Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 232 / Friday, December 3, 2004 / Notices 70217

201–204) and the Department of 

Agriculture (USDA) (subtitle B, sections 

211–213). Under section 212 of the Act, 

the Secretary of Agriculture must 

establish regulations governing the 

possession, use, and transfer of listed 

biological agents and toxins in order to 

protect animal and plant health, and 

animal and plant products. The Animal 

and Plant Health Inspection Service is 

the USDA agency with primary 

responsibility for establishing and 

enforcing regulations in 7 CFR part 331 

and 9 CFR part 121 associated with the 

possession, use, and transfer of those 

biological agents and toxins under 

USDA’s jurisdiction. 

APHIS regulations require an 

individual or entity (unless specifically 

exempted under the regulations) to 

register with APHIS or, for overlap 

agents or toxins (affecting both humans 

and animals), APHIS or the Centers for 

Disease Control and Prevention, HHS, in 

order to possess, use, or transfer 

biological agents or toxins. 

To register, an individual or entity 

must submit a registration application 

package; develop and implement a 

Biocontainment and Security Plan or 

Biosafety and Security Plan, as 

applicable; and request access approval 

for individuals who have been 

identified as having a legitimate need to 

handle or use listed agents or toxins and 

who have the appropriate training and 

skills to handle or use such agents or 

toxins. 

We are asking the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) to 

approve our use of these information 

collection activities for an additional 3 

years.

The purpose of this notice is to solicit 

comments from the public (as well as 

affected agencies) concerning our 

information collection. These comments 

will help us: 

(1) Evaluate whether the collection of 

information is necessary for the proper 

performance of the functions of the 

Agency, including whether the 

information will have practical utility; 

(2) Evaluate the accuracy of our 

estimate of the burden of the collection 

of information, including the validity of 

the methodology and assumptions used; 

(3) Enhance the quality, utility, and 

clarity of the information to be 

collected; and 

(4) Minimize the burden of the 

collection of information on those who 

are to respond, through use, as 

appropriate, of automated, electronic, 

mechanical, and other collection 

technologies; e.g., permitting electronic 

submission of responses. 

Estimate of burden: The public 

reporting burden for this collection of 

information is estimated to average 

1.5442 hours per response. 

Respondents: Researchers, 

universities, research and development 

organizations, diagnostic laboratories 

and other interested parties who 

possess, use, or transfer agents or toxins 

deemed a severe threat to animal or 

plant health, or to animal or plant 

products. 

Estimated annual number of 

respondents: 490. 

Estimated annual number of 

responses per respondent: 2.6327. 

Estimated annual number of 

responses: 1,290. 

Estimated total annual burden on 

respondents: 1,992 hours. (Due to 

averaging, the total annual burden hours 

may not equal the product of the annual 

number of responses multiplied by the 

reporting burden per response.) 

All responses to this notice will be 

summarized and included in the request 

for OMB approval. All comments will 

also become a matter of public record.

Done in Washington, DC, this 29th day of 

November 2004. 

Elizabeth E. Gaston, 

Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant 

Health Inspection Service.

[FR Doc. E4–3453 Filed 12–2–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–34–P

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service 

Madera County Resource Advisory 

Committee

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of resource advisory 

committee meeting. 

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the authorities in 

the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 

1972 (Pub. L. 92–463) and under the 

secure Rural Schools and Community 

Self-Determination Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 

106–393) the Sierra National Forest’s 

Resource Advisory Committee for 

Madera County will meet on Monday, 

December 13, 2004. The Madera 

Resource Advisory Committee will meet 

at the Bass Lake Ranger District Office, 

North Fork, CA 93643. The purpose of 

the meeting is: Review FY 2004 RAC 

proposals.

DATES: The Madera Resource Advisory 

Committee meeting will be held 

Monday, December 13, 2004. The 

meeting will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 

p.m.

ADDRESSES: The Madera County RAC 

meeting will be held at the Bass Lake 

Ranger District Office, 57003 Road 225, 

North Fork, CA 93643.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Dave Martin, USDA, Sierra National 

Forest, Bass Lake Ranger District, 57003 

Road 225, North Fork, CA 93643 (559) 

877–2218 ext. 3100; e-mail: 

dmartin05@fs.fed.us.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Agenda 

items to be covered include: (1) Review 

of procedures for approval of 2005 RAC 

proposals; (2) discussion of types of 

projects to be solicited by the 

committee.

Dated: November 29, 2004. 

Mark Lemon, 

Acting District Ranger for Bass Lake Ranger 

District.

[FR Doc. 04–26653 Filed 12–2–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–11–M

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service 

Announcement of Grant Application 

Deadlines

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of solicitation of 

applications. 

SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service 

(RUS) announces its Distance Learning 

and Telemedicine (DLT) Program grant 

application window for funding during 

fiscal year (FY) 2005 subject to the 

availability of funding. FY 2004 funding 

for the DLT grant program was 

approximately $24.6 million. This 

notice is being issued prior to passage 

of a final appropriations bill to allow 

applicants sufficient time to submit 

proposals and give RUS maximum time 

to process applications within the 

current fiscal year. A Notice of Funding 

Availability will be published 

announcing the funding level for the 

DLT grant program once an 

appropriations bill providing funding 

for DLT grants has been enacted. 

Expenses incurred in developing 

applications will be at the applicant’s 

risk. 

In addition to announcing application 

windows, RUS announces the minimum 

and maximum amounts for DLT grants 

applicable for the fiscal year.

DATES: You may submit completed 

applications for grants on paper or 

electronically according to the following 

deadlines: 

• Paper copies must be postmarked 

and mailed, shipped, or sent overnight 

no later than February 1, 2005, to be 

eligible for FY 2005 grant funding. Late 

applications are not eligible for FY 2005 

grant funding. 

• Electronic copies must be received 

by February 1, 2005, to be eligible for

70218 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 232 / Friday, December 3, 2004 / Notices 

FY 2005 grant funding. Late 

applications are not eligible for FY 2005 

grant funding. 

• RUS will examine applications for 

items that would disqualify them from 

consideration if the applications are 

submitted on paper by January 3, 2005.

ADDRESSES: You may obtain application 

guides and materials for the DLT grant 

program via the Internet at the DLT Web 

site: http://www.usda.gov/rus/telecom/

dlt/dlt.htm. You may also request 

application guides and materials from 

RUS by contacting the DLT Program at 

(202) 720–0413. 

Submit completed paper applications 

for grants to the Rural Utilities Service, 

U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 

Independence Ave., SW., Room 2845, 

STOP 1550, Washington, DC 20250–

1550. Applications should be marked 

‘‘Attention: Director, Advanced Services 

Division, Telecommunications 

Program.’’

Submit electronic grant applications 

at http://www.grants.gov (Grants.gov), 

following the instructions you find on 

that Web site.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Orren E. Cameron, III, Director, 

Advanced Services Division, Rural 

Utilities Service, U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, telephone: (202) 720–0413, 

fax: (202) 720–1051.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Overview 

Federal Agency: Rural Utilities 

Service (RUS). 

Funding Opportunity Title: Distance 

Learning and Telemedicine Grants. 

Announcement Type: Initial 

announcement. 

Catalog of Federal Domestic 

Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.855. 

Dates: You may submit completed 

applications for grants on paper or 

electronically according to the following 

deadlines: 

• Paper copies must be postmarked 

and mailed, shipped, or sent overnight 

no later than February 1, 2005, to be 

eligible for FY 2005 grant funding. Late 

applications are not eligible for FY 2005 

grant funding. 

• Electronic copies must be received 

by February 1, 2005, to be eligible for 

FY 2005 grant funding. Late 

applications are not eligible for FY 2005 

grant funding. 

• RUS will examine applications for 

items that would disqualify them from 

consideration if the applications are 

submitted on paper by January 3, 2005. 

Items in Supplementary Information:

I. Funding Opportunity: Brief 

introduction to the DLT program 

II. Minimum and Maximum Application 

Amounts 

III. Eligibility Information: Who is 

eligible, what kinds of projects are 

eligible, what criteria determine basic 

eligibility 

IV. Application and Submission 

Information: Where to get application 

materials, what constitutes a 

completed application, how and 

where to submit applications, 

deadlines, items that are eligible 

V. Application Review Information: 

considerations and preferences, 

scoring criteria, review standards, 

selection information 

VI. Award Administration Information: 

Award notice information, award 

recipient reporting requirements 

VII. Agency Contacts: Web, phone, fax, 

e-mail, contact name 

I. Funding Opportunity 

Distance learning and telemedicine 

grants are specifically designed to 

provide access to education, training 

and health care resources for people in 

rural America. The Distance Learning 

and Telemedicine (DLT) Program 

(administered by the Universal Services 

Branch of the Rural Utilities Service 

(RUS)) funds the use of advanced 

telecommunications technologies to 

help communities meet those needs. 

The grants, which are awarded 

through competitive process, may be 

used to fund telecommunications, 

computer networks and related 

advanced technologies. 

II. Maximum and Minimum Amount of 

Grant Applications 

Under 7 CFR 1703.124, the 

Administrator has determined the 

maximum amount of an application for 

a grant in FY 2005 is $500,000 and the 

minimum amount of a grant is $50,000. 

RUS will make awards and execute 

documents appropriate to the project 

after an appropriations bill has been 

enacted for FY 2005 and prior to any 

advance of funds to successful 

applicants.

DLT grants cannot be renewed. Award 

documents specify the term of each 

award. Applications to extend existing 

projects are welcomed (grant 

applications must be submitted during 

the application window) and will be 

evaluated as new applications. 

III. Eligibility Information 

A. Who is eligible for grants? (See 7 

CFR 1703.103.) 

1. Only entities legally organized as 

one of the following are eligible for DLT 

grants: 

a. An incorporated organization or 

partnership, 

b. An Indian tribe or tribal 

organization, as defined in 25 U.S.C. 

450b (b) and (c), 

c. A state or local unit of government, 

d. A consortium, as defined in 7 CFR 

1703.102, or 

e. Other legal entity, including a 

private corporation organized on a forprofit or not-for profit basis. 

2. Individuals are not eligible for DLT 

grants directly. 

3. Electric and telecommunications 

borrowers under the Rural 

Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 

950aaa et seq.) are not eligible for grants. 

B. What are the basic eligibility 

requirements for a project? 

1. Required matching contributions. 

See Section IV of this notice and 7 

CFR 1703.125(g) for information on 

documentation of matching 

contributions. 

a. Grant applicants must demonstrate 

a matching contribution, in cash or in 

kind (new, non-depreciated items), of at 

least fifteen (15) percent of the total 

amount of RUS financial assistance 

requested. Matching contributions must

be used for eligible purposes of DLT 

grant assistance (see 7 CFR 1703.121 

and paragraph IV.G of this notice). 

Greater amounts of eligible matching 

contributions may increase an 

applicant’s score (see 7 CFR 

1703.126(b)(4) and paragraph V.B.2.d of 

this notice). 

2. The DLT grant program is designed 

to flow the benefits of distance learning 

and telemedicine to residents of rural 

America (see 7 CFR 1703.103(a)(2)). 

Therefore, in order to be eligible, 

applicants must propose to use the 

financial assistance to: 

a. Operate a rural community facility; 

or 

b. Deliver distance learning or 

telemedicine 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 is passed 

through to such entities or to residents 

of rural areas. 

4. Rurality. 

a. All projects that applicants propose 

to fund with RUS grant assistance must 

meet a minimum rurality threshold, to 

ensure that benefits from the projects 

flow to rural residents. The minimum 

eligibility score is 20 points. Please see 

Section IV of this notice and 7 CFR 

1703.126(a)(2) for an explanation of the 

rurality scoring and eligibility criterion. 

b. Each application must apply the 

following criteria to each of its end-user 

sites, and hubs that are also proposed as 

end-user sites, in order to determine a 

rurality score. The rurality score is the 

average of all end-user sites’ rurality 

scores.

Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 232 / Friday, December 3, 2004 / Notices 70219

Criterion Character Population DLT points 

Exceptionally Rural Area ......................... Area not within a city, village or borough ≤5000 ....................................................... 45 

Rural Area ............................................... incorporated or unincorporated area ....... >5000 and ≤10,000 ................................. 30 

Mid-Rural Area ........................................ incorporated or unincorporated area ....... >10,000 and ≤20,000 .............................. 15 

Urban Area .............................................. incorporated or unincorporated area ....... >20,000 .................................................... 0 

c. The rurality score is one of the 

competitive scoring criteria applied to 

grant applications. 

5. Projects located in areas covered by 

the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (16 

U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) are not eligible for 

grants from the DLT Program. Please see

7 CFR 1703.123(a)(11). 

C. See paragraph IV.B of this notice 

for a discussion of the items that make 

up a completed application. You may 

also refer to 7 CFR 1703.125 for 

completed grant application items. 

IV. Application and Submission 

Information 

A. Where to get application 

information. Application guides, copies 

of necessary forms and samples, and the 

DLT Program regulation are available 

from these sources: 

1. The Internet: http://www.usda.gov/

rus/telecom/dlt/dlt.htm, or http://

www.grants.gov.

2. The DLT Program of RUS for paper 

copies of these materials: (202) 720–

0413. 

B. What constitutes a completed 

application?

1. Detailed information on each item 

in the table in paragraph IV.B.6 of this 

notice can be found in the sections of 

the DLT Program regulation listed in the 

table, and the DLT grant application 

guide. Applicants are strongly 

encouraged to read and apply both the 

regulation and the application guide. 

a. When the table refers to a narrative, 

it means a written statement, 

description or other written material 

prepared by the applicant, for which no 

form exists. RUS recognizes that each 

project is unique and requests narratives 

of varying complexity to allow 

applicants to fully explain their request 

for financial assistance. 

b. When documentation is requested, 

it means letters, certifications, legal 

documents or other third-party 

documentation that provide evidence 

that the applicant meets the listed 

requirement. For example, to confirm 

Enterprise Zone (EZ) designations, 

applicants use various types of 

documents, such as letters from 

appropriate government bodies and 

copies of appropriate USDA Web pages. 

Leveraging documentation sometimes 

include letters of commitment from 

other funding sources, or other 

documents specifying in-kind 

donations. Evidence of legal existence is 

sometimes proven by applicants who 

submit articles of incorporation. None of 

the foregoing examples is intended to 

limit the types of documentation that 

may be submitted to fulfill a 

requirement. DLT Program regulations 

and the application guide provide 

specific guidance on each of the items 

in the table. 

2. The DLT application guide and 

ancillary materials provide all necessary 

forms and sample worksheets. 

3. While the table in paragraph IV.B.6 

of this notice includes all items of a 

completed application for each program, 

RUS may ask for additional or clarifying 

information if the submitted items do 

not fully address a criterion or other 

provision. RUS will communicate with 

applicants if the need for additional 

information arises. 

4. Submit the required application 

items in the order provided in the 

application guide.

5. DUNS Number. As required by the 

OMB, all applicants for grants must 

supply a Dun and Bradstreet Data 

Universal Numbering System (DUNS) 

number when applying. The Standard 

Form 424 (SF–424) contains a field for 

you to use when supplying your DUNS 

number. Obtaining a DUNS number 

costs nothing and requires a short 

telephone call to Dun and Bradstreet. 

Please see Grants.gov for more 

information on how to obtain a DUNS 

number or how to verify your 

organization’s number.

6.—TABLE OF REQUIRED ELEMENTS OF A COMPLETED GRANT APPLICATION

Application item 

REQUIRED items 

Grants (7 CFR 1703.125 and CFR 

1703.126) Notes 

SF–424 (Application for Federal Assistance form) ................................. Yes ................................................. Completely filled out. 

Executive Summary ................................................................................ Yes ................................................. Narrative. 

Objective Scoring Worksheet .................................................................. Yes ................................................. Recommend using the RUS worksheet. 

Rural Calculation Table ........................................................................... Yes ................................................. Recommend using the RUS worksheet. 

National School Lunch Program Determination ...................................... Yes ................................................. Recommend using the RUS worksheet; must include source documentation. 

EZ/EC or Champion Communities designation ...................................... Yes ................................................. Documentation. 

Documented Need for Services/Benefits Derived from Services ........... Yes ................................................. Narrative & documentation, if necessary. 

Innovativeness of the Project .................................................................. Yes ................................................. Narrative & documentation. 

Budget ..................................................................................................... Yes ................................................. Table or spreadsheet; Recommend using the RUS format. 

Leveraging Evidence and Funding Commitments from All Sources ...... Yes ................................................. Documentation. 

Financial Information/Sustainability ......................................................... Yes ................................................. Narrative. 

System/Project Cost Effectiveness ......................................................... Yes ................................................. Narrative & documentation. 

Telecommunications System Plan .......................................................... Yes ................................................. Narrative & documentation; maps 

or diagrams, if appropriate. 

Proposed Scope of Work ........................................................................ Yes ................................................. Narrative or other appropriate format. 

70220 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 232 / Friday, December 3, 2004 / Notices 

6.—TABLE OF REQUIRED ELEMENTS OF A COMPLETED GRANT APPLICATION—Continued

Application item 

REQUIRED items 

Grants (7 CFR 1703.125 and CFR 

1703.126) Notes 

Statement of Experience ......................................................................... Yes ................................................. Narrative 3-page, single-spaced 

limit. 

Consultation with the USDA State Director, Rural Development ........... Yes ................................................. Documentation. 

Application conforms with State Strategic Plan per USDA State Director, Rural Development, (if plan exists).Yes ................................................. Documentation. 

Certifications: 

Equal Opportunity and Nondiscrimination ....................................... Yes ................................................. Recommend using the RUS sample form. 

Architectural Barriers ........................................................................ Yes ................................................. Recommend using the RUS sample form. 

Flood Hazard Area Precautions ....................................................... Yes ................................................. Recommend using the RUS sample form. 

Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970.Yes ................................................. Recommend using the RUS sample form. 

Drug-Free Workplace ....................................................................... Yes ................................................. Recommend using the RUS sample form. 

Debarment, Suspension, and Other Responsibility Matters—Primary Covered Transactions.Yes ................................................. Recommend using the RUS sample form. 

Lobbying for Contracts, Grants, Loans, and Cooperative Agreements .. Yes ................................................. Recommend using the RUS sample form. 

Non-Duplication of Services .................................................................... Yes ................................................. Recommend using the RUS sample form. 

Environmental Impact/Historic Preservation Certification ....................... Yes ................................................. Recommend using the RUS sample form. 

Federal Obligations on Delinquent Debt .......................................... Yes ................................................. Recommend using the RUS sample form. 

Evidence of Legal Authority to Contract with the Government 

(documentation).

Yes ................................................. Recommend using the RUS sample form. 

Evidence of Legal Existence (documentation) ................................ Yes ................................................. Recommend using the RUS sample form. 

Supplemental Information (if any) .................................................... Optional ......................................... Narrative, documentation or other 

appropriate format. 

C. How many copies of an application 

are required?

1. Applications submitted on paper: 

a. Submit the original application and 

two (2) copies to RUS. 

b. Submit one (1) additional copy to 

the State government point of contact (if 

one has been designated) at the same 

time as you submit the application to 

RUS. See http://www.whitehouse.gov/

omb/grants/spoc.html for an updated 

listing of State government points of 

contact or contact the DLT branch. 

2. Electronically submitted 

applications: 

a. The additional paper copies for 

RUS specified in 7 CFR 1703.128(c) and 

7 CFR 1703.136(b) are not necessary if 

you submit the application 

electronically through Grants.gov.

b. Submit one (1) copy to the State 

government point of contact (if one has 

been designated) at the same time as 

you submit the application to RUS. See 

http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/

spoc.html for an updated listing of State 

government points of contact. 

D. How and where to submit an 

application. Grant applications may be 

submitted on paper or electronically. 

1. Submitting applications on paper. 

a. Address paper applications for 

grants to the Rural Utilities Service, U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, 1400 

Independence Ave., SW, Room 2845, 

STOP 1550, Washington, DC 20250–

1550. Applications should be marked 

‘‘Attention: Director, Advanced Services 

Division, Telecommunications 

Program.’’

b. Paper applications must show proof 

of mailing or shipping consisting of one 

of the following: 

(i) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service 

(USPS) postmark; 

(ii) A legible mail receipt with the 

date of mailing stamped by the USPS; or 

(iii) A dated shipping label, invoice, 

or receipt from a commercial carrier. 

c. Due to screening procedures at the 

Department of Agriculture, packages 

arriving via the USPS are irradiated, 

which can damage the contents and 

delay delivery of your application to the 

DLT program. RUS encourages 

applicants to consider the impact of this 

procedure in selecting their application 

delivery method. 

2. Electronically submitted 

applications: 

a. Applications will not be accepted 

via facsimile machine transmission or 

electronic mail. 

b. Electronic applications for grants 

will be accepted if submitted through 

the Federal government’s Grants.gov 

initiative at http://www.grants.gov.

c. If you want RUS to review your 

application for items that would 

disqualify it for further consideration 

(see paragraph V.D of this notice), 

please do not use Grants.gov. Submit 

your application on paper. Grants.gov 

does not yet support such preapplication reviews. 

d. How to use Grants.gov: 

e. Grants.gov contains full 

instructions on all required passwords, 

credentialing and software. 

(i) Central Contractor Registry. In 

addition to the DUNS number required 

of all grant applicants, submitting an 

application through Grants.gov requires 

that you list your organization in the 

Central Contractor Registry (CCR). 

Setting up a CCR listing (a one-time 

procedure with annual updates) takes 

up to five business days, so RUS 

strongly recommends that you obtain 

your organization’s DUNS number and 

Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 232 / Friday, December 3, 2004 / Notices 70221

CCR listing well in advance of the 

deadline specified in this notice. 

(ii) Credentialing and authorization of 

applicants. Grants.gov will also require 

some one-time credentialing and online 

authentication procedures. These 

procedures may take several business 

days to complete, further emphasizing 

the need for early action to complete the 

sign-up, credentialing and authorization 

procedures at Grants.gov before you 

submit an application at that Web site. 

f. RUS encourages applicants who 

wish to apply through Grants.gov to 

submit their applications in advance of 

the deadlines. 

g. If a system problem occurs or you 

have technical difficulties with an 

electronic application, please use the 

customer support resources available at 

the Grants.gov Web site. 

E. Deadlines.

1. Paper applications must be 

postmarked and mailed, shipped, or 

sent overnight no later than February 1, 

2005, to be eligible for FY 2005 grant 

funding. Late applications are not 

eligible for FY 2005 grant funding. 

2. Electronic grant applications must 

be received by February 1, 2005, to be 

eligible for FY 2005 funding. Late 

applications are not eligible for FY 2005 

grant funding. 

3. RUS will examine applications for 

items that would disqualify them from 

consider if the applications are 

submitted on paper by January 3, 2005. 

F. Intergovernmental Review. The 

DLT grant program is subject to 

Executive Order 12372, 

‘‘Intergovernmental Review of Federal 

Programs.’’ As stated in paragraph IV.C 

of this notice, a copy of a DLT grant 

application must be submitted to the 

State single point of contact if one has 

been designated. Please see http://

www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/

spoc.html to determine whether your 

state has a single point of contact. 

G. Funding Restrictions.

1. Eligible purposes.

a. End-user sites may receive financial 

assistance; hub sites (rural or non-rural) 

may also receive financial assistance if 

they are necessary to provide DLT 

services to end-user sites. Please see 7 

CFR 1703.101(h). 

b. To fulfill the policy goals laid out 

for the DLT Program in 7 CFR 1703.101, 

the following table lists purposes for 

financial assistance and whether each 

purpose is eligible for the assistance. 

Please consult the application guide and 

the regulations (7 CFR 1703.102 for 

definitions, in combination with the 

portions of the regulation cited in the 

table for each type of financial 

assistance) for detailed requirements for 

the items in the table. RUS strongly

recommends that applicant exclude 

ineligible items from the grant and 

match portions of their project budgets. 

However, some items ineligible for 

funding or matching contributions may 

be vital to the project. RUS encourages 

applicants to document those costs in 

the application budget. Please see the 

application guide for a sample, 

recommended budget format.

Grants (7 CFR 1703.121 and 7 CFR 1703.123) 

Lease or purchase of eligible DLT equipment and facilities ........................................................... Yes—equipment only. 

Acquire instructional programming .................................................................................................. Yes. 

Technical assistance, develop instructional programming, engineering or environmental studies Yes, not to exceed 10% of the grant. 

Medical or education equipment or facilities necessary to the project ........................................... No. 

Vehicles using distance learning or telemedicine technology to deliver services .......................... No. 

Teacher-student links located at the same facility .......................................................................... No, if this is the sole project objective. 

Links between medical professionals located at the same facility ................................................. No, if this is the sole project objective. 

Site development or building alteration ........................................................................................... No. 

Land or building purchase ............................................................................................................... No. 

Building construction ....................................................................................................................... No. 

Acquiring telecommunications transmission facilities ..................................................................... No. 

Salaries, wages, benefits for medical or educational personnel .................................................... No. 

Salaries/administrative expenses of applicant or project ................................................................ No. 

Recurring project costs or operating expenses .............................................................................. No. Equipment leases are eligible. Telecommunications connection charges are not

eligible. 

Equipment to be owned by the LEC or other telecommunications service provider, if the provider is the applicant.Yes. 

Duplicate distance learning or telemedicine services ..................................................................... No. 

Any project that, for its success, depends on additional DLT financial assistance or other financial assistance that is not assured.No. 

Application preparation costs .......................................................................................................... No. 

Other project costs not covered in regulation ................................................................................. No. 

Costs & facilities providing distance learning broadcasting ............................................................ No. 

Reimburse applicant or others for costs incurred prior to RUS receipt of completed application No. 

2. Eligible Equipment & Facilities.

Please see 7 CFR 1703.102 for 

definitions of eligible equipment, 

eligible facilities and 

telecommunications transmission 

facilities as used in the table above. 

V. Application Review Information 

A. Special Considerations or Preferences 

1. American Samoa, Guam, Virgin 

Islands, and Northern Mariana Islands 

applications are exempt from the 

matching requirement up to a match 

amount of $200,000 (see 48 U.S.C. 

1469a; 91 Stat. 1164). 

B. Criteria

1. Grant applications are scored 

competitively and subject to the criteria 

listed below. 

2. Grant application scoring criteria 

(total possible points: 235) See 7 CFR 

1703.125 for the items that will be 

reviewed during scoring, and 7 CFR 

1703.126 for scoring criteria. 

a. Need for services proposed in the 

application, and the benefits that will be 

derived if the application receives a 

grant (up to 55 points). 

b. Rurality of the proposed service 

area (up to 45 points). 

c. Percentage of students eligible for 

the National School Lunch Program 

(NSLP) in the proposed service area 

(demonstrates economic need of the 

area) (up to 35 points). 

d. Leveraging resources above the 

required matching level (up to 35 

points). Please see paragraph III.B.1.a of 

this notice for a brief explanation of 

matching contributions. 

70222 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 232 / Friday, December 3, 2004 / Notices 

e. Level of innovation demonstrated 

by the project (up to 15 points). 

f. System cost-effectiveness (up to 35 

points). 

g. Project overlap with Empowerment 

Zone, Enterprise Communities or 

Champion Communities designations 

(up to 15 points). 

C. Review Standards 

1. In addition to the scoring criteria 

that rank applications against each 

other, RUS evaluates grant applications 

for possible awards on the following 

items, according to 7 CFR 1703.127: 

a. Financial feasibility. 

b. Technical considerations. If the 

application contains flaws that would 

prevent the successful implementation, 

operation or sustainability of a project, 

RUS will not award a grant. 

c. Other aspects of proposals that 

contain inadequacies that would 

undermine the ability of the project to 

comply with the policies of the DLT 

Program. 

D. As a courtesy, RUS will examine, 

provide comment, and return 

applications that include items that 

would disqualify them from further 

consideration for modification, if the 

applications are submitted by January 3, 

2005. If you want RUS to examine your 

application in this manner, please 

submit your application on paper. 

Grants.gov does not currently support 

this kind of pre-application review. 

E. Selection Process 

Grant applications are ranked by final 

score, and by application purpose 

(education or medical). RUS selects 

applications based on those rankings, 

subject to the availability of funds. RUS 

may allocate grant awards between 

medical and educational purposes, but 

is not required to do so. In addition, 

RUS has the authority to limit the 

number of applications selected in any 

one State during a fiscal year. See 7 CFR 

1703.127. 

VI. Award Administration Information 

A. Award Notices 

Awards will be made and notices sent 

only after an appropriations bill has 

been enacted for FY 2005 funding the 

DLT grant program. RUS generally 

notifies applicants whose projects are 

selected for awards by faxing an award 

letter. RUS follows the award letter with 

a grant agreement that contains all the 

terms and conditions for the grant. RUS 

recognizes that each funded project is 

unique, and therefore may attach 

conditions to different projects’ award 

documents. An applicant must execute 

and return the grant agreement, 

accompanied by any additional items 

required by the grant agreement, within 

120 days of the selection date. 

B. Administrative and National Policy 

Requirements 

The items listed in Section IV of this 

notice, and the DLT Program regulation, 

application guide and accompanying 

materials implement the appropriate 

administrative and national policy 

requirements. 

C. Reporting 

1. Performance reporting. All 

recipients of DLT financial assistance 

must provide annual performance 

activity reports to RUS until the project 

is complete and the funds are expended. 

A final performance report is also 

required; the final report may serve as 

the last annual report. The final report 

must include an evaluation of the 

success of the project in meeting DLT 

Program objectives. See 7 CFR 1703.107. 

2. Financial reporting. All recipients 

of DLT financial assistance must 

provide an annual audit, beginning with 

the first year a portion of the financial 

assistance is expended. Audits are 

governed by United States Department 

of Agriculture audit regulations. Please 

see 7 CFR 1703.108. 

VII. Agency Contacts 

A. Web site: http://www.usda.gov/rus/

telecom/dlt/dlt.htm. The RUS’ DLT Web 

site maintains up-to-date resources and 

contact information for DLT programs. 

B. Phone: 202–720–0413. 

C. Fax: 202–720–1051. 

D. E-mail: dltinfo@usda.gov. 

E. Main point of contact: Orren E. 

Cameron, III, Director, Advanced 

Services Division, Rural Utilities 

Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Dated: November 30, 2004. 

Curtis M. Anderson, 

Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.

[FR Doc. 04–26649 Filed 12–2–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–15–P

COMMITTEE FOR PURCHASE FROM 

PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR 

SEVERELY DISABLED 

Procurement List; Proposed Additions 

and Deletions

AGENCY: Committee for Purchase From 

People Who Are Blind or Severely 

Disabled.

ACTION: Proposed additions to and 

deletions from procurement list. 

SUMMARY: The Committee is proposing 

to add to the Procurement List products 

and services to be furnished by 

nonprofit agencies employing persons 

who are blind or have other severe 

disabilities, and to delete products 

previously furnished by such agencies. 

Comments Must be Received on or 

Before: January 2, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Committee for Purchase 

From People Who Are Blind or Severely 

Disabled, Jefferson Plaza 2, Suite 10800, 

1421 Jefferson Davis Highway, 

Arlington, Virginia, 22202–3259.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Sheryl D. Kennerly, (703) 603–7740.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This 

notice is published pursuant to 41 

U.S.C. 47(a)(2) and 41 CFR 51–2.3. Its 

purpose is to provide interested persons 

an opportunity to submit comments on 

the proposed actions. 

Additions 

If the Committee approves the 

proposed additions, the entities of the 

Federal Government identified in this 

notice for each product or service will 

be required to procure the products and 

services listed below from nonprofit 

agencies employing persons who are 

blind or have other severe disabilities. 

Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification 

I certify that the following action will 

not have a significant impact on a 

substantial number of small entities. 

The major factors considered for this 

certification were: 

1. If approved, the action will not 

result in any additional reporting, 

recordkeeping or other compliance 

requirements for small entities other 

than the small organizations that will 

furnish the products and services to the 

Government. 

2. If approved, the action will result 

in authorizing small entities to furnish 

the products and services to the 

Government. 

3. There are no known regulatory 

alternatives which would accomplish 

the objectives of the Javits-WagnerO’Day Act (41 U.S.C. 46–48c) in 

connection with the products and 

services proposed for addition to the 

Procurement List. Comments on this 

certification are invited. Commenters 

should identify the statement(s) 

underlying the certification on which 

they are providing additional 

information. 

End of Certification 

The following products and services 

are proposed for addition to 

Procurement List for production by the 

nonprofit agencies listed: 

Products 

Product/NSN: Folder, File, 

Classification,