[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 80 (Wednesday, April 25, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24678-24683]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-9997]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Business-Cooperative Service
Announcement of Small, Socially-Disadvantaged Producer Grant
(SSDPG) Application Deadlines in Fiscal Year 2012
AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of funding availability.
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SUMMARY: The Rural Business-Cooperative Service announces the
availability of approximately $3 million in competitive grant funds for
the FY 2012 SSDPG program. See the Consolidated and Further Continuing
Appropriations Act, 2012 (2012 Appropriations Act) (Pub. L. 112-55). We
request proposals from applicants that will provide technical
assistance to small, socially-disadvantaged agricultural producers in
rural areas. Eligible applicants include Cooperatives, Groups of
Cooperatives, and Cooperative Development Centers. The maximum award
per grant is $175,000.
DATES: Completed applications for grants must be submitted on paper or
electronically according to the following deadlines:
Paper copies must be postmarked and mailed, shipped, or sent
overnight no later than July 24, 2012 to be eligible for FY 2012 grant
funding. Late applications are not eligible for FY 2012 grant funding.
Electronic copies must be received by April 25, 2012, to be
eligible for FY 2012 grant funding. Late applications will not be
eligible for FY 2012 grant funding.
ADDRESSES: Application materials for the SSDPG program may be obtained
at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_SSDPG.html or by contacting your
USDA Rural Development State Office. Contact information for State
Offices can be found at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd_map.html
Paper applications must be submitted to the USDA Rural Development
State Office in the State where your organization's main office is
located. Electronic applications must be submitted through the
Grants.gov Web site at http://www.grants.gov. Please read the
instructions found on the Grants.gov Web site and follow them
carefully.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Visit the program Web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_SSDPG.html for application assistance or
contact your USDA Rural Development State Office. You are strongly
encouraged to contact your State Office well in advance of the deadline
to discuss your Project and ask any questions about the application
process.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Overview
Federal Agency Name: USDA Rural Business Cooperative Service.
Funding Opportunity Title: Small, Socially-Disadvantaged Producer
Grant.
Announcement Type: Initial announcement.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 10.77.1
[[Page 24679]]
Dates: Application Deadline: Completed applications for grants may
be submitted on paper or electronically according to the following
deadlines:
Paper copies must be postmarked and mailed, shipped, or sent
overnight no later than July 24, 2012 to be eligible for FY 2012 grant
funding. Late applications are not eligible for FY 2012 grant funding.
Complete electronic copies must be received by July 24, 2012, to be
eligible for FY 2012 grant funding. Late applications are not eligible
for FY 2012 grant funding.
I. Funding Opportunity Description
The 2012 Appropriations Act authorized up to $3 million for grants
for Cooperative Development Centers, individual Cooperatives, or Groups
of Cooperatives that serve socially-disadvantaged groups and where a
majority of their governing board is comprised of members of socially-
disadvantaged groups or at least 75 percent of their membership is
comprised of socially-disadvantaged producers. The SSDPG Program is
authorized by 310B (e) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development
Act (7 U.S.C. 1932). The primary objective of the SSDPG program is to
provide Technical Assistance to Small, Socially-Disadvantaged
Agricultural Producers. Grants are awarded on a competitive basis. The
maximum award amount per grant is $175,000.
Definitions
Agency--Rural Business-Cooperative Service, an agency of the United
States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development or a
successor agency.
Agricultural Commodity--An unprocessed product of farms, ranches,
nurseries, and forests. Agricultural commodities include: livestock,
poultry, and fish; fruits and vegetables; grains, such as wheat,
barley, oats, rye, triticale, rice, corn, and sorghum; legumes, such as
field beans and peas; animal feed and forage crops; seed crops; fiber
crops, such as cotton; oil crops, such as safflower, sunflower, corn,
and cottonseed; trees grown for lumber and wood products; nursery stock
grown commercially; Christmas trees; ornamentals and cut flowers; and
turf grown commercially for sod. Agricultural commodities do not
include horses or animals raised as pets, such as cats, dogs, and
ferrets.
Conflict of Interest--A situation in which the ability of a person
or entity to act impartially would be questionable due to competing
professional or personal interests. An example of conflict of interest
occurs when the grantee's employees, board of directors, including
their immediate family, have a legal or personal financial interest in
the recipients receiving the benefits or services of the grant.
Cooperative--A farmer- or rancher-owned and -controlled business,
organized and chartered as a cooperative, from which benefits are
derived and distributed equitably on the basis of use by each of the
farmer or rancher owners whose primary focus is to provide assistance
to Small, Socially-Disadvantaged Agricultural Producers and where a
majority of their governing board is comprised of individuals who are
members of socially-disadvantaged groups or at least 75 percent of
their membership is comprised of socially-disadvantaged producers.
Cooperative Development Center--A nonprofit corporation or
accredited institution of higher education that is established or
operated by the grantee for rural cooperative development. It may or
may not be an independent legal entity separate from the grantee. The
Center's main objective is to assist Cooperatives with their startup,
expansion or operational improvement in order to promote development in
rural areas of services and products, processes that can be used in the
marketing of products, or enterprises that create Value-Added to farm
products through processing or marketing activities. Cooperative
development activities may include, but are not limited to, Technical
Assistance, research services, educational services and advisory
services. Operational improvement includes making the Cooperative more
efficient or better managed.
Cooperative Programs--The office within Rural Business-Cooperative
Service, and any successor organization, that administers programs
authorized by the Cooperative Marketing Act of 1926 (7 U.S.C. 451 et
seq.) and such other programs identified in USDA regulations.
Economic Development--The economic growth of an area as evidenced
by increase in total income, employment opportunities, decreased out-
migration of population, value of production, increased diversification
of industry, higher labor force participation rates, increased duration
of employment, higher wage levels, or gains in other measurements of
economic activity, such as land values.
Feasibility Study--An analysis of the economic, market, technical,
financial, and management feasibility of a proposed Project.
Group of Cooperatives--A group of Cooperatives whose primary focus
is to provide assistance to Small, Socially-Disadvantaged Agricultural
Producers and where a majority of their governing board is comprised of
individuals who are members of socially-disadvantaged groups or at
least 75 percent of their membership is comprised of socially-
disadvantaged producers.
Operating Cost--The day-to-day expenses of running a business; for
example: utilities, rent, salaries, depreciation, product production
costs, marketing and advertising, and other basic overhead items.
Project--Includes all activities to be funded by the Small
Socially-Disadvantaged Producer Grant.
Rural and Rural Area--Any area of a State:
(1) Not in a city or town that has a population of more than 50,000
inhabitants, according to the latest decennial census of the United
States; and
(2) The contiguous and adjacent urbanized area,
(3) Urbanized areas that are rural in character as defined by 7
U.S.C. 1991 (a) (13), as amended by Section 6018 of the Food,
Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, Public Law 110-246 (June 18,
2008).
(4) For the purposes of this definition, cities and towns are
incorporated population centers with definite boundaries, local self-
government, and legal powers set forth in a charter granted by the
State. Notwithstanding any other provision of this paragraph, within
the areas of the County of Honolulu, Hawaii, and the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico, the Secretary may designate any part of the areas as a
rural area if the Secretary determines that the part is not urban in
character, other than any area included in the Honolulu census
designated place (CDP) or the San Juan CDP.
Rural Development--A mission area within USDA consisting of the
Office of Under Secretary for Rural Development, Rural Development
Business and Cooperative Programs, Rural Development Housing Programs,
and Rural Development Utilities Programs and any successors.
Small, Socially-Disadvantaged Producer--Socially-Disadvantaged
persons or at least 75 percent Socially-Disadvantaged Producer-owned
entities including farmers, ranchers, loggers, agricultural harvesters,
and fishermen, that have averaged $250,000 or less in annual gross
sales of agricultural products in the last 3 years.
Socially-Disadvantaged Producer--Individual agricultural producer
who is
[[Page 24680]]
a member of a group whose members have been subjected to racial, ethnic
or gender prejudice, without regard for their individual qualities.
State--Includes each of the several states, the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands of the United States, Guam, American
Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and, as may be
determined by the Secretary to be feasible, appropriate and lawful, the
Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands
and the Republic of Palau.
Technical Assistance--An advisory service performed for the benefit
of a Small, Socially-Disadvantaged Producer such as market research;
product and/or service improvement; legal advice and assistance;
Feasibility Study, business plan, and marketing plan development; and
training. Technical Assistance does not include the Operating Costs of
a cooperative being assisted.
Value-Added--The incremental value that is realized by the producer
from an agricultural commodity or product as the result of a change in
its physical state, differentiated production or marketing, as
demonstrated in a business plan, or product segregation. Incremental
value may be realized by the producer as a result of either an increase
in value to buyers or the expansion of the overall market for the
product. Examples include milling wheat into flour, slaughtering
livestock or poultry, making strawberries into jam, and marketing of
organic products.
II. Award Information
A. Type of Award: Grant.
B. Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2012.
C. Approximate Total Funding: $3 million.
D. Approximate Number of Awards: 17.
E. Floor of Award Range: None.
F. Ceiling of Award Range: $175,000.
G. Anticipated Award Date: September 1, 2012.
H. Budget Period Length: 12 months.
I. Project Period Length: 12 months.
III. Eligibility Information
A. Eligible Applicants. Grants may be made to Cooperatives, Groups
of Cooperatives, and Cooperative Development Centers. You must be able
to verify your legal structure in the State in which you are
incorporated. Grants may not be made to public bodies or to
individuals.
B. Cost Sharing or Matching. No matching funds are required.
C. Other Eligibility Requirements
Use of Funds: Funds may only be used for Technical Assistance
Projects as defined in this Notice.
Project Area Eligibility: The proposed Project must take place in a
Rural Area as defined in this Notice.
Grant Period Eligibility: If awarded, grant funds must be used
within 12 months. Applications must have a time frame of one year or
less. Your proposed time frame should begin no earlier than the grant
award date and end no later than December 31, 2013. However, you should
note that the anticipated award date is September 1 so your proposed
start date should be after September 1, 2012. Projects must be
completed within the 12-month time frame. The Agency has the option to
approve requests to extend the grant period for up to 12 months.
However, if you receive another SSDPG grant during the next grant
cycle, the first grant must be closed before funds can be obligated for
the new grant. Applications that request funds for a time period ending
after December 31, 2013, will not be considered for funding.
Completeness Eligibility: Your application must provide all of the
information requested in Section IV (B) of this Notice. Applications
lacking sufficient information to determine eligibility and scoring
will be considered ineligible.
Multiple Grant Eligibility: You may only submit one SSDPG grant
application each funding cycle.
Activity Eligibility: Your application must propose Technical
Assistance that will benefit Small Socially-Disadvantaged Producers in
Rural Areas. Please review section IV (G) of this Notice, ``Funding
Restrictions,'' carefully. Your application will be ineligible for
funding if it includes ineligible costs that equal more than 10 percent
of total Project costs. If your application contains ineligible costs
that equal or are less than 10 percent of total Project costs, it may
still be considered for funding. You must remove the ineligible costs
from the budget if your application is selected for funding. You can
replace the ineligible costs with eligible activities or reduce the
grant award by the amount of ineligible costs. Applications that
duplicate current activities or activities paid for by other grant
programs will not be funded.
IV. Application and Submission Information
A. Address to Request Application Package. The application package
for applying on paper for this funding opportunity is located at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_SSDPG.html. You may also contact your USDA
Rural Development State Office for more information. Contact
information for State Offices is located at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd_map.html.
B. Content and Form of Submission. Applications must be submitted
on paper or electronically. Applications may not be submitted by
electronic mail or facsimile. An application guide may be viewed at
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_SSDPG.html. We recommend that you use
the application template provided on the Web site. The template can be
filled out electronically and printed out for submission with the
required forms for paper submission or it can be filled out
electronically and submitted as an attachment through http://www.grants.gov.
Please visit Grants.gov well in advance of the application deadline
if you plan to apply electronically to make sure you have enough time
to get the proper authentication and have sufficient computer resources
to complete the application process.
You must prepare and submit the following information to complete
your application. Information submitted as part of the application will
be protected to the extent permitted by law.
1. Form SF-424, ``Application for Federal Assistance,'' must be
completed, signed, and include a Dunn and Bradstreet Data Universal
Numbering System (DUNS) number. You must also maintain registration in
the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database. See 2 CFR Sec.
25.200(b). The DUNS number is a nine-digit identification number which
uniquely identifies business entities. There is no charge. To obtain a
DUNS number, access http://www.dnb.com/us/ or call 866-705-5711.
Similarly, applicants may register for the CCR at http://www.ccr.gov.
Assistance with CCR registration is available by calling 1-866-606-
8220. The CCR CAGE Code and expiration date may be handwritten on the
SF-424. For more information, see the SSDPG web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_SSDPG.html or contact the USDA Rural
Development State Office at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd_map.html.
2. Form SF-424A, ``Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs.''
This form must be completed and submitted as part of the application
package.
3. Form SF-424B, ``Assurances--Non-Construction Programs.'' This
form must be completed, signed, and submitted as part of the
application package.
4. Table of Contents. Your application must contain a detailed
Table of Contents (TOC) immediately following the SF-424B. The TOC must
include page numbers for each part of the
[[Page 24681]]
application. Page numbers should begin immediately following the TOC.
5. Executive Summary. A summary of the proposal, not to exceed one
page, must briefly describe the Project, tasks to be completed, and
other relevant information that provides a general overview of the
Project.
6. Eligibility Discussion. A detailed discussion, not to exceed
four pages, must describe how you meet the following requirements:
(i) Applicant Eligibility. You must describe how you meet the
definition of a Cooperative, Group of Cooperatives, or Cooperative
Development Center. If applying as a Cooperative or a Group of
Cooperatives, you must verify your incorporation in the State that you
have applied by providing the State's Certificate of Good Standing, and
your Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws. If applying as a
Cooperative Development Center, you must provide evidence of your
status as a nonprofit corporation or an accredited institution of
higher education and a copy of your mission statement. You must apply
as only one type of applicant.
(ii) Use of Funds. You must provide a detailed discussion on how
the proposed Project activities meet the definition of Technical
Assistance.
(iii) Project Area. You must provide specific information that
details the location of the Project area and explain how the area meets
the definition of ``Rural Area.''
(iv) Grant Period. You must provide a time frame for the proposed
Project and discuss how the Project will be completed within that time
frame.
7. Budget/Work plan. You must describe, in detail not to exceed
four pages, the purpose of the grant, what type of assistance will be
provided, and the total amount of funds needed for the Project. The
budget must also present a breakdown of estimated costs associated with
each task/activity for each Project. The amount of grant funds
requested will be reduced if the applicant does not have justification
for all costs.
8. Evaluation Criteria. Each of the evaluation criteria in this
Notice must be addressed in narrative form, with a maximum of two pages
for each individual evaluation criteria. Failure to address each
evaluation criteria will result in the application being determined
ineligible.
C. Submission Dates and Times
Application Deadline Date: July 24, 2012.
Explanation of Deadlines: Paper applications must be POSTMARKED and
mailed, shipped, or sent overnight by the deadline date. Electronic
applications must be received by http://www.grants.gov by the deadline
date. If your application does not meet the deadline, it will not be
considered for funding. You will be notified if your application did
not meet the submission deadline.
D. National Environmental Policy Act. We have determined that the
activities proposed under the SSDPG program do not have a significant
effect on the quality of the environment. You do NOT have to submit an
Environmental Impact Statement. See 7 CFR part 1940, subpart G.
E. Civil Rights Compliance 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.
F. Intergovernmental Review of Applications. Executive Order (EO)
12372, Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs, applies to this
program. This EO 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. A list of States that maintain
a SPOC may be obtained at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants_spoc.
If your State has a SPOC, you may submit your application directly for
review. Any comments obtained through the SPOC must be provided to
Rural Development for consideration as part of your application. If
your State has not established a SPOC or you do not want to submit your
application to the SPOC, Rural Development will submit your application
to the SPOC or other appropriate agency or agencies.
You are also encouraged to contact Cooperative Programs at 202-720-
8460 or [email protected] if you have questions about this process.
G. Federal Funding and Transparency Act Requirements. Please note
that you must obtain a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering
System (DUNS) number and register in the Central Contractor
Registration (CCR) prior to submitting a pre-application. See 2 CFR
25.200(b). In addition, you must maintain registration in the CCR
database at all times during which you have an active Federal award or
an application. All recipients of Federal financial assistance are
required to report information about first-tier sub awards and
executive compensation. See 2 CFR part 170. Finally, an applicant must
have the necessary processes and systems in place to comply with the
reporting requirements in 2 CFR 170.200(b), as long as it is not
exempted from reporting. Exemptions are identified at 2 CFR 170.110(b).
H. Funding Restrictions. Grant funds must be used for Technical
Assistance. No funds made available under this solicitation shall be
used to:
1. Plan, repair, rehabilitate, acquire, or construct a building or
facility, including a processing facility;
2. Purchase, rent, or install fixed equipment, including processing
equipment;
3. Purchase vehicles, including boats;
4. Pay for the preparation of the grant application;
5. Pay expenses not directly related to the funded Project;
6. Fund political or lobbying activities;
7. Fund any activities prohibited by 7 CFR parts 3015 or 3019;
8. Fund architectural or engineering design work for a specific
physical facility;
9. Fund any direct expenses for the production of any commodity or
product to which value will be added, including seed, rootstock, labor
for harvesting the crop, and delivery of the commodity to a processing
facility;
10. Fund research and development;
11. Purchase land;
12. Duplicate current activities or activities paid for by other
funded grant programs.
13. Pay costs of the Project incurred prior to the date of grant
approval;
14. Pay for assistance to any private business enterprise that does
not have at least 51 percent ownership by those who are either citizens
of the United States or reside in the United States after being legally
admitted for permanent residence;
15. Pay any judgment or debt owed to the United States;
16. Pay the Operating Costs of the Cooperative, Group of
Cooperatives, or Cooperative Development Center;
17. Pay expenses for applicant employee training; or
18. Pay for any goods or services from a person who has a Conflict
of Interest with the grantee.
V. Application Scoring Criteria Review Information
A. Criteria. All eligible and complete applications will be
evaluated based on the following criteria. Failure to address any one
of the following criteria by the application deadline will result in
the application being determined ineligible and the application will
not be considered for funding. The total points possible for the
criteria are 60. Any application receiving less than 35 total points
will not be funded.
[[Page 24682]]
1. Technical Assistance (0-15 points). We will evaluate your
application to determine your ability to assess the needs of Small
Socially-Disadvantaged Producers, plan and conduct appropriate and
effective Technical Assistance, and identify the expected outcomes of
that assistance.
(i) 0 points are awarded if you do not address this criterion.
(ii) 5 points are awarded if you show weakness in addressing this
criterion.
(iii) 10 points are awarded if you show you meet part but not all
of the criterion.
(iv) 15 points are awarded if you identify specific needs of the
Socially-Disadvantaged Producers to be assisted; clearly explain a
logical and detailed plan of assistance for addressing those needs; and
discuss realistic outcomes of planned assistance.
2. Experience (0-15 points). Points are awarded based upon length
of experience of identified staff or consultants in providing Technical
Assistance, as defined in this Notice. You must describe the specific
type of Technical Assistance experience for each identified staff
member or consultant, as well as years of experience in providing that
assistance. In addition, resumes for each individual staff member or
consultant must be included as an attachment, listing their experience
for the type of Technical Assistance proposed. The attachments will not
count toward the maximum page total. We will compare the described
experience to the work plan to determine relevance of the experience.
(i) 0 points are awarded if the staff or consultants demonstrate no
relevant experience in providing Technical Assistance.
(ii) 5 points are awarded if at least one of the identified staff
or consultants demonstrates more than two years of experience in
providing relevant Technical Assistance.
(iii) 10 points are awarded if at least one of the identified staff
or consultants demonstrates 5 or more years of experience in providing
relevant Technical Assistance.
(iv) 15 points are awarded if all of the identified staff or
consultants demonstrate 5 or more years of experience in providing
relevant Technical Assistance.
3. Commitment (0-15 points). We will evaluate your commitment to
providing Technical Assistance to Small, Socially-Disadvantaged
Producers in Rural Areas. Points are awarded based upon the number of
Socially-Disadvantaged Producers being assisted. You must list the
number and location of Small, Socially-Disadvantaged Producers that
will directly benefit from the assistance provided.
(i) 0 points are awarded if you do not address this criterion.
(ii) 5 points are awarded if the proposed Project will benefit 1-10
Small, Socially-Disadvantaged Producers.
(iii) 10 points are awarded if the proposed Project will benefit
11-50 Small, Socially-Disadvantaged Producers.
(iv) 15 points are awarded if the proposed Project will benefit
more than 50 Small, Socially-Disadvantaged Producers.
4. Work Plan/Budget (0-10 points). The work plan will be reviewed
for detailed actions and a timetable for implementing the proposal.
Clear, logical, and realistic plans will result in a higher score.
Budgets will be reviewed for completeness.
(i) 0 points are awarded if you do not address this criterion.
(ii) 5 points are awarded if you provide a work plan and budget
with a cost breakdown but show weakness in addressing this criterion.
(iii) 10 points are awarded if you provide a detailed work plan
that is clear and logical and a budget with a breakdown of estimated
costs associated with proposed tasks.
4. Local support (0-5 points). Applications are reviewed for local
support of the Technical Assistance activities. Applicants that
demonstrate strong support from potential beneficiaries and other
developmental organizations will receive more points than those not
showing such support.
(i) 0 points are awarded if you do not address this criterion.
(ii) 1 point is awarded if you provide 2-3 support letters that
show support from potential beneficiaries and/or support from local
organizations.
(iii) 2 points are awarded if you provide 4 -5 support letters that
show support from potential beneficiaries and/or support from local
organizations.
(iv) 3 points are awarded if you provide 6-7 support letters that
show support from potential beneficiaries and/or support from local
organizations.
(v) 4 points are awarded if you provide 8-9 support letters that
show support from potential beneficiaries and/or support from local
organizations.
(vi) 5 points are awarded if you provide 10 support letters that
show support from potential beneficiaries and/or support from local
organizations.
You may submit a maximum of 10 letters of support. These letters
should be included as an attachment to the application and will not
count against the maximum page total. Additional letters from industry
groups, commodity groups, local and State government, and similar
organizations should be referenced, but not included in the application
package. When referencing these letters, provide the name of the
organization, date of the letter, the nature of the support, and the
name and title of the person signing the letter.
B. Review and Selection Process. We will screen all proposals to
determine whether the application is eligible and responsive to the
requirements in this Notice. Eligible applications will be scored by
the applicable State Office and then submitted to the National Office
for review and ranking. The National Office will review the scores
based upon the point allocation specified in this Notice. Applications
are funded in scoring rank order and submitted to the Administrator in
rank order with funding level recommendations. The Administrator will
break scoring ties based on Agency priorities for geographic
distribution of grants, and serving underserved groups and underserved
areas.
C. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates. The announcement of
award selections is expected to occur on or about September 1, 2012,
subject to funding.
VI. Award Administration Information
A. Award Notices. Successful applicants will receive a notification
of tentative selection for funding from Rural Development. Applicants
must comply with all applicable statutes, regulations, and this Notice
before the grant award will receive final approval.
Unsuccessful applicants will receive notification, including appeal
rights, by mail.
B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements. 7 CFR parts
3015 and 3019, and subparts A and F of 7 CFR part 4284 are applicable
to grants made under this Notice. These regulations may be obtained at
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/cfr/index.html.
The following additional requirements apply to grantees selected
for this program:
Agency approved Grant Agreement.
Letter of Conditions.
Form RD 1940-1, ``Request for Obligation of Funds.''
Form RD 1942-46, ``Letter of Intent to Meet Conditions.''
Form AD-1047, ``Certification Regarding Debarment,
Suspension, and Other Responsibility Matters--Primary Covered
Transactions.''
Form AD-1048, ``Certification Regarding Debarment,
Suspension,
[[Page 24683]]
Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion--Lower Tier Covered
Transactions.''
Form AD-1049, ``Certification Regarding a Drug-Free
Workplace Requirement (Grants).''
Form RD 400-4, ``Assurance Agreement.''
Additional information on these requirements can be found at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_SSDPG.html.
Fund Disbursement: We will determine, based on 7 CFR Parts 3015,
3016 and 3019, as applicable, whether disbursement of a grant will be
by advance or reimbursement. As needed, but not more frequently than
once every 30 days, an original SF-270, ``Request for Advance or
Reimbursement,'' may be submitted to Rural Development. Your request
for advance shall not be made in excess of reasonable costs for the
month covered.
Reporting Requirements: Grantees must provide Rural Development
with an original or an electronic copy that includes all required
signatures of the following reports. The reports should be submitted to
the Agency contact listed on the Grant Agreement and Letter of
Conditions. Failure to submit satisfactory reports on time may result
in suspension or termination of the grant. Grantees will submit:
1. Form SF-425. A ``Federal Financial Report,'' listing
expenditures according to agreed upon budget categories, on a semi-
annual basis. Reporting periods end each March 31 and September 30.
Reports are due 30 days after the reporting period ends.
2. Semi-annual performance reports comparing accomplishments to the
objectives stated in the proposal, identifying all tasks completed to
date and providing documentation supporting the reported results. If
the original schedule provided in the work plan is not being met, the
report should discuss the problems or delays that may affect completion
of the Project. Objectives for the next reporting period should be
listed. Compliance with any special condition on the use of award funds
must be discussed. Reports are due as provided in paragraph (1) of this
section. Supporting documentation must also be submitted for completed
tasks. The supporting documentation for completed tasks includes, but
is not limited to, feasibility studies, marketing plans, business
plans, articles of incorporation, and bylaws as they relate to the
assistance provided.
3. Final Project performance reports comparing accomplishments to
the objectives stated in the proposal, identifying all tasks completed,
and providing documentation supporting the reported results. If the
original schedule provided in the work plan was not met, the report
must discuss the problems or delays that affected completion of the
Project. Compliance with any special condition on the use of award
funds must be discussed. Supporting documentation for completed tasks
must also be submitted. The supporting documentation for completed
tasks includes, but is not limited to, Feasibility Studies, marketing
plans, business plans, articles of incorporation, and bylaws as they
relate to the assistance provided. The final performance report is due
within 90 days of the completion of the Project. The report must also
include a summary at the end of the report with the number of Small
Socially-Disadvantaged Producers assisted to help in documenting the
annual performance goals of the SSDPG program for Congress.
VII. Agency Contacts
For general questions about this announcement and for program
Technical Assistance, please contact the appropriate State Office as
indicated in the ADDRESSES section of this Notice.
VIII. Discrimination Statement
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, Director,
Office of Adjudication and Compliance, 1400 Independence Avenue SW.,
Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-
6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Dated: April 13, 2012.
Judith A. Canales,
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-9997 Filed 4-24-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XY-P