[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 21 (Wednesday, February 1, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4986-4989]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-2099]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Business-Cooperative Service
Inviting Rural Business Enterprise Grant Program Applications for
Grants To Provide Technical Assistance for Rural Transportation Systems
AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS), an Agency within
the USDA Rural Development mission area, announces the availability of
two individual grants: one single $500,000 grant from the rural
transportation funds appropriated for the Rural Business Enterprise
Grant (RBEG) program and another single $250,000 grant for Federally
Recognized Native American Tribes (FRNAT) from funds appropriated for
the RBEG program. RBS will administer these awards under the Rural
Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG) program and 7 U.S.C. 1932(c)(2) for
fiscal year (FY) 2012. Each grant is to be competitively awarded to an
eligible applicant which historically has been a qualified national
non-profit organization. One grant is for the provision of technical
assistance to rural transportation (RT) projects and that the other
grant will be for the provision of technical assistance to RT projects
operated by FRNATs only.
Expenses incurred in developing applications will be at the
applicant's risk.
DATES: The deadline for receipt of applications in the USDA Rural
Development State Office is no later than 4:30 p.m. (local time) on
April 2, 2012. Applications received at a USDA Rural Development State
Office after that date will not be considered for FY 2012 funding.
ADDRESSES: Entities wishing to apply for assistance should contact the
appropriate USDA Rural Development State Office to receive copies of
the application package. A list of the USDA Rural Development State
Offices addresses and telephone numbers are as follows:
Alabama
USDA Rural Development State Office, Sterling Centre, Suite 601,
4121 Carmichael Road, Montgomery, AL 36106-3683, (334) 279-3400/TDD
(334) 279-3495.
Alaska
USDA Rural Development State Office, 800 West Evergreen, Suite 201,
Palmer, AK 99645-6539, (907) 761-7707/TDD (907) 761-8905.
Arizona
USDA Rural Development State Office, 230 North First Avenue, Suite
206, Phoenix, AZ 85003-1706, (602) 280-8702/TDD (602) 280-8705.
Arkansas
USDA Rural Development State Office, Federal Building, 700 West
Capitol Avenue, Room 3416, Little Rock, AR 72201-3225, (501) 301-
3200/TDD (501) 301-3279.
California
USDA Rural Development State Office, 430 G Street, Agency 4169,
Davis, CA 95616-4169, (530) 792-5800/TDD (530) 792-5848.
Colorado
USDA Rural Development State Office, Denver Federal Center, Building
56, Room 2300, P.O. Box 25426, Denver, CO 80225-0426, (720) 544-
2903/TDD (800) 659-3656.
Delaware-Maryland
USDA Rural Development State Office, 1221 College Park Drive, Suite
200, Dover, DE 19904, (302) 857-3580/TDD (302) 857-3585.
Florida/Virgin Islands
USDA Rural Development State Office, 4440 NW 25th Place, P.O. Box
147010, Gainesville, FL 32614-7010, (352) 338-3400/TDD (352) 338-
3499.
Georgia
USDA Rural Development State Office, Stephens Federal Building, 355
East Hancock Avenue, Stop 300, Athens, GA 30601-2768, (706) 546-
2162/TDD (706) 546-2034.
Hawaii
USDA Rural Development State Office, Federal Building, Room 311, 154
Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720, (808) 933-8302/TDD (808) 933-
8321.
Idaho
USDA Rural Development State Office, 9173 West Barnes Drive, Suite
A1, Boise, ID 83709, (208) 378-5601/TDD (208) 378-5644.
Illinois
USDA Rural Development State Office, 2118 West Park Court, Suite A,
Champaign, IL 61821, (217) 403-6201/TDD (217) 403-6240.
Indiana
USDA Rural Development State Office, 5975 Lakeside Boulevard,
Indianapolis, IN 46278, (317) 290-3100 ext. 4/TDD (317) 290-3343.
Iowa
USDA Rural Development State Office, Federal Building, Room 873, 210
Walnut Street, Des Moines, IA 50309, (515) 284-4663/TDD (515) 284-
4858.
Kansas
USDA Rural Development State Office, 1303 SW First American Place,
Suite 100, Topeka, KS 66604-4040, (785) 271-2777/TDD (785) 271-2767.
Kentucky
USDA Rural Development State Office, 771 Corporate Drive, Suite 200,
Lexington, KY 40503, (859) 224-7300/TDD (859) 224-7422.
Louisiana
USDA Rural Development State Office, 3727 Government Street,
Alexandria, LA 71302, (318) 473-7920/TDD (318) 473-7655.
Maine
USDA Rural Development State Office, 967 Illinois Avenue, Suite 4,
P.O. Box 405, Bangor, ME 04402-0405, (207) 990-9161/TDD (207) 942-
7331.
Massachusetts/Rhode Island/Connecticut
USDA Rural Development State Office, 451 West Street, Amherst, MA
01002-2999, (413) 253-4302/TDD (413) 253-4590.
Michigan
USDA Rural Development State Office, 3001 Coolidge Road, Suite 200,
East Lansing, MI 48823, (517) 324-5190/TDD (517) 324-5169.
Minnesota
USDA Rural Development State Office, 410 Farm Credit Service
Building, 375 Jackson Street, St. Paul, MN 55101-1853, (651) 602-
7800/TDD (651) 602-3799.
Mississippi
USDA Rural Development State Office, Federal Building, Suite 831,
100 West Capitol Street, Jackson, MS 39269, (601) 965-4211/TDD (601)
965-5850.
Missouri
USDA Rural Development State Office, 601 Business Loop 70 West,
Parkade Center, Suite 235, Columbia, MO 65203, (573) 876-0987/TDD
(573) 876-9480.
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Montana
USDA Rural Development State Office, 2229 Boot Hill Court, P.O. Box
850, Bozeman, MT 59715, (406) 585-2580/TDD (406) 585-2562.
Nebraska
USDA Rural Development State Office, Federal Building, Room 152, 100
Centennial Mall North, Lincoln, NE 68508, (308) 632-2195/TDD (402)
437-5093.
Nevada
USDA Rural Development State Office, 1390 South Curry Street, Carson
City, NV 89703-9910, (775) 887-1222/TDD (775) 885-0633.
New Jersey
USDA Rural Development State Office, 8000 Midlantic Drive, 5th Floor
North, Suite 500, Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054, (856) 787-7700/TDD (856)
787-7784.
New Mexico
USDA Rural Development State Office, 6200 Jefferson Street, Room
255, Albuquerque, NM 87109, (505) 761-4950/TDD (505) 761-4938.
New York
USDA Rural Development State Office, The Galleries of Syracuse, 441
South Salina Street, Suite 357, Syracuse, NY 13202-2541, (315) 477-
6435/TDD (315) 477-6447.
North Carolina
USDA Rural Development State Office, 4405 Bland Road, Suite 260,
Raleigh, NC 27609, (919) 873-2015/TDD (919) 873-2003.
North Dakota
USDA Rural Development State Office, Federal Building, Room 208, 220
East Rosser Avenue, P.O. Box 1737, Bismarck, ND 58502-1737, (701)
530-2037/TDD (701) 530-2113.
Ohio
USDA Rural Development State Office, Federal Building, Room 507, 200
North High Street, Columbus, OH 43215-2418, (614) 255-2390/TDD (614)
255-2554.
Oklahoma
USDA Rural Development State Office, 100 USDA, Suite 108,
Stillwater, OK 74074-2654, (405) 742-1000/TDD (405) 742-1007.
Oregon
USDA Rural Development State Office, 1201 Northeast Lloyd Boulevard,
Suite 801, Portland, OR 97232, (503) 414-3305/TDD (503) 414-3387.
Pennsylvania
USDA Rural Development State Office, One Credit Union Place, Suite
330, Harrisburg, PA 17110-2996, (717) 237-2262/TDD (717) 237-2261.
Puerto Rico
USDA Rural Development State Office, 654 Plaza Munoz Rivera Avenue,
Suite 601, San Juan, PR 00936-6106, (787) 766-5095/TDD (787) 766-
5332.
South Carolina
USDA Rural Development State Office, Strom Thurmond Federal
Building, 1835 Assembly Street, Room 1007, Columbia, SC 29201, (803)
765-5163/TDD (803) 765-5697.
South Dakota
USDA Rural Development State Office, Federal Building, Room 210, 200
Fourth Street SW., Huron, SD 57350, (605) 352-1100/TDD (605) 352-
1147.
Tennessee
USDA Rural Development State Office, 3322 West End Avenue, Suite
300, Nashville, TN 37203-1071, (615) 783-1300.
Texas
USDA Rural Development State Office, Federal Building, Suite 102,
101 South Main, Temple, TX 76501, (254) 742-9700/TDD (254) 742-9712.
Utah
USDA Rural Development State Office, Wallace F. Bennett Federal
Building, 125 South State Street, Room 4311, Salt Lake City, UT
84138, (801) 524-4321/TDD (801) 524-3309.
Vermont/New Hampshire
USDA Rural Development State Office, City Center, 3rd Floor, 89 Main
Street, Montpelier, VT 05602, (802) 828-6080/TDD (802) 223-6365.
Virginia
USDA Rural Development State Office, 1606 Santa Rosa Road, Suite
238, Richmond, VA 23229-5014, (804) 287-1552/TDD (804) 287-1753.
Washington
USDA Rural Development State Office, 1835 Black Lake Boulevard SW.,
Suite B, Olympia, WA 98512-5715, (360) 704-7715/TDD (360) 704-7760.
West Virginia
USDA Rural Development State Office, 1550 Earl Core Road, Suite 101,
Morgantown, WV 26505, (304) 284-4860/TDD (304) 284-4836.
Wisconsin
USDA Rural Development State Office, 4949 Kirschling Court, Stevens
Point, WI 54481, (715) 345-7671/TDD (715) 345-7614.
Wyoming
USDA Rural Development State Office, P.O. Box 11005, 100 East B
Street, Room 1005, Casper, WY 82601, (307) 233-6703/TDD (307) 233-
6733.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information, please
contact the appropriate USDA Rural Development State Office as provided
in the ADDRESSES section of this Notice.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Overview
Federal Agency: Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
Solicitation Opportunity Title: Rural Business Enterprise Grants.
Announcement Type: Initial Solicitation Announcement.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 10.769.
Dates: Application Deadline: Completed applications must be
received in the USDA Rural Development State Office no later than 4:30
p.m. (local time) on April 2, 2012, to be eligible for FY 2012 grant
funding. Applications received after this date will not be eligible for
FY 2012 grant funding.
I. Funding Opportunity Description
The RBEG program is authorized by section 310B(c) of the
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (CONACT) (7 U.S.C.
1932(c)). Regulations are contained in 7 CFR part 1942, subpart G. The
primary objective of the program is to improve the economic conditions
of rural areas. The program is administered on behalf of RBS at the
State level by the USDA Rural Development State Offices. Assistance
provided to rural areas under the Programs may include the provision of
on-site technical assistance to local and regional governments, public
transit agencies, and related non-profit 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 RBEG passenger transportation program will be made
on a competitive basis using specific selection criteria contained in 7
CFR part 1942, subpart G, and in accordance with section 310B(c)(2) of
the CONACT. Information required to be in the application package
includes Forms SF 424, ``Application for Federal Assistance;'' RD 1940-
20, ``Request for Environmental Information;'' Scope of Work Narrative;
Income Statement; Balance Sheet or Audit for previous 3 years; AD-1047,
``Debarment/Suspension Certification;'' AD-1048, ``Certification
Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary
Exclusion;'' AD-1049, ``Certification Regarding Drug-Free Workplace
Requirements;'' SF LLL, ``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities;'' RD 400-
1, ``Equal Opportunity Agreement;'' RD 400-4, ``Assurance Agreement;''
a letter stating Board authorization to obtain assistance; and a letter
certifying citizenship, as referenced in 7 CFR 1942.307(b). For the
FRNAT grant, which must benefit Federally Recognized Native American
Tribes, at least 75 percent of the benefits of the project must be
received by members of Federally Recognized
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Native American Tribes. The project that scores the greatest number of
points based on the RBEG selection criteria and the discretionary
points will be selected for each grant.
Applicants must be qualified national non-profit organizations with
experience in providing technical assistance and training to rural
communities for the purpose of improving passenger transportation
service or facilities. To be considered ``national,'' RBS requires a
qualified organization to provide evidence that it operates rural
transportation assistance programming in multiple States. There is not
a requirement to use the grant funds in a multi-State area. Grants will
be made to qualified national non-profit organizations for the
provision of technical assistance and training to rural communities for
the purpose of improving passenger transportation services or
facilities.
Definitions
The definitions are published at 7 CFR 1942.304.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Grant.
Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2012.
Total Funding: $750,000.
Approximate Number of Awards: Two.
Average Award: One single $500,000 grant and another single
$250,000 grant for FRNAT's.
Anticipated Award Date: May 16, 2012.
III. Eligibility Information
A. Eligible Applicants
To be considered eligible, an entity must be a qualified national
non-profit organization serving rural areas. Grants will be
competitively awarded to qualified national non-profit organizations.
B. Cost Sharing or Matching
Matching funds are not required.
C. Other Eligibility Requirements
Applications will only be accepted from qualified national non-
profit organizations to provide technical assistance for rural
transportation.
D. Completeness Eligibility
Applications will not be considered for funding if they do not
provide sufficient information to determine eligibility or are missing
required elements. If due to a change made in the appropriation,
additional information is needed, then applicants that submitted
complete applications prior to the application deadline will be
provided additional time in which to provide that information.
IV. Fiscal Year 2012 Application and Submission Information
A. 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.
Applicants are encouraged to submit applications through the
Grants.gov Web site at: http://www.grants.gov. Applications may be
submitted in either electronic or paper format. Users of Grants.gov
will be able to download a copy of the application package, complete it
off line, and then upload and submit the application via the Grants.gov
Web site. Applications may not be submitted by electronic mail.
When you enter the Grants.gov Web site, you will find
information about submitting an application electronically through the
site as well as the hours of operation. USDA Rural Development strongly
recommends that you begin the application process through Grants.gov in
sufficient time to complete the application before the deadline date.
You may submit all documents electronically through the
Web site, including all information typically included on the
application and all necessary assurances and certifications.
After electronically submitting an application through the
Web site, the applicant will receive an automatic acknowledgement from
Grants.gov that contains a Grants.gov tracking number.
USDA Rural Development may request that the applicant
provide original signatures on forms at a later date.
If applicants experience technical difficulties on the
closing date and are unable to meet the deadline, you may submit a
paper copy of your application to your respective Rural Development
State Office. Paper applications submitted to a Rural Development State
Office must meet the closing date and local time deadline.
Please note that applicants can locate the downloadable
application package for this program by the Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance Number or FedGrants Funding Opportunity Number, which can be
found at http://www.Grants.gov.
All applicants, whether filing applications through www.Grants.gov or
by paper, must have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering
System (DUNS) number which can be obtained at no cost via a toll-free
request line at 1-(866) 705-5711 or at http://www.dnb.com.
B. Content and Form of Submission
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)(2) of the CONACT. Each selection priority
criterion outlined in 7 CFR 1942.305(b)(3), 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 1942, subpart G,
will be provided by any interested applicant making a request to a USDA
Rural Development State Office provided in the ADDRESSES section of
this Notice.
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.
C. Submission Dates and Times
Application Deadline Date: No later than 4:30 p.m. (local time)
April 2, 2012.
Explanation of Deadlines: Applications must be in the USDA Rural
Development State Office by the deadline date.
V. Application Review Information
RBS will score applications based on the grant selection criteria
and weights contained in 7 CFR part 1942, subpart G and will select a
grantee subject to the grantee's satisfactory submission of the
additional items required by 7 CFR part 1942, subpart G and the USDA
Rural Development Letter of Conditions.
VI. Award Administration Information
A. Award Notices
Successful applicants will receive notification for funding from
the 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.
Grantees must further comply with applicable
[[Page 4989]]
provisions of 7 CFR parts 3015, 3016, 3019, and 3052.
VII. Agency Contacts
For general questions about this announcement, please contact your
USDA Rural Development State Office provided in the ADDRESSES section
of this Notice.
VIII. Paperwork Reduction Act
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, the paperwork
burden has been cleared by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
under OMB Control Number 0570-0022.
Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act
All applicants, in accordance with 2 CFR part 25, must have a Dun
and Bradstreet Data Universal Number System (DUNS) number, which can be
obtained at no cost via a toll-free request line at 1-(866) 705-5711 or
online at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform.
Similarly, in accordance with 2 CFR part 25, all applicants must be
registered in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) prior to
submitting an application. Applicants may register for the CCR at
http://www.ccr.gov or by calling 1-(866) 606-8220 and press ``1'' for
CCR. 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
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination
in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color,
national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital
status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation,
genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or
part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance
program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with
disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program
information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact
USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).
To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Assistant
Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil
Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Stop 9410, Washington, DC 20250-
9410 or call toll-free at (866) 632-9992 (English) or (800) 877-8339
(TTD) or (866) 377-8642 (English Federal-relay) or (800) 845-6136
(Spanish Federal-relay). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and
employer.
Dated: January 20, 2012.
Judith A. Canales,
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-2099 Filed 1-31-12; 8:45 am]
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