Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program for Fiscal Year 2025, 67411-67415 [2024-18630]
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 161 / Tuesday, August 20, 2024 / Notices
from other Federal agencies, State
governments, land grant universities,
and other organizations that seek
NASS’s assistance in collecting
agricultural data through surveys.
Results from these surveys are
important for the cooperators in
carrying out their missions, as well as of
general interest to the agricultural
community. Results from these surveys
will be made available to the public by
NASS or the cooperators who fund
them. This generic clearance seeks
approval for NASS to conduct a variety
of agricultural surveys which will be
paid for entirely by cooperators. NASS
anticipates the cooperator-funded
surveys will cover topics such as: (1)
farm management practices, (2) food
safety, (3) workplace safety, (4)
conservation and land use practices, (5)
chemical use management practices, (6)
crop quality, (7) agri-tourism, (8) local
foods, and (9) other agricultural-related
topics. This generic clearance is subject
to the regular clearance process at OMB
with a 60-day notice and a 30-day notice
as part of the 120-day review period.
Each individual cooperator-funded
survey is then subject to a clearance
process with an abbreviated clearance
package which justifies the particular
content of the survey, describes the
sample design, provides the timeline for
the survey activities, and the
questionnaire. The review period for
each individual survey is approximately
45 days, including a 30-day Federal
Register notice period.
Authority: These data will be
collected under authority of 7 U.S.C.
2204(a). Individually identifiable data
collected under this authority are
governed by Section 1770 of the Food
Security Act of 1985 as amended, 7
U.S.C. 2276, which requires USDA to
afford strict confidentiality to nonaggregated data provided by
respondents. This Notice is submitted in
accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–113,
44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.) and Office of
Management and Budget regulations at
5 CFR part 1320.
All NASS employees and NASS
contractors must also fully comply with
all provisions of the Confidential
Information Protection and Statistical
Efficiency Act (CIPSEA) of 2018, Title
III of Public Law 115–435, codified in
44 U.S.C. ch. 35. CIPSEA supports
NASS’s pledge of confidentiality to all
respondents and facilitates the agency’s
efforts to reduce burden by supporting
statistical activities of collaborative
agencies through designation of NASS
agents, subject to the limitations and
penalties described in CIPSEA. NASS
uses the information only for statistical
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purposes and publishes only tabulated
total data.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting
burden for this information collection is
estimated to average 30 minutes per
response. Up to 10 individual surveys
are included in this generic clearance to
be conducted annually (total of 30). The
estimated sample size for each of the 30
surveys is approximately 7,500. Each of
the 30 surveys are expected to be
conducted once annually. The estimated
number of responses per respondent is
1. Publicity materials and instruction
sheets will account for approximately 5
minutes of additional burden per
respondent. Respondents who refuse to
complete a survey will be allotted 2
minutes of burden per attempt to collect
the data. NASS will conduct the surveys
initially by mail and/or internet with
phone follow-up for non-response. Faceto-face interviews may also be used in
limited situations.
Respondents: Farmers and ranchers,
and others associated with the
agricultural industry.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
225,000.
Frequency of Responses: Once
annually for each individual survey.
Estimated Total Burden on
Respondents: The total estimated
burden is 112,000 hours.
Comments: Comments are invited on:
(a) whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the
agency, including whether the
information will have practical utility;
(b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate
of the burden of the proposed collection
of information, including the validity of
the methodology and assumptions used;
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility,
and clarity of the information to be
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the
burden of the collection of information
on those who are to respond, through
the use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, technological, or
other forms of information technology
collection methods.
All responses to this notice will
become a matter of public record and be
summarized in the request for OMB
approval.
Signed at Washington, DC, July 30, 2024.
Joseph J. Prusacki,
Acting Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2024–18594 Filed 8–19–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–20–P
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67411
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Business-Cooperative Service
[Docket #: RBS–24–Business–0012]
Notice of Funding Opportunity for the
Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance
Program for Fiscal Year 2025
Rural Business-Cooperative
Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The Rural BusinessCooperative Service (RBCS or Agency),
an agency of the United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA),
Rural Development (RD), is making an
initial announcement to invite
applications for loans and grants under
the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance
Program (RMAP) for fiscal year (FY)
2025, subject to the availability of
funding. This notice is being issued
prior to the passage of a FY 2025
Appropriations Act, which may or may
not provide funding for this program, in
order to allow applicants sufficient time
to leverage financing, prepare and
submit their applications, and give the
Agency time to process applications
within FY 2025. Based on FY 2024
appropriated funding, the Agency
estimates that approximately
$22,000,000 will be available for FY
2025. Successful applications will be
selected by the Agency for funding and
subsequently awarded to the extent that
funding may ultimately be made
available through appropriations. All
applicants are responsible for any
expenses incurred in developing their
applications or any costs incurred prior
to the obligation date.
DATES: The deadlines for completed
applications to be received in the RD
State Office for quarterly funding
competitions are no later than 11:59
p.m. Eastern Time on: First Quarter,
September 30, 2024; Second Quarter,
December 31, 2024; Third Quarter,
March 31, 2025; and Fourth Quarter,
June 30, 2025. If the due date falls on
a Saturday, Sunday, or Federal holiday,
the application is due the next business
day.
The annual microlender technical
assistance grant (for existing
Microenterprise Development
Organizations (MDOs) with a
microentrepreneur revolving loan fund)
will be made, non-competitively, based
on the microlender’s microlending
activity and availability of funds. To
determine the microlender technical
assistance grant awards for FY2025, if
available, the Agency will use the
microlender’s outstanding balance of
microloans as of June 30, 2025, to
SUMMARY:
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calculate the eligible grant amount.
MDOs that are in compliance with the
terms of their loan agreement may apply
for this annual grant. The deadline for
requesting a technical assistance grant is
no later than 4:30 p.m. (Eastern Time)
on August 1, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Applications must be
submitted electronically to the RD State
Office in the State where the project is
located. Applicants are encouraged to
contact their respective RD State Office
for an email contact to submit an
electronic application prior to the
submission deadline date(s). A list of
the RD State Office contacts can be
found at: rd.usda.gov/contact-us/stateoffices. This funding opportunity will
be made available for informational
purposes on www.grants.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Shamika Johnson at, Program
Management Division, Business
Programs, Rural Business-Cooperative
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture,
1400 Independence Avenue SW, Mail
Stop 3226, Room 5160–S, Washington,
DC 20250–3226, or call (202) 720–1400.
For further information on this notice,
please contact the RD State Office in the
State where the project is located. A list
of RD State Office contacts is provided
at the following link: rd.usda.gov/
contact-us/state-offices.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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Overview
Federal Awarding Agency Name:
Rural Business-Cooperative Service
(RBCS).
Funding Opportunity Title: Rural
Microentrepreneur Assistance Program
(RMAP).
Announcement Type: Notice of
Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
Funding Opportunity Number: RD–
RBCS–25–RMAP.
Assistance Listing: 10.870.
Dates: The deadlines for completed
applications to be received in the RD
State Office for quarterly funding
competitions are no later than 11:59
p.m. Eastern Time on: First Quarter,
September 30, 2024; Second Quarter,
December 31, 2024; Third Quarter,
March 31, 2025, and Fourth Quarter,
June 30, 2025.
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/prioritypoints):
• Assisting rural communities recover
economically through more and better
market opportunities and through
improved infrastructure;
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• Ensuring all rural residents have
equitable access to RD programs and
benefits from RD funded projects; and
• Reducing climate pollution and
increasing resilience to the impacts of
climate change through economic
support to rural communities.
A. Program Description
1. Purpose of the Program. The
purpose of RMAP is to support the
development and ongoing success of
rural microentrepreneurs and
microenterprises, each as defined in 7
CFR 4280.302. RMAP provides the
following types of support: loan only,
combination loan and technical
assistance grant, and subsequent
technical assistance grants to
microenterprise development
organizations (MDOs). Loan funds are
used by the MDO to establish or
recapitalize a revolving loan program for
making microloans to a rural
microentrepreneur business. Grant
funds are used by the MDO to provide
technical assistance and
entrepreneurship training to rural
individuals and businesses.
2. Statutory and Regulatory Authority.
RMAP is authorized by Section 379E of
the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (Pub. L. 87–128), as
amended, and is codified as 7 U.S.C.
2008s and implemented by 7 CFR part
4280, subpart D.
3. Definitions. The definitions
applicable to this notice are published
at 7 CFR 4280.302.
4. Application Awards. The Agency
will review, evaluate, and score
applications received in response to this
notice based on the provisions found in
7 CFR part 4280, subpart D, and as
indicated in this notice. Awards under
RMAP will be made using the
application scoring criteria contained in
7 CFR 4280.316 and this notice. The
Agency advises all interested parties
that the applicant bears the burden in
preparing and submitting an application
in response to this notice regardless of
whether or not funding is appropriated
for this program in FY 2025.
B. Federal Award Information
Type of Award: Loans and/or Grants.
Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2025.
Available Funds: Dependent upon FY
2025 appropriations. Funding is
anticipated to be approximately
$22,000,000 based on FY 2024 amounts.
RBCS may at its discretion, increase the
total level of funding available in this
funding round from any available
source provided the awards meet the
requirements of the statute which made
the funding available to the Agency.
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Award Amounts: The Agency
anticipates the following maximum
amounts per award: Loans—$500,000;
Grants—$100,000.
Anticipated Award Dates:
(a) Regular Funding: First Quarter—
September 30, 2024, Second Quarter—
December 31, 2024, Third Quarter—
March 31, 2025, Fourth Quarter—June
30, 2025.
(b) Subsequent Annual Microlender
Technical Assistance Grants: August 15,
2025
Performance Period: Subsequent
Annual Microlender Technical
Assistance Grants September 30, 2025 to
June 30, 2026
Renewal or Supplemental Awards:
Unless withdrawn by the applicant,
completed applications that receive a
score of at least 60 (7 CFR 4280.310(c))
but have not yet been funded, will be
retained by the Agency for
consideration in subsequent reviews
through a total of four consecutive
quarterly reviews. Applications that
remain unfunded after four quarterly
reviews, including the initial quarter in
which the application was competed,
will not be considered further for an
award.
Type of Assistance Instrument: Direct
Loan, Financial Assistance Agreement
C. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants. Eligible
applicants are domestic organizations
that are non-profit entities, Indian
Tribes (25 U.S.C. 5304(e)) or public
institutions of higher education. Eligible
applicants must provide training and
technical assistance, make microloans,
facilitate access to capital, or have an
effective plan or program to deliver such
services. The applicant must meet the
eligibility requirements in 7 CFR
4280.310 and must not be delinquent on
any Federal debt or otherwise
disqualified from participation in this
program to be eligible to apply. The
Agency will check the Do Not Pay portal
to determine if the applicant has been
debarred or suspended at the time of
application and also prior to funding
any grant award. All other restrictions
in this notice will apply.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching. The cost
share requirement shall be met by the
microlender in accordance with the
requirements specified in 7 CFR
4280.311(d).
The MDO is required to provide a
match of not less than 15 percent of the
total amount of the grant in the form of
matching funds, indirect costs, or inkind goods or services.
3. Other Eligibility Requirements.
Applications will only be accepted from
eligible MDOs. Applications will not be
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considered for funding if they do not
provide sufficient information to
determine eligibility or are otherwise
not suitable for evaluation. Such
applications will be withdrawn and not
considered for funding.
D. Application and Submission
Information
1. Address to Request Application
Package. For further information,
entities wishing to apply for assistance
should contact the RD State Office as
identified in the ADDRESSES section of
this notice to obtain an electronic copy
of the application package.
An MDO may submit an initial
application for a loan with a
microlender technical assistance grant,
or an initial or subsequent loan-only
(without a microlender technical
assistance grant). Loan applications
must be submitted electronically to the
RD State Office where the project is
located and must be organized in the
same order set forth in 7 CFR 4280.315.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to
contact their respective RD State Office
for an email contact to submit an
electronic application prior to the
submission deadline date(s).
2. Content and Form of Application
Submission. An application must
contain all of the required elements
outlined in 7 CFR 4280.315 and in this
notice. Each application must address
the applicable scoring criteria presented
in 7 CFR 4280.316 for the type of
funding being requested.
For entities applying for program loan
funds to become an RMAP microlender
only, the following items are also
required: (1) Form RD 1910–11,
‘‘Applicant Certification Federal
Collection Policies for Consumer or
Commercial Debts;’’ available at https://
forms.sc.egov.usda.gov/efcommon/
eFileServices/eForms/RD1910-11.PDF;
(2) Demonstration that the applicant is
eligible to apply to participate in this
program; and (3) Certification by the
applicant that it cannot obtain sufficient
credit elsewhere to fund the activities
called for under this program with
similar rates and terms.
Current MDO entities may be eligible
for subsequent annual microlender
technical assistance grants that are
awarded subject to funding availability
and determined non-competitively
based on Agency appropriations for the
fiscal year. The MDO must submit a
prescribed worksheet, listing the
outstanding balance of their microloans
and unexpended grant funds as of June
30, 2025, and a letter certifying that
their organization still meets all the
requirements set forth in 7 CFR part
4280, subpart D, and that no significant
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changes have occurred within the last
year that would affect its ability to carry
out the MDO functions. In addition, all
MDOs who request Subsequent Annual
Microlender Technical Assistance
Grants must complete their reporting
into the Lenders Interactive Network
Connection (LINC) for the Federal fiscal
quarter ending June 30, 2025 which will
verify the outstanding balance of their
microloans as stated in their request for
grant funds. The deadline for reporting
into LINC and requesting a technical
assistance grant is no later than 4:30
p.m. (Eastern Time) on August 1, 2025.
3. System for Award Management and
Unique Entity Identifier.
(a) At the time of application, each
applicant must have an active
registration in the System for Award
Management (SAM) before submitting
its application in accordance with 2
CFR part 25. In order to register in SAM,
entities will be required to obtain a
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).
Instructions for obtaining the UEI are
available at https://sam.gov/content/
entity-registration.
(b) Applicants must maintain an
active SAM registration, with current,
accurate and complete information, at
all times during which it has an active
Federal award or an application under
consideration by a Federal awarding
agency.
(c) Applicant must ensure they
complete the Financial Assistance
General Certifications and
Representations in SAM.
(d) Applicants must provide a valid
UEI in its application, unless
determined exempt under 2 CFR 25.110.
(e) The Agency will not make an
award until the applicant has complied
with all SAM requirements including
providing the UEI. If an applicant has
not fully complied with the
requirements by the time the Agency is
ready to make an award, the Agency
may determine that the applicant is not
qualified to receive a Federal award and
use that determination as a basis for
making a Federal award to another
applicant.
4. Submission Dates and Times.
Competitions for the available funds
will be made quarterly for applications
that are received no later than 11:59
p.m. Eastern Time on: First Quarter,
September 30, 2024; Second Quarter,
December 31, 2024; Third Quarter,
March 31, 2025; and Fourth Quarter,
June 30, 2025. The deadline for
requesting a technical assistant grant is
no later than 4:30 p.m. (Eastern Time)
on August 1, 2025.
Applications must be received by the
RD State Office by the dates and times
as indicated above to compete for
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67413
available funds in that fiscal quarter. If
the due date falls on a Saturday,
Sunday, or Federal holiday, the
application is due the next business
day.
The Agency will not solicit or
consider new scoring or eligibility
information that is submitted after the
application deadline. RBCS also
reserves the right to ask applicants for
clarifying information and additional
verification of assertions in the
application.
5. Intergovernmental Review.
Executive Order (E.O.) 12372,
‘‘Intergovernmental Review of Federal
Programs,’’ applies to this program. This
E.O. requires that Federal agencies
provide opportunities for consultation
on proposed assistance with State and
local governments. Many states have
established a Single Point of Contact
(SPOC) to facilitate this consultation.
For a list of states that maintain a SPOC,
please see the White House website:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/
management/office-federal-financialmanagement/. If your state has a SPOC,
you may submit a copy of the
application directly for review. Any
comments obtained through the SPOC
must be provided to your RD State
Office for consideration as part of your
application. If your state has not
established a SPOC, you may submit
your application directly to the Agency.
Applications from Federally recognized
Indian Tribes are not subject to this
requirement.
6. Funding Restrictions. No funds
made available under this notice shall
be used for ineligible purposes outlined
in 7 CFR 4280.313(e).
7. Other Submission Requirements.
All applications must be submitted as a
complete application, in one package.
E. Application Review Information
1. Criteria. All eligible and complete
applications for new loan and grant
funds will be evaluated and scored
based on the selection criteria and
weights contained in 7 CFR part 4280,
subpart D. Failure to address any one of
the criteria by the application deadline
will result in the application being
determined ineligible and the
application will not be considered for
funding. An application must receive at
least 60 points out of 100 possible
points in the scoring criteria stated in 7
CFR 4280.316 to be considered for
funding in the quarter in which it is
scored.
2. Review and Selection Process. The
RD State Offices will review
applications to determine if they are
eligible for assistance based on
requirements contained in 7 CFR part
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4280, subpart D. If determined eligible,
the application will be submitted to the
National Office, where it will be
reviewed and prioritized by ranking
each application received in that
quarter, from highest to lowest score
order. All applications will be funded
from the highest to lowest score until
funds have been exhausted for each
funding cycle. Funding of projects is
subject to the MDO’s satisfactory
submission of the additional items
required by that subpart and the USDA
RD Letter of Conditions.
F. Federal Award Administration
Information
1. Federal Award Notices. Successful
applicants will receive notification for
funding from the RD State Office.
Applicants must comply with all
applicable statutes and regulations
before the award will be approved.
Provided the application and eligibility
requirements have not changed, an
application not selected will be
reconsidered for three subsequent
funding competitions for a total of four
competitions. If an application is
withdrawn, it can be resubmitted and
will be evaluated as a new application.
Unsuccessful applications will receive
notification by mail, detailing why the
application was unsuccessful.
2. Administrative and National Policy
Requirements.
(a) General. Additional requirements
that apply to MDOs selected for this
program can be found in 7 CFR part
4280, subpart D. The USDA and the
Agency have adopted the USDA grant
regulations at 2 CFR chapter IV. This
regulation incorporates the latest
revisions to the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) regulations 2 CFR
part 200 and 2 CFR part 400 for
monitoring and servicing RMAP
funding.
(b) Geospatial Data. Awardee, and any
and all contracts entered into by the
awardee with respect to the award, shall
ensure that geospatial data required to
be collected and provided to the agency,
conforms with the requirements of
USDA Department Regulation DR–
3465–001 and the Geospatial Metadata
Standards set forth in DM 3465–001,
which can be obtained online at
usda.gov/directives/dr-3465001andusda.gov/directives/dm-3465-00.
3. Reporting. In addition to any
reports required by 2 CFR part 200 and
2 CFR part 400, the MDO must provide
reports as required by 7 CFR part 4280,
subpart D.
Intermediaries must collect and
maintain data provided by Ultimate
Recipients defined by 7 CFR 4280.3 on
race, sex, and national origin and must
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also ensure that Ultimate Recipients
collect and maintain this data. Race and
ethnicity data will be collected in
accordance with OMB Federal Register
notice, ‘‘Revisions to the Standards for
the Classification of Federal Data on
Race and Ethnicity’’ (62 FR 58782),
October 30, 1997. Sex data will be
collected in accordance with Title IX of
the Education Amendments of 1972.
These items should not be submitted
with the application but should be
available upon request by the Agency.
The applicant and the Ultimate
Recipients must comply with Title VI of
the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of
the Education Amendments of 1972, the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA),
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of
1973, the Age Discrimination Act of
1975, Executive Order 12250, Executive
Order 13166 Limited English
Proficiency (LEP), and 7 CFR part 1901,
subpart E.
G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s)
For general questions about this
notice, please contact the RD State
Office as provided in the ADDRESSES
section of this notice.
H. Other Information
1. Paperwork Reduction Act. In
accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.
chapter 35), the information collection
requirements associated with RMAP, as
covered in this notice, have been
approved by OMB under OMB Control
Number 0570–0062.
2. National Environmental Policy Act.
All recipients under this notice are
subject to the requirements of 7 CFR
part 1970. However, awards for
technical assistance and training under
this notice are classified as a Categorical
Exclusion according to 7 CFR
1970.53(b), and usually do not require
any additional documentation. RBCS
will review each grant application to
determine its compliance with 7 CFR
part 1970. The applicant may be asked
to provide additional information or
documentation to assist RBCS with this
determination.
3. Federal Funding Accountability
and Transparency Act. All applicants,
in accordance with 2 CFR part 25, must
be registered in SAM and have a UEI
number as stated in Section D.3 of this
notice.
4. Civil Rights Act. All grants made
under this notice are subject to Title VI
of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as
required by the USDA (7 CFR part 15,
subpart A—Nondiscrimination in
Federally-Assisted Programs of the
Department of Agriculture—Effectuation
of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of
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1964) and Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VIII of
the Civil Rights Act of 1968, Title IX,
Executive Order 13166 (Limited English
Proficiency), Executive Order 11246,
and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act of
1974.
5. Equal Opportunity for Religious
Organizations.
(a) Faith-based organizations may
apply for this award on the same basis
as any other organization, as set forth at,
and subject to the protections and
requirements of, this part and any
applicable constitutional and statutory
requirements, including 42 U.S.C.
2000bb et seq. USDA will not, in the
selection of recipients, discriminate for
or against an organization on the basis
of the organization’s religious character,
motives, or affiliation, or lack thereof, or
on the basis of conduct that would not
be considered grounds to favor or
disfavor a similarly situated secular
organization.
(b) A faith-based organization that
participates in this program will retain
its independence from the Government
and may continue to carry out its
mission consistent with religious
freedom and conscience protections in
Federal law. Religious accommodations
may also be sought under many of these
religious freedom and conscience
protection laws.
(c) A faith-based organization may not
use direct Federal financial assistance
from USDA to support or engage in any
explicitly religious activities except
when consistent with the Establishment
Clause of the First Amendment and any
other applicable requirements. An
organization receiving Federal financial
assistance also may not, in providing
services funded by USDA, or in their
outreach activities related to such
services, discriminate against a program
beneficiary or prospective program
beneficiary on the basis of religion, a
religious belief, a refusal to hold a
religious belief, or a refusal to attend or
participate in a religious practice.
6. 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
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(not all bases apply to all programs).
Remedies and complaint filing
deadlines vary by program or incident.
Program information may be made
available in languages other than
English. Persons with disabilities who
require alternative means of
communication to obtain program
information (e.g., Braille, large print,
audiotape, American Sign Language)
should contact the responsible Mission
Area, agency, or staff office or the 711
Relay Service.
To file a program discrimination
complaint, a complainant should
complete a Form AD–3027, USDA
Program Discrimination Complaint
Form, which can be obtained online at
https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/
files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any
USDA office, by calling (866) 632–9992,
or by writing a letter addressed to
USDA. The letter must contain the
complainant’s name, address, telephone
number, and a written description of the
alleged discriminatory action in
sufficient detail to inform the Assistant
Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about
the nature and date of an alleged civil
rights violation. The completed AD–
3027 form or letter must be submitted to
USDA by:
(1) Mail: U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400
Independence Avenue SW,
Washington, DC 20250–9410; or
(2) Fax: (833) 256–1665 or (202) 690–
7442; or
(3) Email: program.intake@usda.gov
USDA is an equal opportunity
provider, employer, and lender.
Kathryn E. Dirksen Londrigan,
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative
Service, USDA Rural Development.
[FR Doc. 2024–18630 Filed 8–19–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–XY–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
[A–570–601]
Tapered Roller Bearings and Parts
Thereof, Finished and Unfinished,
From the People’s Republic of China:
Final Determination of No Shipments
in the Antidumping Duty
Administrative Review; 2022–2023
Enforcement and Compliance,
International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of
Commerce (Commerce) determines that
Shanghai Tainai Bearing Co., Ltd.
AGENCY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:24 Aug 19, 2024
Jkt 262001
(Tainai) made no shipments of the
subject merchandise during the period
of review (POR) June 1, 2022, through
May 31, 2023.
DATES: Applicable August 20, 2024.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jerry
Xiao, AD/CVD Operations, Office II,
Enforcement and Compliance,
International Trade Administration,
U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401
Constitution Avenue NW, Washington,
DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482–2273.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On May 2, 2024 Commerce published
in the Federal Register the Preliminary
Results of the 2022–2023 administrative
review 1 of the antidumping duty on
tapered toller bearings and parts thereof,
finished and unfinished (TRBs) from the
People’s Republic of China (China).2 We
invited interested parties to comment on
the Preliminary Results.3 No interested
party submitted comments.
Accordingly, we made no changes to the
Preliminary Results. On July 22, 2024,
Commerce tolled certain deadlines in
this administrative proceeding by seven
days. The deadline for the final results
is now September 6, 2024.4
Scope of the Order
The products subject to the order are
TRBs. For a complete description of the
scope of the order, see the Preliminary
Results.5
Final Determination of No Shipments
In the Preliminary Results, Commerce
determined that Tainai had no
shipments of TRBs during the POR,
based on Tainai’s timely submitted noshipment certification and our analysis
of information from U.S. Customs and
Border Protection (CBP).6 We received
no comments with respect to our
preliminary finding. Therefore, for these
1 See Tapered Roller Bearings and Parts Thereof,
Finished and Unfinished, from the People’s
Republic of China: Preliminary Determination of No
Shipments and Rescission of Antidumping Duty
Administrative Review, in Part; 2022–2023, 89 FR
35792 (May 2, 2024) (Preliminary Results).
2 See Tapered Roller Bearings from the People’s
Republic of China; Amendment to Final
Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and
Antidumping Duty Order in Accordance with
Decision Upon Remand, 55 FR 6669 (February 26,
1990) (Order).
3 See Preliminary Results.
4 See Memorandum, ‘‘Tolling of Deadlines for
Antidumping and Countervailing Duty
Proceedings,’’ dated July 22, 2024.
5 See Preliminary Results, 89 FR at 35793.
6 See Tainai’s Letter, ‘‘No Shipment
Certification,’’ dated August 24, 2023; see also
Memorandum ‘‘No Shipment Inquiry for Shanghai
Tainai Bearings Co., Ltd. (A–570–601) during the
period 06/01/2022 through 05/31/2023,’’ dated
October 18, 2023.
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
67415
final results, we continue to determine
that Tainai had no shipments of subject
merchandise during the POR.
Assessment Rates
Commerce shall determine, and CBP
shall assess, antidumping duties on all
appropriate entries in accordance with
section 751(a)(2)(C) of the Tariff Act of
1930, as amended (the Act), and 19 CFR
351.212(b). As Commerce continues to
find that Tainai did not have any
shipments of subject merchandise
during the POR, we will instruct CBP to
assess any suspended entries of subject
merchandise associated with Tainai at
the China-wide rate (i.e., 92.84 percent).
Commerce intends to issue
assessment instructions to CBP no
earlier than 35 days after the date of
publication of these final results of
review in the Federal Register. If a
timely summons is filed at the U.S.
Court of International Trade, the
assessment instructions will direct CBP
not to liquidate relevant entries until the
time for parties to file a request for a
statutory injunction has expired (i.e.,
within 90 days of publication).
Cash Deposit Requirements
The following cash deposit
requirements will be effective for all
shipments of subject merchandise
entered, or withdrawn from warehouse,
for consumption on or after the
publication date of the final results of
this administrative review, as provided
by section 751(a)(2)(C) of the Act: (1) for
previously investigated or reviewed
Chinese and non-Chinese exporters for
which a review was not requested and
that received a separate rate in a prior
segment of this proceeding, the cash
deposit rate will continue to be the
existing exporter-specific rate published
for the most recently-completed period;
(2) for all Chinese exporters of subject
merchandise that have not been found
to be entitled to a separate rate, the cash
deposit rate will be the rate for the
China-wide entity; and (3) for all nonChinese exporters of subject
merchandise that have not received
their own rate, the cash deposit rate will
be the rate applicable to the Chinese
exporter that supplied that non-Chinese
exporter. These deposit requirements,
when imposed, shall remain in effect
until further notice.
Notification to Importers
This notice also serves as a final
reminder to importers of their
responsibility under 19 CFR
351.402(f)(2) to file a certificate
regarding the reimbursement of
antidumping duties prior to liquidation
of the relevant entries during the POR.
E:\FR\FM\20AUN1.SGM
20AUN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 161 (Tuesday, August 20, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67411-67415]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-18630]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Business-Cooperative Service
[Docket #: RBS-24-Business-0012]
Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Rural Microentrepreneur
Assistance Program for Fiscal Year 2025
AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS or Agency), an
agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Rural
Development (RD), is making an initial announcement to invite
applications for loans and grants under the Rural Microentrepreneur
Assistance Program (RMAP) for fiscal year (FY) 2025, subject to the
availability of funding. This notice is being issued prior to the
passage of a FY 2025 Appropriations Act, which may or may not provide
funding for this program, in order to allow applicants sufficient time
to leverage financing, prepare and submit their applications, and give
the Agency time to process applications within FY 2025. Based on FY
2024 appropriated funding, the Agency estimates that approximately
$22,000,000 will be available for FY 2025. Successful applications will
be selected by the Agency for funding and subsequently awarded to the
extent that funding may ultimately be made available through
appropriations. All applicants are responsible for any expenses
incurred in developing their applications or any costs incurred prior
to the obligation date.
DATES: The deadlines for completed applications to be received in the
RD State Office for quarterly funding competitions are no later than
11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on: First Quarter, September 30, 2024; Second
Quarter, December 31, 2024; Third Quarter, March 31, 2025; and Fourth
Quarter, June 30, 2025. If the due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or
Federal holiday, the application is due the next business day.
The annual microlender technical assistance grant (for existing
Microenterprise Development Organizations (MDOs) with a
microentrepreneur revolving loan fund) will be made, non-competitively,
based on the microlender's microlending activity and availability of
funds. To determine the microlender technical assistance grant awards
for FY2025, if available, the Agency will use the microlender's
outstanding balance of microloans as of June 30, 2025, to
[[Page 67412]]
calculate the eligible grant amount. MDOs that are in compliance with
the terms of their loan agreement may apply for this annual grant. The
deadline for requesting a technical assistance grant is no later than
4:30 p.m. (Eastern Time) on August 1, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Applications must be submitted electronically to the RD
State Office in the State where the project is located. Applicants are
encouraged to contact their respective RD State Office for an email
contact to submit an electronic application prior to the submission
deadline date(s). A list of the RD State Office contacts can be found
at: rd.usda.gov/contact-us/state-offices. This funding opportunity will
be made available for informational purposes on www.grants.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shamika Johnson at, Program Management
Division, Business Programs, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Mail Stop 3226,
Room 5160-S, Washington, DC 20250-3226, or call (202) 720-1400. For
further information on this notice, please contact the RD State Office
in the State where the project is located. A list of RD State Office
contacts is provided at the following link: rd.usda.gov/contact-us/state-offices.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Overview
Federal Awarding Agency Name: Rural Business-Cooperative Service
(RBCS).
Funding Opportunity Title: Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance
Program (RMAP).
Announcement Type: Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
Funding Opportunity Number: RD-RBCS-25-RMAP.
Assistance Listing: 10.870.
Dates: The deadlines for completed applications to be received in
the RD State Office for quarterly funding competitions are no later
than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on: First Quarter, September 30, 2024;
Second Quarter, December 31, 2024; Third Quarter, March 31, 2025, and
Fourth Quarter, June 30, 2025.
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):
Assisting rural communities recover economically through
more and better market opportunities and through improved
infrastructure;
Ensuring all rural residents have equitable access to RD
programs and benefits from RD funded projects; and
Reducing climate pollution and increasing resilience to
the impacts of climate change through economic support to rural
communities.
A. Program Description
1. Purpose of the Program. The purpose of RMAP is to support the
development and ongoing success of rural microentrepreneurs and
microenterprises, each as defined in 7 CFR 4280.302. RMAP provides the
following types of support: loan only, combination loan and technical
assistance grant, and subsequent technical assistance grants to
microenterprise development organizations (MDOs). Loan funds are used
by the MDO to establish or recapitalize a revolving loan program for
making microloans to a rural microentrepreneur business. Grant funds
are used by the MDO to provide technical assistance and
entrepreneurship training to rural individuals and businesses.
2. Statutory and Regulatory Authority. RMAP is authorized by
Section 379E of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (Pub.
L. 87-128), as amended, and is codified as 7 U.S.C. 2008s and
implemented by 7 CFR part 4280, subpart D.
3. Definitions. The definitions applicable to this notice are
published at 7 CFR 4280.302.
4. Application Awards. The Agency will review, evaluate, and score
applications received in response to this notice based on the
provisions found in 7 CFR part 4280, subpart D, and as indicated in
this notice. Awards under RMAP will be made using the application
scoring criteria contained in 7 CFR 4280.316 and this notice. The
Agency advises all interested parties that the applicant bears the
burden in preparing and submitting an application in response to this
notice regardless of whether or not funding is appropriated for this
program in FY 2025.
B. Federal Award Information
Type of Award: Loans and/or Grants.
Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2025.
Available Funds: Dependent upon FY 2025 appropriations. Funding is
anticipated to be approximately $22,000,000 based on FY 2024 amounts.
RBCS may at its discretion, increase the total level of funding
available in this funding round from any available source provided the
awards meet the requirements of the statute which made the funding
available to the Agency.
Award Amounts: The Agency anticipates the following maximum amounts
per award: Loans--$500,000; Grants--$100,000.
Anticipated Award Dates:
(a) Regular Funding: First Quarter--September 30, 2024, Second
Quarter--December 31, 2024, Third Quarter--March 31, 2025, Fourth
Quarter--June 30, 2025.
(b) Subsequent Annual Microlender Technical Assistance Grants:
August 15, 2025
Performance Period: Subsequent Annual Microlender Technical
Assistance Grants September 30, 2025 to June 30, 2026
Renewal or Supplemental Awards: Unless withdrawn by the applicant,
completed applications that receive a score of at least 60 (7 CFR
4280.310(c)) but have not yet been funded, will be retained by the
Agency for consideration in subsequent reviews through a total of four
consecutive quarterly reviews. Applications that remain unfunded after
four quarterly reviews, including the initial quarter in which the
application was competed, will not be considered further for an award.
Type of Assistance Instrument: Direct Loan, Financial Assistance
Agreement
C. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants. Eligible applicants are domestic
organizations that are non-profit entities, Indian Tribes (25 U.S.C.
5304(e)) or public institutions of higher education. Eligible
applicants must provide training and technical assistance, make
microloans, facilitate access to capital, or have an effective plan or
program to deliver such services. The applicant must meet the
eligibility requirements in 7 CFR 4280.310 and must not be delinquent
on any Federal debt or otherwise disqualified from participation in
this program to be eligible to apply. The Agency will check the Do Not
Pay portal to determine if the applicant has been debarred or suspended
at the time of application and also prior to funding any grant award.
All other restrictions in this notice will apply.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching. The cost share requirement shall be
met by the microlender in accordance with the requirements specified in
7 CFR 4280.311(d).
The MDO is required to provide a match of not less than 15 percent
of the total amount of the grant in the form of matching funds,
indirect costs, or in-kind goods or services.
3. Other Eligibility Requirements. Applications will only be
accepted from eligible MDOs. Applications will not be
[[Page 67413]]
considered for funding if they do not provide sufficient information to
determine eligibility or are otherwise not suitable for evaluation.
Such applications will be withdrawn and not considered for funding.
D. Application and Submission Information
1. Address to Request Application Package. For further information,
entities wishing to apply for assistance should contact the RD State
Office as identified in the ADDRESSES section of this notice to obtain
an electronic copy of the application package.
An MDO may submit an initial application for a loan with a
microlender technical assistance grant, or an initial or subsequent
loan-only (without a microlender technical assistance grant). Loan
applications must be submitted electronically to the RD State Office
where the project is located and must be organized in the same order
set forth in 7 CFR 4280.315. Applicants are strongly encouraged to
contact their respective RD State Office for an email contact to submit
an electronic application prior to the submission deadline date(s).
2. Content and Form of Application Submission. An application must
contain all of the required elements outlined in 7 CFR 4280.315 and in
this notice. Each application must address the applicable scoring
criteria presented in 7 CFR 4280.316 for the type of funding being
requested.
For entities applying for program loan funds to become an RMAP
microlender only, the following items are also required: (1) Form RD
1910-11, ``Applicant Certification Federal Collection Policies for
Consumer or Commercial Debts;'' available at https://forms.sc.egov.usda.gov/efcommon/eFileServices/eForms/RD1910-11.PDF; (2)
Demonstration that the applicant is eligible to apply to participate in
this program; and (3) Certification by the applicant that it cannot
obtain sufficient credit elsewhere to fund the activities called for
under this program with similar rates and terms.
Current MDO entities may be eligible for subsequent annual
microlender technical assistance grants that are awarded subject to
funding availability and determined non-competitively based on Agency
appropriations for the fiscal year. The MDO must submit a prescribed
worksheet, listing the outstanding balance of their microloans and
unexpended grant funds as of June 30, 2025, and a letter certifying
that their organization still meets all the requirements set forth in 7
CFR part 4280, subpart D, and that no significant changes have occurred
within the last year that would affect its ability to carry out the MDO
functions. In addition, all MDOs who request Subsequent Annual
Microlender Technical Assistance Grants must complete their reporting
into the Lenders Interactive Network Connection (LINC) for the Federal
fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2025 which will verify the outstanding
balance of their microloans as stated in their request for grant funds.
The deadline for reporting into LINC and requesting a technical
assistance grant is no later than 4:30 p.m. (Eastern Time) on August 1,
2025.
3. System for Award Management and Unique Entity Identifier.
(a) At the time of application, each applicant must have an active
registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) before submitting
its application in accordance with 2 CFR part 25. In order to register
in SAM, entities will be required to obtain a Unique Entity Identifier
(UEI). Instructions for obtaining the UEI are available at https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration.
(b) Applicants must maintain an active SAM registration, with
current, accurate and complete information, at all times during which
it has an active Federal award or an application under consideration by
a Federal awarding agency.
(c) Applicant must ensure they complete the Financial Assistance
General Certifications and Representations in SAM.
(d) Applicants must provide a valid UEI in its application, unless
determined exempt under 2 CFR 25.110.
(e) The Agency will not make an award until the applicant has
complied with all SAM requirements including providing the UEI. If an
applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time the
Agency is ready to make an award, the Agency may determine that the
applicant is not qualified to receive a Federal award and use that
determination as a basis for making a Federal award to another
applicant.
4. Submission Dates and Times. Competitions for the available funds
will be made quarterly for applications that are received no later than
11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on: First Quarter, September 30, 2024; Second
Quarter, December 31, 2024; Third Quarter, March 31, 2025; and Fourth
Quarter, June 30, 2025. The deadline for requesting a technical
assistant grant is no later than 4:30 p.m. (Eastern Time) on August 1,
2025.
Applications must be received by the RD State Office by the dates
and times as indicated above to compete for available funds in that
fiscal quarter. If the due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or Federal
holiday, the application is due the next business day.
The Agency will not solicit or consider new scoring or eligibility
information that is submitted after the application deadline. RBCS also
reserves the right to ask applicants for clarifying information and
additional verification of assertions in the application.
5. Intergovernmental Review. Executive Order (E.O.) 12372,
``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs,'' applies to this
program. This E.O. requires that Federal agencies provide opportunities
for consultation on proposed assistance with State and local
governments. Many states have established a Single Point of Contact
(SPOC) to facilitate this consultation. For a list of states that
maintain a SPOC, please see the White House website: https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/management/office-federal-financial-management/.
If your state has a SPOC, you may submit a copy of the application
directly for review. Any comments obtained through the SPOC must be
provided to your RD State Office for consideration as part of your
application. If your state has not established a SPOC, you may submit
your application directly to the Agency. Applications from Federally
recognized Indian Tribes are not subject to this requirement.
6. Funding Restrictions. No funds made available under this notice
shall be used for ineligible purposes outlined in 7 CFR 4280.313(e).
7. Other Submission Requirements. All applications must be
submitted as a complete application, in one package.
E. Application Review Information
1. Criteria. All eligible and complete applications for new loan
and grant funds will be evaluated and scored based on the selection
criteria and weights contained in 7 CFR part 4280, subpart D. Failure
to address any one of the criteria by the application deadline will
result in the application being determined ineligible and the
application will not be considered for funding. An application must
receive at least 60 points out of 100 possible points in the scoring
criteria stated in 7 CFR 4280.316 to be considered for funding in the
quarter in which it is scored.
2. Review and Selection Process. The RD State Offices will review
applications to determine if they are eligible for assistance based on
requirements contained in 7 CFR part
[[Page 67414]]
4280, subpart D. If determined eligible, the application will be
submitted to the National Office, where it will be reviewed and
prioritized by ranking each application received in that quarter, from
highest to lowest score order. All applications will be funded from the
highest to lowest score until funds have been exhausted for each
funding cycle. Funding of projects is subject to the MDO's satisfactory
submission of the additional items required by that subpart and the
USDA RD Letter of Conditions.
F. Federal Award Administration Information
1. Federal Award Notices. Successful applicants will receive
notification for funding from the RD State Office. Applicants must
comply with all applicable statutes and regulations before the award
will be approved. Provided the application and eligibility requirements
have not changed, an application not selected will be reconsidered for
three subsequent funding competitions for a total of four competitions.
If an application is withdrawn, it can be resubmitted and will be
evaluated as a new application. Unsuccessful applications will receive
notification by mail, detailing why the application was unsuccessful.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements.
(a) General. Additional requirements that apply to MDOs selected
for this program can be found in 7 CFR part 4280, subpart D. The USDA
and the Agency have adopted the USDA grant regulations at 2 CFR chapter
IV. This regulation incorporates the latest revisions to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) regulations 2 CFR part 200 and 2 CFR part
400 for monitoring and servicing RMAP funding.
(b) Geospatial Data. Awardee, and any and all contracts entered
into by the awardee with respect to the award, shall ensure that
geospatial data required to be collected and provided to the agency,
conforms with the requirements of USDA Department Regulation DR-3465-
001 and the Geospatial Metadata Standards set forth in DM 3465-001,
which can be obtained online at usda.gov/directives/dr-3465-001andusda.gov/directives/dm-3465-00.
3. Reporting. In addition to any reports required by 2 CFR part 200
and 2 CFR part 400, the MDO must provide reports as required by 7 CFR
part 4280, subpart D.
Intermediaries must collect and maintain data provided by Ultimate
Recipients defined by 7 CFR 4280.3 on race, sex, and national origin
and must also ensure that Ultimate Recipients collect and maintain this
data. Race and ethnicity data will be collected in accordance with OMB
Federal Register notice, ``Revisions to the Standards for the
Classification of Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity'' (62 FR 58782),
October 30, 1997. Sex data will be collected in accordance with Title
IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. These items should not be
submitted with the application but should be available upon request by
the Agency.
The applicant and the Ultimate Recipients must comply with Title VI
of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments
of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975,
Executive Order 12250, Executive Order 13166 Limited English
Proficiency (LEP), and 7 CFR part 1901, subpart E.
G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s)
For general questions about this notice, please contact the RD
State Office as provided in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.
H. Other Information
1. Paperwork Reduction Act. In accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35), the information
collection requirements associated with RMAP, as covered in this
notice, have been approved by OMB under OMB Control Number 0570-0062.
2. National Environmental Policy Act. All recipients under this
notice are subject to the requirements of 7 CFR part 1970. However,
awards for technical assistance and training under this notice are
classified as a Categorical Exclusion according to 7 CFR 1970.53(b),
and usually do not require any additional documentation. RBCS will
review each grant application to determine its compliance with 7 CFR
part 1970. The applicant may be asked to provide additional information
or documentation to assist RBCS with this determination.
3. Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act. All
applicants, in accordance with 2 CFR part 25, must be registered in SAM
and have a UEI number as stated in Section D.3 of this notice.
4. Civil Rights Act. All grants made under this notice are subject
to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as required by the USDA (7
CFR part 15, subpart A--Nondiscrimination in Federally-Assisted
Programs of the Department of Agriculture--Effectuation of Title VI of
the Civil Rights Act of 1964) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
of 1973, Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, Title IX,
Executive Order 13166 (Limited English Proficiency), Executive Order
11246, and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974.
5. Equal Opportunity for Religious Organizations.
(a) Faith-based organizations may apply for this award on the same
basis as any other organization, as set forth at, and subject to the
protections and requirements of, this part and any applicable
constitutional and statutory requirements, including 42 U.S.C. 2000bb
et seq. USDA will not, in the selection of recipients, discriminate for
or against an organization on the basis of the organization's religious
character, motives, or affiliation, or lack thereof, or on the basis of
conduct that would not be considered grounds to favor or disfavor a
similarly situated secular organization.
(b) A faith-based organization that participates in this program
will retain its independence from the Government and may continue to
carry out its mission consistent with religious freedom and conscience
protections in Federal law. Religious accommodations may also be sought
under many of these religious freedom and conscience protection laws.
(c) A faith-based organization may not use direct Federal financial
assistance from USDA to support or engage in any explicitly religious
activities except when consistent with the Establishment Clause of the
First Amendment and any other applicable requirements. An organization
receiving Federal financial assistance also may not, in providing
services funded by USDA, or in their outreach activities related to
such services, discriminate against a program beneficiary or
prospective program beneficiary on the basis of religion, a religious
belief, a refusal to hold a religious belief, or a refusal to attend or
participate in a religious practice.
6. 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
[[Page 67415]]
(not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing
deadlines vary by program or incident.
Program information may be made available in languages other than
English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of
communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large
print, audiotape, American Sign Language) should contact the
responsible Mission Area, agency, or staff office or the 711 Relay
Service.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a complainant should
complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form,
which can be obtained online at https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866)
632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must
contain the complainant's name, address, telephone number, and a
written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient
detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about
the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed
AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
(1) Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC
20250-9410; or
(2) Fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
(3) Email: [email protected]
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
Kathryn E. Dirksen Londrigan,
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA Rural
Development.
[FR Doc. 2024-18630 Filed 8-19-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XY-P
