[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 128 (Wednesday, July 3, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40092-40095]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-16079]
[[Page 40092]]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Business-Cooperative Service
Inviting Rural Business Enterprise Grant Program Applications for
Grants To Provide Technical Assistance for Rural Transportation Systems
AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS), an Agency within
the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development mission
area, announces the availability of three individual grants: two single
grants not to exceed $929,111 together from the rural transportation
funds appropriated for the Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG)
program and another single $232,278 grant for Federally Recognized
Native American Tribes' (FRNATs) (collectively ``Programs'') from funds
appropriated for the RBEG program. RBS will administer these awards
under the RBEG program and 7 U.S.C. 1932(c)(2) for fiscal year (FY)
2013. Each grant is to be competitively awarded to an eligible
applicant which is a qualified national non-profit organization. Two
grants are for the provision of technical assistance to rural
transportation (RT) projects and the other grant will be for the
provision of technical assistance to RT projects operated by FRNAT's
only.
All applicants are responsible for any expenses incurred in
developing their applications.
DATES: The deadline for receipt of applications in the USDA Rural
Development State Office is no later than 4:30 p.m. (local time) on
September 3, 2013. Applications received at a USDA Rural Development
State Office after that date will not be considered for FY 2013
funding.
ADDRESSES: Entities wishing to apply for assistance should contact the
appropriate USDA Rural Development State Office to receive copies of
the application package. A list of the USDA Rural Development State
Offices addresses and telephone numbers are as follows:
Alabama
USDA Rural Development State Office, Sterling Centre, Suite 601, 4121
Carmichael Road, Montgomery, AL 36106-3683, (334) 279-3400/TDD (334)
279-3495.
Alaska
USDA Rural Development State Office, 800 West Evergreen, Suite 201,
Palmer, AK 99645-6539, (907) 761-7705/TDD (907) 761-8905.
Arizona
USDA Rural Development State Office, 230 N 1st Ave., Suite 206,
Phoenix, AZ 85003-1706, (602) 280-8701/TDD (602) 280-8705.
Arkansas
USDA Rural Development State Office, Federal Building, 700 West Capitol
Avenue, Room 3416, Little Rock, AR 72201-3225, (501) 301-3200/TDD (501)
301-3279.
California
USDA Rural Development State Office, 430 G Street, Agency
4169, Davis, CA 95616-4169, (530) 792-5800/TDD (530) 792-5848.
Colorado
USDA Rural Development State Office, Denver Federal Center, Building
56, Room 2300, P.O. Box 25426, Denver, CO 80225-0426, (720) 544-2903/
TDD (800) 659-3656.
Delaware-Maryland
USDA Rural Development State Office, 1221 College Park Drive, Suite
200, Dover, DE 19904, (302) 857-3580/TDD (302) 857-3585.
Florida/Virgin Islands
USDA Rural Development State Office, 4440 NW 25th Place, P.O. Box
147010, Gainesville, FL 32614-7010, (352) 338-3402/TDD (352) 338-3499.
Georgia
USDA Rural Development State Office, Stephens Federal Building, 355 E.
Hancock Avenue, Stop 300, Athens, GA 30601-2768, (706) 546-2162/TDD
(706) 546-2034.
Hawaii/Guam/American Samoa/
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands/, Republic of Palau/
Federated States of Micronesia/, Republic of the Marshall Islands, 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 Dr., 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 ext. 4/TDD (317) 290-3343.
Iowa
USDA Rural Development State Office, Federal Building, Room 873, 210
Walnut Street, Des Moines, IA 50309, (515) 284-4663/TDD (515) 284-4858.
Kansas
USDA Rural Development State Office, 1303 SW First American Place,
Suite 100, Topeka, KS 66604-4040, (785) 271-2700/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.
Massachusetts/Rhode Island/Connecticut
USDA Rural Development State Office, 451 West Street, 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, Ste 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
Ctr., Suite 235, Columbia, MO 65203, (573) 876-0976/TDD (573) 876-9480.
Montana
USDA Rural Development State Office, 2229 Boot Hill Court, P.O. Box
850,
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Bozeman, MT 59715, (406) 585-2530/TDD (406) 585-2562.
Nebraska
USDA Rural Development State Office, Federal Building, Rom 152, 100
Centennial Mall N., Lincoln, NE 68508, (402) 437-5551/TDD (402) 437-
5093.
Nevada
USDA Rural Development State Office, 1390 South Curry Street, Carson
City, NV 89703-9910, (775) 887-1222/TDD (775) 885-0633.
New Jersey
USDA Rural Development State Office, 5th floor North, Ste 500, 8000
Midlantic Drive, 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) 761-4953/TDD (505) 761-4938.
New York
USDA Rural Development State Office, 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.
Ohio
USDA Rural Development State Office, Federal Building, Room 507, 200 N.
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 Boulevard, Suite
801, Portland, OR 97232, (503) 414-3366/TDD (503) 414-3387.
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, Ste 601, 654 Munoz
Rivera Avenue, San Juan, PR 00936-6106, (787) 766-5095/TDD (787) 766-
5332.
South Carolina
USDA Rural Development State Office, Strom Thurmond Federal Building,
1835 Assembly Street, Room 1007, Columbia, SC 29201, (803) 765-5163/TDD
(803) 765-5697.
South Dakota
USDA Rural Development State Office, Federal Building, Room 210, 200
4th Street, SW, Huron, SD 57350, (605) 352-1100/TDD (605) 352-1147.
Tennessee
USDA Rural Development State Office, 3322 West End Avenue, Suite 300,
Nashville, TN 37203-1071, (615) 783-1300.
Texas
USDA Rural Development State Office, Federal Building, Suite 102, 101
South Main, Temple, TX 76501, (254) 742-9700/TDD (254) 742-9712.
Utah
USDA Rural Development State Office, Wallace F. Bennett Federal
Building, 125 South State Street, Room 4311, Salt Lake City, UT 84138,
(801) 524-4324/TDD (801) 524-3309.
Vermont/New Hampshire
USDA Rural Development State Office, City Center, 3rd Floor, 87 Main
Street, Suite 324, P.O. Box 249, Montpelier, VT 05601, (802) 828-6031/
TDD (802) 223-6365.
Virginia
USDA Rural Development State Office, Culpeper Building, Ste 238, 1606
Santa Rosa Road, Richmond, VA 23229, (804) 287-1551/TDD (804) 287-1753.
Washington
USDA Rural Development State Office, 1835 Blacklake Boulevard SW.,
Suite B, Olympia, WA 98512-5715, (360) 704-7740/TDD (360) 704-7760.
West Virginia
USDA Rural Development State Office, 1550 Earl Core Road, Suite 101,
Morgantown, WV 26505, (304) 284-4860/TDD (304) 284-4836.
Wisconsin
USDA Rural Development State Office, 5417 Clem's Way, Stevens Point, WI
54482, (715) 345-7671/TDD (715) 345-7614.
Wyoming
USDA Rural Development State Office, 100 East B Street, Room 1005, P.O.
Box 11005, Casper, WY 82601, (307) 233-6700/TDD (307) 233-6733.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please contact the USDA Rural
Development State Office provided in the ADDRESSES section of this
Notice.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Overview
Federal Agency: Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
Solicitation Opportunity Title: Rural Business Enterprise Grants.
Announcement Type: Initial Solicitation Announcement.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 10.769.
Dates: Application Deadline: Completed applications must be
received in the USDA Rural Development State Office no later than 4:30
p.m. (local time) on September 3, 2013, to be eligible for FY 2013
grant funding. Applications received after this date will not be
eligible for FY 2013 grant funding.
I. Funding Opportunity Description
A. Purpose of the Program. The purpose of this program is to
improve the economic conditions of rural areas.
B. Statutory Authority. This programs is authorized under section
310B(c) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (CONACT) (7
U.S.C. 1932(c)). Regulations are contained in 7 CFR part 1942, subpart
G. The program is administered on behalf of RBS at the State level by
the USDA Rural Development State Offices. Assistance provided to rural
areas under the Programs may include the provision of on-site technical
assistance to local and regional governments, public transit agencies,
and related non-profit and for-profit organizations in rural areas; the
development of training materials; and the provision of necessary
training assistance to local officials and agencies in rural areas.
Awards under the RBEG passenger transportation program will be made
on a competitive basis using specific selection criteria contained in 7
CFR part 1942, subpart G, and in accordance with section 310B(c)(2) of
the CONACT. Information required to be in the application package
includes Forms SF 424, ``Application for Federal
[[Page 40094]]
Assistance;'' Form RD 1940-20, ``Request for Environmental
Information;'' Scope of Work Narrative; Income Statement; Balance Sheet
or Audit for previous 3 years; AD-1047, ``Debarment/Suspension
Certification;'' AD-1048, ``Certification Regarding Debarment,
Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion;'' AD-1049,
``Certification Regarding Drug-Free Workplace Requirements;'' SF LLL,
``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities;'' RD 400-1, ``Equal Opportunity
Agreement;'' RD 400-4, ``Assurance Agreement;'' a letter stating Board
authorization to obtain assistance; and a letter certifying
citizenship, as referenced in 7 CFR 1942.307(b). For the FRNAT grant,
which must benefit FRNATs, at least 75 percent of the benefits of the
project must be received by members of FRNATs. The project that scores
the greatest number of points based on the RBEG selection criteria and
the discretionary points will be selected for each grant.
Applicants must be qualified national non-profit organizations with
experience in providing technical assistance and training to rural
communities Nation-wide for the purpose of improving passenger
transportation service or facilities. To be considered ``national,''
RBS requires a qualified organization to provide evidence that it
operates RT assistance programming Nation-wide. There is not a
requirement to use the grant funds in a multi-State area. Grants will
be made to qualified national non-profit organizations for the
provision of technical assistance and training to rural communities for
the purpose of improving passenger transportation services or
facilities.
Definitions
C. Definition of Terms. The definitions applicable to this Notice
are published at 7 CFR 1942.304.
D. Application awards. The Agency will review, evaluate, and score
applications received in response to this Notice based on the
provisions in 7 CFR part 1942, subpart G and as indicated in this
Notice. However, the Agency advises all interested parties that the
applicant bears the burden in preparing and submitting an application
in response to this Notice whether or not funding is appropriated for
these programs in FY 2013.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Grant.
Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2013.
Total Funding: $1,161,389.
Approximate Number of Awards: Three.
Average Award: Two single grants not to exceed $929,111 together
and another single $232,278 grant for FRNAT's.
Anticipated Award Date: October 16, 2013, subject to the
availability of funding.
III. Eligibility Information
A. Eligible Applicants
To be considered eligible, an entity must be a qualified national
non-profit organization serving rural areas as evidenced in its
organizational documents and demonstrated experience. Grants will be
competitively awarded to qualified national non-profit organizations.
As mentioned later in this Notice, regarding corporate felony
convictions and corporate Federal tax delinquencies, applicants that
are not delinquent on any Federal debt or otherwise disqualified from
participation in this program are eligible to apply. All other
restrictions in this Notice will apply.
B. Cost Sharing or Matching
Matching funds are not required.
C. Other Eligibility Requirements
Applications will only be accepted from qualified national non-
profit organizations to provide technical assistance for rural
transportation.
D. Completeness Eligibility
Applications will not be considered for funding if they do not
provide sufficient information to determine eligibility or are missing
required elements. If due to a change made in the appropriations act
for FY 2013, additional information is needed, then applicants that
submitted complete applications prior to the application deadline will
be provided additional time in which to provide that information.
IV. Fiscal Year 2013 Application and Submission Information:
A. Address to Request Application Package
For further information, entities wishing to apply for assistance
should contact the USDA Rural Development State Office provided in the
ADDRESSES section of this Notice to obtain copies of the application
package.
Applicants are encouraged to submit applications through the
Grants.gov Web site at: http://www.grants.gov. Applications may be
submitted in either electronic or paper format. Users of Grants.gov
will be able to download a copy of the application package, complete it
off line, and then upload and submit the application via the Grants.gov
Web site. Applications may not be submitted by electronic mail.
When you enter the Grants.gov Web site, you will find
information about submitting an application electronically through the
site as well as the hours of operation. USDA Rural Development strongly
recommends that you begin the application process through Grants.gov in
sufficient time to complete the application before the deadline date.
You may submit all documents electronically through the
Web site, including all information typically included on the
application and all necessary assurances and certifications.
After electronically submitting an application through the
Web site, the applicant will receive an automatic acknowledgement from
Grants.gov that contains a Grants.gov tracking number.
USDA Rural Development may request that the applicant
provide original signatures on forms at a later date.
If applicants experience technical difficulties on the
closing date and are unable to meet the deadline, you may submit a
paper copy of your application to your respective Rural Development
State Office. Paper applications submitted to a Rural Development State
Office must meet the closing date and local time deadline.
Please note that applicants can locate the downloadable
application package for this program by the Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance Number or FedGrants Funding Opportunity Number, which can be
found at http://www.Grants.gov.
All applicants, whether filing applications through www.Grants.gov
or by paper, must have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering
System (DUNS) number which can be obtained at no cost via a toll-free
request line at 1-866-705-5711 or at http://www.dnb.com.
B. Content and Form of Submission
An application must contain all of the required elements. Each
application received in a USDA Rural Development State Office will be
reviewed to determine if it is consistent with the eligible purposes
contained in section 310B(c)(2) of the CONACT. Each selection priority
criterion outlined in 7 CFR 1942.305(b)(3), must be addressed in the
application. Failure to address any of the criteria will result in a
zero-point score for that criterion and will impact the overall
evaluation of the application. Copies of 7 CFR part 1942, subpart G,
will be provided by any interested applicant making a request to a USDA
Rural Development State Office
[[Page 40095]]
provided in the ADDRESSES section of this Notice.
All projects to receive technical assistance through these
passenger transportation grant funds are to be identified when the
applications are submitted to the USDA Rural Development State Office.
Multiple project applications must identify each individual project,
indicate the amount of funding requested for each individual project,
and address the criteria as stated above for each individual project.
For multiple-project applications, the average of the individual
project scores will be the score for that application.
C. Submission Dates and Times
Application Deadline Date: No later than 4:30 p.m. (local time)
September 3, 2013.
Explanation of Deadlines: Applications must be in the USDA Rural
Development State Office by the deadline date.
V. Application Review Information
RBS will score applications based on the grant selection criteria
and weights contained in 7 CFR part 1942, subpart G and will select
grantees subject to the grantees satisfactory submission of the
additional items required by 7 CFR part 1942, subpart G and the USDA
Rural Development Letter of Conditions. The amount of an RT grant may
be adjusted, in the RBS's discretion,to enable RBS to award RT grants
to the two applications with the highest priority scores. Applicants
selected for award who have their grant request adjusted, will have the
opportunity to either rescind their request or modify their proposal to
reflect the adjusted award. RBS must approve the modified proposal. RBS
will select the next highest ranking application(s) for award when any
initially selected application is rescinded or when RBS and the
initially selected applicant cannot reach an agreement on a modified
proposal.
VI. Award Administration Information
A. Award Notices
Successful applicants will receive notification for funding from
the USDA Rural Development State Office. Applicants must comply with
all applicable statutes and regulations before the grant award will be
approved. Unsuccessful applications will receive notification by mail.
B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
Additional requirements that apply to grantees selected for this
program can be found in 7 CFR part 1942, subpart G. Grantees must
further comply with applicable provisions of 7 CFR parts 3015, 3016,
3019, and 3052.
VII. Agency Contacts
For general questions about this announcement, please contact your
USDA Rural Development State Office provided in the ADDRESSES section
of this Notice.
VIII. Paperwork Reduction Act
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, the paperwork
burden has been cleared by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
under OMB Control Number 0570-0022.
Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act
All applicants, in accordance with 2 CFR part 25, must have a DUNS
number, which can be obtained at no cost via a toll-free request line
at 1-866-705-5711 or online at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform.
Similarly, all applicants must be registered in the System for Award
Management (SAM) prior to submitting an application. Applicants may
register for the SAM at http://www.sam.gov. All recipients of Federal
financial assistance are required to report information about first-
tier sub-awards and executive total compensation in accordance with 2
CFR part 170.
Corporate Felony Convictions and Corporate Felony Tax Delinquencies
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.''
Nondiscrimination Statement: The U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and
applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin,
age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where
applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental
status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual's income is
derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic
information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or
funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all
programs and/or employment activities.)
If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of
discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form
(PDF), found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the
form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information
requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to
us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of
Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410,
by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at [email protected].
Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech
disabilities and you wish to file either an EEO or program complaint
please contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339
or (800) 845-6136 (in Spanish).
Persons with disabilities, who wish to file a program complaint,
please see information above on how to contact us by mail directly or
by email. If you require alternative means of communication for program
information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) please
contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).
Dated: June 25, 2013.
Lillian E. Salerno,
Acting Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-16079 Filed 7-2-13; 8:45 am]
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