Announcement of the Availability of Puerto Rico Rural Partners Network Rural Community Development Initiative, 41928-41939 [2024-10363]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Rural Housing Service

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 94 (Tuesday, May 14, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41928-41939]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-10363]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Housing Service

[Docket No. RHS-24-CF-0014]


Announcement of the Availability of Puerto Rico Rural Partners 
Network Rural Community Development Initiative

AGENCY: Rural Housing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of funding of availability (NOFA).

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SUMMARY: The Rural Housing Service (RHS or the Agency), a Rural 
Development (RD) agency of the United States Department of Agriculture 
(USDA), announces the acceptance of applications under the Puerto Rico 
Rural Partners Network (RPN) Rural Community Development Initiative 
(RCDI) program to provide authorized activities in Puerto Rico areas 
affected by a disaster declared by the President or the Secretary of 
Agriculture. These grants will be made to qualified intermediary 
organizations that will provide financial and technical assistance to 
recipients to develop their capacity and ability to undertake projects 
related to housing, community facilities, or community and economic 
development that will support the community. The maximum grant award 
amount available to an intermediary is $250,000. The Consolidated 
Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009, 
created the Disaster Assistance Fund (DAF) and the Secretary of 
Agriculture has authorized $1,000,000 of DAF funds to be utilized in 
Puerto Rico for the RCDI program for the purposes described in this 
NOFA.

DATES: Completed applications must be submitted using one of the 
following methods:
     Paper submissions: Paper applications must be received by 
4:00 p.m. local time by the Puerto Rico Rural Development State Office 
July 3, 2024.
     Electronic submissions: Electronic applications must be 
submitted via Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on June 28, 2024.
    Prior to official submission of applications, applicants may 
request technical assistance or other application guidance from the 
Agency, as long as such requests are made prior to June 24, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Application information for electronic submissions may be 
found at https://www.Grants.gov/. Applicants may also request paper 
application packages from the Puerto Rico Rural Development State 
Office at (787) 766-5095.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Danna Quiles, Community Programs 
Director, Puerto Rico Rural Development State Office, United States 
Department of Agriculture, 654 Mu[ntilde]oz Rivera Ave., Suite 601, San 
Juan, Puerto Rico 00918, Phone: (787) 766-5346, Email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Overview

    Federal Awarding Agency Name: Rural Housing Service, (RHS).
    Funding Opportunity Title: Puerto Rico RPN RCDI.
    Announcement Type: Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA).
    Funding Opportunity Number: USDA-RD-HCFP-PR-RPN-RCDI-2024.
    Assistance Listing: 10.446.
    Dates: Applications must be submitted using one of the following 
methods:
     Paper submissions: The deadline for receipt of a paper 
application is 4 p.m. local time, to the Puerto Rico Rural Development 
State Office, 654 Mu[ntilde]oz Rivera Ave., Suite 601, San Juan, Puerto 
Rico 00918. July 3, 2024. Applicants intending to mail applications 
must provide sufficient time to permit delivery on or before the 
closing deadline date and time. Acceptance by the United States Postal 
Service or private mailer does not constitute delivery. Facsimile 
(FAX), electronic mail, and postage due applications will

[[Page 41929]]

not be accepted. The application dates and times are firm. The Agency 
will not consider any application received after the deadline.
     Electronic submission: Electronic applications will be 
accepted via Grants.gov. The deadline for receipt of an electronic 
applications via Grants.gov is 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on June 28, 
2024. The application dates and times are firm. The Agency will not 
consider any application received after the deadline. The Agency 
recommends not filing electronic submissions too close to the 
submission deadline in the event there is a problem with the system. 
Applicants that choose to mail applications in lieu of an electronic 
submission must provide sufficient time to permit delivery on or before 
the closing deadline date and time. Acceptance by the United States 
Postal Service or private mailer does not constitute delivery. 
Facsimile (FAX), electronic mail and postage due applications will not 
be accepted. Prior to official submission of applications, applicants 
may request technical assistance or other application guidance from the 
Agency, as long as such requests are made prior to June 24, 2024. 
Technical assistance is not meant to be an analysis or assessment of 
the quality of the materials submitted, a substitute for agency review 
of completed applications, nor a determination of eligibility, if such 
determination requires in-depth analysis. The Agency will not accept 
any applications or consider additional information or documentation 
received after the application deadline. The application dates and 
times are firm. The Agency reserves the right to contact applicants to 
seek clarification information on materials contained in the submitted 
application.
    Rural Development Key Priorities: The Agency encourages applicants 
to consider projects that will advance the following key priorities 
(more details available at https://www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points):
     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.
    For further information, visit https://www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points.

A. Program Description

    1. Purpose of the Program.
    The program is designed to assist qualified private organizations, 
nonprofit organizations, and public (including tribal) intermediary 
organizations located in Puerto Rico, proposing to carry out financial 
and technical assistance programs to improve housing, community 
facilities, and community and economic development projects in rural 
areas of Puerto Rico where a Presidential declaration of a major 
disaster was made under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C 5121 et seq.) (Stafford Act). This 
program requires the intermediary (Grantee) to provide a program of 
financial and technical assistance to recipients. The recipients will, 
in turn, provide programs to their communities (beneficiaries).
    Awards made under this NOFA will help rural communities and 
nonprofits to build capacity and technical assistance for readiness for 
more competitive funding applications and successful project 
completion. The aim is to support rural communities and nonprofit 
organizations in Puerto Rico's Rural Partners Community Networks to 
access federal funding to address community and economic challenges in 
areas where a Presidential declaration of a major disaster was issued.
    2. Statutory and Regulatory Authority.
    Congress created the RCDI program in 1999 (Pub. L. 106-78), and The 
Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing 
Appropriations Act, 2009, Public Law 110-329 (7 U.S.C. 6945) (``the 
Act''), created the Disaster Assistance Fund (DAF). The Act authorized 
additional amounts for authorized activities in areas affected by a 
disaster declared by the President or the Secretary of Agriculture. 
This program is implemented under the guidelines announced in this 
Notice and 2 CFR part 200.
    3. Definitions.
    Agency--The Rural Housing Service or its successor.
    Beneficiary--Entities or individuals that receive benefits from 
assistance provided by the Recipient.
    Capacity--The ability of a Recipient to implement housing, 
community facilities, or community and economic development projects.
    Conflict of interest--A situation in which a person or entity has 
competing personal, professional, or financial interests that make it 
difficult for the person or business to act impartially. Regarding use 
of grant funds, 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. An example of a conflict of interest occurs 
when an employee of the grantee, a member of the grantee's board of 
directors, or the immediate family of either, has the appearance of a 
professional or personal financial interest in a recipient receiving 
the benefits or services of the grant.
    Federally recognized Tribes--Tribal entities recognized and 
eligible for funding and services from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, 
based on the most recent notice in the Federal Register published by 
the Bureau of Indian Affairs (pursuant to Pub. L. 103-454) and Tribes 
that received federal recognition after the most recent publication. 
Tribally designated housing entities (TDHE) are eligible RCDI 
recipients. There are no federally recognized tribes nor TDHEs in 
Puerto Rico.
    Financial assistance--Funds, not to exceed $10,000 per award, used 
by the intermediary to purchase supplies and equipment to build the 
recipient's capacity.
    Funds--The Puerto Rico RPN RCDI grant funds that have been provided 
by the Grantee.
    Intermediary--A qualified private organization, nonprofit 
organization (including faith-based and community organizations and 
philanthropic organizations), or public (including tribal) 
organization, located in Puerto Rico, that provides financial and 
technical assistance to multiple recipients.
    Low-income rural community--An authority, district, economic 
development authority, regional council, federally recognized Tribe, or 
unit of government representing an incorporated city, town, village, 
county, township, parish, Indian reservation or borough whose income is 
at or below 80 percent of either (i) the state median household income 
of $21,967 or (ii) national Median Household Income of $69,021, 
whichever is higher, as measured by the 2020 Census.

[[Page 41930]]

    Recipient--The entity that receives the financial and technical 
assistance from the intermediary. The recipient must be a nonprofit 
community-based housing and community development organization, low-
income rural community, municipality, or a federally recognized tribe, 
within the selected (15) communities in the geographical area of the 
Puerto Rico RPN (see Appendix A). There are no federally recognized 
tribes nor TDHEs in Puerto Rico.
    Rural and rural area--All Census Designated Places (CDP) in Puerto 
Rico with populations of 50,000 or less. Under this new methodology, 
all CDPs whose populations exceed 50,000 are not rural; however, 
individual census tracts within those CDPs with the following 
characteristics are designated as rural areas:
     Population density of 2,000 or less per square kilometer 
that are clearly not urban in character (e.g., not an industrial/
commercial area like a major airport, sportsplex, or a shopping 
center).
     Population density greater than 2,000 per square kilometer 
that are contiguous to other census tracts, the majority of whose 
population densities is 2,000 or less.
    Rural Partners Network Community Network--pre-selected geographic 
boundaries at the municipal level where the RPN pilot is serving to 
provide place-based assistance. The three RPN Community Networks in 
Puerto Rico are the Southwest Community Network, the Central Mountain 
Community Network, and the East Community Network. The Southwest 
Community Network is comprised of Mayaguez, Maricao, and 
Gu[aacute]nica; the Central Mountain Community Network is comprised of 
9 municipalities: Utuado, Jayuya, Orocovis, Ciales, Villalba, Ponce, 
Adjuntas, Barranquitas, and Coamo; and the East Community Network is 
comprised of Fajardo, Ceiba, Naguabo, and El Yunque National 
Rainforest.
    Technical assistance--Skilled help in improving the recipient's 
abilities in the areas of housing, community facilities, or community 
and economic planning development, including assistance with 
organizational structure, planning pre-award and post-award management, 
disaster recovery training in response to a Presidentially declared 
disaster, vacant and abandoned properties solutions, and drafting 
bylaws.
    4. Application of Awards.
    The Agency will review, evaluate, and score applications received 
in response to this notice based on the provisions indicated in this 
notice. Awards under this program will be made on a competitive basis 
using specific selection criteria contained in this notice. The Agency 
advises all interested parties that the applicant bears the full burden 
of the costs incurred in connection with the preparation and submission 
of an application in response to this notice.
    Awards under the Puerto Rico RPN RCDI Program are limited and are 
awarded through a competitive process. No reimbursement will be made 
for any funds expended prior to execution of the RCDI Grant Agreement 
and prior to the Agency's approval of recipients not identified in the 
application unless the intermediary is a nonprofit or educational 
entity and has requested and received written Agency approval of the 
costs prior to the actual expenditure. This exception is applicable for 
up to 90 days prior to grant closing and only applies to grantees that 
have received written approval but have not executed the Grant 
Agreement.
    The Agency cannot retroactively approve reimbursement for 
expenditures prior to execution of the Grant Agreement.

B. Federal Award Information

    Qualified private organizations, nonprofit organizations and public 
(including Tribal) intermediary organizations, located in Puerto Rico, 
proposing to carry out financial and technical assistance programs will 
be eligible to receive grant funding as an Intermediary under this 
program.
    Type of Award: Grant.
    Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2024.
    Available Funds: A total of $1,000,000 will be made available to 
intermediaries proposing to serve areas in Puerto Rico affected by a 
disaster declared by the President.
    Award Amounts: Grant funds are limited and are awarded through a 
competitive process. The maximum grant award amount available to an 
intermediary is $250,000. The intermediary must provide a program of 
financial and technical assistance to recipients to develop their 
capacity and ability to undertake projects related to housing, 
community facilities, or community and economic development that will 
support the community.
    Anticipated Award Date: August 15, 2024.
    Performance Period: Grant funds must be utilized within three years 
from the date of the award.
    The intermediary must provide a program of financial and technical 
assistance to one or more of the following: a nonprofit, low-income 
rural community, or local municipality, or a federally recognized 
tribe.
    Renewal or Supplemental Awards: The Agency does not anticipate any 
additional awards.
    Type of Assistance Instrument: Grant agreement.

C. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants. Applicants must meet all the following 
eligibility requirements by the application deadline. Applications that 
fail to meet any of these requirements by the application deadline will 
be deemed ineligible, will not be evaluated further, and will not 
receive a federal award under this funding opportunity:
    (a) Qualified private organizations, nonprofit organizations 
(including faith-based organizations in accordance with 7 CFR part 16, 
community organizations and philanthropic foundations), and public 
(including Tribal) intermediary organizations are eligible applicants. 
Definitions that describe eligible organizations and other key terms 
are listed above in section A(3) ``Definitions.''
    (b) The recipient must be a nonprofit community-based housing and 
development organization, a low-income rural community, municipality, 
or a federally recognized tribe within the selected fifteen (15) 
communities in the geographical of the Puerto Rico RPN (see Appendix 
A). There are no federally recognized tribes nor TDHEs in Puerto Rico.
    (c) Private nonprofit, faith, or community-based organizations must 
provide a certificate of incorporation and a certificate of good 
standing from the Secretary of State of the State of incorporation, or 
other similar and valid documentation of current nonprofit status. For 
low-income rural community recipients, the Agency requires evidence 
that the entity is a public body and census data verifying that the 
median household income of the community where the office receiving the 
financial and technical assistance is located is at, or below, 80 
percent of the State ($21,967) or national median household income 
($69,021), whichever is higher, and provide evidence documenting that 
the recipient is located within Puerto Rico RPN Community Networks.
    (d) Grant funds will be disbursed pursuant to relevant provisions 
of 2 CFR parts 200 and 400.
    (e) Grant funds will be disbursed on an advance or reimbursement 
basis.
    (f) Successful applications will be selected by the Agency for 
funding and will be awarded from funds appropriated for the Puerto Rico 
RPN RCDI program.

[[Page 41931]]

    2. Cost Sharing or Matching.
    There are no cost sharing or matching requirements associated with 
this grant program.
    3. Other Eligibility Requirements.
    The Intermediary must be located in Puerto Rico. The recipient and 
beneficiary, but not the intermediary, must be in an eligible RPN rural 
area (see Appendix A). The physical location of the recipient's office 
that will be receiving the financial and technical assistance must be 
in an eligible RPN rural area. If the recipient is a low-income 
community, the median household income of the area where the office is 
located must be at or below 80 percent of the State ($21,967) or 
national median household income ($69,021), whichever is higher. The 
Puerto Rico Rural Development State Office can assist in determining 
the eligibility of an area.
    (a) Grant funds must be utilized in a timely manner to ensure that 
the goals and objectives of the program are met.
    (b) Individuals cannot be recipients.
    (c) The intermediary must provide a program of financial and 
technical assistance to the recipient.
    (d) The intermediary organization must have been legally organized 
for a minimum of three years and have at least three years prior 
experience working with private nonprofit community-based housing and 
development organizations, low-income rural communities, or tribal 
organizations in the areas of housing, community facilities, or 
community and economic development. The intermediary organization may 
contract with a nonaffiliated organization for not more than 49 percent 
of the awarded grant to provide the proposed technical assistance.
    (e) Proposals must be structured to utilize the grant funds within 
3 years from the date of the award.
    (f) Each applicant, whether individually or jointly, may only 
submit one application for RCDI funds under this Notice.
    (g) The intermediary and the recipient cannot be the same entity. 
The recipient can be a related entity to the intermediary, if it meets 
the definition of a recipient, provided the relationship does not 
create a conflict of interest that cannot be resolved to Rural 
Development's satisfaction.
    (1) Eligible activities:

Capacity Building

     Build grant writing, program application and post award 
management and reporting capacity.
     Provide assistance to community based-organizations and 
other types of organizations that needs to formalize its organization--
legal, administrative and financial capacity--including assisting with 
filing for System Award Management (SAM) and Unique Entity Identifier 
(UEI) registrations, and requirements.
     Board training.

Funding

     Assisting with completing a grant application in 
accordance with federal regulations.
     Assisting with capacity assessment, planning, short, 
medium, long-term solutions and coordination of funding and service 
resources.
     Assisting with completion of environmental reports and/or 
documentation required for submittal of applications.
     Accessing alternative funding sources.
     Funding identification program alignment and project 
management to include predevelopment grant writing, technical 
assistance, and post award management.

Planning

     According to the need or project, developing the necessary 
planning instrument such as: Strategic plan development, Viability 
Plans, Community Resiliency Plans, Community Emergency Plans, and/or 
Feasibility Plans.
     Developing successful community facilities.
     Creating training tools, such as videos, workbooks, and 
reference guides.
     Project coordination--of funding and service resources--
and implementation program for the short-, medium- and long-term 
solutions.
     Providing Professional service fees for a Project Manager/
Coordinator for assistance or implementation of the plans.

Relationship Building

     Align outreach and site visit coordination.
     Engage with cultural, faith based and community 
stakeholders.
     Create alliances and partnerships to leverage mutual 
interest, promote efficiency, innovation and collaboration.
     Guide in the creation of a volunteer program.

Municipal Support

     Planning, implementation strategies, project management, 
and identification of funds for community development projects and 
services.
     Strengthen community empowerment organizations and 
structure for supporting community development.
     Assist with Nuisance program development and strategies 
for providing affordable housing.
     Assist with Childcare, elderly services and housing, 
ownership titles orientation as part of disaster preparedness, support 
disaster recovery and climate change awareness in community development 
projects.
    (2) Eligible recipients are:
    (a) A municipality of any of the fifteen (15) RPN municipalities 
that compose the community networks (see Annex), private nonprofit, a 
community-based organization, or a rural community located in a Puerto 
Rico RPN Community Network. Particularly, organizations that have a 
community development project, services or initiatives in a RPN 
Community Network and needs assistance and capacity building to be 
eligible for federal funding and/or to implement the project, service 
or initiative.
    (b) Recipients can benefit from more than one Puerto Rico RPN RCDI 
application; however, after grant selections are made, the recipient 
can only benefit from multiple RCDI-RPN grants if the type of financial 
and technical assistance the recipient will receive is not duplicative. 
The services described in multiple Puerto Rico RPN RCDI grant 
applications must have separate and identifiable accounts for 
compliance purposes.
    (c) If the recipient is a low-income rural community, identify the 
unit of government to which the financial and technical assistance will 
be provided. The financial and technical assistance must be provided to 
the organized unit of government representing that community, not the 
community at large.
    (3) Intermediary requirements:
    Grant funds must be utilized in a timely manner to ensure that the 
goals and objectives of the program are met.
    (a) The intermediary must have been legally organized for a minimum 
of three years.
    (b) The intermediary must provide a program of financial and 
technical assistance to the recipient.
    (c) The intermediary must provide the latest financial information 
to show the intermediary's financial viability to carry out the 
proposed work. A current audit report is preferred.
    (d) The intermediary must provide evidence of their experience in 
successfully completing and administering similar activities for 
technical assistance and capacity building to municipalities, rural 
communities, nonprofit, community-based organizations, during the past

[[Page 41932]]

three years in activities such as: SAM registrations, 501(c)(3) 
process, drafting bylaws, planning a community development project, 
implementing and managing a community project, searching for federal 
resources, drafting a successful proposal, financial planning, 
strategic planning, implementing a community empowerment approach, 
assessing and resolving on land ownership and title documentation, and 
a nuisance management program among others.

D. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package.
    Application information for electronic submissions may be found at 
https://www.grants.gov.
    Applicants may also request paper application packages from the 
Puerto Rico Rural Development State Office located at 654 Mu[ntilde]oz 
Rivera Ave., Suite 601, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00918 or at (787) 766-
5095.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission.
    If the applicant is ineligible or the application is incomplete, 
the Agency will inform the applicant in writing of the decision, 
reasons therefore, and its appeal rights and no further evaluation of 
the application will occur.
    A complete application for Puerto Rico Rural Partners Network RCDI 
Program funds must include the following:
    (a) A summary page, double-spaced between items, listing the 
following:
    (This information should not be presented in narrative form.)
     Applicant's name,
     Applicant's address,
     Applicant's telephone number,
     Name of applicant's contact person, email address and 
telephone number,
     County where applicant is located,
     Congressional district number where applicant is located,
     Amount of grant request, and
     Proposed number and type of recipients.
    (b) A detailed Table of Contents containing page numbers for each 
component of the application.
    (c) A project overview including the following items, which will 
also be addressed separately and in detail under ``Building Capacity 
and Expertise'' of the ``Evaluation Criteria.''
    The type of technical assistance to be provided to the recipients 
and how it will be implemented.
     How the capacity and ability of the recipients will be 
improved.
     The overall goals to be accomplished.
     The benchmarks to be used to measure the success of the 
program.
    Benchmarks should be specific and quantifiable.
     What deliverables and outcomes are expected to be produced 
from the technical assistance.
     Define the process to provide mentorship and maintenance 
of efforts.
     Describe the technical assistance provided to the 
recipient demonstrating at least 50 percent l interaction.
     Timeline describing the proposed tasks to be accomplished 
and the schedule for the implementation.
     Outreach activities proposed.
    (d) Organizational documents, such as a certificate of 
incorporation and a current good standing certification from the 
Secretary of State where the applicant is incorporated and other 
similar and valid documentation of current status, from the 
intermediary that confirms it has been legally organized for a minimum 
of three years as the applicant entity.
    The applicant must maintain documentation on file for a period of 
at least three years after grant closing except that the records shall 
be retained beyond the three-year period if audit findings have not 
been resolved.
    (e) The following information is required for each Recipient:
    Recipients do not have to be identified in the application, 
however, Recipients must be determined eligible by the Puerto Rico 
Rural Development State office prior to the Intermediary providing 
assistance to the Recipient.
    (1) Recipient's name,
    (2) Complete address (mailing and physical location, if different),
    (3) County where located,
    (4) Congressional district where recipient is located,
    (5) Contact person's name, email address and telephone number, and
    (6) Form RD 400-4, ``Assurance Agreement.'' If the Form RD 400-4 is 
not submitted for each recipient, the recipient will be considered 
ineligible.
    (f) Submit evidence that each recipient entity is eligible. 
Documentation must be submitted to verify recipient eligibility. Links 
to websites are not acceptable. Acceptable documentation varies 
depending on the type of recipient:
    (1) Nonprofits--provide a current valid letter confirming nonprofit 
status from the Secretary of State of the State of incorporation, a 
current good standing certification from the Secretary of State of the 
State of incorporation, or other valid documentation of current 
nonprofit status of each recipient.
    A nonprofit recipient must provide evidence that it is a valid 
nonprofit when the intermediary applies for the RCDI grant. 
Organizations with pending requests for nonprofit designations are not 
eligible.
    (2) Low-income rural community--provide evidence the entity is a 
public body (e.g., copy of Charter, relevant Acts of Assembly, relevant 
court orders (if created judicially) or other valid documentation), and 
2021 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (2017-2021 data 
set) data as evidence that the median household income is at, or below, 
80 percent of either the State or national median household income. We 
will only accept data and printouts from https://data.census.gov/cedsci/.
    (3) Federally recognized Tribes--The 2024 list is available at 89 
FR 944, pages 944-948 at the following link: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2024-01-08/pdf/2024-00109.pdf. For Tribes that received 
federal recognition status publication, outside the publication cited 
above, statutory citations and additional documentation will suffice.
    An intermediary proposing to serve one or more federally recognized 
Tribes must include a resolution of support with its application from 
the Tribes it proposes to serve. If the resolution of support is not 
submitted for each Tribe, the Tribe will be considered ineligible as a 
recipient. This requirement is being added to ensure collaboration 
during the application process between intermediaries and all Tribes 
that they propose to serve. There are no federally recognized tribes 
nor TDHEs in Puerto Rico.
    (g) Each of the ``Evaluation Criteria'' must be addressed 
specifically and individually by category. Present these criteria in 
narrative form. Narrative (not including attachments) must be limited 
to five pages per criterion.
    (h) A timeline identifying specific activities and proposed dates 
for completion.
    (i) A detailed project budget that includes the RCDI grant amount. 
This should be a line-item budget, by category. Categories such as 
salaries, administrative, other, and indirect costs that pertain to the 
proposed project must be clearly defined. Supporting documentation 
listing the components of these categories must be included. The budget 
should be dated as follows: year 1, year 2, and year 3, as applicable.
    (j) The indirect cost category in the project budget should be used 
only when a grant applicant has a federally negotiated indirect cost 
rate. A copy of the current rate agreement must be provided with the 
application. Non-federal entities that have never received a negotiated 
indirect cost rate, except for

[[Page 41933]]

those non-federal entities described in Appendix VII to Part 200--
States and Local Government and Indian Tribe Indirect Cost Proposals, 
paragraph (D)(1)(b), may use the de minimis rate of 10 percent of 
modified total direct costs (MTDC).
    (k) Form SF-424, ``Application for Federal Assistance.''
    (Do not complete Form SF-424A, ``Budget Information.'' A separate 
line-item budget should be presented as described in Letter (j) of this 
section.)
    (l) Certification of Non-Lobbying Activities, RD Instruction 1940-Q 
Exhibit A-1, ``Certification for Contracts, Grants and Loans'' or 
equivalent.
    (m) Standard Form LLL, ``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities,'' if 
applicable.
    Applicants must collect and maintain data provided by recipients on 
race, sex, and national origin and ensure Ultimate Recipients collect 
and maintain this data. Race and ethnicity data will be collected in 
accordance with OMB Federal Register notice, ``Revisions to the 
Standards for the Classification of Federal Data on Race and 
Ethnicity'' (62 FR 58782), October 30, 1997. Sex data will be collected 
in accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. These 
items should not be submitted with the application but should be 
available upon request by the Agency.
    The applicant and the recipient must comply with Title VI of the 
Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 
the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), section 504 of the 
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, 
Executive Order 12250, Executive Order 13166 Limited English 
Proficiency (LEP), and 7 CFR part 1901, subpart E.
    (n) Identify and report any association or relationship with Rural 
Development employees. (A statement acknowledging whether or not a 
relationship exists is required.)
    3. System for Award Management and Unique Entity Identifier.
    At the time of application, each applicant must have an active 
registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) before submitting 
its application in accordance with 2 CFR part 25 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-I/part-25). In order to register in 
SAM, entities will be required to obtain a Unique Entity Identifier 
(UEI). Instructions for obtaining the UEI are available at https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration.
    (a) 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.
    (b) Applicants must ensure they complete the Financial Assistance 
General Certifications and Representations in SAM.
    (c) Each Applicant must provide a valid UEI in its application, 
unless determined exempt under 2 CFR 25.110 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-I/part-25/subpart-A/section-25.110).
    (d) Each applicant must provide documentation that it is registered 
in SAM and include its UEI number. If the applicant does not provide 
documentation confirming that it is registered in SAM and its UEI 
number, the application will not be considered for funding.
    (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.
    Completed applications must be submitted using one of the following 
methods:
    Paper submissions: Paper application must be received by 4:00 p.m. 
local time by the Puerto Rico Rural Development State Office located at 
654 Mu[ntilde]oz Rivera Ave., Suite 601, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00918, 
on July 3, 2024. Applicants intending to mail applications must provide 
sufficient time to permit delivery on or before the closing deadline 
date and time. Acceptance by the United States Postal Service or 
private mailer does not constitute delivery. Facsimile (FAX), 
electronic mail, and postage due applications will not be accepted. The 
application dates and times are firm. The Agency will not consider any 
application received after the deadline. To submit a paper application, 
the original application package must be submitted to the Puerto Rico 
Rural Development State Office located at 654 Mu[ntilde]oz Rivera Ave., 
Suite 601, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00918. The applicant should contact 
the Puerto Rico Rural Development State Office to see if applications 
may be submitted to Field Offices.
    Applicants may also request paper application packages from the 
Puerto Rico Rural Development State office at 654 Mu[ntilde]oz Rivera 
Ave., Suite 601, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00918, or (787) 766-5095.
    Electronic submissions: Applications will not be accepted via FAX 
or electronic mail. Applicants may file an electronic application at 
https://www.grants.gov. Application information for electronic 
submissions may be found at https://www.Grants.gov/. Electronic 
applications must be submitted via Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern 
Time on June 28, 2024. The application dates and times are firm. The 
Agency will not consider any application received after the deadline. 
Follow the instructions at Grants.gov for registering and submitting an 
electronic application. If a system problem or technical difficulty 
occurs with an electronic application, please use the customer support 
resources available at the Grants.gov website.
    Technical difficulties applying through Grants.gov will not be a 
reason to extend the application deadline. If an application is unable 
to be submitted through Grants.gov, a paper application must be 
received in the Puerto Rico Rural Development State Office by the 
deadline noted previously.
    5. Intergovernmental Review.
    Executive Order (E.O.) 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs,'' applies to this program. This E.O. requires that Federal 
agencies provide opportunities for consultation on proposed assistance 
with State and local governments. Many states have established a Single 
Point of Contact (SPOC) to facilitate this consultation. For a list of 
States that maintain a SPOC, please see the White House website: 
https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/management/office-federal-financial-management/. If your State has a SPOC, you may submit a copy of the 
application directly for review. Any comments obtained through the SPOC 
must be provided to your 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. There are 
no federally recognized tribes nor TDHEs in Puerto Rico.
    6. Funding Restrictions.
    The following are examples of eligible and ineligible purposes 
under the Puerto Rico RPN RCDI program. Activities that meet the 
objectives of the Puerto Rico RPN RCDI program and meet the criteria 
outlined in this Notice will be considered eligible. These examples are 
illustrative and are not

[[Page 41934]]

meant to limit the activities proposed in the application:
    (a) The intermediary must work directly with the recipient, not the 
ultimate beneficiaries. For example:
    The intermediary provides training and technical assistance to the 
recipients on developing and updating materials related to the 
prevention, treatment and recovery activities for opioid use disorder 
and ensures that high-quality training is provided to communities 
affected by the opioid epidemic.
    (b) The intermediary provides training to the recipient on how to 
conduct homeownership education classes. The recipient then provides 
ongoing homeownership education to the residents of the community--the 
ultimate beneficiaries. This ``train the trainer'' concept fully meets 
the intent of this initiative. The intermediary is providing technical 
assistance that will build the recipient's capacity by enabling it to 
conduct homeownership education classes for the public. This is an 
eligible purpose. However, if the intermediary directly provided 
homeownership education classes to individuals in the recipient's 
service area, this would not be an eligible purpose because the 
recipient would be bypassed.
    (c) If the intermediary is working with a low-income community as 
the recipient, the intermediary must provide the technical assistance 
to the entity that represents the low-income community and is 
identified in the application.
    If the intermediary provides technical assistance to the Board of 
the low-income community on how to establish a cooperative, this would 
be an eligible purpose. However, if the intermediary works directly 
with individuals from the community to establish the cooperative, this 
is not an eligible purpose.
    The recipient's capacity is built by learning skills that will 
enable it to support sustainable economic development in its community 
on an ongoing basis.
    (d) The intermediary may provide technical assistance to the 
recipient on how to create and operate a revolving loan fund. The 
intermediary may not monitor or operate the revolving loan fund. RCDI 
funds cannot be used to fund revolving loan funds.
    (e) The intermediary may work with recipients to build their 
capacity to provide planning and leadership development training. The 
recipients of this training would be expected to assume leadership 
roles in the development and execution of regional strategic plans. The 
intermediary would work with multiple recipients in helping communities 
recognize their connections to the greater regional and national 
economies.
    (f) The intermediary could provide training and technical 
assistance to the recipients on developing emergency shelter and 
feeding, short-term housing, search and rescue, and environmental 
accident, prevention, and cleanup program plans. For longer term 
disaster and economic crisis responses, the intermediary could work 
with the recipients to develop job placement and training programs and 
develop coordinated transit systems for displaced workers.
    7. Other Submission Requirements.
    Fund uses must be consistent with the Puerto Rico RPN RCDI purpose. 
Eligible purposes of grant funds include, but are not limited to, the 
following:
    (a) Provide technical assistance to develop recipients' capacity 
and ability to undertake projects related to housing, community 
facilities, or community and economic development, (e.g., the 
intermediary hires a staff person to provide technical assistance to 
the recipient or the recipient hires a staff person, under the 
supervision of the intermediary, to carry out the technical assistance 
provided by the intermediary). Hiring must support the intermediary's 
training purpose. Additional staff can be hired as a secondary purpose 
needed to carry out technical assistance/training to the recipient and 
must support the intermediary's training purpose.
    (b) Develop the capacity of recipients to conduct community 
development programs, (e.g., homeownership education or training for 
business entrepreneurs).
    (c) Develop the capacity of recipients to conduct developmental 
initiatives (e.g., programs that support micro-enterprise and 
sustainable development).
    (d) Develop the capacity of recipients to increase their leveraging 
ability and access to alternative funding sources by providing training 
and staffing.
    (e) Develop the capacity of recipients to provide the technical 
assistance component for essential community facilities projects.
    (f) Assist recipients in completing pre-development requirements 
for housing, community facilities, or community and economic 
development projects by providing resources for professional services, 
e.g., architectural, engineering, or legal. While this is an eligible 
purpose, applicant needs to ensure the capacity of the recipient is 
being expanded with appropriate training during the process.
    (g) Improve recipient's organizational capacity by providing 
training and resource material on developing strategic plans, board 
operations, management, financial systems, and information technology.
    (h) Purchase of computers, software, and printers is limited to 
$10,000 per award at the recipient level when directly related to the 
technical assistance program being undertaken by the intermediary.
    (i) Provide funds to recipients for training-related travel costs 
and training expenses related to Puerto Rico RPN RCDI.
    The following is a list of ineligible uses of grant funds:
     Pass-through grants, and any funds provided to the 
recipient in a lump sum that are not reimbursements.
     Funding a revolving loan fund (RLF).
     Construction (in any form).
     Salaries for positions involved in construction, 
renovations, rehabilitation, and any oversight of these types of 
activities.
     Intermediary preparation of strategic plans for 
recipients.
     Funding prostitution, gambling, or any illegal activities.
     Grants to individuals.
     Funding a grant where there may be a conflict of interest, 
or an appearance of a conflict of interest, involving any action by the 
Agency.
     Paying obligations incurred before the beginning date 
without prior Agency approval or after the ending date of the grant 
agreement.
     Purchasing real estate.
     Improvement or renovation of the grantee or recipient's 
office space or for the repair or maintenance of privately-owned 
vehicles.
     Any purpose prohibited in 2 CFR part 200 or 400.
     Using funds for recipient's general operating costs.
     Using grant funds for Individual Development Accounts.
     Purchasing vehicles.
     In accordance with 31 U.S.C. 1345, ``Expenses of 
Meetings,'' appropriations may not be used for travel, transportation, 
and subsistence expenses for a meeting. RCDI grant funds cannot be used 
for these meeting-related expenses.
    RCDI funds may be used to pay for a speaker as part of a program, 
equipment to facilitate the program, and the actual room that will 
house the meeting.
    RCDI funds cannot be used for meetings; they can, however, be used 
for travel, transportation, or subsistence

[[Page 41935]]

expenses for program-related training and technical assistance 
purposes. Any training not delineated in the application must be 
approved by the Agency to verify compliance with 31 U.S.C. 1345. Travel 
and per diem expenses (including meals and incidental expenses) will be 
allowed in accordance with 2 CFR parts 200 and 400.

E. Application Review Information

    1. Criteria.
    All eligible and complete applications will be evaluated and scored 
based on the selection criteria and weights contained in this Notice. 
Failure to address any of the application criteria by the application 
deadline will result in the application being determined ineligible, 
and the application will not be considered for funding.
    All applications that are complete and eligible will be scored and 
ranked competitively. The categories for scoring criteria used are the 
following:
    (a) Building Capacity and Expertise--Maximum 40 Points
    The applicant must demonstrate how it will improve the recipients' 
capacity, through a program of financial and technical assistance, as 
it relates to the Puerto Rico RPN RCDI Program purposes.
    Capacity--Building financial and technical assistance should 
provide new functions to the recipients or expand existing functions 
that will enable the recipients to undertake projects in the areas of 
housing, community facilities, or community and economic development 
that will benefit the community. Capacity-building financial and 
technical assistance may include, but is not limited to: training to 
conduct community development programs (e.g., homeownership education, 
or the establishment of minority business entrepreneurs, cooperatives, 
or micro-enterprises); organizational development (e.g., assistance to 
develop or improve board operations, management, and financial 
systems); instruction on how to develop and implement a strategic plan; 
instruction on how to access alternative funding sources to increase 
leveraging opportunities; and, staffing (e.g., hiring a person at 
intermediary or recipient level to provide technical assistance to 
recipients).
    The program of financial and technical assistance that is to be 
provided, its delivery, and the measurability of the program's 
effectiveness will determine the merit of the application.
    All applications will be competitively ranked and the applications 
providing the most improvement in capacity development and measurable 
activities being ranked the highest.
    The narrative response must contain the following items. This list 
also contains the points for each item.
    (1) Describe how the applicant will identify and will select the 
recipients in the RPN area and how the applicant will assess the 
recipient's needs for technical assistance and capacity building as 
described in purpose of the program (pages 6 to 8) (8 Points).
    (2) The scope of the technical assistance to be provided to the 
recipients and the activities that will be conducted to deliver the 
technical assistance, particularly providing customized-individualized 
technical assistance and capacity building (7 Points).
    (3) Identify which RCDI-RPN purpose areas will be addressed with 
this assistance: planning, project management, grant management and 
post award, development of bylaws, budgeting, financial planning, 
funding identification, implementation, community development and 
empowerment initiatives, grant eligibility and writing. (5 Points).
    (4) Describe how the results of the technical assistance will be 
measured and describe the benchmarks to be used to measure 
effectiveness. Benchmarks should be specific and quantifiable (10 
Points).
    (5) Demonstrate that the applicant/intermediary has conducted 
programs of technical assistance and capacity building in rural 
communities, for municipalities, community-based organizations and 
nonprofits and achieved measurable results and best practices in 
successfully implementing and completing the community development 
project. (10 Points).
    (b) Soundness of Approach--Maximum 15 Points
    The applicant can receive up to 15 points for soundness of 
approach. The overall proposal will be considered under this criterion.
    The maximum of 15 points for this criterion will be based on the 
following:
    (1) The proposal fits the objectives for which applications were 
invited, is clearly stated, and the applicant has defined how this 
proposal will be implemented (7 Points).
    (2) The ability to provide the proposed technical assistance and 
capacity building based on prior accomplishments (6 Points).
    (3) Cost effectiveness will be evaluated based on the budget in the 
application. The proposed grant amount and matching funds should be 
utilized to maximize capacity building at the recipient level (2 
Points).
    (c) RPN Community Network--15 Points
    The RPN Community Network is defined as the boundaries of the three 
Community Networks. The Southwest Community Network is comprised of 
Mayaguez, Maricao, and Gu[aacute]nica; the Central Mountain Community 
Network is comprised of 9 municipalities: Utuado, Jayuya, Orocovis, 
Ciales, Villalba, Ponce, Adjuntas, Barranquitas, and Coamo; and the 
Eastern Community Network is comprised of Fajardo, Ceiba, Naguabo, and 
El Yunque National Rainforest.
    The applicant must indicate the targeted group that will benefit 
from the technical assistance and capacity building within the 
Community Network and will be scored as follows in the table 
illustrated below:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Scoring
                     Type of recipient                         (points)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Community Based Organization (minimum 6)...................            4
Combination of municipality, community-based organization              4
 and Not-For Profit (minimum 5)............................
Combination of Community-based organization and nonprofits             3
 (minimum 5)...............................................
Not-For Profit (minimum 7).................................            3
Municipalities (minimum 3).................................            1
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 41936]]

    The applicant must indicate in the work description which areas of 
technical assistance they will provide:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Scoring
                Type of technical assistance                  (percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capacity building..........................................           40
     Build grant writing, program application and
     post award management and reporting capacity..........
        a. Train, mentors, one-on-one assistance with
         organizations to write successful grant
         applications or proposals.........................
        b. Assist with completing a grant application in
         accordance with federal regulations...............
     Provide assistance to community based-
     organizations and other types of organizations that
     need to formalize its organization--legal,
     administrative and financial capacity--including
     assisting with filing for System Award Management
     (SAM) and Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)
     registrations, and requirements.......................
        a. Prepare organizations to apply for and receive
         federal funding (SAMS, UEI).......................
     Board training................................
        a. Identification, selection and creation of the
         board of directors................................
        b. Draft by-laws...................................
     Funding:......................................
        a. Assist in the capacity assessment, planning,
         short, medium, long-term solutions and
         coordination of funding and service resources.....
        b. Assisting with the identification of
         environmental reports and/or documentation
         required for submittal of applications............
        c. Identifying funding sources for matching or
         grants based on reimbursement.....................
        d. Developing cost estimates.......................
        e. Guidance to define administrative cost..........
Planning...................................................           20
     According to the need or project, developing
     the necessary planning instrument such as: Strategic
     plan development, Viability plans, Community
     Resiliency Plans, Community Emergency Plans, and/or
     Feasibility Plans.....................................
     Developing successful community facilities....
     Creating training tools, such as videos,
     workbooks, and reference guides.......................
     Project coordination--of funding and service
     resources--and implementation program for the short-,
     medium- and long-term solutions.......................
     Professional service fees for a Project
     Manager/Coordinator for assistance or implementation
     of the plans..........................................
     Creation of action plans for project
     deployment............................................
Relationship building......................................           20
     Align outreach and site visit coordination....
     Engagement with cultural, faith-based and
     community stakeholders................................
     Creating alliances and partnerships to
     leverage mutual interest, promote efficiency,
     innovation and collaboration..........................
     Guide in the creation of a volunteer program..
Municipal Support:.........................................           20
     Planning implementation strategies, project
     management, and identification of funds for community
     development projects and services.....................
     Strength community empowerment organizations
     and structure for supporting community development....
     Nuisance program development and strategies
     for providing affordable housing......................
     Childcare, elderly services and housing,
     ownership titles orientation as part of disaster
     preparedness, support disaster recovery and climate
     change awareness in community development projects....
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (d) State Director's Points--Maximum 30 Points
    The State Director may award up to 30 discretionary points for 
projects to address items such as geographic distribution of funds, 
emergency conditions caused by economic problems, natural disasters and 
other initiatives identified by the Secretary. The State Director may 
also award points to any application that will advance the following 
key priorities:
    (1) Addressing Climate Change and Environmental Justice: Reducing 
climate pollution and increasing resilience to the impacts of climate 
change through economic support to rural communities. Applicants may 
receive priority points addressing climate change in three ways:
    Option 1: Applicants will receive points 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 (CEQ). CEJST is a tool to help Federal 
agencies identify disadvantaged communities that will benefit from 
programs included in the Justice40 initiative. Census tracts are 
considered disadvantaged if they meet the thresholds for at least one 
of the CEJST's eight (8) categories of burden: Climate, Energy, Health, 
Housing, Legacy Pollution, Transportation, Water and Wastewater, or 
Workforce Development.
    Option 2: Applicants will receive points if the project is located 
in or serves an Energy Community as defined by the Inflation Reduction 
Act (IRA). The IRA defines energy communities as:
     A ``brownfield site'' (as defined in certain subparagraphs 
of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and 
Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA))
     A ``metropolitan statistical area'' or ``non-metropolitan 
statistical area'' that has (or had at any time after 2009)
     0.17% or greater direct employment or 25% or greater local 
tax revenues related to the extraction, processing, transport, or 
storage of coal, oil, or natural gas; and has an unemployment rate at 
or above the national average unemployment rate for the previous year
     A census tract (or directly adjoining census tract) in 
which a coal mine has closed after 1999; or in which a coal-fired 
electric generating unit has been retired after 2009.
    Option 3: Applicants will receive points by demonstrating through 
written narrative how proposed climate-impact projects improve the 
livelihoods of community residents and meet pollution mitigation or 
clean energy goals.

[[Page 41937]]

    Information on whether your project qualifies for priority points 
can be found at the following website: https://www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points.
    (2) Advancing Racial Justice, Place-Based Equity, and Opportunity: 
Ensuring all rural residents have equitable access to RD programs and 
benefits from RD funded projects.
    This priority aligns with the Executive Order on Advancing Racial 
Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal 
Government. The Applicant receives priority points if the project is 
located in or serving a community with score 0.75 or above on the CDC 
Social Vulnerability Index. Please use Community Look-Up Map to look up 
map or list to determine if your project qualifies for priority points.
    US Territories are considered socially vulnerable and qualify for 
priority points.
    Information on whether your project qualifies for priority points 
can be found at the following website: https://www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points.
    (3) Creating More and Better Markets: Assisting rural communities 
to recover economically through more and better market opportunities 
through improved infrastructure.
    Applicants receive priority points if the project is located in or 
serving a rural community whose economic well-being ranks in the most 
distressed tier of the Distressed Communities Index. The Distressed 
Communities Index provides a score between 1-100 for every community at 
the zip code level. The most distressed tier of the index are those 
communities with a score over 80. Please use the Distressed Communities 
Index Look-Up Map to determine if your project qualifies for priority 
points by using the following link: https://www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points/rural-develoment-priorities-fy-2024. For additional information 
on data sources used for this priority determination, please download 
the Data Sources for Rural Development Priorities document.
    US Territories are considered distressed and qualify for priority 
points.
    Information on whether your project qualifies for priority points 
can be found at the following website: https://www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points.
    2. Review and Selection Process.
    If requests exceed funds available, the applications will be rated 
and ranked by a review panel based on the ``Application Review 
Information'' contained in this Notice.
    (a) If there is a tied score after the applications have been rated 
and ranked, the tie will be resolved by reviewing the scores for 
``Building Capacity and Expertise'' and the applicant with the highest 
score in that category will receive a higher ranking. If the scores for 
``Building Capacity and Expertise'' are the same, the scores will be 
compared for the next criterion, in sequential order, until the highest 
score can be determined. If all scores are equal Agency discretion 
applies.
    (b) Initial screening: The Puerto Rico Rural Development State 
Office will screen each application to determine eligibility during the 
period immediately following the application deadline. Listed below are 
examples of reasons for rejection from previous funding rounds. The 
following reasons for rejection are not all inclusive; however, they 
represent the majority of the applications previously rejected.
     Recipients were not located in eligible rural areas based 
on the definition in this Notice.
     Applicants failed to provide evidence of recipient's 
status, i.e., documentation supporting nonprofit evidence of 
organization.
     Application did not follow the RPN RCDI structure with an 
intermediary and recipients.
     Intermediary did not provide evidence it had been 
incorporated for at least three years as the applicant entity.
     Applicants failed to address the ``Application Review 
Information'' in this Notice.
     The purpose of the proposal did not qualify as an eligible 
RPN RCDI purpose.
     Inappropriate use of funds (e.g., construction or 
renovations).
     The applicant proposed providing financial and technical 
assistance directly to individuals.
     The application package was not received by closing date 
and time.
    3. Anticipated Announcement and Federal Award Dates.
    August 15, 2024.

F. Federal Award Administration Information

    1. Federal Award Notices.
    Within the limit of funds available for such purpose, the awarding 
official of the Agency shall make grants in ranked order to eligible 
applicants under the procedures set forth in this Notice.
    Successful applicants will receive a selection letter by mail 
containing instructions on requirements necessary to proceed with 
execution and performance of the award. This letter is not an 
authorization to begin performance. In addition, selected applicants 
will be requested to verify that components of the application have not 
changed at the time of selection and on the award obligation date, if 
requested by the Agency.
    The award is not approved until all information has been verified, 
and the awarding official of the Agency has signed Form RD 1940-1, 
``Request for Obligation of Funds'' and the grant agreement.
    Unsuccessful applicants will receive notification, including 
notification of appeal rights, by mail.
    2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements.
    Grantees will be required to do the following:
    (a) Execute a Rural Community Development Initiative Grant 
Agreement.
    (b) Execute Form RD 1940-1, ``Request for Obligation of Funds.''
    (c) Use Form SF 270, ``Request for Advance or Reimbursement,'' to 
request reimbursements. Provide receipts for expenditures, timesheets 
and any other documentation to support the request for reimbursement.
    (d) Provide financial status and project performance reports on a 
quarterly basis starting with the first full quarter after the grant 
award.
    (e) Maintain a financial management system that is acceptable to 
the Agency.
    (f) Ensure that records are maintained to document all activities 
and expenditures utilizing RCDI grant funds and matching funds. 
Receipts for expenditures will be included in this documentation.
    (g) Provide annual audits or management reports on Form RD 442- 2, 
``Statement of Budget, Income and Equity,'' and Form RD 442-3, 
``Balance Sheet,'' depending on the amount of Federal funds expended 
and the outstanding balance.
    (h) Collect and maintain data provided by recipients on race, sex, 
and national origin and ensure recipients collect and maintain the same 
data on beneficiaries. Race and ethnicity data will be collected in 
accordance with OMB Federal Register notice, ``Revisions to the 
Standards for the Classification of Federal Data on Race and 
Ethnicity,'' (62 FR 58782), October 30, 1997. Sex data will be 
collected in accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 
1972. These items should not be submitted with the application but 
should be available upon request by the Agency.
    (i) Provide a final project performance report.
    (j) Identify and report any association or relationship with Rural 
Development employees.
    (k) The intermediary and recipient must comply with Title VI of the 
Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the

[[Page 41938]]

Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 
1973, Executive Order 12250, Age Act of 1975, Executive Order 13166 
Limited English Proficiency, and 7 CFR part 1901, subpart E.
    (l) The grantee must comply with policies, guidance, and 
requirements as described in the following applicable Code of Federal 
Regulations, and any successor regulations:
    (1) 2 CFR parts 200 and 400 (Uniform Administrative Requirements, 
Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards).
    (2) 2 CFR parts 417 and 180 (Government-wide Debarment and 
Suspension (Nonprocurement)).

3. Reporting

    After grant approval and through grant completion, you will be 
required to provide the following, as indicated in the Grant Agreement:
    (a) SF-425, ``Federal Financial Report'' and SF-PPR, ``Performance 
Progress Report'' will be required on a quarterly basis (due 30 working 
days after each calendar quarter). The Performance Progress Report 
shall include the elements described in the grant agreement.
    (b) Final financial and performance reports will be due 120 
calendar days after the period of performance end date.
    (c) A summary at the end of the final report with elements as 
described in the grant agreement to assist in documenting the annual 
performance goals of the RPN RCDI program for Congress.

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts

    Contact the Puerto Rico Rural Development State Office at 654 
Mu[ntilde]oz Rivera Ave., Suite 601, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00918, or 
(787) 766-5095.

H. Other Information

1. Civil Rights Requirements

    All grants made under this Notice are subject to Title VI of the 
Civil Rights Act of 1964 as required by the USDA in 7 CFR part 15, 
subpart A, 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.

2. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The paperwork burden has been approved by the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) under OMB Control Number 0575-0180.

3. National Environmental Policy Act

    All recipients under this notice are subject to the requirements of 
7 CFR part 1970, available at: https://rd.usda.gov/resources/environmental-studies/environmental-guidance.

4. Nondiscrimination Statement

    In accordance with Federal civil rights laws and USDA civil rights 
regulations and policies, the USDA, its Mission Areas, agencies, staff 
offices, employees, and institutions participating in or administering 
USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, 
national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender 
expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, 
family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance 
program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil 
rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA 
(not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing 
deadlines vary by program or incident.
    Program information may be made available in languages other than 
English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of 
communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large 
print, audiotape, American Sign Language) should contact the 
responsible Mission Area, agency, or staff office; or the 711 Federal 
Relay Service.
    To file a program discrimination complaint, a complainant should 
complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, 
which can be obtained online at, https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-
9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain 
the complainant's name, address, telephone number, and a written 
description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail 
to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 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.

Joaquin J. Altoro,
Administrator, Rural Housing Service, USDA Rural Development.

Appendix A: Rural Partners Network: Community Networks Puerto Rico
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN14MY24.113


[[Page 41939]]


[FR Doc. 2024-10363 Filed 5-13-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-P