[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 3, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22979-22988]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-07005]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

[Docket #: RBS-24-CO-OP-0002]


Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Socially Disadvantaged 
Groups Grant for Fiscal Year 2024

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces that the Rural Business-Cooperative 
Service (RBCS or the Agency), a Rural Development (RD) agency of the 
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), invites applications 
for grants under the Socially Disadvantaged Groups Grant (SDGG) program 
for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024. This notice is being issued to allow 
applicants sufficient time to leverage financing, prepare and submit 
their applications, and give the Agency time to process applications 
within FY 2024. A total of $3,000,000 in grant funding will be 
available for FY

[[Page 22980]]

2024. 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. All applicants are 
responsible for any expenses incurred in developing and submitting 
their applications.

DATES: Complete applications for grants must be submitted 
electronically by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on June 3, 2024, through 
www.grants.gov to be eligible for grant funding. Applications received 
after the deadline are not eligible for funding under this notice and 
will not be evaluated. Applicants are advised to not wait until the 
application deadline date to begin the application process through 
Grants.gov.

ADDRESSES: Applicants are encouraged to contact the USDA RD State 
Office prior to May 3, 2024 to discuss the project and ask any 
questions about the application process. Contact information for USDA 
RD State Offices can be found at www.rd.usda.gov/contact-us/state-offices.
    Program guidance as well as application templates may be obtained 
at www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/socially-disadvantaged-groups-grant or by contacting the USDA RD State Office. To submit an 
electronic application, follow the instructions for the SDGG funding 
announcement located at www.grants.gov. Applicants are strongly 
encouraged to file applications early to allow sufficient time to 
manage any technical issues.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Arti Kshirsagar at 
[email protected], Program Management Division, RBCS, USDA, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, Mail Stop 3226, Washington, DC 20250-3226 or 
call (202) 720-1400.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Overview

    Federal Awarding Agency Name: Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
    Funding Opportunity Title: Socially Disadvantaged Groups Grant.
    Announcement Type: Notice of Funding Opportunity.
    Funding Opportunity Number: RBCS-SDGG-22024.
    Assistance Listing Number: 10.871.
    Dates: Complete applications for grants must be submitted 
electronically no later than 11:59 p.m. ET on June 3, 2024, through 
www.grants.gov to be eligible for grant funding. Applications received 
after the deadline are not eligible for funding under this notice and 
will not be evaluated.
    Rural Development Key Priorities. The Agency encourages applicants 
to consider projects that will advance the following key priorities 
(more details available at www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points):
     Addressing Climate Change and Environmental Justice; 
Reducing climate pollution and increasing resilience to the impacts of 
climate change through economic support to rural communities.
     Advancing Racial Justice, Place-Based Equity, and 
Opportunity; Ensuring all rural residents have equitable access to RD 
programs and benefits from RD funded projects.
     Creating More and Better Market Opportunities; Assisting 
rural communities recover economically through more and better market 
opportunities and through improved infrastructure.

A. Program Description

    1. Purpose of the Program. The primary objective of the SDGG 
program is to provide technical assistance for cooperative development 
to socially disadvantaged groups through cooperatives and cooperative 
development centers. Grants must be used to provide technical 
assistance to socially disadvantaged groups in rural areas. Eligible 
applicants are cooperative development centers, individual 
cooperatives, or groups of cooperatives (i) that serve socially 
disadvantaged groups and (ii) of which a majority (i.e., greater than 
50 percent rounded to the nearest tenth) of the board of directors or 
governing board is comprised of individuals who are members of socially 
disadvantaged groups.
    2. Statutory and Regulatory Authority. The SDGG program is 
authorized by the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 
1932(e)(11)).
    Section 736 of Division B of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 
2024, Public Law 118-42 (the ``2024 Appropriations Act''), designates 
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 county seats located in persistent poverty 
counties. Therefore, applicants and/or beneficiaries of technical 
assistance services located in persistent poverty county seats with 
populations up to 55,000 are eligible.
    3. Definitions. The following are the definitions for terms used in 
this notice. Additional terms used in this notice are found in the 
applicable laws and regulations, in particular 2 CFR part 200 and 7 CFR 
part 11. The first letter of each word in a defined term is capitalized 
throughout this notice for easy identification.
    Agency. RBCS, an agency of the USDA RD or a successor agency.
    Board of Directors/Governing Board--The group of individuals that 
govern, manage or direct a cooperative development center, cooperative, 
or group of cooperatives.
    Conflict of Interest. A Conflict of Interest occurs in a situation 
in which a person or entity has a competing, or the appearance of a 
competing, personal, professional, or financial interests that makes it 
difficult for the person or entity to act impartially. No Conflict of 
Interest or appearance thereof will be allowed.
    For purposes of this program, contractual relationship/payment from 
grant funds among the following individuals constitute a Conflict of 
Interest or appearance of a Conflict of Interest: (1) Applicant Board 
of Directors, employees, consultants, and contractors, (2) 
Subrecipients and their employees, consultants, and contractors, and 
(3) Immediate family members of the above.
    Federal procurement standards prohibit transactions that involve a 
real or apparent Conflict of Interest for owners, employees, officers, 
agents, or their immediate family members having a financial or other 
interest in the outcome of the project or that restrict open and free 
competition for unrestrained trade. Specifically, project funds may not 
be used for services or goods going to, or coming from, a person or 
entity with a real or apparent Conflict of Interest, including, but not 
limited to, owner(s) and their Immediate family members.
    Conflicts of Interest must be handled in accordance with 2 CFR 
parts 200 and 400. The following are examples of Conflicts of Interest 
and are intended to serve as a nonexclusive list of situations where a 
real or apparent Conflict of Interest is present: (1) Using grant funds 
to pay a member on the applicant's Board of Directors to provide 
proposed technical assistance to socially disadvantaged groups, (2) 
Applicant paying a member of a cooperative to

[[Page 22981]]

provide proposed technical assistance to other members of the same 
cooperative, or (3) Paying an Immediate family member of the applicant 
to provide proposed technical assistance to socially disadvantaged 
groups.
    Cooperative. A business or organization owned, democratically 
governed, controlled and operated by those who use and benefit from it. 
Profits and losses generated by the organization are distributed in 
proportion to use as patronage to the user-owners, also known as 
members. Investment returns to non-members are limited. Eligible 
Cooperatives for the SDGG program are those where a majority (i.e., 
greater than 50 percent rounded to the nearest tenth) of the Board of 
Directors or Governing Board are comprised of individuals who are 
members of socially disadvantaged groups.
    Cooperative Development. A type of technical assistance that 
establishes and promotes Cooperative businesses through hands-on 
activities, often but not exclusively, assisting a group through a 
series of stages. These stages include but are not limited to the 
following: idea exploration by a group with shared needs, member-use 
analysis, identifying a steering committee and guiding them through the 
development process, modeling effective democratic processes and good 
governance practices, creation of legal and policy documents, 
conducting a membership drive, raising member equity, acquiring 
sufficient capital, supporting operations, ongoing education and 
training, ongoing board development and relations with management, 
supporting decision-making regarding patronage, and fostering an 
environment that is supportive of Cooperatives.
    Cooperative Development Center--A nonprofit institution or 
institution of higher education operated by the grantee to start or 
continue Cooperative Development. An eligible Cooperative Development 
Center for the SDGG program is one where a majority (i.e., greater than 
50% rounded to the nearest tenth) of the Board of Directors or 
Governing Board is comprised of individuals who are members of socially 
disadvantaged groups. It may or may not be an independent legal entity 
separate from the grantee.
    Feasibility Study. An analysis of the economic, market, technical, 
financial, and management feasibility of a proposed project.
    Group of Cooperatives. A Group of Cooperatives whose primary focus 
is to provide assistance to socially disadvantaged groups; each 
Cooperative must meet the eligibility requirements set forth in the 
definition of ``Cooperative'' herein. One of the Cooperatives must be 
designated as the lead entity and have legal authority to contract with 
the federal government.
    Immediate Family(ies). A group of individuals who live in the same 
household or who are closely related by blood, marriage, or adoption, 
such as a spouse, domestic partner, parent, child, sibling, aunt, 
uncle, grandparent, grandchild, niece, nephew, or first cousin.
    Key Personnel. Employees, new hires, consultants, and/or 
contractors of the Cooperative Development Center who provide technical 
assistance including Cooperative Development.
    Nonprofit Institution. Any organization or institution, including 
an accredited institution of higher education, no part of the net 
earnings of which inures, or may lawfully inure, to the benefit of any 
private shareholder or individual.
    Operating Cost. The day-to-day expenses of running a business; for 
example: utilities, rent on the office space a business occupies, 
salaries, depreciation, marketing and advertising, and other basic 
overhead items.
    Participant Support Costs. Direct costs for items such as stipends 
or subsistence allowances, travel allowances, and registration fees 
paid to or on behalf of participants or trainees (but not employees) in 
connection with conferences or training projects.
    Persistent Poverty County(ies). 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.
    Project. Eligible activities to be funded by the SDGG grant.
    Rural and Rural Area. As described in 7 U.S.C. 1991(a)(13), any 
area not in a city or town that has a population of more than 50,000 
inhabitants, according to the latest decennial census of the United 
States, or in any urbanized area (note that the Agency has determined 
that the reference to ``urbanized area'' should be read as a reference 
to ``urban area'' because the Census Bureau no longer identifies 
urbanized areas individually and instead refers to qualifying areas as 
``urban areas'') that is contiguous and adjacent to a city or town that 
has a population of more than 50,000 inhabitants, and any area that has 
been determined to be ``rural in character'' by the Under Secretary for 
RD, or as otherwise identified in this definition as follows:
    (1) An area that is attached to the urbanized area of a city or 
town with more than 50,000 inhabitants by a contiguous area of 
urbanized census blocks that is not more than two (2) census blocks 
wide. Applicants from such an area should work with their RD State 
Office to request a determination of whether their Project is located 
in a Rural Area under this provision.
    (2) Any portion of a Census Bureau-defined ``Urban Area'' that is 
not geographically contiguous and that is also neither adjacent nor 
contiguous to a city or town that has a population of more than 50,000.
    (3) For the purposes of this definition, cities and towns are 
incorporated population centers with definite boundaries, local self-
government, and legal powers set forth in a charter granted by the 
State.
    (4) For the purposes of this definition, populations of individuals 
incarcerated on a long-term or regional basis shall not be included in 
determining whether an area is ``rural'' or a ``rural area''.
    (5) For the purposes of this definition, the first 1,500 
individuals who reside in housing located on a military base shall not 
be included in determining whether an area is ``rural'' or a ``rural 
area''.
    (6) For the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the island is considered 
Rural and eligible for Business Programs assistance, except for the San 
Juan Census Designated Place (CDP) and any other CDP with greater than 
50,000 inhabitants. CDPs with greater than 50,000 inhabitants, other 
than the San Juan CDP, may be determined to be eligible if they are 
``not urban in character.''
    (7) For the State of Hawaii, all areas within the County of 
Honolulu are considered Rural and eligible for Business Programs 
assistance, except for the Urban Honolulu CDP (``the East Honolulu 
CDP'' OR ``other areas deemed to be urban in character'').
    (8) For the purpose of defining a Rural Area in the Republic of 
Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the 
Marshall Islands, the Agency shall determine what constitutes Rural and 
Rural Area based on available population data.
    (9) The determination that an area is ``rural in character'' will 
be made by the Under Secretary of RD. The process to request a 
determination under this provision is outlined in paragraph (6)(ii) of 
this definition.
    (i) The determination that an area is ``rural in character'' under 
this definition will apply to areas that are within:
    (A) An urbanized area that has two points on its boundary that are 
at least

[[Page 22982]]

40 miles apart, which is not contiguous or adjacent to a city or town 
that has a population of greater than 150,000 inhabitants or the 
urbanized area of such a city or town; or
    (B) An urbanized area contiguous and adjacent to a city or town of 
greater than 50,000 inhabitants that is within one-quarter mile of a 
Rural Area.
    (ii) Units of local government may petition the Under Secretary of 
RD for a ``rural in character'' designation by submitting a petition to 
both the appropriate RD State Director and the Administrator on behalf 
of the Under Secretary. The petition shall document how the area meets 
the requirements of paragraph (6)(i)(A) or (B) above and discuss why 
the petitioner believes the area is ``rural in character,'' including, 
but not limited to, the area's population density, demographics, and 
topography and how the local economy is tied to a Rural economic base. 
Upon receiving a petition, the Under Secretary will consult with the 
applicable Governor or leader in a similar position and request 
comments to be submitted within 5 business days, unless such comments 
were submitted with the petition. The Under Secretary will release to 
the public a notice of a petition filed by a unit of local government 
not later than 30 days after receipt of the petition by way of 
publication in a local newspaper and posting on the Agency's website, 
and the Under Secretary will make a determination not less than 15 
days, but no more than 60 days, after the release of the notice. Upon a 
negative determination, the Under Secretary will provide to the 
petitioner an opportunity to appeal a determination to the Under 
Secretary, and the petitioner will have 10 business days to appeal the 
determination and provide further information for consideration Rural 
Development (RD). A mission area within USDA consisting of the Office 
of Under Secretary for RD, RBCS, Rural Housing Service, and Rural 
Utilities Service, and any successors.
    Socially Disadvantaged Group. A group whose members have been 
subjected to racial, ethnic, or gender prejudice because of their 
identity as members of a group without regard to their individual 
qualities.
    State. Includes each of the 50 States, the Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico, the Virgin Islands of the United States, Guam, American Samoa, 
and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. References in 
this program to State, State government, or State agency are meant to 
include the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands of the 
United States, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern 
Mariana Islands, and, as may be determined by the Secretary to be 
feasible, appropriate, and lawful, the Freely Associated States and the 
Federated States of Micronesia.
    Technical Assistance. The process of providing targeted support for 
the startup, expansion and operational improvement of cooperatively and 
mutually owned businesses typically delivered via multiple contacts 
over a period of time. It includes the transfer of skills and knowledge 
through research and collection of information to provide guidance and 
advice; assessment and analysis through feasibility studies and 
business plans, customized training, written information, in person or 
virtual exchanges, web-based curriculums, and webinars.
    4. Application of Awards. The Agency will review, evaluate, and 
score applications received in response to this notice based on Section 
E of this notice. Awards under the SDGG program will be made on a 
competitive basis using specific selection criteria contained in 
Section E.1 of this notice. The Agency advises all interested parties 
that the applicant bears the full burden in preparing and applying in 
response to this notice.

B. Federal Award Information

    Type of Award: Grants.
    Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2024.
    Available Funds: $3,000,000 will be available for FY 2024. The 
Agency may, at its discretion, increase the total level of funding 
available in this funding round (or in any category in this funding 
round) from any available source provided the awards meet the 
requirements of the statute which made the funding available to the 
Agency.
    Award Amount: Maximum is $175,000.
    Anticipated Award Date: September 30, 2024.
    Performance Period: One (1) year. See Section C.3(c) of this notice 
for additional guidance on the grant period.
    Renewal or Supplemental Awards: None.
    Type of Assistance Instrument: Financial Assistance Agreement.

C. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants. Grants may be made to individual 
Cooperatives, Groups of Cooperatives, or Cooperative Development 
Centers that serve Socially Disadvantaged Groups and of which a 
majority (i.e., greater than 50 percent rounded to the nearest tenth) 
of the Board of Directors or Governing Board of the applicant is 
comprised of individuals who are members of Socially Disadvantaged 
Groups. An advisory board for the proposed Project does not meet this 
requirement.
    Federally recognized Tribes have a government-to-government 
relationship with the United States. Therefore, Tribes may consider 
using a separate entity, such as a tribally-owned business, tribal 
authority, tribal non-profit, tribal college, or university to apply 
for SDGG funding that would provide Technical Assistance to members of 
the Tribe.
    Applications submitted must include the following for eligibility 
determination:
    (a) Applicants must verify their legal structure in the State or 
the Tribe under which the applicants are legally organized or 
incorporated.
    (b) Applicants must demonstrate that all defined requirements for 
one of the three eligible applicant types have been met (see Section 
D.2. of this notice). The three eligible applicant types are: 
individual Cooperatives, Groups of Cooperatives, or Cooperative 
Development Centers.
    An applicant is ineligible if:
    (a) It is a public body or individual.
    (b) It has been debarred or suspended or otherwise excluded from or 
ineligible for participation in Federal assistance programs under 
Executive Order (E.O.) 12549. The Agency will check the Do Not Pay 
(DNP) system to determine if the applicant has been debarred or 
suspended at the time of application and prior to funding any grant 
award.
    (c) It has an outstanding judgment obtained by the U.S. in a 
Federal Court (other than U.S. Tax Court), is delinquent on the payment 
of Federal income taxes, or is delinquent on Federal debt. The 
applicant must certify, as part of the application, that there are no 
outstanding judgments against them. The applicant is responsible for 
resolving any issues that are reported in the DNP System and if issues 
are not resolved by the deadline found in this notice, the Agency may 
proceed to award funds to other eligible applicants.
    (d) Any corporation or Cooperative (i) that has been convicted of a 
felony criminal violation under any Federal law within the past 24 
months or (ii) that has any unpaid Federal tax liability that has been 
assessed, for which all judicial and administrative remedies have been 
exhausted or have lapsed, and that is not being paid in a timely manner 
pursuant to an agreement with the authority responsible for collecting 
the tax liability, is not eligible for financial assistance provided 
with funds appropriated by the 2024 Appropriations Act, unless a 
Federal

[[Page 22983]]

agency has considered suspension or debarment of the corporation and 
has made a determination that this further action is not necessary to 
protect the interests of the Government. Certification of compliance 
with this provision is now completed during registration or annual 
recertification in the System for Award Management (SAM) at SAM.gov via 
the Financial Assistance General Certifications and Representations.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching. There is no cost sharing or matching 
requirement associated with this grant.
    3. Other Eligibility Requirements.
    (a) Use of funds. Applications must propose Technical Assistance 
that will benefit Socially Disadvantaged Groups. Any recipient of 
Technical Assistance must have a membership that consists of a majority 
of members from Socially Disadvantaged Groups. Please review Section 
D.6 of this notice carefully.
    (b) Project eligibility. Proposed Projects must only serve members 
of Socially Disadvantaged Groups located in Rural Areas.
    (c) Grant period eligibility. Applications must include a grant 
period of one-year or less or it will not be considered for funding. 
The proposed time frame should begin no earlier than October 1, 2024, 
and end no later than December 31, 2025. Applications that request 
funds for a time period ending after December 31, 2025, will not be 
considered for funding. Projects must be completed by December 31, 
2025, or within 12 months of award funding, whichever is earlier.
    The Agency may approve requests to extend the grant period for up 
to an additional 12 months at its discretion. However, applicants may 
not have more than one SDGG award during the same grant period. If you 
extend the period of performance for your current award, you may be 
deemed ineligible to receive an SDGG in the next grant cycle. Further 
guidance on grant period extensions will be provided in the award 
document.
    (d) Satisfactory performance eligibility. If applicants have an 
existing SDGG award, current performance must be satisfactory to be 
considered eligible for a new SDGG award. Satisfactory performance 
includes being up to date on all financial and performance reports as 
prescribed in the grant award and being current on tasks and timeframes 
for utilizing grant funds as approved in the work plan and budget. If 
applicants have any unspent grant funds on SDGG awards from Projects 
prior to September 30, 2022, the application will not be considered for 
funding. If an applicant's FY 2023 award has unspent funds of 50 
percent or more than what the approved work plan and budget projected 
at the time of evaluation of the FY 2023 application, the FY 2024 
application may not be considered for funding. The Agency will verify 
the performance status of any FY 2023 awards and make a determination 
after the FY 2024 application period closes.
    (e) Completeness eligibility. Applications must provide all the 
information requested in Section D.2 of this notice. Applications 
lacking sufficient information to determine eligibility and scoring 
criteria will be considered ineligible.
    (f) Duplication of current services. Applications must demonstrate 
that services are being provided to new customers or new services to 
current customers. If the work plan and budget are duplicative of an 
existing award, the application will not be considered for funding. If 
the work plan and budget are duplicative of a previous or existing 
Rural Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG) and/or SDGG award, the 
application will not be considered for funding.
    (g) Multiple grant eligibility. Applicants may submit only one SDGG 
grant application each funding cycle. If two (2) applications are 
submitted (regardless of the applicant's name) that include the same 
Executive Director and/or advisory boards or committees of an existing 
Cooperative or Cooperative Development Center, both applications will 
be determined ineligible for funding.

D. Application and Submission Information

    1. Application Template. An application template to assist 
applicants in applying for this funding opportunity is located at 
www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/socially-disadvantaged-groups-grant. 
Use of the application template is strongly recommended to assist with 
the application process. Application information is also available at 
www.grants.gov. Applicants may also contact the USDA RD State Office 
for more information at www.rd.usda.gov/contact-us/state-offices.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission. An application must 
contain all the required forms and proposal elements outlined below.
    (a) Form SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance. This form 
should include the applicant's Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number. 
The UEI is assigned automatically to all active SAM.gov registered 
entities. If an applicant does not include the UEI number in its 
application, it will not be considered for funding.
    (b) Form SF-424A, Budget Information-Non-Construction Programs. 
This form must be completed and submitted as part of the application 
package. Applicants are no longer required to complete the Form SF 
424B, Assurances--Non-Construction Programs as a part of the 
application. This information is now collected through the applicant 
registration or annual recertification in SAM.gov through the Financial 
Assistance General Certifications and Representations.
    (c) Federal Debt and Judgement Certification. Applicants must 
certify that there are no current outstanding Federal judgments against 
the applicant's property and that no grant funds will be used to pay 
for any judgment obtained by the United States. Applicants must also 
certify that they are not delinquent on the payment of Federal income 
taxes, or any Federal debt. There is no standard form to complete, but 
to satisfy the certification requirement, applicants should include 
this statement in the application: ``[INSERT NAME OF APPLICANT] 
certifies that the United States has not obtained an unsatisfied 
judgment against its property, is not delinquent on the payment of 
Federal income taxes, or any Federal debt, and will not use grant funds 
to pay any judgments obtained by the United States.'' A separate 
signature is not required.
    (d) Table of Contents (TOC). Applications must contain a detailed 
TOC that includes page numbers for each part of the application. Page 
numbers should begin immediately following the TOC.
    (e) Executive Summary. A summary of the proposal, not to exceed one 
(1) page, must briefly describe the Project, tasks to be completed, and 
other relevant information that provides a general overview of the 
Project.
    (f) Eligibility Discussion. A detailed discussion, not to exceed 
four (4) pages, must describe how the applicant will meet the following 
requirements:
    (1) Applicant Eligibility. Applicants must describe how they meet 
the definition of a Cooperative, Group of Cooperatives, or Cooperative 
Development Center. Applications must also show that the individual 
Cooperative, Group of Cooperatives or Cooperative Development Center 
has a majority of its Board of Directors or Governing Board comprised 
of individuals who are members of Socially Disadvantaged Groups, and 
that the applicant serves Socially Disadvantaged Groups. The 
application

[[Page 22984]]

must include a list identifying the entire Board of Directors/Governing 
Board by name and indicating how each member meets the definition of 
Socially Disadvantaged Groups.
    An application will not be considered for funding if it fails to 
show that a majority of the Board of Directors/Governing Board (i.e., 
greater than 50 percent rounded to the nearest tenth) is comprised of 
individuals who are members of Socially Disadvantaged Groups.
    Applicants must verify their incorporation and status in the State 
in which they have applied by providing the State or Tribe's 
Certificate of Good Standing and Articles of Incorporation. Bylaws may 
also be submitted if they provide additional information not included 
in the Articles of Incorporation that will help verify the applicant's 
legal status. If applying as an institution of higher education, 
documentation verifying legal status is not required; however, the 
applicant must demonstrate that it qualifies as an institution of 
higher education as defined at 20 U.S.C. 1001. Each applicant can only 
apply as one (1) type of applicant. The requested verification 
documents should be included in Appendix A of the application. If the 
documents are not included, the application will not be considered for 
funding.
    (2) Use of Funds. Applications must include a brief discussion on 
how the proposed Project activities meet the definition of Technical 
Assistance and identify the Socially Disadvantaged Groups that will be 
assisted.
    (3) Project Area. Applications must provide specific information 
that details the location of the Project area and explain how the area 
meets the definition of Rural Area as defined in Section A.3 of this 
notice.
    (4) Grant Period. Applications must include a time frame for the 
proposed Project and discuss how the Project will be completed within 
that time frame. See Section C.3(c) of this notice for more 
information.
    (5) Indirect Costs. Applicants should indicate in the application 
if there is a negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA), and if 
so, the rate. The negotiated indirect cost rate approval does not need 
to be included in the application, but it will be required to be 
provided if a grant is awarded. Approval for indirect costs that are 
requested in an application without an approved indirect cost rate 
agreement is at the discretion of the Agency.
    (g) Scoring Criteria. Each of the scoring criteria in Section E.1 
of this notice must be addressed in narrative form, with a maximum of 
three (3) pages for each individual scoring criterion, unless otherwise 
specified. Failure to address each scoring criterion will result in the 
application being determined ineligible.
    (h) Annual Performance Evaluation Measures. The Agency has 
established annual performance evaluation measures to evaluate the SDGG 
program and how the applicant met the measures. The applicant must 
provide estimates on the following performance evaluation measures as 
part of the narrative:
    (1) Number of Cooperatives assisted; and
    (2) Number of Socially Disadvantaged Groups assisted.
    And, if applicable:
    (3) Number of jobs created/saved.
    (4) Number of jobs created/saved in persistent poverty area and or 
underserved and economically distressed areas.
    (5) Number of business plans developed.
    (6) Number of Cooperatives incorporated.
    (7) Number of Feasibility Studies completed.
    (8) Number of workshops/seminars conducted.
    (9) Number of conferences held.
    (10) For consumer coops (grocery, retail), number of people with 
access to goods or services.
    3. System for Award Management and Unique Entity Identifier.
    (a) At the time of application, applicants must have an active 
registration in the SAM before applying in accordance with 2 CFR part 
25. To register in SAM, entities will be required to obtain a UEI. 
Instructions for obtaining the UEI are available at sam.gov/content/entity-registration.
    (b) 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.
    (c) Applicants must complete the Financial Assistance General 
Certifications and Representations in SAM.
    (d) Applicants must provide a valid UEI in its application, unless 
determined exempt under 2 CFR 25.110.
    (e) The Agency will not make an award until the applicant has 
complied with all SAM requirements including providing the UEI. 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.
    4. Submission Dates and Times.
    (a) Application Technical Assistance Deadline Date. Prior to 
official submission of applications, applicants may request technical 
assistance or other application guidance from their State Office, if 
such requests are made prior to May 3, 2024. Agency contact information 
can be found in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.
    (b) Application Deadline Date. Complete applications for grants 
must be submitted electronically no later than 11:59 p.m. ET on June 3, 
2024, through www.grants.gov to be eligible for grant funding. Please 
review the Grants.gov website at www.grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration for instructions on the process of registering your 
organization as soon as possible to ensure that you are able to meet 
the electronic application deadline. No secured/password protected 
documents are to be uploaded to grants.gov.
    Applications received after the deadline are not eligible for 
funding under this notice and will not be evaluated. The Agency will 
not solicit or consider new scoring or eligibility information that is 
submitted after the application deadline. The Agency also reserves the 
right to ask applicants for clarifying information and additional 
verification of assertions in the application.
    5. Intergovernmental Review. Executive Order (E.O.) 12372 applies 
to this program. This E.O. requires that Federal agencies provide 
opportunities for consultation on proposed assistance with State and 
local governments. Many States have established a Single Point of 
Contact (SPOC), please see the White House Website: www.whitehouse.gov/omb/management/office-federal-financial-management/. If your State has 
a SPOC, you may submit a copy of the application directly for review. 
Any comments obtained through the SPOC must be provided to the USDA RD 
State Office for consideration as part of your application. If your 
State has not established a SPOC, you may submit your application 
directly to the Agency. Applications from Federally recognized Indian 
Tribes are not subject to this requirement.
    6. Funding Restrictions. Grant funds must be used for Technical 
Assistance as defined.
    (a) No funds made available under this notice shall be used to:
    (1) Plan, repair, rehabilitate, acquire, or construct a building or 
facility, including a processing facility;

[[Page 22985]]

    (2) Purchase, rent, or install fixed equipment, including 
processing equipment;
    (3) Purchase vehicles, including boats;
    (4) Pay for the preparation of the grant application;
    (5) Pay expenses not directly related to the funded Project;
    (6) Fund political or lobbying activities;
    (7) Fund any activities considered unallowable by the applicable 
grant cost principles, including 2 CFR part 200, subpart E and the 
Federal Acquisition Regulation as stated in 48 CFR Chapter 1, 
subchapter E, part 31;
    (8) Fund architectural or engineering design work for a specific 
physical facility;
    (9) Fund any expenses dealing with production such as produce any 
commodity or product to which value will be added, including seed, 
rootstock, labor for harvesting the crop, and delivery of the commodity 
to a processing facility. Examples also include, but are not limited 
to, testing commodities, building fencing for livestock, soil 
amendments, soil enrichments, soil treatments, tools, equipment, soil 
testing supplies, laboratory fees, hoop houses, software, 
subscriptions, and advertising or publicity expenses for the assisted 
Cooperative.
    (10) Fund research and development;
    (11) Purchase land;
    (12) Duplicate current activities or activities paid for by other 
Federal grant programs;
    (13) Pay costs of the Project incurred prior to the date of grant 
approval;
    (14) Pay for assistance to any private business enterprise that 
does not have at least fifty-one (51) percent ownership by those who 
are either citizens of the United States or reside in the United States 
after being legally admitted for permanent residence;
    (15) Pay any judgment or debt owed to the United States;
    (16) Pay any Operating Costs of the Cooperative, Group of 
Cooperatives, or Cooperative Development Center not directly related to 
the Project;
    (17) Pay expenses for applicant employee training or professional 
development not directly related to the Project;
    (18) Pay for any goods or services from a person or entity who has 
a Conflict of Interest with the grantee;
    (19) Pay for Technical Assistance provided to a Cooperative that 
does not have a membership that consists of a majority of members from 
Socially Disadvantaged Groups; or
    (20) Fund expenses or activities relating to production, 
manufacturing-based costs, cybersecurity equipment, supply chain 
tracing equipment, and automation costs.
    (b) Applications will not be considered for funding if it does any 
of the following:
    (1) Requests more than the maximum grant amount;
    (2) Proposes ineligible costs that equal more than ten (10) percent 
of total grant funds requested; or
    (3) Proposes Participant Support Costs that equal more than ten 
(10) percent of total grant funds requested.
    (c) The Agency will consider an application for funding if it 
includes ineligible costs of ten (10) percent or less of total grant 
funds requested if it is determined eligible otherwise. However, if the 
application is successful, those ineligible costs must be removed and 
replaced with eligible costs before the Agency will make the grant 
award or the amount of the grant award will be reduced accordingly. If 
the Agency cannot determine the percentage of ineligible costs, the 
application will not be considered for funding.
    (d) No assistance or funding from this grant can be provided to a 
hemp producer without a valid license issued from an approved State, 
Tribal or Federal plan in accordance with Subtitle G of the 
Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1639o et 
seq.). Verification of valid hemp licenses will occur at the time of 
award. The purpose of this program is to provide Technical Assistance, 
so funding to produce hemp or marketing hemp production is not 
eligible.
    7. Other Submission Requirements. Applications will not be accepted 
if the text is less than an 11-point font. Applications will not be 
accepted through mail or courier delivery, in-person delivery, email, 
or fax. Applications must be submitted electronically through 
www.grants.gov. A password is not required to access the website. 
Applicants can locate the Grants.gov downloadable application package 
for this program by using a keyword, the program name, Assistance 
Listing number, or the Funding Opportunity Number for this program.
    The Grants.gov website provides information about applying 
electronically through the site, as well as the hours of operation. 
Users of Grants.gov must already have a UEI number and must also be 
registered and maintain registration in SAM as detailed in Section D.3 
of this notice. The UEI number must be associated with the correct tax 
identification number of the SDGG applicant. It is strongly recommended 
that applicants do not wait until the application deadline date to 
begin the application process through Grants.gov.
    Applications must include electronic signatures. Original 
signatures may be required if funds are awarded. After applying 
electronically through Grants.gov, applicants will receive an automated 
acknowledgement from Grants.gov with a Grants.gov tracking number.

E. Application Review Information

    1. Selection Criteria. All eligible and complete applications will 
be evaluated and scored based on the following selection criteria and 
weights. Evaluators will base scores only on the information provided 
or cross-referenced by page number in each individual evaluation 
criterion. SDGG is a competitive program, so applications will receive 
scores based on the quality of the responses. Simply addressing the 
criteria will not guarantee higher scores. The total points possible 
for the criteria are 105.
    (a) Technical Assistance (maximum score of 25 points). Three-page 
limit. A panel of USDA employees will evaluate the applications to 
determine the ability to assess the needs of and provide effective 
Technical Assistance to Socially Disadvantaged Groups. Applicants must 
discuss the following:
    (1) Needs of the Socially Disadvantaged Groups to be assisted and 
explain how those needs were determined,
    (2) Proposed Technical Assistance to be provided to the Socially 
Disadvantaged Groups; and
    (3) Expected outcomes of the proposed Technical Assistance, 
including how Socially Disadvantaged Groups will benefit from 
participating in the Project. Applicants will score higher on this 
criterion if examples of the entity's past Projects that demonstrate 
successful outcomes in identifying specific needs and providing 
Technical Assistance to Socially Disadvantaged Groups are provided.
    (b) Work Plan/Budget (maximum of 25 points). Six-page limit. Work 
plans must provide activities to be completed, including specific and 
detailed descriptions of all tasks. Work plans must indicate all the 
Key Personnel, who will accomplish the Project's activities that align 
with the goals of the Project. The budget will be reviewed for 
completeness. Applicants must list what tasks are to be done, when the 
tasks will be done, who will do the tasks, and a detailed account of 
how much each task will cost. Reviewers must be able to understand what 
is being proposed and how all the grant funds will be spent.

[[Page 22986]]

The budget must provide a detailed breakdown of estimated costs. These 
costs should be allocated to each of the tasks to be undertaken. (For 
example: Joe Smith has committed 20 percent of his work time. Joe's 
salary is $60,000 x 20% (0.20) = $12,000. This Project requires travel 
within the United States. The distance from Joe's office to the airport 
is 150 miles at $0.585/mile = $175.50 Round trip. The overnight trip 
includes lodging expense with tax at $189/night for 3 overnights = 
$567.00. Supplies include 2 boxes of paper at $50 each = $100 as an 
example.) A panel of USDA employees will evaluate the work plan for 
detailed actions and an accompanying timetable for implementing the 
proposal. Applicants will receive a higher score to the extent that 
they provide a clear, detailed, logical, realistic, and efficient plan 
that matches and reconciles with the Form SF424A and that allocates 
costs to specific tasks using applicable budget object class categories 
(See SF 424-A, Block 6 a-c, e-h, and j). At a minimum, the following 
must be discussed:
    (1) Specific tasks to be completed using grant funds;
    (2) How customers will be identified and selected;
    (3) Key Personnel and how their work and experience is tied to the 
work plan task (or if not yet hired, a description of new employee 
qualifications must be tied to the work plan task); and
    (4) The evaluation methods to be used by the applicant to determine 
the success of specific tasks and overall Project activities and 
objectives. Please provide qualitative methods of evaluation. For 
example, evaluation methods should be measurable and go beyond 
quantitative measurements of completing surveys or number of 
evaluations. Examples include discussions of pre-test, post-test, and 
the evaluation of how task results will be measured.
    (c) Experience (maximum score of 25 points). Three-page limit. A 
panel of USDA employees will evaluate the applicant's experience, 
commitment, and availability for identified staff or consultants in 
providing Technical Assistance, as defined in Section A.3 of this 
notice. Applicants must describe the Technical Assistance experience 
for each identified staff member or consultant, as well as years of 
experience in providing that assistance. Applicants must discuss the 
commitment and the availability of identified staff, consultants, or 
other professionals to be hired for the Project, especially those who 
may be consulting on multiple SDGG/RCDG Projects. If staff or 
consultants have not been selected at the time of application, the 
applicants must provide specific descriptions of the qualifications 
required for the positions to be filled. In addition, resumes for each 
individual staff member or consultant must be included as an attachment 
in Appendix B of the application. The attachments will not count toward 
the maximum page total. The Agency will compare the described 
experience in this section and in the resumes to the work plan to 
determine relevance of the experience. Applications that do not include 
the attached resumes will not be considered for funding. Applications 
that demonstrate strong credentials, education, capabilities, 
experience, and availability of Project personnel, that will contribute 
to a high likelihood of Project success will receive more points than 
those that demonstrate less potential for success in these areas. In 
addition, for SDGG program Key Personnel, resumes must list all 
Cooperatives or Boards of Directors, in which they are part of.
    Points will be awarded as follows:
    (1) 0 points will be awarded if you do not substantively address 
the criterion.
    (2) 1 to 9 points will be awarded if qualifications and experience 
of some, but not all, staff is addressed and, if necessary, 
qualifications of unfilled positions are not provided.
    (3) 10 to 14 points will be awarded if paragraph (2) of this 
section is met, plus all Project personnel are identified but do not 
demonstrate qualifications or experience relevant to the Project.
    (4) 15 to 19 will be awarded if paragraphs (2) and (3) of this 
section are met, plus most, but not all, Key Personnel demonstrate 
strong credentials and/or experience, and availability indicating a 
reasonable likelihood of success.
    (5) 20 to 25 points will be awarded if paragraphs (2) through (4) 
of this section are met, plus all personnel demonstrate strong, 
relevant credentials or experience and availability indicating a high 
likelihood of Project success.
    (d) Commitment (maximum of 10 points). Three-page limit. A panel of 
USDA employees will evaluate the applicant's commitment to providing 
Technical Assistance to Socially Disadvantaged Groups in Rural Areas. 
Applicants must list the number and location (full address if known and 
at a minimum provide county(ies)) of Socially Disadvantaged Groups that 
will directly benefit from the assistance provided. Applicants must 
define and describe the underserved and economically distressed areas 
within the applicant's service area and provide current and relevant 
statistics that support the applicant's description of the service 
area. Projects located in Persistent Poverty Counties as detailed in 
Section A.2 of this notice, if discussed, will score higher on this 
criterion.
    (e) Local support (maximum of 10 points). Three-page limit. A panel 
of USDA employees will evaluate applications for local support of the 
Technical Assistance activities. Discussion on local support should 
include previous and/or expected local support and plans for 
coordinating with other developmental organizations in the proposed 
service area or with Tribal, State, and local government institutions. 
Applications that demonstrate strong support from potential 
beneficiaries and other developmental organizations will score higher. 
A maximum of 10 letters of support may be included with the 
application. Points will be awarded as follows:
    (1) 0 points are awarded if the applicant does not adequately 
address this criterion.
    (2) A range of 1 to5 points are awarded if the applicant 
demonstrates support from potential beneficiaries and other 
developmental organizations in the discussion but does not provide 
letters of support.
    (3) Additional 1 point is awarded if 2 or 3 support letters are 
provided and show support from potential beneficiaries and/or support 
from local organizations.
    (4) Additional 2 points are awarded if 4 or 5 support letters are 
provided and show support from potential beneficiaries and/or support 
from local organizations.
    (5) Additional 3 points are awarded if 6 or 7 support letters are 
provided and show support from potential beneficiaries and/or support 
from local organizations.
    (6) Additional 4 points are awarded if 8 or 9 support letters are 
provided and show support from potential beneficiaries and/or support 
from local organizations.
    (7) Additional 5 points are awarded if 10 support letters are 
provided and show support from potential beneficiaries and/or support 
from local organizations.
    Support letters should be signed and dated after the publication 
date of this notice and should come from potential beneficiaries and 
other local organizations. Letters received from Congressional members, 
or Technical Assistance providers/contractors paid with grant funding, 
will not be included in the count of support letters received. 
Additionally, letters having the appearance of being identical in form

[[Page 22987]]

and signed by multiple potential beneficiaries and/or local 
organizations will not be included in the count of support letters 
received. Support letters should be included as an attachment to the 
application in Appendix C and will not count against the maximum page 
total. Additional letters from industry groups, commodity groups, 
Congressional members, and similar organizations should be referenced 
but not included in the application package. When referencing these 
letters, provide the name of the organization, the date of the letter, 
the nature of the support, and the name and title of the person signing 
the letter.
    (f) Administrator Discretionary Points (maximum of 10 points). The 
Administrator may choose to award points to applications where:
    (1) The applicant has never received a SDGG award--5 points; and/or
    (2) The applicant seeks to advance one or more key priorities 
addressed in the Supplementary Information, Overview section of this 
notice--5 points. Applicants seeking these points must discuss in the 
application (1 page limit) if they are first time applicants and are 
seeking to advance one or more key priorities: (i) Assisting rural 
communities recover economically through more and better market 
opportunities and through improved infrastructure. Applicant would 
receive priority points if the project is located in or serving a rural 
community whose economic well-being ranks in the most distressed tier 
(distress score of 80 or higher) of the Distressed Communities Index 
using the Distressed Communities Look-Up Map available at 
www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points.
    (ii) Ensuring all rural residents have equitable access to RD 
programs and benefits from RD funded projects. Using the Social 
Vulnerability Index (SVI) Look-Up Map (available at www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points), an applicant would receive priority points if the 
project is:
     Located in or serving a community with score 0.75 or above 
on the SVI;
     Is a Federally recognized Tribe, including Tribal 
instrumentalities and entities that are wholly owned by Tribes; or
     Is a project where at least 50 percent of the project 
beneficiaries are members of Federally Recognized Tribes and non-Tribal 
applicants include a Tribal Resolution of Consent from the Tribe or 
Tribes that the applicant is proposing to serve.
    (iii) Reducing climate pollution and increasing resilience to the 
impacts of climate change through economic support to rural 
communities. Using the Disadvantaged Community and Energy Community 
Look-Up Map (available at www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points), applicants 
will receive priority in three ways:
     If the project is located in or serves a Disadvantaged 
Community as defined by the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool 
(CEJST), from the White House Council on Environmental Quality;
     If the project is located in or serves an Energy Community 
as defined by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA); and
     If applicants can demonstrate through a written narrative 
how the proposed climate-impact projects will improve the livelihoods 
of community residents and meet pollution mitigation or clean energy 
goals.
    See the website, https://www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points, for 
options.
    2. Review and Selection Process. Applications will be reviewed in 
the USDA RD State Offices to determine if they are eligible for 
assistance based on requirements in this notice, and other applicable 
Federal regulations. If determined eligible, applications will be 
scored by a panel of USDA employees in accordance with the point 
allocation specified in this notice. The review panel will convene to 
reach a consensus on the scores for each of the eligible applications. 
The Administrator may choose to award up to 10 Administrator priority 
points based on Section E.1(f) of this notice. These points will be 
added to the cumulative score for a total possible score of 105. 
Applications will be funded from highest ranking order until the 
funding limitation has been reached. Applications that cannot be fully 
funded may be offered partial funding at the Agency's discretion. The 
Agency reserves the right to offer the applicant less than the grant 
funding requested. Applications that are ranked and not funded will not 
be carried forward into the next competition.

F. Federal Award Administration Information

    1. Federal Award Notices. Applicants selected for funding will 
receive a signed notice of Federal award, by postal or electronic mail, 
containing instructions on requirements necessary to proceed with 
execution and performance of the award.
    Applicants not selected for funding will be notified in writing via 
postal or electronic mail and informed of any review and appeal rights. 
Funding of successfully appealed applications will be limited to 
available FY 2024 funding.
    2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements. Additional 
requirements that apply to grantees selected for this program can be 
found in 2 CFR parts 200, 400, 415, 417, 418, and 421. All recipients 
of Federal financial assistance are required to report information 
about first tier subawards and executive compensation in accordance 
with 2 CFR part 170, Appendix A. Recipients will be required to have 
the necessary processes and systems in place to comply with the Federal 
Funding Accountability and Transparency Act reporting requirements of 2 
CFR 170.200(b), unless they are exempt under 2 CFR 170.110(b).
    The following additional requirements apply to grantees selected 
for this program:
    (a) Execution of an Agency approved Grant Agreement.
    (b) Acceptance of a written Letter of Conditions.
    (c) Submission of Form RD 1940-1, Request for Obligation of Funds.
    (d) Submission of Form RD 1942-46, Letter of Intent to Meet 
Conditions.
    (e) Assurance Agreement. By signing the Financial Assistance 
General Certifications and Representations in SAM, grant recipients 
affirm that they will operate the program free from discrimination. The 
grant recipients will maintain the race and ethnic data on their board 
members and the beneficiaries of the program. The grant recipient will 
provide alternative forms of communication to persons with limited 
English proficiency. The Agency will conduct civil rights compliance 
reviews on grant recipients to identify the collection of racial and 
ethnic data on program beneficiaries. In addition, the compliance 
review will ensure that equal access to the program benefits and 
activities are provided for persons with disabilities and language 
barriers.
    3. Reporting. After grant approval and through grant completion, 
applicants will be required to provide the following:
    (a) An SF-425, Federal Financial Report, and a project performance 
report will be required on a semiannual basis (due 30 calendar days 
after the end of the semiannual period). The project performance 
reports shall include a comparison of actual accomplishments to the 
objectives established for that period;
    (b) A statement providing reasons why established objectives were 
not met, if applicable;
    (c) A statement providing reasons for any 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 objectives 
during

[[Page 22988]]

established time periods, and a description of the action taken or 
planned to resolve the situation;
    (d) Objectives and timetable established for the next reporting 
period;
    (e) A final Project and financial status report within 90 days 
after the expiration or termination of the grant in accordance with 2 
CFR 200.344; and
    (f) Outcome Project performance reports and final deliverables.

G. Agency Contacts

    For general questions about this notice and for program technical 
assistance, please see the contact information in the ADDRESSES and FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT sections of this notice.

H. Other Information

    1. Paperwork Reduction Act. In accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13), the information collection 
requirements associated with the program, as covered in this notice, 
have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under 
OMB Control Number 0570-0052.
    2. National Environmental Policy Act. All recipients under this 
notice are subject to the requirements of 7 CFR part 1970. However, 
awards for Technical Assistance and training under this notice are 
classified as a Categorical Exclusion according to 7 CFR 1970.53(b), 
and usually do not require any additional documentation. RBCS will 
review each grant application to determine its compliance with 7 CFR 
part 1970. The applicant may be asked to provide additional information 
or documentation to assist RBCS with this determination.
    3. Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act. All 
applicants, in accordance with 2 CFR part 25, must be registered in SAM 
and have a UEI number as stated in Section D.3 of this notice. All 
recipients of Federal financial assistance are required to report 
information about first-tier subawards and executive total compensation 
in accordance with 2 CFR part 170.
    4. Civil Rights Compliance Requirements. All grants made under this 
notice are subject to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as 
required by the USDA in accordance with 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.
    5. Nondiscrimination Statement. In accordance with Federal civil 
rights laws and 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 upon request. All requirements found in 2 CFR 200.111 must be 
adhered to. 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; or the 711 Relay 
Service.
    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 www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, 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.

Kathryn E. Dirksen Londrigan,
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Rural Development.
[FR Doc. 2024-07005 Filed 4-2-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XY-P