[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 99 (Thursday, May 22, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29399-29405]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-11700]



[[Page 29399]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Notice of Funding Availability and Grant Application Deadlines

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Funds Availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an agency of the United 
States Department of Agriculture (USDA), announces the availability of 
$19,300,000 in grant funds and solicits applications for the Distance 
Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grant Program for the Fiscal Year (FY) 
2014 competition.

DATES: You may submit completed applications for grants on paper or 
electronically by the following deadline:
     Paper submissions: Paper submissions must be postmarked 
and mailed, shipped, or sent overnight no later than July 7, 2014 to be 
eligible for FY 2014 grant funding. Late or incomplete applications 
will not be eligible for FY 2014 grant funding.
     Electronic submissions: Electronic submissions must be 
received by July 7, 2014 to be eligible for FY 2014 grant funding. Late 
or incomplete applications will not be eligible for FY 2014 grant 
funding.
     If the submission deadline falls on Saturday, Sunday, or a 
Federal holiday, the application is due the next business day.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the FY 2014 Application Guide and materials for 
the DLT grant program may be obtained by the following:
    (1) The DLT Web site: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/UTP_DLTResources.html and
    (2) Contacting the DLT Program at 202-720-0665.
    Completed applications may be submitted in the following ways:
    (1) Paper: Paper applications are to be submitted to the Rural 
Utilities Service, Telecommunications Program, 1400 Independence Ave. 
SW., Room 2845, STOP 1550, Washington, DC 20250-1550. Applications 
should be marked ``Attention: Acting Director, Advanced Services 
Division.''
    (2) Electronic: Electronic applications must be submitted through 
Grants.gov. Information on how to submit applications electronically is 
available on the Grants.gov Web site (http://www.grants.gov). 
Applicants must successfully pre-register with Grants.gov to use the 
electronic applications option. Application information may be 
downloaded from Grants.gov without preregistration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sam Morgan, Program Management 
Analyst, Advanced Services Division, Telecommunications Program, Rural 
Utilities Service, email: [email protected], telephone: (202) 
690-4493, fax: (202) 720-1051. Additional point of contact: Norberto 
Esteves, Acting Director, Advanced Services Division at 
[email protected] or at same phone numbers previously 
listed.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Overview

    Federal Agency: Rural Utilities Service (RUS).
    Funding Opportunity Title: Distance Learning and Telemedicine 
Grants.
    Announcement Type: Initial announcement.
    Funding Opportunity Number: RUS-14-01-DLT.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.855.
    Dates: You may submit completed applications for grants on paper or 
electronically according to the deadlines indicated in paragraph IV.F.

Items in Supplementary Information

    I. Funding Opportunity: Brief introduction to the DLT program.
    II. Minimum and Maximum Application Amounts: Projected Available 
Funding.
    III. Eligibility Information: Who is eligible, and what kinds of 
projects are eligible, what criteria determine basic eligibility.
    IV. Application and Submission Information: Where to get 
application materials, what constitutes a completed application, how 
and where to submit applications, deadlines, and items that are 
eligible.
    V. Application Review Information: Considerations and 
preferences, scoring criteria, review standards, and selection 
information.
    VI. Award Administration Information: Award notice information, 
award recipient and reporting requirements.
    VII. Agency Contacts: Web, phone, fax, email, contact name.

I. Funding Opportunity

    DLT grants are specifically designed to provide access to 
education, training and health care resources for rural Americans.
    The DLT Program provides financial assistance to encourage and 
improve telemedicine services and distance learning services in rural 
areas through the use of telecommunications, computer networks, and 
related advanced technologies to be used by students, teachers, medical 
professionals, and rural residents.
    The grants, which are awarded through a competitive process, may be 
used to fund telecommunications-enabled information, audio and video 
equipment, and related advanced technologies which extend educational 
and medical applications into rural areas. Grants are intended to 
benefit end users in rural areas, who are often not in the same 
location as the source of the educational or health care service.
    As in years past, the FY 2014 DLT Grant Application Guide has been 
updated based on program experience. All applicants should carefully 
review and prepare their applications according to instructions in the 
FY 2014 Application Guide and sample materials when compiling a DLT 
grant application.

II. Maximum and Minimum Amount of Applications

    Under 7 CFR 1703.124, the Administrator has determined the maximum 
amount of a grant to be made available to an applicant in FY 2014 is 
$500,000, and the minimum amount of a grant is $50,000, subject to 
availability of funding.
    Award documents specify the term of each award. The Agency will 
make awards and execute documents appropriate to the project prior to 
any advance of funds to successful applicants. Prior DLT grants cannot 
be renewed; however, applications from existing DLT awardees for new 
projects are acceptable (grant applications must be submitted during 
the application window) and will be evaluated as new applications.

III. Eligibility Information

A. Who is eligible for a grant? (See 7 CFR 1703.103.)

    1. Only entities legally organized as one of the following are 
eligible for DLT financial assistance:
    a. An incorporated organization or partnership,
    b. An Indian tribe or tribal organization, as defined in 25 U.S.C. 
450b,
    c. A state or local unit of government,
    d. A consortium, as defined in 7 CFR 1703.102,
    e. A library, or
    f. Other legal entity, including a private corporation organized on 
a for-profit or not-for-profit basis.
    2. Individuals are not eligible for DLT program financial 
assistance directly.
    3. Electric and telecommunications borrowers under the Rural 
Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 950aaa et seq.) are not eligible 
for grants.
    4. Corporations that have been convicted of a felony (or had an 
officer or agency acting on behalf of the corporation convicted of a 
felony)

[[Page 29400]]

within the past 24 months are not eligible. Any corporation that has 
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, is not eligible for financial assistance.

B. What are the basic eligibility requirements for a project?

    1. Required matching contributions for grants: See 7 CFR 
1703.125(g) and the FY 2014 Application Guide for information on 
required matching contributions.
    a. Grant applicants must demonstrate matching contributions, in 
cash or in kind (new, non-depreciated items), of at least fifteen (15) 
percent of the total amount of financial assistance requested. Matching 
contributions must be used for eligible purposes of DLT grant 
assistance (see 7 CFR 1703.121, paragraphs IV.H.1.b of this Notice and 
the FY 2014 Application Guide).
    b. Greater amounts of eligible matching contributions may increase 
an applicant's score (see 7 CFR 1703.126(b)(4) and the FY 2014 
Application Guide).
    c. Applications that do not provide evidence of the required 
fifteen percent match will be declared ineligible. See paragraphs 
IV.H.1.c and V.A.1 of this Notice, and the FY 2014 Application Guide 
for more information on matching contributions.
    d. Matching contributions which are not sufficiently documented, as 
described in the Application Guide, are subject to disallowance and may 
result in an ineligible application.
    2. The DLT grant program is designed to bring the benefits of 
distance learning and telemedicine to residents of rural America. 
Therefore, to be eligible, applicants must deliver distance learning or 
telemedicine services to entities that operate a rural community 
facility or to residents of rural areas, at rates calculated to ensure 
that the benefit of the financial assistance is passed through to such 
entities or to residents of rural areas.
    3. Rurality.
    a. All projects proposed for DLT grant assistance must meet a 
minimum rurality threshold, to ensure that benefits from the projects 
flow to rural residents. The minimum eligibility score is 20 points.
    b. Each application must apply the following criteria to each of 
its end-user sites, and hubs that are also proposed as end-user sites, 
to determine a rurality score. The rurality score is the average of all 
end-user sites' rurality scores.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Criterion                           Character                   Population           DLT points
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Exceptionally Rural Area..............  any area of the USA not         <=5000..................              45
                                         included within the
                                         boundaries of any
                                         incorporated or
                                         unincorporated city, village,
                                         or borough having a
                                         population in excess of 5,000
                                         inhabitants.
Rural Area............................  any area of the USA included    >5000 and <=10,000......              30
                                         within the boundaries of any
                                         incorporated or
                                         unincorporated city, village,
                                         or borough having a
                                         population over 5,000 and not
                                         in excess of 10,000
                                         inhabitants.
Mid-Rural Area........................  any area of the USA included    >10,000 and <=20,000....              15
                                         within the boundaries of any
                                         incorporated or
                                         unincorporated city, village,
                                         or borough having a
                                         population over 10,000 and
                                         not in excess of 20,000
                                         inhabitants.
Urban Area............................  any area of the USA included    >20,000.................               0
                                         within the boundaries of any
                                         incorporated or
                                         unincorporated city, village,
                                         or borough having a
                                         population in excess of
                                         20,000 inhabitants.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    c. The rurality score is one of the competitive scoring criteria 
applied to grant applications.
    4. Projects located in areas covered by the Coastal Barrier 
Resources Act (16 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) are not eligible for financial 
assistance from the DLT Program. Please see 7 CFR 1703.123(a).
    C. Where to find full discussion of a Complete Application. See 
Section IV of this Notice and the FY 2014 Application Guide for a 
discussion of the items that comprise a complete application. For 
requirements of completed applications you may also refer to 7 CFR 
1703.125 for grant applications. The FY 2014 Application Guide provides 
specific, detailed instructions for each item that constitutes a 
complete application. The Agency strongly emphasizes the importance of 
including every required item (as explained in the FY 2014 Application 
Guide) and strongly encourages applicants to follow the instructions 
carefully, using the examples and illustrations in the FY 2014 
Application Guide. Applications which do not include all items that 
determine project eligibility and applicant eligibility by the 
application deadline will be returned as ineligible. Scoring and 
eligibility information not provided by the application deadline will 
not be solicited or considered by the Agency. Applications that do not 
include all items necessary for scoring, depending on the specific 
scoring criteria, may still be eligible applications, but may not 
receive full or any credit if the information cannot be verified. 
Please see the FY 2014 Application Guide for a full discussion of each 
required item and for samples and illustrations.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    A. Where to get application information. FY 2014 Application 
Guides, copies of necessary forms and samples, and the DLT Program 
regulation are available from these sources:
    1. The Internet: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/UTP_DLTResources.html.
    2. The DLT Program for paper copies of these materials: 202-720-
0665.

B. Emphasis in FY 2014

    1. Applicants are reminded that the DLT Grant Program is intended 
to meet the educational and health care needs of rural America. Hub 
sites may be located in rural or non-rural areas, but end-user sites 
need to be located in rural areas. Non-fixed sites serving a 
geographical service area may include non-rural areas. However, for 
determining rurality and NSLP scores every incorporated and non-
incorporated city, village or borough must be listed and scored 
accordingly, including those jurisdictions which are more populated 
than those defined as rural. The necessary inclusion of non-rural 
jurisdictions in these types of projects could cause a lower rurality 
score by virtue of the project's geographic and demographic layout. 
Because of this, the

[[Page 29401]]

applicant should make an effort to reveal how their project will focus 
the delivery of service to the rural residents of their service 
territory. From a competitive standpoint, applicants could offset the 
loss of rurality points by attempting to score higher in the subjective 
areas of needs and benefits, innovativeness, and cost effectiveness 
with well-crafted narratives. The FY 2014 Application Guide contains 
language clarifying this provision of the regulation.
    2. If a grant application includes a site that is included in any 
other DLT grant application for FY 2014, or a site that has been 
included in any DLT grant funded in FY 2013 or FY 2012, the application 
should contain a detailed explanation of the related applications or 
grants. The Agency must make a nonduplication finding for each grant 
approved; however, an apparent but unexplained duplication of funding 
for a site can prevent such a finding.

C. What constitutes a completed application for a DLT Grant?

    1. Detailed information on each item included in the Table of 
Required Elements of a Completed Grant Application found in paragraph 
IV.C.8 of this Notice can be found in the sections of the DLT Program 
regulation listed in the table, and the DLT grant Application Guide. 
Applicants are strongly encouraged to read and apply both the 
regulation and the Applications Guide, which elaborates and explains 
the regulation.
    a. When the table refers to a narrative, it means a written 
statement, description or other written material prepared by the 
applicant, for which no form exists. The Agency recognizes that each 
project is unique and requests narratives to allow applicants to 
explain their request for financial assistance.
    b. When documentation is requested, it means letters, 
certifications, legal documents, or other third-party documentation 
that provide evidence that the applicant meets the listed requirement. 
For example, to confirm rurality scores, applicants can use printouts 
from the Web site http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml. Leveraging documentation generally will be letters of 
commitment from the funding sources. In-kind matches must be items 
purchased or donated after the application deadline date that are 
essential to the project and documentation from the vendor or donor 
must demonstrate the relationship of each item to the project's 
function. Evidence of legal existence is sometimes proven by submitting 
articles of incorporation. The examples here are not intended to limit 
the types of documentation that must be submitted to fulfill a 
requirement. DLT Program regulations and the Application Guide provide 
specific guidance on each of the items in the table.
    2. The DLT Application Guide and ancillary materials provide all 
necessary sample forms and worksheets.
    3. While the table in paragraph IV.C.8 of this Notice includes all 
items of a completed application, the Agency may ask for additional or 
clarifying information for applications submitted by the deadline which 
appear to demonstrate that they meet eligibility requirements, but 
which may require follow up for the Agency.
    4. Given the high volume of program interest, to expedite 
processing applicants are asked to submit the required application 
items in the order depicted in the FY 2014 Application Guide. The FY 
2014 Application Guide specifies the format and order of all required 
items. Applications that are not assembled and tabbed in the order 
specified prevent timely determination of eligibility. For applications 
with inconsistency among submitted copies, the Agency will base its 
evaluation on the original signed application received by the Agency.
    5. DUNS Number. The applicant for a grant must supply a Dun and 
Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number as part of an 
application. The Standard Form 424 (SF-424) contains a field for the 
DUNS number. The applicant can obtain the DUNS number free of charge by 
calling Dun and Bradstreet. Please see http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform 
for more information on how to obtain a DUNS number or how to verify 
your organization's number.
    6. Prior to submitting an application, the applicant must register 
in the System for Award Management (SAM) (formerly Central Contractor 
Registry, (CCR)).
    a. Applicants must register for the SAM at https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/.
    b. SAM registration must remain active with current information at 
all times while RUS is considering an application or while a Federal 
grant award or loan is active. To maintain SAM registration the 
applicant must review and update the information in the SAM database 
annually from date of initial registration or from the date of the last 
update. The applicant must ensure that the information in the database 
is current, accurate, and complete.
    7. Compliance with other federal statutes. The applicant must 
provide evidence of compliance with other federal statutes and 
regulations, including, but not limited to the following:
    a. 7 CFR part 15, subpart A--Nondiscrimination in Federally 
Assisted Programs of the Department of Agriculture--Effectuation of 
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
    b. 7 CFR part 3015--Uniform Federal Assistance Regulations.
    c. 2 CFR part 417--Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Non-
procurement).
    d. 7 CFR part 3018--New Restrictions on Lobbying.
    e. 7 CFR part 3019--Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants 
and Other Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, 
and Non-profit Organizations.
    f. 2 CFR part 421--Governmentwide Requirements for Drug-Free 
Workplace (Financial Assistance).
    g. Executive Order 13166, ``Improving Access to Services for 
Persons with Limited English Proficiency. '' For information on limited 
English proficiency and agency-specific guidance, go to http://www.LEP.gov.
    h. Federal Obligation Certification on Delinquent Debt.

     8--Table of Required Elements of a Completed Grant Application
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Required Items, unless otherwise noted
                               -----------------------------------------
       Application Item           Grants (7 CFR
                                  1703.125 and 7          Comment
                                  CFR 1703.126)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SF-424 (Application for         Yes..............  Completely filled
 Federal Assistance form).                          out.
Site Worksheet................  Yes..............  Agency worksheet.
Survey on Ensuring Equal        Optional.........  OMB Form.
 Opportunity for Applicants.

[[Page 29402]]

 
Evidence of Legal Authority to  Yes..............  Documentation.
 Contract with the Government.
Evidence of Legal Existence...  Yes..............  Documentation.
Executive Summary.............  Yes..............  Narrative.
Telecommunications System Plan  Yes..............  Narrative &
 and Scope of Work.                                 documentation such
                                                    as maps and
                                                    diagrams.
Budget........................  Yes..............  Agency Worksheets
                                                    with documentation.
Financial Information/          Yes..............  Narrative.
 Sustainability.
Statement of Experience.......  Yes..............  Narrative 3-page,
                                                    single-spaced limit.
Rurality Worksheet............  Yes..............  Agency worksheet with
                                                    documentation.
National School Lunch Program   Yes..............  Agency worksheet with
 (NSLP) Worksheet.                                  documentation.
Leveraging Evidence and         Yes..............  Agency worksheet and
 Funding Commitments from all                       source
 Sources.                                           documentation.
Empowerment Zone designation..  Yes..............  Documentation.
Request for Additional NSLP...  Optional.........  Agency Worksheet and
                                                    narrative.
Need for and Benefits derived   Yes..............  Narrative &
 from Project.                                      documentation.
Innovativeness of the Project.  Yes..............  Narrative &
                                                    documentation.
Cost Effectiveness of Project.  Yes..............  Narrative &
                                                    documentation.
Consultation with the USDA      Yes..............  Documentation.
 State Director, Rural
 Development, and evidence
 that application conforms to
 State Strategic Plan, if any.
Certifications
Equal Opportunity and           Yes..............  Form provided in FY
 Nondiscrimination.                                 2014 Application
                                                    Tool Kit.
Architectural Barriers........  Yes..............  Form provided in FY
                                                    2014 Application
                                                    Tool Kit.
Flood Hazard Area Precautions.  Yes..............  Form provided in FY
                                                    2014 Application
                                                    Tool Kit.
Uniform Relocation Assistance   Yes..............  Form provided in FY
 and Real Property Acquisition                      2014 Application
 Policies Act of 1970.                              Tool Kit.
Drug-Free Workplace...........  Yes..............  Form provided in FY
                                                    2014 Application
                                                    Tool Kit.
Debarment, Suspension, and      Yes..............  Form provided in FY
 Other Responsibility Matters--                     2014 Application
 Primary Covered Transactions.                      Tool Kit.
Lobbying for Contracts,         Yes..............  Form provided in FY
 Grants, Loans, and                                 2014 Application
 Cooperative Agreements.                            Tool Kit.
Non-Duplication of Services...  Yes..............  Form provided in FY
                                                    2014 Application
                                                    Tool Kit.
Environmental Impact/Historic   Yes..............  Form provided in FY
 Preservation Certification.                        2014 Application
                                                    Tool Kit.
Assurance Regarding Felony      Yes..............  Form provided in the
 Conviction or Tax Delinquent                       FY 2014 Application
 Status for Corporate                               Tool Kit.
 Applicants.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

D. How many copies of an application are required?

    1. Applications submitted on paper.
    a. Submit the original application and two (2) copies to RUS; and
    b. Submit one (1) additional copy to the state government single 
point of contact (if one has been designated) at the same time as you 
submit the application to the Agency for the State where the project is 
located. If the project is located in more than one State, submit a 
copy to each state government single point of contact. See http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants_spoc for an updated listing of State 
government single points of contact.
    2. Electronically submitted applications. Grant applications may be 
submitted electronically. Please carefully read the FY 2014 Application 
Guide for guidance on submitting an electronic application. In 
particular, we ask that you identify and number each page in the same 
way you would a paper application so that we can assemble them as you 
intended.
    a. The additional paper copy is not necessary if you submit the 
application electronically through Grants.gov.
    b. Submit one (1) copy to the state government single point of 
contact (if one has been designated) at the same time as you submit the 
application to the Agency. If the project is located in more than one 
State, submit a copy to each state government single point of contact. 
See http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants_spoc for an updated listing 
of State government single points of contact.
    E. How and where to submit an application. Grant applications may 
be submitted on paper or electronically.
    1. Submitting applications on paper.
    a. Address paper applications to the Telecommunications Program, 
RUS, United States Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave. 
SW., Room 2845, STOP 1550, Washington, DC 20250-1550. Applications 
should be marked ``Attention: Acting Director, Advanced Services 
Division.''
    b. Paper grant applications must show proof of mailing or shipping 
by the deadline consisting of one of the following:
    (i) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service (USPS) postmark;
    (ii) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the 
USPS; or
    (iii) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial 
carrier.
    c. Due to screening procedures at the Department of Agriculture, 
packages arriving via regular mail through the USPS are irradiated, 
which can damage the contents and delay delivery to the DLT Program. 
RUS encourages applicants to consider the impact of this procedure in 
selecting their application delivery method.
    2. Electronically submitted applications.
    a. Applications will not be accepted via fax or electronic mail.
    b. Electronic applications for grants must be submitted through the 
Federal

[[Page 29403]]

government's Grants.gov initiative at http://www.grants.gov/.
    c. How to use Grants.gov.
    (i) Grants.gov contains full instructions on all required 
passwords, credentialing and software.
    (ii) System for Award Management. Submitting an application through 
Grants.gov requires that your organization list in the System for Award 
Management (SAM) (formerly Central Contractor Registry, CCR). The 
Agency strongly recommends that you obtain your organization's DUNS 
number and SAM listing well in advance of the deadline specified in 
this notice.
    (iii) Credentialing and authorization of applicants. Grants.gov 
will also require some credentialing and online authentication 
procedures. These procedures may take several business days to 
complete, further emphasizing the need for early action by applicants 
to complete the sign-up, credentialing and authorization procedures at 
Grants.gov before you submit an application at that Web site.
    (iv) Some or all of the SAM and Grants.gov registration, 
credentialing and authorizations require updates. If you have 
previously registered at Grants.gov to submit applications 
electronically, please ensure that your registration, credentialing and 
authorizations are up to date well in advance of the grant application 
deadline.
    d. RUS encourages applicants who wish to apply through Grants.gov 
to submit their applications in advance of the deadlines.
    e. If a system problem occurs or you have technical difficulties 
with an electronic application, please use the customer support 
resources available at the Grants.gov Web site.

F. Deadlines

    1. Paper grant applications must be postmarked and mailed, shipped, 
or sent overnight no later than July 7, 2014 to be eligible for FY 2014 
grant funding. Late applications, applications which do not include 
proof of mailing or shipping as described in paragraph IV.E.1.b, and 
incomplete applications are not eligible for FY 2014 grant funding.
    2. Electronic grant applications must be received by July 21, 2014 
to be eligible for FY 2014 funding. Late or incomplete applications 
will not be eligible for FY 2014 grant funding.
    3. If the submission deadline falls on Saturday, Sunday, or a 
Federal holiday, the application is due the next business day.
    G. Intergovernmental Review. The DLT grant program is subject to 
Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.'' As stated in paragraph IV.D.1 of this Notice, a copy of a 
DLT grant application must be submitted to the state single point of 
contact if one has been designated. Please see http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants_spoc to determine whether your state has 
a single point of contact.

H. Funding Restrictions

    1. Ineligible purposes.
    a. Hub sites that are not located in rural areas are not eligible 
for grant assistance unless they are necessary to provide DLT services 
to end-users in rural areas. Please see the Application Guide and 7 CFR 
1703.101(h).
    b. To fulfill the policy goals laid out for the DLT Program in 7 
CFR 1703.101, the following table lists purposes for financial 
assistance and whether each purpose is generally considered to be 
eligible for the form of financial assistance. Please consult the FY 
2014 Application Guide and the regulations (7 CFR 1703.102) for 
definitions, in combination with the portions of the regulation cited 
in the table) for detailed requirements for the items in the table. RUS 
strongly recommends that applicants exclude ineligible items from the 
grant and match portions of grant application budgets. However, some 
items ineligible for funding or matching contributions may be vital to 
the project. RUS encourages applicants to document those costs in the 
application's budget. Please see the FY 2014 Application Guide for a 
recommended budget format, and detailed budget compilation 
instructions.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      Grants
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lease or purchase of new eligible DLT    Yes, equipment only.
 equipment and facilities.
Acquire new instructional programming    Yes.
 that is a capital asset.
Technical assistance, develop            Yes, up to 10% of the grant.
 instructional material for the
 operation of the equipment, and
 engineering or environmental studies
 in the implementation of the project.
Telemedicine or distance learning        Yes.
 equipment or facilities necessary to
 the project.
Vehicles using distance learning or      No.
 telemedicine technology to deliver
 services.
Teacher-student links located at the     No.
 same facility.
Links between medical professionals      No.
 located at the same facility.
Site development or building             No.
 alteration, except for equipment
 installation and associated inside
 wiring.
Land or building purchase..............  No.
Building Construction..................  No.
Acquiring telecommunications             No (such facilities are only
 transmission facilities.                 eligible for DLT loans).
Internet services, telecommunications    No.
 services or other forms of
 connectivity.
Salaries, wages, benefits for medical    No.
 or educational personnel.
Salaries or administrative expenses of   No.
 applicant or project.
Recurring project costs or operating     No (equipment & facility leases
 expenses.                                are not recurring project
                                          costs).
Equipment to be owned by the LEC or      No.
 other telecommunications service
 provider, if the provider is the
 applicant.
Duplicative distance learning or         No.
 telemedicine services.
Any project that for its success         No.
 depends on additional DLT financial
 assistance or other financial
 assistance that is not assured.
Application Preparation Costs..........  No.
Other project costs not in regulation..  No.
Cost (amount) of facilities providing    No.
 distance learning broadcasting.
Reimburse applicants or others for       No.
 costs incurred prior to RUS receipt of
 completed application.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 29404]]

    c. Discounts. The DLT Program regulation provides that 
manufacturers' and service providers' discounts are not eligible 
matches. In the past, the Agency did not consider as eligible any 
proposed match from a vendor, manufacturer, or service provider whose 
products or services would also be purchased for the DLT project. 
However, the agency has now determined that if a vendor can demonstrate 
that the donated product is normally sold at the in-kind matching 
price, then it will accept such products for in-kind matches, and not a 
discount. Similarly, if a vendor, manufacturer, or other service 
provider proposes a cash match (or any in-kind match) when their 
products or services will be purchased with grant or match funds, such 
products must be shown to be normally offered at, or higher than, the 
contract price of the services to be provided on the project.
    2. Eligible Equipment & Facilities. Please see the FY 2014 
Application Guide for more information regarding eligible and 
ineligible items. In addition, see 7 CFR 1703.102 for definitions of 
eligible equipment, eligible facilities, and telecommunications 
transmission facilities as used in the table above.
    3. Apportioning budget items. Many DLT applications propose to use 
items for a blend of specific DLT eligible project purposes and other 
purposes. RUS will consider funding such items in the overall context 
of the project, but such items will affect the competitive value of the 
project compared with other projects. The proposed project could 
receive a lower score in the subjective areas of the grant to the 
extent that its budget requests items that have limited or questionable 
value to the purposes of distance learning or telemedicine. See the FY 
2014 Application Guide for detailed information on how to apportion use 
and apportioning illustrations.

V. Application Review Information

A. Special Considerations or Preferences

    1. American Samoa, Guam, Virgin Islands, and Northern Mariana 
Islands applications are exempt from the matching requirement up to a 
match amount of $200,000 (see 48 U.S.C. 1469a; 91 Stat. 1164).
    2. Special Consideration Areas. RUS will offer special 
consideration to applications that contain at least one end-user site 
within a trust area or a tribal jurisdictional area. Such applications 
will be awarded 15 points. The application will need to include a map 
showing the end-user site(s) located in the trust area or tribal 
jurisdictional area, as well as the geographical coordinate(s), and 
physical address(es) of the end-user site(s). The applicant will also 
need to submit evidence indicating that the area where the end-user 
site is located is a trust area or a tribal jurisdictional area.
    RUS will use one or more of the following resources in determining 
whether a particular ends-user site is located in trust area or tribal 
jurisdictional area:
    (a) Official maps of Federal Indian Reservations based on 
information compiled by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of 
Indian Affairs and made available to the public;
    (b) Title Status Reports issued by the U.S. Department of the 
Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs showing that title to such land is 
held in trust or is subject to restrictions imposed by the United 
States;
    (c) Trust Asset and Accounting Management System data, maintained 
by the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs;
    (d) Official maps of the Department of Hawaiian Homelands of the 
State of Hawaii identifying land that has been given the status of 
Hawaiian home lands under the provisions of section 204 of the Hawaiian 
Homes Commission Act, 1920;
    (e) Official records of the U.S. Department of the Interior, the 
State of Alaska, or such other documentation of ownership as the RUS 
may determine to be satisfactory, showing that title is owned by a 
Regional Corporation or a Village Corporation as such terms are defined 
in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq);
    (f) Evidence that the land is located on Guam, American Samoa or 
the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and is eligible for 
use in the Veteran's Administration direct loan program for veterans 
purchasing or constructing homes on communally owned land; and
    (g) Any other evidence submitted by the applicant that is 
satisfactory to RUS to establish that area where the end-user site is 
located is a trust area or a tribal jurisdictional area within the 
meaning of 38 U.S.C. 3765(1).

B. Criteria

    1. Grant application scoring criteria (total possible points: 235). 
See 7 CFR 1703.125 for the items that will be reviewed during scoring, 
7 CFR 1703.126 and section V.A.2 of this NOFA for scoring criteria.
    2. Grant applications are scored competitively subject to the 
criteria listed below.
    a. Rurality category--Rurality of the proposed service area (up to 
45 points).
    b. NSLP category--percentage of students eligible for the NSLP in 
the proposed service area (up to 35 points).
    c. Leveraging category--matching funds above the required matching 
level (up to 35 points).
    d. Need for services proposed in the application and the benefits 
that will be derived if the application receives a grant (up to 55 
points).
    (i) Additional NSLP category--up to 10 of the possible 55 possible 
points are to recognize economic need not reflected in the project's 
National School Lunch Program (NSLP) score, and can be earned only by 
applications whose overall NSLP eligibility is less than 50%. To be 
eligible to receive points under this, the application must include an 
affirmative request for consideration of the possible 10 points, and 
compelling documentation of reasons why the NSLP eligibility percentage 
does not represent the economic need of the proposed project 
beneficiaries.
    (ii) Needs and Benefits category--up to 45 of the 55 possible 
points under this criterion are available to all applicants. Points are 
awarded based on the required narrative crafted by the applicant. RUS 
encourages applicants to carefully read the cited portions of the 
Program regulation and the FY 2014 Application Guide for full 
discussions of this criterion.
    e. Innovativeness category--level of innovation demonstrated by the 
project (up to 15 points).
    f. Cost Effectiveness category--system cost-effectiveness (up to 35 
points).
    g. Special Consideration Areas--Application must contain at least 
one end-user site within a trust area or a tribal jurisdictional area 
(15 points).
    C. Grant Review standards.
    1. In addition to the scoring criteria that rank applications 
against each other, the Agency evaluates grant applications for 
possible awards on the following items, according to 7 CFR 1703.127:
    a. Financial feasibility.
    b. Technical considerations. If the application contains flaws that 
would prevent the successful implementation, operation or 
sustainability of a project, the Agency will not award a grant.
    c. Other aspects of proposals that contain inadequacies that would 
undermine the ability of the project to comply with the policies of the 
DLT Program.
    2. The FY 2014 grant Application Guide specifies the format and 
order of all required items.

[[Page 29405]]

    3. Most DLT grant projects contain numerous project sites. The 
Agency requires that site information be consistent throughout an 
application. Sites must be referred to by the same designation 
throughout all parts of an application. The Agency has provided a site 
worksheet that requests the necessary information, and can be used as a 
guide by applicants. RUS strongly recommends that applicants complete 
the site worksheet, listing all requested information for each site. 
Applications without consistent site information will be returned as 
ineligible.
    4. As stated above, DLT grant applications which have non-fixed 
end-user sites, such as ambulance and home health care services, are 
scored according to the applicant's entire service area. See the FY 
2014 Application Guide for specific guidance on preparing an 
application with non-fixed end users.
    D. Selection Process. Grants applications are ranked by final 
score. RUS selects applications based on those rankings, subject to the 
availability of funds. In addition, the Agency has the authority to 
limit the number of applications selected in any one state, or for one 
project, during a fiscal year. See 7 CFR 1703.127.

VI. Award Administration Information

A. Award Notices

    RUS generally notifies by mail applicants whose projects are 
selected for awards. The Agency follows the award letter with an 
agreement that contains all the terms and conditions for the grant. A 
copy of the standard agreement is posted on the RUS Web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/UTP_DLTResources.html. An applicant must execute 
and return the agreement, accompanied by any additional items required 
by the agreement, within the number of days shown in the selection 
notice letter.

B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    The items listed in Section V of this notice, the DLT Program 
regulation, FY 2014 Application Guide and accompanying materials 
implement the appropriate administrative and national policy 
requirements.

C. Reporting

    1. Performance reporting. All recipients of DLT financial 
assistance must provide annual performance activity reports to RUS 
until the project is complete and the funds are expended. A final 
performance report is also required; the final report may serve as the 
last annual report. The final report must include an evaluation of the 
success of the project in meeting DLT Program objectives. See 7 CFR 
1703.107.
    2. Financial reporting. All recipients of DLT financial assistance 
must provide an annual audit, beginning with the first year in which a 
portion of the financial assistance is expended. Audits are governed by 
United States Department of Agriculture audit regulations. Please see 7 
CFR 1703.108.
    3. Recipient and Subrecipient Reporting. The applicant must have 
the necessary processes and systems in place to comply with the 
reporting requirements for first-tier sub-awards and executive 
compensation under the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency 
Act of 2006 in the event the applicant receives funding unless such 
applicant is exempt from such reporting requirements pursuant to 2 CFR 
part 170, Sec.  170.110(b). The reporting requirements under the 
Transparency Act pursuant to 2 CFR part 170 are as follows:
    a. First Tier Sub-Awards of $25,000 or more in non-Recovery Act 
funds (unless they are exempt under 2 CFR part 170) must be reported by 
the Recipient to http://www.fsrs.gov no later than the end of the month 
following the month the obligation was made. Please note that currently 
underway is a consolidation of eight Federal procurement systems, 
including the Sub-award Reporting System (FSRS), into one system, the 
System for Award Management (SAM). As a result the FSRS will soon be 
consolidated into and accessed through https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/.
    b. The Total Compensation of the Recipient's Executives (5 most 
highly compensated executives) must be reported by the Recipient (if 
the Recipient meets the criteria under 2 CFR part 170) to https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/ by the end of the month following the 
month in which the award was made.
    c. The Total Compensation of the Subrecipient's Executives (5 most 
highly compensated executives) must be reported by the Subrecipient (if 
the Subrecipient meets the criteria under 2 CFR part 170) to the 
Recipient by the end of the month following the month in which the 
subaward was made.
    4. Record Keeping and Accounting.
    The grant contract will contain provisions relating to record 
keeping and accounting requirements.

VII. Agency Contacts

    A. Web site: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/UTP_DLT.html. The DLT Web 
site maintains up-to-date resources and contact information for DLT 
programs.
    B. Telephone: 202-720-0665.
    C. Fax: 202-720-1051.
    D. Email: [email protected].
    E. Main point of contact: Norberto Esteves, Acting Director, 
Advanced Services Division, Telecommunications Program, Rural Utilities 
Service.

    Dated: April 29, 2014.
John Charles Padalino,
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-11700 Filed 5-21-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P