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| Publication: Federal Register
Signing Official: Karama Neal Department: Department of Agriculture Date: 14 January 2022 |
[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 10 (Friday, January 14, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2406-2411]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-00653]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Business-Cooperative Service
[Docket Number: RBS-21-BUSINESS-0031]
Notice of Solicitation of Applications for the Rural Business
Development Grant Program To Provide Technical Assistance for Rural
Transportation Systems
AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice is to invite applications for grants to provide
Technical Assistance for passenger Rural Transportation (RT) systems
under the Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) program and the terms
for such funding. Grant funds will provide Technical Assistance for RT
systems including designated funds to provide Technical Assistance to
RT systems operating within tribal lands of Federally Recognized Native
American Tribes (FRNAT) (collectively ``Programs''). This notice is
being issued in order to allow applicants sufficient time to leverage
financing, prepare and submit their applications and give the Agency
time to process applications within fiscal year (FY) 2022. 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. An announcement on the website at:
https://www.rd.usda.gov/newsroom/notices-solicitation-applications-nosas will identify the amount received in the appropriations. All
applicants are responsible for any expenses incurred in developing
their applications.
DATES: The deadline for completed applications to be received in the
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State
Office is no later than 4:30 p.m. (local time) on April 14, 2022, to be
eligible for FY 2022 grant funding. Applications received after the
deadline will be ineligible for funding.
ADDRESSES: This funding announcement will also be announced on
www.Grants.gov. Applications must be submitted to the USDA Rural
Development State Office where the Project is located. A list of the
USDA Rural Development State Office contacts can be found at: http://www.rd.usda.gov/contact-us/state-offices.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cindy Mason, Business Loan and Grant
Analyst, Specialty Programs Division at (202) 690-1433 or
cindy.mason@usda.gov, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-3226. For further
information in this notice, please contact the Rural Development office
for the State in which the applicant is located. A list of Rural
Development State Office contacts is provided at the following link:
http://www.rd.usda.gov/contact-us/state-offices.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Priority Language for Funding Opportunities
The Agency encourages applicants to consider projects that will
advance the following key priorities (more details available at https://www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points):
Assisting Rural communities recover economically from the
impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly disadvantaged
communities;
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.
Overview
Solicitation Opportunity Title: Rural Business Development Grants.
Announcement Type: Initial Announcement.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 10.351.
Dates: The deadline for completed applications must be received in
the USDA Rural Development State Office no later than 4:30 p.m. (local
time) on April 14, 2022, to be eligible for FY 2022 grant funding.
A. Program Description
1. Purpose of the Program. The purpose of this program is to
improve the economic conditions of Rural Areas by providing technical
assistance that will enhance the operation of rural transportation
systems.
2. Statutory Authority. This program is authorized under section
310B(c) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C.
1932(c)). Regulations are contained in 7 CFR part 4280, subpart E. The
program is administered on behalf of Rural Business-Cooperative Service
(RBCS) at the State level by the USDA Rural Development State Offices.
Assistance provided to Rural Areas under the program has historically
included the provision of on-site Technical Assistance to tribal, local
and regional governments, public transit agencies, and related
nonprofit and for-profit organizations in Rural Areas; the development
of training materials; and the provision of necessary training
assistance to local officials and agencies in Rural Areas.
Awards under the RBDG passenger transportation program will be made
on a competitive basis using specific selection criteria contained in 7
CFR part 4280, subpart E, and in accordance with section 310B(c) of the
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(c)).
Information required to be in the application package includes Standard
Form (SF) 424, ``Application for Federal Assistance;'' environmental
documentation in accordance with 7 CFR part 1970, ``Environmental
Policies and Procedures;'' Scope of Work Narrative; Income Statement;
Balance Sheet or Audit for previous 3 years; SF LLL, ``Disclosure of
Lobbying Activities;'' RD 400-1, ``Equal Opportunity Agreement;'' RD
400-4,
[[Page 2407]]
``Assurance Agreement;'' and a letter providing Board authorization to
obtain assistance. For the FRNAT grant, which must benefit FRNATs, at
least 75 percent of the benefits of the Project must be received by
members of FRNATs. The Project that scores the greatest number of
points based on the RBDG selection criteria and the discretionary
points will be selected for each grant.
For the funding for Technical Assistance for RT systems, applicants
must be qualified national organizations with experience in providing
Technical Assistance and training to rural communities nationwide for
the purpose of improving passenger transportation services or
facilities. To be considered ``national,'' RBCS requires a qualified
organization to provide evidence that it can operate RT assistance
programming nation-wide. An entity can qualify if they can work in
partnership with other entities to fulfill the national requirement as
long as the applicant will have ultimate control of the grant
administration. For the funding for RT systems to FRNATs, an entity can
qualify if they can work in partnership with other entities to support
all federally recognized tribes in all States, as long as the applicant
will have ultimate control of the grant administration. There is not a
requirement to use the grant funds in a multi-State area. Grants will
be made to qualified national organizations for the provision of
Technical Assistance and training to Rural communities for the purpose
of improving passenger transportation services or facilities.
3. Definition of Terms. The definitions applicable to this notice
are published at 7 CFR 4280.403.
4. Application Awards. The Agency will review, evaluate, and score
applications received in response to this notice based on the
provisions in 7 CFR 4280, subpart E and as indicated in this notice.
However, the Agency advises all interested parties that the applicant
bears the burden in preparing and submitting a complete application in
response to this notice.
B. Federal Award Information
Type of Award: Grants.
Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2022 (amount to be determined).
Available Funds: Anyone interested in submitting an application for
funding under this program is encouraged to consult the Rural
Development Web Newsroom website at: http://www.rd.usda.gov/newsroom/notices-solicitation-applications-nosas.
Approximate Number of Awards: To be determined based on the number
of qualified applications received.
Maximum Awards: The Agency anticipates funding of $500,000 for RT
systems and $250,000 for FRNAT RT projects. The amounts will be
determined by the specific funding provided for the program in the FY
2022 Appropriations Act. The Agency will publish any maximum award
amount on its website at: https://www.rd.usda.gov/newsroom/notices-solicitation-applications-nosas.
Award Date: Prior to September 30, 2022.
Performance Period: October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2023.
Renewal or Supplemental Awards: None.
C. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants.
To be considered eligible, an entity must be a qualified national
organization serving Rural Areas as evidenced in its organizational
documents and demonstrated experience, per 7 CFR part 4280, subpart E.
Grants will be competitively awarded to qualified national
organizations.
The Agency requires the following information to make an
eligibility determination that an applicant is a national organization.
These applications must include, but are not limited to, the following:
(a) An original and one copy of SF 424, ``Application for Federal
Assistance (for non-construction);''
(b) Copies of applicant's organizational documents showing the
applicant's legal existence and authority to perform the activities
under the grant;
(c) A proposed scope of work, including a description of the
proposed Project, details of the proposed activities to be accomplished
and timeframes for completion of each task, the number of months for
the duration of the Project, and the estimated time it will take from
grant approval to the beginning of Project implementation;
(d) A written narrative that includes, at a minimum, the following
items:
(1) An explanation of why the Project is needed, the benefits of
the proposed Project, and how the Project meets the grant eligible
purposes;
(2) Area to be served, identifying each governmental unit, i.e.,
tribe, town, county, etc., to be affected by the Project;
(3) Description of how the Project will coordinate Economic
Development activities with other Economic Development activities
within the Project area;
(4) Businesses to be assisted, if appropriate, and economic
development to be accomplished;
(5) An explanation of how the proposed Project will result in newly
created, increased, or supported jobs in the area and the number of
projected new and supported jobs within the next 3 years;
(6) A description of the applicant's demonstrated capability and
experience in providing the proposed Project assistance, including
experience of key staff members and persons who will be providing the
proposed Project activities and managing the Project;
(7) The method and rationale used to select the areas and
businesses that will receive the service;
(8) A brief description of how the work will be performed,
including whether organizational staff or consultants or contractors
will be used; and
(9) Other information the Agency may request to assist it in making
a grant award determination.
(e) The latest 3 years of financial information to show the
applicant's financial capacity to carry out the proposed work. If the
applicant is less than 3 years old, at a minimum, the information
should include all balance sheet(s), income statement(s), and cash flow
statement(s). A current audited report is required if available;
(f) Documentation regarding the availability and amount of other
funds to be used in conjunction with the funds from RBDG;
(g) A budget which includes salaries, fringe benefits, consultant
costs, indirect costs, and other appropriate direct costs for the
Project.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching. Matching funds are not required.
3. Other.
Applications will only be accepted from qualified national
organizations to provide Technical Assistance for RT. There are no
``responsiveness'' or ``threshold'' eligibility criteria for these
grants. There is no limit on the number of applications an applicant
may submit under this announcement. None of the funds made available
may be used to enter into a contract, memorandum of understanding, or
cooperative agreement with, make a grant to, or provide a loan or loan
guarantee to, any corporation that has any unpaid Federal tax liability
that has been assessed, for which all judicial and administrative
remedies have been exhausted or have lapsed, and that is not being paid
in a timely manner pursuant to an agreement with the authority
responsible for collecting the tax liability, where the awarding agency
is aware of the unpaid
[[Page 2408]]
tax liability, unless a Federal agency has considered suspension or
debarment of the corporation and has made a determination that this
further action is not necessary to protect the interests of the
Government.
None of the funds made available may be used to enter into a
contract, memorandum of understanding, or cooperative agreement with,
make a grant to, or provide a loan or loan guarantee to, any
corporation that was convicted of a felony criminal violation under any
Federal law within the preceding 24 months, where the awarding agency
is aware of the conviction, unless a Federal agency has considered
suspension or debarment of the corporation and has made a determination
that this further action is not necessary to protect the interests of
the Government.
4. Completeness Eligibility.
Applications will not be considered for funding if they do not
provide sufficient information to determine eligibility or are missing
required elements.
D. Application and Submission Information
1. Address to Request Application Package.
For further information, entities wishing to apply for assistance
should contact the USDA Rural Development State Office provided in the
ADDRESSES section of this notice to obtain copies of the application
package.
Prior to official submission of grant applications, applicants may
request technical assistance or other application guidance from the
Agency, as long as such requests are made prior to March 7, 2022.
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 solicit
or consider scoring or eligibility information that is submitted after
the application deadline. The Agency reserves the right to contact
applicants to seek clarification information on materials contained in
the submitted application.
Applications must be submitted in paper format or electronic
submission. If you want to submit an electronic application, follow the
instructions for the RBDG funding announcement located at: http://www.grants.gov. Please review the Grants.gov website for instructions
on the process of registering your organization as soon as possible to
ensure you can meet the electronic application deadline. Applications
submitted to a USDA Rural Development State Office must be received by
the closing date and local time.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission.
You may submit your application in paper form or electronically
through Grants.gov. Your application must contain all required
information using only one of the submission methods. If you submit in
paper form, any forms requiring signatures must include an original
signature.
To apply electronically, you must follow the instructions for this
funding announcement at: http://www.grants.gov. Please note that we
cannot accept emailed or faxed applications.
You can locate the Grants.gov downloadable application package for
this program by using a keyword, the program name, or the Catalog of
Federal Domestic Assistance number for this program.
When you enter the Grants.gov website, you will find information
about applying electronically through the site, as well as the hours of
operation.
To use Grants.gov, you must already have a Dun and Bradstreet
Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and you must also be
registered and maintain registration in the System Awards Management
(SAM). We strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application
deadline date to begin the application process through Grants.gov.
Documents submitted electronically through Grants.gov must include
electronic signatures. Original signatures may be required if funds are
awarded.
After applying electronically through Grants.gov, you will receive
an automatic acknowledgement from Grants.gov that contains a Grants.gov
tracking number.
If you want to submit a paper application, send it to the State
Office located in the State where the Project will primarily take
place. You can find State Office contact information at: http://www.rd.usda.gov/contact-us/state-offices.
The organization submitting the application will be considered the
lead entity. The program manager must be associated with the lead
entity submitting the application.
An application must contain all of the required elements. Each
application received in a USDA Rural Development State Office will be
reviewed to determine if it is consistent with the eligible purposes
contained in section 310B(c) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(c)). Each selection scoring criterion
outlined in 7 CFR 4280.435 must be addressed in the application.
Failure to address any of the criteria will result in a zero-point
score for that criterion and will impact the overall evaluation of the
application. Copies of 7 CFR part 4280, subpart E, are available on the
Rural Development website at: https://www.rd.usda.gov/page/regulations-and-guidance, or will be provided to any interested applicant making a
request to a USDA Rural Development State Office.
All Projects to receive Technical Assistance through these
passenger transportation grant funds are to be identified when the
applications are submitted to the USDA Rural Development State Office.
Multiple Project applications must identify each individual Project,
indicate the amount of funding requested for each individual Project,
and address the criteria as stated above for each individual Project.
For multiple-Project applications, the average of the individual
Project scores will be the score for that application.
The applicant documentation and forms needed for a complete
application are located in the Program Description section of this
notice, and 7 CFR part 4280, subpart E.
(a) There are no specific formats, specific limitations on number
of pages, font size and type face, margins, paper size, number of
copies, sequence or assembly requirements.
(b) The component pieces of this application should contain
original signatures on the original application.
(c) Since these grants are for Technical Assistance for
transportation purposes, no additional information requirements other
than those described in this notice and 7 CFR part 4280, subpart E are
required.
3. Unique entity identifier and System for Award Management.
All applicants must have a DUNS number which can be obtained at no
cost via a toll-free request line at (866) 705-5711 or at: http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform. Each applicant (unless the applicant is an
individual or Federal awarding agency that is excepted from the
requirements under 2 CFR 25.110(b) or (c) or has an exception approved
by the Federal awarding agency under 2 CFR 25.110(d)) is required to:
(i) Be registered in SAMS before submitting its application; (ii)
provide a valid unique entity identifier in its application; and (iii)
continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current
information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or
an application or plan
[[Page 2409]]
under consideration by a Federal awarding agency. The Federal awarding
agency may not make a Federal award to an applicant until the applicant
has complied with all applicable unique entity identifier and SAM
requirements and, if an applicant has not fully complied with the
requirements by the time the Federal awarding agency is ready to make a
Federal award, the Federal awarding agency may determine that the
applicant is not qualified to receive a Federal award and use that
determination as a basis for making a Federal award to another
applicant.
4. Submission Dates and Times.
(a) Application Deadline Date: Paper applications are due no later
than 4:30 p.m. (local time) on April 14, 2022. Electronic applications
must be submitted via grants.gov no later than 11:59 p.m. eastern time
on April 14, 2022.
Explanation of Deadlines: Applications must be in the USDA Rural
Development State Office or submitted in grants.gov by the deadline
date and times as indicated above. If the due date falls on a Saturday,
Sunday, or Federal holiday, the application is due the next business
day.
(b) The deadline date means that the completed application package
must be received in the USDA Rural Development State Office or in the
grants.gov system by the deadline date established above. All
application documents identified in this notice and in 7 CFR part 4280,
subpart E, are required to be considered a complete application.
(c) If complete applications are not received by the deadline
established above, the application will neither be reviewed nor
considered under any circumstances.
(d) The Agency will determine the paper application receipt date
based on the actual date postmarked.
(e) This notice is for RT Technical Assistance grants only and
therefore, intergovernmental reviews are not required.
(f) These grants are for RT Technical Assistance grants only and no
construction or equipment purchases are permitted. If the grantee has a
previously approved indirect cost rate, it is permissible, otherwise,
the applicant may elect to charge the 10 percent indirect cost
permitted under 2 CFR 200.414(f) or request a determination of its
Indirect Cost Rate. Due to the time required to evaluate Indirect Cost
Rates, it is likely that all funds will be awarded by the time the
Indirect Cost Rate is determined. No foreign travel is permitted. Pre-
Federal award costs will only be permitted with prior written approval
by the Agency.
(g) Applicants must submit applications in paper copy format or an
electronic submission as previously indicated in the Application and
Submission Information section of this notice. If the applicant wishes
to hand deliver its application, the addresses for these deliveries can
be located in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.
(h) If you require alternative means of communication for program
information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) please
contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).
E. Application Review Information
1. Criteria.
All eligible and complete applications will be evaluated and scored
based on the scoring criteria contained in 7 CFR 4280.435. The Agency
will select grantees subject to the grantees' satisfactory submission
of the additional items required by 7 CFR part 4280, Section 4280.427,
and the USDA Rural Development Letter of Conditions. Failure to address
any one of the criteria in 7 CFR 4280.427 by the application deadline
will result in the application being determined ineligible, and the
application will not be considered for funding. The amount of an RT
grant may be adjusted, at the Agency's discretion, to enable the Agency
to award RT grants to the applications with the highest priority scores
in each category.
2. Review and Selection Process.
Rural Development State Offices will review applications to
determine if they are eligible for assistance based on the application
and project eligibility requirements contained in 7 CFR 4280.416 and
4280.417, respectively, and as stated in this notice. If determined
eligible, your application will be submitted to the National Office.
Funding of the projects is subject to the applicant's satisfactory
submission of the additional items required by that subpart and the
USDA Rural Development Letter of Conditions. The Agency reserves the
right to award additional discretionary points under 7 CFR 4280.435(k).
Discretionary points may only be assigned to initial grants.
Assignment of discretionary points must include a written
justification. Permissible justifications include projects that meet
special Secretary of Agriculture initiatives such as projects that
assist communities recover economically from the impacts of the COVID-
19 pandemic; 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. The website https://www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points has additional data on the Secretary of
Agriculture initiatives.
The number of points to be awarded will be determined by the impact
of the project on the stated initiative.
F. Federal Award Administration Information
1. Federal Award Notices.
Successful applicants will receive notification for funding from
their USDA Rural Development State Office. Applicants must comply with
all applicable statutes and regulations before the grant award will be
approved. Unsuccessful applications will receive notification by mail.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements.
All successful applicants will be notified by letter, which will
include a Letter of Conditions, and a Letter of Intent to Meet
Conditions. This letter is not an authorization to begin performance.
If the applicant wishes to consider beginning performance prior to the
grant being officially closed, all pre-award costs must be approved in
writing and in advance by the Agency. The grant will be considered
officially awarded when all conditions in the Letter of Conditions have
been met and the Agency obligates the funding for the Project.
Additional requirements that apply to grantees selected for this
program can be found in 7 CFR part 4280, subpart E; the Grants and
Agreements regulations of the U.S. Department of Agriculture codified
in 2 CFR Chapter IV, which incorporates the new Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) regulations at 2 CFR part 200, and successor
regulations. In addition, all recipients of Federal financial
assistance are required to report information about first-tier sub-
awards and executive compensation (see 2 CFR part 170). You will be
required to have the necessary processes and systems in place to comply
with the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006
(Pub. L. 109-282) reporting requirements (see 2 CFR 170.200(b), unless
you are exempt under 2 CFR 170.110(b)).
The following additional requirements apply to grantees selected
for this program:
(a) Form RD 4280-2 ``Rural Business-Cooperative Service Financial
Assistance Agreement.''
(b) Letter of Conditions.
(c) Form RD 1940-1, ``Request for Obligation of Funds.''
[[Page 2410]]
(d) Form RD 1942-46, ``Letter of Intent to Meet Conditions.''
(i) Form RD 400-4, ``Assurance Agreement.'' Each prospective
recipient must sign Form RD 400-4 which assures USDA that the recipient
is in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 7 CFR
part 15, and other Agency regulations. Form RD 400-4 also provides that
no person will be discriminated against based on race, color, or
national origin, in regard to any program or activity for which the
recipient receives Federal financial assistance. The grant recipient
must include the required nondiscrimination statements in any of their
advertisements and brochures. Program participants will be required to
collect and maintain data provided by recipients on race, sex, and
national origin and ensure 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. Data on recipients' sex 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 recipient must comply with Title VI
of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments
of 1972, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Executive
Order 12250, Executive Order 13166 regarding Limited English
Proficiency (LEP), and 7 CFR part 1901, subpart E.
(j) SF LLL, ``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities,'' if applicable.
(k) Form SF 270, ``Request for Advance or Reimbursement.''
3. Reporting.
(a) A Financial Status Report and a Project performance activity
report will be required of all grantees on a quarterly basis until
initial funds are expended and yearly thereafter, if applicable, based
on the Federal fiscal year. The grantee will complete the Project
within the total time available to it in accordance with the Scope of
Work and any necessary modifications thereof prepared by the grantee
and approved by the Agency. A final Project performance report will be
required with the final Financial Status Report. The final report may
serve as the last quarterly report. The final report must provide
complete information regarding the jobs created and supported as a
result of the grant if applicable. Grantees must continuously monitor
performance to ensure that time schedules are being met, projected work
by time periods is being accomplished, and other performance objectives
are being achieved. Grantees must submit an original of each report to
the Agency no later than 30 days after the end of the quarter. The
Project performance reports must include, but not be limited to, the
following:
(1) A comparison of actual accomplishments to the objectives
established for that period;
(2) Problems, delays, or adverse conditions, if any, which have
affected or will affect attainment of overall Project objectives,
prevent meeting time schedules or objectives, or preclude the
attainment of particular Project work elements during established time
periods. This disclosure shall be accompanied by a statement of the
action taken or planned to resolve the situation;
(3) Objectives and timetable established for the next reporting
period;
(4) Any special reporting requirements, such as jobs supported and
created, businesses assisted, or Economic Development which results in
improvements in median household incomes, and any other specific
requirements, should be placed in the reporting section in the Letter
of Conditions; and
(5) Within 90 days after the conclusion of the Project, the grantee
will provide a final Project evaluation report. The last quarterly
payment will be withheld until the final report is received and
approved by the Agency. Even though the grantee may request
reimbursement on a monthly basis, the last 3 months of reimbursements
will be withheld until a final Project, Project performance, and
financial status report are received and approved by the Agency.
G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s)
For general questions about this announcement, please contact your
USDA Rural Development State Office provided in the ADDRESSES section
of this notice.
H. 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 (7 CFR part 15,
subpart A) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title
VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, Title IX, Executive Order 13166
(regarding Limited English Proficiency), Executive Order 11246
regarding Equal Employment Opportunity, and the Equal Credit
Opportunity Act of 1974.
I. Other Information
Paperwork Reduction Act
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the
information collection requirement contained in this notice is approved
by OMB under OMB Control Number 0570-0070.
Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act
All applicants, in accordance with 2 CFR part 25, must have a DUNS
number, which can be obtained at no cost via a toll-free request line
at (866) 705-5711, or online at: http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform.
Similarly, all applicants must be registered in SAM prior to submitting
an application. Applicants may register for the SAM at: http://www.sam.gov/SAM. All recipients of Federal financial assistance are
required to report information about first-tier sub-awards and
executive total compensation in accordance with 2 CFR part 170.
Nondiscrimination Statement
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, 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, the USDA TARGET Center at (202) 720-
2600 (voice and TTY); or the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
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
[[Page 2411]]
https://www.ocio.usda.gov/document/ad-3027, 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.
Karama Neal,
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-00653 Filed 1-13-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XY-P