooperative Development Center--A nonprofit institution or
institution of higher education operated by the grantee to start or
continue Cooperative Development. An eligible Cooperative Development
Center for the SDGG program is one where a majority (i.e., greater than
50% rounded to the nearest tenth) of the Board of Directors or
Governing Board is comprised of individuals who are members of socially
disadvantaged groups. It may or may not be an independent legal entity
separate from the grantee.
Feasibility Study. An analysis of the economic, market, technical,
financial, and management feasibility of a proposed project.
Group of Cooperatives. A Group of Cooperatives whose primary focus
is to provide assistance to socially disadvantaged groups; each
Cooperative must meet the eligibility requirements set forth in the
definition of ``Cooperative'' herein. One of the Cooperatives must be
designated as the lead entity and have legal authority to contract with
the federal government.
Immediate Family(ies). A group of individuals who live in the same
household or who are closely related by blood, marriage, or adoption,
such as a spouse, domestic partner, parent, child, sibling, aunt,
uncle, grandparent, grandchild, niece, nephew, or first cousin.
Key Personnel. Employees, new hires, consultants, and/or
contractors of the Cooperative Development Center who provide technical
assistance including Cooperative Development.
Nonprofit Institution. Any organization or institution, including
an accredited institution of higher education, no part of the net
earnings of which inures, or may lawfully inure, to the benefit of any
private shareholder or individual.
Operating Cost. The day-to-day expenses of running a business; for
example: utilities, rent on the office space a business occupies,
salaries, depreciation, marketing and advertising, and other basic
overhead items.
Participant Support Costs. Direct costs for items such as stipends
or subsistence allowances, travel allowances, and registration fees
paid to or on behalf of participants or trainees (but not employees) in
connection with conferences or training projects.
Persistent Poverty County(ies). Is any county that has had 20
percent or more of its population living in poverty over the past 30
years, as measured by the 1990 and 2000 decennial censuses, and 2007-
2011 American Community Survey 5-year average, or any territory or
possession of the United States.
Project. Eligible activities to be funded by the SDGG grant.
Rural and Rural Area. As described in 7 U.S.C. 1991(a)(13), any
area not in a city or town that has a population of more than 50,000
inhabitants, according to the latest decennial census of the United
States, or in any urbanized area (note that the Agency has determined
that the reference to ``urbanized area'' should be read as a reference
to ``urban area'' because the Census Bureau no longer identifies
urbanized areas individually and instead refers to qualifying areas as
``urban areas'') that is contiguous and adjacent to a city or town that
has a population of more than 50,000 inhabitants, and any area that has
been determined to be ``rural in character'' by the Under Secretary for
RD, or as otherwise identified in this definition as follows:
(1) An area that is attached to the urbanized area of a city or
town with more than 50,000 inhabitants by a contiguous area of
urbanized census blocks that is not more than two (2) census blocks
wide. Applicants from such an area should work with their RD State
Office to request a determination of whether their Project is located
in a Rural Area under this provision.
(2) Any portion of a Census Bureau-defined ``Urban Area'' that is
not geographically contiguous and that is also neither adjacent nor
contiguous to a city or town that has a population of more than 50,000.
(3) For the purposes of this definition, cities and towns are
incorporated population centers with definite boundaries, local self-
government, and legal powers set forth in a charter granted by the
State.
(4) For the purposes of this definition, populations of individuals
incarcerated on a long-term or regional basis shall not be included in
determining whether an area is ``rural'' or a ``rural area''.
(5) For the purposes of this definition, the first 1,500
individuals who reside in housing located on a military base shall not
be included in determining whether an area is ``rural'' or a ``rural
area''.
(6) For the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the island is considered
Rural and eligible for Business Programs assistance, except for the San
Juan Census Designated Place (CDP) and any other CDP with greater than
50,000 inhabitants. CDPs with greater than 50,000 inhabitants, other
than the San Juan CDP, may be determined to be eligible if they are
``not urban in character.''
(7) For the State of Hawaii, all areas within the County of
Honolulu are considered Rural and eligible for Business Programs
assistance, except for the Urban Honolulu CDP (``the East Honolulu
CDP'' OR ``other areas deemed to be urban in character'').
(8) For the purpose of defining a Rural Area in the Republic of
Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the
Marshall Islands, the Agency shall determine what constitutes Rural and
Rural Area based on available population data.
(9) The determination that an area is ``rural in character'' will
be made by the Under Secretary of RD. The process to request a
determination under this provision is outlined in paragraph (6)(ii) of
this definition.
(i) The determination that an area is ``rural in character'' under
this definition will apply to areas that are within:
(A) An urbanized area that has two points on its boundary that are
at least
[[Page 22982]]
40 miles apart, which is not contiguous or adjacent to a city or town
that has a population of greater than 150,000 inhabitants or the
urbanized area of such a city or town; or
(B) An urbanized area contiguous and adjacent to a city or town of
greater than 50,000 inhabitants that is within one-quarter mile of a
Rural Area.
(ii) Units of local government may petition the Under Secretary of
RD for a ``rural in character'' designation by submitting a petition to
both the appropriate RD State Director and the Administrator on behalf
of the Under Secretary. The petition shall document how the area meets
the requirements of paragraph (6)(i)(A) or (B) above and discuss why
the petitioner believes the area is ``rural in character,'' including,
but not limited to, the area's population density, demographics, and
topography and how the local economy is tied to a Rural economic base.
Upon receiving a petition, the Under Secretary will consult with the
applicable Governor or leader in a similar position and request
comments to be submitted within 5 business days, unless such comments
were submitted with the petition. The Under Secretary will release to
the public a notice of a petition filed by a unit of local government
not later than 30 days after receipt of the petition by way of
publication in a local newspaper and posting on the Agency's website,
and the Under Secretary will make a determination not less than 15
days, but no more than 60 days, after the release of the notice. Upon a
negative determination, the Under Secretary will provide to the
petitioner an opportunity to appeal a determination to the Under
Secretary, and the petitioner will have 10 business days to appeal the
determination and provide further information for consideration Rural
Development (RD). A mission area within USDA consisting of the Office
of Under Secretary for RD, RBCS, Rural Housing Service, and Rural
Utilities Service, and any successors.
Socially Disadvantaged Group. A group whose members have been
subjected to racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice because of their
identity as members of a group without regard to their individual
qualities.
State. Includes each of the 50 States, the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico, the Virgin Islands of the United States, Guam, American Samoa,
and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. References in
this program to State, State government, or State agency are meant to
include the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands of the
United States, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands, and, as may be determined by the Secretary to be
feasible, appropriate, and lawful, the Freely Associated States and the
Federated States of Micronesia.
Technical Assistance. The process of providing targeted support for
the startup, expansion and operational improvement of cooperatively and
mutually owned businesses typically delivered via multiple contacts
over a period of time. It includes the transfer of skills and knowledge
through research and collection of information to provide guidance and
advice; assessment and analysis through feasibility studies and
business plans, customized training, written information, in person or
virtual exchanges, web-based curriculums, and webinars.
4. Application of Awards. The Agency will review, evaluate, and
score applications received in response to this notice based on Section
E of this notice. Awards under the SDGG program will be made on a
competitive basis using specific selection criteria contained in
Section E.1 of this notice. The Agency advises all interested parties
that the applicant bears the full burden in preparing and applying in
response to this notice.
B. Federal Award Information
Type of Award: Grants.
Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2024.
Available Funds: $3,000,000 will be available for FY 2024. The
Agency may, at its discretion, increase the total level of funding
available in this funding round (or in any category in this funding
round) from any available source provided the awards meet the
requirements of the statute which made the funding available to the
Agency.
Award Amount: Maximum is $175,000.
Anticipated Award Date: September 30, 2024.
Performance Period: One (1) year. See Section C.3(c) of this notice
for additional guidance on the grant period.
Renewal or Supplemental Awards: None.
Type of Assistance Instrument: Financial Assistance Agreement.
C. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants. Grants may be made to individual
Cooperatives, Groups of Cooperatives, or Cooperative Development
Centers that serve Socially Disadvantaged Groups and of which a
majority (i.e., greater than 50 percent rounded to the nearest tenth)
of the Board of Directors or Governing Board of the applicant is
comprised of individuals who are members of Socially Disadvantaged
Groups. An advisory board for the proposed Project does not meet this
requirement.
Federally recognized Tribes have a government-to-government
relationship with the United States. Therefore, Tribes may consider
using a separate entity, such as a tribally-owned business, tribal
authority, tribal non-profit, tribal college, or university to apply
for SDGG funding that would provide Technical Assistance to members of
the Tribe.
Applications submitted must include the following for eligibility
determination:
(a) Applicants must verify their legal structure in the State or
the Tribe under which the applicants are legally organized or
incorporated.
(b) Applicants must demonstrate that all defined requirements for
one of the three eligible applicant types have been met (see Section
D.2. of this notice). The three eligible applicant types are:
individual Cooperatives, Groups of Cooperatives, or Cooperative
Development Centers.
An applicant is ineligible if:
(a) It is a public body or individual.
(b) It has been debarred or suspended or otherwise excluded from or
ineligible for participation in Federal assistance programs under
Executive Order (E.O.) 12549. The Agency will check the Do Not Pay
(DNP) system to determine if the applicant has been debarred or
suspended at the time of application and prior to funding any grant
award.
(c) It has an outstanding judgment obtained by the U.S. in a
Federal Court (other than U.S. Tax Court), is delinquent on the payment
of Federal income taxes, or is delinquent on Federal debt. The
applicant must certify, as part of the application, that there are no
outstanding judgments against them. The applicant is responsible for
resolving any issues that are reported in the DNP System and if issues
are not resolved by the deadline found in this notice, the Agency may
proceed to award funds to other eligible applicants.
(d) Any corporation or Cooperative (i) that has been convicted of a
felony criminal violation under any Federal law within the past 24
months or (ii) that has any unpaid Federal tax liability that has been
assessed, for which all judicial and administrative remedies have been
exhausted or have lapsed, and that is not being paid in a timely manner
pursuant to an agreement with the authority responsible for collecting
the tax liability, is not eligible for financial assistance provided
with funds appropriated by the 2024 Appropriations Act, unless a
Federal
[[Page 22983]]
agency has considered suspension or debarment of the corporation and
has made a determination that this further action is not necessary to
protect the interests of the Government. Certification of compliance
with this provision is now completed during registration or annual
recertification in the System for Award Management (SAM) at SAM.gov via
the Financial Assistance General Certifications and Representations.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching. There is no cost sharing or matching
requirement associated with this grant.
3. Other Eligibility Requirements.
(a) Use of funds. Applications must propose Technical Assistance
that will benefit Socially Disadvantaged Groups. Any recipient of
Technical Assistance must have a membership that consists of a majority
of members from Socially Disadvantaged Groups. Please review Section
D.6 of this notice carefully.
(b) Project eligibility. Proposed Projects must only serve members
of Socially Disadvantaged Groups located in Rural Areas.
(c) Grant period eligibility. Applications must include a grant
period of one-year or less or it will not be considered for funding.
The proposed time frame should begin no earlier than October 1, 2024,
and end no later than December 31, 2025. Applications that request
funds for a time period ending after December 31, 2025, will not be
considered for funding. Projects must be completed by December 31,
2025, or within 12 months of award funding, whichever is earlier.
The Agency may approve requests to extend the grant period for up
to an additional 12 months at its discretion. However, applicants may
not have more than one SDGG award during the same grant period. If you
extend the period of performance for your current award, you may be
deemed ineligible to receive an SDGG in the next grant cycle. Further
guidance on grant period extensions will be provided in the award
document.
(d) Satisfactory performance eligibility. If applicants have an
existing SDGG award, current performance must be satisfactory to be
considered eligible for a new SDGG award. Satisfactory performance
includes being up to date on all financial and performance reports as
prescribed in the grant award and being current on tasks and timeframes
for utilizing grant funds as approved in the work plan and budget. If
applicants have any unspent grant funds on SDGG awards from Projects
prior to September 30, 2022, the application will not be considered for
funding. If an applicant's FY 2023 award has unspent funds of 50
percent or more than what the approved work plan and budget projected
at the time of evaluation of the FY 2023 application, the FY 2024
application may not be considered for funding. The Agency will verify
the performance status of any FY 2023 awards and make a determination
after the FY 2024 application period closes.
(e) Completeness eligibility. Applications must provide all the
information requested in Section D.2 of this notice. Applications
lacking sufficient information to determine eligibility and scoring
criteria will be considered ineligible.
(f) Duplication of current services. Applications must demonstrate
that services are being provided to new customers or new services to
current customers. If the work plan and budget are duplicative of an
existing award, the application will not be considered for funding. If
the work plan and budget are duplicative of a previous or existing
Rural Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG) and/or SDGG award, the
application will not be considered for funding.
(g) Multiple grant eligibility. Applicants may submit only one SDGG
grant application each funding cycle. If two (2) applications are
submitted (regardless of the applicant's name) that include the same
Executive Director and/or advisory boards or committees of an existing
Cooperative or Cooperative Development Center, both applications will
be determined ineligible for funding.
D. Application and Submission Information
1. Application Template. An application template to assist
applicants in applying for this funding opportunity is located at
www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/socially-disadvantaged-groups-grant.
Use of the application template is strongly recommended to assist with
the application process. Application information is also available at
www.grants.gov. Applicants may also contact the USDA RD State Office
for more information at www.rd.usda.gov/contact-us/state-offices.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission. An application must
contain all the required forms and proposal elements outlined below.
(a) Form SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance. This form
should include the applicant's Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number.
The UEI is assigned automatically to all active SAM.gov registered
entities. If an applicant does not include the UEI number in its
application, it will not be considered for funding.
(b) Form SF-424A, Budget Information-Non-Construction Programs.
This form must be completed and submitted as part of the application
package. Applicants are no longer required to complete the Form SF
424B, Assurances--Non-Construction Programs as a part of the
application. This information is now collected through the applicant
registration or annual recertification in SAM.gov through the Financial
Assistance General Certifications and Representations.
(c) Federal Debt and Judgement Certification. Applicants must
certify that there are no current outstanding Federal judgments against
the applicant's property and that no grant funds will be used to pay
for any judgment obtained by the United States. Applicants must also
certify that they are not delinquent on the payment of Federal income
taxes, or any Federal debt. There is no standard form to complete, but
to satisfy the certification requirement, applicants should include
this statement in the application: ``[INSERT NAME OF APPLICANT]
certifies that the United States has not obtained an unsatisfied
judgment against its property, is not delinquent on the payment of
Federal income taxes, or any Federal debt, and will not use grant funds
to pay any judgments obtained by the United States.'' A separate
signature is not required.
(d) Table of Contents (TOC). Applications must contain a detailed
TOC that includes page numbers for each part of the application. Page
numbers should begin immediately following the TOC.
(e) Executive Summary. A summary of the proposal, not to exceed one
(1) page, must briefly describe the Project, tasks to be completed, and
other relevant information that provides a general overview of the
Project.
(f) Eligibility Discussion. A detailed discussion, not to exceed
four (4) pages, must describe how the applicant will meet the following
requirements:
(1) Applicant Eligibility. Applicants must describe how they meet
the definition of a Cooperative, Group of Cooperatives, or Cooperative
Development Center. Applications must also show that the individual
Cooperative, Group of Cooperatives or Cooperative Development Center
has a majority of its Board of Directors or Governing Board comprised
of individuals who are members of Socially Disadvantaged Groups, and
that the applicant serves Socially Disadvantaged Groups. The
application
[[Page 22984]]
must include a list identifying the entire Board of Directors/Governing
Board by name and indicating how each member meets the definition of
Socially Disadvantaged Groups.
An application will not be considered for funding if it fails to
show that a majority of the Board of Directors/Governing Board (i.e.,
greater than 50 percent rounded to the nearest tenth) is comprised of
individuals who are members of Socially Disadvantaged Groups.
Applicants must verify their incorporation and status in the State
in which they have applied by providing the State or Tribe's
Certificate of Good Standing and Articles of Incorporation. Bylaws may
also be submitted if they provide additional information not included
in the Articles of Incorporation that will help verify the applicant's
legal status. If applying as an institution of higher education,
documentation verifying legal status is not required; however, the
applicant must demonstrate that it qualifies as an institution of
higher education as defined at 20 U.S.C. 1001. Each applicant can only
apply as one (1) type of applicant. The requested verification
documents should be included in Appendix A of the application. If the
documents are not included, the application will not be considered for
funding.
(2) Use of Funds. Applications must include a brief discussion on
how the proposed Project activities meet the definition of Technical
Assistance and identify the Socially Disadvantaged Groups that will be
assisted.
(3) Project Area. Applications must provide specific information
that details the location of the Project area and explain how the area
meets the definition of Rural Area as defined in Section A.3 of this
notice.
(4) Grant Period. Applications must include a time frame for the
proposed Project and discuss how the Project will be completed within
that time frame. See Section C.3(c) of this notice for more
information.
(5) Indirect Costs. Applicants should indicate in the application
if there is a negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA), and if
so, the rate. The negotiated indirect cost rate approval does not need
to be included in the application, but it will be required to be
provided if a grant is awarded. Approval for indirect costs that are
requested in an application without an approved indirect cost rate
agreement is at the discretion of the Agency.
(g) Scoring Criteria. Each of the scoring criteria in Section E.1
of this notice must be addressed in narrative form, with a maximum of
three (3) pages for each individual scoring criterion, unless otherwise
specified. Failure to address each scoring criterion will result in the
application being determined ineligible.
(h) Annual Performance Evaluation Measures. The Agency has
established annual performance evaluation measures to evaluate the SDGG
program and how the applicant met the measures. The applicant must
provide estimates on the following performance evaluation measures as
part of the narrative:
(1) Number of Cooperatives assisted; and
(2) Number of Socially Disadvantaged Groups assisted.
And, if applicable:
(3) Number of jobs created/saved.
(4) Number of jobs created/saved in persistent poverty area and or
underserved and economically distressed areas.
(5) Number of business plans developed.
(6) Number of Cooperatives incorporated.
(7) Number of Feasibility Studies completed.
(8) Number of workshops/seminars conducted.
(9) Number of conferences held.
(10) For consumer coops (grocery, retail), number of people with
access to goods or services.
3. System for Award Management and Unique Entity Identifier.
(a) At the time of application, applicants must have an active
registration in the SAM before applying in accordance with 2 CFR part
25. To register in SAM, entities will be required to obtain a UEI.
Instructions for obtaining the UEI are available at sam.gov/content/entity-registration.
(b) Applicants must maintain an active SAM registration, with
current, accurate and complete information, at all times during which
it has an active Federal award or an application under consideration by
a Federal awarding agency.
(c) Applicants must complete the Financial Assistance General
Certifications and Representations in SAM.
(d) Applicants must provide a valid UEI in its application, unless
determined exempt under 2 CFR 25.110.
(e) The Agency will not make an award until the applicant has
complied with all SAM requirements including providing the UEI. If an
applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time the
Agency is ready to make an award, the Agency may determine that the
applicant is not qualified to receive a Federal award and use that
determination as a basis for making a Federal award to another
applicant.
4. Submission Dates and Times.
(a) Application Technical Assistance Deadline Date. Prior to
official submission of applications, applicants may request technical
assistance or other application guidance from their State Office, if
such requests are made prior to May 3, 2024. Agency contact information
can be found in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.
(b) Application Deadline Date. Complete applications for grants
must be submitted electronically no later than 11:59 p.m. ET on June 3,
2024, through www.grants.gov to be eligible for grant funding. Please
review the Grants.gov website at www.grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration for instructions on the process of registering your
organization as soon as possible to ensure that you are able to meet
the electronic application deadline. No secured/password protected
documents are to be uploaded to grants.gov.
Applications received after the deadline are not eligible for
funding under this notice and will not be evaluated. The Agency will
not solicit or consider new scoring or eligibility information that is
submitted after the application deadline. The Agency also reserves the
right to ask applicants for clarifying information and additional
verification of assertions in the application.
5. Intergovernmental Review. Executive Order (E.O.) 12372 applies
to this program. This E.O. requires that Federal agencies provide
opportunities for consultation on proposed assistance with State and
local governments. Many States have established a Single Point of
Contact (SPOC), please see the White House Website: www.whitehouse.gov/omb/management/office-federal-financial-management/. If your State has
a SPOC, you may submit a copy of the application directly for review.
Any comments obtained through the SPOC must be provided to the USDA RD
State Office for consideration as part of your application. If your
State has not established a SPOC, you may submit your application
directly to the Agency. Applications from Federally recognized Indian
Tribes are not subject to this requirement.
6. Funding Restrictions. Grant funds must be used for Technical
Assistance as defined.
(a) No funds made available under this notice shall be used to:
(1) Plan, repair, rehabilitate, acquire, or construct a building or
facility, including a processing facility;
[[Page 22985]]
(2) Purchase, rent, or install fixed equipment, including
processing equipment;
(3) Purchase vehicles, including boats;
(4) Pay for the preparation of the grant application;
(5) Pay expenses not directly related to the funded Project;
(6) Fund political or lobbying activities;
(7) Fund any activities considered unallowable by the applicable
grant cost principles, including 2 CFR part 200, subpart E and the
Federal Acquisition Regulation as stated in 48 CFR Chapter 1,
subchapter E, part 31;
(8) Fund architectural or engineering design work for a specific
physical facility;
(9) Fund any expenses dealing with production such as produce any
commodity or product to which value will be added, including seed,
rootstock, labor for harvesting the crop, and delivery of the commodity
to a processing facility. Examples also include, but are not limited
to, testing commodities, building fencing for livestock, soil
amendments, soil enrichments, soil treatments, tools, equipment, soil
testing supplies, laboratory fees, hoop houses, software,
subscriptions, and advertising or publicity expenses for the assisted
Cooperative.
(10) Fund research and development;
(11) Purchase land;
(12) Duplicate current activities or activities paid for by other
Federal grant programs;
(13) Pay costs of the Project incurred prior to the date of grant
approval;
(14) Pay for assistance to any private business enterprise that
does not have at least fifty-one (51) percent ownership by those who
are either citizens of the United States or reside in the United States
after being legally admitted for permanent residence;
(15) Pay any judgment or debt owed to the United States;
(16) Pay any Operating Costs of the Cooperative, Group of
Cooperatives, or Cooperative Development Center not directly related to
the Project;
(17) Pay expenses for applicant employee training or professional
development not directly related to the Project;
(18) Pay for any goods or services from a person or entity who has
a Conflict of Interest with the grantee;
(19) Pay for Technical Assistance provided to a Cooperative that
does not have a membership that consists of a majority of members from
Socially Disadvantaged Groups; or
(20) Fund expenses or activities relating to production,
manufacturing-based costs, cybersecurity equipment, supply chain
tracing equipment, and automation costs.
(b) Applications will not be considered for funding if it does any
of the following:
(1) Requests more than the maximum grant amount;
(2) Proposes ineligible costs that equal more than ten (10) percent
of total grant funds requested; or
(3) Proposes Participant Support Costs that equal more than ten
(10) percent of total grant funds requested.
(c) The Agency will consider an application for funding if it
includes ineligible costs of ten (10) percent or less of total grant
funds requested if it is determined eligible otherwise. However, if the
application is successful, those ineligible costs must be removed and
replaced with eligible costs before the Agency will make the grant
award or the amount of the grant award will be reduced accordingly. If
the Agency cannot determine the percentage of ineligible costs, the
application will not be considered for funding.
(d) No assistance or funding from this grant can be provided to a
hemp producer without a valid license issued from an approved State,
Tribal or Federal plan in accordance with Subtitle G of the
Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1639o et
seq.). Verification of valid hemp licenses will occur at the time of
award. The purpose of this program is to provide Technical Assistance,
so funding to produce hemp or marketing hemp production is not
eligible.
7. Other Submission Requirements. Applications will not be accepted
if the text is less than an 11-point font. Applications will not be
accepted through mail or courier delivery, in-person delivery, email,
or fax. Applications must be submitted electronically through
www.grants.gov. A password is not required to access the website.
Applicants can locate the Grants.gov downloadable application package
for this program by using a keyword, the program name, Assistance
Listing number, or the Funding Opportunity Number for this program.
The Grants.gov website provides information about applying
electronically through the site, as well as the hours of operation.
Users of Grants.gov must already have a UEI number and must also be
registered and maintain registration in SAM as detailed in Section D.3
of this notice. The UEI number must be associated with the correct tax
identification number of the SDGG applicant. It is strongly recommended
that applicants do not wait until the application deadline date to
begin the application process through Grants.gov.
Applications must include electronic signatures. Original
signatures may be required if funds are awarded. After applying
electronically through Grants.gov, applicants will receive an automated
acknowledgement from Grants.gov with a Grants.gov tracking number.
E. Application Review Information
1. Selection Criteria. All eligible and complete applications will
be evaluated and scored based on the following selection criteria and
weights. Evaluators will base scores only on the information provided
or cross-referenced by page number in each individual evaluation
criterion. SDGG is a competitive program, so applications will receive
scores based on the quality of the responses. Simply addressing the
criteria will not guarantee higher scores. The total points possible
for the criteria are 105.
(a) Technical Assistance (maximum score of 25 points). Three-page
limit. A panel of USDA employees will evaluate the applications to
determine the ability to assess the needs of and provide effective
Technical Assistance to Socially Disadvantaged Groups. Applicants must
discuss the following:
(1) Needs of the Socially Disadvantaged Groups to be assisted and
explain how those needs were determined,
(2) Proposed Technical Assistance to be provided to the Socially
Disadvantaged Groups; and
(3) Expected outcomes of the proposed Technical Assistance,
including how Socially Disadvantaged Groups will benefit from
participating in the Project. Applicants will score higher on this
criterion if examples of the entity's past Projects that demonstrate
successful outcomes in identifying specific needs and providing
Technical Assistance to Socially Disadvantaged Groups are provided.
(b) Work Plan/Budget (maximum of 25 points). Six-page limit. Work
plans must provide activities to be completed, including specific and
detailed descriptions of all tasks. Work plans must indicate all the
Key Personnel, who will accomplish the Project's activities that align
with the goals of the Project. The budget will be reviewed for
completeness. Applicants must list what tasks are to be done, when the
tasks will be done, who will do the tasks, and a detailed account of
how much each task will cost. Reviewers must be able to understand what
is being proposed and how all the grant funds will be spent.
[[Page 22986]]
The budget must provide a detailed breakdown of estimated costs. These
costs should be allocated to each of the tasks to be undertaken. (For
example: Joe Smith has committed 20 percent of his work time. Joe's
salary is $60,000 x 20% (0.20) = $12,000. This Project requires travel
within the United States. The distance from Joe's office to the airport
is 150 miles at $0.585/mile = $175.50 Round trip. The overnight trip
includes lodging expense with tax at $189/night for 3 overnights =
$567.00. Supplies include 2 boxes of paper at $50 each = $100 as an
example.) A panel of USDA employees will evaluate the work plan for
detailed actions and an accompanying timetable for implementing the
proposal. Applicants will receive a higher score to the extent that
they provide a clear, detailed, logical, realistic, and efficient plan
that matches and reconciles with the Form SF424A and that allocates
costs to specific tasks using applicable budget object class categories
(See SF 424-A, Block 6 a-c, e-h, and j). At a minimum, the following
must be discussed:
(1) Specific tasks to be completed using grant funds;
(2) How customers will be identified and selected;
(3) Key Personnel and how their work and experience is tied to the
work plan task (or if not yet hired, a description of new employee
qualifications must be tied to the work plan task); and
(4) The evaluation methods to be used by the applicant to determine
the success of specific tasks and overall Project activities and
objectives. Please provide qualitative methods of evaluation. For
example, evaluation methods should be measurable and go beyond
quantitative measurements of completing surveys or number of
evaluations. Examples include discussions of pre-test, post-test, and
the evaluation of how task results will be measured.
(c) Experience (maximum score of 25 points). Three-page limit. A
panel of USDA employees will evaluate the applicant's experience,
commitment, and availability for identified staff or consultants in
providing Technical Assistance, as defined in Section A.3 of this
notice. Applicants must describe the Technical Assistance experience
for each identified staff member or consultant, as well as years of
experience in providing that assistance. Applicants must discuss the
commitment and the availability of identified staff, consultants, or
other professionals to be hired for the Project, especially those who
may be consulting on multiple SDGG/RCDG Projects. If staff or
consultants have not been selected at the time of application, the
applicants must provide specific descriptions of the qualifications
required for the positions to be filled. In addition, resumes for each
individual staff member or consultant must be included as an attachment
in Appendix B of the application. The attachments will not count toward
the maximum page total. The Agency will compare the described
experience in this section and in the resumes to the work plan to
determine relevance of the experience. Applications that do not include
the attached resumes will not be considered for funding. Applications
that demonstrate strong credentials, education, capabilities,
experience, and availability of Project personnel, that will contribute
to a high likelihood of Project success will receive more points than
those that demonstrate less potential for success in these areas. In
addition, for SDGG program Key Personnel, resumes must list all
Cooperatives or Boards of Directors, in which they are part of.
Points will be awarded as follows:
(1) 0 points will be awarded if you do not substantively address
the criterion.
(2) 1 to 9 points will be awarded if qualifications and experience
of some, but not all, staff is addressed and, if necessary,
qualifications of unfilled positions are not provided.
(3) 10 to 14 points will be awarded if paragraph (2) of this
section is met, plus all Project personnel are identified but do not
demonstrate qualifications or experience relevant to the Project.
(4) 15 to 19 will be awarded if paragraphs (2) and (3) of this
section are met, plus most, but not all, Key Personnel demonstrate
strong credentials and/or experience, and availability indicating a
reasonable likelihood of success.
(5) 20 to 25 points will be awarded if paragraphs (2) through (4)
of this section are met, plus all personnel demonstrate strong,
relevant credentials or experience and availability indicating a high
likelihood of Project success.
(d) Commitment (maximum of 10 points). Three-page limit. A panel of
USDA employees will evaluate the applicant's commitment to providing
Technical Assistance to Socially Disadvantaged Groups in Rural Areas.
Applicants must list the number and location (full address if known and
at a minimum provide county(ies)) of Socially Disadvantaged Groups that
will directly benefit from the assistance provided. Applicants must
define and describe the underserved and economically distressed areas
within the applicant's service area and provide current and relevant
statistics that support the applicant's description of the service
area. Projects located in Persistent Poverty Counties as detailed in
Section A.2 of this notice, if discussed, will score higher on this
criterion.
(e) Local support (maximum of 10 points). Three-page limit. A panel
of USDA employees will evaluate applications for local support of the
Technical Assistance activities. Discussion on local support should
include previous and/or expected local support and plans for
coordinating with other developmental organizations in the proposed
service area or with Tribal, State, and local government institutions.
Applications that demonstrate strong support from potential
beneficiaries and other developmental organizations will score higher.
A maximum of 10 letters of support may be included with the
application. Points will be awarded as follows:
(1) 0 points are awarded if the applicant does not adequately
address this criterion.
(2) A range of 1 to5 points are awarded if the applicant
demonstrates support from potential beneficiaries and other
developmental organizations in the discussion but does not provide
letters of support.
(3) Additional 1 point is awarded if 2 or 3 support letters are
provided and show support from potential beneficiaries and/or support
from local organizations.
(4) Additional 2 points are awarded if 4 or 5 support letters are
provided and show support from potential beneficiaries and/or support
from local organizations.
(5) Additional 3 points are awarded if 6 or 7 support letters are
provided and show support from potential beneficiaries and/or support
from local organizations.
(6) Additional 4 points are awarded if 8 or 9 support letters are
provided and show support from potential beneficiaries and/or support
from local organizations.
(7) Additional 5 points are awarded if 10 support letters are
provided and show support from potential beneficiaries and/or support
from local organizations.
Support letters should be signed and dated after the publication
date of this notice and should come from potential beneficiaries and
other local organizations. Letters received from Congressional members,
or Technical Assistance providers/contractors paid with grant funding,
will not be included in the count of support letters received.
Additionally, letters having the appearance of being identical in form
[[Page 22987]]
and signed by multiple potential beneficiaries and/or local
organizations will not be included in the count of support letters
received. Support letters should be included as an attachment to the
application in Appendix C and will not count against the maximum page
total. Additional letters from industry groups, commodity groups,
Congressional members, and similar organizations should be referenced
but not included in the application package. When referencing these
letters, provide the name of the organization, the date of the letter,
the nature of the support, and the name and title of the person signing
the letter.
(f) Administrator Discretionary Points (maximum of 10 points). The
Administrator may choose to award points to applications where:
(1) The applicant has never received a SDGG award--5 points; and/or
(2) The applicant seeks to advance one or more key priorities
addressed in the Supplementary Information, Overview section of this
notice--5 points. Applicants seeking these points must discuss in the
application (1 page limit) if they are first time applicants and are
seeking to advance one or more key priorities: (i) Assisting rural
communities recover economically through more and better market
opportunities and through improved infrastructure. Applicant would
receive priority points if the project is located in or serving a rural
community whose economic well-being ranks in the most distressed tier
(distress score of 80 or higher) of the Distressed Communities Index
using the Distressed Communities Look-Up Map available at
www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points.
(ii) Ensuring all rural residents have equitable access to RD
programs and benefits from RD funded projects. Using the Social
Vulnerability Index (SVI) Look-Up Map (available at www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points), an applicant would receive priority points if the
project is:
Located in or serving a community with score 0.75 or above
on the SVI;
Is a Federally recognized Tribe, including Tribal
instrumentalities and entities that are wholly owned by Tribes; or
Is a project where at least 50 percent of the project
beneficiaries are members of Federally Recognized Tribes and non-Tribal
applicants include a Tribal Resolution of Consent from the Tribe or
Tribes that the applicant is proposing to serve.
(iii) Reducing climate pollution and increasing resilience to the
impacts of climate change through economic support to rural
communities. Using the Disadvantaged Community and Energy Community
Look-Up Map (available at www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points), applicants
will receive priority in three ways:
If the project is located in or serves a Disadvantaged
Community as defined by the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool
(CEJST), from the White House Council on Environmental Quality;
If the project is located in or serves an Energy Community
as defined by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA); and
If applicants can demonstrate through a written narrative
how the proposed climate-impact projects will improve the livelihoods
of community residents and meet pollution mitigation or clean energy
goals.
See the website, https://www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points, for
options.
2. Review and Selection Process. Applications will be reviewed in
the USDA RD State Offices to determine if they are eligible for
assistance based on requirements in this notice, and other applicable
Federal regulations. If determined eligible, applications will be
scored by a panel of USDA employees in accordance with the point
allocation specified in this notice. The review panel will convene to
reach a consensus on the scores for each of the eligible applications.
The Administrator may choose to award up to 10 Administrator priority
points based on Section E.1(f) of this notice. These points will be
added to the cumulative score for a total possible score of 105.
Applications will be funded from highest ranking order until the
funding limitation has been reached. Applications that cannot be fully
funded may be offered partial funding at the Agency's discretion. The
Agency reserves the right to offer the applicant less than the grant
funding requested. Applications that are ranked and not funded will not
be carried forward into the next competition.
F. Federal Award Administration Information
1. Federal Award Notices. Applicants selected for funding will
receive a signed notice of Federal award, by postal or electronic mail,
containing instructions on requirements necessary to proceed with
execution and performance of the award.
Applicants not selected for funding will be notified in writing via
postal or electronic mail and informed of any review and appeal rights.
Funding of successfully appealed applications will be limited to
available FY 2024 funding.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements. Additional
requirements that apply to grantees selected for this program can be
found in 2 CFR parts 200, 400, 415, 417, 418, and 421. All recipients
of Federal financial assistance are required to report information
about first tier subawards and executive compensation in accordance
with 2 CFR part 170, Appendix A. Recipients will be required to have
the necessary processes and systems in place to comply with the Federal
Funding Accountability and Transparency Act reporting requirements of 2
CFR 170.200(b), unless they are exempt under 2 CFR 170.110(b).
The following additional requirements apply to grantees selected
for this program:
(a) Execution of an Agency approved Grant Agreement.
(b) Acceptance of a written Letter of Conditions.
(c) Submission of Form RD 1940-1, Request for Obligation of Funds.
(d) Submission of Form RD 1942-46, Letter of Intent to Meet
Conditions.
(e) Assurance Agreement. By signing the Financial Assistance
General Certifications and Representations in SAM, grant recipients
affirm that they will operate the program free from discrimination. The
grant recipients will maintain the race and ethnic data on their board
members and the beneficiaries of the program. The grant recipient will
provide alternative forms of communication to persons with limited
English proficiency. The Agency will conduct civil rights compliance
reviews on grant recipients to identify the collection of racial and
ethnic data on program beneficiaries. In addition, the compliance
review will ensure that equal access to the program benefits and
activities are provided for persons with disabilities and language
barriers.
3. Reporting. After grant approval and through grant completion,
applicants will be required to provide the following:
(a) An SF-425, Federal Financial Report, and a project performance
report will be required on a semiannual basis (due 30 calendar days
after the end of the semiannual period). The project performance
reports shall include a comparison of actual accomplishments to the
objectives established for that period;
(b) A statement providing reasons why established objectives were
not met, if applicable;
(c) A statement providing reasons for any problems, delays, or
adverse conditions, if any, which have affected or will affect
attainment of overall Project objectives, prevent meeting time
schedules or objectives, or preclude the attainment of objectives
during
[[Page 22988]]
established time periods, and a description of the action taken or
planned to resolve the situation;
(d) Objectives and timetable established for the next reporting
period;
(e) A final Project and financial status report within 90 days
after the expiration or termination of the grant in accordance with 2
CFR 200.344; and
(f) Outcome Project performance reports and final deliverables.
G. Agency Contacts
For general questions about this notice and for program technical
assistance, please see the contact information in the ADDRESSES and FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT sections of this notice.
H. Other Information
1. Paperwork Reduction Act. In accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13), the information collection
requirements associated with the program, as covered in this notice,
have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under
OMB Control Number 0570-0052.
2. National Environmental Policy Act. All recipients under this
notice are subject to the requirements of 7 CFR part 1970. However,
awards for Technical Assistance and training under this notice are
classified as a Categorical Exclusion according to 7 CFR 1970.53(b),
and usually do not require any additional documentation. RBCS will
review each grant application to determine its compliance with 7 CFR
part 1970. The applicant may be asked to provide additional information
or documentation to assist RBCS with this determination.
3. Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act. All
applicants, in accordance with 2 CFR part 25, must be registered in SAM
and have a UEI number as stated in Section D.3 of this notice. All
recipients of Federal financial assistance are required to report
information about first-tier subawards and executive total compensation
in accordance with 2 CFR part 170.
4. Civil Rights Compliance Requirements. All grants made under this
notice are subject to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as
required by the USDA in accordance with 7 CFR part 15, subpart A and
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VIII of the Civil
Rights Act of 1968, Title IX, Executive Order 13166 (Limited English
Proficiency), Executive Order 11246, and the Equal Credit Opportunity
Act of 1974.
5. Nondiscrimination Statement. In accordance with Federal civil
rights laws and USDA civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA,
its Mission Areas, agencies, staff offices, employees, and institutions
participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from
discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex,
gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation,
disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived
from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or
retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity
conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs).
Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.
Program information may be made available in languages other than
English upon request. All requirements found in 2 CFR 200.111 must be
adhered to. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of
communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large
print, audiotape, American Sign Language) should contact the
responsible Mission Area, agency, or staff office; or the 711 Relay
Service.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a complainant should
complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form,
which can be obtained online at www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992,
or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the
complainant's name, address, telephone number, and a written
description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail
to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the
nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-
3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
(1) Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC
20250-9410; or
(2) Fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
(3) Email: [email protected].
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
Kathryn E. Dirksen Londrigan,
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Rural Development.
[FR Doc. 2024-07005 Filed 4-2-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XY-P