[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 23 (Monday, February 4, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6467-6469]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-1951]



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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Housing Service


Request for Proposals: The National Emergency or Disaster Grants 
To Assist Low-Income Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers

    Announcement Type: Initial Notice of Funds Available (NOFA) 
inviting proposals from qualified applicants.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number (CFDA): 10.405

SUMMARY: The Rural Housing Service (RHS) announces the availability of 
funds and the timeframe to submit applications for grants to provide 
emergency services to areas where the Secretary of Agriculture 
determines that a local, state, or national emergency or disaster has 
caused low-income migrant or seasonal farmworkers to lose income, be 
unable to work, or to stay at home or return home in anticipation of 
work shortages. For purposes of this NOFA, emergency services include 
any service that can be provided under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Pub. L. 93-288), as amended 
(Stafford Act), that also meets the requirements of 42 U.S.C. 5177a. 
For instance the Stafford Act and 41 U.S.C. 5177a would permit the 
following services:
     Activities to support state and local emergency 
assistance;
     Coordination of disaster relief provided by federal and 
non-federal organizations;
     Technical and advisory assistance to state and local 
governments;
     Emergency assistance through federal agencies;
     Debris removal through grants to state and local 
governments;
     Grants to individuals and households for temporary housing 
and uninsured personal needs; and
     Distribution of medicine, food and consumables.
    Additionally, for this NOFA, the types of services could include, 
but are not limited to, assistance in meeting rent or mortgage 
payments, utility bills, child care, transportation, school supplies, 
food, repair or rehabilitation of farmworker housing, facilities 
related to farmworker housing such as an infirmary for emergency care 
of a child care facility, and the rehabilitation of existing farmworker 
housing units.
    Please go to http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rd/disasters to determine 
if your area has been identified by the Secretary of Agriculture as a 
national emergency or disaster area or contact your local Rural 
Development office.

DATES: The deadline for receipt of all applications in response to this 
NOFA is 5 p.m., Eastern Time, on April 4, 2008. The application closing 
deadline is firm as to date and hour. The Agency will not consider any 
application that is received after the closing deadline. Applicants 
intending to mail applications must provide sufficient time to permit 
delivery on or before the closing deadline. Acceptance by a post office 
or private mailer does not constitute delivery. Facsimile (FAX), and 
postage due applications will not be accepted.

ADDRESSES: Applications should be submitted to USDA Rural Housing 
Service; Attention: Henry Searcy, Jr., Senior Loan Specialist, Multi-
Family Housing Processing Division STOP 0781 (Room 1263-S), or Bonnie 
Edwards-Jackson, Senior Loan Specialist, Multi-Family Housing 
Processing Division, STOP 0781 (Room 1239-S), U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Rural Housing Service, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., 
Washington, DC 20250-0781.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Henry Searcy by telephone at (202) 
720-1753 or Bonnie Edwards-Jackson at (202) 690-0759 or via e-mail at 
[email protected] or [email protected]. (Please note 
the phone numbers are not toll-free numbers.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Paperwork Reduction Act

    The reporting requirements contained in this notice have been 
approved by the Office of Management and Budget under Control Number 
0575-0045.

Overview

    Public Law 110-28 appropriated $16,000,000 to provide emergency 
grants to assist low-income migrant and seasonal farmworkers to 
carryout section 2281 of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade 
Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 5177a). Section 2281 of the above act allows the 
Secretary of Agriculture to provide emergency grants to assist low-
income migrant and seasonal farmworkers.

Program Administration

I. Funding Opportunities Description

    This NOFA requests applications for the purpose of providing 
emergency services to low-income migrant and seasonal farmworkers. 
Eligibility for grants for emergency services is limited to public 
agencies or private organizations with tax exempt status under section 
501(c)(3) of Title 26 United States Code that have experience in 
providing emergency services to low-income migrant and seasonal 
farmworkers. These funds are to be administered in areas where the 
Secretary of Agriculture determines that a local, state, or national 
emergency or disaster has occurred.
    This NOFA will fund service providers to administer all services 
permitted under the Stafford Act and 42 U.S.C. 5177a. These services 
could include, but are not limited to, providing assistance in meeting 
rent or mortgage payments, paying utility bills, child care, 
transportation, school supplies or food; repair or rehabilitation of 
farmworker housing or facilities related to farmworker housing such as 
an infirmary for emergency care or a child care facility.
    The term ``low-income migrant or seasonal farmworker'' means an 
individual (1) who has, during any consecutive 12 month period within 
the preceding 24 month period, performed farm work for wages, (2) who 
has received not less than one-half of such individual's total income, 
or been employed at least one-half of total work time in farm work, (3) 
whose annual family income within the 12 month period referred to in 
paragraph (1) does not exceed the higher of the poverty level or 70 
percent of the lower living standard income level, (4) is a person 
lawfully admitted for permanent residence.
    The ``lower living standard income level'' referred to in paragraph 
(3) is defined under section 101(24) of the Workforce Investment Act 
(Pub. L. 105-220). This act is administered by the Department of Labor. 
Tables designating the ``lower living standard income level'' are 
published in the Federal Register by Health and Human Services. The 
most recent publication can be found in the Federal Register on June 
24, 2007 at 72 FR 15.

II. Award Information

    The U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery and Iraq 
Accountability Appropriations Act 2007 Public Law 110-28, made 
available $16,000,000 to provide emergency services to low-income 
migrant and seasonal farmworkers where the Secretary of Agriculture 
determines that a local, state, or national emergency or disaster has 
caused low-income migrant or seasonal farmworkers to lose income, be 
unable to work, or to stay at home or return home in anticipation of 
work shortages.

III. Eligibility Information

    The applicant must:
    (1) Be eligible to receive a grant for the above assistance the 
applicant must

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be a broad-based nonprofit organization (which may include faith-based 
organizations), a nonprofit organization of farmworkers, a community 
organization, a federally recognized Indian tribe, or an agency or 
political subdivision of a State or local government, or a public 
agency (such as a housing authority).
    (2) Be unable to provide the necessary services from its own 
resources.
    (3) Possess the legal and actual capacity, ability, and experience 
to incur and carry out the undertakings and obligations incurred.
    (4) Legally obligate itself not to divert income to any other 
business, enterprise, or purpose.
    (5) Have experience in providing emergency services to low-income 
migrant and seasonal farmworkers.
    (6) Be either a public agency or private organization with tax 
exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of Title 26 United States Code.
    (7) Not be debarred or suspended.

IV. Equal Opportunity and Nondiscrimination Requirements

    (1) In accordance with the Fair Housing Act, Title VI of the Civil 
Rights Act of 1964, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Age 
Discrimination Act of 1975, Executive Order 12898, the Americans with 
Disabilities Act, and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 
neither the Grantor nor the Agency will discriminate against any 
employee, proposed intermediary or proposed ultimate recipient on the 
basis of sex, marital status, race, color, religion, national origin, 
age, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability (provided the 
proposed intermediary or proposed ultimate recipient has the capacity 
to contract), because all or part of the proposed intermediary's or 
proposed ultimate recipient's income is derived from public assistance 
of any kind, or because the proposed intermediary or proposed ultimate 
recipient has in good faith exercised any right under the Consumer 
Credit Protection Act, with respect to any aspect of a credit 
transaction anytime Agency loan funds are involved.
    (2) The policies and regulations contained in 7 CFR part 1901, 
subpart E apply to this program.
    (3) The Rural Housing Service Administrator will assure that equal 
opportunity and nondiscrimination requirements are met in accordance 
with the Fair Housing Act, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 
the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, 
Executive Order 12898, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and section 
504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
    (4) All housing must meet the accessibility requirements found at 7 
CFR 3560.60(d).

V. Application and Submission Information

    The application process will be the submission of an application. 
In the event that a proposal is selected for further processing and the 
applicant declines, the next highest ranked unfunded application may be 
selected. At the time of final grant approval, the Agency and grant 
recipients shall enter into an Agency approved grant agreement.

Application Requirements

    The application must contain the following:
    Experience of applicant providing emergency services. Greater than 
10 years experience providing emergency services (15 points). Between 6 
years and 10 years experience providing emergency services (10 points). 
Less than 5 years (1) A summary page listing the following items. This 
information should be double-spaced between items and not be in 
narrative form.
    (a) Applicant's name.
    (b) Applicant's Taxpayer Identification Number.
    (c) Applicant's address.
    (d) Applicant's telephone number.
    (e) Name of applicant's contact person, telephone number, and 
address.
    (f) Amount of grant requested.
    (g) The applicant's Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering 
System (DUNS) number. As required by the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB), all non-individual grant applicants must provide a DUNS 
number when applying for Federal grants, on or after October 1, 2003. 
Organizations can receive a DUNS number at no cost by calling the 
dedicated toll-free DUNS Number request line at 1-866-705-5711. 
Additional information concerning this requirement is provided in a 
policy directive issued by OMB and published in the Federal Register on 
June 27, 2003 (68 FR 38402-38405).
    (2) A narrative describing the applicant's ability to meet the 
eligibility requirements stated in this NOFA.
    (3) A detailed Statement of Work.
    (4) A current, dated, financial statement signed by a certified 
public accountant showing the applicant's assets and liabilities with 
information on the repayment schedule and status of all debts.
    (5) An organizational plan that includes a staffing chart complete 
with employee names, job titles, salaries, hours, timelines, and duties 
to achieve the objective of the grant program.
    (6) A detailed budget plan projecting the applicant's monthly and 
annual income and expenses the grantee will incur. Costs will be 
limited to those that are allowed under 7 CFR part 3015, and 7 CFR part 
3016 or 3019 as applicable.
    (7) A narrative describing the applicant's knowledge, demonstrated 
ability and practical experience in delivering direct emergency 
assistance to low-income migrant and seasonal farmworkers. In addition, 
to ensure the funds are equitably distributed, and that there is no 
duplication of efforts, applicants must clearly identify the geographic 
area that they intend to serve and provide documentation that they have 
the experience and ability to service those areas.

VI. Application Review Information

    All applications will be evaluated by a grant committee. The grant 
committee will make recommendations to the Agency Administrator 
concerning eligibility determinations and the selection of applications 
based on the selection criteria contained in this NOFA and the 
availability of funds. The Administrator will inform applicants of the 
status of their application within 30 days of the closing date of the 
NOFA.
    Applications for grants to provide emergency services to low-income 
migrant and seasonal farmworkers will be evaluated by the types of 
assistance to be provided. Because the types of assistance may differ 
depending on the geographic area the committee will recommend to the 
Administrator three Technical Assistance (TA) providers. Each TA 
provider would be responsible for a region (western, central and 
eastern region).

Selection Criteria

    Applications to provide emergency services to low-income migrant 
and seasonal farmworkers will be scored on the following basis:
    (1) The number of low-income migrant and seasonal farmworkers to be 
assisted by the proposal. Greater than 100 farmworkers--not counting 
non-farmworker family members (25 points). Between 50 and 100 
farmworkers--not counting non-farmworker family members (15 points). 
Less than 50 farmworkers but more than 25--not counting non-farmworker 
family members (5 points).
    (2) Economic and social benefits to low-income migrant and seasonal 
farmworkers and their families from the services to be provided. 
Providing rental and mortgage assistance (10 points).

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Providing other authorized services (10 points).

VII. Appeal Process

    All adverse determinations regarding applicant eligibility and the 
awarding of points as part of the selection process are appealable. 
Instructions on the appeal process will be provided at the time an 
applicant is notified of the adverse action.
    USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file 
a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of Civil 
Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410 or 
call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).

    Dated: January 24, 2008.
Russell T. Davis,
Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. E8-1951 Filed 2-1-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-P