[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 40 (Friday, February 28, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11947-11949]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-04031]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

Rural Housing Service

Rural Utilities Service


Notice of Solicitation of Applications (NOSA) for the Strategic 
Economic and Community Development Program for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Rural Housing Service, and 
Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: Section 6401 of the Agricultural Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill) 
enables the Secretary of Agriculture to provide priority to projects 
that support Strategic Economic and Community Investment plans. The 
2018 Farm Bill re-authorized the Strategic Economic and Community 
Development (SECD) priority, Section 6025 of the Agricultural Act of 
2014 (2014 Farm Bill) with some modifications. Until the rulemaking 
process is finalized to incorporate the new changes, SECD will continue 
to operate using the existing regulation. In FY 2020, the Agency 
implements SECD through reserving funds from the ``underlying 
programs''. This Notice applies to applicants who will be submitting 
applications for the ``underlying programs''. This notice establishes 
the above mentioned priority effective upon the publication of this 
notice.

DATES: To apply for SECD priority points in FY 2020, applicants must 
submit Form RD 1980-88, ``Strategic Economic and Community Development 
(section 6025) Priority,'' by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on June 30, 2020.
    All applicants are responsible for any additional expenses incurred 
in preparing and submitting applications.

ADDRESSES: Submit applications to the USDA Rural Development Area 
Office servicing the area where the project is located. A list of the 
USDA Rural Development Area Offices can be found listed by state at: 
http://www.rd.usda.gov/contact-us/state-offices.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For more information, please contact 
your respective Rural Development State Office listed here: http://www.rd.usda.gov/browse-state A checklist of all required application 
information for regional planning priority can be found at: https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/strategic-economic-and-community-development.
    For all other inquiries, contact Innovation Center Partnership 
Division Regional Coordinators as follows:
     Midwest Region--Christine Sorensen: 202-568-9832, 
[email protected].
     Northeast Region--Angela Callie: 202 568 9738, 
[email protected].
     Southern Region--Greg Dale: (870) 633-3055 Ext. 123, 
[email protected].
     Western Region--Tim O'Connell: (503) 414-3396, 
[email protected].
     National Office-- Greg Batson, Rural Development 
Innovation Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Stop 0793, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-0783, Telephone: 573-239-
2945. Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This action has been reviewed and determined 
not to be a rule or regulation as defined in Executive Order 12866, as 
amended by Executive Order 13258.

I. Background

    Section 6401 of the 2018 Farm Bill re-authorized Section 6025 of 
the Agricultural Act of 2014 (2014 Farm Bill) with some modifications. 
The provision provides priority to projects that support strategic 
economic development or community investment plans when applying for 
program funds under the rural development mission area. Until the 
rulemaking process is finalized to incorporate the new changes, SECD 
will continue to operate using the existing regulation. In FY 2020, the 
Agency will reserve funds from the ``underlying programs'', using SECD 
regulation 7 CFR 1980, Subpart K. This Notice provides applicants with

[[Page 11948]]

eligible projects the opportunity to apply for reserve funding in FY 
2020.

A. Statutory Authority

    This priority is authorized under Section 6401 of the 2018 Farm 
Bill.

B. Programs

    Section 6401 of the 2018 Farm Bill authorizes any program under the 
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2008v), as 
determined by the Secretary, to give priority to an application that 
supports the implementation of strategic community investment plans. In 
FY 2020, the Agency implements SECD through reserving funds from the 
``underlying programs'', using SECD regulation 7 CFR 1980, Subpart K.
    Accordingly, the Agency is giving regional planning priority 
through the following Rural Development programs:

 Community Facility Loans; see 7 CFR 1942, Subpart A
 Fire and Rescue and Other Small Community Facilities Projects; 
see 7 CFR 1942, Subpart C
 Community Facilities Grants; see 7 CFR 3570, Subpart B
 Community Programs Guaranteed Loans; see 7 CFR 3575
 Water and Waste Disposal Programs Guaranteed Loans; see 7 CFR 
1779
 Water and Waste Loans and Grants; see 7 CFR 1780
 Business and Industry Guaranteed Loans; see 7 CFR 4279
 Rural Business Development Grants; see 7 CFR 4280, Subpart E

II. Award Information

    Type of Awards: Guaranteed loans, direct loans and grants.
    Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2020 appropriated funds.
    Available Funds: The amount of funds available will depend on the 
amount of funds the underlying programs have available during the 
fiscal year.
Regional Planning Priority
    For FY 2020 applications, the following table specifies the 
percentage of funds being reserved:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Percentage of
                         Program                          funds reserved
                                                             for SECD
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Community Facility Loans................................              10
Fire and Rescue and Other Small Community Facilities                  10
 Projects...............................................
Community Facilities Grant Program......................              10
Community Programs Guaranteed Loans.....................              10
Water and Waste Disposal Programs Guaranteed Loans......              10
Water and Waste Loans...................................               5
Water and Waste Grants..................................               3
Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan...................               5
Rural Business Development Grants.......................               5
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Award Amounts: Guaranteed loans, direct loans and grants will be 
awarded in amounts consistent with each applicable underlying program.
    Award Dates: Awards for applications submitted in FY 2020 will be 
made on or before June 30, 2020. The agency will return any reserved 
funds that are not obligated by June 30, 2020 to the underlying 
program's regular funding account, for obligation to all eligible 
projects in that program.

III. Eligibility Information

A. Eligible Requirements

    To be considered for SECD priority points, both the applicant and 
project must meet the eligibility requirements of the underlying 
program. These requirements vary among the underlying programs and 
applicants should refer to the regulations for those programs, which 
are referenced in I. A. of this Notice.
    The agency continues to make available additional priority for 
regional planning through the existing regulation without making any 
changes to the applicant eligibility requirements of the underlying 
programs. The regulation includes three criteria that a project must 
meet in order to be considered for priority points (see 7 CFR 
1980.1010):
    The first criterion, as noted above, is that the project meets the 
applicable eligibility requirements of the underlying program for which 
the applicant is applying.
    The second criterion is that the project is ``carried out in a 
rural area'' as defined in 7 CFR 1980.1005. As defined, this means 
either the entire project is physically located in a rural area or all 
of the beneficiaries of the service(s) provided through the project 
must either reside in or be located in a rural area. Note that the 
definition of ``rural'' varies among the underlying programs and the 
Section 6025 regulation does not change those definitions, therefore, 
the applicable program regulations as outlined in I.A. should be 
reviewed as necessary.
    The third criterion is that the project supports the implementation 
of a strategic economic development or community investment plan on a 
multi-jurisdictional basis as defined in 7 CFR 1980.1005.
    In order to be considered for the reserved funds from underlying 
programs in FY 2020, applicants (1) meet all requirements of the 
underlying program; (2) meet all requirements in accordance with 7 CFR 
Subpart K (see 7 CFR 1980.1010); and (3) submit Form RD 1980-88 and 
supporting documentation. Form RD 1980-88 requests such information as 
(see 7 CFR 1980.1015):
     Identification of whether the applicant includes a State, 
county, municipal, or tribal government;
     Identification by name of the plan being supported by the 
project, the date the plan became effective and is to remain in effect, 
and a detailed description of how the project directly supports one or 
more of the plan's objectives;
     Sufficient information to show that the project will be 
carried out solely in a rural area; and
     Identification of any current or previous applications the 
applicant has submitted for funds from the underlying programs.

B. Cost Sharing or Matching

    Any and all cost sharing, matching, and cost participation 
requirements of the applicable underlying program apply to projects 
seeking SECD priority points. The Section 6025 regulation does not 
change such requirements.

C. Other Eligibility Requirements

    Any and all other eligibility requirements (beyond those identified 
in III.A of this Notice) found in the

[[Page 11949]]

underlying programs apply to applicants, their projects, and the 
beneficiaries of those projects are unchanged by either this Notice or 
the Section 6025 regulation.

IV. Application Evaluation and Selection for Underlying Programs Funds

    All FY 2020 applications for underlying programs will be reviewed, 
evaluated, and scored based on the underlying program's scoring 
criteria. This Notice does not affect that process. This Notice only 
affects the scoring of SECD applications competing for an underlying 
program's funds.

A. Scoring of Applications

    All eligible and complete applications competing for an underlying 
program's funds will be evaluated and scored based on the criteria of 
the applicable underlying program, whether or not the applicant seeks 
regional planning priority points.
    For applicants wishing to be considered for the reserved funds in 
FY 2020, the Agency will review, evaluate, and score each Form RD 1980-
88, based on the criteria specified in 7 CFR 1980.1020, to award the 
SECD priority points.

B. Selection Process

    The Agency will select the highest scoring applications competing 
for an underlying program's funds based on the award process for the 
underlying program to determine which projects receive funds except 
that:
     An application's total score will be determined in 
accordance with section IV.A. of this Notice and
     To the extent provided by the underlying programs in this 
Notice, the Agency will encourage awarding ``SECD priority'' to 
qualifying applications.

VI. Award Administration Information

A. Award Notices

    The Agency will notify SECD applicants who receive funding in a 
manner consistent with award notifications for the underlying program.

B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    Any and all additional requirements of the applicable underlying 
programs apply to projects receiving funding in response to this 
Notice. Please see the regulations for the applicable underlying 
program.

C. Reporting Requirements

    Any and all post-award reporting requirements contained in the 
underlying program apply to all projects receiving funding in response 
to this Notice.
    Applicants who are selected for funding in FY 2020 in response to 
this Notice (i.e., those applicants who submit Form RD 1980-88 and 
receive funding from the underlying program's funds) are required to 
submit information in accordance with 7 CFR 1980.1026. This information 
is on the project's measures, metrics, and outcomes that the awardee 
would already be submitting to the appropriate entity(ies) monitoring 
the implementation of the plan.

VII. Additional Information

Paperwork Reduction Act
    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
information collection requirements contained in 7 CFR part 1980, 
subpart K, have been approved by OMB under OMB Control Number 0570-
0068.
National Environmental Policy Act
    This document has been reviewed in accordance with 7 CFR part 1970, 
subpart A, ``Environmental Policies.'' It is the determination of the 
Agency that this action does not constitute a major Federal action 
significantly affecting the quality of the human environment, and, in 
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, Public 
Law 91-190, neither an Environmental Assessment nor an Environmental 
Impact Statement is required.
Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act
    All applicants, in accordance with 2 CFR part 25, must have a DUNS 
number, which can be obtained at no cost via a toll-free request line 
at 1-866-705-5711 or online at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform. 
Similarly, all grant applicants must be registered in the System for 
Award Management (SAM) prior to submitting an application. Applicants 
may register for the SAM at http://www.sam.gov/SAM. 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.
Nondiscrimination Statement
    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, Washington, DC 
20250-9410; fax: (202) 690-7442; or email: [email protected].

Donald DJ LaVoy,
Deputy Under Secretary, Rural Development.
[FR Doc. 2020-04031 Filed 2-27-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-XY-P