# Presentation: 304145

## Distance Learning

**& Telemedicine Grant Program**
**FY 2009**
**January 28, 2009**
**Gary B. Allan, Chief, Universal Services Branch**

**Rural Development Telecommunications Program**

## dltinfo@wdc.usda.gov

**  ****We regret that we can not take questions directly.  If you have a question, e-mail us with the subject line:**
** ****“****webinar question”**
**at**
**dltinfo@wdc.usda.gov**
** ****If we have time at the end of the presentation, we will try to answer.  If not, we will do so at a later time.**

## 3 Types of DLT Assistance:

**	****1.  100% Grant**
**	****2.  Combination Loan-Grant**
**	****3.  100% Loan**
- At present, there is no budget authority for the loan programs, so this presentation will focus solely on the 100% Grant Program.

## Introduction to DLT Grant Program

**The best source of information is the FY 2009 Application Guide complemented by the Toolkit.**

## www.usda.gov/rus/telecom/dlt/dlt.htm

**www.usda.gov/rus/telecom/dlt/dlt.htm**

## DLT Grant Program

**We urge you to read the *****Application Guide***** carefully and follow its instructions.  Each year, we adjust and amplify the *****Guide***** based on experience gained the previous year.  A presentation such as this can only touch on the information contained in the *****Guide*****. **

## DLT Grant Program - Eligibility

**Several Types: **
**	****Applicant Eligibility**
**	****Project and Budget Item Eligibility**
**	****Application Eligibility**
**	****	**

## DLT Grant Program - Applicant Eligibility

- 1.  _Deliver_ or propose to _deliver_ distance learning or telemedicine services for the term of the grant.  **The purposes must meet the grant definition of distance learning and telemedicine.**  Focus on sustainability.  No planning studies, research projects, or short-term demonstration projects.
- 2.  Be incorporated or a partnership; a Native American tribal organization; a state or local unit of government; a consortium; or other legal entity.  For or not-for profit able to contract with the US Government.  _No individuals or sole-proprietorships._
- 3.  Operate a rural community facility or deliver DLT services to entities that operate a rural community facility or to residents of rural areas at rates calculated to ensure that the benefit of the financial assistance passes through to such entities or to residents of rural areas.

## DLT Grant Program - Project and Budget Eligibility

- DLT Grants are not just a way to obtain educational technology or medical equipment.  The focus is on using the unique capabilities of telecommunications to connect rural areas to each other and to the world, thus overcoming the effects of remoteness and low population density.
- 1. **Distance learning** means _a curriculum with measurable results_ delivered _via telecommunications_ and stresses _the connection of students and teachers at remote sites_.
- 2. **Telemedicine** means the _delivery of medicine_ from medical professionals at one site to patients at other sites _via telecommunications_.  Telemedicine shows benefit to rural residents either in reduced travel or access to services.

## DLT Grant Program - Project and Budget Eligibility

**1.  Grant and Match purposes are identical **- If an item isn’t eligible for grant, it cannot be credited as a match.** **
**2.  Obtain Grant and Match items from 3rd Party **- All items must be obtained from an organization other than the applicant or other entities participating in the applicant’s DLT project as hubs, hub/end-users, or end-users.
**3.  Funds **_**Equipment**_**, not Telecommunications **- The Program is focused on providing equipment that operates via telecommunications.  While the equipment is eligible, it does not fund the telecommunications that connects the equipment.

## DLT Grant Program - Project and Budget Eligibility

- Grant and Match can be expended only for the _costs associated with the original capital assets_ associated with the project.  There are three categories of eligible purposes:
**1.  Eligible Equipment**
**2.  Instructional Programming **(not tuition or expenses)
**3.  Technical Assistance & Instruction for Using**
**     ****Eligible Equipment** (limited to 10% of Budget)

## DLT Grant Program - Project and Budget Eligibility

**1.  Eligible Equipment  ****- **This list is not exhaustive and does not convey automatic eligibility.  To be eligible in full, items must be primarily for DLT eligible purposes with no use for ineligible purposes.   (See *Application Guide* on Apportioning DLT Project Benefit)
- Computer Hardware and Software
- Audio and video equipment
- Computer network components
- Terminal equipment
- Data terminal equipment
- Interactive audio/video equipment
- OEM or OEM authorized warranties on eligible
-                         equipment up to the 3 year life of the grant
- Inside wiring

## DLT Grant Program - Project and Budget

**Ineligible Purposes**
- Salaries and Benefits
- Administrative Expenses (Overhead)
- Telecommunications Transmission Equipment
- Recurring Costs incl. Telecommunications
- Medical Equipment
- Equipment owned by Telecom Provider (LECS,
- 		CLECS, etc.)
- Duplication of Facilities
-             Leased equipment up to the 3 year life of the grant
- Costs incurred before Application Deadline

## DLT Grant Program - Project and Budget

**Ineligible Purposes**  (continued)
- Application Preparation Costs
- Communications largely within Facility (Within
- 		Campus) such as EMR (see Combo Program)
- Site Development and Building Construction
- Purchase of Land or Buildings
- Projects in Coastal Barrier Areas
- Any purpose not specifically in Regulation or
- 		specifically approved by Administrator
- When Project depends on another source of
- 		funding that is not assured.

## DLT % of Use

-   **Refer to the *****Guide***** for complete information on how to prepare your Budget.  However, we wish to stress:**
**DLT % of Use**
- To ensure that we fund (or credit as match) only equipment that is used predominantly for eligible purposes (& no ineligible purposes) applicants are to demonstrate DLT use in the TSP and show that % in the Budget.
-   Line-items with less than a 50% eligible use are funded by grant (or credited as match) only for the eligible portion.  The balance must come from *Other Funds.*

## DLT % of Use

**DLT % of Use**
**The circled column is used to show this eligible %, **_**not the % of grant funding requested or use in the project**__._

## DLT % of Use

**DLT % of Use**
**For example - Computers are eligible, but only if use is DL or TM**

## DLT % of Use

**DLT % of Use**
***Other Funds***** are **_**other than grant or match**_**.  They are shown separately in the Budget Summary.**

## DLT Grant Program - Application Eligibility

- _Applications are evaluated for Eligibility and Scoring on information received by the Application Deadline. _
- We will not solicit or consider information submitted after the application deadline.  If you have questions, the time to contact us with those questions is _before_ you submit the application.

## DLT Grant Program - Application Eligibility

**There are numerous items required for an application to be found complete (eligible) so that it can be evaluated and scored.   (For detail, see the Guide.) There are 225 points in 8 scoring categories:**
**Objective Scores:**
** ****1.  **_**Rurality (population sparsity - 45)********_
**2. NSLP (economic need - 35)**
** ****3.  **_**Leveraging (matching funds - 35)********_
**4.  EZ/EC (USDA designated economic zones - 15)**

## DLT Grant Program - Application Eligibility

**There are numerous items required for an application to be found complete (eligible) so that it can be evaluated and scored.   (For detail, see the Guide.) There is a maximum of 225 points possible in 8 scoring categories:**
**Subjective Scores:**
**5.  Additional NSLP (10)**
**6.  Need for Services & Project Benefits (45)**
**7.  Innovativeness (15)**
**8.  Cost Effectiveness (35)**

## DLT Grant Program - Application Eligibility

**Among the most important items required for an application to be found complete (eligible) are:**
**1.  Standard Form 424 including Site Worksheet**
**2.  Evidence of Legal Eligibility**
**3.  Telecommunications System Plan (TSP) with thorough discussion of how Project provides Distance Learning or Telemedicine.**
**4.  Budget cross referenced to TSP**
**5.  Rurality Worksheet & Supporting Documentation**
**6.  Leveraging Worksheet & Supporting Documentation    **

## DLT Grant Program - Application Eligibility

**Rurality**
** ****The lower your average  population, the higher your score.   A **_**minimum score**_** based on the location of your project sites is required for Application Eligibility. **
** ****Populations used to determine your score come from the urban and rural analysis in the Decennial Census.**
** ****If your site is in an Urbanized Area or Urban Cluster as defined by the Census, this is the population you use, not the population of the local jurisdiction, zip code, etc.**
**For example:****  **

## DLT Grant Program - Application Eligibility

**Rurality ****(continued)**
** ****West York Borough is located in Pennsylvania.  If you look up the population of this local government, it is 4,321.**
** ****However, West York Borough is in the York Urbanized Area (population 192,903).  This is the population we use.  **

## For applications from eligible applicants (eligible for the Program), an error (or several) in choosing and/or documenting an eligible match is the most common reason that an their application is found ineligible for grant funding.  

**Leveraging**** (Matching Funds)**
***For applications from ******eligible applicants****** ******(eligible for the Program)******, an error (or several) in choosing and/or documenting an eligible match is the most common reason that an their ******application is****** found ******ineligible ******for grant funding.***** **** **

## DLT Grant Program - Application Eligibility

**Leveraging ****(continued) Extensive discussion is provided in the *****Guide***** to prevent applicant error.  Do not rely solely on this presentation.  Among the important points to remember:**
**  ****Cash Matches are expected, but In-kind are acceptable provided they are properly documented.   In particular, In-kind Matches must be for precisely the same kinds of eligible purposes as Grant Funds.  **
**  ****A minimum match of 15% of your Grant Request **_**for eligible purposes**_** is required (zero points).  Larger matches yield scoring points.**
**  ****To be credited as an eligible match, the proposed match must be documented in form and substance satisfactory to the Agency by each donor. **

## DLT Grant Program - Application Eligibility

**Leveraging ****(continued)  Extensive discussion is provided in the *****Guide***** to prevent applicant error.  Do not rely solely on this presentation.  Among the important points to remember:**
**  ****The match documentation must be specific as to the amount and purpose and must also be tied to the TSP and the Budget.**
**  ****Matching Funds must be committed as of the Application Deadline.  Conditional matches are not credited.**
**  ****Matching funds cannot be from a project Vendor and must be from non-Federal sources (with a few exceptions). **
**  ****In-kind contributions for non-eligible purposes cannot be credited as a match.  However, they can be shown in the *****Needs & Benefits***** section as evidence of community support.       **

## DLT Grant Program - Application Eligibility

**None of the other 6 scoring criteria are required for application eligibility.  If an application is submitted without a response to a particular scoring category, or that category is not properly documented, the applicant receives a zero in that category.   **_**But remember that the DLT Grant Program is extremely competitive.**_** Although not required for eligibility, it is very difficult to win an award if the applicant does not respond completely to each scoring criterion.**_** **_

## DLT Grant Program - Other Important Points

**Application Deadline: ****March 24, 2009**
-    Applications must carry 3rd-party proof of shipping by the deadline.
-   Extensions to the deadline are not granted under any circumstances.
-   **Remember: the application is evaluated for eligibility and is scored on material submitted by the deadline.  Information submitted after the deadline will not be solicited or considered by the Agency.**

## DLT Grant Program - Other Important Points

**Typical Projects:**
-   Video-conferencing is the most common for distance learning
-   Visiting nurse links from patient homes to health professionals elsewhere
-   Tele-radiology

## DLT Grant Program - Other Important Points

**Other Projects:**
-   Tele-dentistry
-   Tele-pharmacy
-   Virtual ICU
-   Not yet thought of

## DLT Grant Program - Other Important Points

**What score do I need to win an award? **
**          ****Difficult (actually, impossible) to say****   **
-   Varies from year to year
-   Depends on the number of applicants and the strength of the competition
-   Technologies evolve, so do needs, and so do perceptions of what is valuable

## DLT Grant Program - Other Important Points

**Did I say this before?**
**We urge you to read the *****Application Guide***** carefully and follow its instructions.  Each year, we adjust and amplify the *****Guide***** based on experience gained the previous year.  A presentation such as this can only touch on the extensive instruction and information contained in the *****Guide*****. **

## DLT Grant Program - Other Important Points

**Use the Guide - Trust yourselves**
**Each year applicants request copies of applications that were successful in prior years.  This is not a winning strategy.  We strive to create a *****Guide ***** that will allow a first-time applicant to prepare a successful application without assistance.  Remember that you are the subject matter expert for your project and situation.  No one can do a better job of preparing a compelling application **_**that is specific to you and your project**_** than you, the local people who will use the project. **

## 202-720-0413

**Contact Information**
**The DLT staff is available to answer questions by phone, fax, and e-mail.**
- fax: 202-720-1051
- dltinfo@wdc.usda.gov

## Good Luck

**Good Luck**