[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 61 (Friday, March 29, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19183-19190]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-07275]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Business-Cooperative Service


Notice of Funding Availability for the Rural Energy for America 
Program

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) announces the 
acceptance of applications under the Rural Energy for America Program 
(REAP) for Fiscal Year 2013 for financial assistance as follows: 
grants, guaranteed loans, and combined grants and guaranteed loans for 
the development and construction of renewable energy systems and for 
energy efficiency improvement projects; and grants for conducting 
renewable energy system feasibility studies. The Notice also announces 
the availability of up to $20.8 million of Fiscal Year 2013 budget 
authority to fund these REAP activities, which will support up to $10.4 
million in grant program level and up to $43.4 million in guaranteed 
loan program level.

DATES: In order to be considered for Fiscal Year 2013 funds, complete 
applications under this Notice must be received by the appropriate USDA 
Rural Development State Office no later than 4:30 p.m. local time of 
the dates as follows:
    For renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement grant 
applications and combination grant and guaranteed loan applications: 
April 30, 2013.
    For renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement 
guaranteed loan only applications: On a continuous basis up to July 15, 
2013.
    For renewable energy system feasibility study applications: April 
30, 2013.
    Energy audits and renewable energy development assistance, grant 
funding will not be available for Fiscal Year 2013, due to the 
statutory timeframe to award and obligate funds by April 1, 2013.

[[Page 19184]]


ADDRESSES: See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for addresses concerning 
applications for the Rural Energy for America Program for Fiscal Year 
2013 funds.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about this Notice, 
please contact Mr. Kelley Oehler, Branch Chief, USDA Rural Development, 
Energy Division, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250. 
Telephone: (202) 720-6819. Email: [email protected].
    For further information on this program, please contact the 
applicable USDA Rural Development Energy Coordinator for your 
respective State, as provided in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section 
of this Notice.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Fiscal Year 2013 Applications for the Rural Energy for America Program

    Applications. Application materials may be obtained by contacting 
one of Rural Development's Energy Coordinators. In addition, for grant 
applications, applicants may access the electronic grant application 
for the Rural Energy for America Program at http://www.grants.gov. To 
locate the downloadable application package for this program, the 
applicant must use the program's Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance 
(CFDA) Number 10.868 or FedGrants Funding Opportunity Number, which can 
be found at http://www.grants.gov.
    Application submittal. For renewable energy system, energy 
efficiency improvement, and feasibility study applications, submit 
complete paper applications to the Rural Development State Office in 
the State in which the applicant's proposed project is located.
    Submit electronic grant only applications at http://www.grants.gov, 
following the instructions found on this Web site.

Rural Development Energy Coordinators

    Note:  Telephone numbers listed are not toll-free.

Alabama

Marcia Johnson, USDA Rural Development, Suite 601, Sterling Centre, 
4121 Carmichael Road, Montgomery, AL 36106-3683, (334) 279-3453, 
[email protected]

Alaska

Chad Stovall, USDA Rural Development, 800 West Evergreen, Suite 201, 
Palmer, AK 99645-6539, (907) 761-7718, [email protected]

American Samoa (See Hawaii)

Arizona

Gary Mack, USDA Rural Development, 230 North First Avenue, Suite 206, 
Phoenix, AZ 85003-1706, (602) 280-8717, [email protected]

Arkansas

Laura Tucker, USDA Rural Development, 700 West Capitol Avenue, Room 
3416, Little Rock, AR 72201-3225, (501) 301-3280, 
[email protected]

California

Steven Nicholls, USDA Rural Development, 430 G Street, 4169, 
Davis, CA 95616, (530) 792-5805, [email protected]

Colorado

    Janice Pond, USDA Rural Development, Denver Federal Center, 
Building 56, Room 2300, P.O. Box 25426, Denver, CO 80225-0426, (720) 
544-2907, [email protected]

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

Connecticut (see Massachusetts)

Delaware/Maryland

Bruce Weaver, USDA Rural Development, 1221 College Park Drive, Suite 
200, Dover, DE 19904, (302) 857-3629, [email protected]

Federated States of Micronesia (See Hawaii)

Florida/Virgin Islands

Angela Prioleau, USDA Rural Development, 4440 NW. 25th Place, 
Gainesville, FL 32606, (352) 338-3412, [email protected]

Georgia

J. Craig Scroggs, USDA Rural Development, 111 E. Spring St., Suite B, 
Monroe, GA 30655, (770) 267-1413, ext. 113, [email protected]

Guam (See Hawaii)

Hawaii

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

Tim O'Connell, USDA Rural Development, Federal Building, Room 311, 154 
Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720, (808) 933-8313, 
[email protected]

Idaho

Brian Buch, USDA Rural Development, 9173 W. Barnes Drive, Suite A1, 
Boise, ID 83709, (208) 378-5623, [email protected]

Illinois

    Mary Warren, USDA Rural Development, 2118 West Park Court, Suite A, 
Champaign, IL 61821, (217) 403-6218, [email protected]

Indiana

    Jerry Hay, USDA Rural Development, 5975 Lakeside Boulevard, 
Indianapolis, IN 46278, (812) 346-3411, ext. 126, [email protected]

Iowa

Kate Sand, USDA Rural Development, 909 E. 2nd Avenue, Suite C, 
Indianola, IA 50125, (515) 961-5365, ext.130, [email protected]

Kansas

David Kramer, USDA Rural Development, 1303 SW. First American Place, 
Suite 100, Topeka, KS 66604-4040, (785) 271-2736, 
[email protected]

Kentucky

    Scott Maas, USDA Rural Development, 771 Corporate Drive, Suite 200, 
Lexington, KY 40503, (859) 224-7435, [email protected]

Louisiana

    Kevin Boone, USDA Rural Development, 905 Jefferson Street, Suite 
320, Lafayette, LA 70501, (337) 262-6601, ext. 133, 
[email protected]

Maine

Beverly Stone, USDA Rural Development, 967 Illinois Avenue, Suite 4, 
P.O. Box 405, Bangor, ME 04402-0405, (207) 990-9125, 
[email protected]

Maryland (see Delaware)

Massachusetts/Rhode Island/Connecticut

Anne Correia, USDA Rural Development, 15 Cranberry Highway, West 
Wareham, MA 01002, (508) 295-5151, ext. 3, [email protected]

Michigan

Rick Vanderbeek, USDA Rural Development, 3001 Coolidge Road, Suite 200, 
East Lansing, MI 48823, (517) 324-5157, [email protected]

Minnesota

Ron Omann, USDA Rural Development, 375 Jackson St., Suite 410, St. 
Paul,

[[Page 19185]]

MN 55101, (651) 602-7796, [email protected]

Mississippi

G. Gary Jones, USDA Rural Development, 100 W. Capital Street, Suite 
831,Jackson, MS 39269, (601) 965-5457, [email protected]

Missouri

Matt Moore, USDA Rural Development, 601 Business Loop 70 West, Parkade 
Center, Suite 235, Columbia, MO 65203, (573) 876-9321, 
[email protected]

Montana

    Bill Barr, USDA Rural Development, 2229 Boot Hill Court, P.O. Box 
850, Bozeman, MT 59771, (406) 585-2545, [email protected]

Nebraska

Debra Yocum, USDA Rural Development, 100 Centennial Mall North, Room 
152, Federal Building, Lincoln, NE 68508, (402) 437-5554, 
[email protected]

Nevada

Mark Williams, USDA Rural Development, 1390 South Curry Street, Carson 
City, NV 89703, (775) 887-1222, ext. 116, [email protected]

New Hampshire (See Vermont)

New Jersey

Victoria Fekete, USDA Rural Development, 8000 Midlantic Drive, 5th 
Floor North, Suite 500, Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054, (856) 787-7752, 
[email protected]

New Mexico

Jesse Bopp, USDA Rural Development, 6200 Jefferson Street, NE., Room 
255, Albuquerque, NM 87109, (505) 761-4952, [email protected]

New York

Scott Collins, USDA Rural Development, 9025 River Road, Marcy, NY 
13403, (315) 736-3316, ext. 4, [email protected]

North Carolina

David Thigpen, USDA Rural Development, 4405 Bland Rd. Suite 260, 
Raleigh, NC 27609, (919) 873-2065, [email protected]

North Dakota

Dennis Rodin, USDA Rural Development, Federal Building, Room 208, 220 
East Rosser Avenue, P.O. Box 1737, Bismarck, ND 58502-1737, (701) 530-
2068, [email protected]

Ohio

Randy Monhemius, USDA Rural Development, Federal Building, Room 507, 
200 North High Street, Columbus, OH 43215-2418, (614) 255-2424, 
[email protected]

Oklahoma

Jody Harris, USDA Rural Development, 100 USDA, Suite 108, Stillwater, 
OK 74074-2654, (405) 742-1036, [email protected]

Oregon

Don Hollis, USDA Rural Development, 200 SE Hailey Ave, Suite 105, 
Pendleton, OR 97801, (541) 278-8049, ext. 129, [email protected]

Pennsylvania

Amanda Krugh, USDA Rural Development, 1 Credit Union Place, Suite 330, 
Harrisburg, PA 17110-2996, (717) 237-2289, [email protected]

Puerto Rico

Luis Garcia, USDA Rural Development, IBM Building, 654 Munoz Rivera 
Avenue, Suite 601, Hato Rey, PR 00918-6106, (787) 766-5091, ext. 251, 
[email protected]

Republic of Palau (See Hawaii)

Republic of the Marshall Islands (See Hawaii)

Rhode Island (see Massachusetts)

South Carolina

Shannon Legree, USDA Rural Development, Strom Thurmond Federal 
Building, 1835 Assembly Street, Room 1007, Columbia, SC 29201, (803) 
253-3150, [email protected]

South Dakota

Darlene Bresson USDA Rural Development, 1720 4th Street, NE., Suite 2, 
Watertown, SD 57201 (605) 886-8202, ext. 120, 
[email protected]

Tennessee

Will Dodson, USDA Rural Development, 3322 West End Avenue, Suite 300, 
Nashville, TN 37203-1084, (615) 783-1350, [email protected]

Texas

Billy Curb, USDA Rural Development, Federal Building, Suite 102, 101 
South Main Street, Temple, TX 76501, (254) 742-9775, 
[email protected]

Utah

Perry Mathews, USDA Rural Development, Wallace F. Bennett Federal 
Building, 125 South State Street, Room 4311, Salt Lake City, UT 84138, 
(801) 524-4301, [email protected]

Vermont/New Hampshire

Cheryl Ducharme, USDA Rural Development, 89 Main Street, 3rd Floor, 
Montpelier, VT 05602, (802) 828-6083, [email protected]

Virginia

Laurette Tucker, USDA Rural Development, Culpeper Building, Suite 238, 
1606 Santa Rosa Road, Richmond, VA 23229, (804) 287-1594, 
[email protected]

Virgin Islands (see Florida)

Washington

Mary Traxler, USDA Rural Development, 1835 Black Lake Blvd. SW., Suite 
B, Olympia, WA 98512, (360) 704-7762, [email protected]

West Virginia

Lisa Sharp, USDA Rural Development, 1550 Earl Core Road, Suite 101, 
Morgantown, WV 26505-7500, (304) 284-4871, [email protected]

Wisconsin

Brenda Heinen, USDA Rural Development, 4949 Kirschling Court, Stevens 
Point, WI 54481, (715) 345-7615, Ext. 139, [email protected]

Wyoming

Nancy Veres, USDA Rural Development, Dick Cheney Federal Building, 100 
East B Street, Room 1005, P.O. Box 11005, Casper, WY 82602, (307) 233-
6710, [email protected].

Paperwork Reduction Act

    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
information collection requirements associated with renewable energy 
system and energy efficiency improvement grants and guaranteed loans, 
as covered in this Notice, has been approved by the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) under OMB Control Number 0570-0050. The 
information collection requirements associated with renewable energy 
feasibility study grants has also been approved by OMB Control Number 
0570-0061, respectively.

Overview

    Federal Agency Name: Rural Business-Cooperative Service.

[[Page 19186]]

    Contract Proposal Title: Rural Energy for America Program.
    Announcement Type: Initial announcement.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number. 10.868.
    Dates: In order to be considered for Fiscal Year 2013 funds, 
complete applications under this Notice must be received by the 
appropriate USDA Rural Development State Office no later than 4:30 p.m. 
local time of the dates as follows:
    For renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement grant 
applications and combination grant and guaranteed loan applications: 
April 30, 2013.
    For renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement 
guaranteed loan only applications: On a continuous basis up to July 15, 
2013.
    For renewable energy system feasibility study applications: April 
30, 2013.
    Energy audits and renewable energy development assistance grants, 
grant funding will not be available for Fiscal Year 2013, due to the 
statutory timeframe to award and obligate funds by April 1, 2013.
    Any application received after its applicable date and time, 
regardless of the postmark on the application, will not be considered 
for Fiscal Year 2013 funds.
    Availability of Notice. This Notice for the Rural Energy for 
America Program is available through the USDA Rural Development Web 
site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_Reap.html.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    A. Purpose of the Rural Energy for America Program. The program is 
designed to help agricultural producers and rural small businesses 
reduce energy costs and consumption and help meet the Nation's critical 
energy needs.
    B. Statutory Authority. This program is authorized under 7 U.S.C. 
8107.
    C. Definition of Terms. The definitions applicable to this Notice 
are published at 7 CFR 4280.103. In addition, the following definition 
applies to this Notice.
    Hybrid. A combination of two or more renewable energy technologies 
that are incorporated into a unified system to support a single 
project.

II. Award Information

    A. Available funds. The amount of funds available for renewable 
energy systems and energy efficiency improvements in Fiscal Year 2013 
will be up to $53.6 million. For renewable energy system and energy 
efficiency improvement projects only, there will be an allocation of 
funds to each State, and the Rural Development's National Office will 
maintain a reserve of funds.
    The amount of grant funds available for renewable energy system 
feasibility studies in Fiscal Year 2013 will be up to $250,000. The 
balance of the funds unused for the feasibility study grants may be 
utilized in any of the renewable energy system and energy efficiency 
improvement National competitions.
    In order to ensure that small projects have a fair opportunity to 
compete for the funding and are consistent with the priorities set 
forth in the statute, the Agency will set-aside up to $4.1 million to 
fund grants of $20,000 or less. Obligations of these funds will take 
place through June 30, 2013. Any unobligated balances will be moved to 
the renewable energy budget authority account as of July 1, 2013. These 
funds may be utilized in any of the renewable energy system and energy 
efficiency improvement National competitions.
    B. Approximate number of awards. The number of awards will depend 
on the amount of funds made available and on the number of eligible 
applicants participating in this program.
    C. State and National competitions. Renewable energy system and 
energy efficiency improvement applications for Fiscal Year 2013 funds 
will compete for funds allocated to their State for competition. 
Separate competitions will be held for (1) grant only and grant and 
guaranteed loan combination applications; (2) grants of $20,000 or less 
applications, and (3) guaranteed loan only applications. Grant only and 
grant and guaranteed loan combination applications and grants of 
$20,000 or less applications will each have one State competition. All 
unfunded eligible grant only and grant and guaranteed loan combination 
applications received by April 30, 2013, will be competing against 
other grant only and grant and guaranteed loan combination applications 
from other States at a final National competition. However, the Agency 
reserves the right to hold a separate National competition for grants 
of $20,000 or less if funding remains after the State competition. 
Obligations of these funds will take place through June 30, 2013. State 
competitions will be held bi-weekly for guaranteed loan only 
applications. A minimum score of 50 is required for guaranteed loan 
only applications to compete in the State competitions. If a State does 
not have sufficient funds to make a guaranteed loan award, funding may 
be obtained from the guaranteed loan reserves held at the National 
Office. The guaranteed loan application will not have to compete any 
further. Finally, all unfunded eligible guaranteed loan only 
applications received by July 15, 2013, will be competed against other 
guaranteed loan only applications from other States at a final National 
competition if the guaranteed loan reserves have not been completely 
depleted. If funds remain after the final guaranteed loan only National 
competition, the Agency may elect to utilize budget authority to fund 
additional grant only and grant and guaranteed loan combination 
applications that competed in the National competition. Renewable 
energy system feasibility study grant applications will compete in 
separate National competition.
    D. Type of instrument. Grant, guaranteed loan, and grant/guaranteed 
loan combinations.
    E. Funding limitations. The following funding limitations apply to 
applications submitted under this Notice.
    (1) Maximum grant assistance to an entity. For the purposes of this 
Notice, the maximum amount of grant assistance to an entity will not 
exceed $750,000 for Fiscal Year 2013 based on the total amount of 
renewable energy system, energy efficiency improvement, and renewable 
energy feasibility study grants awarded to an entity under the Rural 
Energy for America Program.
    (2) Maximum percentage of Agency funding. The REAP authorizing 
statute at 7 USC 8107 mandates the maximum percentages of funding that 
USDA Rural Development will provide. Within the maximum funding amounts 
specified in this Notice, renewable energy system and energy efficiency 
improvement funding approved for guaranteed loan only requests and for 
combination guaranteed loan and grant requests will not exceed 75 
percent of eligible project costs, with the grant portion not to exceed 
25 percent of total eligible project costs, whether the grant is part 
of a combination request or is a stand-alone grant.
    (3) Reallocation of loan and grants funds. The Agency reserves the 
right, at its discretion, to move funds between grant and loan budget 
authority after June 29, 2013, based upon the demand of applications 
received under this Notice.
    (4) Universal identifier and System for Awards Management (SAM). 
Unless exempt under 2 CFR 25.110, all grant applicants must:
    (a) Be registered in the SAM prior to submitting a grant 
application or plan;
    (b) Maintain an active SAM registration with current information at 
all times during which it has an active Federal award or grant 
application or

[[Page 19187]]

plan under consideration by the Agency; and
    (c) Provide its Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System 
(DUNS) number in each grant application or plan it submits to the 
Agency.
    (5) Transparency Act Reporting. All recipients of Federal financial 
assistance are required to report information about first-tier 
subawards and executive compensation in accordance with 2 CFR part 170. 
So long as an entity applicant does not have an exception under 2 CFR 
170.110(b), the applicant must have the necessary processes and systems 
in place to comply with the reporting requirements should the applicant 
receive funding. See 2 CFR 170.200(b).
    (6) Renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement 
grant-only applications. For renewable energy system grants, the 
minimum grant is $2,500 and the maximum is $500,000. For energy 
efficiency improvement grants, the minimum grant is $1,500 and the 
maximum grant is $250,000.
    (7) Renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement loan 
guarantee-only applications. For renewable energy system and energy 
efficiency improvement loan guarantees, the minimum guaranteed loan 
amount is $5,000 and the maximum amount of a guaranteed loan to be 
provided to a borrower is $25 million.
    (8) Renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement 
guaranteed loan and grant combination applications. Funding for grant 
and loan combination packages for renewable energy systems and energy 
efficiency improvement projects are subject to the funding limitations 
specified in Section II.E.(2). The maximum amount for the grant portion 
is $500,000 for renewable energy systems and $250,000 for energy 
efficiency improvements. The minimum amount of the grant portion is 
$1,500 for either renewable energy systems or energy efficiency 
improvements. For the guarantee portion, the maximum amount is $25 
million and the minimum amount is $5,000.
    (9) Renewable energy system feasibility study grant applications. 
The maximum amount of grant funds that will be made available for an 
eligible feasibility study project under this subpart to any one 
recipient will not exceed $50,000 or 25 percent of the total eligible 
project cost of the study, whichever is less.
    (10) Felony Conviction and Tax Delinquent Status. Applications from 
corporate applicants submitted under this Notice must include Form AD 
3030 Representations Regarding Felony Conviction and Tax Delinquent 
Status for Corporate Applicants. Corporate applicants who receive an 
award under this Notice will be required to sign Form AD 3031 Assurance 
Regarding Felony Conviction or Tax Delinquent Status for Corporate 
Applicants. Both forms can be found online at http://www.ocio.usda.gov/forms/ocio_forms.html.

III. Eligibility Information

    A. Eligible applicants. To be eligible for this program, an 
applicant must meet the eligibility requirements specified in 7 CFR 
4280.109, 7 CFR 4280.110(c), and, as applicable, 7 CFR 4280.112, 7 CFR 
4280.122, 7 CFR 4280.170, or 7 CFR 4280.186.
    For the purpose of this Notice, and in addition to meeting the 
small business size determination as defined under small business in 7 
CFR 4280.103, rural small business applicants must demonstrate that the 
majority (i.e., 51 percent or more) of their past 3 years' annual 
receipts from their business operation are derived from a rural area. 
If the rural small business applicant has not engaged in business 
operations for the past 3 years, then information for as long as the 
rural small business applicant has been in business must be submitted. 
To ensure that there is sufficient information for the Agency to make 
this determination; rural small business applicants, as part of their 
application requirements in 7 CFR 4280.116(b)(v)(A), should list the 
physical address, total annual receipts and number of employees for 
each urban or rural location. The Agency will make this determination 
for rural small business applicants that do not have any annual 
receipts (new businesses only) on the location of the rural small 
business applicant.
    B. Eligible lenders. To be eligible for this program, lenders must 
meet the eligibility requirements in 7 CFR 4280.130.
    C. Eligible projects. To be eligible for this program, a project 
must meet the eligibility requirements specified in 7 CFR 4280.113, 7 
CFR 4280.123, 7 CFR 4280.171, and 7 CFR 4280.187, as applicable.

IV. Fiscal Year 2013 Application and Submission Information

    Applicants seeking to participate in this program must submit 
applications in accordance with this Notice and 7 CFR part 4280, 
subpart B, as applicable. Applicants must submit complete applications 
containing all parts necessary for the Agency to determine applicant 
and project eligibility, to score the application, and to conduct the 
technical evaluation, as applicable in order to be considered. Due to 
the competitive nature of this program, information received by the 
Agency, that would impact the priority score and ranking of an 
application in Fiscal Year 2013 competitions cannot be considered by 
the Agency if received after the dates published in the Dates section 
of this Notice.

A. Where To Obtain Applications

    Applicants may obtain applications from any USDA Rural Development 
Energy Coordinator, as provided in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION 
section of this Notice. In addition, for grant applications, applicants 
may access the electronic grant application for the Rural Energy for 
America Program at http://www.grants.gov. To locate the downloadable 
application package for this program, the applicant must use the 
program's CFDA Number 10.868 or FedGrants Funding Opportunity Number, 
which can be found at http://www.grants.gov.
    When you enter the grants.gov site, you will find information about 
submitting an application electronically through the site. To use 
grants.gov, all applicants must have a Dun and Bradstreet Data 
Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number (unless the applicant is an 
individual), 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. USDA 
Rural Development strongly recommends that applicants do not wait until 
the application deadline date to begin the application process through 
grants.gov.

B. When To Submit

    Complete applications submitted under this Notice must be received 
by the appropriate USDA Rural Development State Office no later than 
4:30 p.m. local time on the applicable date as identified in the DATES 
section of this Notice, in order to be considered for Fiscal Year 2013 
funds. Any application received after 4:30 p.m. local time on the 
applicable date, regardless of the postmark on the application, will 
not be considered for Fiscal Year 2013 funds.

C. Where To Submit

    All renewable energy system, energy efficiency improvement, and 
renewable energy system feasibility study applications are to be 
submitted to the USDA Rural Development Energy Coordinator in the State 
in which the applicant's proposed project is located. A list of USDA 
Rural Development Energy Coordinators is provided in the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section of

[[Page 19188]]

this Notice. Alternatively, for grant only applications, applicants may 
submit their electronic applications to the Agency via the grants.gov 
Web site.

D. How To Submit

    Applicants may submit their applications either as hard copy or 
electronically as specified in the following paragraphs. When 
submitting an application as hard copy, applicants must submit one 
original.
    (1) Grant applications. All grant applications may be submitted 
either as hard copy to the appropriate Rural Development Energy 
Coordinator or electronically using the Government-wide grants.gov Web 
site. Users of grants.gov who download a copy of the application 
package may complete it off line and then upload and submit the 
application via the grants.gov 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 automated acknowledgement 
from grants.gov that contains a grants.gov tracking number.
    (2) Guaranteed loan applications. Guaranteed loan only applications 
(i.e., those that are not part of a guaranteed loan/grant combination 
request) must be submitted as hard copy.
    (3) Guaranteed loan/grant combination applications. Applications 
for guaranteed loans/grants (combination applications) must be 
submitted as hard copy.

E. Other Submission Requirements and Information

    (1) Application restrictions. Applicants may only submit one 
renewable energy system and one energy efficiency improvement 
application in Fiscal Year 2013. A renewable energy system application 
cannot be submitted in Fiscal Year 2013 if a REAP feasibility study 
grant application for the same renewable energy system is submitted in 
Fiscal Year 2013 and vice versa.
    Applicants may only submit one renewable energy system feasibility 
study application for Fiscal Year 2013 funds.
    (2) Environmental information. For the Agency to consider an 
application, the application must include all environmental review 
documents with supporting documentation in accordance with 7 CFR part 
1940, subpart G. Applications for financial assistance for planning 
purposes or management and feasibility studies are typically 
categorically excluded from the environmental review process by 7 CFR 
1940.310(e)(1). Any required environmental review must be completed in 
full prior to obligation of funds or the approval of the application.
    (3) Original signatures. USDA Rural Development may request that 
the applicant provide original signatures on forms submitted through 
grants.gov at a later date.
    (4) Form AD 2106. Each applicant is requested to submit Form AD 
2106, ``Form to Assist in Assessment of USDA Compliance with Civil 
Rights Laws,'' with their application. This form requests information 
on the applicant's race, ethnicity, and gender. The information 
contained in this form will allow the Agency to evaluate its outreach 
efforts to under-served and under-represented populations. Applicants 
are encouraged to furnish this form and the information requested with 
their application, but are not required to do so. Not furnishing this 
information will neither affect an applicant's eligibility nor the 
likelihood of an applicant receiving an award.
    This form is available from any USDA Rural Development Energy 
Coordinator, as provided in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of 
this Notice, and from http://forms.sc.egov.usda.gov/eForms/welcomeAction.do?Home.
    (5) Award considerations. In determining the amount of a renewable 
energy system or energy efficiency improvement grant or loan guarantee, 
the Agency will consider the six criteria specified in 7 CFR 
4280.115(g) or 7 CFR 4280.124(f), as applicable.
    (6) Hybrid projects. If the application is for a hybrid project, 
technical reports, as required under 7 CFR 4280.116(b)(7), must be 
prepared for each technology that comprises the hybrid project.
    (7) Multiple facilities. Applicants may submit a single application 
that proposes to apply the same renewable energy system (including the 
same hybrid project) or energy efficiency improvement across multiple 
facilities. For example, a rural small business owner owns five retail 
stores and wishes to install solar panels on each store. The rural 
small business owner may submit a single application for installing the 
solar panels on the five stores. However, if this same owner wishes to 
install solar panels on three of the five stores and wind turbines for 
the other two stores, the owner can only submit an application for 
either the solar panels or for the wind turbines in the same fiscal 
year.

V. Program Provisions

    This section of the Notice identifies the provisions of 7 CFR part 
4280, subpart B applicable to each type of funding available under 
REAP.

A. General

    The provisions specified in 7 CFR 4280.101 through 4280.111 apply 
to this Notice.

B. Renewable Energy System and Energy Efficiency Improvement Project 
Grants

    In addition to the other provisions of this Notice, the 
requirements specified in 7 CFR 4280.112 through 4280.121 apply to 
renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement projects 
grants.

C. Renewable Energy System and Energy Efficiency Improvement Project 
Guaranteed Loans

    In addition to the other provisions of this Notice, the 
requirements specified in 7 CFR 4280.122 through 4280.160 apply to 
guaranteed loans for renewable energy system and energy efficiency 
improvement projects. For Fiscal Year 2013, the guarantee fee amount is 
1 percent of the guaranteed portion of the loan and the annual renewal 
fee is 0.250 percent (one-quarter of 1 percent) of the guaranteed 
portion of the loan.

D. Renewable Energy System and Energy Efficiency Improvement Project 
Grant and Guaranteed Loan Combined Requests

    In addition to the other provisions of this Notice, the 
requirements specified in 7 CFR 4280.165 apply to a combined grant and 
guaranteed loan for renewable energy system and energy efficiency 
improvement projects. Any applicant that submits a combined grant and 
guaranteed loan application will not be allowed to modify their 
application to a grant only or guaranteed loan only application after 
the applicable submission date and time, as identified in the DATES 
section of this Notice, and remain eligible for Fiscal Year 2013 funds.

E. Renewable Energy System Feasibility Study Grants

    In addition to the other provisions of this Notice, the 
requirements specified in 7 CFR 4280.170 through 4280.182 apply to 
renewable energy system feasibility study grants. Feasibility studies 
are required to be prepared by an independent, qualified third party 
consultant. Applicants cannot prepare their own feasibility study.

F. Resubmittal of Fiscal Year 2012 Renewable Energy System and Energy 
Efficiency Improvement Applications

    If an application for a project was submitted for the first time in 
Fiscal

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Year 2012 and that initial application was determined eligible but was 
not funded, the Agency will consider that initial Fiscal Year 2012 
application for funding in Fiscal Year 2013 as provided in this 
section. If an applicant has already re-submitted in an earlier fiscal 
year (i.e. initial application was submitted in Fiscal Year 2011 or 
earlier), the applicant must submit a new application meeting the 
requirements of this Notice in order to be considered for Fiscal Year 
2013 funds for that project and a new submission date of record will be 
established.
    (1) Written request. An applicant must submit a written request for 
the Agency to consider its Fiscal Year 2012 application for Fiscal Year 
2013 funds.
    (i) For a guarantee loan and grant combination application, both 
the lender and grant applicant must submit the written request to the 
Agency in order to be considered for Fiscal Year 2013 funds.
    (ii) Except for simplified applications, the applicant must 
provide, with the written request, the applicant's current balance 
sheet and income statement that meets the program requirements outlined 
in 7 CFR 4280.116(b)(4). Notwithstanding the requirements outlined in 7 
CFR 4280.116(b)(4), the current balance sheet and income statement must 
not be more than 90 days old relative to the date the applicant submits 
the written request.
    (iii) The Agency is requesting that each applicant submit Form AD 
2106, ``Form to Assist in Assessment of USDA Compliance with Civil 
Rights Laws,'' with their written request. This form requests 
information on the applicant's race, ethnicity, and gender. The 
information contained in this form will allow the Agency to evaluate 
its outreach efforts to under-served and under-represented populations. 
Applicants are encouraged to furnish this form and the information 
requested with their application, but are not required to do so. An 
applicant's eligibility or the likelihood of receiving an award will 
not be impacted by furnishing or not furnishing this information. This 
form is available from any USDA Rural Development Energy Coordinator, 
as provided in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this Notice, 
and from http://forms.sc.egov.usda.gov/eForms/welcomeAction.do?Home.
    (iv) Written requests to consider Fiscal Year 2012 applications for 
Fiscal Year 2013 funds may be submitted at any time during Fiscal Year 
2013, up to and including 4:30 p.m. local time on April 30, 2013. 
Written requests received after this time and date will not be accepted 
by the Agency and the applicant's Fiscal Year 2012 application will not 
be considered for Fiscal Year 2013 funds and be withdrawn.
    (2) Balance sheet and income statements. Upon receipt of the 
balance sheet and income statements required under paragraph F(1)(ii) 
of this Notice, the Agency will determine whether there is any change 
to the application's score. If there is a change to the application's 
score, then the provisions specified in paragraph F(3) apply. If there 
is no change to the application's score, then the provisions of either 
paragraph F(3) or F(4) apply as applicable.
    (3) Revisions/change in score to Fiscal Year 2012 applications. If 
an applicant plans to make any revisions to its Fiscal Year 2012 
application or if the current balance sheet and income statement 
submitted under paragraph F(1)(ii) of this Notice results in a change 
to the application's score (even if no other revisions to the Fiscal 
Year 2012 application are planned), a new application meeting the 
requirements of this Notice must be submitted in order to be considered 
for Fiscal Year 2013 funds and a new submission date of record will be 
established.
    (4) No revisions/changes in score to Fiscal Year 2012 applications. 
If an applicant does not plan to make any revisions to its Fiscal Year 
2012 application and the current balance and income statement submitted 
under paragraph F(1)(ii) of this Notice does not result in a change to 
the application's score, a new application is not required and the 
submission date of record remains unchanged from its original Fiscal 
Year 2012 submittal date.

G. Award Process

    In addition to the process for awarding funding under 7 CFR part 
4280, subpart B, the Agency will make awards using the following 
considerations:
    (1) Funding renewable energy system and energy efficiency 
improvement grant and grant/guaranteed loan awards. Considering the 
availability of funds, the Agency will fund those grant only 
applications and grant/guaranteed loan applications that score the 
highest based on the grant score of the application; that is, the grant 
score an application receives will be compared to the grant scores of 
other applications, with higher scoring applications receiving first 
consideration for funding.
    (2) Guaranteed loan only awards. Considering the availability of 
funds, the Agency will fund those guaranteed loan only applications 
that score the highest compared to the scores of other applications, 
with higher scoring applications receiving first consideration for 
funding.
    (3) Evaluation criteria. Agency personnel will score each 
application based on the evaluation criteria specified in 7 CFR 
4280.117(c), 7 CFR 4280.129(c), 7 CFR 4280.178, or 7 CFR 4280.192, as 
applicable.
    For hybrid applications, each technical report will be evaluated 
and scored based on its own merit. The scores for the technologies will 
be consolidated using a weighted average approach based on the 
percentage of the cost for each system to the total eligible project 
cost.

    Example:  A hybrid project contains a wind and solar 
photovoltaic components. The wind system will cost $30,000 (75 
percent of total eligible project cost) and the solar will cost 
$10,000 (25 percent of total eligible project cost). The wind 
technical report was evaluated and assigned a total score of 22 
points, while the solar report was evaluated and assigned a total 
score of 31 points. In this scenario, the final technical score 
would be assigned as follows: (22 x 75 percent) + (31 x 25 percent) 
= 24.25.

    (4) Applications that receive the same score. If applications score 
the same and if remaining funds are insufficient to fund each such 
application, the Agency may distribute the remaining funds to a lower 
scoring application. Before this occurs, the Agency will provide the 
applicant of the higher scoring application the opportunity to reduce 
the amount of the applicant's request to the amount of funds available. 
If the applicant agrees to lower its request, the applicant must 
certify that the purposes of the project will be met and provide the 
remaining total funds needed to complete the project. At its 
discretion, the Agency may also elect to allow the remaining funds to 
be carried over to the next fiscal year rather than selecting a lower 
scoring application or distributing funds on a pro-rata basis.

VI. Administration Information

A. Notifications

    (1) Applicants. The notification provisions of 7 CFR 4280.111 apply 
to this Notice.
    (2) Lenders. The notification provisions of 7 CFR 4280.129(a) apply 
to this Notice.

B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    (1) Exception authority. The provisions of 7 CFR 4280.104 apply to 
this Notice.
    (2) Appeals. A person may seek a review of an Agency decision or 
appeal

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to the National Appeals Division in accordance with 7 CFR 4280.105.
    (3) Conflict of interest. The provisions of 7 CFR 4280.106 apply to 
this Notice.
    (4) USDA Departmental Regulations and other laws that contains 
other compliance requirements. The provisions of 7 CFR 4280.107 and 7 
CFR 4280.108 apply to this Notice.

VII. Agency Contacts

    For assistance on this program, please contact a USDA Rural 
Development Energy Coordinator, as provided in the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section of this Notice.

VIII. Nondiscrimination 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, 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: February 27, 2013.
Dallas Tonsager,
Under Secretary, Rural Development.
[FR Doc. 2013-07275 Filed 3-28-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XY-P