[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 154 (Thursday, August 9, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39405-39408]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-16997]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Technical Assistance and Training Grant Program

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Funding Announcement (NOFA) under the Technical 
Assistance and Training Grant Program.

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SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service, an agency of the United State 
Department of Agriculture, announces an additional application window 
for Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 for the Technical Assistance and Training 
Grant Program (TAT). This Notice seeks applications emphasizing 
priorities for either a national water and wastewater infrastructure 
application assistance and project development program or a national 
apprenticeship/workforce development program.

DATES: Applications for the TAT grants will only be accepted 
electronically according to the following deadline:
    Submit grant applications at https://www.grants.gov (Grants.gov) 
and follow the instructions found on that website. Electronic 
submissions of applications must be received by September 10, 2018 to 
be eligible for grant funding. Late or incomplete applications will not 
be eligible for grant funding. Prior to official submission of 
applications, applicants may request technical assistance or other 
application guidance from the Agency, if such requests are made prior 
to August 24, 2018. The Agency will not solicit or consider scoring or 
eligibility information that is submitted after the application 
deadline. The Agency reserves the right to contact applicants to seek 
clarification information on materials contained in the submitted 
application.

ADDRESSES: All grant applications must be submitted electronically at  
https://www.grants.gov/ (Grants.gov), following the instructions you 
find on that website. The FY 2018 Application Guide may be obtained 
from the Water and Waste Disposal Technical Assistance & Training 
Grants website at https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/water-waste-disposal-technical-assistance-training-grants.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: LaVonda Pernell, Community Program 
Specialist, Water Program Division, Rural Utilities Service, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, by email at [email protected] or 
by telephone: (202) 720-9635.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Overview

    Federal Agency: Rural Utilities Service (RUS).
    Funding Opportunity Title: Technical Assistance and Training Grants 
(TAT).
    Announcement Type: Funding Announcement/Solicitation of 
Applications.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.761.
    Dates: Completed TAT grant applications must be submitted 
electronically through Grants.gov no later than September 10, 2018 to 
be eligible for funding.

Overview

    This Notice announces that the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is 
accepting applications for an additional application window for the 
Technical Assistance and Training Grant Program (TAT). For FY 2018, RUS 
received a budget appropriation of $40 million for the TAT Program. In 
response to the application filing period of October 1, 2017, to 
December 31, 2017, as outlined in 7 CFR 1775, Subpart B, Sec.  1775.10 
(a), the Agency received 28 applications that will not use up all of 
the appropriation. This Notice will make available the remaining funds 
under the TAT Program, for either a national water and wastewater 
infrastructure application assistance and project development program 
or a national apprenticeship/workforce development program.
    On March 23, 2018, President Donald Trump signed a $1.3 trillion 
spending bill with $21.2 billion for new infrastructure spending on 
transportation, energy and water projects in FY 2018. The intent of 
this notice is to advise the public of the funds available to support 
applications emphasizing either of two priorities for technical 
assistance and training activities. Applications may emphasize 
technical assistance and training activities to: Provide application 
assistance and project development that facilitate efforts by rural 
communities to access funding for water and wastewater infrastructure 
projects, particularly those communities in smaller, lower income, and 
persistent poverty areas; or to provide technical assistance and 
training to personnel to improve the management, operation, and 
maintenance of water and waste facilities through a national 
apprenticeship/workforce development program. The Agency encourages 
applications that will support recommendations made in the Rural 
Prosperity Task Force report to help improve life in rural America 
which can be found at www.usda.gov/ruralprosperity. Applicants are 
encouraged to consider projects that provide measurable results in 
helping rural communities build robust and sustainable economies 
through strategic investments in infrastructure, partnerships and 
innovation. Key strategies include:


[[Page 39406]]


 Achieving e-Connectivity for Rural America
 Developing the Rural Economy
 Harnessing Technological Innovation
 Supporting a Rural Workforce
 Improving Quality of Life

A. Program Description

    The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) provides financial and technical 
assistance to help communities bring safe drinking water and sanitary, 
environmentally sound waste disposal facilities to rural Americans in 
greatest need. The additional funding provided for TAT grants will 
allow rural communities to better identify and evaluate solutions to 
water and waste disposal problems, assist applicants in preparing 
applications for water and waste loans and grants, and/or improve 
operation and maintenance of existing water and waste disposal 
facilities in rural areas. Qualified private non-profit organizations 
may apply.

B. Federal Award Information

    Available funds for this funding opportunity will not exceed the 
$13,000,000.00 remaining from the $40 million in appropriated funds and 
additional program carryover funds. TAT grants will be awarded by 
September 30, 2018.

C. Eligibility Information

    1. In accordance with 7 CFR 1775.35, an organization is eligible to 
receive a TAT grant if it:
    a. Is a private, non-profit organization that has tax-exempt status 
from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS);
    b. Is legally established and located within one of the following:
    i. A State within the United States
    ii. the District of Columbia
    iii. the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
    iv. United States territory;
    c. Has the legal capacity and authority to carry out the grant 
purpose and scope;
    d. Has a proven record of successfully providing technical 
assistance and/or training to rural areas;
    e. Has capitalization acceptable to the Agency;
    f. Has no delinquent debt to the federal government or no 
outstanding judgments to repay a federal debt;
    g. Demonstrates that it possesses the financial, technical, and 
managerial capability to comply with federal and State laws and 
requirements; and
    h. Contracts with a nonaffiliated organization for not more than 49 
percent of the grant to provide the proposed assistance.
    2. Eligibility requirements for a project.
    Qualified projects from an eligible applicant must provide 
technical assistance and training to RUS eligible water and sewer 
utilities in rural areas for application assistance and project 
development to achieve the objectives outlined in 7 CFR 1775.

D. Application and Submission Information

    1. The FY 2018 Application Guide may be obtained from the Water and 
Waste Disposal Technical Assistance & Training Grants website at 
https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/water-waste-disposal-technical-assistance-training-grants. Applicants must submit electronic 
applications at Grants.gov https://www.grants.gov.
    2. Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) and 
System for Awards Management (SAM) Grant applicants must obtain a Dun 
and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and 
register in the System for Award Management (SAM) prior to submitting 
an application pursuant to 2 CFR 25.200(b). In addition, an entity 
applicant must maintain registration in SAM at all times during which 
it has an active Federal award or an application or plan under 
consideration by the Agency. Similarly, all recipients of Federal 
financial assistance are required to report information about first-
tier subawards and executive compensation in accordance to 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). An applicant, unless 
excepted under 2 CFR 25.110(b), (c), or (d), is required to:
    a. Be registered in SAM before submitting its application;
    b. Provide a valid DUNS number in its application; and
    c. Continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current 
information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or 
an application or plan under consideration by a Federal awarding 
agency.
    The Federal awarding agency may not make a federal award to an 
applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable DUNS and 
SAM requirements and, if an applicant has not fully complied with the 
requirements by the time the Federal awarding agency is ready to make a 
Federal award, the Federal awarding agency may determine that the 
applicant is not qualified to receive a Federal award and use that 
determination as a basis for making a Federal award to another 
applicant. As required by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), 
all grant applications must provide a DUNS number when applying for 
Federal grants, on or after October 1, 2003. Organizations can receive 
a DUNS number at no cost by calling the dedicated toll-free number at 
1-866-705-5711 or via internet at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform. 
Additional information concerning this requirement can be obtained on 
the Grants.gov website at http://www.grants.gov. Similarly, applicants 
may register for SAM at https://www.sam.gov or by calling 1-866-606-
8220. The applicant must provide documentation that they are registered 
in SAM and their DUNS number. If the applicant does not provide 
documentation that they are registered in SAM and their DUNS number, 
the application will not be considered for funding.
    You will need the following information when requesting a DUNS 
number:
    a. Legal Name of the Applicant;
    b. Headquarters name and address of the Applicant;
    c. The names under which the Applicant is doing business as (dba) 
or other name by which the organization is commonly recognized;
    d. Physical address of the Applicant;
    e. Mailing address (if separate from headquarters and/or physical 
address) of the Applicant;
    f. Telephone number;
    g. Contact name and title; and
    h. Number of employees at the physical location.
    3. The application and any materials sent with it become Federal 
records by law and cannot be returned to you. RUS may request original 
signatures on electronically submitted documents later.
    4. Content of Application:
    a. To be considered for assistance, you must be an eligible entity 
and must submit a complete application by the deadline date. You must 
consult the cost principles and general administrative requirements for 
grants pertaining to their organizational type in order to prepare the 
budget and complete other parts of the application. You also must 
demonstrate compliance (or intent to comply), through certification or 
other means, with a number of public policy requirements as 
demonstrated in the forms below.
    b. Applicants must complete and submit the following forms to apply 
for a Technical Assistance and Training grant:

[[Page 39407]]

    i. Standard Form 424, ``Application for Federal Assistance''.
    ii. Standard Form 424A, ``Budget Information--Non-Construction 
Programs''.
    iii. Standard Form 424B, ``Assurances--Non-Construction Programs''.
    iv. Standard Form LLL, ``Disclosure of Lobbying Activity''.
    v. AD-3030, ``Representations Regarding Felony Conviction and Tax 
Delinquent Status for Corporate Applicant''.
    vi. AD-3031, ``Assurance Regarding Felony Conviction or Tax 
Delinquent Status for Corporate Applicant''.
    vii. Form RD 400-1, ``Equal Opportunity Agreement''.
    viii. Form RD 400-4, ``Assurance Agreement (Under Title VI, Civil 
Rights Act of 1964).'' (This assurance agreement requires the 
collection of race, color, national origin, and ethnicity data on 
program beneficiaries.)
    ix. Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable, applicant must 
include approved cost agreement rate schedule).
    x. In accordance with 7 CFR 1775, subpart A Sec.  1775.5(j), 
applicants must certify there is no duplication with the National 
Forest-Dependent Rural Communities Economic Diversification Act of 1990 
(7 U.S.C. 6613).
    c. All applications shall be accompanied by the following 
supporting documentation in concise written narrative form:
    i. Evidence of applicant's legal existence and authority.
    ii. Evidence of tax exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service 
(IRS).
    iii. A short statement of applicant's experience in providing 
services similar to those proposed.
    iv. A brief description of successfully completed projects 
including the need that was identified, and objectives accomplished.
    v. The latest financial information to show the applicant's 
financial capacity to carry out the proposed work.
    vi. A list of proposed services to be provided.
    vii. An estimated breakdown of costs (direct and indirect) 
including those to be funded by grantee as well as other sources. 
Sufficient detail should be provided to permit the approval official to 
determine reasonableness, applicability, and eligibility.
    viii. Evidence that a Financial Management System is in place or 
proposed.
    ix. A description of national reach and capability.
    x. A description of the type of technical assistance and/or 
training to be provided and the tasks to be contracted.
    xi. A clear explanation of how the proposed services differ from 
other similar services being provided in the same area and measures to 
be taken to avoid duplication of federal effort.
    xii. Number of personnel on staff or to be contracted to provide 
the service and their experience with similar projects.
    xiii. A statement indicating the maximum number of months it would 
take to complete the project.
    xiv. Explanation of the cost effectiveness of project.
    d. Applicants must also submit a flexible work plan/project 
proposal that will outline the project in sufficient detail to provide 
the readers with a clear understanding of how the proposed technical 
assistance and/or training will increase water and wastewater systems' 
access to funding for infrastructure projects; and/or increase water 
and wastewater systems' ability to recognize the need for updated or 
new infrastructure.
    e. The applicant must provide evidence of compliance with other 
federal statutes, including but not limited to the following:
    i. Debarment and suspension information is required in accordance 
with 2 CFR part 417 (Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension) 
supplemented by 2 CFR part 180, if it applies. The section heading is 
``What information must I provide before entering into a covered 
transaction with the Federal Government?'' located at 2 CFR 180.335. It 
is part of OMB's Guidance for Grants and Agreements concerning 
Government-wide Debarment and Suspension.
    ii. All your organization's known workplaces by including the 
actual address of buildings (or parts of buildings) or other sites 
where work under the award takes place. Workplace identification is 
required under the drug-free workplace requirements in Subpart B of 2 
CFR part 421, which adopts the Government-wide Drug-Free Workplace Act.
    iii. 2 CFR parts 200 and 400 (Uniform Assistance Requirements, Cost 
Principles and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards).
    iv. 2 CFR part 182 (Governmentwide Requirements for Drug-Free 
Workplace (Financial Assistance)) and 2 CFR part 421 (Requirements for 
Drug Free Workplace (Financial Assistance)).
    v. 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.

E. Application Review Information

    1. RUS will acknowledge the application's receipt by email to the 
applicant. The application will be reviewed for completeness to 
determine if it contains all of the items required. If the application 
is incomplete or ineligible, RUS will return it to the Applicant with 
an explanation. RUS reserves the right to request additional 
information once an application is determined to be complete to address 
application assistance and project development or workforce development 
needs that are known or anticipated at the time of evaluation or to 
minimize the risk of duplication of other federal efforts. The RUS 
grant offer to successful applicants will be based on the submitted 
application and may be more narrowly tailored than the submitted 
application to meet rural community needs at the time of the offer or 
over the course of the grant period.
    2. A review team, composed of at least two members, will evaluate 
all applications and proposals. They will make overall recommendations 
based on factors such as eligibility, application completeness, and 
conformity to application requirements. They will score the 
applications based on criteria in paragraph C of this section.
    3. All applications that are complete and eligible will be scored 
and ranked competitively. The categories for scoring criteria used are 
the following:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Scoring criteria                          Points
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Scope of Assistance (National or Multi-State).  Up to 15.
Degree of expertise...........................  Up to 10.
Applicant Resources (staff and contract         Up to 10.
 personnel).
Goals/Objectives: Goals/objectives are clearly  Up to 15.
 defined and tied to need, results and
 measurable outcomes.
Extent to which the work plan clearly           Up to 40.
 articulates a well thought out approach to
 accomplishing objectives; and clearly defines
 how the applicant would respond to
 communities served by the TAT grant.
Financial Controls............................  Up to 5.

[[Page 39408]]

 
Type of technical assistance applicant is       Up to 20.
 providing.
Project duration..............................  Up to 5.
Administrator Discretion: RUS Administrator     Up to 15.
 may provide additional points based on the
 following factors: Geographic, economic, or
 agency priority issues.
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F. Federal Award Administration Information

    1. RUS will rank all qualifying applications by their final score. 
Applications will be selected for funding based on the highest scores. 
The agency expects to award two grants under this notice. The agency 
reserves the right to make no grant awards if all applications are 
incomplete and/or score below 65 points. Each applicant will be 
notified via email of the agency's funding decision.
    2. In making its decision about your application, RUS may determine 
that your application is:
    a. Eligible and selected for funding;
    b. Eligible and offered fewer funds than requested;
    c. Eligible but not selected for funding; or
    d. Ineligible for the grant.
    3. Applicants selected for funding will complete a grant agreement 
suitable to RUS, which outlines the terms and conditions of the grant 
award. Pursuant to the grant agreement, grant funds may be released 
over the course of the grant period in reimbursement for the 
performance of eligible, approved activities which do not duplicate 
similar federal efforts or tasks. The grant agreement may also include 
reporting and pre-approval requirements consistent with 7 CFR part 1775 
which if not met, may result in a delay in reimbursement, disallowance 
of expense or a suspension of the grant.
    4. Grantees will be reimbursed as follows:
    a. SF-270, ``Request for Advance or Reimbursement,'' will be 
completed by the grantee and submitted to either the State or National 
Office not more frequently than monthly.
    b. Upon receipt of a properly completed SF-270, payment will 
ordinarily be made within 30 days.
    5. Any change in the scope of the project, budget adjustments of 
more than 10 percent of the total budget, or any other significant 
change in the project must be reported to and approved by the approval 
official by written amendment to the Grant. Any change not approved may 
be cause for termination of the grant.
    6. Rates Requirements.
    All laborers, apprentices and mechanics employed by contractors and 
subcontractors on projects funded directly by or assisted in whole or 
in part by and through the Federal Government pursuant to this Act 
shall be paid wages at rates not less than those prevailing on projects 
of a character similar in the locality as determined by the Secretary 
of Labor in accordance with Title 40 United States Code, Subtitle II, 
Part A, chapter 31, subchapter IV, section 3141. Further details on 
eligible applicants and projects may be found in the relevant 
regulations listed in Section II.C.
    7. Reporting Requirements.
    a. Grantees shall constantly monitor performance to ensure that 
time schedules are being met, projected work by time periods is being 
accomplished, and other performance objectives are being achieved.
    b. SF-269, ``Financial Status Report (short form),'' and a project 
performance activity report will be required of all grantees on a 
quarterly basis, due 30 days after the end of each quarter.
    c. A final project performance report will be required with the 
last SF-269 due 90 days after the end of the last quarter in which the 
project is completed. The final report may serve as the last quarterly 
report.
    d. All grantees are to submit an original of each report to the 
National Office. The project performance reports should detail, in a 
narrative format, activities that have transpired for the specific time 
period.
    e. The grantee will provide an audit report or financial statements 
in accordance with Uniform Audit Requirements for Federal Awards at 2 
CFR part 200, subpart F.

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts

    A. Website: http://www.usda.gov/rus/water. RUS' website maintains 
up-to-date resources and contact information for TAT Grants program.
    B. Phone: 202-720-9635.
    C. Email: [email protected].
    D. Main point of contact: LaVonda Pernell, Community Program 
Specialist, Water and Environmental Programs, Water Programs Division, 
Rural Utilities Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.

H. Civil Rights

    In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its 
agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or 
administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on 
race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including 
gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital 
status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance 
program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil 
rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA 
(not all bases apply to all programs).
    Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or 
incident. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of 
communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, 
audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible 
agency or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or 
contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
    Additionally, program information may be made available in 
languages other than English.
    To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA 
Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office or 
write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the 
information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint 
form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA 
by: (1) Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant 
Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Stop 9410, 
Washington, DC 20250-9410; (2) Fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) Email: 
[email protected]. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, 
employer, and lender.

    Dated: August 2, 2018.
Edna Primrose,
Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-16997 Filed 8-8-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P