[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 110 (Thursday, June 7, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33709-33716]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-13833]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Business-Cooperative Service


Inviting Applications for Rural Cooperative Development Grants

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA).

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SUMMARY: USDA announces the availability of grants through the Rural 
Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG) Program for Fiscal Year (FY) 2012. 
Nonprofit corporations and institutions of higher education may apply. 
Approximately $5.8 million is available. Applications are limited to a 
maximum of $175,000 and matching funds are required. The grant period 
is limited to a one-year timeframe.

DATES: You must submit your complete application by August 6, 2012, or 
it will not be considered for FY 2012 grant funding.

ADDRESSES: You should contact a USDA Rural Development State Office 
(State Office) if you have questions. You are encouraged to contact 
your State Office well in advance of the application deadline to 
discuss your project and ask any questions about the application 
process. Application materials may also be obtained at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP-RCDG_Grants.html. If you want to submit an 
electronic application, follow the instructions for the RCDG funding 
announcement on http://www.grants.gov. If you want to submit a paper 
application, send it to the State Office located in the State where you 
are headquartered. Here is a list of State Offices and their contact 
information (Note: Telephone numbers listed are not toll-free.):

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) 761-7705/TDD (907) 761-8905

American Samoa (see Hawaii)

Arizona

USDA Rural Development State Office, 230 N. 1st Ave., Suite 206, 
Phoenix, AZ 85003, (602) 280-8701/TDD (602) 280-8705

Arkansas

USDA Rural Development State Office, 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,  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, PO Box 25426, Denver, CO 80225-0426, (720) 544-2903

Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands--CNMI (see Hawaii)

Connecticut (see Massachusetts)

Delaware-Maryland

USDA Rural Development State Office, 1221 College Park Drive, Suite 
200, Dover, DE 19904, (302) 857-3580/TDD (302) 857-3585

Federated States of Micronesia (see Hawaii)

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 
E. Hancock Avenue, Athens, GA 30601-2768, (706) 546-2162/TDD (706) 
546-2034

Guam (see Hawaii)

Hawaii/Guam/Republic of Palau/Federated States of Micronesia/Republic 
of the Marshall Islands/American Samoa/Commonwealth of the Northern 
Marianas Islands--CNMI

USDA Rural Development State Office, Federal Building, Room 311, 154 
Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720, (808) 933-8380/TDD (808) 933-8321

Idaho

USDA Rural Development State Office, 9173 West Barnes Drive, Suite 
A1, Boise, ID 83709, (208) 378-5600/TDD (208) 378-5644

Illinois

USDA Rural Development State Office, 2118 West Park Court, Suite A, 
Champaign, IL 61821, (217) 403-6200/TDD (217) 403-6240

Indiana

USDA Rural Development State Office, 5975 Lakeside Boulevard, 
Indianapolis, IN 46278, (317) 290-3100/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) 271-2700/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) 473-7921/TDD (318) 473-7655

Maine

USDA Rural Development State Office, 967 Illinois Avenue, Suite 4, 
P.O. Box 405 Bangor, ME 04402-0405, (207) 990-9160/TDD (207) 942-
7331

Marshall Islands (see Hawaii)

Maryland (see Delaware)

Massachusetts/Rhode Island/Connecticut

USDA Rural Development State Office, 451 West Street, Suite 2, 
Amherst, MA 01002-2999, (413) 253-4300/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, 375 Jackson Street, Suite 410, 
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) 965-4316/TDD (601) 
965-5850

Missouri

USDA Rural Development State Office, 601 Business Loop 70 West, 
Parkade Center, Suite 235, Columbia, MO 65203, (573) 876-0976/TDD 
(573) 876-9480

Montana

USDA Rural Development State Office, 2229 Boot Hill Court, Bozeman, 
MT 59715-7914, (406) 585-2580/TDD (406) 585-2562

Nebraska

USDA Rural Development State Office, Federal Building, Room 152, 100 
Centennial Mall North, Lincoln, NE 68508, (402) 437-5551/TDD (402) 
437-5093

[[Page 33710]]

Nevada

USDA Rural Development State Office, 1390 South Curry Street, Carson 
City, NV 89703-5146, (775) 887-1222/TDD 7-1-1

New Hampshire (see Vermont)

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 NE., 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-
6400/TDD (315) 477-6447

North Carolina

USDA Rural Development State Office, 4405 Bland Road, Suite 260, 
Raleigh, NC 27609, (919) 873-2000/TDD (919) 873-2003

North Dakota

USDA Rural Development State Office, Federal Building, Room 208, 220 
East Rosser, P.O. Box 1737, Bismarck, ND 58502-1737, (701) 530-2037/
TDD (701) 530-2113

Northern Mariana Islands (see Hawaii)

Ohio

USDA Rural Development State Office, Federal Building, Room 507, 200 
North High Street, Columbus, OH 43215-2418, (614) 255-2400/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 NE. Lloyd Blvd., Suite 
801, Portland, OR 97232, (503) 414-3300/TDD (503) 414-3387

Palau (see Hawaii)

Pennsylvania

USDA Rural Development State Office, One Credit Union Place, Suite 
330, Harrisburg, PA 17110-2996, (717) 237-2299/TDD (717) 237-2261

Puerto Rico

USDA Rural Development State Office, IBM Building, Suite 601, 654 
Munos Rivera Avenue, San Juan, PR 00918-6106, (787) 766-5095/TDD 
(787) 766-5332

Rhode Island (see Massachusetts)

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 37203-1084, (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) 287-1550/TDD (804) 287-1753

Virgin Islands (see Florida)

Washington

USDA Rural Development State Office, 1835 Black Lake Boulevard SW., 
Suite B, Olympia, WA 98512-5715, (360) 704-7740/TDD (360) 704-7760

West Virginia

USDA Rural Development State Office, 75 High Street, Room 320, 
Morgantown, WV 26505-7500, (304) 284-4860/TDD (304) 284-4836

Western Pacific (see Hawaii)

Wisconsin

USDA Rural Development State Office, 4949 Kirschling Court, Stevens 
Point, WI 54481, (715) 345-7600/TDD (715) 345-7614

Wyoming

USDA Rural Development State Office, 100 East B, Federal Building, 
Room 1005, P.O. Box 11005, Casper, WY 82602-5006, (307) 233-6700/TDD 
(307) 233-6733


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Office of the Deputy Administrator, 
Cooperative Programs, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, United States 
Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Mail Stop-
3250, Room 4016-South, Washington, DC 20250-3250, (202) 720-7558.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Overview

    Federal Agency: Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
    Funding Opportunity Title: Rural Cooperative Development Grants.
    Announcement Type: Funding Announcement.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 10.771.

    Date: Application Deadline. You must submit your complete 
application by August 6, 2012, or it will not be considered for FY 2012 
grant funding.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    The primary objective of the RCDG program is to improve the 
economic condition of rural areas through cooperative development. 
Grant funds may be used to pay for 75 percent (95 percent when the 
applicant is a 1994 Institution) of the cost of establishing and 
operating centers for rural cooperative development. Centers may have 
the expertise on staff or they can contract out for the expertise, to 
assist individuals or entities in the startup, expansion or operational 
improvement of rural businesses, especially cooperative or mutually-
owned businesses. The RCDG program is authorized under section 310B(e) 
of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (CONACT) (7 U.S.C. 
1932(e)). You should become familiar with the regulations for this 
program published at 7 CFR part 4284, subparts A and F, which are 
incorporated by reference in this Notice.

Definitions

    The terms you need to understand are defined and published at 7 CFR 
4284.3 and 7 CFR 4284.504. In addition, the terms ``rural'' and ``rural 
area,'' defined at section 343(a)(13) of the CONACT (7 U.S.C. 1991(a)), 
are incorporated by reference, and will be used for this program 
instead of those terms currently published at 7 CFR 4284.3. Finally, 
there has been some confusion on the Agency's meaning of the terms 
``conflict of interest,'' and ``mutually-owned business,'' because they 
are not defined in the CONACT or in the regulations used for the 
program. Therefore, the terms are clarified and should be understood as 
follows.
    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, or the 
immediate family of either, have the appearance of a professional or 
personal financial interest in the recipients receiving the benefits or 
services of the grant.

[[Page 33711]]

    Mutually-owned business--An organization owned and governed by 
members who either are its consumers, producers, employees, or 
suppliers.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Grant.
    Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2012.
    Approximate Total Funding: $5.8 million.
    Maximum Award: $175,000.
    Anticipated Award Date: September 30, 2012.

III. Eligibility Information

A. Eligible Applicants

    You must be a nonprofit corporation or an institution of higher 
education to apply for this program. Public bodies and individuals 
cannot apply for this program. See 7 CFR 4284.507.
    An applicant must obtain a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal 
Numbering System (DUNS) number and register in the Central Contractor 
Registry (CCR) prior to submitting an application. (See 2 CFR 
25.200(b)). An applicant must provide their DUNS number in the 
application. In addition, an applicant must maintain its registration 
in the CCR database during the time its application is active. 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).

B. Cost Sharing or Matching

    Your matching funds requirement is 25 percent of the total project 
cost (5 percent for 1994 Institutions). See 7 CFR 4284.508. When you 
calculate your matching funds requirement, please round up or down to 
whole dollars as appropriate. An example of how to calculate your 
matching funds is as follows:
    1. Take the amount of grant funds you are requesting and divide it 
by .75. This will give you your total project cost.

    Example: $175,000 (grant amount)/.75 (percentage for use of 
grant funds) = $233,333 (total project cost).

    2. Subtract the amount of grant funds you are requesting from your 
total project cost. This will give you your matching funds requirement.

    Example: $233,333 (total project cost) - $175,000 (grant amount) 
= $58,333 (matching funds requirement).

    3. A quick way to double check that you have the correct amount of 
matching funds is to take your total project cost and multiply it by 
.25.

    Example: $233,333 (total project cost) x .25 (maximum percentage 
of matching funds requirement) = $58,333 (matching funds 
requirement).

    You must verify that all matching funds are available during the 
grant period and provide this documentation with your application. If 
you are awarded a grant, additional verification documentation may be 
required to confirm the availability of matching funds.
    Other guidelines for matching funds that you must follow are below.
     They must be spent on eligible expenses during the grant 
period.
     They must be from eligible sources.
     They must be spent in advance or as a pro-rata portion of 
grant funds being spent.
     They must be provided by either the applicant or a third 
party in the form of cash or an in-kind contribution.
     They cannot include board/advisory council members' time.
     They cannot include other Federal grants unless provided 
by authorizing legislation.
     They cannot include cash or in-kind contributions donated 
outside the grant period.
     They cannot include over-valued, in-kind contributions.
     They cannot include any project costs that are ineligible 
under the RCDG program.
     They can include loan funds from a Federal source.
     They can include travel and incidentals for board/advisory 
council members if you have established written policies explaining how 
these costs are normally reimbursed, including rates. You must include 
an explanation of this policy in your application or the contributions 
will not be considered as eligible matching funds.
     You must be able to document and verify the number of 
hours worked and the value associated with any in-kind contribution 
being used to meet a matching funds requirement.
     In-kind contributions provided by individuals, businesses, 
or cooperatives which are being assisted by you cannot be provided for 
the direct benefit of their own projects as USDA Rural Development 
considers this to be a conflict of interest or the appearance of a 
conflict of interest.

C. Other Eligibility Requirements

    Your application will not be considered for funding if it does not 
propose the establishment or continuation of a cooperative development 
center concept. You must use project funds, including grant and 
matching funds for eligible purposes (See 7 CFR 4284.508). In addition, 
project funds may be used for programs providing for the coordination 
of services and sharing of information among the Centers (See 7 U.S.C. 
1932(e)(4)(C)(vi)). All project activities must be for the benefit of a 
rural area.
    Project funds, including grant and matching funds cannot be used 
for ineligible grant purposes (See 7 CFR 4284.10). Also, you may not 
use project funds for the following:
    1. To purchase, rent, or install laboratory equipment or processing 
machinery;
    2. To pay for the operating costs of any entity receiving 
assistance from the Center;
    3. To pay costs of the project where a conflict of interest exists; 
or
    4. To fund any activities prohibited by 7 CFR parts 3015 or 3019.
    In addition, your application will not be considered for funding if 
it does any of the following:
     Focuses assistance on only one cooperative or mutually-
owned business;
     Requests more than the maximum grant amount; or
     Proposes ineligible costs that equal more than 10 percent 
of total project costs.
    We will consider your application for funding if it includes 
ineligible costs of 10 percent or less of total project costs, as long 
as it is determined eligible otherwise. However, if your application is 
successful, those ineligible costs must be removed and replaced with 
eligible costs, before the Agency will make the grant award, or the 
amount of the grant award will be reduced accordingly. If we cannot 
determine the percentage of ineligible costs, your application will not 
be considered for funding.

D. Grant Period

    Your application must include a one-year grant period or it will 
not be considered for funding. The grant period should begin no earlier 
than October 1, 2012, and no later than January 1, 2013. Prior approval 
is needed from the Agency if you are awarded a grant and desire the 
grant period to begin earlier or later than previously discussed. 
Projects must be completed within the one-year timeframe. The Agency 
may approve requests to extend the grant period for up to an additional 
12 months at its discretion. Further guidance on grant period 
extensions will be provided in the award document.
    If you have an existing RCDG award, you must be performing 
satisfactorily to be considered eligible for a new award. Satisfactory 
performance includes being up-to-date on all financial and performance 
reports and being current

[[Page 33712]]

on all tasks as approved in the work plan. The Agency will use its 
discretion to make this determination.

E. Completeness

    Your application will not be considered for funding if it does not 
provide sufficient information to determine eligibility and scoring. In 
particular, you must include all of the forms and proposal elements as 
discussed in the regulation and as clarified further in this Notice. 
For more information on what is required for an application, see 7 CFR 
4284.510.

IV. Application and Submission Information

A. Address To Request Application Package

    For further information, you should contact your State Office 
identified in the ADDRESSES section of this Notice. Application 
materials may also be obtained at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP-RCDG_Grants.html.

B. Form of Submission

     You may submit your application in paper form or 
electronically. If you submit in paper form, any forms requiring 
signatures must include an original signature. To submit an application 
electronically, you must use the Grants.gov Web site at http://www.grants.gov. You may not submit an application electronically in any 
way other than through Grants.gov.
     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.
     To use Grants.gov, you must have a DUNS number, which can 
be obtained at no cost via a toll-free request line at (866) 705-5711. 
Please note that obtaining the DUNS number is required, prior to 
submitting an application. You must also maintain registration in the 
CCR database. (See 2 CFR part 25.) You may register for the CCR at 
https://www.uscontractorregistration.com/, or by calling (877) 252-
2700.
     You must submit all of your application documents 
electronically through Grants.gov.
     After electronically submitting an application through 
Grants.gov, you will receive an automatic acknowledgement from 
Grants.gov that contains a Grants.gov tracking number.
     You may be required to provide original signatures on 
forms at a later date.
     You can locate the Grants.gov downloadable application 
package for this program by using a keyword, the program name, the 
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number, or the Funding 
Opportunity Number.

C. Application Contents

    Your application must contain all of the required forms and 
proposal elements described in 7 CFR 4284.510 and as otherwise 
clarified in this Notice. Specifically, your application must include 
(1) the required forms as described in 7 CFR 4284.510(b) and (2) the 
required proposal elements as described in 7 CFR 4284.510(c). Further 
clarification of application requirements is as follows.
1. Clarifications on Forms
    a. Your DUNS number should be identified in the ``Organizational 
DUNS'' field on Standard Form (SF) 424, ``Application for Federal 
Assistance.'' Since there are no specific fields for a CCR number 
(formerly called a Commercial and Government Entity code or a CAGE 
code) and expiration date, you may identify them anywhere you want to 
on form SF 424. In addition, you should provide the DUNS and the CCR 
number and expiration date under the applicant eligibility discussion 
in your proposal narrative. If you do not include the CCR number and 
expiration date and the DUNS in your application, it will not be 
considered for funding.
    b. You can voluntarily fill out and submit the ``Survey on Ensuring 
Equal Opportunity for Applicants'' as part of your application if you 
are a nonprofit organization.
2. Clarifications on Proposal Elements
    a. You must include the title of the project as well as any other 
relevant identifying information on the Title Page.
    b. You must include page numbers on the Table of Contents for each 
component of the application to facilitate review.
    c. Your Executive Summary must include the items in 7 CFR 
4284.510(c)(3), and also discuss the percentage of work that will be 
performed among organizational staff, consultants, or other 
contractors. It should not exceed two pages.
    d. Your Eligibility Discussion must not exceed two pages and cover 
how you meet the eligibility requirements for applicant, matching 
funds, other eligibility requirements and grant period.
    e. Your Proposal Narrative must not exceed 40 pages and should 
describe the essential aspects of the project.
    1. You are only required to have one title page for the proposal.
    2. If you list the evaluation criteria on the Table of Contents and 
specifically and individually addressed each criterion in narrative 
form, then it is not necessary for you to include an Information Sheet. 
Otherwise the Information Sheet is required under 7 CFR 
4284.510(c)(ii).
    3. You should include the following under Goals of the Project.
    A. A statement that substantiates that the Center will effectively 
serve rural areas in the United States;
    B. A statement that the primary objective of the Center will be to 
improve the economic condition of rural areas through cooperative 
development;
    C. A description of the contributions that the proposed activities 
are likely to make to the improvement of the economic conditions of the 
rural areas for which the Center will provide services. Expected 
economic impacts should be tied to tasks included in the work plan and 
budget; and
    D. A statement that the Center, in carrying out its activities, 
will seek, where appropriate, the advice, participation, expertise, and 
assistance of representatives of business, industry, educational 
institutions, the Federal government, and State and local governments.
    4. The Agency has established annual performance evaluation 
measures to evaluate the RCDG program. You must provide estimates on 
the following performance evaluation measures.
     Number of groups who are not legal entities assisted.
     Number of businesses that are not cooperatives assisted.
     Number of cooperatives assisted.
     Number of businesses incorporated that are not 
cooperatives.
     Number of cooperatives incorporated.
     Total number of jobs created as a result of assistance.
     Total number of jobs saved as a result of assistance.
     Number of jobs created for the Center as a result of RCDG 
funding.
     Number of jobs saved for the Center as a result of RCDG 
funding.
    It is permissible to have a zero in a performance element. When you 
calculate jobs created, estimates should be based upon actual jobs to 
be created by your organization as a result of the RCDG funding or 
actual jobs to be created by cooperative businesses or other businesses 
as a result of assistance from your organization. When you calculate 
jobs saved, estimates should be based only on actual jobs that have 
been lost if your organization did not receive RCDG funding or actual 
jobs that would have been lost without assistance from your 
organization.

[[Page 33713]]

    5. You can also suggest additional performance elements for example 
where job creation or jobs saved may not be a relevant indicator (e.g. 
housing). These additional criteria should be specific, measurable 
performance elements that could be included in an award document.
    6. You must describe in the application how you will undertake to 
do each of the following. We would prefer if you described these 
undertakings within proposal evaluation criteria to reduce duplication 
in your application. The specific proposal evaluation criterion where 
you should address each undertaking is noted below.
    a. Take all practicable steps to develop continuing sources of 
financial support for the Center, particularly from sources in the 
private sectors (should be presented under proposal evaluation 
criterion number 10, utilizing the specific requirements of Section 
V.B.10);
    b. Make arrangements for the Center's activities to be monitored 
and evaluated (should be addressed under proposal evaluation criterion 
number 8 utilizing the specific requirements of Section V.B.8); and
    c. Provide an accounting for the money received by the grantee in 
accordance with 7 CFR part 4284, subpart F. This should be addressed 
under proposal evaluation criterion number 1, utilizing the specific 
requirements of Section V.B.1.
    7. You should present the Work Plan and Budget proposal element 
under proposal evaluation criterion number 8, utilizing the specific 
requirements of Section V.B.8 of this Notice to reduce duplication in 
your application.
    8. You should present the Delivery of Cooperative development 
assistance proposal element under proposal evaluation criterion number 
2, utilizing the specific requirements of Section V.B.2 of this Notice.
    9. You should present the Qualifications of Personnel proposal 
element under proposal evaluation criterion number 9, utilizing the 
specific requirements of Section V.B.9 of this Notice.
    10. You should present the Local Support and Future Support 
proposal elements under proposal evaluation criterion number 10, 
utilizing the requirements of Section V.B.10 of this Notice.
    11. Your application will not be considered for funding if you do 
not address all of the proposal evaluation criteria. See Section V.B of 
this Notice for a description of the proposal evaluation criteria.
    f. You must certify that there are no current outstanding Federal 
judgments against your property and that you will not use grant funds 
to pay for any judgment obtained by the United States. To satisfy the 
Certification requirement, you should include this statement in your 
application: ``[INSERT NAME OF APPLICANT] certifies that the United 
States has not obtained an unsatisfied judgment against its property 
and will not use grant funds to pay any judgments obtained by the 
United States.'' A separate signature is not required.
    g. Awards made under this announcement are subject to the 
provisions contained in the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and 
Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2012, 
Public Law 112-55, Division A, Sections 738 and 739 regarding corporate 
felony convictions and corporate federal tax delinquencies. To comply 
with these provisions, all applicants must complete the paragraph (1) 
of this representation, and all corporate applicants also must complete 
paragraphs (2) and (3) of this representation.
    (1) Applicant ---------------- [INSERT NAME OF APPLICANT] is -- is 
not -- (check one) an entity that has filed articles of incorporation 
in one of the fifty states, the District of Columbia, or the various 
territories of the United States including American Samoa, Federated 
States of Micronesia, Guam, Midway Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, 
Puerto Rico, Republic of Palau, Republic of the Marshall Islands, U.S. 
Virgin Islands. (Note that this includes both for-profit and non-profit 
organizations.)
    If Applicant checked ``is'' above, Applicant must complete 
paragraphs (2) and (3) of the representation. If Applicant checked ``is 
not'' above, Applicant may leave the remainder of the representation 
blank.
    (2) Applicant---------------- [INSERT NAME OF APPLICANT] has -- has 
not -- (check one) been convicted of a felony criminal violation under 
Federal or State law in the 24 months preceding the date of 
application. Applicant has -- has not -- (check one) had any officer or 
agent convicted of a felony criminal violation for actions taken on 
behalf of Applicant under Federal or State law in the 24 months 
preceding the date of signature.
    (3) Applicant ---------------- [INSERT NAME OF APPLICANT] has -- 
does not have -- (check one) 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.
    h. You must certify that matching funds will be available at the 
same time grant funds are anticipated to be spent and that expenditures 
of matching funds are pro-rated or spent in advance of grant funding, 
such that for every dollar of the total project cost, not less than the 
required amount of matching funds will be expended. Please note that 
this Certification is a separate requirement from the Verification of 
Matching Funds requirement. To satisfy the Certification requirement, 
you should include this statement in your application: ``[INSERT NAME 
OF APPLICANT] certifies that matching funds will be available at the 
same time grant funds are anticipated to be spent and that expenditures 
of matching funds shall be pro-rated or spent in advance of grant 
funding, such that for every dollar of the total project cost, at least 
25 cents (5 cents for 1994 Institutions) of matching funds will be 
expended.'' A separate signature is not required.
    i. You must provide documentation in your application to verify all 
of your proposed matching funds. The documentation must be included in 
Appendix A of your application and will not count towards the 40-page 
limitation. Template letters are available for each type of matching 
funds contribution at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP-RCDG_Grants.html.
    If matching funds are to be provided in cash, you must meet the 
following requirements.
     You: The application must include a statement verifying 
(1) the amount of the cash, and (2) the source of the cash.
     Third-party: The application must include a signed letter 
from the third party verifying (1) how much cash will be donated, and 
(2) that it will be available corresponding to the proposed grant 
period or donated on a specific date within the grant period.
    If matching funds are to be provided by an in-kind donation, you 
must meet the following requirements.
     You: The application must include a signed letter from you 
or your authorized representative verifying (1) the nature of the goods 
and/or services to be donated and how they will be used, (2) when the 
goods and/or services will be donated (i.e., corresponding to the 
proposed grant period or to specific dates within the grant period), 
and (3) the value of the goods and/or services.
     Third-Party: The application must include a signed letter 
from the third party verifying (1) The nature of the

[[Page 33714]]

goods and/or services to be donated and how they will be used, (2) when 
the goods and/or services will be donated (i.e., corresponding to the 
proposed grant period or to specific dates within the grant period), 
and (3) the value of the goods and/or services.
    To ensure that you are identifying and verifying your matching 
funds appropriately, please note the following:
     If you are paying for goods and/or services as part of the 
matching funds requirement, the expenditure is considered a cash match, 
and you should verify it as such.
     You can only consider goods or services for which no 
expenditure is made as an in-kind contribution.
     If a non-profit or another organization contributes the 
services of affiliated volunteers, they must follow the third-party, 
in-kind donation verification requirement for each individual 
volunteer.
     Expected program income may not be used to fulfill your 
matching funds requirement at the time you submit your application. 
However, if you have a contract to provide services in place at the 
time you submit your application, you can verify the amount of the 
contract as a cash match.
     The valuation process you use for in-kind contributions 
does not need to be included in your application, but you must be able 
to demonstrate how the valuation was derived if you are awarded a 
grant. The grant award may be withdrawn or the amount of the grant 
reduced if you cannot demonstrate how the valuation was derived.

D. Submission Dates and Times

    Application Deadline Date: August 6, 2012.
    Explanation of Deadlines: Complete paper applications must be 
received in the State Office by the deadline date, 4:00 p.m. local 
time. Electronic applications submitted through http://www.grants.gov 
will be accepted by the system through midnight eastern time on the 
deadline date. Your application will not be considered for funding if 
it does not meet the applicable deadline date and time.

E. 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. For a list of 
States that maintain a SPOC, please see the White House Web site: 
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants_spoc. If your State has a SPOC, 
you may submit a copy of the application directly for review. Any 
comments obtained through the SPOC must be provided to your State 
Office for consideration as part of your application. If your State has 
not established a SPOC, or if you do not want to submit a copy of the 
application, our State Offices will submit your application to the SPOC 
or other appropriate agency or agencies.

F. Environmental Review

    Applications for financial assistance are subject to an 
environmental review. However, if your application is for technical 
assistance or planning purposes, it is generally excluded from the 
environmental review process (See 7 CFR 1940.310(e)(1)). We will ensure 
that any required environmental review is completed prior to approval 
of an application or obligation of funds.

V. Application Review Information

A. Application and Scoring Process

    The State Offices will review applications to determine if they are 
eligible for assistance based on requirements in 7 CFR part 4284, 
subparts A and F, this Notice, and other applicable Federal 
regulations. If determined eligible, your application will be scored by 
a panel of USDA employees in accordance with the point allocation 
specified in this Notice. A recommendation will be submitted to the 
Administrator to fund applications in highest ranking order. In some 
cases, applications that cannot be fully funded may be offered partial 
funding.

B. Scoring Criteria

    Scoring criteria will follow criteria published at 7 CFR 4284.513 
as supplemented below including any amendments made by the Food, 
Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, which is incorporated by 
reference in this Notice. The regulatory and statutory criteria are 
clarified and supplemented below. You should also include information 
as described in Section IV.C.6 (a)-(c). Evaluators will base scores 
only on the information provided or cross-referenced by page number in 
each individual evaluation criterion. The maximum amount of points 
available is 100. Newly established or proposed Centers that do not yet 
have a track record on which to evaluate the following criteria should 
refer to the expertise and track records of staff or consultants 
expected to perform tasks related to the respective criteria. Proposed 
or newly established Centers must be organized well-enough at time of 
application to address its capabilities for meeting these criteria.
    1. Administrative capabilities (maximum score of 10 points). A 
panel of USDA employees will evaluate your demonstrated track record in 
carrying out activities in support of development assistance to 
cooperatively and mutually owned businesses. At a minimum, you must 
discuss the following administrative capabilities:
    a. Financial systems and audit controls;
    b. Personnel and program administration performance measures;
    c. Clear written rules of governance; and
    d. Experience administering Federal grant funding, including but 
not limited to past RCDG's.
    If you discuss the Center's administrative capabilities and track 
record, versus those of umbrella or supporting institutions, such as 
universities or parent organizations, you will score higher on this 
factor.
    2. Technical assistance and other services (maximum score of 10 
points). A panel of USDA employees will evaluate your demonstrated 
expertise in providing technical assistance and accomplishing effective 
outcomes in rural areas to promote and assist the development of 
cooperatively and mutually owned businesses. You must discuss at least:
    a. Your potential for delivering effective technical assistance;
    b. The types of assistance provided;
    c. The expected effects of that assistance;
    d. The sustainability of organizations receiving the assistance; 
and
    e. The transferability of your cooperative development strategies 
and focus to other areas of the U.S.
    In addition, if you discuss the demonstrated expertise specific to 
the Center (as opposed to umbrella or supporting institutions such as 
universities or parent organizations), you will score higher on this 
factor.
    3. Economic development (maximum score of 10 points). A panel of 
USDA employees will evaluate your demonstrated ability to facilitate:
    a. Establishment of cooperatives or mutually owned businesses;
    b. New cooperative approaches; and
    c. Retention of businesses, generation of employment opportunities 
or other factors, as applicable, that will otherwise improve the 
economic conditions of rural areas.
    If you provide statistics for historical and potential development 
and identify your role in economic development

[[Page 33715]]

outcomes, you will score higher on this factor.
    4. Past performance (maximum score of 10 points). A panel of USDA 
employees will evaluate your demonstrated past performance in 
establishing legal cooperative business entities and other legal 
business entities over the most recently completed three year Federal 
fiscal year period. Documentation verifying the establishment of legal 
business entities must be included in Appendix C of your application 
and will not count against the 40-page limit for the narrative. The 
documentation must include an organizational document from the 
Secretary of State's Office; or if the business entity is not required 
to register with the Secretary of State, a certification from the 
business entity that a legal business entity has been established and 
when. Centers that have established more legal business entities will 
score higher on this factor.
    5. Networking and regional focus (maximum score of 10 points). A 
panel of USDA employees will evaluate your demonstrated commitment to:
    a. Networking with other cooperative development centers, and other 
organizations involved in rural economic development efforts, and
    b. Developing multi-organization and multi-state approaches to 
addressing the economic development and cooperative needs of rural 
areas.
    6. Commitment (maximum score of 10 points). A panel of USDA 
employees will evaluate your commitment to providing technical 
assistance and other services to under-served and economically 
distressed areas in rural areas of the United States. If you define and 
describe the underserved and economically distressed areas within your 
service area, provide statistics, and identify projects within or 
affecting these areas, as appropriate, you will score higher on this 
factor.
    7. Matching Funds (maximum score of 10 points). A panel of USDA 
employees will evaluate your commitment for the 25 percent (5 percent 
for 1994 Institutions) matching funds requirement. Discussion or a 
table may be provided to describe all matching funds being committed to 
the project. However, formal documentation to verify all of the 
matching funds must be included in Appendix A of your application. If 
you provide additional matching funds in the form of cash or in-kind 
match that exceeds the 25 percent matching funds requirement, you will 
score higher on this factor. If you provide additional matching funds 
in the form of a cash-only match that exceeds the 25 percent matching 
funds requirement, you will score highest on this factor.
    8. Work Plan/Budget (maximum score of 10 points). A panel of USDA 
employees will evaluate your work plan for detailed actions and an 
accompanying timetable for implementing the proposal. Clear, logical, 
realistic, and efficient plans will result in a higher score. Budgets 
will be reviewed for completeness and the quality of non-Federal 
funding commitments. You must discuss at a minimum:
    a. Specific tasks (whether it be by type of service or specific 
project) to be completed using grant and matching funds;
    b. How customers will be identified;
    c. Key personnel; and
    d. The evaluation methods to be used to determine the success of 
specific tasks and overall objectives of Center operations.
    The budget must present a breakdown of the estimated costs 
associated with cooperative and business development activities as well 
as the operation of the Center and allocate these costs to each of the 
tasks to be undertaken. Matching funds as well as grant funds must be 
accounted for in the budget.
    9. Qualifications of those Performing the Tasks (maximum score of 
10 points). A panel of USDA employees will evaluate your application to 
determine if the personnel expected to perform key tasks have a track 
record of:
    a. Positive solutions for complex cooperative development and/or 
marketing problems; or
    b. A successful record of conducting accurate feasibility studies, 
business plans, marketing analysis, or other activities relevant to 
your success as determined by the tasks identified in the your work 
plan; and
    c. Whether the personnel expected to perform the tasks are full/
part-time employees of your organization or are contract personnel.
    If you demonstrate commitment/availability of qualified personnel 
expected to perform the tasks, you will score higher on this factor.
    10. Local and Future Support (maximum score of 10 points). A panel 
of USDA employees will evaluate your application for local and future 
support. Support should be discussed directly within the response to 
this criterion.
    a. Discussion on local support should include previous and/or 
expected local support and plans for coordinating with other 
developmental organizations in the proposed service area or with state 
and local government institutions. If you demonstrate strong support 
from potential beneficiaries and formal evidence of intent to 
coordinate with other developmental organizations, you will score 
higher on this factor. You may also submit a maximum of 10 letters of 
support or intent to coordinate with the application. These letters 
should be included in Appendix B of your application and will not count 
against the 40-page limit for the narrative.
    b. Discussion on future support will include your vision for 
funding operations in future years. You should document:
    1. New and existing funding sources that support your goals;
    2. Alternative funding sources that reduce reliance on Federal, 
State, and local grants; and
    3. The use of in-house personnel for providing services versus 
contracting out for that expertise.
    If you demonstrate vision and likelihood of long-term 
sustainability with diversification of funding sources and building in-
house technical assistance capacity, you will score higher on this 
factor.

VI. Award Administration Information

A. Award Notices

    If your application is successful, you will receive notification 
regarding funding from the State Office where your application is 
submitted or headquarter if you submit your application via Grants.gov. 
You must comply with all applicable statutes, regulations, and notice 
requirements before the grant award will be approved. If your 
application is not successful, you will receive notification, including 
mediation and appeal rights by mail. See 7 CFR part 11 for USDA 
National Appeals Division procedures.

B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    Additional requirements that apply to grantees selected for this 
program can be found in 7 CFR part 4284, subparts A and F, Parts 3015, 
3019, 3052 and 2 CFR parts 215 and 417. All recipients of Federal 
financial assistance are required to report information about first-
tier subawards 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 Transparency Act 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:
     Agency-approved Grant Agreement.
     Letter of Conditions.

[[Page 33716]]

     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, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion-Lower Tier Covered 
Transactions.''
     Form AD-1049, ``Certification Regarding Drug-Free 
Workplace Requirements (Grants).''
     Form RD 400-4, ``Assurance Agreement.''
     SF LLL, ``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities,'' if 
applicable.

VII. Agency Contacts

    If you have questions about this Notice, please contact the State 
Office as identified in the ADDRESSES section of this Notice.

VIII. 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 
(TDD) or (866) 377-8642 (English Federal-relay) or (800) 845-6136 
(Spanish Federal-relay). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and 
employer.

    Dated: May 21, 2012.
John C. Padalino,
Acting Administrator, Rural Business Cooperative Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-13833 Filed 6-6-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XY-P