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State’s Economic Development Assistance Program

Notice of Funding Availability

Executive Summary

 

NOFA Release Date: April 17, 2023

Proposal Due Date: June 25, 2023

The Delta Regional Authority (DRA) is publishing this Notice of Funding Availability 

(NOFA) to solicit applications for grants under the 2023 States’ Economic Development 

Assistance Program (SEDAP).

The program aims to target federal resources toward communities in the Mississippi River 

Delta and Alabama Black Belt regions. SEDAP provides direct investment into communitybased and regional projects that address the DRA’s congressionally mandated four funding 

categories.

Under federal law, at least 75 percent of DRA funds must be invested in economically 

distressed counties and parishes and isolated areas of distress in the region. At least 50 

percent shall be allocated to transportation and basic public infrastructure improvements. 

The remaining funds are directed to DRA’s other funding priorities of workforce 

development and business development with a focus on entrepreneurship.

This NOFA is organized to provide a general overview of the grant program as well as the

specific requirements needed to complete an application. Additional background 

information on SEDAP is available here: https://dra.gov/programs/criticalinfrastructure/sedap/.
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Table of Contents

A. DRA OVERVIEW................................................................................................................... 3

B. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION ................................................................................................... 3

1. Program Overview ............................................................................................................. 3

2. 2023 SEDAP Grants........................................................................................................... 3

3. 2023 SEDAP Priorities, Objectives, and Funding Principles ......................................... 4

C. AWARD INFORMATION...................................................................................................... 7

1. Availability of Funding..................................................................................................... 7

2. Period of Performance..................................................................................................... 8

D. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION.............................................................................................. 8

1. Eligible Applicants............................................................................................................ 9

2. Documentation of Economic Impact................................................................................ 9

3. Cost Sharing or Matching................................................................................................ 10

E. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION........................................................ 11

1. How to Apply .................................................................................................................... 11

2. Content and Form of the grant Application ................................................................... 11

4. Application Submission Instructions............................................................................. 12

F. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION......................................................................... 12

1. Criteria.............................................................................................................................. 12

Review and Selection Process ................................................................................................ 17

G. AWARD ADMINISTRATION.............................................................................................. 18

H. DRA CONTACT INFORMATION........................................................................................ 18

I. GENERAL DISCLOSURES................................................................................................... 18

Appendix I................................................................................................................................... 20

Appendix II................................................................................................................................. 29

Appendix III................................................................................................................................ 38
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A. DRA OVERVIEW

The DRA is a federal agency whose mission is to spur growth and economic development 

within its eight-state region. Established by an act of Congress through the Delta Regional 

Authority Act of 2000 (7 U.S.C. § 2009aa1-13), DRA makes strategic investments of federal 

appropriations into the critical and human infrastructure of Delta communities. DRA is 

composed of the governors of the eight Delta states and a federal co-chair, who is 

appointed by the president and approved by the U.S. Senate. Local participation is also 

provided through 45 multi-county Local Development Districts (LDDs). DRA serves the 10-

million people residing in the 252 counties and parishes that include parts of the states of 

Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee. 

(An interactive map of the DRA region can be found here.)

B. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

1. Program Overview

Strategic investment in the 252 counties and parishes served by the DRA is helping to 

improve the quality of life and boost economic development opportunities. The main 

investment tool used by DRA is SEDAP, which provides direct investment into communitybased and regional projects that address the DRA’s congressionally mandated four funding 

categories.

The DRA works closely with the 45 LDDs in the DRA footprint that serve as front-line 

project managers to ensure community-relevant project development and investment. 

SEDAP investments emphasize job creation, regional collaboration, and funding 

partnerships in communities.

To best build the foundations for long-term economic development and to complement 

other federal and state resources in the region, federal funds shall be focused on the 

activities in the following order or priority:

• Basic public infrastructure in distressed counties and isolated areas of distress.

• Transportation infrastructure for the purpose of facilitating economic development in 

the region.

• Business development, with emphasis on entrepreneurship.

• Job training or employment-related education, with emphasis on the use of existing public 

educational institutions located in the region.

A comprehensive list of other federal administrative requirements can be found in Appendix I.

2. 2023 SEDAP Grants
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The 2023 SEDAP competitive grant program is administered as follows:

Funding Cycle Opens: April 17, 2023

Application Deadline to LDDs: June 25, 2023, 11:59 p.m.

Application Deadline to DRA: July 9, 2023, 11:59 p.m.

Merit Reviews Complete: July 30, 2023

DRA Eligibility Determination: August 20, 2023 

DRA Meetings with States Complete: September 3, 2023 

Projects Announcements Estimated: September 29, 2023 

All applications received by the deadline will be screened for eligibility. Applications that 

meet the eligibility criteria will be reviewed and scored. Top-scoring applications will be 

selected to receive a 2023 SEDAP grant. Applications not selected for funding during this 

cycle can be revised and resubmitted in future funding cycles, pending availability of 

federal funds.

Applicants are encouraged to contact their LDD for additional information about the 2023 

SEDAP application submission requirements as well as for assistance in developing their 

applications. Technical questions about the NOFA should be directed to sedap.cif@dra.gov

with the subject line: SEDAP NOFA. Include the contact's name, applicant organization, and 

phone number in the body of your email.

In addition to the requirements described in this NOFA and online at 

https://www.dra.gov/SEDAP, all applications must also meet the general requirements for 

DRA funding and be consistent with DRA’s Regional Development Plan IV.

3. 2023 SEDAP Priorities, Objectives, and Funding Principles

This section provides information describing the 2023 SEDAP investment priorities and 

objectives. Potential applicants should review this information thoroughly before 

submitting a project proposal.

Background on DRA’s Strategic Investment Goals

As described in the agency’s strategic plan, Navigating the Currents of Opportunity:

DRA Regional Development Plan IV, as the theme of this plan underscores, the DRA’s 

strategic goals reflect the Authority’s fourfold commitment to advancing infrastructure, job 

creation, business expansion, and local economies. They are related and, to an extent, 

interdependent in that they support one another. Also, each goal aims to enact specific 

strategies. For example, infrastructure investments that reinforce resilience and 

stewardship of resources preserve the region’s natural attractiveness. Investments that 

contribute to residents’ health and well-being enable the stability and effectiveness of the 

workforce.

• Goal 1 - Invest in public infrastructure: Expand and invest in the resiliency of the region’s 

public infrastructure to improve residents’ quality of life and increase economic 
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opportunity. 

• Goal 2 - Nurture local workforce ecosystems: Improve networks of agencies, 

organizations, businesses, and educational institutions providing workforce development 

opportunities. 

• Goal 3 - Promote business growth and entrepreneurship: Continue to strengthen the 

competitiveness of the region’s employers and attract new employers to the region. 

• Goal 4 - Support community placemaking and capacity-building: Expand efforts to 

enhance sustainable and inclusive local placemaking, quality of life, and community 

capacity.

SEDAP Investment Priorities

The 2023 SEDAP Investment Priorities build upon DRA’s Strategic Investment Goals and 

are summarized and described below. Ultimately, the focus of SEDAP is on investments that 

are local or regional, industry and community driven, and transformational to help 

revitalize Delta communities and spur economic development in DRA’s eight-state region. 

In general, DRA’s Investment Priorities are meant to advance economic development 

strategies. Within this broad focus, DRA is targeting investments focused on nine key 

priorities:

• MOVE TOWARD EQUITY: Encourage stakeholders to enact programmatic and policyrelated changes to prioritize equity across the DRA’s programs to reflect DRA’s commitment 

to prioritizing equity in its grants and programs. Enhance regional sensitivity by responding 

to the unique needs, opportunities, and cultural contexts presented across the region’s 252 

counties and parishes.

• ELEVATE RURAL COMMUNITIES: Prioritize investments in economically distressed 

communities and in support of inclusive, sustainable rural communities. Support the efforts 

of local grassroots organizations engaged in furthering progress on DRA strategic goals,

including promoting access to services, funding, and programs that enable career stability 

such as health care, housing, education, and food security.

• FOSTER TRUE COLLABORATION: Encourage productive partnerships by prioritizing 

collaboration among states, economic development districts, institutions of higher learning, 

the private sector, philanthropic organizations, and DRA region residents.

• ADOPT LEADING PRACTICES: Promote efficiency and effectiveness by implementing 

collaborative, innovative, and evidence-based practices to rapidly reinvest taxpayer dollars 

in the communities that the DRA serves. This includes being accountable for performance 

targets and driving partners and grant recipients to shoulder shared responsibility for 

meeting those targets.

• MEASURE OUTCOMES: Use data to inform decisions regarding grants and investments and 

track outcomes from those initiatives. Facilitate thought-leadership and data-sharing in 

order to promote transparency while monitoring emerging challenges and ongoing 

progress.

• LOOK TO THE LONG TERM: Prioritize investments that address the challenges and needs 

of the DRA region not only today but in the future. Also, promote investments in resilient 

infrastructure that ameliorate environmental impact.
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• EVIDENCE OF RESILIENT CONSTRUCTION METHODS AND MATERIALS TO BE USED: 

The applicant must demonstrate through architectural and/or engineering specs that 

resilient construction methods and materials will be utilized during the construction of the 

project, in order to protect against natural disasters. 

• DEMONSTRATION OF PROJECT ACTIVITIES WHICH PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE CLEAN 

ENERGY AND/OR ADDRESS THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE: The applicant must 

demonstrate innovative approaches to delivering energy efficient and/or clean power, 

which are clean energy demonstration projects, which support weatherization and other 

energy efficiency improvements to reduce energy costs, and which include clean energy 

manufacturing and workforce development.

• DEMONSTRATION OF INCREASING HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES’ 

ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HEALTHY FOODS: The applicant must demonstrate project 

initiatives with a direct connection between economic development and healthy food 

access.

Projects that do not fit this list of investment priorities may be considered for funding, but 

all applications will be scored on their ability to address one or more of these priority 

areas.

Applicants should incorporate these investment priorities vigorously into their proposed 

projects. Applicants are also strongly encouraged to contact their LDD for specific guidance 

pertaining to the eligible use of SEDAP funds.

4. Reporting Requirements

All projects supported with Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) funding shall be expected 

to begin reporting project-level data in July 2023. For more reporting requirements see 

Appendix III. 

The programs and projects that fall within the scope are those that are funded through BIL 

grants and cooperative agreements that support the construction, modernization, or major 

alteration and renovation to support, the structures, facilities, and equipment for, in the 

United States are considered within the scope of this requirement. These include: 

• roads, highways, and bridges

• public transportation

• dams, ports, harbors, and other maritime systems

• intercity passenger and freight railroads

• freight and intermodal facilities

• airports

• water systems; including drinking water and wastewater systems

• electrical transmission facilities and systems

• utilities
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• broadband infrastructure

• buildings and real property

DRA’s outcome indicators will combine both quantitative and qualitative measures:

• Indicator 1- DRA will through reporting requirements as well as with the support of our 

Monitoring and Compliance Program as well as our Delta Research Program (funded by 

USDA RCAP) will assess the extent to which members of the public receive job training, as 

applicable, through the project. 

• Indicator 2 - DRA will through reporting requirements as well as with the support of our 

Monitoring and Compliance Program as well as our Delta Research Program (funded by 

USDA RCAP) will assess the extent to jobs are created and/or jobs are retained, as 

applicable, through the project. 

• Indicator 3 - DRA will with the support of our Delta Research Program (funded by USDA 

RCAP), a continuation of community engagement opportunities, and utilizing publicly 

available data sets assess the numerical changes as well as the perceptions and experiences 

of the community members impacted by the investment.

DRA has defined benefits as: 

• Jobs created 

• Jobs retained 

• Families affected (by improved infrastructure investment) 

• People trained

The Authority tracks the accrual of these benefits to disadvantaged communities on the 

county/parish level via grantee reporting. For some projects, the Authority tracks these 

benefits on more granular geographic levels, such as the local jurisdiction.

DRA definition(s) of “disadvantaged community:”

Delta Regional Authority defines, pursuant to its statute, 7 U.S.C. § 2009aa-5, a 

disadvantaged community, as a distressed county – one which is “the most severely and 

persistently distressed and underdeveloped and have high rates of poverty or 

unemployment.” This definition is applicable to all DRA’s covered programs. DRA has also 

applied to some of its human infrastructure program grants the USDA definition of 

persistent poverty to define disadvantaged communities. “Persistent poverty counties are 

counties that have had poverty rates of 20% or greater for at least 30 years.” USDA 

Economic Research Service

C. AWARD INFORMATION

1. Availability of Funding

2023 SEDAP grant funds are available as follows:
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DRA is making $16,814,154 available for SEDAP project grants. SEDAP funding is provided 

by the BIL ($4,728,765; Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, P.L. 117-58) and the 

Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 ($12,085,389; P.L. 117-328).

In general, DRA expects to allocate funding to each of the eight states based on an allocation 

formula, which has been approved by the Authority. In general, projects awards will range 

from $50,000 to $500,000, depending on the type of project and application score.

2023 STATE ALLOCATIONS

$1,687,287 10.03% Alabama

$2,353,614 14.00% Arkansas

$1,302,424 7.75% Illinois

$1,488,776 8.85% Kentucky

$3,338,367 19.85% Louisiana

$2,553,441 15.19% Mississippi

$1,906,686 11.34% Missouri

$2,183,561 12.99% Tennessee

$16,814,154 100.00%

DRA reserves the right to negotiate the budget costs with the applicants that have been 

selected to receive awards, which may include requesting that the applicant remove or 

adjust certain proposed costs.

Projects must serve and benefit a portion of the Delta region as defined by the Delta 

Regional Authority Act of 2000, as amended. The Delta region includes certain counties and 

parishes in Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, and 

Tennessee. If projects extend beyond the DRA region, only that portion that is within the 

region is eligible for DRA funding. A map of the Delta region is available online at States -

Delta Regional Authority (dra.gov).

DRA will not be held responsible for proposal or application preparation costs. Publication 

of this NOFA does not obligate DRA to award any specific grant or cooperative agreement 

nor to obligate all or any part of available funds.

2. Period of Performance

Applicants can determine the required time period necessary to meet the objective of their 

project. However, the period of performance for awards made under this program will be 

no more than 24 months with a start date indicated in the Notice to Proceed.

D. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION
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1. Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants include:

1. Counties/parishes, cities, or other political subdivisions of a state, including a special 

purpose district of a state or local government engaged in economic or community 

development activities, or a consortium of political subdivisions,

2. Public or private nonprofit organizations or associations,

3. Regional development organizations,

4. Economic development organizations,

5. Workforce investment boards,

6. Unions/labor organizations,

7. Community-based organizations,

8. Faith-based organizations,

9. Public Institutions of higher education or a consortium of institutions of higher 

education,

10. Minority-serving institutions,

11. Trade/technical schools,

12. Historically Black Colleges & Universities, and

13. Federally recognized Tribes.

1. Eligible Activities (examples)

Applicants may propose projects that include any of the types of activities found in 

Appendix II.

2. Documentation of Economic Impact

Eligible SEDAP projects must be located within the Delta region as defined by the 

Delta Regional Authority Act of 2000, as amended, and be targeted toward 

communities or regions that have been recently impacted, or can reasonably 

demonstrate that they will be impacted in the near future, by the loss of 

employment in a locally- or regionally-significant industry sector, or identify 

opportunities for improving the competitiveness of a locally- or regionallysignificant industry sector through expanded or enhanced workforce training and 

skills development.

Complete applications for a SEDAP grant must provide appropriate third-party 

economic and demographic statistics for the applicable community or region to 

document the extent to which contractions in a regionally significant industry sector 

have negatively impacted the community, workforce, region or identify evidence-
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based opportunities to support existing business(es) or industry clusters. The 

applicant will need to cite the data source used to demonstrate impact. Economic 

indicators, labor market analyses, official announcements made by local and 

regional industries and firms, demographic or industry data, and peer reviewed 

scholarly articles and publications are strong sources of data to demonstrate these 

impacts. Applicants are encouraged to provide data (median household income, 

unemployment rate, etc.) from federal sources that may include, but are not limited 

to, the following sources:

● U.S. Department of Agriculture

o Economic Research Service (ERS): https://www.ers.usda.gov

● U.S. Department of Commerce

o Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA): http://www.bea.gov/

o U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS): 

https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/

o U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA): 

https://www.eda.gov

● U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS): 

http://www.bls.gov/

● U.S. Department of Treasury, Internal Revenue Service (IRS): 

https://www.irs.gov/

● Federal Reserve Bank

o St. Louis: https://www.stlouisfed.org/

o Atlanta: https://www.frbatlanta.org/

o Dallas: https://www.dallasfed.org/

3. Cost Sharing or Matching

For all applications received prior to and until declaration of the end of the National 

Emergency Concerning the Coronavirus Disease, anticipated on May 11, 2023, 

applicants are not required demonstrate non-federal cost-share during this grant 

cycle. This waiver of 7 USC2009aa-3(b)(1) is pursuant to Pub. L. 116-260, div. D, 

title V, §505(a), Dec. 27, 2020, in response to economic distress directly related to 

the impacts of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). Any application received after 

the end of National Emergency must demonstrate a 10 percent cost share. The cost 

share must be non-federal unless allowed by statute. The cost share shall not apply 

to a project providing transportation or basic public services to residents of one or 

more distressed counties or isolated areas of distress in the region. Higher amounts 

of cost share will be given priority consideration. 

_______________________________________

1 In general, DRA has the ability to accept other federal dollars as a matching 

contribution. However, some federal agencies and/or specific projects may have 
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limitations on the use of other and/or total federal funding. Prospective applicants are 

encouraged to consult with DRA program staff prior to submission if planning to use 

other federal funds as a source to meet the matching funds requirement.

E. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. How to Apply

The electronic grant application will be available on April 17, 2023. Applicants may 

access the application electronically at: funding.dra.gov.

2. Content and Form of the grant Application

SEDAP is administered in accordance with DRA’s standard application policies and 

procedures.

Application Sections:

• Project Name

• Project Summary

• Project Description

• Project Purpose

• Project Output and Outcomes

• Community Demand

• Employer Engagement (Participation Agreement (preferred)

• Budget and Budget Narrative

The completion of federal forms and other supporting documentation will be 

required when an application is selected for funding. Supplemental resources and 

additional guidance about project application requirements are provided online at 

www.dra.gov.

3. Submission Dates and Times

The submission dates and times for the 2023 SEDAP grant competition are as 

follows:

2023 States’ Economic Development Assistance Program

Funding Cycle Opens: April 17, 2023

Grant Application Deadline: June 25, 2023

Award Announcements: September 2023 (Anticipated)

Potential applicants are encouraged to contact DRA program staff or their LDD 

office (https://dra.gov/resources/local-development-districts/) for additional 
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information about the 2023 SEDAP application submission requirements as well as 

for assistance in completing applications.

In addition to the requirements described in this NOFA and online at 

https://dra.gov/programs/critical-infrastructure/sedap/, all applications must 

meet the general requirements for DRA funding and be consistent with DRA’s 

strategic plan.

Technical Assistance

LDDs serve as technical assistance providers for DRA funding programs. In addition, 

DRA staff are also available to discuss pre-award eligibility concerns as well as post 

award requirements.

Additionally, DRA will provide technical assistance to unfunded applicants who send 

a request to sedap.cif@dra.gov at the conclusion of the funding cycle.

4. Application Submission Instructions

Project applications (with related attachments) must be submitted electronically via 

the SEDAP Portal available at: funding.dra.gov.

After an application is submitted, it undergoes a validation process during which the 

application may be accepted or rejected due to errors, incomplete information, or 

eligibility disqualifications.

F. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

1. Criteria

DRA has instituted a technical review process to provide for an objective review of 

applications. The evaluation criteria are based on the program’s priorities, 

objectives, and funding principles outlined in Section B: Program Description of this 

NOFA.

Criterion Points 

(maximum)

 Project Information Section Total

75 Points

 I. Project Description 25 Points

a. Description of Project Service Area 7

b. Project Design 10
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c. Demonstration of Inclusion in a Distressed County/Parish and 

isolated areas of distress in the region 3

d. Demonstration of Inclusion in a Persistent Poverty 

County/Parish 1

e. Project Timeline 4

 II. Project Purpose 25 Points

a. Description of Need 12

b. Alignment with DRA’s Strategic Investment Goals 3

c. Alignment with SEDAP Federal Priorities 7

d. Alignment with Local Economic Development Priorities 3

 III. Project Outputs and Outcomes 13 Points

a. Demonstration of Realistic and Attainable Outcomes 8

b. Demonstration of Job Created or Retained, Families affected 

or People Trained

5

 IV. Management Team and Partners 12 Points

a. Local and Regional Collaboration 5

b. Demonstration of Local and Regional Partnerships (to 

include Community Colleges, Unions, Training Providers, 

etc.)

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c. Demonstration of Partnership(s) with Historically Black 

Colleges and Universities (HBCU), Minority Serving 

Institutions (MSI) and/or Federally Recognized Tribe

3

 Evidence of Community Demand or Employer Needs Section Total

15 Points

 I. Demonstration of Community Demand for Proposed Project 5

 II. Evidence of Employer Engagement 3

a. Inclusion of a Participation Agreement Guaranteeing Job 

Creation or Retention

7

 Funding Information Section Total 

5 Points
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 I. Budget/Budget Narrative Alignment 5

Project Information – 75 Points

Project Description – 25 Points

The applicant should demonstrate how the proposed activities support community 

and/or industry-driven economic development in the DRA Region. To be considered 

for full points, the applicant must include a description of the project service area, 

alignment with strategic plans, project design and approach, and declare if project 

activities will occur in a distressed county/parish and designated persistent poverty 

county/parish.

a. Description of Project Service Area and Community Needs (7 

Points)

The extent to which the applicant describes the project service area and 

target population to be served by the proposed project. Applicants should 

describe the service area’s socioeconomic challenges, including the service 

area’s population, median household income, unemployment rate, and labor 

force participation rate. 

b. Project Design (10 Points)

The extent to which the applicant describes a coherent and feasible approach 

for successfully addressing the identified needs of the community, 

employers, job seekers, and workers. The project design must describe all 

grant activities by demonstrating how the applicant will implement its 

proposed project. This section must also clearly be reflected in the Work 

Plan, Project Timeline, Budget, and Budget Narrative. The applicant must 

address factors that could impact the project’s success and a related 

contingency plan, especially programmatic impacts stemming from the 

coronavirus pandemic.

c. Demonstration of Inclusion in a Distressed County/Parish and 

isolated areas of distress in the region (3 Points)

Pursuant to statute, DRA is authorized to fund up to 75 percent of its

projects based on their location or impact within a distressed area. If funds 

remain available, we may fund projects in non-distressed areas. By statute, 

DRA defines distress at the county/parish level. For isolated areas within 

non-distressed areas, as approved by the federal co-chairman and state 

members as required in statute, we define distress at the census tract level.

d. Demonstration of Inclusion in a Persistent Poverty County/Parish (1 

Point)

The applicant must demonstrate that project activities take place in at least 

one or more persistent poverty county/parish.
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e. Project Timeline (3 Points)

Inclusion of a realistic project timeline beginning with the award 

announcement to completion of the proposed project activities.

Project Purpose – 30 points

The applicant must describe why the project is necessary, including the specific 

needs of local residents and/or employers addressed by the proposed project. To be 

considered for full points, the applicant must demonstrate how the project aligns 

with DRA’s Strategic Investment Goals and SEDAP Investment Priorities. 

Additionally, the applicant must describe how the proposed project aligns with 

local, regional, or statewide economic and/or workforce development plans and 

priorities.

a. Description of Need (12 Points)

The extent to which the applicant describes the economic and/or workforce 

to be addressed by the proposed project. Further, applicants should describe 

how these needs are being addressed for residents, job seekers and/or 

workers that are proposed to be served by the project.

b. Alignment with DRA’s Strategic Investment Goals (3 Points)

The extent to which the applicant demonstrates alignment with one or more 

of DRA’s Strategic Investment Goals outlined in the agency’s Regional 

Development Plan IV.

c. Alignment with SEDAP Investment Priorities (12 Points)

The extent to which the applicant demonstrates alignment with one or more 

of SEDAP’s Investment Priorities. 

d. Alignment with Local Economic Development Priorities (3 Points) 

The applicant must identify and describe how the project aligns with an 

existing local, regional, or state economic development plan(s) and/or 

workforce strategy. Applicants must demonstrate how the project advances 

relevant goals or addresses a component, need, or action item outlined in the 

identified plan(s). Further, applicants must demonstrate how the project 

activities and anticipated results address, support, or advance specifically 

identified portions of the plan(s). DRA will accept the inclusion of any plan 

published or produced by local public bodies, regional development 

organizations, workforce investment boards, economic development 

organizations, chambers of commerce, relevant state agencies, or related 

organizations.

Project Outputs and Outcomes – 13 Points

a. Demonstration of Realistic and Attainable Outcomes – (8 Points) 

The applicant must provide specific, measurable, achievable, and reasonable 

project outcomes to be accomplished during the period of performance. To 
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be considered for full points, the applicant must identify outcomes/outputs 

that align with the need, gaps, and challenges identified in the Project 

Description and Project Purpose. At a minimum, the applicant must include 

the number of communities served, individuals trained, jobs 

created/retained, and industry/businesses served as anticipated project 

outcomes/outputs.

b. Demonstration of Jobs Created or Retained, Families Affected or 

People Trained - (5 Points)

To be considered for full points, the applicant must identify project outputs 

that result in at least one of the following achievable metrics: jobs created, 

jobs retained, families affected, or people trained. 

Management Team and Partners – 12 Points

The applicant must identify key members of the project team and describe their 

roles and responsibilities as a part of the project. To be considered for full points, 

the applicant must demonstrate the project team has relevant experience and the 

organizational capacity to manage and implement the proposed project, including

prior experience in or demonstrated capacity for managing complex federal grant,

but not limited to, requirements. Staff resumes and/or job descriptions (for 

positions the applicant is proposing to fill with grant funds) must be included as 

attachments to the application.

a. Local and Regional Collaboration – (5 Points)

The applicant must demonstrate local and/or regional collaboration with 

public and private partners. To be considered for full points, the applicant 

must describe the role and responsibilities of each partner and identify any 

leveraged resources (i.e., cash, in-kind, other).

b. Demonstration of Local and Regional Partnerships (to include Community 

Colleges, Unions, Training Providers, etc.) – (4 Points)

The extent to which the applicant demonstrates partnerships with local and 

regional entities representing the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. To 

be considered for full points, the applicant must provide letters of support 

from engaged partners. Letters of support must describe the extent of each 

partner’s engagement with the proposed project. 

c. Demonstration of Partnership(s) with Historically Black Colleges and 

Universities (HBCU), Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) and/or Federally 

Recognized Tribe – (3 Points)

The extent to which the applicant demonstrates substantial involvement of at 

least one (1) HBCU, MSI and/or Federally Recognized Tribe. To receive full 

points, applicants must provide letter(s) of engagement from at least one (1)

HBCU, MSI and/or Federally Recognized Tribe. Letters of engagement must 

describe how the HBCU, MSI and/or Federally Recognized Tribe will be 
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involved in the proposed project and the extent to which a partnership 

between them and the applicant has evolved and how it will be strengthened.

Evidence of Community Demand or Employer Needs – 15 Points

The applicant must provide some evidence of community demand or employer 

needs, to include letters of support. To be considered for full points, the applicant

must provide a detailed work plan for the entire period of performance which may 

not exceed 24 months.

Demonstration of Community Demand for Proposed Project – (5 Points)

The extent to which the applicant describes the community and/or industry 

demand for the proposed project.

Evidence of Employer Engagement – (3 Points)

The extent to which the applicant demonstrates employer engagement whether 

directly or indirectly with the proposed project.

a. Inclusion of a Participation Agreement Guaranteeing Job Creation 

and/or Retention – (7 Points)

To receive full points, the applicant must include a Participation Agreement

from at least one employer for a reasonable number of jobs to be created or

retained within a 5-year period from the start of the project. 

Funding Information – 5 Points

The applicant must provide the total amount of funding being requested from DRA 

and any matching funds from non-DRA funding sources. The applicant must provide 

information about the source(s) of the matching funds, including a letter of 

commitment or other supporting documentation as evidence from each source. To 

be considered for full points, the applicant must provide a detailed categorical 

budget narrative for both DRA and non-DRA funds and describe how these costs 

align with the proposed project. Projects with more cost share will be prioritized.

Budget and Budget Narrative Alignment – (5 Points)

The applicant must complete a budget narrative form. Either Budget Form SF424A 

(non-construction) or SF424C (construction), as applicable. In preparing the Budget 

Form, you must provide a concise narrative explanation to support the budget 

request. The Budget Narrative must provide a description of costs associated with 

each line item on the budget form. The Budget Narrative should also include a 

section describing any leveraged resources provided (as applicable) to support 

grant activities. Leveraged resources are all resources, both cash and in-kind, in 

excess of this award. Each category (personnel, travel, equipment, supplies, other) 

should include the total estimated cost for the period of performance.

Review and Selection Process

Applications submitted to DRA within the 2023 SEDAP funding cycle will first be 

pre-screened to determine eligibility and completeness. Once project eligibility has 
18

been determined, DRA program staff will conduct a preliminary review to ensure 

the project scope is compatible with program guidelines established in this NOFA. 

Once the preliminary review process is complete, DRA program staff will review and 

score each application based on the criteria set forth in Section F: Application 

Review Information.

DRA reserves the right to negotiate all budget costs with applicants that have been 

selected to receive awards, which may include requesting that the applicant remove 

or adjust certain proposed costs. Additionally, DRA may request that the applicant 

modify objectives or work plans and provide supplemental information pertaining 

to any aspect of the application. DRA also reserves the right to reject an application 

where information is uncovered that raises a reasonable doubt as to the applicant’s 

ability to successfully fulfill the objectives and requirements of the grant award.

DRA, under its complete and sole discretion, may select for award some, all, or none 

of the applications received under this competitive solicitation. The award decision 

made by DRA is final.

G. AWARD ADMINISTRATION

Please see Appendix I for Award Administration requirements.

Administration of DRA awards are subject to the same regulations, restrictions, and 

requirements as other federal awards. These include, but are not limited to, 

administrative requirements and cost principles, Freedom of Information Act 

(FOIA), past performance and non-compliance, environmental and historic 

preservation, and the Americans with Disabilities ACT (ADA) requirements.

H. DRA CONTACT INFORMATION

DRA strongly encourages interested applicants to contact DRA program staff and 

their respective LDDs with any questions they have about SEDAP in general, as well 

as with any specific questions they have about the use of agency funds to support 

projects in Delta communities and regions. Applicants with additional questions are 

encouraged to submit these to sedap.cif@dra.gov.

I. GENERAL DISCLOSURES

The 2023 SEDAP program awards will be made only to the extent that funds are 

available. Publication of this NOFA does not obligate DRA to award any specific 

grant or cooperative agreement or to obligate all or any part of available funds. 

Applicants intending to contract with a specific individual, consulting group, or 

organization with DRA funding must have a competitive procurement policy in 

place.
19

This NOFA does not commit DRA to award a contract, or to procure, or to contract 

for services or supplies. Notwithstanding any other provisions of the NOFA, DRA 

reserves the right to award grants, cooperative agreements or contracts to 

communities or regions that best meet the requirements of the NOFA, and not 

necessarily to the lowest cost proposers. DRA solely reserves the right to accept or 

reject any or all responses received as a result of this NOFA; to negotiate with all 

qualified sources; or to cancel in part or in its entirety this NOFA if it is in the 

interests of DRA to do so.
20

Appendix I

DELTA REGIONAL AUTHORITY: AWARD ADMINISTRATION

1. Administrative Program Requirements

All grantees will be subject to all applicable federal laws and regulations, including the OMB 

Uniform Guidance, and the terms and conditions of the award. The grant(s) awarded under 

this NOFA will be subject to the following administrative standards and provisions.

i. Nonprofit Organizations, Educational Institutions, For-profit entities and State, 

Local, and Indian Tribal Governments–2 CFR Part 200 (Uniform Administrative 

Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards) 

ii. All recipients must comply with the applicable provisions of the Workforce 

Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), Public Law No. 113-328, 128 Stat. 1425 

(codified as amended at 29 U.S.C. 3101 et. seq.) and the applicable provisions of the 

regulations at 20 CFR Part 675 et. seq. Note that 20 CFR Part 683 (Administrative 

Provisions) allows unsuccessful applicants to file administrative appeals.

iii. All entities must comply with 29 CFR Part 93 (New Restrictions on Lobbying), 29 

CFR Part 94 (Governmentwide Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Financial 

Assistance)), 2 CFR Part 180 (OMB Guidance to Agencies on Government-wide 

Debarment and Suspension (Non-procurement)), and, where applicable, 2 CFR Part 

200 (Audit Requirements).

iv. All entities must comply with the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IILA) 

and the Build America, Buy America Act (the Act), Pub. L. No. 117-58, §§ 70901-52, 

as well as the Executive Memorandum M-22-11, dated April 18, 2022, Initial 

Implementation Guidance on Application of Buy America Preference in Federal 

Financial Assistance Programs for Infrastructure.

The Act requires the following Buy America preference:

(1) All iron and steel used in the project are produced in the United States. This 

means all manufacturing processes, from the initial melting stage through the 

application of coatings, occurred in the United States.

(2) All manufactured products used in the project are produced in the United States. 

This means the manufactured product was manufactured in the United States, and 

the cost of the components of the manufactured product that are mined, produced, 

or manufactured in the United States is greater than 55 percent of the total cost of 

all components of the manufactured product, unless another standard for 
21

determining the minimum amount of domestic content of the manufactured product 

has been established under applicable law or regulation.

(3) All construction materials are manufactured in the United States. This means 

that all manufacturing processes for the construction material occurred in the 

United States.

Pursuant to Section 70914(c) of the Act, DRA may waive the application of a Buy America 

preference under an infrastructure program in any case in which the FCC of DRA finds 

that—

(1) applying the domestic content procurement preference would be inconsistent 

with the public interest (a “public interest waiver”);

(2) types of iron, steel, manufactured products, or construction materials are not 

produced in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available quantities or of 

a satisfactory quality (a “nonavailability waiver”); or 

(3) the inclusion of iron, steel, manufactured products, or construction materials 

produced in the United States will increase the cost of the overall project by more 

than 25 percent (an “unreasonable cost waiver”). 

Before applying a Buy America preference to a covered program that will affect Tribal 

Communities, DRA will follow the consultation policies established through Executive 

Order 13175, Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments, and 

consistent with policies set forth in the Presidential Memorandum of January 26, 2021, on 

Tribal Consultation and Strengthening Nation-Nation Relationships.

i. Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Handicap in Programs or Activities Receiving 

Federal Financial Assistance.

ii. Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Age in Programs or Activities Receiving Federal 

Financial Assistance from the DRA pursuant to the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, 

as amended. The Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of age by recipients of 

Federal financial assistance and in federally assisted programs or activities, but 

permits the use of certain age distinctions and factors other than age that meet the 

requirements of the Act and this part

iii. Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities 

Receiving Federal Financial Assistance pursuant to Title IX of the Education 

Amendments of 1972, as amended (except sections 904 and 906 of those 

Amendments) (20 U.S.C. 1681, 1682, 1683, 1685, 1686, 1687, 1688), which is 

designed to eliminate (with certain exceptions) discrimination on the basis of sex in 

any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance, whether or 

not such program or activity is offered or sponsored by an educational institution as 

defined in these Title IX regulations.
22

iv. Implementation of the Nondiscrimination and Equal Opportunity Provisions of 

the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.

v. Labor Standards for the Registration of Apprenticeship Programs, and Equal 

Employment Opportunity in Apprenticeship and Training, as applicable.

vi. DRA will follow the procedures outlined in the agency’s Freedom of Information 

Act (FOIA) policy. If DRA receives a FOIA request for your application, the 

procedures in DRA’s FOIA policies for responding to requests for 

commercial/business information submitted to the government will be followed, as 

well as all FOIA exemptions and procedures. See generally 5 U.S.C. § 552

vii. DRA is supportive of the Presidential Administration’s comprehensive approach 

to advancing equity for all in line with Executive Order 13985. As an identified 

agency with covered programs, DRA will comply with the actions required of 

agencies that manage covered Justice40 programs. These actions include identifying 

the benefits of covered programs, determining how covered programs distribute 

benefits, and calculating and reporting on reaching the 40-percent goal of the 

Justice40 Initiative. Benefits include direct and indirect investments (and program 

outcomes) that positively impact disadvantaged communities. Therefore, all entities 

must comply with reporting, data collection, and evaluation necessary for DRA to 

comply with Justice40 Initiative requirements as outlined in M21-28 Interim 

Implementation Guidance for the Justice40 Initiative and EO 14008.

2. Other Legal Requirements

a. Religious Activities

DRA notes that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), 42 U.S.C. § 2000bb, 

applies to all federal law and its implementation. If an applicant organization is a 

faith-based organization that makes hiring decisions on the basis of religious belief, 

it may be entitled to receive federal financial assistance under this grant solicitation 

and maintain that hiring practice. Religious organizations are eligible on the same 

basis as any other organization, to seek DRA support or participate in DRA 

programs for which they are otherwise eligible. 

b. Lobbying or Fundraising the U.S. Government with Federal Funds 

In accordance with Section 18 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (Public Law 

104-65) (2 U.S.C. § 1611), nonprofit entities incorporated under Internal Revenue 

Service Code section 501(c)(4) that engage in lobbying activities are not eligible to 

receive federal funds and grants. No activity, including awareness-raising and 

advocacy activities, may include fundraising for, or lobbying of, U.S. federal, state, or 

local governments (see 2 CFR 200.450for more information).

c. Transparency Act Requirements

You must ensure that you have the necessary processes and systems in place to 
23

comply with the reporting requirements of the Federal Funding Accountability and 

Transparency Act of 2006 (Pub. Law 109-282, as amended by the Government 

Funding Transparency Act of 2008, Pub. Law 110-252, Title VI, Chap. 2, Sec. 6202), 

as follows.

i. Except for those excepted from the Transparency Act under subparagraphs 1, 2, and 3 below, you must ensure that you have the necessary 

processes and systems in place to comply with the subaward and executive 

total compensation reporting requirements of the Transparency Act, should 

you receive funding.

ii. Upon award, you will receive detailed information on the reporting 

requirements of the Transparency Act, as described in 2 CFR Part 170, 

Appendix A, which can be found at 

https://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-22705.pdf.

The following types of awards are not subject to the Federal Funding Accountability and 

Transparency Act.

a. Federal awards to individuals who apply for or receive federal awards as natural 

persons (e.g., unrelated to any business or nonprofit organization he or she may 

own or operate in his or her name);

b. Federal awards to entities that had a gross income, from all sources, of less than 

$300,000 in the entities' previous tax year; and 

c. Federal awards, if the required reporting would disclose classified information.

d. Safeguarding Data Including Personally Identifiable Information (PII)

Applicants submitting applications in response to this NOFA must recognize that 

confidentiality of PII and other sensitive data is of paramount importance to the 

Delta Regional Authority and must be observed except where disclosure is allowed 

by the prior written approval of the Grant Officer or by court order. By submitting 

an application, you are assuring that all data exchanges conducted through or 

during the course of performance of this grant will be conducted in a manner 

consistent with applicable federal law and TEGL 39-11 (issued June 28, 2012). All 

such activity conducted by recipient(s) will be performed in a manner consistent 

with applicable state and federal laws.

By submitting a grant application, you agree to take all necessary steps to protect 

such confidentiality by complying with the following provisions that are applicable 

in governing the handling of confidential information: You must ensure that PII and 

sensitive data developed, obtained, or otherwise associated with DRA funded grants 

is securely transmitted.

i. To ensure that such PII is not transmitted to unauthorized users, all PII and 
24

other sensitive data transmitted via e-mail or stored on CDs, DVDs, thumb 

drives, etc., must be encrypted using a Federal Information Processing 

Standards (FIPS) 140-2 compliant and National Institute of Standards and 

Technology (NIST) validated cryptographic module. You must not e-mail 

unencrypted sensitive PII to any entity, including DRA or contractors.

ii. You must take the steps necessary to ensure the privacy of all PII obtained 

from participants and/or other individuals and to protect such information 

from unauthorized disclosure. You must maintain such PII in accordance 

with the DRA standards for information security and any updates to such 

standards we provide to you. Grantees who wish to obtain more information 

on data security should contact their Federal Project Officer.

iii. You must ensure that any PII used during the performance of your grant 

has been obtained in conformity with applicable federal and state laws 

governing the confidentiality of information.

iv. You further acknowledge that all PII data obtained through your DRA 

grant must be stored in an area that is physically safe from access by

unauthorized persons at all times and the data will be processed using 

recipient-issued equipment, managed information technology (IT) services, 

and designated locations approved by DRA. Accessing, processing, and 

storing of DRA grant PII data on personally owned equipment, at off-site 

locations, (e.g., employee’s home), and non-recipient managed IT services, 

(e.g., Yahoo mail), is strictly prohibited unless approved by DRA.

v. Your employees and other personnel who will have access to sensitive / 

confidential / Proprietary / private data must be advised of the confidential 

nature of the information, the safeguards required to protect the information, 

and that there are civil and criminal sanctions for noncompliance with such 

safeguards that are contained in federal and state laws.

vi. You must have policies and procedures in place under which your 

employees and other personnel, before being granted access to PII, 

acknowledge their understanding of the confidential nature of the data and 

the safeguards with which they must complying their handling of such data, 

as well as the fact that they may be liable to civil and criminal sanctions for 

improper disclosure.

vii. You must not extract information from data supplied by DRA for any 

purpose not stated in the grant agreement.

viii. Access to any PII created by the DRA grant must be restricted to only 

those employees of the grant recipient who need it in their official capacity to 

perform duties in connection with the scope of work in the grant agreement.
25

ix. All PII data must be processed in a manner that will protect the 

confidentiality of the records/ documents and is designed to prevent 

unauthorized persons from retrieving such records by computer, remote 

terminal, or any other means. Data may be downloaded to, or maintained on, 

mobile or portable devices only if the data are encrypted using NIST 

validated software products based on FIPS 140-2 encryption. In addition, 

wage data may be accessed only from secure locations.

x. PII data obtained by the recipient through a request from DRA must not be 

disclosed to anyone but the individual requestor, except as permitted by the 

Grant Officer or by court order.

xi. You must permit DRA to make onsite inspections during regular business 

hours for the purpose of conducting audits and/or conducting other 

investigations to assure that you are complying with the confidentiality 

requirements described above. In accordance with this responsibility, you 

must make records applicable to this Agreement available to authorized 

persons for the purpose of inspection, review, and/or audit.

xii. You must retain data received from DRA only for the period of time 

required to use it for assessment and other purposes, or to satisfy applicable 

federal records retention requirements, if any. Thereafter, you agree that all 

data will be destroyed, including the degaussing of magnetic tape files and 

deletion of electronic data.

e. Record Retention

You must follow federal guidelines on record retention, which require that you 

maintain all records pertaining to grant activities for a period of at least three years 

from the date of submission of the final expenditure report. See 2 CFR 200.333-.337 

for more specific information, including information about the start of the record 

retention period for awards that are renewed quarterly or annually, and when the 

records must be retained for more than three years.

f. Use of Contracts and Subawards

You must abide by the following definitions of contract, contractor, subaward, and 

subrecipient.

Contract: Contract means a legal instrument by which a non-federal entity (defined 

as a state or local government, Indian tribe, institution of higher education (IHE), 

nonprofit organization, for-profit entity, foreign public entity, or a foreign 

organization that carries out a federal award as a recipient or subrecipient) 

purchases property or services needed to carry out the project or program under a 

federal award. The term as used in this NOFA does not include a legal instrument, 

even if the non-federal entity considers it a contract, when the substance of the 

transaction meets the definition of a federal award or subaward (see definition of 

Subaward below).
26

Contractor: Contractor means an entity that receives a contract as defined above in 

Contract.

Subaward: Subaward means an award provided by a pass-through entity (defined as 

a non-federal entity that provides a subaward to a subrecipient to carry out part of a 

federal program) to a subrecipient for the subrecipient to carry out part of a federal 

award received by the pass-through entity. It does not include payments to a 

contractor or payments to an individual that is a beneficiary of a federal program. A 

subaward may be provided through any form of legal agreement, including an 

agreement that the pass-through entity considers a contract.

Subrecipient: Subrecipient means a non-federal entity that receives a subaward 

from a pass-through entity to carry out part of a federal program but does not 

include an individual that is a beneficiary of such program. A subrecipient may also 

be a recipient of other federal awards directly from a federal awarding agency.

You must follow the provisions at 2 CFR 200.330-.332 regarding subrecipient 

monitoring and management. Also see 2 CFR 200.308(c)(6) regarding prior 

approval requirements for subawards. When awarding subawards, you are required 

to comply with provisions on government-wide suspension and debarment found at 

2 CFR Part 180 and codified at 2 CFR Part 2998.

g. Closeout of Grant Award

i. Any entity that receives an award under this Announcement must close its 

grant with DRA at the end of the final year of the grant. 

ii. The goal of the Grants Oversight and New Efficiency (GONE) Act is to close 

out expired grants. The GONE Act requires the Office of Management and 

Budget (OMB) to instruct each agency, in coordination with the Department 

of Health and Human Services (HHS), to submit to Congress and HHS by 

December 31 of the first calendar year beginning after this Act's enactment a 

report that:

a) Lists each federal grant award held by such agency,

b) Provides the total number of federal grant awards, including the 

number of grants by time period of expiration, the number with zerodollar balances, and the number with undisbursed balances,

c) Describes the challenges leading to delays in grant closeout, and,

d) Explains, for the 30 oldest federal grant awards, why each has not 

been closed out.

The covered grants are those within an agency's cash payment management 

system that have been expired for two or more years and have not been 
27

closed out. No later than one year after the head of an agency submits its 

report, the agency head will notify HHS whether the agency has closed out 

the covered grants discussed in its report. HHS is required to compile this 

information and provide it to Congress.

3. Other Administrative Standards and Provisions

Except as specifically provided in this NOFA, our acceptance of an application and an award 

of federal funds to sponsor any programs(s) does not provide a waiver of any grant 

requirements and/or procedures. For example, the OMB Uniform Guidance requires that 

an entity’s procurement procedures ensure that all procurement transactions are 

conducted, as much as practical, to provide full and open competition. If an application 

identifies a specific entity to provide goods or services, the award does not provide the 

justification or basis to sole-source the procurement (i.e., avoid competition).

4. Special Program Requirements

a. DRA Evaluation

As a condition of grant award, grantees are required to participate in an evaluation, 

if undertaken by DRA. The evaluation may include an implementation assessment 

across grantees, an impact and/or outcomes analysis of all or selected sites within 

or across grantees, and a benefit/cost analysis or assessment of return on 

investment. Conducting an impact analysis could involve random assignment 

(which involves random assignment of eligible participants into a treatment group 

that would receive program services or enhanced program services, or into control 

group(s) that would receive no program services or program services that are not 

enhanced). We may require applicants to collect data elements to aid the evaluation. 

As a part of the evaluation, as a condition of award, grantees must agree to: 

(1) make records available to the evaluation contractor on participants, 

employers, and funding; 

(2) provide access to program operating personnel, participants, and 

operational and financial records, and any other relevant documents to 

calculate program costs and benefits; and 

(3) in the case of an impact analysis, facilitate the assignment by lottery of 

participants to program services, including the possible increased 

recruitment of potential participants; and

(4) follow evaluation procedures as specified by the evaluation contractor 

under the direction of DRA.

b. Performance Goals
28

Please note that applicants will be held to outcomes provided, and failure to meet 

those outcomes may result in technical assistance or other intervention by DRA and 

may also have a significant impact on decisions about future grants with DRA.

5. Definitions

Construction materials

Construction materials includes an article, material, or supply – other than an item of 

primarily iron or steel; a manufactured product; cement and cementitious materials; 

aggregates such as stone, sand, or gravel; or aggregate binding agents or additives – that is 

or consists primarily of:

• non-ferrous metals;

• plastic and polymer-based products (including polyvinylchloride, composite 

building materials, and polymers used in fiber optic cables);

• glass (including optic glass);

• lumber; or

• drywall.

Domestic content procurement preference means all iron and steel used in the project are 

produced in the United States; the manufactured products used in the project are produced 

in the United States; or the construction materials used in the project are produced in the 

United States.

Infrastructure: 

Infrastructure includes, a minimum, the structure, facilities, and equipment for, in the 

United States (1) roads, highways, and bridges; (2) public transportation; (3) dams, ports, 

harbors, and other maritime systems; (4) intercity passenger and freight railroads; (5) 

freight and intermodal facilities; (6) airports; (7) water systems; including drinking water 

and wastewater systems; (8) electrical transmission facilities and systems; (9) utilities; 

(10) broadband infrastructure; and (11) buildings and real property. Infrastructure 

includes facilities that generate, transport, and distribute energy.

Project:

Project means the construction alteration, maintenance, or repair of infrastructure in the 

United States.
29

Appendix II

DELTA REGIONAL AUTHORITY: ELIGIBLE AND INELIGIBLE EXAMPLES

Eligible Activities and Entities

• Agencies or entities – The eligible entity must be organized and legally recognized 

as either a nonprofit, public institution of higher learning, local form of government, 

federally recognized tribes or other local/state entity, which is eligible to receive 

federal funds. The entity should work closely with the LDD servicing the project 

area while developing and submitting the online application. The LDDs certify the 

project applications are complete and for eligible purposes as part of their role as 

the authorized technical assistance provider.

• Economic Development – Eligible activities should include committed industry 

partners, actively seeking to expand or develop new facilities within a community, 

retaining or hiring individuals from the available labor force and contributing to the 

betterment of the community and its surroundings. Economic Development 

activities build upon and support a communities’ existing assets as well as grow and 

nurture new industry segments.

• Category 1: Basic Public Infrastructure – Projects located in distressed 

counties/parishes and isolated areas of distress, these projects are defined as 

follows: Basic Public Infrastructure shall mean water and wastewater facilities, 

electric and gas utilities, broadband delivery and solid waste landfills, all of which 

are fundamental services necessary to sustain and promote growth and/or attract 

business(es), which have a useful life of 20 years or more.

• Category 2: Transportation Infrastructure – Projects for the purpose of 

facilitating economic development activities in the region, these projects are defined 

as follows: Transportation Infrastructure shall mean basic physical structures 

needed to support and/or create a transportation system, which shall include local 

roadways, bridges, rail, port facilities, airports and other structures deemed central 

to an overall transportation system.

• Category 3: Business Development, with an emphasis on entrepreneurship –

Business Development shall mean those areas and efforts which include small 

business, entrepreneurship, the creation of new businesses and the retention or 

expansion of existing businesses in local communities.

• Category 4: Workforce Development – Projects for the purpose of conducting 

industry-driven job skills training or employment-related education, with an 

emphasis on the use of existing public institutions located in the region, these 

projects are defined as follows: job training or employment-related education for a 

specific employer or industry sector, to fill immediate job openings or retain current 
30

jobs, which are documented as such by that specific employer or industry expert. 

Delivery of such training shall be by existing public educational facilities (EPEFs) 

located in the region. Consideration will be given to other providers where an EPEF 

cannot be identified.

• Registered Apprenticeship (RA) – According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 

Registered Apprenticeship is a proven model of job preparation that combines paid 

on-the-job training with related instruction to progressively increase workers’ skill 

levels and wages. Graduates of these programs receive nationally recognized, 

portable credentials, and their training may be applied toward further postsecondary education. All Registered Apprenticeship programs consist of five core 

components – direct business involvement, on-the-job training, related instruction, 

rewards for skill gains, and a national occupational credential. Eligible activities 

include but are not limited to on-the-job training, job-related curriculum 

development, training providers, training facility retrofitting, and job trainingrelated equipment and materials.

• Preliminary site development – As needed to complete a larger, committed 

economic development construction project. Allowable activities may include but 

are not limited to engineering design, architectural planning, environmental 

assessments or legal work necessary to secure other funding sources and/or 

immediately begin the actual construction of the greater project.

• Land purchase – To be considered eligible for DRA funding, a committed industry 

willing to locate or expand operations must be involved and the eligible entity must 

retain ownership of the property.

• Equipment or other property purchased for use by a private entity – Ownership 

of the property must reside with the awardee and lease amounts must be based on 

standard market rates for a long-term lease agreement or industry standard useful 

life of the asset. A long-term lease agreement is generally defined as twenty years. 

Depending on the circumstances, consideration would be given to shorter term 

lease agreements, not less than ten years.

• Health improvements – Projects which address existing health concerns for 

industry and/or residents as it may relate to water and sewer infrastructure 

deficiencies.

• Operating costs – Project applications which include, as part of the overall project, 

budget items generally considered “operating costs” shall be deemed allowable, 

when the operating costs are associated with the establishment of a new program or 

the short-term continuation of a program which is on the path to sustainability and 

is documented as such.

• Business incubation – Organizations committed to the growth and development of 

startup businesses by providing resources and services to help businesses succeed. 
31

These services can include educational workshops or training on technology, 

business development, startup methodology, marketing/branding, exporting, direct 

business mentorship, access to market, access to investors, co-working space, etc. 

Priority will be given to programming that aims to create sustainable 

entrepreneurial and high-growth ventures. Funds cannot be awarded to individual 

entrepreneurs. Funds cannot be awarded to an organization that intends to use the 

funds as financial investment in entrepreneurs in exchange for company equity.

• New business/entrepreneurial incubator – New incubator sites or new incubator 

expansion projects, must demonstrate the commitment of some tenants or provide 

the plausible methodology for determining the number of unserved potential 

clientele, all of which must be acceptable to DRA. Projects must prove sustainability 

without the need for ongoing, long-term financial support from currently uncommitted funding sources.

In addition, an application to support a business incubator, technology, or other 

type of incubator or accelerator, regardless of the type of assistance being requested 

(i.e., construction or non-construction) must also include:

a. A completed feasibility study establishing the market demand for the specific startup companies proposed for incubation (technology, general business, bio-tech, 

manufacturing, etc.) and the presence of necessary resources and community 

support;

b. Documentation with detailed demonstration that the applicant has the financial 

capacity to operate the facility (if applicable) and reach a positive cash flow within a

reasonable period of time, which DRA generally expects to be three years; and

c. A management plan for operation that, at a minimum, includes a/an:

• Tenant/client selection policy that includes a description of the types of 

businesses sought and any established selection criteria;

• Tenant lease or license agreement (if applicable) that enumerates the shared 

services to be provided; delineates the business assistance policy, including 

the provision of management, technical, and training assistance, and the 

graduation policy; and establishes periodic access to the tenant’s business 

records to permit assessment of the financial and operational viability of the 

tenant’s business;

• Business assistance policy that outlines the various types of assistance that 

the will be provided to start-up firms, including how support will be 

provided to tenants/clients with access to capital needed to grow their 

businesses successfully;

• Staffing plan that details the talent and resources that will be dedicated to 

supporting the startup companies accepted;

• Tenant graduation policy that is documented as a provision of the tenant 

lease or license agreement (if applicable) with clear requirements for tenant 

graduation from the facility or services; and

• Performance plan that includes how the entity will track the success of 

tenants/clients, specifically identifying what performance measurement data 
32

are proposed to be collected from tenants/clients and for what period of time 

during and after the service period the data will be collected. This should also 

include members of any oversight or policy board that will be responsible for 

setting performance goals, selecting or approving selections of staff, 

establishing and reviewing policy, and monitoring performance. Any 

applicant that proposes a project to support a business incubator, 

technology, or other type of incubator or accelerator is strongly encouraged 

to contact their LDD to clarify technical matters involving their proposed 

project.

• Employability skills – Workforce and Business Development applications may 

include, as one component of a more extensive development strategy, a focus on 

“employability skills.” The overall strategy must be inclusive of other, more 

traditional, industry-driven job-specific skills training and placement assistance.

• Basic residential infrastructure – Basic Public Infrastructure projects for 

communities in distressed counties/parishes, or isolated areas designated 

distressed in non-distressed counties/parishes may be considered, provided they 

meet the program requirements set out in other applicable eligibility guidelines. 

• Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and broadband – Complete and 

sustainable projects, which are not speculative in nature, nor create any unfair 

competitive business advantage within the communities served, nor subsidize forprofit entities.

• Fire or police stations – Projects which construct or improve fire or police stations 

will be considered, provided one of the following two criteria can be met: 1) 

evidence shall be provided with the application that the project will have a positive 

net impact on the community through lower tax or insurance rates, or 2) evidence 

shall be provided that the facility serves a multi-jurisdictional coverage area that is 

presently unserved or would be unserved without.

• Phased projects – Applications for early phases of a larger project where projected 

outcomes will not be realized until a much later time, possibly after other funds are 

awarded in subsequent cycles, may be considered eligible with proper assurances 

from relevant project partners. DRA’s involvement in early-phase projects shall not 

constitute a commitment on DRA’s part for future funding.

• Architectural and engineering fees – A&E fees are considered an allowable 

expense; however, payment of these fees will be structured as follows: one-third 

paid upon completion and acceptance of the plans, one-third paid upon receipt of a 

successful bid, and the final one-third paid upon completion of the work.

Ineligible Activities and Entities
33

• Youth-oriented activities with no direct connection to entrepreneurship or 

workforce development – Ineligible activities would include, but not be limited, to 

promoting/advocating stay-in-school programs and general K-12 or post-secondary 

education curriculum with a goal to simply keep children in school for the purposes 

of obtaining an education and/or receiving a diploma.

• Sub-grants of any type – Sub-grants are not allowed. Contracts, for which the 

awardee would receive a service as identified in the approved application, are 

allowed and should follow state bid and procurement laws.

• Entities involved in ongoing litigation – As a prerequisite for receiving an award, 

the awardee must affirm within the award document package that the entity is not a

defendant in litigation pertaining to financial fraud, fraudulent business practices, or 

any other malfeasance which could reasonably be construed to affect the integrity of 

the DRA award.

• Pass-through efforts to support or enhance private property or property owners 

– Eligible entities receiving an award shall not enter into lease agreements with forprofit entities or individuals for the purpose of equipping or improving private 

property. This constitutes a pass-through and is not allowable. Likewise, sub-grants 

as described above constitute a pass-through and are not allowable.

• Activities which would constitute a conflict of interest or be considered less than 

an arm’s length transaction – Any such potential circumstances must be disclosed 

to DRA, in writing, prior to the application approval phase. DRA will review the 

disclosure(s) on a case-by-case basis and determine the proper course of action 

moving forward. Perceived conflicts, identified after funds have been awarded, will 

result in the delay of payments until evidence can be provided to clarify the 

relationship(s). Actual conflicts or transactions deemed to be less than arm’s length, 

identified after funds have been awarded may result in forfeiture of awarded funds, 

the repayment of expended funds and/or legal action as deemed appropriate and 

necessary by DRA.

• Projects which do not conform to the project state’s bid, procurement or 

contract laws – Lack of familiarity with the bid, procurement or contract laws in 

your state will not constitute a defense argument should DRA determine the laws 

were ignored or not appropriately adhered to.

• Private university-led projects or programs – DRA will not consider private 

universities to be eligible to receive federal funds directly or through a pass-through

relationship. If a project is determined to be managed and directed by a nonprofit 

foundation, affiliated with the private university, then the foundation could be 

considered the eligible recipient.

• For-profit entities or individuals – DRA will not consider for-profit entities to be 
34

eligible to receive federal funds directly or through a pass-through relationship. 

Eligible entities may not be conduits for private sector entities. Property purchased 

with DRA funding cannot, in turn, be sold or given to a private entity beneficiary. 

However, DRA can indirectly assist and support the development of for-profits by 

improving public infrastructure or providing needed workforce training, 

implemented, or delivered by eligible entities.

• Residential developments – Ineligible activities would include site work in a new 

residential development or to open additional lots in an existing development, 

construction of homes or spec-houses, any activity which may directly financially 

benefit the developer, or run utilities to the site of a future residential development.

• Unsustainable projects – Unsustainable, as defined by DRA, for the purposes of its 

funding programs shall mean: the entity conducting the project is and will be 

dependent upon future federal or state grants, donations, or any other (currently 

non-committed) funding sources for the entities’ normal operating costs, including 

salaries, program-related travel, etc. DRA support, should the project receive 

funding, would be limited to one (1) funding cycle. Consideration would be given to 

continuing the partnership with the same entity, for one (1) additional funding cycle 

if the project scope applied for was substantially different from the original project’s 

scope.

• Financial support of philanthropic and nonprofit foundations – Applications 

which request funding to construct or renovate facilities designed to serve as the 

organization’s headquarters or to support general operating costs will not be 

considered eligible for funding.

• Uncommitted other project funds – Applications which describe within the budget, 

a majority of funding not yet committed or applied for, may be found to be ineligible 

to receive DRA funding. All projects must be able to begin within 12 months of the 

notice to proceed and be substantially complete within 24 months.

• Spec-buildings/pads/industrial sites – Industrial building(s) constructed, by 

eligible entities, for the purpose of attracting unidentified and/or uncommitted 

tenants as an incentive to locate may be deemed speculative and ineligible to 

receive DRA funding. Consideration will be given to market-driven, site 

development projects which have, or have had, a 3rd party review, validation and 

subsequent commitment of investment to the project. 

• Marketing or feasibility studies or plans – Research and/or studies for the 

purposes of promoting an area or industry or gathering data necessary for 

implementing future plans will be deemed speculative and ineligible to receive DRA 

funding. Studies, plans nor planning activities will be considered as part of an 

implementation process in projects, programs, campaigns or initiatives. 

• Community initiatives – Activities with no logical (direct) connection to the 
35

economic development efforts of a community such as: gardens, parks, 

entertainment venues, sidewalks, walking/biking trails, beautification projects, 

sports fields or facilities, community centers, etc. will be deemed ineligible to 

receive DRA funding.

• Saving or preserving landmarks (historic or otherwise) – Applications which 

describe a need to save or preserve a building, bridge or other physical structure 

from further deterioration or demolition with no direct connection to the economic 

development needs or efforts of a community will be deemed ineligible to receive 

DRA funding.

• Emergency vehicles, equipment or accessories – Applications for the singular 

purpose of purchasing emergency vehicles such as: ambulance, fire truck, police car, 

city/county/municipal personnel vehicles, boats, airplanes, etc. or equipping said 

vehicles or emergency workers will be deemed ineligible to receive DRA funding. An 

exception shall be made for purchases which can be directly tied to a specific 

economic development project within the community and the purchase will meet 

the explicit needs of the identified industry partner(s). DRA reserves the right to 

identify other potential funding, for which, these type expenses may be allowable.

• Local government facilities or equipment – Activities including the construction or 

renovation of a City Hall, courthouse, library, or any facility housing local 

(city/county/parish) government offices or the purchase of general use equipment 

for these type facilities, including voting machines, PCs/laptops, furnishings, etc. are 

ineligible to receive DRA funding.

• Water meters, as a stand-alone project – DRA will not consider applications 

eligible for funding which place a major emphasis on the replacement of unreliable, 

inoperable water meters. Consideration will be given to project applications which 

include water meter replacement as a minor part of an overall water system 

upgrade or extension, provided all work is completed on public property or right-ofway.

• Maintenance and/or deferred maintenance projects – Maintenance shall mean 

the work of keeping something in proper condition or upkeep. Deferred 

Maintenance shall mean to put off, postpone or procrastinate the act of conducting 

maintenance. However, consideration will be given to infrastructure projects like 

the dredging of ports if demonstrated to result in job creation and/or retention. 

Local/state/federal road, highway or bridge maintenance projects will not be 

eligible to receive DRA funding.

• Work performed on private property – Project activities conducted on privately 

held property will be deemed ineligible to receive DRA funding. To be considered an 

allowable expense, the property owner would be required to grant a permanent 

easement or right-of-way to the eligible entity and proper access to said property.
36

• Establishing or supporting educational curriculum – DRA will not consider 

applications eligible for funding which are designed to create or support new or 

ongoing educational curriculum within K-12 or the post-secondary environment. A 

clear distinction shall be made between standard curricula development and 

addressing the specific needs of industry through career and technical skills training 

certifications designed to promote workforce readiness in a given location.

• Leadership programs – DRA will not consider applications eligible for funding, 

under the workforce development criteria, which describes a leadership 

development/capacity building initiative.

• Seasonal or part-time jobs – Project applications which create or retain only 

seasonal or part-time jobs will not be considered eligible for DRA funding.

• Indirect cost rate in excess of 10% - DRA’s limited resources, when committed to a 

project, are best utilized for allowable direct programmatic expenses. As a result, 

DRA has made the determination to discourage indirect costs altogether. However, 

consideration may be given to allow indirect expenses and/or an approved indirect 

cost rate, not to exceed 10% of the total DRA investment. The preferred scenario 

would include indirect costs as an in-kind contribution by the applicant.

• Operating costs, as a stand-alone project – DRA will not consider applications 

eligible for funding which only include standard operating costs. DRA investments 

must also be tied to other direct programmatic expenses, which can be deemed 

eligible under other funding categories.

• Project administration fees – Fees paid to consultants or other outside parties for 

the express purpose of preparing the DRA application or administering the DRA 

project funds shall not be considered an allowable expense. LDDs are identified 

within DRA’s enabling legislation as the principal technical assistance providers and 

program partners for DRA supported programs.

• Eligible entity exceptions – 1) entities normally deemed to be eligible, but due to 

prior award history are barred from receiving DRA funding; and 2) eligible entities 

owing any type of federal “bad debt” are precluded from applying for DRA funding 

until such time as the federal bad debt is paid in full. Should a scenario arise where a 

federal bad debt is incurred after a DRA award has been made, any disbursement of 

award funds will be “swept” by the federal or state agency and applied toward the 

bad debt. In this circumstance no further DRA funds would be disbursed, and the 

awardee would be responsible for repaying the “swept” amount and, potentially, 

any other DRA funds previously received.

• Conferences, symposiums, or meetings - DRA will not consider applications 

eligible for funding which place a major emphasis on conducting conferences, 

symposiums, meetings, or the like. 
37

• Backup generators, as a stand-alone project – DRA will not consider applications 

eligible for funding which only include purchasing and installing backup generators. 

Consideration will be given to project applications which include backup 

generator(s) as a minor part of an overall utility system upgrade. Consideration may 

be given to this type of project application in extreme emergency and disaster 

situations. 

• Stipends paid to program participants – DRA will not consider stipends an 

allowable expense. Stipends to cover travel, childcare, tuition, and the like, paid to 

participants of a program will be considered a conduit to a private entity and 

therefore ineligible to receive DRA funding.

• Office equipment or furnishings – DRA will not consider the following items 

eligible reimbursable expenses: desks, chairs, couches, tables, lamps, laptops, 

desktop computers, printers, scanners, mobile phones, other mobile devices, 

televisions, carts, stands, mobile shelving, etc. This list is not intended to be allinclusive but is provided as examples of ineligible costs.

• Purchasing food items - DRA will not consider food items an allowable expense. 

Food and drinks for training sessions will be the responsibility of the grantee.

• Fringe benefits – In limited circumstances salaries and fringe benefits are an 

allowable cost, however DRA will limit the amount of fringe benefits to, no more 

than, 15 percent of the DRA-portion of salaries.

• Documentation of water/sewer rates - DRA will consider any Basic Public 

Infrastructure application, lacking any of the following documentation, ineligible for 

funding: 1) current rates, 2) date of last rate study, 3) date of last rate increase, and 

4) the percent of uncollected fees. These should be well documented and attached 

to the application. A copy of the rate study is required and proof the recommended 

rates were implemented.

This list of eligible and ineligible activities is not intended to be exhaustive; it is merely 

provided as a guide to assist in determining typical funding scenarios.
38

Appendix III

DELTA REGIONAL AUTHORITY: GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

Who can apply and receive funding?

Entities who are eligible to apply for and receive DRA funding include: state and local 

governments (state agencies, city, and county/parish), federally recognized tribes, other 

public bodies and nonprofit entities with projects in the DRA region. Eligible entities owing 

any type of state, or federal “bad debt” are precluded from applying for DRA funding until 

such time as the bad debt is paid in full. Should a scenario arise where a bad debt is 

incurred after a DRA award has been made, any disbursement of funds will be “swept” by 

the agency owed and applied toward the debt. In this circumstance, no further DRA funds 

would be disbursed, and the awardee would be responsible for repaying these funds to the 

DRA.

For-profit entities, while not eligible to apply directly, are a key component of economic 

development and in many circumstances the ultimate beneficiary of the project funding. An 

eligible entity, who owns the property, may lease the property, at standard market rates for 

a long-term lease, to a for-profit for the entity’s benefit. DRA will move to acquire property 

liens where it is in the best interest of DRA to do so. Should the awardee ever decide to 

dispose of the property purchased or improved, in whole or in part with DRA project funds, 

it is the awardee’s responsibility to seek DRA’s approval prior to disposal. At the DRA’s 

discretion, the return of project funds may be required after the sale of said property.

What components make up a quality application?

A good portion of applications reviewed by DRA staff for eligibility, inevitably will require 

additional work to further elaborate on the project narrative. Applicants are encouraged to 

work closely with and heed the recommendations of the LDD assigned to the project. LDDs 

are contractually obligated to ensure a thorough review of the application is conducted and 

a complete application is submitted to DRA. By focusing on the following details, higher 

quality applications should result (these areas of focus are not intended to be a complete 

and comprehensive list):

• How will the DRA funds be spent/what will the DRA funds purchase?

• How will the activities described - for DRA funding - fit within the overall project?

• Was the budget prepared using preliminary engineering report/cost estimates, 

architecture plans or completed plans?

• Are all other funds committed; if not, what is the status of each identified funding 

stream?

• Awardees will have 6 months to confirm with DRA all other funding for the project 

is committed before the issuance of the Notice to Proceed,

• At the end of 6 months, the award may be rescinded and de-obligated.
39

• Do not repeat, restate, or copy and paste from one section of the narrative to 

another.

• The “Summary” section should be a short description (one sentence or two) which 

describes the project activities as it pertains to the DRA funding.

• The “Description” section should further elaborate on how the DRA funds will be 

used, what will be purchased, how DRA funds fit into the overall project and a 

timeline for completion.

• The “Purpose” section can include some background information which is relevant 

to the need for the proposed project. Basically, how the community/applicant got to 

this point and how this project will address the situation.

• The “Outputs/Outcomes” section should clearly state the number of new jobs 

created, existing jobs retained, number of families affected, or number of individuals 

trained through the execution of the program/project. These outcomes should be 

identical to the information provided on the Local Impact page in the portal.

• The “Budget Narrative” section should list each budget category and thoroughly 

explain the anticipated costs associated with each. Particular attention should be 

paid to explaining funds in budget categories such as: “other,” “indirect,” “misc.” or 

any category of which could be considered a catch-all. 

• Do not simply state, “see attached.” Supporting documentation should be included in 

the “attachments” section of the application and references should be included in 

the narrative to show where the specific details are located.

• Do not claim a health or safety risk exists without current supporting 

documentation from a state or federal agency.

• If providing photographic evidence, make sure the photos are clear and the 

reviewers can identify what is in the picture and/or the source of the problem.

How does the SEDAP process work?

DRA will announce the opening of the annual SEDAP cycle. However, funding for projects 

will depend upon the receipt of DRA’s appropriation and passage of the DRA budget at the 

annual Governor’s Quorum Meeting, which takes place in late February each year. Each 

state’s allocation of SEDAP funding shall be made available for eligible projects, provided 

the state assessed dues have been remitted in full, and a federal member has been 

appointed by the president.

Eligible applicants should work with LDD offices to prepare and submit applications to the 

Authority. Subsequently, a review and recommendation of project eligibility is made by 

DRA staff, and projects are then scored and ranked. DRA staff will work with LDDs and 

applicants to address weaknesses found in lower ranked and ineligible applications. 

How are SEDAP projects selected for funding?

The selection process is a collaborative effort between DRA’s federal co-chairperson and 

each state’s governor or designee, which is referred to as the Project Determination 
40

Meeting. The actual determination of eligibility for SEDAP investments is made by the 

federal co-chairperson, who bases the decision on the Eligibility Guidelines (see Appendix 

II).

The state may recommend economic development projects (job creation/retention), which 

include fully committed funding from all sources, at any time during the funding cycle. The 

state’s role is to recommend eligible project applications to the federal co-chairperson for 

funding consideration. With the federal co-chairperson’s concurrence and approval, 

projects can receive funding. This will ensure all priorities, both state and federal, are given 

due consideration and fully funded projects result from the process.

DRA and each state must agree on the final project allocation amount before any award 

documents can be delivered. Applicants must address and accept any change to the budget 

before a Notice to Proceed can be issued.

What role do the LDDs play?

All projects are developed in coordination with the appropriate LDD. Project applications 

are submitted electronically either by or through the LDD whose territory includes the 

home county/parish of the applicant and/or the county/parish being served.

LDD staff will review and certify that each project is legitimate and meets the parameters of 

the DRA program. Ultimately, the DRA makes the final determination of eligibility. 

However, LDDs will also acknowledge their role and responsibility as project managers for 

each project and ensure each project is implemented and regulations adhered to in a timely 

manner. In the event an application is deemed ineligible by the DRA, the LDD also serves as 

the local economic development agency that should also be knowledgeable of other state 

and federal funding sources. Applicants are encouraged to work closely with the LDD in 

identifying the best available resources for the project.

To compensate the LDDs for the administrative work performed, project administrative 

fees will be paid from the awarded funds. The formula for determining project 

administration fees is five percent (5%) of the first $100,000 and one percent (1%) of all 

dollars in excess of $100,000. By example, a $200,000 award would include $6,000 in LDD 

project administration fees, thereby making $194,000 available for the approved project. 

Further details of this arrangement and other alternatives can be found in the LDD 

Memorandum of Agreement.

It should be noted, the appropriate time to consider the project administration fee is when 

the application is being prepared. This should be discussed with the applicant and the fee 

included in the DRA requested amount. If the award is made for a lesser amount, all parties 

should be aware that the awarded amount (project funds) will also include the project 

administration fee. The administration fee is ONLY paid to the LDD and will not be allowed 

for consultants or other project managers. Should the LDD choose to waive their 

administration fee, all funds will be considered project funds.
41

How can an application be completed and submitted?

Online project application process:

Application information is entered through the online portal. Information is entered once, 

with appropriate fields populated throughout. The site is an interactive resource that all 

groups can utilize as an invaluable management tool.

The bullet points below provide a brief tutorial on the DRA funding portal. Applicants are 

strongly encouraged to work with and through the LDD, whose territory covers the 

applicant’s home county/parish, to fill out the online application materials. All applications 

will be electronically transmitted to the appropriate LDD, if not generated by the LDD, for 

review and approval prior to being sent to DRA for eligibility review and scoring. The LDD 

is committed to manage and provide technical assistance to the applicant/awardee during 

this phase of the application process.

After logging in to funding.dra.gov, the applicant and/or LDD will follow the steps below:

• Establish a login with secure credentials.

• Applicants will be able to create, view and edit project information – However, once 

an application has been submitted to DRA it will be hidden from the applicant and 

LDD views to ensure only changes approved by DRA are allowed.

• Once a project is funded, the application will again be visible to the awardee and 

LDD.

• LDDs will have access to all projects within their district.

• Other parties granted access to the site will be able to view general information 

about projects within each state or the region.

• Submitted applications are electronically directed to the appropriate LDD office for 

review and certification (certification means the application is in substantial 

compliance with the eligibility guidelines, as noted within the associated NOFA). 

Applications can also be prepared by the LDD on behalf of an applicant.

• Certified applications are kept in an electronic database for viewing, editing and/or 

printing.

• Electronic notification is sent to DRA indicating completed/certified projects are 

ready for DRA review.

• DRA staff will review for eligibility, score and rank applications.

• The federal co-chairperson will make the final determination of eligibility.

• Electronic notification is then sent to the LDD, board member(s) and applicant,

• Upon the recommendation of the state and approval of DRA, eligible projects may be 

selected at this time.

• DRA will proactively meet with each state individually, to jointly determine the 

state’s project selection recommendations.

• Each project is submitted for a board vote.
42

• Upon approval, the award documents are generated for each selected project and 

electronically sent to the LDD and/or applicant.

• LDDs will work with the pre-awardees to provide necessary technical assistance,

• Award documents will be printed, signed and uploaded to DRA via the funding 

portal.

• Once the award documents are received, DRA will utilize the funding portal to 

date/time stamp the receipt of documents; DRA staff will review and (if complete) 

will issue a Notice to Proceed to the LDD and/or awardee.

• Project events/announcements may take place during this time; DRA 

communications staff will coordinate these events or determine, on a project per 

project basis, if an event is not necessary.

• Upon receipt of the Notice to Proceed, awardees may now begin incurring expenses 

for the project or DRA portion of the project, if so structured.

What happens to a project deemed ineligible?

Contact will be made with the LDD and/or applicant, outlining reasons for ineligibility, 

pursuant to the Eligibility Guidelines; other comments and necessary information will be 

included by DRA staff to assist applicants with strengthening future applications.

What happens next after a project is funded?

Once projects are funded, official announcements are coordinated with the Chief Policy and 

Communications Officer’s office and each governor’s office. Press events may be held in 

person with the DRA federal co-chairperson, other DRA staff members, and the governor, 

via conference call, public event, or written press release. Award documents will be issued 

according to the type of project being funded. As the award document signature page is 

returned, via upload through the funding portal and all documentation is found to be in 

order, a Notice to Proceed will be issued and the awardee will be authorized to begin 

accruing expenses toward the project. The DRA reserves the right to select any awarded 

project for individual press events. The DRA communications staff will contact the awardee 

and LDD directly to make each party aware of the special event.

Until the Notice to Proceed has been issued, no social media announcements or local press 

coverage is allowed.

No expenses accrued prior to the date of the Notice to Proceed will be allowed unless prior 

approval was obtained in writing from DRA.

Projects funded at a lower amount by DRA must address the needed budget modifications 

to the satisfaction of DRA. This process will include the completion of a budget modification 

form and scope of work modification form if necessary. All modifications must be approved 

prior to the issuance of the Notice to Proceed.
43

Quarterly reports will also commence on the first calendar quarter after the date of the 

Notice to Proceed. Reports are due each calendar quarter thereafter whether project funds 

have been expended or not. Quarterly reports consist of a financial status report (SF-425) 

and a comprehensive report narrative (SF-PPR). This report can be completed and 

submitted online through the funding portal. Applicants should provide the necessary 

information to the LDD. It is the responsibility of the LDD to upload each quarterly report.

Project start and end dates are derived from the information provided in the form SF-424 

(Application for Federal Assistance). Receipt of the Notice to Proceed shall determine the 

actual start date, for all projects. For example, a project has requested an 18-month 

completion time; the project must be completed within 18 months of the Notice to Proceed 

date.

Contracting Procedures

Awardee shall provide a copy of all contracts from general and sub-contractors to DRA as 

they become available. 

Exterior Project Sign

Any project that involves construction funded in whole or in part by the funds provided 

under the DRA shall include an exterior project sign appropriately acknowledging the 

assistance provided through the DRA program, unless waived by the DRA. The awardee 

shall be responsible for all costs associated with the production and installation of the 

exterior project signage and provide photographic proof of this sign within 30 days of DRA 

receipt of construction contract(s). See “DRA Project Sign Guidelines” for sign 

specifications.

Compliance

By executing the award documents, the awardee is affirming he or she will be accountable 

for the way the funds are spent and for meeting the target outcome measures. When a 

private entity is involved in the project, with the creation and/or retention of jobs, DRA 

requires the company (or some responsible third-party) to be held accountable for 

attaining those metrics through the use of the Participation Agreement (PA). At every level, 

accountability is vital to the success of the project and ultimately the resurgence of this 

region. The DRA award agreement provides for several other DRA-specific requirements 

for submitting reports, contracting procedures and disbursements of funds to name a few.

LDDs play a key role in ensuring accountability at the local level. As part of the technical 

assistance provided by LDDs, each district shall ensure awardee compliance with the 

various DRA award requirements as well as state laws. Some federal requirements such as 

the Civil Rights Act and Americans with Disabilities Act are mandatory for all federal 

funding.

The federal and DRA-specific requirements pertain to all counties and parishes. State laws, 

however, are specific to each state and when necessary, may supersede DRA-specific 

requirements. It is the responsibility of the awardee to follow all state laws during the 
44

bidding, procurement and contracting portion of the project. This is an area where LDDs 

can provide essential compliance oversight as part of the technical assistance package.

Monitoring

DRA staff will work with and through the LDD to schedule site visits. These monitoring 

visits will be like mini audits, as the Project Monitor will be looking for evidence of 

compliance and accountability. The visit will include such items as a review of financial 

records, procedures, contracts and overall awardee capabilities. If deficiencies are found, it 

is the LDD’s responsibility to work with awardees to implement the corrective action plan 

and bring the project into compliance.

To implement these visits in a timely and efficient manner, the Authority will utilize the 

Site Visit Monitoring and Compliance Checklist. Typically, the LDD will be notified that a 

project has been selected for a site visitation. As a courtesy, the awardee will then receive 

no less than ten business days to compile all requested information, prior to the prescheduled visit by DRA staff. The actual visit will commence, and a written appraisal will be 

forwarded to the LDD within 30 days.

Reporting

The most important aspect of the monitoring process is providing timely, accurate and 

comprehensive quarterly reports. It is the responsibility of the awardee to provide this 

information to the LDD in a timely manner, and it is the responsibility of the LDD to review 

and upload this information to the funding portal as part of the technical assistance 

package. 

Quarterly Reports will be reviewed by the Critical Infrastructure team and projects needing 

attention will be shared with Project Compliance team for follow-up.

Project Compliance (team member: Star Hoskins – shoskins@dra.gov) 

All quarterly reports will be uploaded to the funding portal.

Final Report Narratives will be emailed to Darci Malam at dmalam@dra.gov within 30 days 

of project completion.

• Any deficiencies in reporting will be communicated by Ms. Hoskins and approval 

from Monitoring and Compliance will be necessary before reports are officially 

accepted,

• Any questions or feedback regarding actions taken by Monitoring and Compliance 

should be directed back to Monitoring and Compliance staff, and,

• As a reminder the quarterly report should thoroughly describe what actions took 

place in the previous quarter, what problems or challenges were experienced during 

the previous quarter, how those challenges were/will be overcome, and what 
45

actions will take place in the next quarter – all of which should tie directly to the 

approved scope, budget and timeline.

Quarters are described as calendar quarters and reports are due to DRA by the 15th of the 

month following the end of each quarter. (Due by January 15th, April 15th, July 15th, and 

October 15th). Notifications will go out from the funding portal 15 days prior to the quarter 

end, on the quarter end, and on the due date. A late notice will go out the day after the due 

date. 

These reports and the information therein are vital to helping DRA and LDD staff 

understand the status of each project. There should never be an instance where a project 

reports “no activity.” If for that quarter, there was no progress toward completion there 

must be an explanation as to why there was no progress and what tasks are expected to 

occur next quarter. Further, the report shall state how the awardee expects to meet the 

approved timeline. Project monitors need this information to make sound decisions 

regarding change of scope requests, timeline extensions and project site visits.

Final report narratives are due at project closing and should reflect the actual outcomes of 

the project as compared to the outcomes projected in the application materials. An 

introspective assessment of the project’s perceived success or failure is also required. If a 

printed document is produced with DRA funding, an electronic copy should be included. 

As previously mentioned, the PA is used in economic development to guarantee outcomes. 

To track the items pledged by the firm within the PA and ensure the outcomes are 

achieved, continued reporting is required.

All jobs must be created within two years from date of project completion and then 

maintained for three years from the date of project completion.

A jobs report detailing the status of jobs pledged within the PA will be emailed to the 

Critical Infrastructure team, which includes Amanda Allen (aallen@dra.gov) and Darci 

Malam (dmalam@dra.gov) once per year for three years following the date of project 

completion.

The report is to state the employee’s first initial, last name and date of hire.

All capital expenditures pledged within the PA must be fulfilled within three years from the 

date of project completion.

Proof of capital expenditures will be emailed to the Critical Infrastructure programs team, 

which includes Amanda Allen (aallen@dra.gov) and Darci Malam (dmalam@dra.gov).

Reimbursements

Funds are reimbursed to awardees for eligible expenses as determined by 2 CFR 200. The 

required supporting documentation (i.e., itemized bills, invoices and receipts, detailed 

accounting of personnel costs, copies of contracts and/or a contractor’s partial pay 
46

estimate, etc.) should be provided to the LDD. The LDD will review the materials and 

associated budget balances before uploading the request into the funding portal. As 

outlined in the approved DRA Budget, there could be DRA costs as well as non-DRA costs; 

invoices should be provided for ALL costs. All funding sources should be drawn down as 

approved in the budget. Budget items that include both DRA and non-DRA sources will be 

drawn down at the predetermined pro-rata share. Other budget items may be dedicated 

100 percent to DRA or a non-DRA source.

• All reimbursement requests, scope changes, modifications, etc., will be received by 

or emailed directly to the Critical Infrastructure team using the proper forms,

• Reimbursement requests will not be paid unless the project is in compliance with 

reporting requirements or any other deficiency, such as, a project that is beyond its 

performance period, and,

• Any questions or feedback regarding actions taken by the Critical Infrastructure 

staff should be directed back to the same team.

Upon receipt, review and approval of the request funds will be transferred electronically to 

the account established for the project by the awardee and as identified in the Automated 

Clearing House (ACH) form (SF-3881), provided by DRA. The information provided on all 

ACH forms must match the banking information, which is registered in SAM.gov. Further 

information for SAM.gov is listed below. DRA’s reimbursement process generally takes 

eight to ten business days to complete. However, delays could occur if errors in the 

documentation are found or there is a lack of sufficient supporting details, the DRA staff 

will work with and through the LDD to make necessary corrections. This does not take into 

consideration the amount of time needed by the LDD to collect, review and upload the 

request. Awardees should consult the LDD providing the technical assistance for LDD 

processing times.

System for award management (sam.gov) and central contractor registration (ccr)

It is imperative that awardees keep information in the System for Award Management, 

better known as SAM.gov updated. Awardee information, in SAM.gov, must be updated 

yearly. Failure to update information in SAM.gov will result in the return of payments by 

the U.S. Treasury. It is the responsibility of the awardee to update all information. Neither 

the DRA nor LDD has access to the awardee’s SAM.gov information. Step-by-step 

instructions can be found on www.dra.gov. 

There are several important items to remember for SAM.gov registration. They are as 

follows:

Registration is FREE at https://beta.sam.gov/. Beware of imposter sites or companies that 

will complete your registration for a fee.

An active SAM.gov registration is required in order to be awarded a contract with the 

federal government and to be paid for work performed.
47

If you had an active record in CCR, you have an active record in SAM.gov. To update or 

renew your records in SAM.gov you will need to follow the instructions in the guide. Your 

CCR log-in will NOT work in SAM.gov.

You will obtain an UEI number when you complete the SAM.gov registration.

You must have a Tax Identification Number (TIN or EIN) in order to register a business.

Your business is referred to as an “entity” by SAM.gov.

If your CCR profile is linked to an email address that is no longer active within your firm: 

contact the Federal Service Desk at www.fsd.gov after completing the migration, contact 

the SAM.gov hotline to submit your registration. You must review and save the entire 

SAM.gov record in one sitting.

Due to IRS validation, it will take 3-5 business days for your registration to become active.

Change of scope request

Occasionally, an awardee would like to make subtle changes to the original project scope, 

which will require prior written approval from DRA. Utilizing the applicable following 

form: 1) Budget and Program Modification Request Form 216a, 2) Budget Comparison 

Form 216b, or 3) Change of Scope Request Form 819r a request should be submitted to 

DRA detailing the proposed change. Upon receipt, DRA staff will review and make the 

appropriate administrative decisions.

Change of Scope requests include, but are not limited to, the following examples: no-cost 

budget modification within budget categories, timeline extension, size of the overall 

project, expansion/reduction of services, etc. Any change in the size of a project, due to 

other funding sources withdrawing from the project, must result in a viable, fully funded 

and eligible project. 

Under most circumstances, timeline extensions will be limited to one (1) per project and 

shall not exceed 12 months from the original completion date. Consideration for additional 

extensions may be given to projects that have endured extraordinary circumstances, out of 

the control of the grantee, provided the grantee has been diligent in advising the LDD and 

the DRA of these challenges throughout the process. The extension must be submitted to 

DRA no later than 90 days prior to the project end date.

Any request which would result in a different project or project purpose, other than the 

originally approved project, would not meet the guidelines for a change of scope. Project 

funds are made available for specific project purposes, not to awardees to use until 

expended. Requests determined to be more than a change of scope will be declined and an 

explanation of the decision will be provided to the awardee.

Project closeout
48

DRA recognizes that de-obligation of funds is occasionally required at the end of a project, 

which may occur upon completion of all necessary work or when an awardee does not live 

up to the expectations to which they committed. De-obligation can occur in one of two 

ways: 1) administratively, or 2) by rescission of funds.

Administrative de-obligations occur upon the successful completion of a project. Once the 

final report is received and all administrative payments have been made, any remaining 

funds shall be de-obligated. The awardee should provide written notice to DRA that the 

project is complete and remaining funds are no longer needed for the project. When fully 

approved, these funds will be de-obligated with the U.S. Treasury and available to the state 

for future project funding.

Rescission of funds occurs when an awardee allows 12 months to pass without a 

reimbursement request for eligible expenses, not including LDD administrative fees. The 

rescission of funds is now a federal mandate, as outlined in the Grants Oversight and New 

Efficiency (GONE) Act. The goal of the GONE Act is to close out expired grants. The GONE 

Act requires the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to instruct each agency, in 

coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to submit to 

Congress and HHS by December 31 of the first calendar year beginning after this Act's 

enactment a report that:

• Lists each federal grant award held by such agency,

• Provides the total number of federal grant awards, including the number of grants 

by time period of expiration, the number with zero-dollar balances, and the number 

with undisbursed balances,

• Describes the challenges leading to delays in grant closeout, and,

• Explains, for the 30 oldest federal grant awards, why each has not been closed out.

The covered grants are those within an agency's cash payment management system that 

have been expired for two or more years and have not been closed out. No later than one 

year after the head of an agency submits its report, the agency head will notify HHS 

whether the agency has closed out the covered grants discussed in its report. HHS is 

required to compile this information and provide it to Congress.
49

 HEADQUARTERS

236 Sharkey Avenue, Suite 400

Clarksdale, MS 38614

662.624.8600

FEDERAL OFFICE

444 North Capitol Street NW, Suite 292

Washington, DC 20002

202.434.4871