[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 40 (Friday, February 28, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11947-11949]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-04031]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Business-Cooperative Service
Rural Housing Service
Rural Utilities Service
Notice of Solicitation of Applications (NOSA) for the Strategic
Economic and Community Development Program for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020
AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Rural Housing Service, and
Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: Section 6401 of the Agricultural Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill)
enables the Secretary of Agriculture to provide priority to projects
that support Strategic Economic and Community Investment plans. The
2018 Farm Bill re-authorized the Strategic Economic and Community
Development (SECD) priority, Section 6025 of the Agricultural Act of
2014 (2014 Farm Bill) with some modifications. Until the rulemaking
process is finalized to incorporate the new changes, SECD will continue
to operate using the existing regulation. In FY 2020, the Agency
implements SECD through reserving funds from the ``underlying
programs''. This Notice applies to applicants who will be submitting
applications for the ``underlying programs''. This notice establishes
the above mentioned priority effective upon the publication of this
notice.
DATES: To apply for SECD priority points in FY 2020, applicants must
submit Form RD 1980-88, ``Strategic Economic and Community Development
(section 6025) Priority,'' by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on June 30, 2020.
All applicants are responsible for any additional expenses incurred
in preparing and submitting applications.
ADDRESSES: Submit applications to the USDA Rural Development Area
Office servicing the area where the project is located. A list of the
USDA Rural Development Area Offices can be found listed by state at:
http://www.rd.usda.gov/contact-us/state-offices.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For more information, please contact
your respective Rural Development State Office listed here: http://www.rd.usda.gov/browse-state A checklist of all required application
information for regional planning priority can be found at: https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/strategic-economic-and-community-development.
For all other inquiries, contact Innovation Center Partnership
Division Regional Coordinators as follows:
Midwest Region--Christine Sorensen: 202-568-9832,
[email protected].
Northeast Region--Angela Callie: 202 568 9738,
[email protected].
Southern Region--Greg Dale: (870) 633-3055 Ext. 123,
[email protected].
Western Region--Tim O'Connell: (503) 414-3396,
[email protected].
National Office-- Greg Batson, Rural Development
Innovation Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Stop 0793, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-0783, Telephone: 573-239-
2945. Email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This action has been reviewed and determined
not to be a rule or regulation as defined in Executive Order 12866, as
amended by Executive Order 13258.
I. Background
Section 6401 of the 2018 Farm Bill re-authorized Section 6025 of
the Agricultural Act of 2014 (2014 Farm Bill) with some modifications.
The provision provides priority to projects that support strategic
economic development or community investment plans when applying for
program funds under the rural development mission area. Until the
rulemaking process is finalized to incorporate the new changes, SECD
will continue to operate using the existing regulation. In FY 2020, the
Agency will reserve funds from the ``underlying programs'', using SECD
regulation 7 CFR 1980, Subpart K. This Notice provides applicants with
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eligible projects the opportunity to apply for reserve funding in FY
2020.
A. Statutory Authority
This priority is authorized under Section 6401 of the 2018 Farm
Bill.
B. Programs
Section 6401 of the 2018 Farm Bill authorizes any program under the
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2008v), as
determined by the Secretary, to give priority to an application that
supports the implementation of strategic community investment plans. In
FY 2020, the Agency implements SECD through reserving funds from the
``underlying programs'', using SECD regulation 7 CFR 1980, Subpart K.
Accordingly, the Agency is giving regional planning priority
through the following Rural Development programs:
Community Facility Loans; see 7 CFR 1942, Subpart A
Fire and Rescue and Other Small Community Facilities Projects;
see 7 CFR 1942, Subpart C
Community Facilities Grants; see 7 CFR 3570, Subpart B
Community Programs Guaranteed Loans; see 7 CFR 3575
Water and Waste Disposal Programs Guaranteed Loans; see 7 CFR
1779
Water and Waste Loans and Grants; see 7 CFR 1780
Business and Industry Guaranteed Loans; see 7 CFR 4279
Rural Business Development Grants; see 7 CFR 4280, Subpart E
II. Award Information
Type of Awards: Guaranteed loans, direct loans and grants.
Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2020 appropriated funds.
Available Funds: The amount of funds available will depend on the
amount of funds the underlying programs have available during the
fiscal year.
Regional Planning Priority
For FY 2020 applications, the following table specifies the
percentage of funds being reserved:
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Percentage of
Program funds reserved
for SECD
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Community Facility Loans................................ 10
Fire and Rescue and Other Small Community Facilities 10
Projects...............................................
Community Facilities Grant Program...................... 10
Community Programs Guaranteed Loans..................... 10
Water and Waste Disposal Programs Guaranteed Loans...... 10
Water and Waste Loans................................... 5
Water and Waste Grants.................................. 3
Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan................... 5
Rural Business Development Grants....................... 5
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Award Amounts: Guaranteed loans, direct loans and grants will be
awarded in amounts consistent with each applicable underlying program.
Award Dates: Awards for applications submitted in FY 2020 will be
made on or before June 30, 2020. The agency will return any reserved
funds that are not obligated by June 30, 2020 to the underlying
program's regular funding account, for obligation to all eligible
projects in that program.
III. Eligibility Information
A. Eligible Requirements
To be considered for SECD priority points, both the applicant and
project must meet the eligibility requirements of the underlying
program. These requirements vary among the underlying programs and
applicants should refer to the regulations for those programs, which
are referenced in I. A. of this Notice.
The agency continues to make available additional priority for
regional planning through the existing regulation without making any
changes to the applicant eligibility requirements of the underlying
programs. The regulation includes three criteria that a project must
meet in order to be considered for priority points (see 7 CFR
1980.1010):
The first criterion, as noted above, is that the project meets the
applicable eligibility requirements of the underlying program for which
the applicant is applying.
The second criterion is that the project is ``carried out in a
rural area'' as defined in 7 CFR 1980.1005. As defined, this means
either the entire project is physically located in a rural area or all
of the beneficiaries of the service(s) provided through the project
must either reside in or be located in a rural area. Note that the
definition of ``rural'' varies among the underlying programs and the
Section 6025 regulation does not change those definitions, therefore,
the applicable program regulations as outlined in I.A. should be
reviewed as necessary.
The third criterion is that the project supports the implementation
of a strategic economic development or community investment plan on a
multi-jurisdictional basis as defined in 7 CFR 1980.1005.
In order to be considered for the reserved funds from underlying
programs in FY 2020, applicants (1) meet all requirements of the
underlying program; (2) meet all requirements in accordance with 7 CFR
Subpart K (see 7 CFR 1980.1010); and (3) submit Form RD 1980-88 and
supporting documentation. Form RD 1980-88 requests such information as
(see 7 CFR 1980.1015):
Identification of whether the applicant includes a State,
county, municipal, or tribal government;
Identification by name of the plan being supported by the
project, the date the plan became effective and is to remain in effect,
and a detailed description of how the project directly supports one or
more of the plan's objectives;
Sufficient information to show that the project will be
carried out solely in a rural area; and
Identification of any current or previous applications the
applicant has submitted for funds from the underlying programs.
B. Cost Sharing or Matching
Any and all cost sharing, matching, and cost participation
requirements of the applicable underlying program apply to projects
seeking SECD priority points. The Section 6025 regulation does not
change such requirements.
C. Other Eligibility Requirements
Any and all other eligibility requirements (beyond those identified
in III.A of this Notice) found in the
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underlying programs apply to applicants, their projects, and the
beneficiaries of those projects are unchanged by either this Notice or
the Section 6025 regulation.
IV. Application Evaluation and Selection for Underlying Programs Funds
All FY 2020 applications for underlying programs will be reviewed,
evaluated, and scored based on the underlying program's scoring
criteria. This Notice does not affect that process. This Notice only
affects the scoring of SECD applications competing for an underlying
program's funds.
A. Scoring of Applications
All eligible and complete applications competing for an underlying
program's funds will be evaluated and scored based on the criteria of
the applicable underlying program, whether or not the applicant seeks
regional planning priority points.
For applicants wishing to be considered for the reserved funds in
FY 2020, the Agency will review, evaluate, and score each Form RD 1980-
88, based on the criteria specified in 7 CFR 1980.1020, to award the
SECD priority points.
B. Selection Process
The Agency will select the highest scoring applications competing
for an underlying program's funds based on the award process for the
underlying program to determine which projects receive funds except
that:
An application's total score will be determined in
accordance with section IV.A. of this Notice and
To the extent provided by the underlying programs in this
Notice, the Agency will encourage awarding ``SECD priority'' to
qualifying applications.
VI. Award Administration Information
A. Award Notices
The Agency will notify SECD applicants who receive funding in a
manner consistent with award notifications for the underlying program.
B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
Any and all additional requirements of the applicable underlying
programs apply to projects receiving funding in response to this
Notice. Please see the regulations for the applicable underlying
program.
C. Reporting Requirements
Any and all post-award reporting requirements contained in the
underlying program apply to all projects receiving funding in response
to this Notice.
Applicants who are selected for funding in FY 2020 in response to
this Notice (i.e., those applicants who submit Form RD 1980-88 and
receive funding from the underlying program's funds) are required to
submit information in accordance with 7 CFR 1980.1026. This information
is on the project's measures, metrics, and outcomes that the awardee
would already be submitting to the appropriate entity(ies) monitoring
the implementation of the plan.
VII. Additional Information
Paperwork Reduction Act
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the
information collection requirements contained in 7 CFR part 1980,
subpart K, have been approved by OMB under OMB Control Number 0570-
0068.
National Environmental Policy Act
This document has been reviewed in accordance with 7 CFR part 1970,
subpart A, ``Environmental Policies.'' It is the determination of the
Agency that this action does not constitute a major Federal action
significantly affecting the quality of the human environment, and, in
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, Public
Law 91-190, neither an Environmental Assessment nor an Environmental
Impact Statement is required.
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 1-866-705-5711 or online at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform.
Similarly, all grant applicants must be registered in the System for
Award Management (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 law and U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its
Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or
administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on
race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including
gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital
status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance
program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil
rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA
(not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing
deadlines vary by program or incident.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of
communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print,
audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible
Agency or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or
contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
Additionally, program information may be made available in languages
other than English.
To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA
Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office or
write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the
information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint
form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA
by:
(1) Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC
20250-9410; fax: (202) 690-7442; or email: [email protected].
Donald DJ LaVoy,
Deputy Under Secretary, Rural Development.
[FR Doc. 2020-04031 Filed 2-27-20; 8:45 am]
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