[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 161 (Tuesday, August 20, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67411-67415]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-18630]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

[Docket #: RBS-24-Business-0012]


Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Rural Microentrepreneur 
Assistance Program for Fiscal Year 2025

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS or Agency), an 
agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Rural 
Development (RD), is making an initial announcement to invite 
applications for loans and grants under the Rural Microentrepreneur 
Assistance Program (RMAP) for fiscal year (FY) 2025, subject to the 
availability of funding. This notice is being issued prior to the 
passage of a FY 2025 Appropriations Act, which may or may not provide 
funding for this program, 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 2025. Based on FY 
2024 appropriated funding, the Agency estimates that approximately 
$22,000,000 will be available for FY 2025. 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 their applications or any costs incurred prior 
to the obligation date.

DATES: The deadlines for completed applications to be received in the 
RD State Office for quarterly funding competitions are no later than 
11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on: First Quarter, September 30, 2024; Second 
Quarter, December 31, 2024; Third Quarter, March 31, 2025; and Fourth 
Quarter, June 30, 2025. If the due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or 
Federal holiday, the application is due the next business day.
    The annual microlender technical assistance grant (for existing 
Microenterprise Development Organizations (MDOs) with a 
microentrepreneur revolving loan fund) will be made, non-competitively, 
based on the microlender's microlending activity and availability of 
funds. To determine the microlender technical assistance grant awards 
for FY2025, if available, the Agency will use the microlender's 
outstanding balance of microloans as of June 30, 2025, to

[[Page 67412]]

calculate the eligible grant amount. MDOs that are in compliance with 
the terms of their loan agreement may apply for this annual grant. The 
deadline for requesting a technical assistance grant is no later than 
4:30 p.m. (Eastern Time) on August 1, 2025.

ADDRESSES: Applications must be submitted electronically to the RD 
State Office in the State where the project is located. Applicants are 
encouraged to contact their respective RD State Office for an email 
contact to submit an electronic application prior to the submission 
deadline date(s). A list of the RD State Office contacts can be found 
at: rd.usda.gov/contact-us/state-offices. This funding opportunity will 
be made available for informational purposes on www.grants.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shamika Johnson at, Program Management 
Division, Business Programs, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Mail Stop 3226, 
Room 5160-S, Washington, DC 20250-3226, or call (202) 720-1400. For 
further information on this notice, please contact the RD State Office 
in the State where the project is located. A list of RD State Office 
contacts is provided at the following link: rd.usda.gov/contact-us/state-offices.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Overview

    Federal Awarding Agency Name: Rural Business-Cooperative Service 
(RBCS).
    Funding Opportunity Title: Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance 
Program (RMAP).
    Announcement Type: Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
    Funding Opportunity Number: RD-RBCS-25-RMAP.
    Assistance Listing: 10.870.
    Dates: The deadlines for completed applications to be received in 
the RD State Office for quarterly funding competitions are no later 
than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on: First Quarter, September 30, 2024; 
Second Quarter, December 31, 2024; Third Quarter, March 31, 2025, and 
Fourth Quarter, June 30, 2025.
    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):
     Assisting rural communities recover economically through 
more and better market opportunities and through improved 
infrastructure;
     Ensuring all rural residents have equitable access to RD 
programs and benefits from RD funded projects; and
     Reducing climate pollution and increasing resilience to 
the impacts of climate change through economic support to rural 
communities.

A. Program Description

    1. Purpose of the Program. The purpose of RMAP is to support the 
development and ongoing success of rural microentrepreneurs and 
microenterprises, each as defined in 7 CFR 4280.302. RMAP provides the 
following types of support: loan only, combination loan and technical 
assistance grant, and subsequent technical assistance grants to 
microenterprise development organizations (MDOs). Loan funds are used 
by the MDO to establish or recapitalize a revolving loan program for 
making microloans to a rural microentrepreneur business. Grant funds 
are used by the MDO to provide technical assistance and 
entrepreneurship training to rural individuals and businesses.
    2. Statutory and Regulatory Authority. RMAP is authorized by 
Section 379E of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (Pub. 
L. 87-128), as amended, and is codified as 7 U.S.C. 2008s and 
implemented by 7 CFR part 4280, subpart D.
    3. Definitions. The definitions applicable to this notice are 
published at 7 CFR 4280.302.
    4. Application Awards. 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 D, and as indicated in 
this notice. Awards under RMAP will be made using the application 
scoring criteria contained in 7 CFR 4280.316 and this notice. The 
Agency advises all interested parties that the applicant bears the 
burden in preparing and submitting an application in response to this 
notice regardless of whether or not funding is appropriated for this 
program in FY 2025.

B. Federal Award Information

    Type of Award: Loans and/or Grants.
    Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2025.
    Available Funds: Dependent upon FY 2025 appropriations. Funding is 
anticipated to be approximately $22,000,000 based on FY 2024 amounts. 
RBCS may at its discretion, increase the total level of funding 
available 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 Amounts: The Agency anticipates the following maximum amounts 
per award: Loans--$500,000; Grants--$100,000.
    Anticipated Award Dates:
    (a) Regular Funding: First Quarter--September 30, 2024, Second 
Quarter--December 31, 2024, Third Quarter--March 31, 2025, Fourth 
Quarter--June 30, 2025.
    (b) Subsequent Annual Microlender Technical Assistance Grants: 
August 15, 2025
    Performance Period: Subsequent Annual Microlender Technical 
Assistance Grants September 30, 2025 to June 30, 2026
    Renewal or Supplemental Awards: Unless withdrawn by the applicant, 
completed applications that receive a score of at least 60 (7 CFR 
4280.310(c)) but have not yet been funded, will be retained by the 
Agency for consideration in subsequent reviews through a total of four 
consecutive quarterly reviews. Applications that remain unfunded after 
four quarterly reviews, including the initial quarter in which the 
application was competed, will not be considered further for an award.
    Type of Assistance Instrument: Direct Loan, Financial Assistance 
Agreement

C. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants. Eligible applicants are domestic 
organizations that are non-profit entities, Indian Tribes (25 U.S.C. 
5304(e)) or public institutions of higher education. Eligible 
applicants must provide training and technical assistance, make 
microloans, facilitate access to capital, or have an effective plan or 
program to deliver such services. The applicant must meet the 
eligibility requirements in 7 CFR 4280.310 and must not be delinquent 
on any Federal debt or otherwise disqualified from participation in 
this program to be eligible to apply. The Agency will check the Do Not 
Pay portal to determine if the applicant has been debarred or suspended 
at the time of application and also prior to funding any grant award. 
All other restrictions in this notice will apply.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching. The cost share requirement shall be 
met by the microlender in accordance with the requirements specified in 
7 CFR 4280.311(d).
    The MDO is required to provide a match of not less than 15 percent 
of the total amount of the grant in the form of matching funds, 
indirect costs, or in-kind goods or services.
    3. Other Eligibility Requirements. Applications will only be 
accepted from eligible MDOs. Applications will not be

[[Page 67413]]

considered for funding if they do not provide sufficient information to 
determine eligibility or are otherwise not suitable for evaluation. 
Such applications will be withdrawn and not considered for funding.

D. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package. For further information, 
entities wishing to apply for assistance should contact the RD State 
Office as identified in the ADDRESSES section of this notice to obtain 
an electronic copy of the application package.
    An MDO may submit an initial application for a loan with a 
microlender technical assistance grant, or an initial or subsequent 
loan-only (without a microlender technical assistance grant). Loan 
applications must be submitted electronically to the RD State Office 
where the project is located and must be organized in the same order 
set forth in 7 CFR 4280.315. Applicants are strongly encouraged to 
contact their respective RD State Office for an email contact to submit 
an electronic application prior to the submission deadline date(s).
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission. An application must 
contain all of the required elements outlined in 7 CFR 4280.315 and in 
this notice. Each application must address the applicable scoring 
criteria presented in 7 CFR 4280.316 for the type of funding being 
requested.
    For entities applying for program loan funds to become an RMAP 
microlender only, the following items are also required: (1) Form RD 
1910-11, ``Applicant Certification Federal Collection Policies for 
Consumer or Commercial Debts;'' available at https://forms.sc.egov.usda.gov/efcommon/eFileServices/eForms/RD1910-11.PDF; (2) 
Demonstration that the applicant is eligible to apply to participate in 
this program; and (3) Certification by the applicant that it cannot 
obtain sufficient credit elsewhere to fund the activities called for 
under this program with similar rates and terms.
    Current MDO entities may be eligible for subsequent annual 
microlender technical assistance grants that are awarded subject to 
funding availability and determined non-competitively based on Agency 
appropriations for the fiscal year. The MDO must submit a prescribed 
worksheet, listing the outstanding balance of their microloans and 
unexpended grant funds as of June 30, 2025, and a letter certifying 
that their organization still meets all the requirements set forth in 7 
CFR part 4280, subpart D, and that no significant changes have occurred 
within the last year that would affect its ability to carry out the MDO 
functions. In addition, all MDOs who request Subsequent Annual 
Microlender Technical Assistance Grants must complete their reporting 
into the Lenders Interactive Network Connection (LINC) for the Federal 
fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2025 which will verify the outstanding 
balance of their microloans as stated in their request for grant funds. 
The deadline for reporting into LINC and requesting a technical 
assistance grant is no later than 4:30 p.m. (Eastern Time) on August 1, 
2025.
    3. System for Award Management and Unique Entity Identifier.
    (a) At the time of application, each applicant must have an active 
registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) before submitting 
its application in accordance with 2 CFR part 25. In order to register 
in SAM, entities will be required to obtain a Unique Entity Identifier 
(UEI). Instructions for obtaining the UEI are available at https://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) Applicant must ensure they 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. Competitions for the available funds 
will be made quarterly for applications that are received no later than 
11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on: First Quarter, September 30, 2024; Second 
Quarter, December 31, 2024; Third Quarter, March 31, 2025; and Fourth 
Quarter, June 30, 2025. The deadline for requesting a technical 
assistant grant is no later than 4:30 p.m. (Eastern Time) on August 1, 
2025.
    Applications must be received by the RD State Office by the dates 
and times as indicated above to compete for available funds in that 
fiscal quarter. If the due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or Federal 
holiday, the application is due the next business day.
    The Agency will not solicit or consider new scoring or eligibility 
information that is submitted after the application deadline. RBCS 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, 
``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs,'' applies to this 
program. This E.O. requires that Federal agencies provide opportunities 
for consultation on proposed assistance with State and local 
governments. Many states have established a Single Point of Contact 
(SPOC) to facilitate this consultation. For a list of states that 
maintain a SPOC, please see the White House website: https://www.whitehouse.gov/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 your 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. No funds made available under this notice 
shall be used for ineligible purposes outlined in 7 CFR 4280.313(e).
    7. Other Submission Requirements. All applications must be 
submitted as a complete application, in one package.

E. Application Review Information

    1. Criteria. All eligible and complete applications for new loan 
and grant funds will be evaluated and scored based on the selection 
criteria and weights contained in 7 CFR part 4280, subpart D. 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. An application must 
receive at least 60 points out of 100 possible points in the scoring 
criteria stated in 7 CFR 4280.316 to be considered for funding in the 
quarter in which it is scored.
    2. Review and Selection Process. The RD State Offices will review 
applications to determine if they are eligible for assistance based on 
requirements contained in 7 CFR part

[[Page 67414]]

4280, subpart D. If determined eligible, the application will be 
submitted to the National Office, where it will be reviewed and 
prioritized by ranking each application received in that quarter, from 
highest to lowest score order. All applications will be funded from the 
highest to lowest score until funds have been exhausted for each 
funding cycle. Funding of projects is subject to the MDO's satisfactory 
submission of the additional items required by that subpart and the 
USDA RD Letter of Conditions.

F. Federal Award Administration Information

    1. Federal Award Notices. Successful applicants will receive 
notification for funding from the RD State Office. Applicants must 
comply with all applicable statutes and regulations before the award 
will be approved. Provided the application and eligibility requirements 
have not changed, an application not selected will be reconsidered for 
three subsequent funding competitions for a total of four competitions. 
If an application is withdrawn, it can be resubmitted and will be 
evaluated as a new application. Unsuccessful applications will receive 
notification by mail, detailing why the application was unsuccessful.
    2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements.
    (a) General. Additional requirements that apply to MDOs selected 
for this program can be found in 7 CFR part 4280, subpart D. The USDA 
and the Agency have adopted the USDA grant regulations at 2 CFR chapter 
IV. This regulation incorporates the latest revisions to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) regulations 2 CFR part 200 and 2 CFR part 
400 for monitoring and servicing RMAP funding.
    (b) Geospatial Data. Awardee, and any and all contracts entered 
into by the awardee with respect to the award, shall ensure that 
geospatial data required to be collected and provided to the agency, 
conforms with the requirements of USDA Department Regulation DR-3465-
001 and the Geospatial Metadata Standards set forth in DM 3465-001, 
which can be obtained online at usda.gov/directives/dr-3465-001andusda.gov/directives/dm-3465-00.
    3. Reporting. In addition to any reports required by 2 CFR part 200 
and 2 CFR part 400, the MDO must provide reports as required by 7 CFR 
part 4280, subpart D.
    Intermediaries must collect and maintain data provided by Ultimate 
Recipients defined by 7 CFR 4280.3 on race, sex, and national origin 
and must also ensure that Ultimate Recipients collect and maintain this 
data. Race and ethnicity data will be collected in accordance with OMB 
Federal Register notice, ``Revisions to the Standards for the 
Classification of Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity'' (62 FR 58782), 
October 30, 1997. Sex data will be collected in accordance with Title 
IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. These items should not be 
submitted with the application but should be available upon request by 
the Agency.
    The applicant and the Ultimate Recipients must comply with Title VI 
of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments 
of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the 
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, 
Executive Order 12250, Executive Order 13166 Limited English 
Proficiency (LEP), and 7 CFR part 1901, subpart E.

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s)

    For general questions about this notice, please contact the RD 
State Office as provided in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.

H. Other Information

    1. Paperwork Reduction Act. In accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35), the information 
collection requirements associated with RMAP, as covered in this 
notice, have been approved by OMB under OMB Control Number 0570-0062.
    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.
    4. Civil Rights Act. 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--Nondiscrimination in Federally-Assisted 
Programs of the Department of Agriculture--Effectuation of Title VI of 
the Civil Rights Act of 1964) 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. Equal Opportunity for Religious Organizations.
    (a) Faith-based organizations may apply for this award on the same 
basis as any other organization, as set forth at, and subject to the 
protections and requirements of, this part and any applicable 
constitutional and statutory requirements, including 42 U.S.C. 2000bb 
et seq. USDA will not, in the selection of recipients, discriminate for 
or against an organization on the basis of the organization's religious 
character, motives, or affiliation, or lack thereof, or on the basis of 
conduct that would not be considered grounds to favor or disfavor a 
similarly situated secular organization.
    (b) A faith-based organization that participates in this program 
will retain its independence from the Government and may continue to 
carry out its mission consistent with religious freedom and conscience 
protections in Federal law. Religious accommodations may also be sought 
under many of these religious freedom and conscience protection laws.
    (c) A faith-based organization may not use direct Federal financial 
assistance from USDA to support or engage in any explicitly religious 
activities except when consistent with the Establishment Clause of the 
First Amendment and any other applicable requirements. An organization 
receiving Federal financial assistance also may not, in providing 
services funded by USDA, or in their outreach activities related to 
such services, discriminate against a program beneficiary or 
prospective program beneficiary on the basis of religion, a religious 
belief, a refusal to hold a religious belief, or a refusal to attend or 
participate in a religious practice.
    6. 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

[[Page 67415]]

(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 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 https://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, USDA Rural 
Development.
[FR Doc. 2024-18630 Filed 8-19-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XY-P