[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 153 (Thursday, August 12, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44332-44344]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-17199]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Housing Service
[Docket No. RHS-21-CF-0009]
The American Rescue Plan Act Emergency Rural Health Care Grant
Program
AGENCY: Rural Housing Service, Department of Agriculture (USDA).
ACTION: Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Rural Housing Service (RHS), a Rural Development agency of
the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), announces the
availability of up to $500 million in grant funding, appropriated under
the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, for the establishment of the
Emergency Rural Health Care (ERHC) Grant Program. As authorized under
Section 1002 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, funds will be
made available and distributed between two tracks of funding to
eligible applicants: Track One, Recovery grants to offer support for
rural health care services in the form of immediate relief to address
the economic conditions arising from the COVID-19 emergency; and Track
Two, Impact grants to offer longer-term funding to advance ideas and
solutions to support long-term sustainability of rural health.
DATES: Applications for the ERHC Grant Program must be submitted to the
applicable USDA Rural Development
[[Page 44333]]
Office (See ADDRESSES section for details). Track One, Recovery
applications will be accepted on a continual basis, beginning on the
publication date of this Notice, until funds are exhausted. The
applicable USDA Rural Development State Office will conduct an initial
review, rating, and selection of complete applications received by 4:00
p.m. local time on October 12, 2021. Subsequent application reviews,
rankings, and selections will occur in additional rounds for all
complete applications until all remaining funds are utilized. Track
Two, Impact applications must be received by the applicable USDA Rural
Development Office by 4:00 p.m. local time on October 12, 2021. Track
Two, Impact applications received after October 12, 2021 will not be
considered.
Comments related to the collection of information must be submitted
by October 12, 2021. Please follow the directions provided in Section
IX of this NOFA.
ADDRESSES: This funding opportunity will be made available for
informational purposes on Grants.gov.
Application Submission: Track One, Recovery applications will be
submitted to a processing office as designated by the USDA Rural
Development State Office in the state where the applicant's project is
located. Agency state office contact information is available at
https://www.rd.usda.gov/about-rd/state-offices. Track Two, Impact
applications will be submitted to a processing office as designated by
the USDA Rural Development State Office in the state where the
applicant is headquartered. For applicants with headquarters located in
the District of Columbia, applications will be submitted to the USDA
Rural Development National Office, ATTN: Jamie Davenport, 1400
Independence Ave., SW, STOP 0787, Washington, DC 20250. Both paper and
electronic applications must be received by the Agency by the deadlines
stated in the DATES section of this Notice. The use of a courier and
package tracking for paper applications is strongly encouraged.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jamie Davenport: USDA Rural
Development, Community Facilities Program. Telephone: (202) 720-0002,
email: [email protected]. Persons with disabilities that require
alternative means for communication should contact the U.S. Department
of Agriculture (USDA) Target Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Authority:
This solicitation is authorized pursuant to the American Rescue
Plan Act of 2021 (Pub. L. 117-2), 7 CFR part 3570, subpart B; 7 U.S.C.
8103(f)), Farm Security and Rural Investment Act, 2002; 7 U.S.C.
1926(a)(13), and the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act; 7
U.S.C. 1926(a)(26).
Rural Development Funding Priorities
The Agency encourages applicants to consider projects that will
advance the following key priorities:
[cir] Assisting rural communities recover economically from the
impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly disadvantaged
communities;
[cir] Ensuring all rural residents have equitable access to RD
programs and benefits from RD funded projects; and
[cir] Reducing climate pollution and increasing resilience to the
impacts of climate change through economic support to rural
communities.
For further information, visit https://www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points.
Congressional Review Act
Pursuant to Subtitle E of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement
Fairness Act of 1996 (also known as the Congressional Review Act or
CRA), 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., the Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs in the Office of Management and Budget designated this action
as a major rule as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2), (Pub. L. 104-121),
because it is likely to result in an annual effect on the economy of
$100,000,000 or more. Accordingly, there is a 60-day delay in the
effective date of this action. Application rating, ranking, and
selection will not begin until after October 12, 2021. Therefore, the
60-day delay required by the CRA is not expected to have a material
impact upon the administration and/or implementation of the ERHC Grant
Program.
Background
USDA's Rural Development Agencies, comprising the Rural Business-
Cooperative Service (RB-CS), Rural Housing Service (RHS), and the Rural
Utilities Service (RUS), are leading the way in helping rural America
improve the quality of life and increase the economic opportunities for
rural people. RHS offers a variety of programs to build or improve
housing and essential community facilities in rural areas. The Agency
also offers loans, grants, and loan guarantees for single- and multi-
family housing, child-care centers, fire and police stations,
hospitals, libraries, nursing homes, schools, first responder vehicles
and equipment, housing for farm laborers and much more. The Agency also
provides technical assistance loans and grants in partnership with non-
profit organizations, Indian tribes, state and Federal government
agencies, and local communities.
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), Public Law 117-2, was
signed by the President on March 11, 2021. It provides the Rural
Housing Service Community Facilities (CF) Program up to $500,000,000 in
grant funding for eligible CF applicants and eligible CF facilities to
help broaden access to COVID-19 vaccines and testing, health care
services including telehealth services, food assistance through food
banks and food distribution facilities, and collaborative, evidence-
based support for the long-term sustainability of rural health care.
Nearly one in five Americans live in rural areas and depend on
local hospitals for care. Data shows that between January 2013 and
February 2020, 101 rural hospitals closed in 28 states. According to
data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and a
recent study by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO),
counties with a hospital closure experience an immediate and steady
decline in availability of health care providers compared to counties
that do not experience a closure. Rural residents in these counties
must travel an additional median distance of 20 miles to access health
care services after a closure. Furthermore, HHS data shows that
Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries are less healthy in areas with
hospital closures compared to their counterparts in service areas
without closures. In addition, HHS data shows that rural hospitals
operated under negative margins before closure and hospitals that
remain open are increasingly showing signs of financial distress.
The financial stress on rural hospitals and the negative impact on
rural residents was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020
alone, 20 hospitals closed and as many as 453 more rural hospitals are
considered highly vulnerable for future closure. It is estimated that
rural hospitals lost an estimated 70 percent of their income in 2020
due to delayed and deferred care caused by the pandemic. Rural
residents are generally older, less healthy, and more reliant on
government payors than their urban counterparts.
In designing this ERHC program, USDA determined that the challenges
facing rural health care are primarily two-fold: immediate financial
needs stemming from COVID-19 related
[[Page 44334]]
expenses and long-term access and availability of rural health care
services that have been further hampered as a result of the COVID-19
pandemic. In response to these challenges, this ERHC Grant Program NOFA
provides two tracks of funding: Track One for recovery grants to
support immediate financial relief needs and Track Two for impact
grants to advance ideas and solutions to support the long-term
sustainability of rural health care.
Overview
Federal Agency: Rural Housing Service (RHS), (USDA).
Funding Opportunity Title: The American Rescue Plan Act Emergency
Rural Health Care (ERHC) Grant Program.
Funding Opportunity Number: USDA-RHS-ERHC-2021.
Announcement Type: Notice of Funds Availability.
Assistance Listings (AL) Number: 10.766.
Due Date for Applications: Track One, Recovery applications will be
accepted on a continual basis and will be evaluated as long as funding
remains available. Complete applications received by 4:00 p.m. local
time on October 12, 2021 will be evaluated and ranked according to the
scoring criteria in this Notice. Applications subsequently received
and/or deemed complete will be evaluated and ranked as long as funding
remains available.
Applications for Track Two, Impact applications must be received by
4:00 p.m. local time on October 12, 2021. Applications received after
4:00 p.m. local time on October 12, 2021 will not be considered.
For further information, visit the Emergency Rural Health Care
Grant Program web page at https://www.rd.usda.gov/erhc.
Items in Supplementary Information
I. Funding Opportunity Description
II. Federal Award Information
III. Definitions
IV. Eligibility Information
V. Application Submission Information
VI. Application Review Information
VII. Federal Awarding Administration Information
VIII. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts
IX. Other Information
I. Funding Opportunity Description
A. Background
This NOFA is being issued pursuant to the recently passed American
Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and is considered to be Economically
Significant and Major. Funds will be administered in accordance with
this NOFA and will be distributed between two tracks of funding: Under
Track One, Recovery grants are designed to provide emergency grant
funding for eligible CF applicants to help rural hospitals and local
communities broaden access to COVID-19 vaccines and testing, health
care services including telehealth services, and food assistance
through food banks and food distribution facilities in rural areas.
Track Two, Impact grants are designed to plan for, implement, and
evaluate models to support the long-term sustainability of rural health
care. Long-term sustainability is defined as improved health outcomes,
improved access to quality health care, and creating and maintaining
health care as a key economic driver of small communities. Details on
eligible Community Facilities (CF) applicants and eligible CF
facilities may be found in Section IV. Eligibility Information of this
Notice.
Applicants may request assistance for costs for a performance
period of up to 36 months. Track One, Recovery applicants may
additionally request pre-award costs incurred on or after March 13,
2020. Applicants may not request assistance for expenses or losses that
have been reimbursed from other Federal sources or that other Federal
sources are obligated to reimburse.
Rural communities face unique challenges due to the COVID-19
pandemic that include financial and economic vulnerability. At the same
time, rural communities have essential community infrastructure needs
that are essential to promote vaccine administration and distribution,
conduct COVID-19 testing, provide access to quality health care
services, and support the needs of food banks and food distribution
facilities. This program provides critical grant funding to support
rural communities' health care needs in the face of COVID-19.
B. Program Description
This program is designed for essential community facilities located
in rural areas, primarily serving rural areas, and serving populations
with median household income that is lower than ninety percent of the
State nonmetropolitan median household income. Within these parameters,
the Agency is further encouraging investment in distressed communities.
RD utilizes the Distressed Communities Index, developed by the Economic
Innovation Group (EIG), which combines seven publicly available metrics
to assess the economic well-being of communities. For more information
on EIG's Distressed Communities Index, visit https://eig.org/dci. EIG's
Distressed Community Map can be found at the following website: https://ruraldevelopment.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=06a26a91d074426d944d22715a90311e. As part of its annual
performance plan and strategic goals and objectives, the Agency tracks
the percent of RD assistance that goes to distressed communities in its
loan and grant programs and will do the same for this program.
C. Implementation of the American Rescue Act of 2021 Provisions
Track One, Recovery grant funds will be allocated to USDA Rural
Development State Offices. The allocation of funds will be based on an
adaptation of 7 CFR part 1940, subpart L, Methodology and Formulas for
Allocation of Loan and Grant Program Funds. USDA Rural Development
State Offices will have until June 30, 2022 to obligate funds allocated
to their respective state. After June 30, 2022, unobligated funds may
be pooled into the USDA Rural Development National Office Reserve to
fund additional qualified applications based on the evaluation criteria
specified in this Notice. The Agency intends to provide a minimum
$350,000,000 to fund eligible facilities under Track One.
Track Two, Impact grant funds will be held within the USDA Rural
Development National Office Reserve. The Agency intends to provide up
to $125,000,000 to fund no more than 15 projects under Track Two. Any
unobligated funds for Track Two, Impact grants will be made available
for Track One, Recovery grants.
II. Federal Award Information
A. Assistance Listings (AL) Number: 10.766
Assistance Listings (AL) Title: American Rescue Plan Act Emergency
Rural Health Care (ERHC) Grant Program.
B. Available Funds
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 provides $500,000,000 in
budgetary authority for this program through September 30, 2023. The
Agency may publish future notices in the Federal Register to align with
the demand for these grants.
C. Funding Limitations
The Agency will review and evaluate applications received as set
forth in this NOFA. The Agency anticipates that demand for grant
funding may exceed the supply of funds and will assign
[[Page 44335]]
points to each application in accordance with the scoring and selection
criteria for the applicable funding track outlined in this Notice.
III. Definitions
The terms and conditions provided in this NOFA are applicable to
and for 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).
Agency means the Rural Housing Service (RHS), an agency of the U.S.
Department of Agriculture.
Consortium means institutions of health care, higher education,
academic health and research institutes, federally-recognized tribes,
or economic development entities (inclusive of tribal economic
development entities), or combination thereof, located in the region
identified to be served that have experience in addressing these issues
in the region.
Eligible Project Costs means only those costs incurred during the
grant period and eligible pre-award period and that are directly
related to the use and purposes of the American Rescue Plan Act's
Emergency Rural Health Care Grant Program.
GAAP means accounting principles generally accepted in the United
States of America.
Poverty line means the level of income for a family of four as
defined by section 673(2) of the Community Services Block Grant Act (42
U.S.C. 9902(2)).
Rural and rural area mean a city, town, or unincorporated area with
a population of not more than 20,000 inhabitants in accordance with 7
U.S.C. 1991(a)(13). Population may be adjusted by exclusion of
individuals incarcerated on a long-term or regional basis and the
exclusion of the first 1,500 individuals who reside in housing located
on a military base. The boundaries for unincorporated areas will be
based on Census Designated Place(s). Population data from the most
recent decennial census of the United States will be used. For projects
located on tribal trust land, the population of the tribal trust land,
based on the most recent decennial census, will be used to determine
the rural area regardless of whether the tribal trust land is located
within the boundaries of a city or town.
Rural Development (RD) means a mission area within USDA which
includes Rural Housing Service, Rural Utilities Service, and Rural
Business-Cooperative Service.
State nonmetropolitan median household income (MHI) means the
median household income of the State's nonmetropolitan counties and
portions of metropolitan counties outside of cities, towns, or places
of 50,000 or more population.
IV. Eligibility Information
A. Applicant Eligibility
(1) An eligible applicant under this program must be one of the
types of entities outlined in 7 CFR 3570.61(a):
(a) Public body, such as a municipality, county, district,
authority, or other political subdivision of a State. State public
bodies are not eligible for assistance under this program.
(b) Nonprofit corporation or association. Applicants, other than
nonprofit utility applicants, must have significant ties with the local
rural community. Such ties are necessary to ensure to the greatest
extent possible that a facility under private control will carry out a
public purpose and continue to primarily serve rural areas. Nonprofit
Track Two, Impact applicants must demonstrate a consortium of partners
that demonstrate significant ties with the local rural community(ies)
as referenced in paragraph (2) of this section.
(c) Federally recognized Indian Tribe, including a political
subdivision of a Tribe, in a rural area.
(2) In addition to meeting the eligibility requirements of Section
IV(A)(1) above, Track Two, Impact grant applicants must establish a
network or consortium of entities for the purposes of this grant. The
network or consortium shall:
(a) Be comprised of at least three or more health care provider
organizations, economic development entities, federally-recognized
tribes, and/or institutions of higher education, academic health, and
research institutes (including the applicant organization).
(b) Be comprised of rural and/or urban nonprofit entities, as long
as at least 66% (two-thirds) of network members are located in a rural
area and primarily serve a rural area as defined by this Notice; and
(c) Identify one lead entity to serve as the primary applicant and
recipient of the Track Two, Impact grant funds and accountable for
monitoring and reporting on the project performance and financial
management of the grant. The lead entity or applicant must be an
eligible entity described above in Section IV (A) (1), although
significant ties to the local rural community may be satisfied as long
as at least 66% (two-thirds) of consortium members are located in a
rural area and primarily serve a rural area. The lead entity must also
be legally organized as an incorporated organization or other legal
entity with legal authority to contract with the Federal Government.
B. Project Location Eligibility
To be eligible for grant funds under this Notice, the eligible
facility or project to be financed must be located in a rural area as
defined in section 343(a)(13)(C) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a)(13)) and must primarily serve rural
residents. The terms ``rural'' and ``rural area'' mean any area other
than a city, town, or unincorporated area that has a population of
greater than 20,000 inhabitants. Population may be adjusted by
exclusion of individuals incarcerated on a long-term or regional basis
and the exclusion of the first 1,500 individuals who reside in housing
located on a military base. The boundaries for unincorporated areas in
determining populations will be based on the Census Designated
Places(s) (CDP). Data from the most recent decennial census of the
United States will be used in determining population. For projects
located on tribal trust land, the population of the tribal trust land,
based on the most recent decennial census, will be used to determine
the rural area regardless of whether the tribal trust land is located
within the boundaries of a city or town.
Non-public body applicants are not required to be headquartered in
a rural area. However, applicants must demonstrate how the facility to
be financed with these grant funds is located in and will primarily
serve rural areas. For Track Two, Impact grants, the lead applicant
must demonstrate how the project is for the benefit of facilities
located in rural areas and which primarily serve rural areas.
When considering whether a facility primarily serves rural
residents, the Agency will consider the applicant or facility's normal
service territory, excluding any temporary expansion of service area
resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
C. Eligible Grant Amounts
An applicant is limited in the amount of grant funds that can be
requested to assist a facility, depending on the population to be
served and the median household income of that population. Facilities
and projects must demonstrate other sources of funds to fund the
remaining portion of project costs. In these cases, grant assistance
will be provided on a graduated scale with smaller communities with the
lowest
[[Page 44336]]
median household income being eligible for a higher proportion of grant
funds. Grant funds will be limited to:
(1) The percentages of eligible project costs as outlined below:
(a) Up to 75 percent when the proposed project is located in a
rural community having a population of 5,000 or less and the median
household income of the population to be served by the proposed
facility is below the poverty line or 60 percent of the State
nonmetropolitan median household income, whichever is greater.
(b) Up to 55 percent when the proposed project is located in a
rural community having a population of 12,000 or less and the median
household income of the population to be served by the proposed
facility is below the poverty line or 70 percent of the State
nonmetropolitan median household income, whichever is greater.
(c) Up to 35 percent when the proposed project is located in a
rural community having a population of 20,000 or less and the median
household income of the population to be served by the proposed
facility is below the poverty line or 80 percent of the State
nonmetropolitan median household income, whichever is greater.
(d) Up to 15 percent when the proposed project is located in a
rural community having a population of 20,000 or less and the median
household income of the population to be served by the proposed
facility is below the poverty line or 90 percent of the state
nonmetropolitan median household income, whichever is greater.
(e) In-kind contributions are not an acceptable source of cost-
sharing funds. Applicants must utilize cash contributions to fund the
remaining project costs and these funds must be expended for an
eligible purpose outlined in this Notice.
(i) If requesting Track One, Recovery funds for lost revenue or
staffing expenses as defined in paragraphs D.(1)(c) and D.(1)(f) of
this section, respectively, applicants may utilize the applicable
percentage of lost revenue or staffing expenses to satisfy the cost-
sharing requirement. For example, an applicant that experienced
$100,000 in lost revenues associated with a facility located in a rural
community of less than 5,000 population and a median household income
of less than 60 percent of the state nonmetropolitan median household
income is eligible for a maximum project cost of 75 percent. In this
example, the applicant can request $75,000 for grant funding associated
with lost revenues and the remaining $25,000 in lost revenues serves as
the balance of the total project cost.
(ii) Applicants may not use grant funds received under other Rural
Development (RD) programs to satisfy cost-sharing or matching
requirements. Federal and state resources may be acceptable sources to
the extent it is allowable under the Federal or state program(s).
(iii) If awarded grant funds under this program, grant funds may
not be utilized as matching funds for other Federal programs.
(2) Under Track One, Recovery, the maximum grant assistance allowed
is $1,000,000. Under Track Two, Impact, the maximum grant assistance
allowed is $10,000,000.
(3) Under Track One, Recovery, the minimum grant assistance allowed
is $25,000. Under Track Two, Impact, the minimum grant assistance is
$5,000,000.
(4) Applicants may request and receive assistance under both Track
One and Track Two awards. Applicants may submit only one application
for Track Two assistance. Affiliated entities may only participate in a
single Track Two application.
(5) Applicants may request assistance for more than one project
location. An applicant entity with wholly owned affiliated entities or
subsidiaries may apply on behalf of one or more affiliated entities. An
Affiliate is an entity controlling or having the power to control
another entity, or a third party or parties that control or have the
power to control both entities.
(6) If it is determined that an applicant is affiliated with
another entity that has also applied, then the maximum grant award
applies to all affiliated entities as if they applied as one applicant.
D. Eligible Use of Grant Funds
Grant funds must be used to support health care and nutritional
assistance needs in correlation with the COVID-19 pandemic and as
defined below. Funds may be requested for one or more purposes outlined
below:
(1) Track One, Recovery funds must be used to support immediate
health care needs stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, to support
preparedness for a future pandemic event, and/or to increase access to
quality health care services to improve community health outcomes. To
be eligible for this program, a project must support the health care
needs, including access to nutrition assistance through food banks and
food distribution facilities, for a rural community(ies). Funds
requested from the categories below may be requested for expenses
incurred during the grant period and/or the eligible pre-award period
dating back to March 13, 2020:
(a) Increase capacity for vaccine distribution, including cold
storage, vehicle, transportation, and other equipment expenses.
(b) Provide medical supplies and equipment to increase medical
surge capacity, including personal protective equipment and laboratory
equipment.
(c) Reimburse for health care-related revenue lost during the
COVID-19 pandemic, including revenue losses incurred prior to the
awarding of the grant through March 13, 2020. Requests for this
category must include a certification from a certified public
accountant (CPA) that the calculation of health care-related lost
revenue requested is accurate and in alignment with previous years'
revenue. When calculating lost revenue, CPAs may use budgeted revenues
if the budget(s) and associated documents covering calendar year 2020
were established and approved on or before March 13, 2020. To be
considered an approved budget, the budget must have been ratified,
certified, or adopted by the applicant's financial executive or
executive officer as of that date, and the CPA will be required to
attest that the budget was established and approved on or before March
13, 2020. The CPA certification must also definitively state that these
lost revenues have not been reimbursed from other Federal or state
resources.
(d) Increase telehealth capabilities, including the purchase of and
training needed for provider and end-user telehealth equipment,
telehealth software, telehealth electronic security upgrades,
electronic health records, data sharing capacity, video and
teleconference services, and other underlying health care information
systems.
(e) Construct or renovate temporary or permanent structures to
provide health care services, such as vaccine administration, testing,
and facility modifications. Examples of facilities offering health care
services include health care clinics, hospitals, medical offices,
outpatient facilities, mobile health clinics, mental/behavioral health,
and addiction treatment centers, assisted and skilled living
facilities, rehabilitation facilities, urgent care, telehealth
facilities, and wellness centers. Any construction work completed with
grant funds under this award shall meet the Davis-Bacon Act conditions
set forth in section 9003(f) of the Farm Security and Rural Investment
Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8103(f)).
(f) Support staffing needs for vaccine administration and/or
testing. Requests
[[Page 44337]]
for this category must include a certification from a certified public
accountant (CPA) that these staffing expenses have not been reimbursed
from other Federal or state resources.
(g) Support facility, equipment, and operating expenses associated
with food banks and food distribution facilities, including
transportation, vehicles, food storage, and other equipment. Operating
expenses are limited to the grant award period and pre-award cost
period.
(h) To pay professional service fees and charges, but only when
such expenses are a necessary part of a facility or project allowable
under this Notice, are a secondary part of the grant amount requested,
and when the Agency agrees that the amounts are reasonable and
customary for the type of facility and--
(i) The professional service provider is selected through a
qualifications-based selection process; or
(ii) The professional service provider is the project architect,
project engineer, environmental professional, environmental consultant,
or legal counsel, in which case a competitive qualifications-based
procurement process is not required.
(i) To pay for pre-award costs incurred between March 13, 2020 and
the proposed project start date for any eligible category in paragraph
D.(1)(a) through (h) of this section. Applicants should note that any
pre-award activities related to construction or renovation costs must
still adhere to requirements specified in this Notice, including Davis-
Bacon Act requirements and all Agency environmental requirements as
specified in 7 CFR part 1970.
(2) Track Two, Impact funds must be used to support the long-term
sustainability of rural health care. Long-term sustainability is
defined as improved health outcomes, improved access to quality health
care, and creating/maintaining sustainable economic development for
small communities. Often, health care is the key economic driver for
small rural communities and the closures of these facilities creates
negative ripple effects throughout the regional economy. Projects
funded under Track Two, Impact funds must define how the proposed
project will contribute to improving rural health care access, rural
health outcomes, and/or the economic viability of rural health care.
Track Two, Impact applicants may request and use grant funding for one
or more of the following activities:
(a) Establish or scale a regional partnership or consortium of
community leaders and health care partners to plan, implement, and
evaluate a model(s) to support solving regional health care problems
and the long-term sustainability of rural health care. Health care
networks can be an effective strategy to help small rural health care
providers align resources, achieve economies of scale and efficiencies,
share decision-making authority, collaboratively address community
challenges, and create impactful, innovative solutions as a group
rather than single providers.
(b) Establish or scale an evidence-based model and disseminate
lessons learned for possible replication in other small communities and
regions.
(c) Identify a health-related problem within the applicant's
region, develop and implement a method and solution to overcome the
problem and conduct a program evaluation to examine health related
outcomes, long-term sustainability, and replicability. Implementation
may include construction or other related expenses that adhere to
requirements specified in this Notice.
The Agency encourages, but does not require, that applicants
consider the following high need topical areas: development of
integrated health care models, reducing facility bypass whether through
telemedicine or business plan adjustments, telehealth, electronic
health data sharing, workforce development, transportation,
paramedicine, obstetrics, behavioral health, farmworker health care,
cooperative home care, and supporting health care as a small community,
anchor institution.
(d) Establish a methodology to calculate summary impact measures or
an estimated return on investment for the grant funds requested,
including job creation/retention numbers, and improving quality of
life.
(e) Cover the cost of technical assistance to assist with one or
more aspects of project implementation, project evaluation, data
sharing, and/or reporting requirements.
(f) Cover indirect costs in an amount up to a federally negotiated
indirect cost rate. A copy of the current rate agreement must be
provided with the application. Applicants without a negotiated indirect
cost rate, except for those non-Federal entities described in Appendix
VII to Part 200--States and Local Government and Indian Tribe Indirect
Cost Proposals, paragraph (D)(1), may use the de minimis rate of 10
percent of modified total direct costs. Lead applicants may not request
indirect costs on behalf of any other consortium member.
(g) Make sub-awards in the form of a grant, cooperative agreement,
or contract, as appropriate, to other members of the consortium or
other service providers such as technical assistance providers. If a
grant or cooperative agreement is awarded, the organization receiving
the subaward is a subrecipient (see 2 CFR 200.1), and the recipient is
responsible for complying with all applicable requirements of 2 CFR
part 200, including provisions for making and monitoring an award. If a
contract is awarded, the organization receiving the subaward is a
contractor, and the recipient is responsible for following its written
procurement procedures and complying with the Federal Acquisition
Regulation. Both subrecipients and contractors are required to comply
with all applicable laws and regulations, including performance and
financial reporting, as described in their award document.
(h) To pay professional service fees and charges associated with
the grant
request if the Agency agrees that the amounts are reasonable and
customary for the type of facility and
(i) the professional service provider is selected through a
qualifications-based selection process; or
(ii) the professional service provider is the project architect,
project engineer, appraiser, environmental professional, environmental
consultant, or legal counsel, in which case a competitive
qualifications-based procurement process is not required.
(3) Grant funds must not be used to reimburse for the following
purposes:
(a) Expenses or losses that have been reimbursed from any other
sources or that other sources are obligated to reimburse.
(b) Expenses related to staffing needs may not exceed an annual
salary of $100,000, as prorated over the applicable time period. This
limitation is placed on cash compensation and does not include other
health care or retirement plan compensation.
(c) Construction, renovation, purchase, or acquisition costs for
facilities located in nonrural areas.
(d) Purchase or acquisition costs for facilities or property.
(e) Pay for existing indebtedness unrelated to the COVID-19
pandemic.
Refinance may be eligible for Track One, Recovery applicants for
short-term debt incurred for an eligible purpose outlined in paragraph
D. (1) above.
(f) With exception for eligible pre-award costs for Track One,
Recovery
applicants, paying obligations incurred before the beginning date
or after the ending date of the grant agreement; and
[[Page 44338]]
(g) Any purpose prohibited in 2 CFR part 200 or 2 CFR part 400.
V. Application Submission Information
A. Request Application Package
Entities wishing to apply for assistance may download the
application documents and requirements outlined in this NOFA from the
ERHC Grant Program web page: https://www.rd.usda.gov/erhc.
Track One, Recovery applicants must submit application packages to
the USDA Rural Development office in their state. Applications will be
processed by the USDA Rural Development State Office in the state where
the applicant's project is located. For project activities located in
more than one state, the applicant's headquarters location will
determine the applicable USDA Rural Development State Office. Agency
state office contact information is available at https://www.rd.usda.gov/about-rd/state-offices.
Track Two, Impact applicants must submit application packages to
the USDA Rural Development office in the state in which the applicant
organization is headquartered. If a Track Two applicant is
headquartered in the District of Columbia, the applicant must submit
its application package to the USDA Rural Development National Office
and the application will be processed by the USDA Rural Development
Maryland/Delaware State Office.
B. Content and Form of Application Submission
For Track One, Recovery applicants, the applicable USDA Rural
Development State Office will conduct an initial review, rating, and
selection of complete applications received by the date established in
this Notice, according to the selection criteria in this Notice.
Subsequent application reviews, rankings, and selections will occur for
all complete applications until funding has been fully utilized.
Complete applications must contain all parts necessary for the Agency
to determine applicant and project eligibility, ensure environmental
and architectural requirements are met, calculate a priority score, and
rank the application in order to be considered. Track One, Recovery,
applications deemed incomplete as of the date established in this
Notice will compete for any remaining funding once the applicant
submits a complete application. For as long as funding remains
available, the applicable USDA Rural Development State Office will work
with Track One, Recovery applicants to reach a complete application
status.
For Track Two, Impact applicants, the applicable USDA Rural
Development State Office will conduct initial eligibility reviews. The
USDA Rural Development National Office will coordinate application
reviews, rankings, and selections based on the information received by
the Agency as of the deadline established in this Notice.
The application for Track One and Track Two funding must include
the following:
(a) A summary page, double-spaced between items, listing the
following (this information should not be presented in narrative form):
(1) Track of funding requested: Track One, Recovery or Track Two,
Impact;
(2) Applicant's name;
(3) Amount of grant request, and
(4) Project description, no more than three sentences summarizing
applicant entity, location of assistance, and purpose and use of the
grant funds.
(b) A detailed Table of Contents containing page numbers for each
component of the application.
(c) One executed complete application. This includes the SF-424
``Application for Federal Assistance,'' and SF-424A ``Budget
Information--Non-Construction Programs'' or SF-424C ``Budget
Information--Construction Programs.''
(d) Organizational documents that demonstrate the applicant is an
eligible entity as described in Section IV. Eligibility Information.
Nonprofits must provide articles of organization, incorporation, or
association; by-laws; evidence of good standing; and evidence of ties
to the local rural community. Ties to the local rural community may be
demonstrated through: (1) Close association with, or controlled by a
local unit of government; (2) Broad-based ownership and control by
members of the community, as demonstrated through a listing and
description of board members; and/or (3) Substantial public funding as
demonstrated through pledged taxes, local government sources, or
community-wide fundraising campaign.
(e) Evidence of eligibility. Applicants must submit sufficient
documentation to demonstrate how the health care facility(ies) or
project to be funded through this grant primarily serves rural areas,
is located in a rural area, and serves a population with a median
household income below the poverty line or applicable percentage
defined in this Notice. This submission must describe the proposed
facility or project and its service area, including:
(1) Location of facility, including population demographics of that
location.
(2) Description of area and number and demographics (if known) of
populations to be served, sufficiently detailed to verify Project
Location Eligibility as outlined in Section IV. Eligibility Information
of this Notice; and
(3) Evidence that the facility or project will primarily serve
rural residents.
(f) A written budget narrative providing a detailed project budget,
which also includes the following information:
(1) The amount of funds requested from each Eligible Use of Grant
category, with a description of how the figure was calculated.
(2) A breakdown of project cost demonstrating the percentage of
total project costs that this grant assistance will cover. This grant
will cover a portion of total project costs as outlined in this Notice,
and dependent on population and median household income.
(3) The time period for which this assistance is requested. All
awards are limited to up to a 36-month grant period based upon the
complexity of the project. In limited circumstances and only with prior
Agency approval, the Agency may grant a no cost extension to the grant
period. Under no circumstance shall the grant period extend beyond five
full fiscal years past the award date.
For planning purposes, applicants should assume that the proposed
grant period will begin no earlier than November 1, 2021 and should end
no later than 36 months following that date. Eligible pre-award costs
may be requested for costs incurred between March 13, 2020, and the
project start date. If you receive an award, your grant period will be
revised to begin on the actual date of award--the date the grant
agreement is executed by the Agency--and your grant period end date
will be adjusted accordingly.
(g) Environmental information necessary to support the Agency's
environmental finding. Required information can be found in 7 CFR part
1970.
(h) For projects involving construction, a preliminary
architectural feasibility report or engineering documentation,
completed in accordance with Agency guidelines in RD Instruction 1942-
A, Guide 6.
(i) Description and certification of applicant's cost share
sources. For Track One, Recovery applicants seeking funds for lost
health care-related revenue or staffing associated with COVID-19
vaccines and/or testing, the applicant's
[[Page 44339]]
required cost share can be the applicable percentage of lost health
care revenue and actual staffing expenses.
(j) Three years of the most recent audits or financial statements,
including a current balance sheet and income and expense statement. If
audits are not available, applicants may provide this information on
Forms RD 442-7, ``Operating Budget,'' including projected cash flow; RD
442-2, ``Statement of Budget, Income and Equity,'' and RD 442-3
``Balance Sheet.''
(k) Intergovernmental Review comments, if applicable, from the
local planning district commission.
(l) Certification of Non-Lobbying Activities.
(m) Standard Form LLL, ``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities,'' if
applicable.
(n) Certification regarding any known relationship or association
with an Agency employee in accordance with 7 CFR part 1900, subpart D.
(o) For applicants requesting funds under Track One, Recovery, a
written narrative that includes:
(1) Description of how the assistance requested will broaden access
to COVID-19 vaccines, COVID-19 testing, health care services and/or
food bank or food distribution assistance in rural communities.
(2) If requesting funds for lost health care revenue or for
staffing needs, a CPA issued certification stating that:
(a) No funds requested have been reimbursed from other Federal or
state sources.
(b) No funds requested are obligated to be reimbursed from other
Federal or state sources; and
(c) Funds requested are reasonable, appropriate, and align with
actual or anticipated costs and/or lost revenues during the grant
period.
(q) For applicants requesting funds under Track Two, Impact,
provide a written narrative that addresses the following:
(1) Organizational Capacity and Strength of Consortium
(a) Evidence of an agreement formalizing a consortium for purposes
of this grant funding. The agreement must address the negotiated
arrangements for administering the grant funding to meet an applicant's
project goals and the roles and responsibilities of each consortium
member to comply with the administrative, financial, and reporting
requirements of the grant and all other applicable Federal regulations
and policies. This agreement must be signed by an authorized
representative of the lead entity applicant and an authorized
representative of each partnering consortium entity.
(b) Describe the actual composition of the consortium members and
how each member is appropriate and needed to successfully accomplish
project activities.
(c) Describe the abilities and contributions of the lead applicant
organization and other consortium members. Provide a brief overview
such as each organization's current mission, scope of current
activities, demonstrated experience serving rural populations, key
personnel to manage the award project, and access to financial
practices and systems to ensure that Federal funds can be properly
accounted for and managed.
(d) Evidence and description of how the consortium will maintain
ties to the local rural community(ies). If the lead applicant is
located in an urban area, describe the geographical relationship to the
proposed rural service population, and plans to ensure that rural
populations are served. Urban applicants must describe how they will
ensure a high degree of local rural control in the project. At least
66% (two-thirds) of consortium members must be located in a rural area
and primarily serve a rural area as defined by this Notice.
(e) Describe how the consortium will impact rural community(ies)
and providers, and how the network will strengthen its relationship
with the community and region it serves.
(f) Identify the project director for the award (or strategy for
hiring), along with key activities and approximate percentage of time
to be devoted to this project.
(2) Workplan and Proposed Budget
(a) Provide a project work plan that clearly illustrates the
consortium's goals, strategies, activities, and measurable outcomes
proposed during the entire period of performance. The work plan must
identify the individual or organization responsible for carrying out
each activity, include a timeline for the period of performance, and
illustrate its relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.
(b) Provide a complete, consistent, and detailed budget
presentation for up to a three-year period of performance through the
submission of the SF-424A budget form and a Budget Narrative that
justifies the appropriateness of the requested funds. The budget should
be reasonable in relation to the objectives, the complexity of the
activities, and the anticipated results. The budget narrative should
logically and clearly document how and why each line item request (such
as personnel, travel, equipment, contractual service, etc.) supports
the goals and activities of the proposed award-funded activities.
(3) Evaluation, Impact, and Replicability
(a) Describe how the proposed progress toward meeting program goals
contributes to the long-term sustainability of rural health care by
improving rural health care access, improving rural health outcomes,
and sustaining health care as an economic driver for the rural
community or region.
(b) Describe how progress toward meeting program goals and
determination of a return on investment will be tracked, measured, and
evaluated. How will this assessment contribute to the consortium's
quality improvement efforts and sustainability beyond the period of
Federal funding?
(c) Explain a process for evaluating how the consortium's resources
will be leveraged and utilized to increase access to health care
services, improve rural health outcomes, and/or support health care as
a key economic driver for small communities. Include a discussion
regarding the consortium's plan for any necessary data collection
efforts amongst members of the consortium, as well as any plans to
solicit or provide technical assistance to support these efforts.
(d) Identify factors and strategies that will lead to project
viability, sustainability of the consortium's activities after Federal
funding ends, and establishment of an evidence-based model for
dissemination of lessons learned for future replication.
C. Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) for Award
Management (SAM)
Grant applicants must obtain a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal
Numbering System (DUNS) number and register in the System for Award
Management (SAM) prior to submitting an application pursuant to 2 CFR
25.200(b). In addition, an entity applicant must maintain registration
in SAM at all times during which it has an active Federal award or an
application or plan under consideration by the Agency. 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.
Similarly, all recipients of Federal financial assistance are required
to report information about first-tier subawards and executive
compensation in accordance to 2 CFR part 170. So long as an entity
applicant does not have an
[[Page 44340]]
exception under 2 CFR 170.110(b), the applicant must have the necessary
processes and systems in place to comply with the reporting
requirements should the applicant receive funding. See 2 CFR
170.200(b).
An applicant, unless excepted under 2 CFR 25.110(b), (c), or (d),
is required to:
(a) Be registered in SAM before submitting its application;
(b) Provide a valid DUNS number in its application; and
(c) Continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current
information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or
an application or plan under consideration by a Federal awarding
agency.
The Federal awarding agency may not make a federal award to an
applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable DUNS and
SAM requirements and, if an applicant has not fully complied with the
requirements by the time the Federal awarding agency is ready to make a
Federal award, the Federal awarding agency may determine that the
applicant is not qualified to receive a Federal award and use that
determination as a basis for making a Federal award to another
applicant.
As required by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), all grant
applications must provide a DUNS number when applying for Federal
grants, on or after October 1, 2003. Organizations can receive a DUNS
number at no cost by calling the dedicated toll-free number at 1-866-
705-5711 or via internet at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform. Additional
information concerning this requirement can be obtained on the
Grants.gov website at http://www.grants.gov. Similarly, applicants may
register for SAM at https://www.sam.gov or by calling 1-866-606-8220.
The applicant must provide documentation that they are registered
in SAM and their DUNS number. If the applicant does not provide
documentation that they are registered in SAM and their DUNS number,
the application will not be considered for funding.
You no longer must complete the following forms for acceptance of a
federal award. This information is now collected through your
registration or annual recertification in SAM.gov in the Financial
Assistance General Certifications and Representations section:
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.''
D. Instructions and Resources
Instructions and additional resources for compiling and submitting
an application are available on the Emergency Rural Health Care Grant
Program web page at: https://www.rd.usda.gov/erhc.
E. Submission Dates and Times
The deadline date for applications to be considered for funding is
specified in the DATES section at the beginning of this notice.
VI. Application Review Information
Applications will first be reviewed to determine if they meet the
eligibility requirements in this Notice. If an application is deemed
ineligible, the application will not be processed, evaluated, or
scored. The Agency will notify ineligible applicants in writing
regarding the reason(s) for ineligibility.
Applications deemed eligible will be evaluated based on the
criteria below. Complete applications received by the deadline
specified in this Notice will be scored and ranked to determine which
applications are funded. Eligible and complete Track One, Recovery
applications received after the deadline specified in this Notice will
be reviewed and processed according to the criteria below for as long
as funding remains available.
The Agency will review each grant application to determine
eligibility. The applicant may be asked to provide additional
information or documentation to assist the Agency with this
determination.
A. Evaluation Criteria
Applications will be evaluated based only on the information
provided in the application. References to websites or publications
will not be reviewed, so full documentation and support of application
criteria is encouraged. Scoring and ranking of applications will be a
function of the criteria below.
(1) Track 1, Recovery applicants will receive a score based on the
criteria below (maximum 100 points):
a. Distressed Communities/Communities below the poverty line
threshold priority. 15 points will be given for facilities located in
distressed communities according to the EIG index or communities below
the poverty line. For applications supporting two or more facility
locations, these priority points will only be given if 50 percent or
more of the requested award funds will support distressed communities
or those communities below the poverty line. EIG's Distressed Community
Map can be found here: https://ruraldevelopment.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=06a26a91d074426d944d22715a90311e. Maximum 15
points will be given.
b. Income priority. If the median household income of the
facility's service area is below the higher of the poverty line or--
i. 60 percent of the State nonmetropolitan median household income:
20 points.
ii. 70 percent of the State nonmetropolitan median household
income: 15 points.
iii. 80 percent of the State nonmetropolitan median household
income: 10 points; or
iv. 90 percent of the State nonmetropolitan median household
income: 5 points.
c. Population priority. If the facility is located in a rural
community having a population, according to the most recent decennial
census, of--
i. 5,000 or less: 15 points.
ii. 5,001 to 10,000: 10 points; or
iii. 10,001 to 15,000: 5 points.
d. COVID-19 vaccine administration or testing priority. 20 points
will be given to applications that directly support activities to
administer COVID-19 vaccines or conduct COVID-19 testing. Maximum 20
points will be given.
e. COVID-19 Impacts priority. 20 points will be given to
applications with projects located in one of the top 10 percent of
counties or county equivalents based upon county risk score in the
United States. The risk score is calculated based on COVID-19 confirmed
cases (per 10,000 population); Distressed Communities Index (DCI); Job
Loss Projections (Bureau of Labor Statistics data) and the Center for
Disease Control's (CDC) Social Vulnerability Index (SVI). Counties that
qualify for the COVID-19 impact priority points are listed on the RD
web page at https://www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points. For applications
supporting two or more facility locations, these priority points will
only be given if 50 percent or more of the requested award funds will
support these high COVID-19 impact
[[Page 44341]]
counties. Maximum 20 points will be given.
f. Equity priority. 10 points will be given to applications with
projects located in a community with a score of 0.75 or above according
to the CDC's Social Vulnerability Index. Applicants may verify whether
projects qualify for these priority points by viewing the RD web page
at https://www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points. For applications supporting
two or more facility locations, these priority points will only be
given if 50 percent or more of the requested award funds will support
these communities identified for priority points through the CDC's
Social Vulnerability Index. Maximum 10 points will be given.
(2) Track Two, Impact applicants will receive a score based on the
criteria below (maximum score 100 points):
a. Distressed Communities/Communities below the poverty line
threshold priority. 10 points will be given for facilities or projects
targeting distressed communities according to the EIG index or
communities below the poverty line. For applications supporting two or
more facility locations, these priority points will only be given if 50
percent or more of the requested award funds will support distressed
communities or those communities below the poverty line. EIG's
Distressed Community Map can be found here: https://ruraldevelopment.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=06a26a91d074426d944d22715a90311e. Maximum 10 points will
be given.
b. Income priority. If the median household income of the project's
service area is below the higher of the poverty line or--
i. 60 percent of the State nonmetropolitan median household income:
15 points.
ii. 70 percent of the State nonmetropolitan median household
income: 12 points.
iii. 80 percent of the State nonmetropolitan median household
income: 9 points; or
iv. 90 percent of the State nonmetropolitan median household
income: 6 points.
c. Population priority. If the project or facility(ies) will be
located in a rural community having a population, according to the most
recent decennial census, of--
i. 5,000 or less: 10 points.
ii. 5,001 to 10,000: 6 points; or
iii. 10,001 to 15,000: 3 points.
d. Need, Methodology, and Innovation (maximum 25 points). The
Agency will utilize a panel of internal and/or external qualified
reviewers to assess need, methodology, and innovation along the
following factors:
i. The extent to which the application clearly describes the
purpose of the proposed project, the local/regional health care
environment and how the need was identified, expected outcomes, focus
area(s) and the aim(s) the project would support.
ii. The extent to which the applicant describes an innovative
approach to address the need, goals, and objectives and the
appropriateness of the proposed strategy.
iii. The extent to which the applicant's project will provide
demonstrable impact to rural community(ies) and the health care
community.
Maximum 25 points will be given.
e. Organizational Capacity and Strength of Consortium (maximum 15
points). The Agency will utilize a panel of internal and/or external
qualified reviewers to assess organizational capacity and strength of
consortium along the following factors:
i. Clarity of the roles and responsibilities for each consortium
member and the extent to which the network members demonstrate the
strength of their mutual commitment in carrying out the planning
activities.
ii. The extent to which the application identifies the composition,
capacity, and expertise of each consortium member and successfully
connects this expertise to the consortium members' (and project
director's) proposed responsibilities.
iii. The extent to which the application describes the geographical
relationship with the rural service population. Urban-based applicants
also must demonstrate how the rural population will be served, and that
a high degree of local rural control of the project will be maintained.
iv. Strength of the relationship between the consortium and the
community or region it serves. Degree to which the consortium
collaborates with appropriate organizations in the community to fulfill
the goals of the consortium and the project.
v. Strength and qualifications of the project director, who will
dedicate an appropriate amount of their time to the program and be
responsible for monitoring the program and ensuring award activities
are carried out. This element includes measuring the effectiveness of
the application in clearly demonstrating how the project director's
role contributes to the success of the network.
Maximum 15 points will be given.
f. Workplan and Proposed Budget (maximum 10 points). The Agency
will utilize a panel of internal and/or external qualified reviewers to
assess the workplan and proposed budget along the following factors:
i. The feasibility of activities and objectives identified in the
work plan including measurable outcomes and the extent to which the
expected outcomes this program will accomplish by the end of the period
of performance.
ii. The reasonableness of the proposed budget for each year of the
period of performance in relation to the objectives, the complexity of
the project activities, and the anticipated results.
Maximum 10 points will be given.
g. Evaluation, Impact, and Replicability (maximum 10 points). The
Agency will utilize a panel of internal and/or external qualified
reviewers to assess evaluation, impact, and replicability along the
following factors:
i. The clarity and appropriateness of the proposed goals,
objectives, strategy to calculate summary impact measures and/or return
on investment, and extent to which project activities would result in
achieving the proposed goals outlined in the work plan. The extent to
which measures are able to be tracked, to assess whether the program
objectives will be met and the extent to which these can be attributed
to the program.
ii. The appropriateness and strength of data collection efforts
from the lead applicant as well as other members of the consortium,
including any plans to solicit or provide technical assistance to
support data collection efforts.
iii. The appropriateness and strength of the proposed process for
evaluation.
iv. The extent to which the applicant clearly identifies factors
and strategies that will lead to viability and sustainability of the
network beyond Federal funding, and after the program ends. The clarity
and reasonableness of proposed steps to disseminate lessons learned and
encourage replication where appropriate.
Maximum 10 points will be given.
h. Equity priority (maximum 5 points) will be given to applications
with projects located in a community with a score of 0.75 or above
according to the CDC's Social Vulnerability Index. For applications
supporting two or more project locations, these priority points will
only be given if 50 percent or more of the requested award funds will
support these communities identified for priority points through the
CDC's Social Vulnerability Index. Applicants may verify whether
projects qualify for these priority points through a link on the RD
website.
Maximum 5 points will be given.
[[Page 44342]]
B. Review and Selection Process
All complete applications will be competed/ranked as specified
above. Due to the competitive nature of this program, applications
receiving the same score will be competed/ranked based on the Income
priority score, and then if necessary, the Population priority score. A
complete application contains all information requested by this Notice
and is sufficient to allow the determination of eligibility, score,
rank, and compete the application for funding, subject to funds
available. USDA Rural Development State Offices will work with Track
One, Recovery applicants to obtain a complete application for as long
as funding remains available.
For Track One, Recovery applicants, determinations of eligibility,
scoring, and ranking will occur at the applicable USDA Rural
Development State Office where the project is located. Applications
will compete for available funding allocated to the applicable USDA
Rural Development State Office. If no funding remains available at the
applicable State Office, the project will compete for available funding
held in the USDA Rural Development National Office reserve.
For Track Two, Impact applicants, eligibility determinations will
occur at the applicable USDA Rural Development State Office where the
lead applicant is headquartered. If a Track Two applicant is
headquartered in the District of Columbia, the applicant must submit
its application package to the USDA Rural Development National Office
and the application will be processed by the USDA Rural Development
Maryland/Delaware State Office. The USDA Rural Development National
Office will coordinate the application review, ranking, and selection
for Track Two, Impact applications. These applications will be
evaluated by an Application Review Panel consisting of qualified health
care experts using the criteria described in Section VI Application
Review Information of this Notice. Panel members will be selected by
the Agency and will be qualified to evaluate the type of work proposed
by the applicant. If you are interested in serving as a non-Federal
independent panel reviewer and have expertise as it relates to rural
health care, please send a resume addressing relevant qualifications
and experience to [email protected] no later than October 1,
2021.
In accordance with 2 CFR 200.206, the Agency will conduct a review
of risk posed by applicants. For Track One, Recovery and Track Two,
Impact applications that exceed $250,000, the Agency will review and
consider any information about the applicant that is in the designated
integrity and performance system accessible through SAM, currently the
Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS).
Applicants have the option to review information in FAPIIS and comment
on any information about itself that a Federal awarding agency
previously entered. The Agency will consider any comments by the
applicant, in addition to the other information in FAPIIS, in making a
judgment about the applicant's integrity, business ethics, and record
of performance under Federal awards when completing the review of risk
posed by applicants.
Applicants selected for funding will be provided a Letter of
Conditions. Upon acceptance of the conditions, the applicant will sign
and return to the processing office Forms RD 1942-46, ``Letter of
Intent to Meet Conditions'', and RD 1940-1, ``Request for Obligation of
Funds.'' The grant is approved on the date an Agency signed copy of
Form RD 1940-1, ``Request for Obligation of Funds,'' is mailed to the
applicant.
Prior to the disbursement of grant funds, applicants approved for
funding will be required to sign an Agency approved Grant Agreement,
meet any pre-disbursement conditions outlined in the Letter of
Conditions, and meet the applicable Statutory or Regulatory authority
for this action listed in Section I. Funding Opportunity Description.
In the event the application is not approved, the applicant will be
notified in writing of the reasons for rejection and provided
applicable review and appeal rights in accordance with 7 CFR part 11.
VII. Federal Awarding Administration Information
For Track One, Recovery grant recipients, the USDA Rural
Development State Office in the state where the applicant's project is
located will administer the selected awards. For Track Two, Impact
grant recipients, the USDA Rural Development State Office in the state
where the lead applicant is headquartered will administer the selected
awards. Agency state office contact information is available at https://www.rd.usda.gov/about-rd/state-offices.
As outlined in the letter of conditions and grant agreement issued
by the Agency, grant recipients will be required to provide annual
financial statements in accordance with 2 CFR part 200 as adopted by
the Agency in 2 CFR part 400. Grant recipients will also provide
performance and financial monitoring and reporting information in
accordance with 2 CFR part 200, subpart D, ``Post Federal Award
Requirements.''
VIII. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts
Jamie Davenport: USDA Rural Development, Community Facilities
Program. Telephone: (202) 720-0002, email: [email protected].
Persons with disabilities that require alternative means for
communication should contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Target Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice).
IX. Other Information
A. Paperwork Reduction Act
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 by July 16, 2021 of a new information
collection that contains the Information Collection and Recordkeeping
requirements contained in this notice.
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 ``Search'' box, type in the Docket No.
RHS-21-CF-0009. A link to the Notice will appear. You may submit a
comment here by selecting the ``Comment'' button or you can access the
``Docket'' tab, select the ``Notice,'' and go to the ``Browse & Comment
on Documents'' Tab. Here you may view comments that have been submitted
as well as submit a comment. To submit a comment, select the
``comment'' button, complete the required information, and select the
``Submit Comment'' button at the bottom. 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 ``FAQ'' link at the
bottom. Comments on this information collection must be received by
October 12, 2021.
[[Page 44343]]
Copies of all forms, regulations, and instructions referenced in
this NOFA may be obtained from RHS. Data furnished by the applicants
will be used to determine eligibility for program benefits. Furnishing
the data is voluntary; however, the 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 through the use of appropriate automated,
electronical, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques
or other forms of information technology.
OMB Control Number: 0575-0200.
Title: American Rescue Plan Act Emergency Rural Health Care (ERHC)
Grant Program.
Type of Request: New collection.
Abstract: The American Rescue Plan Act Emergency Rural Health Care
Grant Program was authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to
assist rural hospitals and local communities broaden access to COVID-19
vaccines, health care services, and food assistance through food banks
and food distribution facilities, and projects supporting the long-term
sustainability of rural health care. As authorized under Section 1002
of the American Rescue Plan Act, funds will be made available to
eligible applicants to offer support for rural health care services in
the form of immediate relief, longer-term funding to advance ideas and
solutions to support long-term sustainability of rural health, and
provide expeditious relief to address the current economic conditions
arising from the COVID-19 emergency.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average 3.70 hours per response.
Respondents: Public bodies, nonprofits, and Federally recognized
Tribes.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,392.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 16.
Estimated Number of Total Annual Responses: 54,300.
Estimated Total Annual Burden and Record Keeping Hours on
Respondents: 201,272 hours.
Copies of this information collection can be obtained from MaryPat
Daskal, Chief, Branch 1, Rural Development Innovation Center, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave. SW 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.
B. Civil Rights
Programs referenced in this Notice are subject to applicable Civil
Rights Laws. These laws include the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, Title
VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act
of 1968, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
C. Intergovernmental Review
The Emergency Rural Health Care Grant Program is subject to
Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal
Programs.'' Submit one copy of the application to the State government
single point of contact, if one has been designated, at the same time
as application submission to the Agency. If the project is located in
more than one state, submit a copy to each applicable state government
single point of contact. Go to https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/SPOC-4-13-20.pdf for state office contact information.
Applications from Federally recognized Indian tribes are not subject to
this requirement.
D. Executive Order 13175, Consultation and Coordination With Indian
Tribal Governments
Executive Order 13175 requires federal agencies to consult and
coordinate with tribes on a government-to-government basis on policies
that have tribal implications. USDA's Office of Tribal Relations and
Rural Development hosted a tribal consultation held virtually on May 4,
2021. The virtual meeting consisted of more than 120 participants, 30
of whom identified as Tribal Leaders or their proxies. USDA attendees
included the Director of the Office of Tribal Relations, the Acting
Administrator of RD's Rural Housing Service, RD's Chief Innovation
Officer, and RD's National Native American Coordinator.
Tribal leaders expressed strong interest in broad flexibility of
program design, allowing use of funds for construction, and offering
grant sizes considerably larger than the existing average Community
Facilities grant of $30,000 to support sizable, long-lasting impacts.
Leaders highlighted specific needs around behavioral health, workforce
development, data availability, food sovereignty, poverty, substance
use disorders, and other infrastructure needs such as broadband and
water. Leaders expressed concern that the cost-sharing requirements
imposed in the statute may be too burdensome and highlighted the need
for streamlined applications and limited reporting and federal data
collection requirements.
This NOFA takes into consideration Tribal leader comments,
particularly with respect to award size and use of funds. Cost-sharing
requirements are mandated in the American Rescue Plan Act.
E. Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act
All applicants, in accordance with 2 CFR part 25, must have a DUNS/
UEI number, which can be obtained at no cost via a toll-free request
line at (866) 705-5711 or online at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform. All
recipients of Federal financial assistance are required to report
information about first-tier sub-awards and executive total
compensation in accordance with 2 CFR part 170.
F. Non-Discrimination Statement
In accordance with Federal civil rights laws and U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its
Mission Areas, agencies, staff 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.
Program information may be made available in languages other than
English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of
communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large
print, audiotape, American Sign Language) should contact the
responsible Mission Area, agency, or staff office; the USDA
[[Page 44344]]
TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY); or the Federal Relay
Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a complainant should
complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form,
which can be obtained online at https://www.ocio.usda.gov/document/ad-3027, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a
letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant's
name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the
alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the
Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date
of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or
letter must be submitted to USDA by:
(1) Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC
20250-9410; or
(2) Fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
(3) Email: [email protected].
Chadwick Parker,
Acting Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-17199 Filed 8-11-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-P