[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 245 (Monday, December 21, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 83046-83048]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-27765]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation

Rural Business-Cooperative Service


Solicitation of Applications for the Higher Blends Infrastructure 
Incentive Program (HBIIP) for Fiscal Year 2021

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

ACTION: Notice; announcement of opening date for Higher Blends 
Infrastructure Incentive Program second application window.

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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), announced the general policy 
and application procedures for funding under the Higher Blends 
Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) in a Notice of Funding 
Availability (NOFA) which published on May 5, 2020 in the Federal 
Register. HBIIP provides 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). This Notice announces the opening date for a second 
HBIIP application window for the remaining (approximately) $22 million 
(of the $100 million) and amends certain provisions and requirements of 
the original solicitation and clarifying notices published in the 
Federal Register on May 15, 2020 and June 3, 2020.

DATES: The Agency will begin accepting applications through the HBIIP 
online portal as provided on the program website, http://www.rd.usda.gov/HBIIP. Applications for enrollment in the Higher 
Biofuels Infrastructure Incentive Program will be accepted beginning 
December 21, 2020 through January 19, 2021. Applications received after 
5:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on January 19, 2021 will not be 
considered.

ADDRESSES: Application Submission: Instructions and additional 
resources for the application system for electronic submissions are 
available at http://www.rd.usda.gov/HBIIP.
    Electronic submissions: Electronic submissions of applications will 
allow for the expeditious review of an Applicant's proposal. All 
Applicants must file their application electronically.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:  For general inquiries regarding 
the HBIIP, contact Anthony Crooks:

[[Page 83047]]

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: 
    Authority: This solicitation is issued pursuant to; 62 Stat 1070, 
and the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act of 1948 (Charter Act); 
U.S. Code 15 U.S.C. 714.

Congressional Review Act

    The requirements of the Congressional Review Act (CRA; 5 U.S.C. 801 
et seq.), as specified by the Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs in the Office of Management and Budget for this program were 
met with the original solicitation published in the Federal Register on 
May 5, 2020 at 85 FR 26656.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    The information collection and recordkeeping requirements contained 
in this Notice have been approved under OMB Control Number 0570-0072.

Overview

    Federal Agency: The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) and the 
Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS), (USDA).
    Funding Opportunity Title: Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive 
Program (HBIIP) for Fiscal Year 2021.
    Announcement Type: Solicitation of Applications; announcement of 
opening date for Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program second 
application window.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Title: The Higher 
Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP)--10.754.
    Due Date for Applications: Applications will be accepted beginning 
December 21, 2020 through January 19, 2021. Applications received after 
5:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on January 19, 2021 will not be 
considered.

I. Background

    On May 5, 2020, the CCC and RBCS (the Agency) published a NOFA in 
the Federal Register, 85 FR 26656, announcing 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).
    Under the original solicitation and clarifying notices of May 15, 
2020 (85 FR 29394) and June 3, 2020 (85 FR 37824), 128 companies were 
enrolled in the HBIIP online application system and 121 applications 
were successfully submitted in the application window (before 11:59 
p.m. EDT, August 13, 2020).
    All meritorious applications for fueling stations and fleet 
facilities were awarded funds, amounting to approximately $64.3 
million.
    Based on the awards made in the original solicitation, $16.8 
million of the ``Targeted Assistance Goal of approximately $40 
million,'' established for Owners of 10 fueling stations or fewer, was 
met.
    The original solicitation limited awards to fuel distribution 
facilities to ``approximately $14 million.'' The amount requested by 
these applicants significantly exceeded the amount available.
    Approximately $22 million remains available under the original 
solicitation, the Agency determined it is in the public interest to 
announce a second round of funding and to make available approximately 
$15 million to fueling stations and fleet facilities and approximately 
$7 million to fuel/biodiesel distribution facilities, for purposes as 
originally specified. Additionally, the Agency reserves discretion to 
reallocate available funds (among applicant types, as established in 
the original solicitation) based on the number of applications 
received, the amount of requested funds and any funds returned by 
program recipients or made otherwise available to the program.
    The purpose of this Notice is to announce that the Agency will 
accept applications for 30 days for the HBIIP beginning December 21, 
2020.

II. General Funding Information

A. Type of Instrument

    Grants. Awards to successful applicants will be in the form of 
cost-share grants for up to 50 percent of total eligible project costs, 
but not to exceed $3 million, whichever is less.

B. Available Funds

    Of the $100 million made available under HBIIP in the original 
solicitation of May 5, 2020, approximately $22 million remains to 
eligible participants. Of the total amount of remaining funds, 
approximately $15 million will be made available to transportation 
fueling facilities (including fueling stations, convenience stores, 
hypermarket fueling stations, fleet facilities, and similar entities 
with capital investments) for eligible implementation activities 
related to higher blends of fuel ethanol greater than 10 percent 
ethanol, such as E15 or higher; and approximately $7 million will be 
made available to fuel/biodiesel distribution facilities (including 
terminal operations, depots, midstream partners and heating oil 
distribution facilities or equivalent entities), for eligible 
implementation activities related to higher blends of biodiesel greater 
than 5 percent biodiesel, such as B20 or higher. The Agency reserves 
discretion to reallocate available funds (among applicant types, as 
established in the original solicitation) based on the number of 
applications received, the amount of requested funds and any funds 
returned by program recipients or made otherwise available to the 
program.

C. Approximate Number of Awards

    The number of awards will depend on the number of eligible 
participants and the total amount of requested funds. In the unlikely 
event that every successful applicant is awarded the maximum amount 
available, 8 awards will be made.

III. Program Requirements and Changes

    To be eligible for an award under this solicitation, applications 
must meet all the requirements contained in the HBIIP NOFA published in 
the Federal Register on May 5, 2020 (85 FR 26656) and clarifying 
notices; May 15, 2020 (85 FR 29394) and June 3, 2020 (85 FR 37824) with 
the following exceptions for this second round of funding:
    1. Grants for up to 50 percent of total eligible project costs, but 
not more than $3 million are available to eligible participants;
    2. Of the remaining $22 million, approximately $15 million is 
available to vehicle fueling facilities, including, but not limited to, 
local fueling stations/locations, convenience stores (CS), hypermarket 
fueling stations (HFS), and fleet facilities; and approximately $7 
million is available for fuel/biodiesel distribution facilities, 
terminal operations, midstream partners, and heating oil distribution 
facilities or equivalent entities;
    3. RBCS reserves discretion to reallocate available funds (among 
applicant types, as established in the original solicitation) based on 
the number of applications received, the amount of requested funds and 
any funds returned by program recipients or made otherwise available to 
the program; and
    4. Applicants selected to receive funds in the first round of 
funding (original solicitation) will not be considered.

[[Page 83048]]

    Information can also be found at http://www.rd.usda.gov/HBIIP.

Robert Stephenson,
Executive Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation.
Mark Brodziski,
Deputy Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-27765 Filed 12-18-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P