[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 95 (Thursday, May 18, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22852-22854]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-10087]


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NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION


Office of Small Credit Union Initiatives (OSCUI) Grant Program 
Access for Credit Unions

AGENCY: National Credit Union Administration (NCUA).

ACTION: Notice of funding opportunity.

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SUMMARY: The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) is issuing a 
Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to invite eligible credit unions 
to submit applications for participation in the OSCUI Grant Program 
(a.k.a. Community Development Revolving Loan Fund (CDRLF)), subject to 
funding availability. The OSCUI Grant Program serves as a source of 
financial support, in the form of technical assistance grants, for 
credit unions serving predominantly low-income members. It also serves 
as a source of funding to help low-income designated credit unions 
(LICUs) respond to emergencies arising in their communities.

Table of Contents

A. Program Description
B. Federal Award Information
C. Eligibility Information
D. Application and Submission Information
E. Application Review Information
F. Federal Award Administration
G. Federal Awarding Agency
H. Other Information

A. Program Description

1. Purpose

    The purpose of the OSCUI Grant Program is to assist low-income 
designated credit unions (LICU) in providing basic financial services 
to their low-income members to stimulate economic activities in their 
communities. Through the OSCUI Grant Program, NCUA provides financial 
support in the form of technical assistance grants to LICUs. These 
funds help improve and expand the availability of financial services to 
these members. The OSCUI Grant Program also serves as a source of 
funding to help LICUs respond to emergencies. The Grant Program 
consists of Congressional appropriations that are administered by 
OSCUI, an office of the NCUA.
    This grant round will include initiatives \1\ for Digital Services 
& Security, Leadership Development, Small LICU Capacity, and 
Underserved Outreach. NCUA will accept applications from credit unions 
for Digital Services & Security, Leadership Development, and Small LICU 
Capacity initiatives from July 1 through July 31, 2017.\2\ Applications 
for the Underserved Outreach initiative will be accepted from July 1 
through August 31, 2017. Each grant award may be used for a project 
intended to support the efforts of credit unions:
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    \1\ Initiatives offered subject to change based on funds 
availability. See section H.
    \2\ Grant round opening and closing is subject to funds 
availability. See section H.
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    i. Providing basic financial and related services to residents in 
their communities; and
    ii. Enhancing their capacity to better serve their members and the 
communities in which they operate.
    Information about the OSCUI Grant Program, including more details 
regarding the 2017 grant round, other funding initiatives, amount of 
funds available, funding priorities, permissible uses of funds, funding 
limits, deadlines and other pertinent details, are periodically 
published in NCUA Letters to Credit Unions, in the OSCUI e-newsletter 
and on the NCUA Web site at https://www.ncua.gov/services/Pages/small-credit-union-initiatives/grants-loans/grants.aspx.

2. Regulation

    Part 705 of NCUA's regulations implements the OSCUI Grant and Loan 
Program. 12 CFR 705. A revised Part 705 was published on November 25, 
2016. 81 FR 85112. Additional requirements are found at 12 CFR 701 and 
741. Applicants should review these regulations in addition to this 
NOFO. Each capitalized term in this NOFO is more fully defined in the 
regulations and grant guidelines. For the purposes of this NOFO, an 
Applicant is a Qualifying Credit Union that submits a complete 
Application to NCUA under the OSCUI Grant Program. NCUA will consider 
requests for funds consistent with the purpose of the OSCUI Grant 
Program. 12 CFR 705.1.

[[Page 22853]]

B. Federal Award Information

1. How much funding is available?

    Subject to the availability of appropriations for Fiscal Years 
2016-2017, NCUA anticipates awarding up to $2 million \3\ under this 
NOFO. NCUA reserves the right to: (i) Award more or less than the 
amount appropriated; (ii) fund, in whole or in part, any, all, or none 
of the applications submitted in response to this NOFO; and (iii) 
reallocate funds from the amount that is anticipated to be available 
under this NOFO to other programs.
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    \3\ Subject to appropriation funding.
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2. What is the award amount?

    There is a different award cap for each grant initiative. NCUA 
expects to award grants ranging from $1,000 to $25,000.\4\ Specific 
details are further described in the grant guidelines found on the NCUA 
Web site.
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    \4\ Subject to appropriation funding--See section H.
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3. What is the award period?

    The award period is between 7 and 12 months from the official 
approval of the grant, depending on the grant initiative and project.

C. Eligibility Information

1. What are the eligibility criteria?

    This grant round is open to credit unions that meet the compliance 
requirements specified in 12 CFR 705.3 and 12 CFR 705.7. A credit union 
must have a Low-Income Credit Union (LICU) designation, or equivalent 
in the case of a Qualifying State-chartered Credit Union, in order to 
participate in the OSCUI Grant and Loan Program. Requirements for 
obtaining the designation are found at 12 CFR 701.34.

2. What are the cost sharing or matching requirements?

    Cost sharing and matching requirements are not required under this 
announcement.

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Where can I request Application information?

    The Application related documents can be found on NCUA's Web site 
at https://www.ncua.gov/services/Pages/small-credit-union-initiatives/grants-loans/grants.aspx.

2. How do I submit an Application?

    Applicants must submit their Application electronically through 
NCUA's web-based application system CyberGrants at www.cybergrants.com/ncua/applications.

3. What must be included in the Application?

    A complete Application will consist of different components for 
each grant initiative. At a minimum, each grant initiative will require 
a brief project description (this requirement may be waived for 
initiatives that NCUA determines to be satisfactory without a project 
description). Specific details are further described in the grant 
guidelines.

4. What other requirements do I need to submit an Application?

    Applicants must obtain a Data Universal Number System (DUNS) number 
and be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) before an 
Application is considered complete. Additionally, Applications must 
include a valid and current Employer Identification Number (EIN) issued 
by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS). If an Applicant does not 
fully comply with these requirements, NCUA may deem the Application 
incomplete and disqualify the Applicant.
    Other submission requirements include disclosure agreements and 
mandatory clauses which are specified in the grant guidelines and web-
based application system.

5. What is the DUNS number and how do I obtain it?

    The DUNS number is a unique nine-character number used to identify 
your organization. The federal government uses the DUNS number to track 
how federal money is allocated.
    Applicants can obtain a DUNS number by visiting the Dun & 
Bradstreet (D&B) Web site or calling 1-866-705-5711 to register or 
search for a DUNS number. Registering for a DUNS number is FREE.

6. What is the System for Award Management (SAM) and how do I register?

    SAM is a web-based, government-wide application that collects, 
validates, stores, and disseminates business information about the 
federal government's trading partners in support of the contract 
awards, grants, and electronic payment processes.
    Applicants can register by visiting the SAM Web site. An active SAM 
account status and CAGE number is required to apply for the OSCUI Grant 
Program. The SAM registration process is FREE.

7. When is the Application deadline?

    The Application will be available beginning July 1 for all 
initiatives. However, the closing date is different for one initiative. 
Below is the application window for each initiative. Each initiative 
will close at 3 p.m. EST on the last day of the application window. 
Applications must be submitted online in NCUA's web-based application 
system, CyberGrants, by the deadline in order to be considered. Late 
Applications will not be considered under any circumstance.

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                Initiative                       Application window
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Digital Services and Security.............  July 1 through July 31,
                                             2017.
Leadership Development....................
Small LICU Capacity.......................
Underserved Outreach......................  July 1 through August 31,
                                             2017.
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E. Application Review Information

1. Criteria

    Each grant initiative consists of unique criteria NCUA will use to 
evaluate Applications. The criteria is distinct from the eligibility 
criteria that are addressed before an Application is accepted for 
review. Specific details about the selection criteria are described 
further in the grant guidelines.

2. Review and Selection Process

    i. Eligibility and Completeness Review: NCUA will review each 
Application to determine whether it is complete and that the Applicant 
meets the eligibility criteria described in the Regulations, this NOFO, 
and the grant guidelines. An incomplete Application or one that does 
not meet the eligibility criteria will be declined without further 
consideration.
    ii. Substantive Review: After an Applicant is determined eligible 
and its Application is determined complete, NCUA will conduct a 
substantive review in accordance with the criteria and procedures 
described in the Regulations, this NOFO, and the grant guidelines. NCUA 
reserves the right to contact the Applicant during its review for the 
purpose of clarifying or confirming information contained in the 
Application. If so contacted, the Applicant must respond within the 
time specified by NCUA or NCUA, in its sole discretion, may decline the 
application without further consideration.
    iii. Evaluation and Scoring: The evaluation criteria for each 
initiative will be more fully described in the grant guidelines.

[[Page 22854]]

    iv. Input from Examiners: NCUA may not approve an award to a credit 
union for which it's NCUA regional examining office or State 
Supervisory Agency (SSA), if applicable, indicates it has safety and 
soundness concerns. If the NCUA regional office or SSA identifies a 
safety and soundness concern, OSCUI, in conjunction with the regional 
office or SSA, will assess whether the condition of the Applicant is 
adequate to undertake the activities for which funding is requested, 
and the obligations of the grant and its conditions. NCUA, in its sole 
discretion, may defer decision on funding an Application until the 
credit union's safety and soundness conditions improve.
    v. Award Selection: NCUA will make its award selections based on a 
consistent scoring system where each Applicant will receive a ranking 
position. NCUA will also consider the impact of funding and rank 
Applications based on the factors listed in the grant guidelines.

3. Anticipated Announcement and Federal Award Dates

    Applicants should expect to be notified by NCUA regarding the final 
determination of the grant application. Please see the periods NCUA 
anticipates sending out announcements below.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              Anticipated announcement
                Initiative                             period
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Digital Services and Security.............  By September 10, 2017.
Leadership Development....................
Small LICU Capacity.......................
Underserved Outreach......................  By October 27, 2017.
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F. Federal Award Administration Information

1. Notice of Award

    NCUA will notify each Applicant of its funding decision by email. 
In addition, NCUA will publish a press release that includes a list of 
the successful awardees. Additional instructions for post-award 
activities will be provided by email and in the reimbursement 
guidelines.

2. Administration and National Policy Requirements

    The specific terms and conditions governing a grant will be 
established in the grant guidelines for each initiative.

3. Reporting and Reimbursement Requirements

    Successful Applicants must submit a reimbursement request in order 
to receive the awarded funds. The reimbursement requirements are 
specific to each initiative. In general, the reimbursement request will 
require evidence of expenses, project related documentation, a summary 
of project accomplishments and outcomes, and a certification form 
signed by a credit union official (e.g., CEO, manager, or Board 
Chairperson) authorized to request the reimbursement and make the 
certifications. NCUA, in its sole discretion, may modify these 
requirements. Successful Applicants are required to submit the 
reimbursement request within the expiration date specified in the 
approval letter.

G. Agency Contacts

1. Methods of Contact

    Further information can be found at: https://www.ncua.gov/services/Pages/small-credit-union-initiatives/grants-loans/grants.aspx. For 
questions email: National Credit Union Administration, Office of Small 
Credit Union Initiatives at [email protected].

2. Information Technology Support

    People who have visual or mobility impairments that prevent them 
from using NCUA's Web site should call (703) 518-6610 for guidance 
(this is not a toll free number).

H. Other Information

1. Program Changes Based on Availability of Funds

    The Application open period, grant initiatives, award period, 
funding amounts, and deadline to submit applications are all subject to 
the availability of appropriations for Fiscal Year 2017. NCUA will not 
announce a new NOFO if changes are necessary to the Program elements 
covered in this announcement. All changes due to the availability of 
funding will be published on NCUA's Web site at https://www.ncua.gov/services/Pages/small-credit-union-initiatives/grants-loans/grants.aspx.

    Authority:  12 U.S.C. 1756, 1757(5)(D), and (7)(I), 1766, 1782, 
1784, 1785 and 1786; 12 CFR 705.

    By the National Credit Union Administration Board on May 12, 
2017.
Gerard Poliquin,
Secretary of the Board.
[FR Doc. 2017-10087 Filed 5-17-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7535-01-P