A NOI to prepare an EIS was first published in the Federal Register on September 14, 2007 (72 FR 52540) to amend the 2003 Land and Resource Management Plans for the Boise, Payette, and Sawtooth National Forests and was corrected on December 8, 2008 (73 FR 74455) due to a delay in release of the three-forest Draft EIS. On April 22, 2009 (74 FR 18348), a new NOI was filed to prepare a separate EIS for each forest. The Notice of Availability for the Draft EIS for the amendment to the Payette Forest Plan was published in the Federal Register on January 21, 2011 (76 FR 3884).

The Forest Supervisor in consultation with the Intermountain Regional Office has determined that the forest plan amendment proposed in 2011 cannot be completed as initiated per the provisions of 36 CFR 219.13 issued in 2016. Under the new regulations, the project would be required to be re-initiated in order to meet the public notification requirements. The withdrawal of the EIS could not proceed earlier because of pending litigation for another project that referenced the Draft EIS. Judgment in that case was issued in August 2020, and the litigation is no longer pending. Instead of proceeding with a new or re-initiated Plan Amendment at this time, individual projects are considering the need for project level amendments to address wildlife conservation needs on a project-by-project basis based on the best available science. The need for a plan level wildlife conservation strategy will be reassessed during forest plan revision in the future.

Authority: This solicitation is issued pursuant to 7 U.S.C. 2204b(b)(4).

Federal Agency: Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RB-CS), Rural Utilities Service (RUS), and Rural Housing Service (RHS), (USDA).

Funding Opportunity Title: Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge (RPIC).

Announcement Type: Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA).

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge (RPIC)—10.890.

Due Date for Applications: Applications for RPIC cooperative agreement(s) must be received by 11:59 p.m. on July 26, 2021. Applications received after 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on July 26, 2021 will not be considered.

The Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge is a technical assistance and planning process for qualified entities to support rural community leaders to create places where people want to live, work, and play. This initiative is to provide planning support, technical assistance, and training to communities to foster placemaking activities in rural communities. Funds can help enhance capacity for broadband access, preserve cultural and historic structures, and support the development of transportation, housing, and recreational spaces. Applicants must demonstrate existing and proposed partnerships with public, private, philanthropic, and community partners to provide assistance. This funding announcement supports the delivery of technical assistance and training in visioning, planning, and assisting communities to implement placemaking efforts in rural communities under the Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge (RPIC).

RD is authorized to administer cooperative agreement awards in accordance with 7 U.S.C. 2204b(b)(4). The intention of RPIC is to provide cooperative agreement funding to eligible applicants working to promote public-private-philanthropic partnerships in rural communities that encourage economic and social development. These projects are intended to support rural America and align with the mission of existing USDA RD programs to increase rural economic growth and improve the quality of life in rural America by supporting essential services such as housing, economic development, and required infrastructure.

For purposes of this notice, Technical Assistance and Training for Placemaking is defined in Part III.

RPIC operates under the following concepts:

• Creating livable communities is important for community developers and practitioners who implement these strategies in rural communities and areas.

• Placemaking practices include both innovative and adaptive as well as established technical processes and solutions.

• Partnerships are a key element to the RPIC and must be developed with public, private, and philanthropic organizations creating new collaborative approaches, learning together, and bringing those learned strategies into rural communities.

• Placemaking contributes to long-term investment and therefore supports a community's resiliency, social stability, and collective identity.

• Broadband is an essential component to supporting placemaking initiatives.

For the purpose of this notice, placemaking is the process of creating quality places where people want to live, work, and play. Ultimately, the goal is to create greater social and cultural vitality in rural communities aimed at improving people's social, physical, and economic well-being. The key elements of quality places include, but are not limited to, a mix of uses; effective public spaces; broadband capability; transportation options; multiple housing options; preservation of historic structure; and respect of community heritage, arts, culture, creativity, recreation, and green space.

Throughout the placemaking process applicants are expected to involve public, private, philanthropic, and community partners; this work is to be based on a sense of place with qualitative and quantitative outcomes.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Title: Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge.

The amount available for RPIC FY 2021 is up to $3 million. Lead applicants may not submit more than one application but may identify more than one community with which they are providing placemaking assistance. The maximum award amount for any one applicant is $250,000. RD reserves the right to withhold the awarding of any funds if no application receives a minimum score of at least 60 points. There is no commitment by USDA to fund any application that does not achieve the minimum score.

This funding opportunity lists the information needed to apply for these funds and announces that RD is accepting FY 2021 applications to support RPIC.

The Agency anticipates that it may select one, multiple, or no award recipients from this funding opportunity. Applicants may not submit more than one application.

RD is authorized to administer cooperative agreement awards in accordance with 7 U.S.C. 2204b(b)(4) for the Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge.

The maximum Period of Performance is 2 years. Applicants should anticipate a Period of Performance beginning October 1, 2021 and ending no later than September 30, 2023.

The terms and conditions provided in this Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) are applicable to and for the purposes of this NOFA only. Unless otherwise provided in the award documents, all financial terms not defined herein shall have the meaning as defined by Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).

Capacity (for eligibility) is defined as previous experience with federal grant administration and demonstrated experience in economic development and placemaking technical assistance.

Cooperative Agreement Elements mean the cooperative agreements to be funded through RPIC directly support Rural Development's goals of increasing rural economic growth. As part of the placemaking planning process, required infrastructure, community facilities, housing and/or business development to support the ultimate placemaking goal are documented. In addition, existing assets that can be leveraged in support of a placemaking vision are evaluated, and funding strategies and sources to enhance or construct new assets are identified. Cooperators are expected to have expertise in placemaking and partnerships that will enable a rural community, area, or region to ultimately implement a placemaking strategy and improve the quality of life for its citizens.

Multi-jurisdictional means more than one jurisdiction where jurisdiction refers to a unit of government or other entity with similar powers, such as a city, county, district, special purpose district, township, town, borough, parish, village, state, Indian tribe, etc.

Multi-sectoral means intentional collaboration between two or more sectors ( e.g., utility, health, housing, community services, etc.) to accomplish goals and achieve outcomes in communities and regions.

Placemaking means a process involving public, private, philanthropic and community partners working together to strategically improve the social, cultural, and economic structure of a community. This work is based on a sense of place with qualitative and quantitative outcomes.

Placemaking Plan means a written document that describes the strategic plan for the community to implement the goals and objectives identified through the placemaking planning process.

Quality of life means a measure of human well-being that can be identified though economic and social indicators. Modern utilities, affordable housing, efficient transportation, and reliable employment are economic indicators that must be integrated with social indicators such as access to medical services, public safety, education, and community resilience to empower rural communities to thrive.

Region (Four Regions) means:

• The Northeast includes Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania.

• The Midwest includes Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas.

• The South includes Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands and Oklahoma.

• The West includes Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. Pacific Island Territories.

Rural area means the Rural Business Service's Rural Area definition as outlined in Section 343(a)(13)(A)(i) of the Agricultural Act of 1961 & Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act which defines “rural area” as any area other than (1) a city or town that has a population of greater than 50,000 inhabitants and (2) any urbanized area contiguous and adjacent to such city or town described in subparagraph (1) above.

Sector means stakeholders from areas such as business, health, education, and/or workforce; or from organization types such as public, private, non-profit, and/or philanthropy.

Technical Assistance and Training for Placemaking means the applicant participates in the complete process for the delivery of placemaking planning and implementation in partnership with identified rural communities. The support provided may include, but is not limited to:

• Evidence-based understanding of community assets, challenges, and opportunities,

• A description of the distinct qualities of the community—both positive and negative,

• A vision statement that summarizes the most important outcomes that the community wants to see achieved,

• A statement of values that identifies the principles that leaders and stakeholders should use in determining strategies, and

• Evidence of broad community participation, public input, and buy-in.

Commonly used Acronyms:

Applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements by the application deadline. Applications that fail to meet any of these requirements by the application deadline will be deemed ineligible and will not be evaluated further and will not receive a Federal award.

Applicant Eligibility: Federally recognized Tribes and Native American Tribal Organizations; institutions of higher education (including 1862 Land-Grant Institutions, 1890 Land-Grant Institutions, 1994 Land-Grant Institutions, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU)); nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) IRS status; public bodies or small private entities meeting the size standards established by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

All eligible applicants must demonstrate the capacity to deliver and support rural placemaking planning activities within at least one of the four regions found in Part III. Capacity is defined as previous experience with federal grant administration and demonstrated experience in economic development and placemaking technical assistance.

Entities are not eligible if they have been debarred or suspended or otherwise excluded from, or ineligible for, participation in Federal assistance programs under 2 CFR parts 180 and 417. In addition, an applicant will be considered ineligible for a cooperative agreement due to an outstanding judgment obtained by the U.S. in a Federal Court (other than U.S. Tax Court) or if the applicant is delinquent on the payment of Federal income taxes or Federal debt.

The proposed project must include a component that allows for active participation by the Cooperator and substantial involvement by RD in the majority of specified tasks outlined in the applicant's project proposal. Examples of measurable substantial involvement include, but are not limited to, the following: Joint convenings of community members, partners, and stakeholders; joint delivery of training for RD programs; and the development of training sessions and outreach materials. It is the intent of this project to engage RD staff in the placemaking process, and it is the responsibility of the applicant to identify specific tasks where RD staff can provide measurable, substantial involvement in the project. If such tasks are not identified, the application will not be eligible for funding.

The project must also directly benefit a rural area. All ultimate beneficiaries and/or subrecipients must be located in rural areas, and any activities or tasks must occur in rural areas.

Duplication of services is not allowed. Applicants must demonstrate that they are providing services either to new customers or new services to current customers. If the applicant's workplan and budget are duplicative of a previous and/or existing RPIC award, the application will not be considered for funding. RD will make this determination.

(1) A minimum 15 percent match of the federal grant amount requested for the cooperative agreement award is required for all applications. Matching commitments may be made in cash by the applying organization, or a combination of cash and confirmed funding commitments with third-party in-kind contributions as defined in 2 CFR 200.96. This minimum match of at least 15 percent of the federal amount requested must be committed for a period of not less than the cooperative agreement performance period. Cost sharing/matching must be committed at the time of application submission.

(2) Applicants may recruit one or more private, philanthropic, and/or eligible public partner(s) to provide the matching fifteen percent 15 percent (in cash and/or in-kind contributions) of the applicant's proposed federal funding request ( i.e., the federal grant amount requested), or the applicant can provide the full match as their own CASH contribution. It is permissible to provide a combination of third party in-kind contribution (as defined in 2 CFR 200.96) from a partner and CASH contribution from the applicant, but it is not permissible for the applicant to provide their own in-kind contribution as part of the match combination. If the applicant is going to provide their own match contribution, that match must be documented as a CASH contribution.

(3) Verification of Matching Funds: The Matching Funds Letter must be signed by the donating organization's authorized representative on the organization's letterhead and must identify the amount of matching funds or in-kind services/goods, the time period during which matching contribution will be available, and the source of the funds, as applicable ( e.g., cash on hand, etc.).

• If providing an in-kind match, the third-party contributor must provide details on how those in-kind sources will be identified and tracked by the contributor.

• The contributor must also attach/stipulate the value of each of the goods or services (including the indirect/direct costs) being offered.

• If using calculated hours for estimating any in-kind service, the contributor must also provide how the value was arrived at for calculating the total cost for the in-kind match and associated personnel, as applicable.

Additional details about cost sharing or matching funds/contributions are located at 2 CFR 200.306. Applicant matching funds must be included in the budget justification. For matching funds offered by project partners, a separate Matching Funds Letter is required for each cash and/or in-kind match contribution. Matching Funds Letters must be signed by the authorized organizational representative of the contributing organization and the applicant organization, which must include:

• The name, address, and telephone number of the contributor,

• the name of the applicant organization,

• the title of the project for which the contribution is made,

• the dollar amount of the contribution, and

• a statement that the contributor commits to furnish the contribution during the cooperative agreement period.

Applications without signed written commitments are deemed incomplete and will be ineligible. The value of applicant contributions to the project is established according to Federal cost principles. Applicants should refer to 2 CFR 200.306 for additional guidance on matching funds, in-kind contributions, and allowable costs.

The following funding restrictions also apply to this program:

(1) Pre-award costs are not authorized.

(2) Use of Funds. Awards funds should be calculated based on the federal amount requested by the applicant. A minimum of 15 percent match is required per Part IV. Section C.

(3) Indirect Cost Rate. The indirect cost rate is limited to 10 percent of direct charges for all nonprofit institutions, including institutions of higher education. All other organizations must use the rate identified in their NICRA. If you do not have a NICRA, you may elect to charge only direct costs to the award. If you have never had a NICRA, you may also choose to use a de minimis rate of 10 percent of modified total direct costs in accordance with 2 CFR 200.414(f). Your indirect cost rate must be included on Form SF-424A.

(4) The applicant may not use their administrative overhead or indirect costs as any part of their matching funds contribution. Using an indirect cost rate or administrative overhead for a matching fund contribution will be deemed as an ineligible use of funds for the cooperative agreement.

(5) Program Income. If you expect to earn Program Income during the Period of Performance, you must identify the amount and how you expect to use it ( e.g., matching funds) in your application. If your application is funded, unexpected Program Income or Program Income earned in excess of the amount you identify in your application will be deducted from the Federal share of the project in accordance with 2 CFR 200.307(e)(1).

In addition to costs identified as unallowable by 2 CFR part 200 or 400, the following costs are prohibited for this program. Neither award funds nor matching funds can be used to pay for the following types of expenses (this is not a comprehensive list of unallowable costs, see 2 CFR part 200).

(1) Construction (in any form).

(2) Intermediary preparation of strategic plans for recipients.

(3) Grants to individuals.

(4) Funding a grant where there may be a conflict of interest, or an appearance of a conflict of interest, involving any action by the Agency.

(5) Purchasing real estate.

(6) Using cooperative agreement assistance or matching funds for individual development accounts.

(7) Purchasing vehicles.

(8) To pay an outstanding judgment obtained by the United States in a Federal Court (other than in the United States Tax court), which has been recorded. An applicant will be ineligible to receive an award until the judgment is paid in full or otherwise satisfied.

Applications must be submitted electronically using Grants.gov . No other form of application will be accepted. Application and supporting materials are available at Grants.gov . Your application must contain all required information.

To apply electronically, you must follow the instructions for this funding announcement at Grants.gov . Please note that we will not accept applications through mail or courier delivery, in-person delivery, email, or fax.

You can locate the Grants.gov downloadable application package for this program by using a keyword, the program name, or the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number for this program.

When you enter the Grants.gov website, you will find information about applying electronically through the site as well as the hours of operation.

To use Grants.gov, you must already have a Data Universal Number System (DUNS) number and you must also be registered and maintain registration in the System for Award Management (SAM). We strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline date to begin the application process through Grants.gov .

RD is not responsible for any technical malfunction or website problems related to Grants.gov . If issues are encountered with Grants.gov, please contact the Grants.gov help desk at (800) 518-4726 or support@grants.gov. The applicant assumes the risk of any delays in application submission through Grants.gov .

Submitting an application through Grants.gov requires completing a variety of tasks and steps. There are also several preliminary registration steps before the applicant can submit the application. It is recommended that the instructions for registering be reviewed as soon as possible but at least two weeks before the planned application submission date.

You must submit all application documents electronically through Grants.gov . Applications must include electronic signatures. Original signatures may be required if funds are awarded.

After applying electronically through Grants.gov, you will receive an automatic acknowledgement from Grants.gov that contains a Grants.gov tracking number.

For an application to be considered complete, the applicant must complete and submit the forms contained in this section in addition to the written narrative proposal information in Part VI.

(1) Applicants must complete and submit the following forms to apply for an RPIC cooperative agreement:

(a) Standard Form 424, “Application for Federal Assistance—Non-construction.”

(b) Standard Form 424A, “Budget Information—Non-Construction Programs.”

(c) Standard Form 424B, “Assurances—Non-Construction Programs.”

(d) Risk Review: RD may request additional documentation from selected applicants in order to evaluate the financial, management, and performance risk posed by awardees as required by 2 CFR 200.205. Based on this risk review, RD may apply special conditions that correspond to the degree of risk assessed.

(e) Civil Rights Compliance Requirements: All awards made under this notice are subject to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as required by 7 CFR part 15, subpart A, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975.

(f) Execute Form RD 400-1 “Equal Opportunity Agreement.”

(g) National Environmental Policy Act: This notice has been reviewed in accordance with 7 CFR part 1970, “Environmental Policies and Procedures.” We have determined that an Environmental Impact Statement is not required because the issuance of regulations and instructions, as well as amendments to them, describing administrative and financial procedures for processing, approving, and implementing the Agency's financial programs is categorically excluded in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulation found at 7 CFR 1970.53(f). It has been determined that this Funding opportunity does not constitute a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment.

(2) All applications shall be accompanied by the following supporting documentation in concise written narrative form:

Content and Format—Each page must be on numbered, letter-sized (8 1/2 x 11) paper utilizing a white background that has 1″ margins, and the text of the application must be typed, single spaced, black, and in a font no smaller than 12 point.

Written Proposal—The written proposal should be assembled into one or more .pdf file(s) and should conform to the order in which the Evaluation Criteria are presented in Part VI Section B. The completed .pdf file(s) should be uploaded into Grants.gov as an attachment to the application. The maximum limit for the written narrative section is 25 pages. Information exceeding 25 pages for the written narrative may not be considered for evaluation by the scoring panel.

To be eligible (unless you are excepted under 2 CFR 25.110(b), (c) or (d)), you are required to do the following:

(1) Provide a valid DUNS number in your application. The DUNS number can be obtained at no cost via a toll-free request line at (866) 705-5711;

(2) Register in SAM before submitting your application. You may register in SAM at no cost at https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/. You must provide your SAM CAGE Code and expiration date. When registering in SAM, you must indicate you are applying for a federal financial assistance project or program or are currently the recipient of funding under any federal financial assistance project or program; and

(3) Maintain active and current SAM registration. The SAM registration must remain active with current information at all times while the Agency is considering an application or while a federal grant/cooperative agreement award or loan is active. To maintain the registration in the SAM database, the applicant must review and update the information in the SAM database annually from date of initial registration or from the date of the last update. The applicant must ensure that the information in the database is current, accurate, and complete. Applicants must ensure they complete the Financial Assistance General Certifications and Representations in SAM.

If you have not fully complied with all applicable DUNS and SAM requirements, the Agency may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a federal award, and the Agency may use that determination as a basis for making an award to another applicant. In accordance with OMB Memoranda M-20-26, the Agency can accept an application without an active SAM registration. However, the registration must be completed before an award is made. For current registrants in SAM, to help reduce burden, there will be a 180-day extension for SAM.gov registrations that have expiration dates ranging between April 1, 2021, and September 30, 2021. This effort is intended as relief for those otherwise required to re-register during that time frame. Each entity registration will have 180 days added to its expiration date. As an example, an entity that is set to expire on April 1, 2021 will be automatically granted an extension to September 28, 2021.

In order to be considered for funds under this notice, applications must be deemed complete and must be received by Grants.gov by the deadline specified in the DATES section of this notice.

Executive Order (E.O.) 12372, Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs, applies to this program. This E.O. requires that federal agencies provide opportunities for consultation on proposed assistance with state and local governments. Many states have established a Single Point of Contact (SPOC) to facilitate this consultation. For a list of states that maintain a SPOC, please see the White House website: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/SPOC-4-13-20.pdf .

If your state has a SPOC, you may submit a copy of the application directly for review. Any comments obtained through the SPOC must be provided to your State Office for consideration as part of your application. If your state has not established a SPOC, or if you do not want to submit a copy of the application, our State Offices will submit your application to the SPOC or other appropriate agency or agencies. Indian tribes are exempt from this requirement.

(1) Other Federal Statutes. The applicant must certify to compliance with other Federal Statutes and regulations by completing the Financial Assistance General Certification and Representations in SAM, including, but not limited to the following:

(a) 7 CFR part 15, subpart A—Nondiscrimination in Federally Assisted Programs of the Department of Agriculture—Effectuation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Civil Rights compliance includes, but is not limited to the following:

(i) Collect and maintain data provided by ultimate recipients on race, sex, and national origin and ensure that ultimate recipients collect and maintain this data;

(ii) Race and ethnicity data will be collected in accordance with Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Federal Register Notice, “Revisions of the Standards for the Classification of Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity” (published October 30, 1997 at 62 FR 58782). Sex data will be collected in accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. These items should not be submitted with the application but should be available upon request by RUS; and

(b) The applicant and the ultimate recipient must comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Executive Order 12250, and 7 CFR part 1901, subpart E;

(c) 2 CFR parts 200 and 400 (Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards), or any successor regulations;

(d) 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 https://www.lep.gov/; and

(e) Federal Obligation Certification on Delinquent Debt.

The projects should address how existing assets can be leveraged in support of a placemaking vision and how the projects will be evaluated ( e.g., how projects are evaluated for funding strategies and sources, construction of new assets to be identified in the planning process). Awardees will be Cooperators and are required to participate substantially in the project alongside RD staff to bring expertise in placemaking technical assistance, to bring partnerships that will enable a rural community, area or region to ultimately implement a placemaking strategy, and to improve the quality of life for its citizens.

Applicants are expected to provide proposals under this notice that include cooperation through substantial and measurable involvement by both the Cooperator and USDA Rural Development staff. Proposals will support multi-sectoral or multi-jurisdictional projects in rural communities and demonstrate how placemaking technical assistance will be provided to develop implementation plans that can be aligned with the mission of USDA Rural Development to improve quality of life and economic growth. The proposal must provide a detailed description of (i) the area to be served and (ii) how such area fits the definition of a region, multi-sectoral, or multi-jurisdictional rural area. Funding will be prioritized to ensure geographic diversity, so there will be at least one proposal awarded per Region, as defined in Part III. Applicants must identify which Region or Regions are included in their proposal. If applicants propose to serve more than one Region, they must also identify a primary Region.

Applicants for RPIC should be prepared to develop, be in the process of developing, or have developed a placemaking plan in partnership with public, private, or philanthropic partners with the focus on local or regional revitalization towards economic vitality and quality of life impacts. The plans should identify potential projects that can be funded through RD programs and other federal, state, local or private sector resources. Placemaking plans developed through this funding opportunity should focus on one or more of the Quality of Life indicators as defined in Part III.

Applicants are expected to submit placemaking proposals under this notice that include multi-sectoral or multi-jurisdictional planning partnerships within at least one Region (as defined in Part III) that will provide measurable results in helping rural communities create greater social and cultural vitality in rural communities. RPIC projects should also support rural communities' ability to qualify for priority funding under Section 379H of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, “Strategic economic and community development,” [7 U.S.C. 2008].

For the purpose of RPIC, rural placemaking is: (1) Rooted in emphasizing partnerships and collaboration among multiple public, private, philanthropic and community partners; (2) focused on combining federal, tribal, state, and local resources to make wide-ranging quality-of-life impacts as opposed to separate, piecemeal, incremental improvements; and (3) based on placemaking processes to create quality places where people want to live, work, and play. Ultimately, the goal is to create greater social and cultural vitality in rural communities. The key elements of quality places include, but are not limited to, a mix of uses; effective public spaces; broadband capability; transportation options; multiple housing options; disposition and rehabilitation of vacant structures; preservation of historic properties; and respect of community heritage, arts, culture, creativity, recreation, and green space.

Applications will first be reviewed to determine if they meet the eligibility requirements and compliance with the funding restrictions in this notice. If we determine that your application is ineligible, we will discontinue processing it, which means that we will not evaluate it further nor provide any scoring information. If your application is determined to be eligible, we will further evaluate it based on the scoring criteria listed in Part VI, Section B. All applications will be competitively scored and ranked. The minimum score requirement for a cooperative agreement award under this funding opportunity is 60 points.

Additionally, the applications will be reviewed for completeness. For an application to be considered complete, the applicant must complete and submit the written narrative proposal information and the forms contained in Parts V and VI in this NOFA. If we determine that your application is not complete, we will discontinue processing it, which means that we will not evaluate it further nor provide any scoring information.

(1) Number of Awards: The Agency anticipates that it may select one, multiple, or no award recipients from this funding opportunity. The Agency reserves the right to withhold the awarding of any funds if no application receives a minimum score of at least 60 points.

(2) Evaluation Criteria: (refer to Summary Table of Evaluation Criteria).

Proposed projects will be evaluated based only on information provided in the application. Points will be given only for factors that are well documented in the application package and, in the opinion of RD, meet the objectives outlined in each of the evaluation criteria. References to websites or publications will not be reviewed. Full documentation and support of application criteria is encouraged.

(3) The entire written narrative proposal includes the following sections in this order:

(a) Executive Summary —Provide the applicant entity name, duration of project (in months), amount of Federal funding requested, amount of non-Federal cost-share/match funding committed, and project title. Identify geographic locations (including the primary region in which the applicant determines where the most significant work takes place) and describe, in non-technical language, the placemaking approach to be used including the objectives and strategies to be utilized; the public, private, and philanthropic partnerships developed or to be developed; the approach to be employed (including the role of participating partners); how impact will be quantified; and the predicted benefits or deliverables of the project(s). Briefly describe applicant's past experience in federal grant administration, economic development, and specific placemaking technical assistance.

(b) Work Plan —Soundness of Approach (0-30 points). The applicant can receive up to 30 points for soundness of placemaking approach in their work plan. The maximum 30 points for this criterion will be based on the following:

(i) Work Plan Approach—project objectives/background/tasks with timeline and timeframes (0-10 Points)

• Project Objective(s): Description of objective(s)—clearly defined.

• Project Background: Description of the types and general locations of rural communities to be served through this project—Geographic Location or Project Areas (include Region description).

• Describe project area(s) as multi-sectoral or multi-jurisdictional. Applicant must include their ability to support rural planning activities on a multi-sectoral or multi-jurisdictional basis and how they will effectively serve these communities based on key personnel, established timeframes, and budget.

• Project Key Tasks with Timeline and Timeframes:

(ii) Implementation of Workplan—Planning through the Implementation Phase (0-10 points)

• Project Implementation:

Applicant should include details on how the technical assistance will be provided for the placemaking planning process and how it will coach/mentor the community to bring the plan to full implementation.

(iii) Alignment of Budget/Budget Justification to Workplan (0-10 points)

• Detailed Budget Justification should align with the tasks detailed in the workplan. Discuss how the budget specifically supports the proposed activities discussed in the Project Key Tasks (as described above). Justify project costs including personnel and any limited consultant salaries with description of duties. The budget justification should include both the Federal funds requested and the applicant's matching funds. The format of the budget's narrative can be in a chart, spreadsheet, table, etc., but it should be readable on letter-size, printable pages. The information needs to be presented in such a way that the reviewers can readily understand what expenses are incurred to support the project. Statement(s) of work for any subcontractors and consultants must be included as part of the application. (Note: Consultants and subcontracts must only be used on a very limited basis. The majority of the primary work under the cooperative agreement MUST be performed by the applicant).

(c) Organizational Capacity & Qualifications (0-20 points). The applicant can receive up to 20 points based on organizational capacity and qualifications. The maximum 20 points for this criterion will be based on the following:

(i) The applicant should specify years of experience in placemaking activities, types of communities previously served, and experience in performance evaluation. (0-10 points)

(ii) The applicant's proposal should demonstrate that the applicant has identified appropriate key personnel, both in terms of number of personnel and qualifications of personnel and should provide specific detail of qualifications of key personnel relating to placemaking. Capacity of personnel to access data for needs assessments and access to planners and other technical experts will be evaluated. (0-10 points)

(d) Partnerships (0-20 points). The applicant can receive up to 20 points for quantity and quality of the applicant's existing public, private, and philanthropic partnerships and proposed new partnerships for this effort. The applicant should demonstrate their ability to leverage new partners that have had limited engagement with RD projects or priorities to leverage resources, enhance technical assistance, and/or increase reach to target areas. The maximum 20 points for this criterion will be based on the following:

(i) The applicant should provide a list of potential partners, existing or new, who might commit to the project as well as a description of the sectors they represent ( i.e., public, private, philanthropic). (0-10 points)

(ii) The applicant should describe how they will engage with new and existing partners to support the project as well as how they can leverage partner resources. (0-10 points)

(e) Targeted Impacts (0-20 points). The applicant can receive up to 20 points for focusing on either or both of the following Targeted Impacts:

(i) Economically Distressed Communities. The applicant should describe how the proposal will address specific socioeconomic indicator(s) and the strategies to be utilized. The Distressed Communities Index (DCI) is considered a good tool for identifying economically distressed communities. ( https://ruraldevelopment.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=06a26a91d074426d944d22715a90311e )

(A) Describe how the applicant plans to address Economically Distressed Communities in its placemaking strategies/activities. What specific actions will be taken, and how do these proposed actions impact Economically Distressed Communities?

(B) What community data does the applicant plan to use to provide foundational context to its placemaking efforts?

(C) What measurable outcomes related to Economically Distressed Communities does the applicant plan to track? How will the applicant know if its efforts are making progress toward addressing Economically Distressed Communities and achieving desired outcomes?

(ii) Broadband Planning for Infrastructure, Deployment, and/or Access.

(A) The applicant should propose how the project will create planning or other broadband infrastructure and/or e-connectivity opportunities within targeted areas. Describe how the applicant's proposal will help communities plan for broadband infrastructure around the USDA-RD ReConnect Program (provided that community is eligible for that program); or

(B) If the community(ies) the applicant is supporting already has a ReConnect funded project, describe how the applicant's proposal will provide follow-up and support for future broadband development or deployment; or

(C) If the community(ies) the applicant is supporting is not a participant in the ReConnect Program, describe how the applicant will work with stakeholders to address barriers to broadband development and deployment, or broadband access or e-connectivity.

When addressing this section, after answering (A), (B) or (C) also address:

• What community data does the applicant plan to use to provide foundational context to its placemaking efforts?

• What measurable outcomes related to broadband and e-connectivity does the applicant plan to track. How will the applicant know if its efforts are making progress toward addressing broadband and e-connectivity in its community and achieving desired outcomes?

(f) Performance Measures (0-10 points). The applicant can receive up to 10 points based on the proposed performance measures to evaluate the progress and impact of the proposed project.

The criterion will be based on the applicant's proposal and should include a description for how the results of the technical assistance will be measured, including the quality of life indicators (set forth in Part III) and the benchmarks to be used for measuring effectiveness. Indicators to be used should be specific and be quantifiable. (0-10 points)

(g) Optional Innovation Seed Grant (0-5 or 0-10 points) To foster public, private, and philanthropic engagement, not only through RPIC but for the community itself, the Innovation Seed Grant must be matched by no less than 50% match with additional external funding to support the community's project. The external funds can be from public, private, philanthropic, or other federal, state, and local partners. There are two ways to be scored based on how an applicant plans to implement the Innovation Seed Grant: The applicant could receive either up to 0-5 points, or up to 10 points. Note that Cooperators that implement seed grants as a part of their proposal will be subject to the relevant subaward/subrecipient components from 2 CFR part 200.

(i) Option 1—0 to 5 points Innovation Seed Grant:

• Applicants may receive up to 5 points in scoring if their proposal and budget provide for a system of funding an Innovation Seed Grant. The seed grants are to be utilized to fund a new and innovative project that is highlighted in the placemaking plan. These seed grants are considered small financial awards for the purpose of getting a specific project implemented in the plan. The applicant can set aside, from the applicant's award, funds for an Innovation Seed Grant. The maximum RPIC funds that can be set-aside for this purpose is 10 percent.

• Individual Innovation Seed Grants may be no more than $5,000 from RPIC funds, to an ultimate recipient in a community or for an entity applying for the grant. The seed grant must have matching funds of at least 50 percent from public, private, or philanthropic support; however, the applicant may have contributions from partnerships in excess of the minimum 50 percent match requirement.

(ii) Option 2—0 to 10 points Innovation Seed Grant:

• Applicants may receive up to 10 points in scoring if their proposal and budget provide for a system of funding an Innovation Seed Grant that funds a new and innovative project that is highlighted in the placemaking plan and focuses on one of the Targeted Impacts listed in Part VI, Section B (e)(Targeted Impacts). The system should describe how the seed grant promotes and connects to the Targeted Impacts. These seed grants are considered small financial awards for the purpose of getting a specific project implemented. The applicant can set aside, from the applicant's award, funds for an Innovation Seed Grant. The maximum RPIC funds that can be set-aside for this purpose is 10 percent.

• Individual Seed Grants may be no more than $5,000 from RPIC funds, to an ultimate recipient in a community or for an entity applying for the grant. The Seed Grant must have matching funds of at least 50 percent from public, private, or philanthropic support; however, the applicant may have contributions from partnerships in excess of the minimum 50 percent match requirement.

(iii) Scoring the Innovation Seed Grant:

• The applicant should provide a brief narrative of how the Innovation Seed Grant will be developed, administered, and implemented.

• It is expected that the Cooperators, in collaboration with the communities

they are serving, will develop criterion for evaluating the Innovation Seed Grant for approval by a Seed Grant Committee. For evaluation of these criterion, applicants may provide sample criterion on how Seed Grants could be evaluated for:

• The applicant MUST provide documentation of third-party matching funds contribution. These matching funds are separate from the verified matched funds required for the RPIC application. The Matching Funds Letter for the seed grants MUST specifically state that the funds are being allocated to the Innovation Seed Grant. The letter may be conditioned to the applicant receiving the award. (Failing to provide verification of match disqualifies the applicant from this optional scoring criteria).

(h) Agency Discretionary Points (0-10 points): The Agency may, in individual cases, make an exception to any requirement or provision of this notice, which is determined to be in the Government's interest. The applicant does not need to provide additional information under this category. Information in the applicant's proposal will be used to score this category, if applicable.

The Agency may choose to award points to eligible applicants who have never previously been awarded an RPIC cooperative agreement. The Agency may also choose to award up to 10 points to an application that addresses any of the following factors: geographic, demographic, economic diversity of awardees.

(i) Verification of Matching Funds. The applicant must include Matching Commitment Letters signed by the donating organization's authorized representative on the organization's letterhead that identifies the amount of matching funds or in-kind services, the time period during which matching funds will be available, and the source of the funds ( e.g., cash on hand). See Part IV, Section C ( Cost Sharing and Matching Funds Verification ) for more information. If participating in the Optional Innovation Seed Grant, the applicant must submit separate Matching Funds Commitment Letters that specifically annotate that funds are allocated to the Innovation Seed Grant. The funds are a cash commitment to the seed grant.

(j) Letters of Support ( e.g., additional resource commitment from partners);

(k) Appendix —Graphics, References, Citations, Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) if applicable, etc. (Note: material added in this section may not be evaluated as part of the competitive scoring process).

(1) Incomplete or ineligible applications. Applications that are incomplete or ineligible will not be considered for funding (Reference Part V and Part VI).

(2) The Reviewers. All eligible applications will be evaluated by an Application Review Panel using the criteria described in Part VI of this notice. Panel members will be appointed by RD and will be qualified to evaluate the applications based on the type of work proposed by the applicant.

(3) Selection of Qualifying Applications. Applications will be selected in the following order:

(a) First, the highest scoring application in each of the four Regions will be selected.

(b) Second, the remaining applications, regardless of Region, will be selected starting with the highest scoring application, until all available funds are exhausted.

(c) Applications, at or near the funding line, may be funded in part, if RD believes an appropriate benefit can result from partial funding and if the applicant agrees to the amount of partial funding. In the event RD considers partial funding to be appropriate, the applicant will be contacted to negotiate the final work plan and budget prior to award approval.

(4) Appeal Request. The applicant will be notified in writing regarding the reason(s) for any adverse decisions and will be provided a description of the options for review. Note that if the determination is reversed, either due to the discovery of an Agency error or through a formal appeal, funding is restricted to available FY 2021 funds.

(5) Cooperative Agreement. Applicants selected for funding will complete a Cooperative/Grant agreement suitable to Rural Business Cooperative Service, which outlines the terms and conditions of the Cooperative Agreement award. Pursuant to the agreement, funds may be released over the course of the Cooperative Agreement period in the form of a reimbursement for the performance of eligible, approved activities. The agreement may also include reporting requirements which, if not met, may result in a delay in reimbursement, disallowance of expenses, or a suspension of the Agreement.

(6) Reimbursement.

(a) SF-270, “Request for Advance or Reimbursement,” will be completed by the cooperator and submitted to RD along with supporting documentation.

(b) Upon receipt of a properly completed SF-270, payment will ordinarily be made within 30 days.

(c) 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 approving official. Any change not approved may be cause for termination of the Cooperative Agreement.

(1) Successful applicants will be notified in writing by the Agency with a Letter of Conditions (LOC). The LOC is a notice of selection and does not indicate that an award has been approved, nor is it an authorization to begin performance on the award. While there may be special conditions that apply on a case-by-case basis, the conditions as stated in Part VII, Section B (Administrative and National Policy Requirements) are standard for all successful applicants.

(2) Once the conditions described in the LOC have been met, the award will be approved through the execution of Form RD 4280-2 in conjunction with the Rural Development Cooperative Agreement (RDCA) Program Attachment. If an applicant is unable to meet the conditions of the award within 90 calendar days, the award will be withdrawn.

(1) The following requirements apply to grantees selected for this program:

(a) Complete Form RD 1942-46 “Letter of Intent to Meet Conditions.”

(b) Complete Form RD 1940-1, “Request for Obligations of Funds.”

(c) Complete FMMI Vendor Code Request Form.

(d) Provide a copy of your organization's Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement.

(e) Certify that all work completed for the award will benefit a rural area.

(f) Certify that you will comply with the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 and report information about subawards and executive compensation.

(g) Certify that the U.S. has not obtained an outstanding judgement against your organization in a Federal Court (other than in the United States Tax Court).

(h) Execute Form SF-424B, “Assurance—Non-Construction Programs.”

(i) Execute Form SF-LLL, “Disclosure Form to Report Lobbying,” if applicable, or certify that your organization does not lobby.

(2) The applicant must provide evidence of compliance with other federal statutes, including, but not limited to, the following:

(a) Debarment and suspension information as required in accordance with 2 CFR part 417 (Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension) supplemented by 2 CFR part 180, if applies. The information required under section heading: “What information must I provide before entering into a covered transaction with a Federal agency?” located at 2 CFR 180.335 is part of OMB's Guidance for Grants and Agreements concerning Government-wide Debarment and Suspension.

(b) All of 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 Governmentwide implementation (2 CFR part 182) of the Drug-Free Workplace Act.

(c) 2 CFR parts 200 and 400 (Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards).

(d) 2 CFR part 182 (Governmentwide Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Financial Assistance)) and 2 CFR part 421 (Requirements for Drug Free Workplace (Financial Assistance)).

(e) 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 https://www.lep.gov.

(3) The following forms for acceptance of a federal award are now collected through your registration or annual recertification in SAM.gov in the Financial Assistance General Certifications and Representations section:

• Form RD 400-4, “Assurance Agreement.”

• Form AD-1047, “Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, and Other Responsibility Matters-Primary Covered Transactions.”

• Form AD-1048, “Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion. Lower Tier Covered Transactions.”

• Form AD-1049, “Certification Regarding Drug-Free Workplace Requirements (Grants).”

• Form AD-3031, “Assurance Regarding Felony Conviction or Tax Delinquent Status for Corporate Applicants.”

Grantees shall constantly monitor performance to ensure that time schedules are being met, projected work by time periods are being accomplished, and other performance objectives are being achieved.

(1) SF-PPR “Performance Progress Report,” must be submitted quarterly based on the following time periods: January 1-March 31, April 1-June 30, July 1-September 30, and October 1-December 31. Quarterly reports are due within 30 calendar days of the end of the reporting period. A final report is due within 90 calendar days of the completion of the project or the end of the period of performance, whichever comes first. Both quarterly and final performance reports must be submitted electronically to RD.

(2) Financial Report: Form SF-425, “Federal Financial Report” must be submitted quarterly based on the following time periods: January 1-March 31, April 1-June 30, July 1-September 30, October 1-December 31. Quarterly reports are due within 30 calendar days of the end of the reporting period. A final report is due within 90 calendar days of the completion of the project or the end of the period of performance, whichever comes first. Both quarterly and final reports must be submitted electronically to RD.

(3) Report Suitable for Public Distribution: A report suitable for public distribution that describes the accomplishments of the project is due within 90 calendar days of the completion of the project. There is no format prescribed for this report, but it is expected that it will be 1-2 pages in length and describe the project in such a way that a member of the public not familiar with the project would gain an understanding of the impact of the project.

For further information, contact: Angela Callie at (202) 568-9738 or Gregory Dale (202) 568-9558, email: RD.RPIC@usda.gov. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication should contact the USDA Target Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice).

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35), USDA requested that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) conduct an emergency review of a new information collection that contains the Information Collection and Recordkeeping requirements contained in this notice by May 20, 2021. An emergency clearance approval for this information collection is due to the following conditions: (1) The time sensitive competitive solicitation application window commencing on May 27, 2021; (2) the urgency to obligate FY 2021 funds prior to September 30, 2021; and (3) being able to effectively implement the program as quickly as possible to benefit rural communities.

In addition to the emergency clearance, the regular clearance process is hereby being initiated to provide the public with the opportunity to comment under a full comment period, as the Agency intends to request regular approval from OMB for this information collection. Comments from the public on new, proposed, revised, and continuing collections of information help us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. Comments may be submitted regarding this information collection by the following method:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov, and in the lower “Search Regulations and Federal Actions” box, select “RBS” from the agency drop-down menu, then click “Submit.” In the Docket ID column, select Docket No. RBS-21-CO-OP-0011 to submit or view public comments and to view supporting and related materials available electronically. Information on using Regulations.gov , including instructions for accessing documents, submitting comments, and viewing the docket after the close of the comment period, is available through the site's “User Tips” link. Comments on this information collection must be received by July 26, 2021.

Copies of all forms, regulations, and instructions referenced in this NOFA may be obtained from RB-CS. Data furnished by the applicants will be used to determine eligibility for program benefits. Furnishing data is voluntary; however, failure to provide data could result in program benefits being withheld or denied.

Comments are invited on (a) whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including responding through the use of appropriate automated, electronical, mechanical, other technological collection techniques, or other forms of information technology.

Title: Rural Development Co-operative Agreements.

OMB Control Number: 0570-0074.

Abstract: Pursuant to the Federal Agricultural Improvement Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-127), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) received authorization from Congress under 7 U.S.C. 2204b(b)(4) to enter into cooperative agreements for the purpose of improving the coordination and effectiveness of programs that benefit rural areas. This authority is referred to as the Rural Development Cooperative Agreement (RDCA) program. There are three agencies within USDA that administer programs that specifically target rural areas: The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RB-CS), the Rural Housing Service (RHS), and the Rural Utilities Service (RUS).

Each year, USDA receives proposals from the public that are not in response to a specific program announcement. These proposals are called unsolicited proposals. If a proposal is related to one or more programs, it will be routed to the appropriated RD agency for review and possible consideration for a cooperative agreement using the RDCA authority. If the proposal is unique or innovative, then RD has authority to enter into a cooperative agreement without competition (see 2 CFR 415.1(d)(6)). Alternatively, USDA may issue an invitation to submit applications for a cooperative agreement using the RDCA authority. These proposals are called solicited proposals. Solicited proposals would typically be announced via a Federal Register Notice.

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1.65 hours per response.

Respondents: Regional consortia of higher education, academic health and research institutes, or economic development entities.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 100.

Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 10.

Estimated Total Annual Burden and Record Keeping Hours on Respondents: 1,650 hours.

Copies of this information collection can be obtained from MaryPat Daskal, Chief, Branch 1, Regulations Management Division, Rural Development Innovation Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Stop 1522, Washington, DC 20250. Phone: 202-720-7853.

All responses to this information collection and recordkeeping notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of public record.

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices, 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) 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 https://www.usda.gov/oascr/how-to-file-a-program-discrimination-complaint 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:

Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410; or

Email: OAC@usda.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

The Department of Commerce plans to request a three-year extension of the Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR). This Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) directly benefits award recipients by making it easier for them to administer Federal grant and cooperative agreement programs through standardization of the types of information required in performance reports—thereby reducing their administrative effort and costs. The RPPR also makes it easier to compare the outputs, outcomes, etc. of research programs across the government.

The RPPR resulted from an initiative of the Research Business Models (RBM) Subcommittee of the Committee on Science (CoS), a committee of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC). One of the RBM Subcommittee's priority areas is to create greater consistency in the administration of Federal research awards. Given the increasing complexity of interdisciplinary and interagency research, it is important for Federal agencies to manage awards in a similar fashion. The RPPR is used by agencies that support research and research-related activities for use in submission of progress reports. It is intended to replace other performance reporting formats currently in use by agencies. The RPPR does not change the performance reporting requirements specified in 2 CFR part 215 (OMB Circular A-110) and the Common Rule implementing OMB Circular A-102. Each category in the RPPR is a separate reporting component. Agencies will direct recipients to report on the one mandatory component (“Accomplishments”), and may direct them to report on optional components, as appropriate. Within a particular component, agencies may direct recipients to complete only specific questions, as not all questions within a given component may be relevant to all agencies. Agencies may develop an agency- or program-specific component, if necessary, to meet programmatic requirements, although agencies should minimize the degree to which they supplement the standard components. Such agency- or program specific requirements will require review and clearance by OMB.

OMB Control Number: 0690-0032.

Form Number(s): None.

Type of Review: Regular submission, Request for an Extension (without change of a currently approved collection).

Affected Public: State and Local governments.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 19,998.

Estimated Time per Response: 8 minutes for monthly respondents who report via internet, mail or faxing the form, 23 minutes for annual respondents who report via internet, mail or faxing the form and 3 minutes for monthly and annual respondents who report by telephone or send electronic files or printouts.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 17,625.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0. (This is not the cost of respondents' time, but the indirect costs respondents may incur for such things as purchases of specialized software or hardware needed to report, or expenditures for accounting or records maintenance services required specifically by the collection.)

Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.

Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C. 131 and 182.

We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/Bureau to: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is necessary for the proper functions of the Department, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) Minimize the reporting burden on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of public record. We will include, or summarize, each comment in our request to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

The Economic Development Administration (EDA) leads the Federal economic development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing American regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. Guided by the basic principle that sustainable economic development should be locally-driven, EDA works directly with communities and regions to help them build the capacity for economic development based on local business conditions and needs. The Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (PWEDA) (42 U.S.C. 3121 et seq. ) is EDA's organic authority and is the primary legal authority under which EDA awards financial assistance. Under PWEDA, EDA provides financial assistance to both rural and urban distressed communities by fostering entrepreneurship, innovation, and productivity through investments in infrastructure development, capacity building, and business development in order to attract private capital investments and new and better jobs to regions experiencing economic distress. Further information on EDA programs and financial assistance opportunities can be found at www.eda.gov.

EDA must collect specific information from financial assistance applicants to evaluate whether proposed projects satisfy eligibility and programmatic requirements contained in PWEDA, EDA regulations at 13 CFR chapter III, and applicable Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs). The purpose of this notice is to seek comments from the public and other Federal agencies regarding EDA's proposed revision and extension of the application materials under this information collection: Forms ED-900 (General Application (GA) for EDA Programs), ED-900B (Beneficiary Information Form), ED-900C (EDA Application Supplement for Construction Programs), ED-900D (Requirements for Design and Engineering Assistance), ED-900E (Calculation of Estimated Relocation and Land Acquisition Expenses), and ED-900F (Additional EDA Assurances for Revolving Loan Fund Investments).

EDA proposes to make clarifying edits to the following forms under this information collection: Forms ED-900 GA, ED-900B, ED-900C, ED-900D, ED-900E, and ED-900F. The clarifying edits do not change the type or amount of information collected, and the clarifying edits will not impact the time burden for respondents to complete the forms. The clarifying edits include: (1) Re-ordering many of the questions in Form ED-900 GA to improve clarity and to assist applicants in completing the form in a way that can be easily evaluated by EDA; (2) Adding two new questions to Form ED-900 GA to gather improved project location information necessary for EDA to comply with new data and reporting requirements; (3) Removing duplicative questions across the forms under this information collection; (4) Modifying Form ED-900F to only collect assurances, removing questions regarding the proposed operation of a revolving loan fund (RLF), thus greatly simplifying the form for applicants; and (5) moving form instructions from the end of each form to accompany various questions throughout each form to improve the applicant experience.

EDA does not propose to extend two existing forms under this information collection: Forms ED-900A (Additional EDA Assurances for Construction Or Non-Construction Investments and ED-900P (Proposal for EDA Assistance). Form ED-900A is no longer necessary because the assurances collected in Form ED-900A are redundant with other materials, including other forms under this information collection and certifications collected by SAM.gov . Form ED-900P is no longer necessary because EDA has removed the requirement for a financial assistance applicant to submit a proposal prior to submitting a full application. By eliminating Forms ED-900A and ED-900P, EDA will reduce the estimated time per response to this information collection.

EDA estimates that an increase in the number of respondents to this information collection will outweigh the reduced time per response for this information collection and result in an increase in estimated burden hours for this information collection. The recently enacted American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Pub. L. 117-2) appropriated $3,000,000,000 in supplemental funds to EDA to “prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus and for necessary expenses for responding to economic injury as a result of coronavirus.” In comparison, EDA was appropriated $346,000,000 under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. This supplemental funding will substantially increase the number of respondents applying for EDA financial assistance and therefore required to complete the information collection. Although the proposed revision and extension of the information collection will reduce the estimated amount of time required to complete the information collection, the substantially increased number of respondents to this information collection will result in an increase in burden hours for this information collection.

EDA collects information from financial assistance applicants electronically through Grants.gov , or, in very rare instances, via email or paper submission.

OMB Control Number: 0610-0094.

Form Number(s): ED-900, ED-900B, ED-900C, ED-900D, ED-900E, ED-900F.

Type of Review: Revision and extension of a currently approved information collection.

Affected Public: Entities eligible for EDA financial assistance, including not-for-profit entities; Federal, State, local, and Tribal governments; and businesses or other for-profit organizations.

Estimated Number of Respondents: For construction projects, 977 estimated respondents, and for non-construction projects, 1,663 estimated respondents, for a total of 2,640 estimated respondents.

Estimated Time per Response: For construction projects, 43.0 estimated hours per response, and for non-construction projects, 17.1 estimated hours per response.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: For construction projects, 42,011 estimated annual burden hours, and for non-construction projects, 28,437 estimated annual burden hours, for a total of 70,448 estimated total annual burden hours.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $4,065,554 (cost assumes application of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics fourth quarter 2020 mean hourly employer costs for employee compensation for professional and related occupations of $57.71).

Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.

Legal Authority: The Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3121 et seq. ).

We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/Bureau to: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is necessary for the proper functions of the Department, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) Minimize the reporting burden on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

On January 6, 2021, Commerce published in the Federal Register its preliminary affirmative determination in the LTFV investigation of passenger tires from Thailand, in which we also postponed the final determination until May 21, 2021. 1 We invited interested parties to comment on the Preliminary Determination. A summary of the events that occurred since Commerce published the Preliminary Determination may be found in the Issues and Decision Memorandum. 2

The products covered by this investigation are passenger tires from Thailand. For a complete description of the scope of this investigation, see Appendix I.

During the course of this investigation, Commerce received scope comments from interested parties. Commerce issued a Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum to address these comments. 3 We received comments from interested parties on the Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum, which we addressed in the Final Scope Decision Memorandum. 4 With the exception of one revision to correct a typographical error, Commerce is not modifying the scope language as it appeared in the correction to the Preliminary Determination. 5 See Appendix I for the final scope of the investigation.

All issues raised in the case and rebuttal briefs that were submitted by parties in this investigation are addressed in the Issues and Decision Memorandum. A list of the issues addressed in the Issues and Decision Memorandum is attached to this notice at Appendix II. The Issues and Decision Memorandum is a public document and is on file electronically via Enforcement and Compliance's Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS). ACCESS is available to registered users at https://access.trade.gov. In addition, a complete version of the Issues and Decision Memorandum can be accessed directly at http://enforcement.trade.gov/frn.

Commerce was unable to conduct on-site verification of the information relied upon in making its final determination in this investigation. However, we took additional steps in lieu of an on-site verification to verify the information relied upon in making this final determination, in accordance with section 782(i) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). 6

Based on our analysis of the comments received and our findings related to our request for information in lieu of verification, we made changes to the margin calculations regarding Sumitomo Rubber (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (SRT) and LLIT (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (LLIT). For a discussion of these changes, see Comments 1 through 5 of the Issues and Decision Memorandum. 7

Section 735(c)(5)(A) of the Act provides that the estimated weighted-average dumping margin for all other producers and exporters not individually investigated shall be equal to the weighted average of the estimated weighted-average dumping margins established for exporters and producers individually investigated excluding rates that are zero, de minimis, or determined entirely under section 776 of the Act. Pursuant to section 735(c)(5)(B) of the Act, if the estimated weighted-average dumping margins established for all exporters and producers individually examined are zero, de minimis or determined based entirely on facts otherwise available, Commerce may use any reasonable method to establish the estimated weighted-average dumping margin for all other producers or exporters.

In this investigation, Commerce calculated estimated weighted-average dumping margins for SRT and LLIT that are not zero, de minimis, or based entirely on facts otherwise available. Commerce calculated the all-others rate using a weighted-average of the estimated weighted-average dumping margins calculated for the individually examined mandatory respondents using each company's publicly-ranged total U.S. sale values for the merchandise under consideration. 8

The final estimated weighted-average dumping margins are as follows:

We intend to disclose the calculations performed in this final determination within is five days of the date of publication of this notice to parties in this proceeding in accordance with 19 CFR 351.224(b).

In accordance with section 735(c)(1)(B) of the Act, Commerce will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to continue to suspend liquidation of all appropriate entries of passenger tires from Thailand, as described in Appendix I of this notice, which are entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after January 6, 2021, the date of publication in the Federal Register of the affirmative Preliminary Determination.

Pursuant to section 735(c)(1)(B)(ii) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.210(d), we will instruct CBP to require a cash deposit equal to the estimated weighted-average dumping margin or the estimated all-others rate, as follows: (1) The cash deposit rate for the respondents listed above will be equal to the company-specific estimated weighted-average dumping margins determined in this final determination; (2) if the exporter is not a respondent identified above, but the producer is, then the cash deposit rate will be equal to the company-specific estimated weighted-average dumping margin established for that producer of the subject merchandise; and (3) the cash deposit rate for all other producers and exporters will be equal to the all others estimated weighted-average dumping margin. These suspension of liquidation instructions will remain in effect until further notice.

In accordance with section 735(d) of the Act, we will notify the International Trade Commission (ITC) of the final affirmative determination of sales at LTFV. Because Commerce's final determination is affirmative, in accordance with section 735(b)(2) of the Act, the ITC will make its final determination as to whether the domestic industry in the United States is materially injured, or threatened with material injury, by reason of imports or sales (or the likelihood of sales) of passenger tires no later than 45 days after this final determination. If the ITC determines that such injury does not exist, this proceeding will be terminated, and all cash deposits posted will be refunded and suspension of liquidation will be lifted. If the ITC determines that such injury does exist, Commerce will issue an AD order directing CBP to assess, upon further instruction by Commerce, AD duties on all imports of the subject merchandise entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the effective date of the suspension of liquidation, as discussed above in the “Continuation of Suspension of Liquidation” section.

This notice will serve as a final reminder to the parties subject to administrative protective order (APO) of their responsibility concerning the disposition of proprietary information disclosed under APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305(a)(3). Timely written notification of return or destruction of APO materials or conversion to judicial protective order is hereby requested. Failure to comply with the regulations and the terms of an APO is a sanctionable violation.

This determination and this notice are issued and published pursuant to sections 735(d) and 777(i)(1) of the Act, and 19 CFR 351.210(c).

On March 10, 2020, Commerce published in the Federal Register the notice of initiation of an AD administrative review on softwood lumber from Canada. 1 On March 10, 2020, based on timely requests for administrative reviews, Commerce initiated an AD administrative review covering 268 companies and has not rescinded the review of any of these companies. 2 Thus, the review covers 268 producers/exporters of the subject merchandise, including mandatory respondents Canfor  3 and West Fraser. 4 The remaining companies were not selected for individual examination and remain subject to this administrative review. On April 24, 2020 and July 21, 2020, Commerce tolled all deadlines in administrative reviews by 50 days and 60 days, respectively, thereby extending the deadline for issuing the preliminary results of this review. 5 On January 8, 2021, we extended the preliminary results until May 20, 2021. 6

The product covered by this review is softwood lumber from Canada. For a full description of the scope, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum. 7

Commerce is conducting this review in accordance with section 751(a)(1)(B) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). For a full description of the methodology underlying our conclusions, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum. A list of the topics is included in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum as Appendix I to this notice. The Preliminary Decision Memorandum is a public document and is made available to the public via Enforcement and Compliance's Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS). ACCESS is available to registered users at https://access.trade.gov. In addition, a complete version of the Preliminary Decision Memorandum is available at http://enforcement.trade.gov/frn/.

We preliminarily determine that the following weighted-average dumping margins exist for the period January 1, 2019, through December 31, 2019:

Generally, when calculating margins for non-selected respondents, Commerce looks to section 735(c)(5) of the Act for guidance, which provides instructions for calculating the all-others margin in an investigation. Section 735(c)(5)(A) of the Act provides that when calculating the all-others margin, Commerce will exclude any zero and de minimis weighted-average dumping margins, as well as any weighted-average dumping margins based on total facts available. Accordingly, Commerce's usual practice has been to average the margins for selected respondents, excluding margins that are zero, de minimis, or based entirely on facts available.

In this review, we calculated a weighted-average dumping margin of 18.62 percent for Canfor and 6.58 percent for West Fraser. In accordance with section 735(c)(5)(A) of the Act, Commerce assigned the weighted-average of these two calculated weighted-average dumping margins, 12.05 percent, to the non-selected companies in these preliminary results. The rate calculated for the non-selected companies is a weighted-average percentage margin which is calculated based on the U.S. values of the two reviewed companies with an affirmative AD margin. 8 Accordingly, we have applied a rate of 12.05 percent to the non-selected companies. 9

We intend to disclose the calculations performed for these preliminary results to the interested parties within five days after public announcement of the preliminary results in accordance with 19 CFR 351.224(b).

Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.309(c), interested parties may submit case briefs to the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance not later than 30 days after the date of publication of this notice, unless Commerce alters the time limit. Rebuttal briefs, limited to issues raised in the case briefs, may be filed not later than seven days after the date for filing case briefs. 10 Parties who submit case briefs or rebuttal briefs in this administrative review are encouraged to submit with each argument: (1) A statement of the issue; (2) a brief summary of the argument; and (3) a table of authorities. 11 Commerce has modified certain of its requirements for service of documents containing business proprietary information, until further notice. 12

Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.310(c), interested parties who wish to request a hearing, must submit a written request to the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance, filed electronically via ACCESS. An electronically filed document must be received successfully in its entirety via ACCESS by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time within 30 days after the date of publication of this notice. 13 Requests should contain: (1) The party's name, address, and telephone number; (2) the number of participants; and (3) a list of issues to be discussed. Issues raised in the hearing will be limited to those raised in the respective case briefs. Commerce intends to issue the final results of this administrative review, including the results of its analysis of the issues raised in any written briefs, not later than 120 days after the date of publication of these preliminary results in the Federal Register , pursuant to section 751(a)(3)(A) of the Act, unless extended.

Upon issuance of the final results, Commerce will determine, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) shall assess, antidumping duties on all appropriate entries covered by this review. 14 If a respondent's weighted-average dumping margin is above de minimis in the final results of this review, we will calculate an importer-specific assessment rate based on the ratio of the total amount of dumping calculated for each importer's examined sales and the total entered value of the sales in accordance with 19 CFR 351.212(b)(1). 15 If a respondent's weighted-average dumping margin or an importer-specific assessment rate is zero or de minimis in the final results of review, we will instruct CBP to liquidate the appropriate entries without regard to antidumping duties in accordance with the Final Modification for Reviews. 16 The final results of this administrative review shall be the basis for the assessment of antidumping duties on entries of merchandise under review and for future deposits of estimated duties, where applicable. We intend to issue liquidation instructions to CBP no earlier than 35 days after date of publication of the final results of this review in the Federal Register .

The following cash deposit requirements for estimated antidumping duties will be effective upon publication of the notice of final results of this review for all shipments of softwood lumber from Canada entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the date of publication as provided by section 751(a)(2)(C) of the Act: (1) The cash deposit rate for companies subject to this review will be equal to the dumping margin established in the final results of the review; (2) for merchandise exported by companies not covered in this review but covered in a prior segment of this proceeding, the cash deposit rate will continue to be the company-specific rate published for the most recent period; (3) if the exporter is not a firm covered in this review, a prior review, or the less-than-fair-value (LTFV) investigation but the producer is, the cash deposit rate will be the rate established for the most recently completed segment for the producer of the merchandise; (4) the cash deposit rate for all other producers or exporters will continue to be the 6.04 percent, the all-others rate established in the LTFV investigation. 17 These cash deposit requirements, when imposed, shall remain in effect until further notice.

This notice serves as a preliminary reminder to importers of their responsibility under 19 CFR 351.402(f)(2) to file a certificate regarding the reimbursement of antidumping duties prior to liquidation of the relevant entries during this period of review. Failure to comply with this requirement could result in Commerce's presumption that reimbursement of antidumping duties occurred and the subsequent assessment of double antidumping duties.

Commerce is issuing and publishing these results in accordance with sections 751(a)(1) and 777(i) of the Act, and 19 CFR 351.221(b)(4).

On November 23, 2020, Commerce published the Preliminary Results for this administrative review. 1 We invited interested parties to comment on the Preliminary Results. This review covers two mandatory respondents: Prosperity and YP. 2 We received case briefs from AK Steel Corporation, California Steel Industries, and Steel Dynamics, Inc. (collectively, the petitioners), and YP. 3 We received rebuttal briefs from YP and the petitioners. 4 On March 18, 2021, we extended the deadline for the final results of this review to May 21, 2021. 5 A complete summary of the events that occurred since publication of the Preliminary Results is found in the Issues and Decision Memorandum. 6 Commerce conducted this review in accordance with section 751 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act).

The product covered by the order is flat-rolled steel products, either clad, plated, or coated with corrosion-resistant metals such as zinc, aluminum, or zinc-, aluminum-, nickel- or iron-based alloys, whether or not corrugated or painted, varnished, laminated, or coated with plastics or other non-metallic substances in addition to the metallic coating. The subject merchandise is currently classifiable under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) subheadings: 7210.30.0030, 7210.30.0060, 7210.41.0000, 7210.49.0030, 7210.49.0091, 7210.49.0095, 7210.61.0000, 7210.69.0000, 7210.70.6030, 7210.70.6060, 7210.70.6090, 7210.90.6000, 7210.90.9000, 7212.20.0000, 7212.30.1030, 7212.30.1090, 7212.30.3000, 7212.30.5000, 7212.40.1000, 7212.40.5000, 7212.50.0000, and 7212.60.0000. The products subject to the orders may also enter under the following HTSUS item numbers: 7210.90.1000, 7215.90.1000, 7215.90.3000, 7215.90.5000, 7217.20.1500, 7217.30.1530, 7217.30.1560, 7217.90.1000, 7217.90.5030, 7217.90.5060, 7217.90.5090, 7225.91.0000, 7225.92.0000, 7225.99.0090, 7226.99.0110, 7226.99.0130, 7226.99.0180, 7228.60.6000, 7228.60.8000, and 7229.90.1000. The HTSUS subheadings above are provided for convenience and customs purposes only. The written description of the scope of the order is dispositive.

In the Preliminary Results, we preliminarily determined that the evidence on the record of this administrative review does not support a finding that YP should be collapsed with Synn, and therefore should not be collapsed as the YP/Synn entity for this POR. As we have not received any information to contradict this preliminary determination, nor comment in opposition to our preliminary finding, we determine not to collapse YP with Synn and thus to treat YP and Synn as distinct entities for the purposes of these final results. 7

All issues raised in the case and rebuttal briefs by parties to this review are addressed in the Issues and Decision Memorandum. 8 A list of the issues which parties raised, and to which we respond in the Issues and Decision Memorandum, is attached in the appendix to this notice. The Issues and Decision Memorandum is a public document and is on file electronically via Enforcement and Compliance's Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Centralized Electronic System (ACCESS). ACCESS is available to registered users at https://access.trade.gov. In addition, a complete version of the Issues and Decision Memorandum can be accessed directly at http://enforcement.trade.gov/frn/index.html.

Based on a review of the record and comments received from interested parties regarding our Preliminary Results, we made a change to the preliminary weighted-average margin calculation for YP. For detailed information, see the Issues and Decision Memorandum.

In the Preliminary Results, Commerce determined that Synn made no shipments of subject merchandise during the POR. 9 As we have not received any information to contradict this determination, nor comment in opposition to our preliminary finding, we continue to determine that Synn made no shipments of subject merchandise during the POR. Consistent with our practice, we will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to liquidate any existing entries of subject merchandise produced by Synn, but exported by other parties, at the rate for the intermediate reseller, if available, or at the all-others rate.

The statute and Commerce's regulations do not address the establishment of a rate to be applied to individual respondents not selected for examination when Commerce limits its examination in an administrative review pursuant to section 777A(c)(2) of the Act. Generally, Commerce looks to section 735(c)(5) of the Act, which provides instructions for calculating the all-others rate in an investigation, for guidance when calculating the rate for respondents which we did not examine in an administrative review. Section 735(c)(5)(A) of the Act establishes a preference to avoid using rates which are zero, de minimis, or based entirely on facts available (FA) in calculating an all others rate. Accordingly, Commerce's practice in administrative reviews has been to average the weighted-average dumping margins for the companies selected for individual examination in the administrative review, excluding rates that are zero, de minimis, or based entirely on FA. 10 For these final results of review, we calculated a zero percent weighted-average dumping margin for Prosperity and a weighted-average dumping margin for YP that is above de minimis and not based entirely on FA. Therefore, consistent with our practice, we have assigned the companies not selected for individual examination the weighted-average dumping margin calculated for YP.

We determine that the following weighted-average dumping margins exist for the respondents for the period July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019:

Pursuant to section 751(a)(2)(A) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.212(b)(1), Commerce will determine, and CBP shall assess, antidumping duties on all appropriate entries of subject merchandise in accordance with the final results of this review. Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.212(b)(1), we calculated importer-specific ad valorem duty assessment rates based on the ratio of the total amount of dumping calculated for the examined sales to the total entered value of those sales. Where either the respondent's weighted-average dumping margin is zero or de minimis within the meaning of 19 CFR 351.106(c)(1), or an importer-specific assessment rate is zero or de minimis, we will instruct CBP to liquidate the appropriate entries without regard to antidumping duties. 11 For entries of subject merchandise during the POR produced by the mandatory respondents for which they did not know their merchandise was destined for the United States, or for entries associated with Synn, who had no shipments during the POR, we will instruct CBP to liquidate unreviewed entries at the all-others rate if there is no rate for the intermediate company(ies) involved in the transaction.

The final results of this review shall be the basis for the assessment of antidumping duties on entries of merchandise covered by the final results of this review and for future deposits of estimated duties, where applicable. 12

Consistent with its recent notice, 13 Commerce intends to issue assessment instructions to CBP no earlier than 35 days after the date of publication of the final results of this review in the Federal Register . If a timely summons is filed at the U.S. Court of International Trade, the assessment instructions will direct CBP not to liquidate relevant entries until the time for parties to file a request for a statutory injunction has expired ( i.e., within 90 days of publication).

The following cash deposit requirements will be effective for all shipments of subject merchandise entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the publication date of the final results of this administrative review, as provided by section 751(a)(2)(C) of the Act: (1) The cash deposit rate for the companies listed above will be equal to the weighted-average dumping margins established in the final results of this administrative review; (2) for merchandise exported by producers or exporters not covered in this review but covered in a prior completed segment of the proceeding, the cash deposit rate will continue to be the company-specific rate published for the most recent period; (3) if the exporter is not a firm covered in this review, a prior review, or the original investigation, but the producer has been covered in a prior complete segment of this proceeding, then the cash deposit rate will be the rate established for the most recent period for the producer of the merchandise; (4) the cash deposit rate for all other manufacturers or exporters will continue to be 3.66 percent, 14 the all-others rate from the Amended Final Determination. These cash deposit requirements, when imposed, shall remain in effect until further notice.

This notice also serves as a final reminder to importers of their responsibility under 19 CFR 351.402(f)(2) to file a certificate regarding the reimbursement of antidumping duties prior to liquidation of the relevant entries during this review period. Failure to comply with this requirement could result in Commerce's presumption that reimbursement of antidumping duties occurred and the subsequent assessment of double antidumping duties.

This notice also serves as a reminder to parties subject to administrative protective order (APO) of their responsibility concerning the disposition of proprietary information disclosed under APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305(a)(3). Timely written notification of return/destruction of APO materials or conversion to judicial protective order is hereby requested. Failure to comply with the regulations and the terms of an APO is a sanctionable violation.

We are issuing and publishing these final results of administrative review in accordance with sections 751(a)(1) and 777(i) of the Act, and 19 CFR 351.221(b)(5).

On January 3, 2018, Commerce published in the Federal Register the countervailing duty (CVD) order on softwood lumber from Canada. 1 Several interested parties requested that Commerce conduct an administrative review of the CVD Order and, on March 10, 2020, Commerce published in the Federal Register a notice of initiation of the second administrative review. 2 On May 19, 2020, Commerce selected the following producers and exporters as the mandatory respondents in the administrative review: Canfor Corporation, Resolute FP Canada Inc., and West Fraser Mills Ltd. 3 On September 14, 2020, Commerce selected J.D. Irving, Limited as a voluntary respondent in the administrative review. 4

Commerce tolled all deadlines in administrative reviews by 50 days on April 24, 2020, and by an additional 60 days on July 21, 2020, 5 thereby extending the deadline for these preliminary results until January 21, 2021. On December 2, 2020, Commerce extended the deadline for the preliminary results of this administrative review to May 20, 2021, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.213(h)(2). 6

The product covered by this order is certain softwood lumber products from Canada. For a complete description of the scope of the CVD Order, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum. 7

Commerce is conducting this CVD administrative review in accordance with section 751(a)(1)(A) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). For each of the subsidy programs found countervailable, Commerce preliminarily determines that there is a subsidy, i.e., a financial contribution by an “authority” that confers a benefit to the recipient, and that the subsidy is specific. 8 For a full description of the methodology underlying our preliminary conclusions, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum. The list of topics discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum is included at Appendix I.

As a result of the final results of the CVD expedited review covering the CVD Order, subject merchandise produced and exported by certain companies is excluded from the CVD Order. 9

On May 6, 2021, Commerce issued a memorandum regarding its intent to rescind this administrative review, in part, for the companies excluded from the CVD Order. 10 No interested party submitted comments on the Intent to Rescind Review In Part Memorandum. We therefore are rescinding the administrative review with respect to D&G, MLI, NAFP, Roland, and Lemay for which there was a request for review.

Subject merchandise which D&G, MLI, NAFP, Roland, and Lemay exports but does not produce, as well as subject merchandise that D&G, MLI, NAFP, Roland, and Lemay produces but is exported by another company, remains subject to the CVD Order. Based on the facts of this administrative review, we are also rescinding the review of D&G, MLI, NAFP, Roland, and Lemay where they may have been the producer or exporter given that there were no such entries during the POR. For further information on the companies excluded from the CVD Order, see “Non-Shipment Claim and Partial Rescission of Review” in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.

There are 261 companies for which a review was requested and not rescinded, but were not selected as mandatory respondents. The statute and Commerce's regulations do not directly address the establishment of rates to be applied to companies not selected for individual examination where Commerce limits its examination in an administrative review pursuant to section 777A(e)(2) of the Act. However, Commerce normally determines the rates for non-selected companies in reviews in a manner that is consistent with section 705(c)(5) of the Act, which provides instructions for calculating the all-others rate in an investigation.

Section 705(c)(5)(A)(i) of the Act instructs Commerce, as a general rule, to calculate an all-others rate equal to the weighted average of the countervailable subsidy rates established for exporters and/or producers individually examined, excluding any zero, de minimis, or rates based entirely on facts available. In this review, none of the rates for the respondents were zero, de minimis, or based entirely on facts available. Therefore, for the POR, we are assigning to the non-selected companies an average of the subsidy rates calculated for the companies that were selected as respondents in the administrative review.

For further information on the calculation of the non-selected rate, see “Preliminary Ad Valorem Rate for Non-Selected Companies under Review” in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum. A list of all the non-selected companies is included in Appendix II.

For the period January 1, 2019, through December 31, 2019, we preliminarily determine the following estimated countervailable subsidy rates:

In accordance with 19 CFR 351.221(b)(4)(i), Commerce has preliminarily assigned subsidy rates as indicated above. Consistent with section 751(a)(2)(C) of the Act, upon issuance of the final results, Commerce shall determine, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) shall assess, countervailing duties on all appropriate entries covered by this review. Commerce intends to issue assessment instructions to CBP no earlier than 41 days after the date of publication of the final results of this review in the Federal Register , in accordance with 19 CFR 356.8(a). If a timely summons is filed at the U.S. Court of International Trade, the assessment instructions will direct CBP not to liquidate relevant entries until the time for parties to file a request for statutory injunction has expired ( i.e., within 90 days of publication).

Pursuant to section 751(a)(1) of the Act, Commerce intends to instruct CBP to collect cash deposits of estimated countervailing duties in the amounts indicated above with regard to shipments of subject merchandise entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the date of publication of the final results of this review. For all non-reviewed companies, we will instruct CBP to collect cash deposits of estimated countervailing duties at the most recent company-specific or all-others rate applicable to the company, as appropriate. These cash deposit requirements, when imposed, shall remain in effect until further notice.

Commerce intends to disclose to parties to this proceeding the calculations performed in reaching these preliminary results within five days of publication of this notice in the Federal Register . 15 Interested parties may submit written comments (case briefs) within 30 days of publication of the preliminary results. Rebuttal comments (rebuttal briefs), limited to issues raised in case briefs, are due within seven days after the time limit for filing case briefs. 16 Parties who submit arguments are requested to submit with the argument: (1) A statement of the issue; (2) a brief summary of the argument; and (3) a table of authorities. 17 Note that Commerce has temporarily modified certain of its requirements for serving documents containing business proprietary information, until further notice. 18

Interested parties who wish to request a hearing must do so within 30 days of publication of these preliminary results by submitting a written request to the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance using ACCESS. 19 Requests should contain the party's name, address, and telephone number; the number of participants and whether any participant is a foreign national; and a list of the issues to be discussed. Issues raised in the hearing will be limited to those raised in the respective case and rebuttal briefs. 20 If a request for a hearing is made, Commerce intends to hold the hearing at a time and date to be determined. Parties should confirm the date and time of the hearing two days before the scheduled date. Parties are reminded that all briefs and hearing requests must be filed electronically using ACCESS and received successfully in their entirety by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date.

Unless the deadline is extended pursuant to section 751(a)(3)(A) of the Act, Commerce intends to issue the final results of this administrative review, including the results of its analysis of the issues raised by parties in their comments, within 120 days after the date of publication of these preliminary results.

These preliminary results are issued and published in accordance with sections 751(a)(1) and 777(i)(1) of the Act, and 19 CFR 351.221(b)(4).

On January 6, 2021, Commerce published in the Federal Register the preliminary affirmative determination in the LTFV investigation of passenger tires from Vietnam, in which we also postponed the final determination until May 21, 2021. 1 We invited interested parties to comment on the Preliminary Determination. A summary of the events that occurred since Commerce published the Preliminary Determination may be found in the Issues and Decision Memorandum. 2

The products covered by this investigation are passenger tires from Vietnam. For a complete description of the scope of this investigation, see Appendix I.

During the course of this investigation, Commerce received scope comments from interested parties. Commerce issued a Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum to address these comments. 3 We received comments from interested parties on the Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum, which we addressed in the Final Scope Decision Memorandum. 4 With the exception of one revision to correct a typographical error, Commerce is not modifying the scope language as it appeared in the correction to the Preliminary Determination. 5 See Appendix I for the final scope of the investigation.

All the issues raised in the case and rebuttal briefs that were submitted by parties in this investigation are addressed in the Issues and Decision Memorandum. A list of the issues addressed in the Issues and Decision Memorandum is attached to this notice as Appendix II. The Issues and Decision Memorandum is a public document and is on file electronically via Enforcement and Compliance's Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS). ACCESS is available to registered users at https://access.trade.gov. In addition, a complete version of the Issues and Decision Memorandum can be accessed directly at http://enforcement.trade.gov/frn/index.html.

Commerce was unable to conduct on-site verification of the information relied upon in making its final determination in this investigation. However, we took additional steps in lieu of an on-site verification to verify the information relied upon in making this final determination, in accordance with section 782(i) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). 6

Commerce conducted this investigation in accordance with section 731 of the Act. Export price was calculated in accordance with section 772(a) of the Act. Constructed export price was calculated in accordance with section 772(b) of the Act. Because Vietnam is a non-market economy within the meaning of section 771(18) of the Act, normal value was calculated in accordance with section 773(c) of the Act. For a full description of the methodology underlying Commerce's determination, see the Preliminary Determination PDM and the Issues and Decision Memorandum.

Based on our analysis of the comments received and our findings related to our request for information in lieu of on-site verification, we have made certain changes to the margin calculations. For a discussion of these changes, see the Issues and Decision Memorandum.

For the final determination, we continue to find that the use of adverse facts available (AFA), pursuant to sections 776(a) and (b) of the Act, is warranted in determining the rate for the Vietnam-wide entity. In the Preliminary Determination, Commerce based the AFA rate for the Vietnam-wide entity on the petition margin of 22.30 percent. 7 For this final determination, we continue to rely on AFA in determining the rate for the Vietnam-wide entity and, as AFA, we continue to select the highest petition margin of 22.30 percent as the estimated weighted-average dumping margin for the Vietnam-wide entity. 8

In the Initiation Notice, 9 Commerce stated that it would calculate producer/exporter combination rates for the respondents that are eligible for a separate rate in this investigation. Policy Bulletin 05.1 describes this practice. 10 In this investigation, we assigned producer/exporter combination rates for respondents eligible for separate rates and these combination rates are listed in the table in the “Final Determination” section of this notice.

The final estimated weighted-average dumping margins are as follows:

We intend to disclose the calculations performed in this final determination within five days of its public announcement or, if there is no public announcement, within five days of the date of publication of this notice to parties in this proceeding in accordance with 19 CFR 351.224(b).

In accordance with section 735(c)(1)(B) of the Act, Commerce will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to continue to suspend the liquidation of all appropriate entries of subject merchandise, as described in Appendix I of this notice, entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after January 6, 2021, the date of publication in the Federal Register of the affirmative Preliminary Determination, except for those entries of subject merchandise produced and exported by Kenda and entries of subject merchandise produced by Sailun Vietnam and exported by Sailun Group (HongKong) Co., Limited or Sailun Tire Americas Inc. (collectively, Sailun).

Because the estimated weighted-average dumping margins for Kenda and Sailun in the above-specified producer/exporter combinations are zero, entries of shipments of subject merchandise from these producer/exporter combinations will not be subject to suspension of liquidation or cash deposit requirements. Accordingly, Commerce will direct CBP not to suspend liquidation of entries of subject merchandise produced and exported by Kenda, and produced by Sailun Vietnam and exported by Sailun Group (HongKong) Co., Limited or Sailun Tire Americas Inc. In accordance with section 735(a)(4) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.204(e)(1), should the investigation result in an antidumping duty (AD) order pursuant to section 736 of the Act, entries of shipments of subject merchandise from these producer/exporter combinations will be excluded from the order. However, entries of shipments of subject merchandise from these companies in any other producer/exporter combinations, or by third parties that sourced subject merchandise from the excluded producer/exporter combinations, will be subject to suspension of liquidation at the Vietnam-wide entity rate. Additionally, any exclusion will not apply to entries of shipments of subject merchandise from the other producer/exporter combinations listed in the table above that were assigned a weighted-average dumping margin of zero.

Pursuant to section 735(c)(1)(B)(ii) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.210(d), where appropriate, we will instruct CBP to require a cash deposit for entries of subject merchandise equal to the estimated weighted-average dumping margin as follows: (1) For the exporter/producer combinations listed in the table above, except those specified for Kenda and Sailun Vietnam/Sailun Group (HongKong) Co., Limited/Sailun Tire Americas Inc., the cash deposit rate is equal to the estimated weighted-average dumping margin listed for that combination in the table; (2) for all combinations of Vietnamese exporters/producers not listed in the above table, the cash deposit rate is equal to the estimated weighted-average dumping margin listed in the table for the Vietnam-wide entity; and (3) for all non-Vietnamese exporters not listed in the table above, the cash deposit rate applicable to the Vietnamese exporter/producer combination (or the Vietnam-wide entity) that supplied that non-Vietnamese exporter.

Commerce normally adjusts cash deposits for estimated antidumping duties by the amount of domestic subsidy pass-through and export subsidies countervailed in a companion countervailing duty (CVD) proceeding when CVD provisional measures are in effect. Accordingly, where Commerce made an affirmative determination for domestic subsidy pass-through or export subsidies, Commerce has offset the estimated weighted-average dumping margins by the appropriate rates. 11 However, provisional measures are no longer in effect in the companion CVD case. Therefore, we are not instructing CBP to collect cash deposits based upon the estimated the estimated weighted-average dumping margins adjusted for domestic subsidy pass-through or export subsidies at this time.

In accordance with section 735(d) of the Act, we will notify the International Trade Commission (ITC) of the final affirmative determination of sales at LTFV. Because Commerce's final determination is affirmative, in accordance with section 735(b)(2) of the Act, the ITC will make its final determination as to whether the domestic industry in the United States is materially injured, or threatened with material injury, by reason of imports or sales (or the likelihood of sales) for importation of passenger tires no later than 45 days after this final determination. If the ITC determines that such injury does not exist, this proceeding will be terminated, and all cash deposits posted will be refunded and suspension of liquidation will be lifted. If the ITC determines that such injury does exist, Commerce will issue an AD order directing CBP to assess, upon further instruction by Commerce, antidumping duties on all imports of the subject merchandise entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the effective date of the suspension of liquidation, as discussed above in the “Continuation of Suspension of Liquidation” section.

This notice will serve as a final reminder to the parties subject to administrative protective order (APO) of their responsibility concerning the disposition of proprietary information disclosed under APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305(a)(3). Timely written notification of return or destruction of APO materials or conversion to judicial protective order is hereby requested. Failure to comply with the regulations and the terms of an APO is a sanctionable violation.

This determination and this notice are issued and published in accordance with sections 735(d) and 777(i)(1) of the Act, and 19 CFR 351.210(c).

On January 6, 2021, Commerce published in the Federal Register its preliminary affirmative determination in the LTFV investigation of passenger tires from Taiwan, in which we also postponed the final determination until May 21, 2021. 1 We invited interested parties to comment on the Preliminary Determination. A summary of the events that occurred since Commerce published the Preliminary Determination, may be found in the Issues and Decision Memorandum. 2

The products covered by this investigation are passenger tires from Taiwan. For a complete description of the scope of this investigation, see Appendix I.

During the course of this investigation, Commerce received scope comments from interested parties. Commerce issued a Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum to address these comments. 3 We received comments from interested parties on the Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum, which we addressed in the Final Scope Decision Memorandum. 4 With the exception of one revision to correct a typographical error, Commerce is not modifying the scope language as it appeared in the correction to the Preliminary Determination. 5 See Appendix I for the final scope of the investigation.

All issues raised in the case and rebuttal briefs that were submitted by parties in this investigation are addressed in the Issues and Decision Memorandum. A list of the issues addressed in the Issues and Decision Memorandum is attached to this notice at Appendix II. The Issues and Decision Memorandum is a public document and is on file electronically via Enforcement and Compliance's Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS). ACCESS is available to registered users at https://access.trade.gov. In addition, a complete version of the Issues and Decision Memorandum can be accessed directly at http://enforcement.trade.gov/frn.

Commerce was unable to conduct on-site verification of the information relied upon in making its final determination in this investigation. However, we took additional steps in lieu of on-site verification to verify the information relied upon in making this final determination, in accordance with section 782(i) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). 6

Based on our analysis of the comments received and our findings related to our request for information in lieu of verification, we made changes to the margin calculations for both Cheng Shin Rubber Ind. Co., Ltd.'s (Cheng Shin) and Nankang Rubber Tire Corp. Ltd. (Nankang). For a discussion of these changes, see the Issues and Decision Memorandum.

Section 735(c)(5)(A) of the Act provides that the estimated weighted-average dumping margin for all other producers and exporters not individually investigated shall be equal to the weighted average of the estimated weighted-average dumping margins established for exporters and producers individually investigated excluding rates that are zero, de minimis, or determined entirely under section 776 of the Act. Pursuant to section 735(c)(5)(B) of the Act, if the estimated weighted-average dumping margins established for all exporters and producers individually examined are zero, de minimis or determined based entirely on facts otherwise available, Commerce may use any reasonable method to establish the estimated weighted-average dumping margin for all other producers or exporters.

In this investigation, Commerce calculated estimated weighted-average dumping margins for Cheng Shin and Nankang that are not zero, de minimis, or based entirely on facts otherwise available. Commerce calculated the all-others rate using a weighted-average of the estimated weighted-average dumping margins calculated for the examined respondents weighted by each company's publicly-ranged total U.S. sale values for the merchandise under consideration. 7

The final estimated weighted-average dumping margins are as follows:

We intend to disclose the calculations performed in this final determination within five days of the date of publication of this notice to parties in this proceeding in accordance with 19 CFR 351.224(b).

In accordance with section 735(c)(1)(B) of the Act, Commerce will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to continue to suspend liquidation of all appropriate entries of passenger tires from Taiwan, as described in Appendix I of this notice, which are entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after January 6, 2021, the date of publication in the Federal Register of the affirmative Preliminary Determination.

Pursuant to section 735(c)(1)(B)(ii) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.210(d), we will instruct CBP to require a cash deposit equal to the estimated weighted-average dumping margin or the estimated all-others rate, as follows: (1) The cash deposit rate for the respondents listed above will be equal to the company-specific estimated weighted-average dumping margins determined in this final determination; (2) if the exporter is not a respondent identified above, but the producer is, then the cash deposit rate will be equal to the company-specific estimated weighted-average dumping margin established for that producer of the subject merchandise; and (3) the cash deposit rate for all other producers and exporters will be equal to the all-others estimated weighted-average dumping margin. These suspension of liquidation instructions will remain in effect until further notice.

In accordance with section 735(d) of the Act, we will notify the International Trade Commission (ITC) of the final affirmative determination of sales at LTFV. Because Commerce's final determination is affirmative, in accordance with section 735(b)(2) of the Act, the ITC will make its final determination as to whether the domestic industry in the United States is materially injured, or threatened with material injury, by reason of imports or sales (or the likelihood of sales) of passenger tires no later than 45 days after this final determination. If the ITC determines that such injury does not exist, this proceeding will be terminated, and all cash deposits posted will be refunded and suspension of liquidation will be lifted. If the ITC determines that such injury does exist, Commerce will issue an antidumping duty order directing CBP to assess, upon further instruction by Commerce, antidumping duties on all imports of the subject merchandise entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the effective date of the suspension of liquidation, as discussed above in the “Continuation of Suspension of Liquidation” section.

This notice will serve as a final reminder to the parties subject to administrative protective order (APO) of their responsibility concerning the disposition of proprietary information disclosed under APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305(a)(3). Timely written notification of return or destruction of APO materials or conversion to judicial protective order is hereby requested. Failure to comply with the regulations and the terms of an APO is a sanctionable violation.

This determination and this notice are issued and published pursuant to sections 735(d) and 777(i)(1) of the Act, and 19 CFR 351.210(c).

On November 10, 2020, Commerce published the Preliminary Determination in the Federal Register . 1 In addition to the Government of Vietnam (GOV), the mandatory respondents in this investigation are Kumho Tire (Vietnam) Co., Ltd. (KTV) and Sailun (Vietnam) Co., Ltd. (Sailun). In the Preliminary Determination, and in accordance with section 705(a)(1) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act), and 19 CFR 351.210(b)(4), Commerce aligned the final countervailable duty (CVD) determination with the final antidumping duty (AD) determination. 2

A summary of the events that occurred since Commerce published the Preliminary Determination is found in the Issues and Decision Memorandum. 3 The Issues and Decision Memorandum is a public document and is on file electronically via Enforcement and Compliance's Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS). ACCESS is available to registered users at http://access.trade.gov. In addition, a complete version of the Issues and Decision Memorandum can be accessed directly at http://enforcement.trade.gov/frn/.

The period of investigation is January 1, 2019, through December 31, 2019.

The products covered by this investigation are passenger tires from Vietnam. For a complete description of the scope of the investigation, see Appendix I.

During the course of this investigation, Commerce received scope comments from interested parties. Commerce issued a Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum to address these comments. 4 We received comments from interested parties on the Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum, which we address in the Final Scope Decision Memorandum. 5 With the exception of one revision to correct a typographical error, Commerce is not modifying the scope language as it appeared in the correction to the preliminary determinations issued in the concurrent AD investigations. 6 See Appendix I for the final scope of the investigation.

Commerce was unable to conduct on-site verification of the information relied upon in making its final determination in this investigation. However, we took additional steps in lieu of on-site verification to verify the information relied upon in making this final determination, in accordance with section 782(i) of the Act. 7

The subsidy programs under investigation and the issues raised in the case and rebuttal briefs by parties in this investigation are discussed in the Issues and Decision Memorandum. For a list of the issues raised by parties, to which we responded in the Issues and Decision Memorandum, see Appendix II of this notice.

Commerce conducted this investigation in accordance with section 701 of the Act. For each of the subsidy programs found countervailable, Commerce determines that there is a subsidy, i.e., a financial contribution by an “authority” that gives rise to a benefit to the recipient, and that the subsidy is specific. 8 For a full description of the methodology underlying this final determination, see the Issues and Decision Memorandum.

Based on our review and analysis of the record and the comments received, we made certain changes to the countervailable subsidy rate calculations. For discussion of these changes, see the Issues and Decision Memorandum.

Section 705(c)(5)(A) of the Act provides that in the final determination, Commerce shall determine an all-others rate for companies not individually examined. This rate shall be an amount equal to the weighted average of the estimated subsidy rates established for those companies individually examined, excluding any rates that are zero, de minimis, or based entirely under section 776 of the Act.

In this investigation, Commerce calculated individual estimated countervailable subsidy rates for KTV and Sailun that are not zero, de minimis, or based entirely on facts otherwise available. Commerce calculated the all-others rate using a weighted average of the individual estimated subsidy rates calculated for the examined respondents using each company's publicly-ranged values for the merchandise under consideration. 9

We determine the countervailable subsidy rates to be:

We intend to disclose the calculations performed in this final determination to interested parties within five days of any public announcement or, if there is no public announcement, within five days of the date of the publication of this notice in the Federal Register , in accordance with 19 CFR 351.224(b).

As a result of our Preliminary Determination, and pursuant to section 703(d)(1)(B) and (d)(2) of the Act, we instructed U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to suspend liquidation of all passenger tires from Vietnam, that were entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after November 10, 2020, the date of the publication of the Preliminary Determination in the Federal Register .

In accordance with section 703(d) of the Act, effective March 10, 2021, we instructed CBP to discontinue the suspension of liquidation of all entries, but to continue the suspension of liquidation of all entries between November 10, 2020, through March 9, 2021.

If the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) issues a final affirmative injury determination, we will issue a CVD order, reinstate the suspension of liquidation, and require a cash deposit of estimated countervailable duties for such entries of subject merchandise in the amounts indicated above, in accordance with section 706(a) of the Act. If the ITC determines that material injury, or threat of material injury, does not exist, this proceeding will be terminated and all cash deposits will be refunded or canceled.

In accordance with section 705(d) of the Act, we will notify the ITC of our determination. Because the final determination in this proceeding is affirmative, in accordance with section 705(b) of the Act, the ITC will make its final determination as to whether the domestic industry in the United States is materially injured, or threatened with material injury, by reason of imports of passenger tires from Vietnam no later than 45 days after our final determination. In addition, we are making available to the ITC all non-privileged and non-proprietary information related to this investigation. We will allow the ITC access to all privileged and business proprietary information in our files, provided the ITC confirms that it will not disclose such information, either publicly or under an administrative protective order (APO), without the written consent of the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.

In the event that the ITC issues a final negative injury determination, this notice will serve as the only reminder to the parties subject to APO of their responsibility concerning the disposition of proprietary information disclosed under APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305(a)(3). Timely written notification of the return or destruction of APO materials, or conversion to judicial protective order, is hereby requested. Failure to comply with the regulations and terms of an APO is a violation subject to sanction.

This determination is issued and published in accordance with sections 705(d) and 777(i) of the Act, and 19 CFR 351.210(c).

On January 6, 2021, Commerce published in the Federal Register its preliminary affirmative determination in the LTFV investigation of passenger tires from Korea, in which we also postponed the final determination until May 21, 2021. 1 We invited interested parties to comment on the Preliminary Determination. A summary of the events that occurred since Commerce published the Preliminary Determination is found in the Issues and Decision Memorandum. 2

The products covered by this investigation are passenger tires from Korea. For a complete description of the scope of this investigation, see Appendix I.

During the course of this investigation, Commerce received scope comments from interested parties. Commerce issued a Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum to address these comments. 3 We received comments from interested parties on the Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum, which we addressed in the Final Scope Decision Memorandum. 4 With the exception of one revision to correct a typographical error, Commerce is not modifying the scope language as it appeared in the correction to the Preliminary Determination. 5 See Appendix I for the final scope of the investigation.

All issues raised in the case and rebuttal briefs that were submitted by parties in this investigation are addressed in the Issues and Decision Memorandum. A list of the issues addressed in the Issues and Decision Memorandum is attached to this notice at Appendix II. The Issues and Decision Memorandum is a public document and is on file electronically via Enforcement and Compliance's Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS). ACCESS is available to registered users at https://access.trade.gov. In addition, a complete version of the Issues and Decision Memorandum can be accessed directly at http://enforcement.trade.gov/frn.

Commerce was unable to conduct on-site verification of the information relied upon in making its final determination in this investigation. However, we took additional steps in lieu of on-site verification to verify the information relied upon in making this final determination, in accordance with section 782(i) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). 6

Based on our analysis of the comments received and our findings related to our requests for information in lieu of verification, we made changes to the margin calculations regarding Hankook Tire & Technology Co. Ltd. (Hankook) and Nexen Tire Corporation (Nexen). For a discussion of these changes, see the Issues and Decision Memorandum as well as the final analysis memoranda for Hankook and Nexen. 7

Section 735(c)(5)(A) of the Act provides that the estimated weighted-average dumping margin for all other producers and exporters not individually investigated shall be equal to the weighted average of the estimated weighted-average dumping margins established for exporters and producers individually investigated excluding rates that are zero, de minimis, or determined entirely under section 776 of the Act. Pursuant to section 735(c)(5)(B) of the Act, if the estimated weighted-average dumping margins established for all exporters and producers individually examined are zero, de minimis or determined based entirely on facts otherwise available, Commerce may use any reasonable method to establish the estimated weighted-average dumping margin for all other producers or exporters.

In this investigation, Commerce calculated estimated weighted-average dumping margins for Hankook and Nexen that are not zero, de minimis, or based entirely on facts otherwise available. Commerce calculated the all-others rate using a weighted average of the estimated weighted-average dumping margins calculated for the examined respondents weighted by each respondent's publicly-ranged total U.S. sale values for the merchandise under consideration. 8

The final estimated weighted-average dumping margins are as follows:

We intend to disclose the calculations performed in this final determination within five days of its public announcement or, if there is no public announcement, within five days of the date of publication of this notice to parties in this proceeding in accordance with 19 CFR 351.224(b).

In accordance with section 735(c)(1)(B) of the Act, Commerce will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to continue to suspend liquidation of all appropriate entries of passenger tires from Korea, as described in Appendix I of this notice, which are entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after January 6, 2021, the date of publication in the Federal Register of the affirmative Preliminary Determination.

Pursuant to section 735(c)(1)(B)(ii) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.210(d), we will instruct CBP to require a cash deposit as follows: (1) The cash deposit rate for the respondents listed above will be equal to the company-specific estimated weighted-average dumping margin determined in this final determination; (2) if the exporter is not a company identified above, but the producer is, then the cash deposit rate will be equal to the company-specific estimated weighted-average dumping margin established for that producer of the subject merchandise; and (3) the cash deposit rate for all other producers and exporters will be equal to the all-others estimated weighted-average dumping margin. These suspension of liquidation instructions will remain in effect until further notice.

In accordance with section 735(d) of the Act, we will notify the International Trade Commission (ITC) of the final affirmative determination of sales at LTFV. Because Commerce's final determination is affirmative, in accordance with section 735(b)(2) of the Act, the ITC will make its final determination as to whether the domestic industry in the United States is materially injured, or threatened with material injury, by reason of imports or sales (or the likelihood of sales) of passenger tires no later than 45 days after this final determination. If the ITC determines that such injury does not exist, this proceeding will be terminated, and all cash deposits posted will be refunded and suspension of liquidation will be lifted. If the ITC determines that such injury does exist, Commerce will issue an antidumping duty order directing CBP to assess, upon further instruction by Commerce, antidumping duties on all imports of the subject merchandise entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the effective date of the suspension of liquidation, as discussed above in the “Continuation of Suspension of Liquidation” section.

This notice will serve as a final reminder to the parties subject to administrative protective order (APO) of their responsibility concerning the disposition of proprietary information disclosed under APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305(a)(3). Timely written notification of the return or destruction of APO materials or conversion to judicial protective order is hereby requested. Failure to comply with the regulations and the terms of an APO is a sanctionable violation.

This determination and this notice are issued and published pursuant to sections 735(d) and 777(i)(1) of the Act, and 19 CFR 351.210(c).

On November 24, 2020, Commerce published the Preliminary Results of the 2018-2019 administrative review of the antidumping duty (AD) order on CORE from Korea. 1 This review covers eleven companies, 2 of which we collapsed Dongbu Steel Co., Ltd. and Dongbu Incheon Steel Co., Ltd. as single entity ( i.e., Dongbu) for AD purposes, and selected Dongbu, Dongkuk, and Hyundai as mandatory respondents.

We invited interested parties to comment on the Preliminary Results and received case and rebuttal briefs. 3 On March 22, 2021, we extended the time limit for the final results of this review from 120 days to 168 days. 4 On May 10, 2021, Commerce extended the deadline for the final results by an additional 10 days to May 21, 2021. 5 Commerce conducted this review in accordance with section 751(a)(1)(B) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act).

The products covered by this order are CORE from Korea. For a complete description of the scope of this order, see the Issues and Decision Memorandum. 6

All issues raised by parties in the case and rebuttal briefs are addressed in the Issues and Decision Memorandum. A list of the issues addressed in the Issues and Decision Memorandum is provided in the appendix to this notice. The Issues and Decision Memorandum is a public document and is on file electronically via Enforcement and Compliance's Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS). ACCESS is available to registered users at https://access.trade.gov. In addition, a complete version of the Issues and Decision Memorandum can be accessed directly at http://enforcement.trade.gov/frn/.

Based on the comments received, we made changes for these final results which are explained in the Issues and Decision Memorandum.

We received no comments regarding the no shipments claims with respect to NSSVC, HSG, and TDA since the Preliminary Results. Further, we have analyzed the questionnaire responses submitted by the respondents since the Preliminary Results and determined that the record contains no information that calls into question a finding of no shipments. 7 Therefore, we find that NSSVC, HSG, and TDA had no shipments of subject merchandise during the POR.

The statute and Commerce's regulations do not address the establishment of a rate to be applied to companies not selected for individual examination when Commerce limits its examination in an administrative review pursuant to section 777A(c)(2) of the Act. Generally, Commerce looks to section 735(c)(5) of the Act, which provides instructions for calculating the all-others rate in a market economy investigation, for guidance when calculating the rate for companies which were not selected for individual examination in an administrative review. Under section 735(c)(5)(A) of the Act, the all-others rate is normally “an amount equal to the weighted average of the estimated weighted-average dumping margins established for exporters and producers individually investigated, excluding any zero or de minimis margins, and any margins determined entirely {on the basis of facts available}.”

In this review, the final estimated weighted-average dumping margins for Dongbu and Dongkuk are not zero, de minimis, or based entirely on facts otherwise available, and for Hyundai is zero. Therefore, Commerce calculated the rate for non-examined companies using a weighted average of the estimated weighted-average dumping margins calculated for Dongbu and Dongkuk using each company's publicly ranged values for the subject merchandise. 8

We determine that the following weighted-average dumping margins exist for the period July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2019: