[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 40 (Friday, February 28, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11946-11947]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-03831]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 85 , No. 40 / Friday, February 28, 2020 / 
Notices  

[[Page 11946]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation

Rural Business-Cooperative Service


Announcement of Future Competitive Grant Funds Availability for 
Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) for Fiscal Year 
2020

AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation and the Rural Business Cooperative 
Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) and the Rural Business-
Cooperative Service (RBCS), a Rural Development agency of the United 
States Department of Agriculture (USDA), intend to announce in a Notice 
of Funding Availability (NOFA) the availability of up to $100 million 
in competitive grants to eligible entities for activities designed to 
expand the sales and use of renewable fuels under the Higher Blends 
Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP). The purpose of this notice is 
to alert prospective participants and stakeholders of the Agencies' 
intentions to jointly publish a NOFA by mid-spring which will provide 
specific program information and requirements.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anthony Crooks: telephone (202)205-
9322, email: [email protected]. Persons with disabilities that 
require alternative means for communication should contact the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture (USDA) Target Center at (202)720-2600 
(voice).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Purpose of the HBIIP

    The overall goal of HBIIP is to increase the sales and use of 
higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel. HBIIP is intended to encourage 
a more comprehensive approach to marketing higher blend levels by 
sharing the costs related to and/or offering sales incentives for the 
installation of fuel pumps, related equipment, and infrastructure.
    Under the HBIIP, funds will be made directly available to assist 
transportation fueling and biodiesel distribution facilities with 
converting to higher ethanol and biodiesel blend friendly status by 
sharing the costs related to and/or offering sales incentives for the 
installation of fuel pumps, related equipment, and infrastructure. 
Cost-share grants and/or incentives will be made available for higher 
fuel ethanol/biodiesel blends such as ``E15'' and ``B20'' (or higher), 
at vehicle fueling locations, including, but not limited to, local 
fueling stations, convenience stores (CS), hypermarket fueling stations 
(HFS), and/or fleet facilities.
    The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is an agency and 
instrumentality of the United States within the Department of 
Agriculture and operates under the supervision of the Secretary of 
Agriculture. Among the activities that section 5 of the CCC Charter Act 
authorizes CCC to undertake are actions to:
     Make available materials and facilities required in 
connection with the production and marketing of agricultural 
commodities (other than tobacco) and
     Increase the domestic consumption of agricultural 
commodities (other than tobacco) by expanding or aiding in the 
expansion of domestic markets or by developing or aiding in the 
development of new and additional markets, marketing facilities, and 
uses for such commodities.
    Under this authority, CCC will make available up to $100 million in 
the form of grants and/or sales incentives to eligible entities to 
assist with the implementation of activities to expand the 
infrastructure for renewable fuels derived from agricultural products 
produced in the United States. HBIIP will be administered under the 
general supervision of RBCS.
    Applicants may enter into arrangements with private entities such 
as, but not limited to, commercial vendors of fuels, agricultural 
commodity promotional organizations, Tribes, and other entities 
interested in the renewable fuels in order to secure such non-Federal 
funds or in-kind contributions.
    Funds made available under HBIIP may only be used for 
infrastructure to support higher biofuel blend sales and use.

Eligibility

    Transportation fueling and biodiesel distribution facilities may 
apply for this program. Eligible entities would include: Retail fueling 
stations, convenience stores, hypermarket fueling stations, fleet 
facilities, and similar entities with equivalent capital investments. 
Consideration will also be given to biodiesel terminal operations and 
home heating oil distribution centers or equivalent entities.
    The following information provides a general overview of the 
requirements for eligible applications. Application requirements and 
other important information will be provided in the forthcoming NOFA 
and on the HBIIP web page https://www.rd.usda.gov/HBIIP.

Cost-Sharing or Matching

    Applicants will certify and demonstrate that any required matching 
funds are available during the grant period and provide appropriate 
documentation with the application.
    There are a number of existing or prior and ongoing State-led 
programs and private sector efforts to help provide funding for higher 
blend infrastructure. These programs may be included as part of any 
matching contribution requirement. However, the application must show 
how the HBIIP grant will add to the infrastructure that fosters biofuel 
sales and use. HBIIP funds are intended to provide additional 
incentives.
    Eligible funds must be:
     Spent on eligible expenses during the grant period.
     From eligible sources.
     Spent in advance or as a pro-rata portion of grant funds 
being spent.
     Provided either by the applicant or a third party in the 
form of cash or an eligible in-kind contribution.
    Eligible funds cannot include:
     Employee's and/or member's time.
     Other Federal grant funds unless provided by authorizing 
legislation.
     Cash or in-kind contributions donated outside the grant 
period.
     Over-valued in-kind contributions.

[[Page 11947]]

Multiple Application Eligibility

    Only one application may be submitted per applicant. However, an 
application may include proposed investments for more than one 
location.

Grant Period

    An application must include no more than a one-year grant period, 
or it will not be considered for funding.

Application Evaluation Criteria

    USDA will evaluate how the applications will increase the sale and 
use of fuel using the evaluation criteria specified in the NOFA and 
Grants.gov to select the applications that best support the HBIIP 
goals. Information required in a proposal will be detailed in the 
forthcoming NOFA.

Process for Evaluation of Applications and Award of Grants

    Each application will be reviewed to determine whether the 
applicant is eligible and whether the application is complete and 
sufficiently responsive to the requirements specified in the NOFA.

Priority Scoring Criteria

    Applications will be evaluated using the Priority Scoring Criteria 
listed in the NOFA. Evaluators will base scores only on the information 
provided or cross-referenced by page number in each individual 
evaluation criterion.

Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act

    Applicants must be registered in the System for Award Management 
(SAM) prior to submitting an application; which can be obtained at no 
cost via a toll-free request line at (866) 705-5711 or online at 
https://www.sam.gov/SAM/ SAM/. Registration of a new entity in SAM requires 
an original, signed, and notarized letter stating that the applicant is 
the authorized Entity Administrator, before the registration will be 
activated. All recipients of Federal financial grant assistance are 
required to report information about first-tier sub-awards and 
executive total compensation in accordance with 2 CFR part 170.
    All applicants except those that are individuals, 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 (866) 705-5711 or online at 
http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform.
    To use Grants.gov, you must already have a DUNS number and you must 
also be registered and maintain registration in SAM. We strongly 
recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline date to 
begin the application process through Grants.gov.
    Grants.gov. Applications must include electronic signatures. 
Original signatures may be required if funds are awarded. After 
electronically applying through Grants.gov, you will receive an 
automatic acknowledgement from Grants.gov that contains a Grants.gov 
tracking number.

Robert Stephenson,
Executive Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation.
Bette B. Brand,
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-03831 Filed 2-27-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-05-P