[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 184 (Monday, September 27, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53270-53276]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-20810]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

[Docket #: RBS-21-BUSINESS-0032]


Notice of Solicitation of Applications for Inviting Applications 
for the Rural Business Development Grant Programs for Fiscal Year 2022

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice is given to invite applications for grants under 
the Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) Program for fiscal year 
(FY) 2022, subject to the availability of funding. This notice is being 
issued in order to allow applicants sufficient time to leverage 
financing, prepare and submit their applications, and give the Agency 
time to process applications within FY 2022. Successful applications 
will be selected by the Agency for funding and subsequently awarded to 
the extent that funding may ultimately be made available through 
appropriations. An announcement on the website at https://www.rd.usda.gov/newsroom/notices-solicitation-applications-nosas will 
identify the amount available in FY 2022 for RBDG applications. All 
applicants are responsible for any expenses incurred in developing 
their applications.

DATES: Complete applications may be submitted in paper or electronic 
format and must be received by 4:30 p.m. local time on February 28, 
2022, in the USDA Rural Development State Office for the State where 
the Project is located. A list of the USDA Rural Development State 
Offices can be found at: https://www.rd.usda.gov/about-rd/state-offices.

ADDRESSES: This funding announcement will also be announced on 
www.Grants.gov. Applications must be

[[Page 53271]]

submitted to the USDA Rural Development State Office for the State 
where the Project is located. For Projects involving multiple states, 
the application must be filed in the Rural Development State Office 
where the Applicant is located. Applicants are encouraged to contact 
their respective Rural Development State Office for an email contact to 
submit an electronic application prior to the submission deadline date. 
A list of the USDA Rural Development State Office contacts can be found 
at: https://www.rd.usda.gov/about-rd/state-offices.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lisa Sharp at [email protected], or 
Cindy Mason at [email protected], Program Management Division, Rural 
Business-Cooperative Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, MS 3226, Room 5160-South, Washington, DC 20250-
3226, or call (202) 720-1400. For further information on submitting 
program applications under this notice, please contact the USDA Rural 
Development State Office in the State where the applicant's 
headquarters is located. A list of Rural Development State Office 
contacts is provided at the following link: https://www.rd.usda.gov/about-rd/state-offices.

Overview

    Solicitation Opportunity Type: Rural Business Development Grant.
    Announcement Type: Initial Solicitation Announcement.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 10.351.
    Dates: The deadline for completed applications to be received in 
the USDA Rural Development State Office has been established as no 
later than 4:30 p.m. (local time) on February 28, 2022. A list of the 
USDA Rural Development State Offices can be found at: https://www.rd.usda.gov/about-rd/state-offices.
    Set Aside Funding: The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Pub. 
L. 116-260), designated funding for Federally-Recognized Native 
American Tribes, Rural Empowerment Zone/Enterprise Communities/Rural 
Economic Area Partnerships, projects in Persistent Poverty Counties (as 
discussed below), Native American Persistent Poverty areas and for 
Strategic Economic and Community Development (SECD) projects in FY 
2021. Set aside funding may ultimately be made available through 
appropriations in FY 2022 where continued emphasis is given to 
financial assistance for projects located in these areas. Eligible 
applicants for the Native American and Rural Empowerment Zone/
Enterprise Communities/Rural Economic Area Partnership set aside funds, 
if available, must demonstrate that at least 75 percent of the benefits 
of an approved grant will assist beneficiaries in the designated areas. 
Eligible applicants for the Persistent Poverty Counties, Native 
American Persistent Poverty areas, and the SECD set-aside funds, if 
available, must demonstrate that 100 percent of the benefits of an 
approved grant will assist beneficiaries in the designated areas. The 
completed application deadline for these set aside funds, if available, 
is consistent with the RBDG application deadline date of February 28, 
2022. Applicants for set aside funds must indicate that they are 
applying for set aside funds and may not submit a duplicate application 
for regular RBDG funds. If funding for an anticipated set aside program 
is not appropriated in FY 2022, or if any eligible applications for set 
aside funding are not funded due to insufficient funds, such 
applications will be allowed to compete for available FY 2022 regular 
RBDG funds in the State where the Project is located.
    Persistent poverty counties: The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 
2021 (Pub. L. 116-260) designated funding for projects in Persistent 
Poverty Counties. ``Persistent Poverty Counties'' as defined in Section 
736 is ``any county that has had 20 percent or more of its population 
living in poverty over the past 30 years, as measured by the 1990 and 
2000 decennial censuses, and 2007-2011 American Community Survey 5-year 
average, or any territory or possession of the United States''. Another 
provision in Section 736 expands the eligible population in Persistent 
Poverty Counties to include any county seat of such a Persistent 
Poverty County that has a population that does not exceed the 
authorized population limit by more than 10 percent. This provision 
expands the current 50,000 population limit to 55,000 for only county 
seats located in Persistent Poverty Counties. Therefore, beneficiaries 
of technical assistance services located in county seats of Persistent 
Poverty Counties with populations up to 55,000 (per the 2010 Census) 
are eligible.

A. Program Description

    1. Purpose of the Program. The purpose of the program is to promote 
economic development and job creation projects through the awarding of 
grant funds to eligible entities. Applications will compete in two 
separate categories, business opportunity grants and business 
enterprise grants, for use in funding various business and community 
projects that serve rural areas.
    Business opportunity projects must be in compliance with eligible 
uses as stated in 7 CFR 4280.417(a)(1) that include the establishment 
of business support centers or providing funds for job training and 
leadership development in rural areas. Business opportunity projects 
must be consistent with any local and area-wide strategic plans for 
community and economic development, coordinated with other economic 
development activities in the project area, and consistent with any 
Rural Development State Strategic Plan.
    Business enterprise projects must be in compliance with 7 CFR 
4280.417(a)(2) and are used to finance or develop small and emerging 
businesses in rural areas. Enterprise grant purposes include projects 
for the acquisition and development of land, access streets and roads, 
the conversion or modernization of buildings, capitalization of 
revolving loan funds and the purchase of machinery and equipment for 
businesses located in a rural area.
    The Agency encourages applicants to consider projects that will 
advance the key priorities below:
     Assisting Rural communities recover economically from the 
impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly disadvantaged 
communities.
     Ensuring all rural residents have equitable access to RD 
programs and benefits from RD funded projects.
     Reducing climate pollution and increasing resilience to 
the impacts of climate change through economic support to rural 
communities.
    2. Statutory and Regulatory Authority. The RBDG Program is 
authorized under 7 U.S.C. 1932(c) and implemented by 7 CFR part 4280, 
subpart E. Assistance provided under the RBDG Program will be made to 
eligible entities and will be used for funding various business 
opportunity projects and business enterprise projects, as applicable, 
that serve Rural Areas.
    3. Definition of Terms. The definitions applicable to this notice 
are published at 7 CFR 4280.403.
    4. Application Awards. Awards under the RBDG Program will be made 
on a competitive basis using specific selection criteria contained in 7 
CFR part 4280, subpart E. The Agency will review, evaluate, and score 
applications received in response to this notice based on the 
provisions found in 7 CFR part 4280, subpart E, and as indicated in 
this notice. The Agency advises all interested parties that the 
applicant bears the full burden in preparing and submitting an 
application in response to this notice whether or not funding is

[[Page 53272]]

appropriated for this Program in FY 2022.

B. Federal Award Information

    Type of Awards: Grants.
    Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2022.
    Available Funds: Anyone interested in submitting an application for 
funding under this Program is encouraged to consult the Rural 
Development Notices of Solicitation of Applications website at http://www.rd.usda.gov/newsroom/notices-solicitation-applications-nosas.
    Anticipated Award Dates: Set Aside awards, if applicable: May 31, 
2022. Regular awards: August 31, 2022.
    Performance Period: June 1, 2022, through September 30, 2024.
    Renewal or Supplemental Awards: None.

C. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants.
    Grants may be made to a Public Body/Government Entity, an Indian 
Tribe, or a Nonprofit entity primarily serving rural areas. In 
accordance with 7 CFR 4280.416(d), applicants that are not delinquent 
on any Federal debt or not otherwise disqualified from participation in 
these Programs are eligible to apply. The Agency will check the System 
for Award Management (SAM) to determine if the applicant has been 
debarred or suspended at the time of application and prior to the 
awarding of grant funds.
    2. Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System and System 
for Award Management.
    All applicants must have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal 
Numbering System (DUNS) number which can be obtained at no cost via a 
toll-free request line at (866) 705-5711 or at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform or any subsequent unique entity identifier number. Each 
applicant applying for loan or grant funds must (i) be registered in 
the System for Award Management (SAM) before submitting its application 
and (ii) provide a valid unique entity identifier in its application, 
unless determined exempt under 2 CFR 25.110. Applicants must maintain 
an active SAM registration, with current, accurate and complete 
information, at all times during which it has an active Federal award 
or an application under consideration by a Federal awarding agency. 
Applicants must ensure they complete the Financial Assistance General 
Certifications and Representations in SAM.
    The Agency will not make an award until the applicant has complied 
with all applicable DUNS (unique entity identifier) and SAM 
requirements. If an applicant has not fully complied with the 
requirements by the time the Agency is ready to make an award, the 
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.
    All other restrictions in this notice will apply.
    The Agency requires information to make an eligibility 
determination through applications that must include, but are not 
limited to, the following:
    (a) An original and one copy of SF-424, ``Application For Federal 
Assistance (For Non-construction)'' and an original Form RD 400-4, 
``Assurance Agreement'';
    (b) Copies of applicant's organizational documents showing the 
applicant's legal existence and authority to perform the activities 
under the grant;
    (c) A proposed scope of work, including a description of the 
proposed Project. Grant funds may be used for projects identified in 7 
CFR 4280.417(a) as either a business opportunity type grant or a 
business enterprise type grant. The scope of work must include details 
of the proposed activities to be accomplished and timeframes for 
completion of each task, the number of months duration of the Project, 
and the estimated time it will take from grant approval to beginning of 
Project implementation. In accordance with 7 CFR 4280.421, a Project 
must reasonably be expected to be completed within 1 full year after it 
has begun;
    (d) A written narrative that includes, at a minimum, the following 
items:
    (1) An explanation of why the Project is needed, the benefits of 
the proposed Project, and how the Project meets the eligible grant 
purposes;
    (2) Area to be served, identifying each governmental unit, i.e., 
town, county, Indian reservation, etc., to be affected by the Project;
    (3) Description of how the Project will coordinate Economic 
Development activities with other Economic Development activities 
within the Project area;
    (4) Business to be assisted, if appropriate, and Economic 
Development to be accomplished;
    (5) An explanation of how the proposed Project will result in newly 
created, increased, or supported jobs in the area and the number of 
projected new and supported jobs within the next 3 years;
    (6) A description of the applicant's demonstrated capability and 
experience in providing the proposed Project assistance or similar 
Economic Development activities, including experience of key staff 
members and persons who will be providing the proposed Project 
activities and managing the Project;
    (7) The method and rationale used to select the areas and 
businesses that will receive the service;
    (8) A brief description of how the work will be performed including 
whether organizational staff or consultants or contractors will be 
used;
    (9) Please note that no assistance or funding can be provided to 
hemp producers or processors unless they have a valid license issued 
from an approved State, Tribal or Federal plan as per Section 10113 of 
the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, Public Law 115-334. 
Verification of valid hemp licenses will occur at the time of award; 
and
    (10) Other information the Agency may request to assist in making a 
grant award determination.
    (e) The latest 3 years of financial information to show the 
applicant's financial capacity to carry out the proposed work. If the 
applicant is less than 3 years old, at a minimum, the information 
should include all balance sheet(s), income statement(s), and cash flow 
statement(s) since the date of the applicant's formation. A current 
financial statement of the applicant, within 90 days of the application 
submission, is required;
    (f) Intergovernmental review comments from the State Single Point 
of Contact, or evidence that the State has elected not to review the 
program under Executive Order 12372. Applications from federally 
recognized tribes are exempt from this requirement;
    (g) Documentation regarding the availability and amount of other 
funds to be used in conjunction with the funds from the RBDG award;
    (h) A budget which includes salaries, fringe benefits, consultant 
costs, indirect costs, and other appropriate direct costs for the 
Project; and
    (i) RBDG construction project grants must conform with 7 CFR part 
1924, subpart A and the environmental policies and procedures of 7 CFR 
part 1970.
    3. General Processing and Scoring Provisions.
    The Agency will review each application for assistance in 
accordance with the scoring provisions and program priorities 
established in 7 CFR 4280.435. The Agency will assign each application 
a priority rating based on the total score and will select applications 
for funding based on the priority ratings and the total funds available 
to the program for opportunity-type projects and enterprise-type 
projects.

[[Page 53273]]

    (a) The Agency will score each application based on the information 
contained in the application and its supporting information. All 
applications submitted for funding must be in one package and contain 
sufficient information to permit the Agency to complete a thorough 
priority rating. Agency employees may not consider any information that 
is not provided by the applicant in writing for scoring purposes. 
Applications will not be considered for funding if they do not provide 
sufficient information to determine eligibility or are missing required 
elements. Points will be awarded to an eligible application as follows:
     Leveraging. If the grant will fund a critical element of a 
larger program of Economic Development, without which the overall 
program either could not proceed or would be far less effective, or if 
the program to be assisted by the grant will also be partially funded 
from other sources, points will be awarded if Rural Development's 
funding is: (i) Less than 20 percent of the project costs--30 points; 
(ii) between 20 percent and up to 50 percent of the project--20 points; 
(iii) between 51 percent and up to 75 percent of the project--10 
points. The application must contain a firm commitment in writing of 
other funding for the project or points will not be awarded to the 
application for leveraging.
     Demographics. Points will be awarded for each of the 
following criteria met by the community or communities that will 
receive the benefit of the grant, up to a total of 40 points from all 
categories: (i) Communities experiencing trauma due to a major natural 
disaster that occurred not more than 3 years prior to the filing of the 
application for assistance will be awarded 15 points; (ii) Communities 
that have suffered a loss of 20 percent or more in their total jobs 
caused by the closure of a military facility or other employers within 
the last 3 years will be awarded 15 points; (iii) Communities that have 
experienced Long-Term poverty as demonstrated by being a former Rural 
empowerment zone, Rural economic area partnership zone, Rural 
enterprise community, champion community, or a persistent poverty 
county as determined by USDA's Economic Research Service will receive 
10 points; and (iv) If the community has experienced Long-Term 
population decline as demonstrated by the latest three decennial 
censuses, 10 points will be awarded.
     Population. Points will be awarded if the proposed 
project(s) will be located in a community of: (i) Under 5,000 
population--15 points; (ii) Between 5,000 and up to 15,000 population--
10 points; or (iii) Between 15,001 and 25,000 population--5 points.
     Unemployment. If the proposed project will be located in 
areas where the unemployment rate: (i) Exceeds the State rate by 25 
percent or more--20 points will be awarded; (ii) exceeds the State rate 
by less than 25 percent--10 points will be awarded; or (iii) is equal 
to or less than the State unemployment rate--0 points will be awarded.
     Median household income. If the proposed project(s) will 
be located in areas where Median Household Income (MHI) as prescribed 
by section 673(2) of the Community Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C 
106) for a family of 4 for the State is: (i) Less than or equal to the 
poverty line--25 points will be awarded; (ii) More than the poverty 
line but less than 65 percent of State MHI--15 points will be awarded; 
(iii) Between 65 and 85 percent of the State MHI--10 points will be 
awarded; or (iv) If the area has greater than 85 percent of the State 
MHI--0 points will be awarded.
     Experience. If the applicant provides evidence of 
successful experience in the type of activity proposed based on its 
current employees' resumes demonstrating: (i) 10 or more years of 
experience--30 points will be awarded; (ii) At least 5 but less than 10 
years of experience--20 points will be awarded; (iii) At least 3 years 
but less than 5 years of experience--10 points will be awarded; or (iv) 
At least 1 but less than 3 years of experience--5 points will be 
awarded.
     Small business start-up or expansion. If the Applicant has 
evidence that small business development will be supported by startup 
or expansion as a result of the activities to be carried out under the 
grant by written evidence provided to the Agency from a small, or a 
Small and Emerging Business that includes the number of jobs that will 
be supported and created, 5 points will be awarded for each letter up 
to a total of 25 points. Letters must address the specific business 
producing the letter, the connection to the project activities and 
provide further information relative to job creation and support to 
meet the letter of support criteria. Generic or duplicated letters are 
not acceptable under this criterion.
     Jobs created or supported. Points will be awarded if the 
anticipated development, expansion, or furtherance of business 
enterprises as a result of the proposed Project will create and/or 
support existing jobs associated with the affected businesses. The 
number of jobs must be evidenced by a written commitment from the 
business(es) to be assisted. Points will be awarded based on the ratio 
of jobs to be supported by the amount of grant funds. For projects 
supporting: (i) One job for less than $5,000 of grant funds--25 points 
will be awarded; (ii) one job for $5,000 but less than $10,000 of grant 
funds--20 points; (iii) one job for $10,000 but less than $15,000--15 
points; (iv) one job for $15,000 but less than $20,000--10 points; or 
(v) one job for $20,000 but less than $25,000 of grant funds--5 points 
will be awarded.
     Size of grant request. Projects utilizing grant funds of: 
(i) Less than $100,000--25 points will be awarded; (ii) $100,000 to 
$200,000--15 points will be awarded; or (iii) more than $200,000 but 
equal to or less than $500,000--10 points will be awarded. No points 
will be awarded to applications of $500,000 or greater.
     Indirect cost. If the applicant is not requesting grant 
funds to cover their administrative or indirect costs, 5 points will be 
awarded.
     Discretionary points. Either the State Director or 
Administrator may assign up to 50 discretionary points to an 
application when under their approval authority. Assignment of 
discretionary points must include a written justification. Permissible 
justifications are geographic distribution of funds, special Secretary 
of Agriculture initiatives such as Priority Communities, or a state's 
strategic goals. The number of points to be awarded will be determined 
by the impact of the project on the stated initiative. Discretionary 
points may only be assigned to initial grants. However, in the case 
where two Projects have the same score, the State Director may add one 
point to the Project that best fits the State's strategic plan 
regardless of whether the Project is an initial or subsequent grant. 
The following are examples of special Secretary of Agriculture 
initiatives that can support obtaining discretionary points.
    (i) Assisting rural communities recover economically from the 
impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly disadvantaged 
communities. Applicant may receive priority points if the project is 
located in or serving one of the top 10% of counties or county 
equivalents based upon county risk score in the United States. The 
website, https://www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points, has the data to 
confirm if your location qualifies or not.
    (ii) Ensuring all rural residents have equitable access to RD 
programs and benefits from RD funded projects. Applicant may receive 
priority points if

[[Page 53274]]

the project is located in or serving a community with score 0.75 or 
above on the CDC Social Vulnerability Index. The website, https://www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points, has the data to confirm if your 
location qualifies or not.
    (iii) Reduce climate pollution and increasing resilience to the 
impacts of climate change through economic support to rural 
communities. Applicants may receive points if the project is located in 
or serving coal, oil and gas, and power plant communities whose 
economic well-being ranks in the most distressed tier of the Distressed 
Communities Index. The website, https://www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points, has the data to confirm if your location qualifies or not. Or, 
applicants may receive points by demonstrating how proposed climate-
impact projects improve the livelihoods of community residents and meet 
pollution mitigation or clean energy goals.
    (b) Unfunded applications. The Agency will notify eligible 
applicants in writing if RBDG funds are not available. The applicant is 
permitted to respond in writing that they wish their application to be 
reconsidered in the next fiscal year. The applicant may provide 
additional updated information to the Agency prior to the next fiscal 
year's application deadline for their project.
    (c) Unfunded applications for set aside funding. The Agency will 
notify eligible applicants in writing if set aside funds are not 
available. Applications that are eligible for set aside funds but are 
unfunded due to the availability of funds will be allowed to compete 
for available FY 2022 regular RBDG funds in the State where the Project 
is located. For Projects involving multiple states, the application 
will be returned to the Rural Development State Office where the 
Applicant is located and will compete for funds in that State. The 
Agency will notify eligible applicants in writing if their application 
will not be funded in FY 2022 due to insufficient funds in the set 
aside and regular RBDG programs.

D. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package.
    For further information, entities wishing to apply for assistance 
should contact the USDA Rural Development State Office provided in the 
ADDRESSES section of this notice to obtain copies of the application 
package.
    Prior to official submission of grant applications, applicants may 
request technical assistance or other application guidance from the 
Agency, as long as such requests are made prior to February 11, 2022. 
Technical assistance is not meant to be an analysis or assessment of 
the quality of the materials submitted, a substitute for agency review 
of completed applications, nor a determination of eligibility.
    The Agency will not solicit or consider scoring or eligibility 
information that is submitted after the application deadline. The 
Agency reserves the right to contact applicants to seek clarification 
information on materials contained in the submitted application.
    Applications may be submitted in paper or electronic format to the 
appropriate Rural Development State Office and must be received by 4:30 
p.m. local time on February 28, 2022. Applicants are encouraged to 
contact their respective Rural Development State Office for an email 
contact to submit an electronic application prior to the submission 
deadline date(s). All applicants must have a Dun and Bradstreet Data 
Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number which can be obtained at no 
cost via a toll-free request line at: (866) 705-5711 or at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform. Each applicant applying for grant funds (unless 
the applicant is an individual or Federal awarding agency that is 
excepted from the requirements under 2 CFR 25.110(b) or (c) or has an 
exception approved by the Federal awarding agency under 2 CFR 
25.110(d)) is required to: (i) Be registered in the System for Award 
Management (SAM) before submitting its application; (ii) provide a 
valid unique entity identifier in its application; and (iii) 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 unique entity identifier 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.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission.
    An application must contain all of the required elements and be 
submitted in one package. Each selection priority criterion outlined in 
7 CFR 4280.427 must be addressed in the application. Failure to address 
any of the criterion will result in a zero-point score for that 
criterion and will impact the overall evaluation of the application. An 
original copy of the application must be filed with the Rural 
Development State Office for the State where the Project is located. 
For Projects involving multiple states, the application must be filed 
in the Rural Development State Office where the Applicant is located.
    The applicant documentation and forms needed for a complete 
application are located in the PROGRAM DESCRIPTION section of this 
notice, and in 7 CFR part 4280, subpart E, a copy of which will be 
provided to any interested applicant making a request to a Rural 
Development State Office. There are no specific formats required per 
this notice, and applicants may request forms and addresses from the 
ADDRESSES section of this notice. Any form that requires an original 
signature but is signed electronically in the application submission 
must be signed in ink by the authorized person prior to the 
disbursement of funds.
    (a) There are no specific limitations on the number of pages or 
other formatting requirements other than those described in the PROGRAM 
DESCRIPTION section.
    (b) There are no specific limitations on the number of pages, font 
size and type face, margins, paper size, and the sequence or assembly 
requirements but the application package should be well organized and 
include a table of contents, if appropriate.
    (c) The component pieces of this application should contain 
original signatures on the original application.
    3. Submission Dates and Times.
    (a) Application Deadline Dates: Applications must be submitted to 
the appropriate Rural Development State Office no later than 4:30 p.m. 
(local time) on February 28, 2022.
    (b) The deadline date means that the completed application package 
must be received in the USDA Rural Development State Office by the 
established deadline date and time. All application documents 
identified in this notice are required in the submission to be 
considered a complete application. The Agency will determine the 
application receipt date for paper applications based on the actual 
date postmarked. The date of receipt for electronic application 
submissions will be the date received in the Rural Development State 
Office by the designated Agency staff person.
    (c) If completed applications are not received by the February 28, 
2022, deadline, the application will neither be

[[Page 53275]]

reviewed nor considered for funding under any circumstances.
    (d) Indirect costs will be permitted in accordance with applicable 
law and in accordance with 2 CFR part 200. Pre-Federal award costs will 
only be permitted with prior written approval by the Agency.
    (e) Applicants may submit applications in hard copy or electronic 
format as previously indicated in the Application and Submission 
Information section of this notice. If the applicant wishes to hand 
deliver its application, the addresses for these deliveries are located 
in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.
    (f) If you require alternative means of communication for program 
information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) please 
contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

E. Application Review Information

    1. Criteria.
    All eligible and complete applications will be evaluated and scored 
based on the selection criteria and weights contained in 7 CFR part 
4280, subpart E. Failure to address any one of the criteria by the 
application deadline will result in the application being determined 
ineligible, and the application will not be considered for funding.
    2. Review and Selection Process.
    The Rural Development State Offices will review applications to 
determine if they are eligible for assistance based on requirements 
contained in 7 CFR 4280.416 and 7 CFR 4280.417. Funding of projects is 
subject to the availability of funds and Applicant's satisfactory 
submission of the items required by 7 CFR part 4280, subpart E and this 
Notice, in addition to any conditions specifically outlined in any 
issued USDA Rural Development Letter of Conditions if available funds 
are to be awarded.
    Applications for set aside funds, if available, will compete at the 
National Office in their respective categories. Applications for 
regular RBDG projects will compete at the state level in their 
respective category, business opportunity grants or business enterprise 
grants, for funding made available through Rural Development State 
allocated funds. Applications will be reviewed, prioritized by score, 
and funded by ranking each Project in highest to lowest score order 
until available funds are exhausted. If funds are exhausted at the 
state level, each State's highest scoring unfunded business enterprise 
project will have the opportunity to compete for funding through a 
final national competition.

F. Federal Award Administration Information

    1. Federal Award Notices.
    Successful applicants will receive notification for funding from 
the Rural Development State Office. Applicants must comply with all 
applicable statutes and regulations before the grant award can be 
approved and funded. If an application is withdrawn by the applicant, 
it can be resubmitted later and will be evaluated as a new application 
in the period submitted.
    2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements.
    Additional requirements that apply to grantees selected for this 
Program can be found in 7 CFR part 4280, subpart E. Awards are subject 
to USDA grant regulations at 2 CFR part 400 which incorporated the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations at 2 CFR part 200.
    All successful applicants will be notified by letter which will 
include a Letter of Conditions and a Letter of Intent to Meet 
Conditions. This letter is not an authorization to begin performance, 
but it is a notification that grant funds may be awarded subject to 
conditions. The grant will be considered officially awarded when all 
conditions in the Letter of Conditions have been met and the Agency 
obligates the funding for the Project. If the applicant wishes to 
consider beginning their project performance prior to the grant being 
officially closed, all pre-award costs must be approved in writing and 
in advance by the Agency.
    Additional requirements that apply to grantees selected for these 
Programs can be found in 7 CFR part 4280, subpart E, the Grants and 
Agreements regulations of the U.S. Department of Agriculture codified 
in 2 CFR 400.1 to 400.2 and 2 CFR parts 415 to 422, and successor 
regulations to these parts.
    In addition, all recipients of Federal financial assistance are 
required to report information about first-tier sub-awards and 
executive compensation (see 2 CFR part 170). The applicant will be 
required to have the necessary processes and systems in place to comply 
with the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 
(Pub. L. 109-282) reporting requirements (see 2 CFR 170.200(b), unless 
the recipient is exempt under 2 CFR 170.110(b)).
    The following additional requirements apply to grantees selected 
for these Programs:
    (a) Form RD 4280-2 ``Rural Business-Cooperative Service Financial 
Assistance Agreement.''
    (b) Letter of Conditions.
    (c) Form RD 1940-1, ``Request for Obligation of Funds.''
    (d) Form RD 1942-46, ``Letter of Intent to Meet Conditions.''
    (e) SF LLL, ``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities,'' if applicable.
    (f) Grantees will use Form SF 270, ``Request for Advance or 
Reimbursement'' when requesting grant funds from the Agency.
    3. Reporting.
    (a) A Financial Status Report and a Project performance activity 
report will be required of all grantees on a quarterly basis until 
initial funds are expended and yearly thereafter, if applicable, based 
on the Federal fiscal year. Grantees must continuously monitor 
performance to ensure that time schedules are being met, projected work 
by time periods is being accomplished, and other performance objectives 
are being achieved. Grantees must submit an original of each report to 
the Agency no later than 30 days after the end of the quarter. The 
grantee will complete the Project within the total time available to it 
in accordance with the Scope of Work and any necessary modifications 
thereof prepared by the grantee and approved by the Agency. A final 
Project performance report will be required with the final Financial 
Status Report. The final report may serve as the last quarterly report. 
The final report must provide complete information regarding the jobs 
created and supported as a result of the RBDG grant if applicable. The 
Project performance reports must include, but not be limited to, the 
following:
    (1) A comparison of actual accomplishments to the objectives 
established for that period.
    (2) Problems, delays, or adverse conditions, if any, which have 
affected or will affect attainment of overall Project objectives, 
prevent meeting time schedules or objectives, or preclude the 
attainment of particular Project work elements during established time 
periods. This disclosure shall be accompanied by a statement of the 
action taken or planned to resolve the situation.
    (3) Objectives and timetable established for the next reporting 
period.
    (4) Any special reporting requirements, such as jobs supported and 
created, businesses assisted, or economic development which results in 
improvements in median household incomes, and any other specific 
requirements, will be placed in the reporting section of the Letter of 
Conditions.
    (5) Within 90 days after the conclusion of the Project, the grantee

[[Page 53276]]

will provide a final Project evaluation report. The last quarterly 
payment will be withheld until the final report is received and 
approved by the Agency. Even though the grantee may request 
reimbursement on a monthly basis, the last 3 months of reimbursements 
will be withheld until a final report, Project performance, and 
financial status report are received and approved by the Agency.
    (b) In addition to any reports required by 2 CFR part 200 and 2 CFR 
400.1 to 400.2, and 2 CFR parts 415 to 422, the grantee must provide 
reports as required by 7 CFR part 4280, subpart E.

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s)

    For general questions about this announcement, please contact your 
USDA Rural Development State Office provided in the ADDRESSES section 
of this notice.

H. Civil Rights Requirements

    All grants made under this notice are subject to Title VI of the 
Civil Rights Act of 1964 as required by the USDA (7 CFR part 15, 
subpart A) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title 
VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, Title IX, Executive Order 13166 
(Limited English Proficiency), Executive Order 11246, and the Equal 
Credit Opportunity Act of 1974.

I. Other Information

Paperwork Reduction Act

    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
information collection requirement contained in this notice is approved 
by OMB under OMB Control Number 0570-0070.

Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act

    All applicants, in accordance with 2 CFR part 25, must have a DUNS 
number, which can be obtained at no cost via a toll-free request line 
at (866) 705-5711 or online at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform. 
Similarly, all applicants applying for grant funds must be registered 
in SAM prior to submitting an application. Applicants may register for 
the SAM at http://www.sam.gov/SAM. All recipients of Federal financial 
grant assistance are required to report information about first-tier 
sub-awards and executive total compensation in accordance with 2 CFR 
part 170.

Nondiscrimination Statement

    In accordance with Federal civil rights 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 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].
    USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Karama Neal,
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-20810 Filed 9-24-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XY-P