Document headings vary by document type but may contain
                    the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document
the number of the CFR title and the number of each part
                      the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly
                      related to
the agency docket number / agency internal file number
the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in
                      the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory
                      Actions See the
                    Document Drafting Handbook
                    for more details.
 Department of the Treasury Community Development Financial Institutions Fund
 *Funding Opportunity Title:*
                     Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) inviting Applications for the fiscal year (FY) 2024 Funding Round of the Small Dollar Loan Program (SDL Program). *Announcement Type:*
                     Announcement of funding opportunity. *Funding Opportunity Number:*
                     CDFI-2024-SDL. *Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number:*
                     21.025. *Dates:* Table 1—FY 2024 Small Dollar Loan Program Funding Round Critical Deadlines for Applicants
Description
Deadline
Time
                             (eastern time—ET)
Submission methodOMB Standard Form (SF)-424 Mandatory form
November 20, 2023
11:59 p.m.
Electronically via 
                            *Grants.gov.*Last day to enter the Employer Identification Number (EIN) and Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) numbers in AMIS
November 20, 2023
11:59 p.m.
Electronically via Awards Management Information System (AMIS).Last day to contact SDL Program Staff
December 18, 2023
5 p.m.
Service Request via AMIS or CDFI Fund Helpdesk: 202-653-0421 or 
                            *sdlp@cdfi.treas.gov.*Last day to contact the Certification, Compliance Monitoring and Evaluation (CCME) Help Desk
December 18, 2023
5 p.m.
CCME Helpdesk: 202-653-0423 or Compliance and Reporting AMIS Service Request.Last day to contact IT Help desk regarding AMIS support only
December 20, 2023
5 p.m.
CDFI Fund IT Helpdesk: 202-653-0422 or IT AMIS Service Request.Last day to submit Title VI Compliance Worksheet (all Applicants) *
December 20, 2023
5 p.m.
Electronically via AMIS.SDL Program Application and Required Attachments
December 20, 2023
5 p.m.
Electronically via AMIS.* This requirement also applies to Applicants' prospective sub-recipients that are not direct beneficiaries of federal financial assistance (e.g., Depository Institutions Holding Company and their Subsidiary Depository Institutions).
 *Executive Summary:*
                     The Small Dollar Loan Program (SDL Program) is administered by the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund). Through the SDL Program, the CDFI Fund provides (1) grants for Loan Loss Reserves (LLR) to enable a Certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) establish a loan loss reserve fund in order to cover the losses on small dollar loans associated with starting a new small dollar loan program or expanding an existing small dollar loan program; and (2) grants for Technical Assistance (TA) for technology, staff support, and other eligible activities to enable a Certified CDFI to establish and maintain a small dollar loan program. All awards provided through this Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) are subject to funding availability. I. Program Description *A. Authorizing Statute:*
                     The SDL Program is authorized by Title XII—Improving Access to Mainstream Financial Institutions Act of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-203), which amended the Riegle Community Development Banking and Financial Institutions Act of 1994 (Pub. L. 103-325) to include the SDL Program 
                    ( print page 73399)
                    (12 U.S.C. 4719). For a complete understanding of the program, the CDFI Fund encourages Applicants to review the SDL Program funding application (referred to hereafter as the “Application,” meaning the application submitted in response to this NOFA) and the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (2 CFR part 1000), which is the Department of the Treasury's codification of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) government-wide framework for grants management at 2 CFR part 200 (Uniform Requirements). Each capitalized term used in this NOFA, but not defined herein, shall have the respective meanings assigned to them in the Application or the Uniform Requirements. Details regarding Application content requirements are found in the Application and related materials at 
                    *www.cdfifund.gov/​sdlp.* *B. History:*
                     The CDFI Fund was established by the Riegle Community Development and Regulatory Improvement Act of 1994 to promote economic revitalization and community development through investment in and assistance to CDFIs. Since its creation in 1994, the CDFI Fund has provided more than $7.4 billion through a variety of monetary awards programs to CDFIs, community development organizations, and financial institutions. In addition, the CDFI Fund has allocated $71 billion in tax credit allocation authority to Community Development Entities through the New Markets Tax Credit Program (NMTC Program) and has guaranteed more than $2.1 billion in bonds through the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program. *C. Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards:*
                     The Uniform Requirements codify financial, administrative, procurement, and program management standards that federal award-making agencies must follow. Per the Uniform Requirements, when evaluating Applications, awarding agencies must evaluate the risks to the program posed by each Applicant, and each Applicant's merits and eligibility. These requirements are designed to ensure that Applicants for federal assistance receive a fair and consistent review prior to an award decision. This review will assess items such as the Applicant's financial stability, quality of management systems, history of performance, and single audit findings. In addition, the Uniform Requirements include guidance on audit requirements and other award compliance requirements for award Recipients. *D. Priorities:*
                     The purpose of the SDL Program is to provide grants for LLR and TA to qualified organizations to establish and maintain small dollar loan programs that are safe, affordable, and responsible. SDL Program funding is intended to expand consumer access to financial institutions by providing alternatives to high-cost small dollar lending. The SDL Program funding is also intended to help unbanked and underbanked populations build credit, access affordable capital, and allow greater access into the mainstream financial system. To pursue these objectives, the CDFI Fund will prioritize funding for Applications that propose to offer small dollar loan programs that include any of the following characteristics: (1) offer small dollar loan terms that are at least ninety (90) days; (2) use underwriting that considers the borrower's ability to repay a loan based on both the borrower's income and expenses; (3) make loan decisions within one business day after receipt of required documents; (4) offer a reduction in the borrower's loan rate if the borrower elects to use automatic debit payments; (5) offer automatic savings features that are built into the regularly-scheduled payments on a loan—provided that the resulting payment is still affordable—or, at a minimum, loans that can be structured so that, subject to the borrower's consent, payments continue for a period of time after the loan is repaid with all of the payments going into a savings vehicle; and (6) offer access to financial education, including credit counseling, particularly if the Applicant offers financial education programs that are used as substitutes for late fees and overdraft fees when borrowers are at risk of incurring a late fee or overdraft fee. *E. Funding limitations:* 1. The CDFI Fund reserves the right to fund, in whole or in part, any, all, or none of the Applications submitted in response to this NOFA. 2. 
                    *Prohibited Practices:*
                     SDL Program Awards may not be used to support small dollar loan programs that have any of the lending practices and loan characteristics listed in table 2. Table 2—SDL Program Prohibited Practices
Prohibited practice
Prohibited practice definitioni. High-Rate loans
Loans that exceed the lower of the following two rates: (1) an all-inclusive 36% APR; or (2) the interest rate limit as set by the state agency that oversees financial institutions in your state.ii. Coerced automated repayments
Loans that: (1) have delayed loan disbursements for borrowers who do not agree to automatic repayments, (2) charge fees for borrowers who select manual payments, or (3) require borrowers to make payments using wire transfers or other means that may result in additional fees for borrowers.iii. Excessive refinancing
Loans that allow refinancing before at least 80% of the principal has been repaid.iv. Loan insurance or credit card add-ons
Loans that offer add-on insurance or credit card products, whether they are automatic or not, that require borrowers to opt-in or opt-out to decline coverage or require the borrower to accept or opt-out of a credit card. For example, loans that automatically include insurance products such as credit, life, disability insurance or involuntary unemployment insurance coverage, or loans that automatically open a credit card for the borrower.v. Security interests in household goods, vehicles, or deposit accounts. Exception: loans with a savings account component or credit builder loans
Loans that are secured, except for loans secured by a savings account for loans with a savings component or credit builder loans.vi. Excessive late fees on missed loan payments
Loans that charge more than one fee per late payment.vii. Abusive overdraft practices
Lenders who hold the account from which repayment is being made may not collect a loan payment from the borrower's account that overdraws the account, triggering overdraft fees.viii. Aggressive debt collection practices
Loans in which the lender:• Does not offer a workout program or other accommodations to help struggling borrowers before pursuing other debt collection avenues.( print page 73400)• All debt collection activities must comply with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, whether conducted by the lender, a contract debt collector or sold to third party debt collectors.• Does not disclose to borrowers the details of its debt collection practices or provide notice to a borrower when its account is placed with debt collectors.ix. Forced arbitration clause, class action ban, and other bans on legal remedies
Loan contracts that contain clauses that prevent borrowers from seeking legal remedies in court, such as mandatory arbitration clauses, or clauses requiring that the borrower waive the right to a trial by jury or the right to participate in a class action lawsuit.
 F. 
                    *SDL Program Statutory Requirements:* 1. SDL Program Awards may not be used to provide direct loans to consumers. 2. SDL Program Awards may only be used to support small dollar loan programs that offer small dollar loans to consumers that: (a) are made in amounts that do not exceed $2,500; (b) must be repaid in installments; (c) have no prepayment penalty; (d) have payments that are reported to a least one of the consumer reporting agencies that compiles and maintains files on consumers on a nationwide basis; and (e) are underwritten with standards that consider the consumer's ability to repay. II. Federal Award Information *A. Funding Availability:*
                     The CDFI Fund expects to award up to $18 million through this NOFA. The final funding availability will be determined by passage of a final budget for FY 2024. The CDFI Fund also reserves the right to award less than this amount. The following table identifies the minimum and maximum award amounts for Loan Loss Reserves, Technical Assistance, and a Combination of Loan Loss Reserves and Technical Assistance. Table 3—SDL Program Minimum and Maximum Award Amounts
Eligible awards
Award amountMinimum
MaximumLoan Loss Reserves
$20,000
Up to 20% of the Applicant's 3-year Projected Total On-Balance Sheet Small Dollar Loans to be closed, not to exceed $350,000.Technical Assistance
20,000
$150,000.Combination of Loan Loss Reserves and Technical Assistance
40,000
$500,000 (Up to 20% of the Applicant's 3-year Projected Total On-Balance Sheet Small Dollar Loans to be closed, not to exceed $350,000 
                            *plus*
                             $150,000).
 Eligible Applicants may submit only one SDL Program Application and therefore will need to determine if they are applying for an LLR grant, a TA grant, or both. The CDFI Fund reserves the right to award more or less than the amounts cited above in each category, based upon available funding and other factors, as appropriate. *B. Types of Awards:*
                     The CDFI Fund will provide SDL Program Awards for LLR and TA in the form of grants to support the eligible activities as set forth in this NOFA and Application. *C. Anticipated Start Date and Period of Performance:*
                     The Period of Performance for each SDL Program Award begins with the date that the CDFI Fund announces the Recipients of the FY 2024 SDL Program Awards and includes a Recipient's three full consecutive fiscal years after the date of the Award announcement, during which time the Recipient must meet the Performance Goals and Measures (PG&Ms) set forth in the Assistance Agreement. The Budget Period for an SDL Program Award is the same as the Period of Performance. *D. Eligible Activities:*
                     An SDL Program Award must support or finance activities to establish and maintain small dollar loan programs that are safe, affordable, and responsible. SDL Program Awards may only be used as follows: 1. Loan Loss Reserves: Loan Loss Reserve (LLR) Awards must be set aside in the form of cash reserves, or through accounting-based accrual reserves, to cover losses on small dollar loans. LLR Awards may be used to mitigate losses on a new or established small dollar loan program. LLR Award Recipients must meet Performance Goals and Measures, which will be derived from projections and attestations provided by the Applicant in its Application, prior to the end of the Period of Performance. 2. Technical Assistance: TA Awards may be used for technology, staff support, and other costs associated with establishing and maintaining a small dollar loan program as listed in table 4. The seven eligible activity categories are: (i) Compensation—Personal Services; (ii) Professional Service Costs; (iii) Travel Costs; (iv) Training and Education Costs; (v) Equipment; (vi) Supplies; and (vii) Development Services. The TA Award must be expended in these activity categories before the end of the Period of Performance. None of the eligible activity categories are authorized for indirect costs or an associated indirect cost rate. Any expenses that are prohibited by the Uniform Requirements are unallowable and are generally found in Subpart E-Cost Principles. SDL Program Recipients must meet certain PG&Ms which will require the Recipient to expend the SDL Program Award on eligible activities and close small dollar loans. (a) TA Award Recipients that will use the SDL Program Award to start a new small dollar loan program must expend at least 50% of the Recipient's TA Award amount by the end of the first year of the Period of Performance on eligible activities to start a new small 
                    ( print page 73401)
                    dollar loan program and expend 100% of the total Award amount by the Period of Performance end date on eligible activities to start a new small dollar loan program. (b) TA Award Recipients that will use the SDL Program Award to expand an existing small dollar loan program must expend at least 75% of the Recipient's TA Award amount by the end of the first year of the Period of Performance on eligible activities to expand an existing small dollar loan program and expend 100% of the total Award amount by the Period of Performance end date on eligible activities to expand an existing small dollar loan program. 3. All SDL Program Award Recipients must close small dollar loans based on the three-year projected small dollar loan total to be closed as proposed in the Application, demonstrating an increase in lending. This amount may be adjusted based on Award size. Final PG&Ms may differ and will be set forth in the final SDL Program Assistance Agreement. For purposes of this NOFA, the seven eligible TA activity categories are defined below: Table 4—Eligible Technical Assistance Activity Categories, Subject to the Applicable Provisions of the Uniform Requirements
(i) Compensation—Personal Services
TA paid to cover all remuneration, paid currently, or accrued, for services of Applicant's employees related to establishing or maintaining the Applicant's small dollar loan program rendered during the Period of Performance under the TA grant in accordance with section 200.430 of the Uniform Requirements.Any work performed directly, but unrelated to the purposes of the TA grant may not be paid as Compensation through a TA grant. For example, the salaries for building maintenance are not related to the purpose of a TA grant and would be deemed unallowable.(ii) Professional service costs
TA used to pay for professional and consultant services (e.g., such as strategic and marketing plan development) related to establishing or maintaining the Applicant's small dollar loan program, rendered by persons who are members of a particular profession or possess a special skill (e.g., credit analysis, portfolio management), and who are not officers or employees of the Applicant, in accordance with section 200.459 of the Uniform Requirements. Payment for a consultant's services may not exceed the current maximum of the daily equivalent rate paid to an Executive Schedule Level IV Federal employee.(iii) Travel costs
TA used to pay costs of transportation, lodging, subsistence, and related items incurred by the Applicant's personnel who are on travel status on business related to establishing or maintaining the Applicant's small dollar loan program, in accordance with section 200.475 of the Uniform Requirements. Travel costs do not include costs incurred by the Applicant's consultants who are on travel status. Any payments for travel expenses incurred by the Applicant's personnel but unrelated to carrying out the purpose of the TA grant would be deemed unallowable. As such, documentation must be maintained that justifies the travel as necessary to the TA grant.(iv) Training and education costs
TA used to pay the cost of training and education provided by the Applicant for employees' development in accordance with section 200.473 of the Uniform Requirements. TA can only be used to pay for training costs incurred by the Applicant's employees related to establishing or maintaining the Applicant's small dollar loan program. Training and education costs may not be incurred by the Applicant's consultants.(v) Equipment
TA used to pay for tangible personal property, having a useful life of more than one year and a per-unit acquisition cost of at least $5,000, as defined in section 200.1 of the Uniform Requirements, related to establishing or maintaining the Applicant's small dollar loan program. For example, items such as information technology systems are allowable as Equipment costs. The Applicant must comply, as applicable, with the Buy American Act of 1933, 41 U.S.C. 8301-8303 with respect to the purchase of Equipment.(vi) Supplies
TA used to pay for tangible personal property with a per unit acquisition cost of less than $5,000, as defined in section 200.1 of the Uniform Requirements, related to establishing or maintaining the Applicant's small dollar loan program. For example, a desktop computer costing $1,000 is allowable as a Supply cost. The Applicant must comply, as applicable, with the Buy American Act of 1933, 41 U.S.C. 8301-8303 with respect to the purchase of Supplies.(vii) Development Services
TA used to pay for activities undertaken by an Applicant that prepares or assists current or potential borrowers to use the Applicant's small dollar loan program. For example, such activities include financial education, including credit counseling.
 *E. Persistent Poverty Counties:*
                     Pursuant to the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Pub. L. 116-260) and Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Pub. L. 117-103), Congress mandated that at least 10% of the CDFI Fund's appropriations be directed to counties that meet the criteria for “Persistent Poverty” designation. Persistent Poverty Counties (PPCs) are defined as any county, including county equivalent areas in Puerto Rico, that has had 20% or more of its population living in poverty over the past 30 years, as measured by the 1990 and 2000 decennial censuses, and the 2016-2020 5-year data series available from the American Community Survey of the Census Bureau, or any other territory or possession of the United States that has had 20% or more of its population living in poverty over the past 30 years, as measured by the 1990, 2000 and 2010 Island Areas Decennial Censuses, or equivalent data, of the Bureau of the Census and published by the CDFI Fund at: 
                    *https://www.cdfifund.gov/​sites/​cdfi/​files/​2023-03/​PPC_​2020_​ACS_​Jan20_​2023.xlsx.*
                     To comply with this mandate, the CDFI Fund will prioritize funding to Applicants that have headquarters (as stated in the Applicant's Application) located in PPCs. III. Eligibility Information *A. Eligible Applicants:*
                     To be eligible to apply for an SDL Program Award, Eligible Applicants must be duly organized as a legal entity (within the United States or its territories) and meet the criteria below:
                    ( print page 73402) 1. For LLRs: (a) a Certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI); or (b) a partnership between a Certified CDFI and a Federally Insured Depository Institution [1]
                    
                     (FIDI) with a primary mission to serve targeted Investment Areas.[2] (A)(i) meets objective criteria of economic distress developed by the Fund, which may include the percentage of low-income families or the extent of poverty, the rate of unemployment or underemployment, rural population outmigration, lag in population growth, and extent of blight and disinvestment; and (ii) has significant unmet needs for loans or equity investments; or (B) encompasses or is located in an empowerment zone or enterprise community designated under section 1391 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. 2. For TA: (a) a Certified CDFI; or (b) a partnership between two or more Certified CDFIs. 3. For Combination of LLR and TA: (a) a Certified CDFI. Eligible Applicants may submit only one SDL Program Application and therefore will need to determine if they are eligible and applying for LLR, TA, or both. For purposes of the Application, the term “Applicant” refers to an organization applying on its own as a Certified CDFI or refers to the designated lead Certified CDFI applying on behalf of a partnership. The Applicant must use the SDL Program Award to establish or maintain a small dollar loan program. In the case of a partnership, the designated lead Certified CDFI must use the SDL Program Award to establish or maintain a small dollar loan program. *B. Additional Guidance on Applicants Applying as Partnerships:*
                     The partnership must designate a lead Certified CDFI for the partnership that will submit the Application. This designated lead Certified CDFI will also submit a written partnership agreement (
                    *e.g.,*
                     Memorandum of Understanding) detailing roles and responsibilities of the partners, partner replacement or substitution restrictions, any financial contributions and profit-sharing arrangements, and performance requirements for the entities in the partnership. A partner may be a FIDI, if the partnership is applying for an LLR Award, or a Certified CDFI, if the partnership is applying for a TA Award. A partner may not apply for its own Award under the FY 2024 SDL Program funding round or apply as a partner for more than one Application submitted under the FY 2024 SDL Program funding round. A partnership is a formal arrangement, as evidenced by a written partnership agreement (
                    *e.g.,*
                     Memorandum of Understanding), between a Certified CDFI and a FIDI or between two or more Certified CDFIs. The partnership must be designed to accomplish one or more of the strategic goals discussed in the Business Strategy and Community Impact section of the SDL Applicant's Application and be integral to the successful completion of the Applicant's strategic goal(s). The partnership should be such that the Applicant's strategic goal(s) would not be achievable without the direct input and/or assistance of the partner. An Applicant that collaborates or coordinates with a FIDI or a CDFI to achieve the strategic goals detailed in the Application is not required to apply as a partnership. Applicants that apply as a partnership will be evaluated based on the same criteria as Applicants that apply without a partnership. If selected to receive an SDL Program Award, the lead Certified CDFI Recipient will be solely responsible for carrying out the activities described in its Application and complying with the terms and conditions of the Assistance Agreement. The partner(s) will not be a co-Recipient of the award. As such, the lead Certified CDFI Recipient will be prohibited from using the SDL Program Award to fund any activity carried out directly by the partner or an Affiliate or Subsidiary thereof. Examples of partnerships include the following: Applying as a Partnership *Example 1:*
                     ABC Certified CDFI has a strategic goal of increasing its small dollar lending by X% over X number of years. ABC Certified CDFI will request an SDL Program Award for LLR to mitigate losses on the small dollar loans it provides as it seeks to expand its small dollar loan program. ABC Certified CDFI has a Partnership Agreement in place with a local FIDI in which the FIDI will refer all small dollar loan candidates to ABC Certified CDFI to expand ABC Certified CDFI's small dollar loan program. ABC Certified CDFI will explain in its narrative and Partnership Agreement how an SDL Program Award for LLRs and the referrals from the local FIDI partner will ensure that its strategic goal of increasing small dollar lending is achieved. *Example 2:*
                     XYZ Certified CDFI has a strategic goal to provide a new small dollar loan product. XYZ Certified CDFI will request an SDL Program Award for TA to upgrade its technology systems to support a new small dollar loan product. XYZ Certified CDFI has a Partnership Agreement in place with a Certified CDFI that will provide free financial counseling services to the XYZ Certified CDFI's small dollar loan Applicants. XYZ Certified CDFI chooses to apply as a partnership with the Certified CDFI as its partner. XYZ Certified CDFI will explain in its narrative and Partnership Agreement how a SDL Program Award for TA and the financial counseling provided to potential borrowers will support the growth of the new small dollar loan program. Note: A Certified CDFI Depository Institution Holding Company Applicant that intends to carry out the activities of an Award through its Subsidiary Certified CDFI Insured Depository Institution should not apply as a partnership. Instead, the Certified CDFI Depository Institution Holding Company should apply as a sole entity. Table 5 indicates the criteria that each Application must meet in order to be eligible for an SDL Program Award pursuant to this NOFA. Table 5—Eligibility Requirements for SDL Program Applicants
All Applicants
• Must be a Certified CDFI as set forth in 12 CFR 1805.201 and the CDFI Fund has officially notified the entity that it meets all CDFI Certification requirements as of the publication date of this NOFA.○ The CDFI Fund will consider an Application submitted by an Applicant that has pending noncompliance issues with its Annual Certification and Data Collection Report if the CDFI Fund has not yet made a final compliance determination.( print page 73403)○ If a Certified CDFI loses its certification at any point prior to the award announcement, the Application will be deemed ineligible and no longer be considered for an Award by the CDFI Fund.• The financial information in the Application (including any uploaded attachments) should only reflect the activities of the entity that will carry out the proposed award activities. Do not include financial or portfolio information from parent companies, Affiliates, or Subsidiaries in the Application. Also, do not include financial or portfolio information from partner entities if the Applicant is applying as a partnership.• An Applicant that applies on behalf of another organization will be rejected without further consideration, other than Depository Institution Holding Companies (see below).FIDI Partner
• Is not required to be a Certified CDFI.• Must have a primary mission to serve targeted Investment Areas.Application and submission overview through 
                            *Grants.gov*
                             and Awards Management Information System (AMIS)
• Applicants must submit the Required Application Documents listed in table 6.
                             
                                • The CDFI Fund will only accept Applications that use the official Application templates provided on the 
                                *Grants.gov*
                                 and AMIS websites. Applications submitted with alternative or altered templates will not be considered.• Applicants undergo a two-step process that requires the submission of Application documents by two separate deadlines in two different locations: (1) the SF-424 in 
                            *Grants.gov*
                             and (2) all other Required Application Documents in AMIS.• 
                            *Grants.gov*
                             and the Standard Form 424 (SF-424):○ 
                            *Grants.gov:*
                             Applicants must submit the SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance.○ All Applicants must register in the 
                            *Grants.gov*
                             system to successfully submit an Application. The CDFI Fund strongly encourages Applicants to register as soon as possible.○ The CDFI Fund will not extend the SF-424 application deadline for any Applicant that started the 
                            *Grants.gov*
                             registration process on, before, or after the date of the publication of this NOFA, but did not complete it by the deadline, except in the case of a federal government administrative or federal technological error that directly resulted in a late submission of the SF-424.○ The SF-424 must be submitted in 
                            *Grants.gov*
                             on or before the deadline listed in table 1 and table 8. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their SF-424 as early as possible in the 
                            *Grants.gov*
                             portal.○ The deadline for the 
                            *Grants.gov*
                             submission is before the AMIS submission deadline.○ The SF-424 must be submitted under the SDL Program Funding Opportunity Number for the SDL Program Application.○ If the SF-424 is not accepted by 
                            *Grants.gov*
                             by the deadline, the CDFI Fund will not review any material submitted in AMIS and the Application will be deemed ineligible.• AMIS and all other Required Application Documents listed in table 6:○ AMIS is an enterprise-wide information technology system. Applicants will use AMIS to submit and store organization and Application information with the CDFI Fund.○ Applicants are only allowed one SDL Program Application submission in AMIS.○ Each Application in AMIS must be signed by an Authorized Representative.○ Applicants must ensure that the Authorized Representative is an employee or officer of the Applicant, authorized to sign legal documents on behalf of the organization. 
                            *Consultants working on behalf of the organization may not be designated as Authorized Representatives.*○ Only the Authorized Representative or Application Point of Contact, included in the Application, may submit the Application in AMIS.○ All Required Application Documents must be submitted in AMIS on or before the deadline specified in tables 1 and 6.○ The CDFI Fund will not extend the deadline for any Applicant except in the case of a federal government administrative or federal technological error that directly resulted in the late submission of the Application in AMIS.Employer Identification Number (EIN)
• Applicants must have a unique EIN assigned by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).• The CDFI Fund will reject an Application submitted with the EIN of a parent or Affiliate organization.• The EIN in the Applicant's AMIS account must match the EIN in the Applicant's System for Award Management (SAM) account. The CDFI Fund reserves the right to reject an Application if the EIN in the Applicant's AMIS account does not match the EIN in its SAM account.• Applicants must enter their EIN into their AMIS profile by the deadline specified in tables 1 and 6.Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)
• The transition from the Dun and Bradstreet Universal Numbering System (DUNS) to UEI is a federal, government-wide initiative.• The CDFI Fund will reject an Application submitted with the UEI number of a parent or Affiliate organization.• The UEI number in the Applicant's AMIS account must match the UEI number in the Applicant's 
                            *Grants.gov*
                             and SAM accounts. The CDFI Fund will reject an Application if the UEI number in the Applicant's AMIS account does not match the UEI number in its 
                            *Grants.gov*
                             and SAM accounts.• Applicants must enter their UEI number into their AMIS profile on or before the deadline specified in tables 1 and 6.• For Applicants applying as a partnership, the UEI number of the designated lead Certified CDFI Applicant in AMIS must match the UEI number on the SF-424 submitted through 
                            *Grants.gov*.( print page 73404)System for Award Management (SAM)
• SAM is a web-based, government-wide application that collects, validates, stores, and disseminates business information about the federal government's trading partners in support of the contract awards, grants, and electronic payment processes.• Applicants must register in SAM as part of the 
                            *Grants.gov*
                             registration process.• Applicants that have an active SAM registration are already assigned a UEI. Applicants must also have an EIN number in order to register in SAM.• Applicants must be registered in SAM in order to submit an SF-424 in 
                            *Grants.gov*.• The CDFI Fund reserves the right to deem an Application ineligible if the Applicant's SAM account expires during the time period between the submission of the Applicant's SF-424 and the Award announcement, or is set to expire before September 30, 2024 and the Applicant does not re-activate, or renew, as applicable, the account within the deadlines that the CDFI Fund communicates to affected Applicants during the Application evaluation period.AMIS Account
• The Authorized Representative and/or Application Point of Contact must be included as “users” in the Applicant's AMIS account.• An Applicant that fails to properly update its AMIS account may miss important communication from the CDFI Fund and/or may not be able to successfully submit an Application.501(c)(4) status
• Pursuant to 2 U.S.C. 1611, any 501(c)(4) organization that engages in lobbying activities is not eligible to receive a SDL Program grant.Compliance with Nondiscrimination and Equal Opportunity Statutes, Regulations, and Executive Orders
• An Applicant * may not be eligible to receive an award if proceedings have been instituted against it in, by, or before any court, governmental agency, or administrative body, and a final determination within the time period beginning three years prior to the publication of this NOFA until the execution of the Assistance Agreement that indicates the Applicant has violated any of the following laws, including but not limited to: Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq); Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794); and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, (42 U.S.C. 6101-6107).• Applicants * will be required to submit the Title VI Compliance Worksheet (Worksheet) once annually to assist the CDFI Fund in determining whether Applicants are compliant with the Treasury regulations implementing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act (Title VI), set forth in 31 CFR part 22. These requirements are set forth in the United States Department of the Treasury regulations implementing Title VI located in 31 CFR part 22, Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Race, Color, or National Origin in Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance from the Department of the Treasury.• In addition, an Applicant * must be compliant with federal civil rights requirements in order to be deemed eligible to receive an award from the CDFI Fund. The CDFI Fund will consider an Application submitted by an Applicant that has pending Title VI noncompliance issue, if the CDFI Fund has not yet made a final compliance determination.• The Title VI Compliance Worksheet and program award terms and conditions do not impose antidiscrimination requirements on Tribal governments beyond what would otherwise apply under federal law.Depository Institution Holding Companies (DIHC) 1
                            Applicant
• In the case where a Certified CDFI Depository Institution Holding Company Applicant intends to carry out the activities of an award through its Subsidiary Certified CDFI Insured Depository Institution, the Application must be submitted by the Certified CDFI Depository Institution Holding Company and reflect the activities and financial performance of the Subsidiary Certified CDFI Insured Depository Institution.• If a Certified CDFI Depository Institution Holding Company and its Certified CDFI Subsidiary Insured Depository Institution both apply for a SDL Program grant, only the Depository Institution Holding Company will receive an Award, not both. In such instances, the Subsidiary Insured Depository Institution will be deemed ineligible.• Authorized Representatives of both the Depository Institution Holding Company and the Subsidiary CDFI Insured Depository Institution must certify that the information included in the Application represents that of the Subsidiary CDFI Insured Depository Institution, and that the Award funds will be used to support the Subsidiary CDFI Insured Depository Institution for the eligible activities outlined in the Application.Use of Award
• All Awards made through this NOFA must be used to support the Applicant's activities in at least one of the Eligible Activity Categories (see Section II. (D)).• With the exception of Depository Institution Holding Company Applicants, Awards may not be used to support the activities of, or otherwise be passed through, transferred, or co-awarded to, third-party entities, whether Affiliates, Subsidiaries, or others, unless done pursuant to a merger or acquisition or similar transaction, and with the CDFI Fund's prior written consent.• The Recipient of any Award made through this NOFA must comply, as applicable, with the Buy American Act of 1933, 41 U.S.C. 8301-8303 and section 2 CFR 200.216 of the Uniform Requirements, with respect to any Direct Costs.• For Applicants applying as a partnership, only the designated lead Certified CDFI may use the Award to carry out the activities of the Award.Requested Award amount
• An Applicant must state its requested Award amount in the Application in AMIS. An Applicant that does not include this amount will not be allowed to submit an Application.Pending resolution of noncompliance
• If an Applicant (or Affiliate of an Applicant) that is a prior Recipient or allocatee under any CDFI Fund program: (i) Has demonstrated it has been in noncompliance with a previous assistance agreement, award agreement, allocation agreement, bond loan agreement, or agreement to guarantee and (ii) the CDFI Fund has yet to make a final determination as to whether the entity is in noncompliance with or default of its previous agreement, the CDFI Fund will consider the Applicant's Application under this NOFA pending full resolution, in the sole determination of the CDFI Fund, of the noncompliance.( print page 73405)Noncompliance or default status
• The CDFI Fund will not consider an Application submitted by an Applicant that is a prior CDFI Fund award Recipient or allocatee under any CDFI Fund program if, as of the AMIS Application deadline in this NOFA, (i) the CDFI Fund has made a final determination in writing that such Applicant (or Affiliate of such Applicant) is in noncompliance with or default of a previously executed assistance agreement, award agreement, allocation agreement, bond loan agreement, or agreement to guarantee, and (ii) the CDFI Fund has provided written notification that such entity is ineligible to apply for or receive any future CDFI Fund awards or allocations. Such entities will be ineligible to submit an Application for such time period as specified by the CDFI Fund in writing.• The CDFI Fund will not consider any Applicant that has defaulted on a loan from the CDFI Fund within five years of the Application deadline.Debarment/Do Not Pay Verification
• The CDFI Fund will conduct a debarment check and will not consider an Application submitted by an Applicant if the Applicant (or Affiliate of an Applicant) is delinquent on any federal debt.• The Do Not Pay Business Center was developed to support federal agencies in their efforts to reduce the number of improper payments made through programs funded by the federal government. The Do Not Pay Business Center provides delinquency information to the CDFI Fund to assist with the debarment check.Regulated Institutions 2
• Each Regulated Institution SDL Program Applicant must have a CAMELS/CAMEL rating (rating for banks and credit unions, respectively) or equivalent type of rating by its regulator (collectively referred to as “CAMELS/CAMEL rating”) of a “1”, “2”, or “3”.• SDL Program Applicants with CAMELS/CAMEL ratings of “4” or “5” will not be eligible for awards.• The CDFI Fund will also evaluate material concerns identified by the Appropriate Federal Banking Agency in determining the eligibility of Regulated Institution Applicants.1
                         Depository Institution Holding Company or DIHC means a Bank Holding Company or a Savings and Loan Holding Company.2
                         Regulated Institutions include Insured Credit Unions, Insured Depository Institutions, State-Insured Credit Unions and Depository Institution Holding Companies.
 Any Applicant that does not meet the criteria in table 5 is ineligible to apply for an SDL Program Award under this NOFA. *C. Contacting the CDFI Fund:*
                     Accordingly, Applicants that are prior Recipients and/or allocatees under any CDFI Fund program are advised to comply with requirements specified in an Assistance Agreement, allocation agreement, bond loan agreement, or agreement to guarantee, and to ensure their Affiliates are in compliance with any agreements. All outstanding reporting and compliance questions should be directed to the Office of Compliance Monitoring and Evaluation (OCME) Help Desk by AMIS Service Requests or by telephone at (202) 653-0421; except in the case of SDL Program reporting and compliance questions, which should be directed to the SDL Program Help Desk by completing a Service Request through AMIS using “Small Dollar Loan Program” for the Service Request program. Alternatively, the public can contact SDL Program staff via email at 
                    *SDLP@cdfi.treas.gov*
                     or by telephone at (202) 653-0421. The CDFI Fund will not respond to Applicants' reporting or compliance telephone calls or email inquiries that are received after 5:00 p.m. ET on December 11, 2023, until after the Application deadline. The CDFI Fund will respond to technical issues related to AMIS Accounts through 5:00 p.m. ET on December 14, 2023, via AMIS Service Requests, or at 
                    *AMIS@cdfi.treas.gov,*
                     or by telephone at (202) 653-0422. *D. Matching Funds Requirements:*
                     The Matching Funds requirement for SDL Program Applicants was waived in the enacted FY 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act, and the final FY 2024 appropriations are still pending. Therefore, SDL Program Applicants are not required to submit Matching Funds at the time of Application submission. However, the CDFI Fund reserves the right to request Matching Funds from SDL Program Applicants if Matching Funds are not waived in the final FY 2024 appropriations. *E. Other Eligibility Criteria:* 1. How Affiliated Entities Can Submit an Application: As part of the Application review process, the CDFI Fund considers whether Applicants are Affiliates, as such term is defined in 12 CFR 1805.104. If an Applicant and its Affiliate(s) wish to submit an Application, they must do so through one of the Affiliated entities, in one Application; an Applicant and its Affiliates may not submit separate Applications. If Affiliates submit multiple or separate Applications, the CDFI Fund may, at its discretion, reject all such Applications received or select only one of the submitted Applications to deem eligible, assuming that Application meets all other eligibility criteria in Section III of this NOFA. Furthermore, an Applicant that receives an award in this SDL Program round may not become an Affiliate of another Applicant that receives an award in this SDL Program round at any time after the submission of an SDL Program Application under this NOFA. This requirement will also be a term and condition of the Assistance Agreement (see Application Frequently Asked Questions on the CDFI Fund's website at 
                    *http://www.cdfifund.gov/​sdlp*
                     for more details). 2. Required Loan Features: An Applicant will not be eligible to receive an SDL Program Award if the Applicant fails to demonstrate in the Application that its SDL Program Award would be used to establish or maintain a small dollar loan program that offers small dollar loans to consumers that: (a) are made in amounts that do not exceed $2,500; (b) must be repaid in installments; (c) have no prepayment penalty; and (d) have payments that are reported to at least one of the consumer reporting agencies that complies and maintain files on consumers on a nationwide basis. 3. Prohibited Practices. Applicants are not eligible to use SDL Program Awards to support small dollar loan programs that have the lending practices and loan characteristics listed in table 2. IV. Application and Submission Information *A. Address to Request Application Package:*
                     Application materials can be found on the 
                    *Grants.gov*
                     and the CDFI Fund's website at 
                    *www.cdfifund.gov/​sdlp.*
                     Applicants may request a paper 
                    ( print page 73406)
                    version of any Application material by contacting the CDFI Fund Help Desk by email at 
                    *sdlp@cdfi.treas.gov*
                     or by telephone at (202) 653-0421. *B. Content and Form of Application Submission:*
                     The CDFI Fund will post to its website, at 
                    *www.cdfifund.gov/​sdlp,*
                     instructions for accessing and submitting an Application. Detailed Application content requirements are found in the Application and related guidance documents. All Applications must be prepared in English and calculations must be made in U.S. dollars. Table 6 lists the required funding Application documents for the FY 2024 SDL Program Round. Applicants must submit all required documents for the Application to be deemed complete. Please be aware that an Applicant that fails to submit audited financial statements for its two most recently completed fiscal years will be deemed as not having a complete Application and will be considered ineligible. The CDFI Fund reserves the right to request and review other pertinent or public information that has not been specifically requested in this NOFA or the Application. Information submitted by the Applicant that the CDFI Fund has not specifically requested will not be reviewed or considered as part of the Application. Information submitted must accurately reflect the activities of the Applicant and/or its Subsidiary Insured Depository Institution, in the case where the Applicant is an Insured Depository Institution Holding Company. Table 6—Required Application Documents
Application document
Submission format
Required?Active AMIS Account
AMIS
Required for all Applicants.Standard Form (SF) 424 Mandatory Form
Fillable PDF in 
                            *Grants.gov*
Required for all Applicants.SDL Program Application
AMIS
Required for all Applicants.Title VI Compliance Worksheet
AMIS
Required for all Applicants ***Attachments to the Application**Audited financial statements (two most recently completed fiscal years prior to the publication date of this NOFA)
PDF in AMIS
Required only for Loan funds, venture capital funds, and other non-Regulated Institutions.Management Letter for the Applicant's Most Recently Completed Fiscal Year
                             The Management Letter is prepared by the Applicant's auditor and is a communication on internal control over financial reporting, compliance, and other matters. The Management Letter contains the auditor's findings regarding the Applicant's accounting policies and procedures, internal controls, and operating policies, including any material weaknesses, significant deficiencies, and other matters identified during auditing. The Management Letter may include suggestions for improving on identified weaknesses and deficiencies and/or best practice suggestions for items that may not be deemed weaknesses or deficiencies. The Management Letter may also include items that are not required to be disclosed in the annual audited financial statements. The Management Letter is distinct from the auditor's Opinion Letter, which is required by Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Management Letters are not required by GAAP and are sometimes provided by the auditor as a separate letter from the audit itself
PDF in AMIS
Required only for Loan funds, venture capital funds, and other non-Regulated Institutions.Year-end call reports for Applicant's two most recently completed fiscal years prior to the publication date of the NOFA (for additional guidance see FAQ)
PDF in AMIS
Required only for Regulated Institutions.A Qualified Federally Insured Depository Institution (FIDI) Partnership Attestation Form demonstrating that the FIDI has a primary mission of serving targeted Investment Areas
PDF in AMIS
Required only for a FIDI that is applying as a partnership with a Certified CDFI for an LLR Award.A Partnership Agreement between a Certified CDFI and a FIDI that has a primary mission of serving targeted Investment Areas, applying for an LLR Award, 
                            *or*
                             a Partnership Agreement between or among two or more Certified CDFIs applying for a TA Award detailing the terms of their partnership to establish or maintain a small dollar loan program
PDF in AMIS
Required only for: (1) a FIDI and a Certified CDFI applying for an LLR Award; and (2) two or more Certified CDFIs that are applying as a partnership for a TA Award.* This requirement also applies tp Applicants' prospective sub-recipients that are not direct beneficiaries of federal financial assistance (e.g., Depository Institutions Holding Company and their Subsidiary Depository Institutions).
 The CDFI Fund has a sequential, two-step process that requires the submission of Application documents in separate systems and on separate deadlines. The SF-424 form must be submitted through 
                    *Grants.gov,*
                     and all other Application documents through the AMIS portal. The CDFI Fund will not accept Applications via email, mail, facsimile, or other forms of communication, except in extremely rare circumstances that have been pre-approved by the CDFI Fund. The separate Application deadlines for the SF-424 and all other Application materials are listed in tables 1 and 6. Only the Authorized Representative for the Organization or Application Point of Contact designated in AMIS may submit the Application through AMIS. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit the SF-424 as early as possible through 
                    *Grants.gov*
                     in order to provide sufficient time to resolve any potential submission issues. Applicants should contact 
                    *Grants.gov*
                     directly with questions related to the registration or submission process, as the CDFI Fund does not administer the 
                    *Grants.gov*
                     system. The CDFI Fund strongly encourages Applicants to start the 
                    *Grants.gov*
                     registration process as soon as possible, 
                    ( print page 73407)
                    as it may take several weeks to complete (refer to the following link: 
                    *http://www.grants.gov/​web/​grants/​register.html*). An Applicant that has previously registered with 
                    *Grants.gov*
                     must verify that its registration is current and active. If an Applicant has not previously registered with 
                    *Grants.gov,*
                     it must first successfully register in 
                    *SAM.gov,*
                     as described in Section IV.D below. *C. Unique Entity Identifier:*
                     The Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) has replaced the Dun and Bradstreet Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number. The UEI, generated in the System for Award Management (
                    *SAM.gov*), has become the official identifier for doing business with the federal government. This transition allows the federal government to streamline the entity identification and validation process, making it easier and less burdensome for entities to do business with the federal government. If an entity is registered in 
                    *SAM.gov*
                     today, its UEI has already been assigned and is viewable in 
                    *SAM.gov;*
                     this includes inactive registrations. New registrants will be assigned a UEI as part of their SAM registration. *D. System for Award Management:*
                     Any entity applying for federal grants or other forms of federal financial assistance through 
                    *Grants.gov*
                     must be registered in SAM before submitting its Application materials through that platform. When accessing 
                    *SAM.gov,*
                     users will be asked to create a 
                    *login.gov*
                     user account (if they do not already have one). Registration in SAM is required as part of the 
                    *Grants.gov*
                     registration process. Going forward, users will use their 
                    *login.gov*
                     username and password every time when logging into 
                    *SAM.gov.*
                     The SAM registration process can take four weeks or longer to complete so Applicants are strongly encouraged to begin the registration process upon publication of this NOFA in order to avoid potential Application submission issues. An original, signed notarized letter identifying the authorized entity administrator for the entity associated with the UEI number is required by SAM and must be mailed to the Federal Service Desk. This requirement is applicable to new entities registering in SAM or on existing registrations where there is no existing entity administrator. Existing entities with registered entity administrators do not need to submit an annual notarized letter. Applicants that have previously completed the SAM registration process must verify that their SAM accounts are current and active. Applicants are required to maintain a current and active SAM account at all times during which it has an active federal award or an Application under consideration for an award by a federal awarding agency. The CDFI Fund will not consider any Applicant that fails to properly register or activate its SAM account and, as a result, is unable to submit its Application by the Application deadline. Applicants must contact SAM directly with questions related to registration or SAM account changes, as the CDFI Fund does not maintain this system. For more information about SAM, please visit 
                    *https://www.sam.gov*
                     or call 866-606-8220. Table 7—
                        Grants.gov
                         Registration Timeline Summary
Step
Agency
Estimated minimum time to completeRegister in 
                            *SAM.gov*
System for Award Management (SAM). This step will include obtaining a UEI
Four Weeks.*Register in 
                            *Grants.gov*
*Grants.gov*
One Week.*** Applicants are advised that the stated duration are estimates only and represent minimum timeframes. Actual timeframes may take longer. The CDFI Fund will not consider any Applicant that fails to properly register or activate its SAM account, has not yet received a UEI number, and/or fails to properly register in 
                        *Grants.gov*.** This estimate assumes an Applicant has a UEI number, an EIN number, and is already registered in 
                        *SAM.gov.*
 *E. Submission Dates and Times:* 1. Submission Deadlines: Table 8 lists the deadlines for submission of the documents related to the FY 2024 SDL Program Funding Round: Table 8—FY 2024 SDL Program Deadlines for Applicants
Document
Deadline
Time—eastern time (ET)
Submission methodSubmit SF-424 Mandatory form
November 20, 2023
11:59 p.m.
Electronically via 
                            *Grants.gov*.Create AMIS Account (if the Applicant does not already have one)
November 20, 2023
11:59 p.m.
Electronically via AMIS.Submit Title VI Compliance Worksheet (all Applicants *)
December 20, 2023
5:00 p.m.
Electronically via AMIS.Submit SDL Program Application and Required Attachments
December 20, 2023
5:00 p.m.
Electronically via AMIS.* This requirement also applies to Applicants' prospective sub-recipients that are not direct beneficiaries of federal financial assistance (
                        *e.g.,*
                         Depository Institutions Holding Company and their Subsidiary Depository Institutions).
 *2. Confirmation of Application Submission in Grants.gov and AMIS:*
                     Applicants are required to submit the SF-424 Mandatory Form through the 
                    *Grants.gov*
                     system under the FY 2024 SDL Program Funding Opportunity Number (listed at the beginning of this NOFA). All other required Application materials must be submitted through AMIS. Application materials submitted through each system are due by the applicable deadline listed in table 8. Applicants must submit the SF-424 by an earlier deadline than that of the other required Application materials in AMIS. If a valid SF-424 is not submitted through 
                    *Grants.gov*
                     by the corresponding deadline, the Applicant 
                    ( print page 73408)
                    will not be able to submit the additional Application materials in AMIS, and the Application will be deemed ineligible. Thus, Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit the SF-424 as early as possible in the 
                    *Grants.gov*
                     portal, given that potential submission issues may impact the ability to submit a complete Application. (a) 
                    *Grants.gov*
                     Submission Information: Each Applicant will receive an initial email from 
                    *Grants.gov*
                     immediately after submitting the SF-424, confirming that the submission has entered the 
                    *Grants.gov*
                     system. This email will contain a tracking number for the submitted SF-424. Within forty-eight (48) hours, the Applicant will receive a second email which will indicate if the submitted SF-424 was either successfully validated or rejected with errors. However, Applicants should not rely on the email notification from 
                    *Grants.gov*
                     to confirm that their SF-424 was validated. Applicants are strongly encouraged to use the tracking number provided in the first email to closely monitor the status of their SF-424 by checking 
                    *Grants.gov*
                     directly. The Application materials submitted in AMIS are not accepted by the CDFI Fund until 
                    *Grants.gov*
                     has validated the SF-424. In the 
                    *Grants.gov*
                     Workspace function, please note that the Application package has not been submitted if you have not received a tracking number. (b) AMIS Submission Information: AMIS is a web-based portal where Applicants will directly enter their Application information and upload required attachments listed in table 6. Each Applicant must register as an organization in AMIS in order to submit the required Application materials through this portal. AMIS will verify that the Applicant provided the minimum information required to submit an Application. Applicants are responsible for the quality and accuracy of the information and attachments included in the Application submitted in AMIS. The CDFI Fund strongly encourages the Applicant to allow sufficient time to confirm the Application content, review the material submitted, and remedy any issues prior to the Application deadline. Applicants can only submit one Application in AMIS. Upon submission, the Application will be locked and cannot be resubmitted, edited, or modified in any way. The CDFI Fund will not unlock or allow multiple AMIS Application submissions. Prior to submission, each Application in AMIS must be signed by an Authorized Representative. An Authorized Representative is an employee or officer and has the authority to legally bind and make representations on behalf of the Applicant; consultants working on behalf of the Applicant cannot be designated as Authorized Representatives. The Applicant may include consultants as Application point(s) of contact, who will be included on any communication regarding the Application and will be able to submit the Application but cannot sign the Application. The Authorized Representative and/or Application point(s) of contact must be included as “Contacts” in the Applicant's AMIS account. The Authorized Representative must also be a “user” in AMIS. An Applicant that fails to properly register and update its AMIS account may miss important communications from the CDFI Fund or fail to submit an Application successfully. Only an Authorized Representative for the organization or an Application point of contact can submit the Application in AMIS. After submitting its Application, the Applicant will not be permitted to revise or modify its Application in any way or attempt to negotiate the terms of an Award. *3. Multiple Application Submissions:*
                     Applicants are only permitted to submit one complete Application. However, the CDFI Fund does not administer 
                    *Grants.gov,*
                     which does allow for multiple submissions of the SF-424. If an Applicant submits multiple SF-424 Applications in 
                    *Grants.gov,*
                     the CDFI Fund will only review the SF-424 Application submitted in 
                    *Grants.gov*
                     that is attached to the AMIS Application. Applicants can only submit one Application through AMIS. *4. Late Submission or AMIS Account Creation:*
                     The CDFI Fund will not accept an SF-424 submitted after the applicable 
                    *Grants.gov,*
                     an AMIS Application submitted after the AMIS Application deadline, or an Application from an Applicant that failed to create an AMIS account by the deadlines specified in table 1 and table 8, or if an Applicant* did not submit the required Title VI Compliance Worksheet by the Application deadline listed in table 1 and table 8, except where the submission delay was a direct result of a federal government administrative or federal government technological error. This exception includes any errors associated with 
                    *Grants.gov, SAM.gov,*
                     AMIS, or any other applicable government system. In cases that are not the direct result of a federal government administrative or federal government technological error, the CDFI Fund will not review any material submitted, and the Application will be deemed ineligible. However, in cases where a federal government administrative or technological error directly resulted in precluding an Applicant from submitting the SF-424, the Application, or creating an AMIS account, or precluding an Applicant* from submitting the Title VI Compliance Worksheet by the deadlines stated in this NOFA, Applicants are provided the opportunity to submit a written request for acceptance of late submissions. The CDFI Fund will not consider the late submission of the SF-424, the Application, the Title VI Compliance worksheet, or the late creation of an AMIS account that was a direct result of a delay in a federal government process, unless such delay was the result of a federal government administrative or technological error. (a) 
                    *Creation of AMIS Account:*
                     In cases where a federal government administrative or technological error directly precluded an Applicant from creating an AMIS account by the required deadline, the Applicant must submit a written request for approval to create its AMIS account after the deadline, and include documentation of the error, no later than two business days after the AMIS account creation deadline. The CDFI Fund will not respond to requests for creating an AMIS account after that time. Applicants* must submit such request via an AMIS Service Request with a subject line of “SDL Program—AMIS Account Creation Deadline Extension Request.” (b) 
                    *SF-424 Late Submission:*
                     In cases where a federal government administrative or federal government technological error directly resulted in the late submission of the SF-424, the Applicant must submit a written request for acceptance of the late SF-424 submission and include documentation of the error no later than two business days after the SF-424 deadline. The CDFI Fund will not respond to requests for acceptance of late SF-424 submissions after that period. Applicants must submit late SF-424 submission requests to the CDFI Fund via an AMIS service request to the SDL Program with a subject line of “SDL Program—Late SF-424 Submission Request.” (c) Title VI Compliance Worksheet Late Submission: In cases where a federal government administrative or technological error directly precluded an Applicant * from submitting the Title VI Compliance Worksheet by the required deadline, the Applicant must submit a written request for approval to 
                    ( print page 73409)
                    submit the Worksheet after the deadline, and include documentation of the error, no later than two business days after the Title VI Compliance Worksheet submission deadline. The CDFI Fund will not respond to requests for submitting a Title VI Compliance Worksheet after that time. Applicants *
                    
                     must submit such request via an AMIS Service Request to the SDL Program with a subject line of “SDL Program—Title VI Compliance Worksheet Deadline Extension Request.” (d) 
                    *AMIS Application Late Submission:*
                     In cases where a federal government administrative or federal government technological error directly resulted in a late submission of the Application in AMIS, the Applicant must submit a written request for acceptance of the late Application submission and include documentation of the error no later than two business days after the Application deadline. The CDFI Fund will not respond to requests for acceptance of late AMIS Application submissions after that time period. Applicants must submit late Application submission requests to the CDFI Fund via an AMIS service request to the SDL Program with a subject line of “SDL Program—Late Application Submission Request.” *5. Intergovernmental Review:*
                     Not Applicable. *6. Funding Restrictions:*
                     SDL Program Awards are limited by the following: (a) A Recipient shall use SDL Program Award funds only for the eligible activities set forth in the Application and as described in Section II.B and Section II.D of this NOFA and its Assistance Agreement. (b) A Recipient may not disburse SDL Program Award funds to an Affiliate, Subsidiary, or any other entity in any manner that would create a Subrecipient relationship (as defined in the Uniform Requirements) without the CDFI Fund's prior written approval. (c) SDL Program Award dollars shall only be paid to the Recipient. (d) The CDFI Fund, in its sole discretion, may pay SDL Program Awards in amounts, or under terms and conditions, which are different from those requested by an Applicant. However, the CDFI Fund will not grant an Award in excess of the amount requested by the Applicant. V. Application Review Information *A. Criteria:*
                     All complete and eligible Applications will be reviewed in accordance with the criteria and procedures described in this NOFA, the Application guidance, and the Uniform Requirements. As part of the review process, the CDFI Fund reserves the right to contact the Applicant by telephone, email, mail, or through an on-site visit for the sole purpose of clarifying or confirming Application information at any point during the review process. The CDFI Fund reserves the right to collect such additional information from Applicants as it deems appropriate. If contacted, the Applicant must respond within the time period communicated by the CDFI Fund or its Application may be rejected. The CDFI Fund will review the SDL Program Applications in accordance with the process below. All CDFI Fund reviewers will complete the CDFI Fund's conflict of interest process. *B. Review and Selection Process:* The CDFI Fund will evaluate each complete and eligible Application using the multi-phase review process described in this Section. Where appropriate, the CDFI Fund will use different criteria in order to evaluate the financial health, capacity, and strategies of the Applications based on the proposed use(s) of the SDL Program Award. These differences are noted in the following sections and the Application Instructions. Applicants that meet the minimum criteria will advance to the next step in the review process. *1. Eligibility Review:*
                     The CDFI Fund will evaluate each Application to determine its eligibility status pursuant to Section III of this NOFA. *2. Financial Analysis and Compliance Risk Evaluation:* i. Financial Analysis: For Regulated Institutions, the CDFI Fund will consider financial safety and soundness information from the Appropriate Federal or State Banking Agency. As detailed in table 5, each Regulated Institution SDL Program Applicant must have a CAMELS/CAMEL rating of a “1”, “2”, or “3”, and no material concerns from its regulator. For non-regulated Applicants, the CDFI Fund will evaluate the financial health and viability of each non-regulated Applicant using the Application Assessment Tool and the financial information provided by the Applicant. For the Financial Analysis, each non-regulated Applicant will receive a Total Financial Composite Score on a scale of one (1) to five (5), with one (1) being the highest rating. The Total Financial Composite Score is based on the analysis of twenty-three (23) financial indicators. Applications will be grouped based on the Total Financial Composite Score. Applicants must receive a Total Financial Composite Score of one (1), two (2), or three (3) to advance to the Business Strategy and Community Impact Review phase. CDFI Fund staff will review and confirm the scores for Applications that receive an initial Total Financial Composite Score of four (4) or five (5). If the Total Financial Composite Score remains four (4) or five (5) after CDFI Fund staff review, the Applicant will not advance to the Business Strategy and Community Impact Review phase and will not receive further consideration for an Award. ii. Compliance Risk Evaluation: For the compliance analysis, the CDFI Fund will evaluate the compliance risk of each Applicant using information provided in the Application, as well as an Applicant's reporting history, reporting capacity, and performance risk with respect to the Applicant's PG&Ms for all CDFI Fund awards. Each Applicant will receive a Total Compliance Composite Score on a scale of one (1) to five (5), with one (1) being the highest rating. CDFI Fund staff will review and confirm the scores for Applications that receive an initial Total Compliance Composite Score of four (4) or five (5). If the Applicant is deemed a high compliance risk after CDFI Fund Staff review, the Applicant will not advance to the Business Strategy and Community Impact Review phase and will not receive further consideration for an award. *3. Business Strategy and Community Impact Review:*
                     Applicants that proceed to this phase will be evaluated on the soundness of their proposed business strategy and community impact. Applicants will receive a Total Business Strategy and Community Impact Review Score equivalent to “Low Risk”, “Medium Risk” or “High Risk.” Applicants must receive a Total Business Strategy and Community Impact Review Score that is equivalent to a “Low Risk” or “Medium Risk” to move forward to the Final Award Decision and Award Amount Determination Stage. Applicants that receive an overall rating of “High Risk” in this Review will not move forward to the Final Award Decision and Award Amount Determination Stage and will not receive further consideration for an SDL Program Award. In the Business Strategy and Community Impact section, the CDFI Fund will review and evaluate: (i) the needs of communities and persons in the areas the Applicant proposes to serve with an SDL Program Award and the extent to which the proposed strategy addresses these needs; (ii) the 
                    ( print page 73410)
                    small dollar lending and financing gaps addressed by its business strategy; (iii) the projected SDL Program activities and track record; (iv) the role the SDL Program Award plays in its financing strategy and the expected community impact that will be sought as a result of the proposed program. Expected community impacts may include improved financial strength and stability for low-income and underserved people and/or improved borrower delinquency rate and/or improved credit history and credit scores and/or access to mainstream financial products and expanded activity in other credit facilities (
                    *e.g.,*
                     borrower received an auto loan) and/or continued access to financial education, including credit counseling and/or help to create or preserve savings and/or help borrowers consolidate or reduce debt at a lower cost. A. For the Applicant requesting an Award for LLR, the Applicant will discuss how the LLR will be used to launch a small dollar loan program or increase the volume of its existing small dollar program that meets the statutory and other requirements described in this NOFA. The Applicant will also describe its strategy and structure of the LLR account. Further, the Applicant will discuss the anticipated loss rate that these reserves will cover and how this was estimated. b. For the Applicant applying for a TA Award, the Applicant will describe the strategy for how a TA Award will be used to launch a small dollar loan program or increase the volume of its existing small dollar program that meets the statutory and other requirements described in this NOFA. The Applicant will include information about intended uses, such as: technology support, including software and peripherals and/or staff support, including salary and training and/or credit monitoring and reporting capability and/or marketing or promotional support and/or fees for consultants and/or audit or oversight costs. Within the Business and Community Impact Strategy Section, an Applicant will generally be deemed a lower risk to the extent that it: (i) clearly aligns its proposed SDL Program Award activities and products with the small dollar needs and financing gaps it identifies; (ii) demonstrates that its strategy and activities will result in more favorable financing rates and terms for borrowers; (iii) demonstrates that its projected activities are achievable based on the Applicant's strategy and track record and demonstrates an increase in its small dollar lending; (iv) describes a clear process for selecting borrowers that have a clear need for its small dollar loan program financing; and (v) has a credible pipeline of borrowers. An Applicant will generally score more favorably to the extent it has a volume of projected activities supported by its track record. An Applicant will also score favorably if its small dollar loan program offers one or more of the following lending practices and loan characteristics that promote affordable and responsible small dollar lending and clearly address the identified financing gaps: the loan term is at least ninety (90) days, and/or it considers the borrower's ability to repay by assessing both the borrower's income and expenses (
                    *i.e.,*
                     base lending on a borrower's ability to repay according to the terms of the loan, while meeting other expenses, without needing to refinance/re-borrow, and without relying on collateral), and/or loan decisions are made within one business day (twenty-four (24) hours) after receipt of required documents, and/or the borrower receives a reduction in its loan rate if s/he uses automatic debit payments, and/or the Applicant's small dollar loan program offers automatic savings features, and/or the Applicant offers access to financial education, including credit counseling. *4. Final Award Decision and Award Amount Determination:* During this last phase, the CDFI Fund will review all SDL Program Applications that make it to this step to ensure adherence with the SDL Program's policies and procedures, as well as applicable federal regulations. The CDFI Fund will also review the Applicant's management team and key staff, compliance status, eligibility, due diligence, and regulatory matters. This due diligence includes an analysis of programmatic and financial risk factors including, but not limited to, financial stability, history of performance in managing federal awards (including timeliness of reporting and compliance), audit or regulator findings, and the Applicant's ability to effectively implement federal requirements. For Applicants applying for awards to establish a small dollar loan program, the CDFI Fund will also consider the Applicant's ability to start a new small dollar loan program. If an Applicant is found to be a significant risk as a result of the due diligence review, the CDFI Fund may eliminate the Applicant from consideration for an SDL Program Award. The CDFI Fund will determine award amounts for Applications based on the due diligence performed, the Applicant's requested amount, and certain other factors, including but not limited to, the Applicant's three-year projected total small dollar loans to be closed, minimum award size, Applicants that offer one or more of the preferred lending practices and loan characteristics stated in this NOFA that promotes affordable and responsible small dollar lending, Applicants headquartered in PPCs (as stated in the Applicant's Application), an Applicant's risk rating level, and funding availability. Award amounts may be reduced from the requested award amount as a result of the above factors. *5. Regulated Institutions:*
                     The CDFI Fund will consider safety and soundness information from the Appropriate Federal or State Banking Agency. If the Applicant is a CDFI Depository Institution Holding Company, the CDFI Fund will consider information provided by the Appropriate Federal or State Banking Agencies about both the CDFI Depository Institution Holding Company and the Certified CDFI Subsidiary Insured Depository Institution that will expend and carry out the award. If the Appropriate Federal or State Banking Agency identifies safety and soundness concerns, the CDFI Fund will assess whether such concerns cause or will cause the Applicant to be incapable of undertaking the activities for which funding has been requested. *6. Non-Regulated Institutions:*
                     The CDFI Fund must ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that Applicants which are non-regulated CDFIs are financially and managerially sound, and maintain appropriate internal controls (12 U.S.C. 4707(f)(1)(A) and 12 CFR 1805.800(b)). Further, the CDFI Fund must determine that an Applicant's capacity to operate as a CDFI and its continued viability will not be dependent upon assistance from the CDFI Fund (12 U.S.C. 4704(b)(2)(A)). If it is determined that the Applicant is incapable of meeting these requirements, the CDFI Fund reserves the right to deem the Applicant ineligible or terminate the award. *C. Anticipated Award Announcement:*
                     The CDFI Fund anticipates making the SDL Program Award announcement before September 30, 2024. However, the anticipated award announcement date is subject to change without notice. *D. Application Rejection:*
                     The CDFI Fund reserves the right to reject an Application if information (including administrative errors) comes to the CDFI Fund's attention that: adversely affects an Applicant's eligibility for an award; adversely affects the Recipient's certification as a CDFI (to the extent that 
                    ( print page 73411)
                    the award is conditional upon CDFI Certification); adversely affects the CDFI Fund's evaluation or scoring of an Application; or indicates fraud or mismanagement on the Applicant's part. If the CDFI Fund determines any portion of the Application is incorrect in a material respect, the CDFI Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to reject the Application. The CDFI Fund reserves the right to change its eligibility and evaluation criteria and procedures, if the CDFI Fund deems it appropriate. If the changes materially affect the CDFI Fund's award decisions, the CDFI Fund will provide information about the changes through its website. The CDFI Fund's award decisions are final, and there is no right to appeal decisions. VI. Federal Award Administration Information *A. Award Notification:*
                     Each successful Applicant will receive notification from the CDFI Fund stating that its Application has been approved for an Award. Each Applicant not selected for an Award will receive notification and be provided a debriefing document in its AMIS account. *B. Administrative and Policy Requirements Prior to Entering into an Assistance Agreement:*
                     The CDFI Fund may, in its discretion and without advance notice to the Recipient, terminate the Award or take other actions as it deems appropriate if, prior to entering into an Assistance Agreement, information (including an administrative error) comes to the CDFI Fund's attention that adversely affects the Recipient's eligibility for an Award; adversely affects the CDFI Fund's evaluation of the Application; adversely affects the Recipient's compliance with any requirement listed in the Uniform Requirements; or indicates fraud or mismanagement on the Recipient's part, including mismanagement of another federal award. The CDFI Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to rescind an Award if the Recipient fails to return the Assistance Agreement, signed by an Authorized Representative of the Recipient, and/or provide the CDFI Fund with any other requested documentation, within the CDFI Fund's deadlines. If the Recipient, through merger or similar transaction, ceases to exist as a legal entity, the CDFI Fund may terminate and rescind the Assistance Agreement and the Award made under this NOFA. In addition, the CDFI Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to terminate and rescind the Assistance Agreement and the Award made under this NOFA for any criteria described in table 9: Table 9—Requirements Prior to Executing an Assistance Agreement
Requirement
CriteriaFailure to meet reporting requirements
• If a Recipient received a prior award or allocation under any CDFI Fund program and is not current on the reporting requirements set forth in the previously executed assistance, award, allocation, bond loan agreement(s), or agreement to guarantee, as of the date of the notice of award, the CDFI Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to delay entering into an Assistance Agreement and/or to delay making a payment of SDL Program Award, until said prior Recipient or allocatee is current on the reporting requirements in the previously executed assistance, award, allocation, bond loan agreement(s), or agreement to guarantee.• If such a prior Recipient or allocatee is unable to meet this requirement within the timeframe set by the CDFI Fund, the CDFI Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to terminate and rescind the notice of award and the SDL Program Award made under this NOFA.• Please note that automated systems employed by the CDFI Fund for receipt of reports submitted electronically typically acknowledge only a report's receipt; such acknowledgment does not warrant that the report received was complete, nor that it met reporting requirements.Failure to maintain CDFI Certification (if applicable)
• A Recipient must be a Certified CDFI as is defined in the SDL Program Application and this NOFA, prior to entering into an Assistance Agreement.• If, at any time prior to entering into an Assistance Agreement under this NOFA, a Recipient that is a Certified CDFI has submitted reports (or failed to submit an annual certification report as instructed by the CDFI Fund) to the CDFI Fund that demonstrate noncompliance with the requirements for certification, but the CDFI Fund has yet to make a final determination regarding whether or not the entity is Certified, the CDFI Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to delay entering into an Assistance Agreement and/or to delay making a Payment of SDL Program Award, pending full resolution, in the sole determination of the CDFI Fund, of the noncompliance.• If the Recipient is unable to satisfactorily resolve the compliance issues, in the sole determination of the CDFI Fund, the CDFI Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to terminate and rescind the notice of award and the SDL Program Award made under this NOFA.Pending resolution of noncompliance
• The CDFI Fund will delay entering into an Assistance Agreement with a prior Recipient or allocatee that has pending noncompliance or default issues with any of its previously executed CDFI Fund award(s), allocation(s), bond loan agreement(s), or agreement(s) to guarantee.• If said prior Recipient or allocatee is unable satisfactorily resolve the compliance issues, the CDFI Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to terminate and rescind the notice of award and the SDL Program Award made under this NOFA.( print page 73412)Default or Noncompliance status
• If, at any time prior to entering into an Assistance Agreement, the CDFI Fund determines that a Recipient (or an Affiliate of the Recipient) that is a prior CDFI Fund Recipient or allocatee under any CDFI Fund program is noncompliant or found in default with any previously executed CDFI Fund award or Assistance agreement(s) and the CDFI Fund has provided written notification that the Recipient is ineligible to apply for or receive any future awards or allocations for a time period specified by the CDFI Fund in writing, the CDFI Fund may, in its sole discretion, delay entering into an Assistance Agreement with Recipient until the Recipient has cured the noncompliance or default by taking actions the CDFI Fund has specified in writing within such specified timeframe. If the prior Recipient or allocatee is unable to cure the noncompliance or default within the specified timeframe, the CDFI Fund may modify or rescind all or a portion of the SDL Program Award made under this NOFA.Compliance with federal civil rights requirements
• If, within the period starting three years prior to this NOFA and through the date of the Assistance Agreement, the Recipient received a final determination, in any proceeding instituted against the Recipient in, by, or before any court, governmental, or administrative body or agency, declaring that the Recipient violated any federal civil rights laws or regulations, including: Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.); Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794); and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (42 U.S.C. 6101-6107), the CDFI Fund may terminate and rescind the Assistance Agreement and the Award made under this NOFA. The CDFI Fund will delay entering into an Assistance Agreement with a Recipient that has pending Title VI noncompliance issues, if the CDFI Fund has not yet made a final compliance determination.• If the Recipient is unable to satisfactorily resolve the Title VI noncompliance issues, the CDFI Fund may terminate and rescind the Assistance Agreement and the award made under this NOFA.• The Title VI Compliance Worksheet and program award terms and conditions do not impose antidiscrimination requirements on Tribal governments beyond what would otherwise apply under federal law.Do Not Pay
• The CDFI Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to rescind an award if the Recipient (or Affiliate of a Recipient) is determined to be ineligible based on data in the Do Not Pay database.• The Do Not Pay Business Center was developed to support federal agencies in their efforts to reduce the number of improper payments made through programs funded by the federal government.Safety and soundness
• If it is determined that the Recipient is or will be incapable of meeting its SDL Program Award obligations, the CDFI Fund will deem the Recipient to be ineligible or require it to improve safety and soundness conditions prior to entering into an Assistance Agreement.
 *C. Assistance Agreement:*
                     Each Applicant that is selected to receive an award under this NOFA must enter into an Assistance Agreement with the CDFI Fund in order to become a Recipient and receive Payment. Each SDL Program Assistance Agreement has a three-year Period of Performance. 1. The Assistance Agreement will set forth certain required terms and conditions of the SDL Program Award, which will include, but not be limited to: (a) The amount of the Award; (b) The approved uses of the Award; (c) Performance goals and measures; and (d) Reporting requirements for all Recipients. 2. Prior to executing the Assistance Agreement, the CDFI Fund may, in its discretion, allow Recipients to request changes to certain performance goals and measures. The CDFI Fund, in its sole determination, may approve or reject these requested changes or propose other modifications, including a reduction in the Award amount. The CDFI Fund will only approve performance goals and measures if it determines that such requested changes do not undermine the competitive process upon which the SDL Program Award determination was made. Any modifications agreed upon prior to the execution of the Assistance Agreement will become a condition of the Award. 3. If the Recipient fails to comply substantially with the Assistance Agreement, the CDFI Fund may take actions including, but not limited to, the following: (a) require changes in the Recipient's Performance Goals; (b) revoke approval of the Recipient's Application; (c) revoke approval of any other applications submitted to the CDFI Fund by the Recipient under any of the CDFI Fund's programs, and declare such applications to be ineligible; (d) reduce or terminate the SDL Program Assistance authorized hereunder; (e) require repayment of any SDL Program Assistance that has been paid to the Recipient pursuant thereto; (f) render the Recipient ineligible to apply for additional awards from the CDFI Fund through future funding rounds; (g) require the Recipient to convene a meeting(s) of its board of directors at which meeting(s) the CDFI Fund will be given the opportunity to address the attendees with respect to the CDFI Fund's evaluations and concerns regarding the performance of the Recipient under the Assistance Agreement; or (h) take such other actions as the CDFI Fund deems appropriate including, but not limited to, termination of CDFI Certification. 4. In addition to entering into an Assistance Agreement, each Applicant selected to receive an SDL Program Award must furnish to the CDFI Fund a certificate of good standing from the jurisdiction in which it was formed. The CDFI Fund may, in its sole discretion, also require the Applicant to furnish an opinion from its legal counsel, the content of which may be further specified in the Assistance Agreement, and which, among other matters, opines that: (a) The Recipient is duly formed and in good standing in the jurisdiction in 
                    ( print page 73413)
                    which it was formed and the jurisdiction(s) in which it transacts business; (b) The Recipient has the authority to enter into the Assistance Agreement and undertake the activities that are specified therein; (c) The Recipient has no pending or threatened litigation that would materially affect its ability to enter into and carry out the activities specified in the Assistance Agreement; (d) The Recipient is not in default of its articles of incorporation or formation, bylaws or operating agreements, other organizational or establishing documents, or any agreements with the federal government; and *D. Paperwork Reduction Act:*
                     Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35), an agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information, and an individual is not required to respond to a collection of information, unless it displays a valid OMB control number. If applicable, the CDFI Fund may inform Applicants that they do not need to provide certain Application information otherwise required. Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act, the SDL Program Application has been assigned the following control number: 1559-0036. *E. Reporting:*
                     The CDFI Fund will require each Recipient that receives an SDL Program Award through this NOFA to account for and report to the CDFI Fund on the use of the SDL Program Award. This will require Recipients to establish administrative controls, subject to the Uniform Requirements and other applicable OMB guidance. The CDFI Fund will collect information from each such Recipient on its use of the SDL Program Award annually following Payment and more often if deemed appropriate by the CDFI Fund in its sole discretion. The CDFI Fund will provide guidance to Recipients outlining the format and content of the information required to be provided to describe how the funds were used. The CDFI Fund may collect information from each Recipient including, but not limited to, an annual report with the components listed in table 10: Table 10—Reporting Requirements
Criteria
DescriptionSingle Audit (if applicable)
A non-profit Recipient must complete an annual Single Audit pursuant to the Uniform Requirements (2 CFR 200.500) if it expends $750,000 or more in federal awards in its fiscal year, or such other dollar threshold established by OMB pursuant to 2 CFR 200.501. If a Single Audit is required, it must be submitted electronically to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse (FAC) (see 2 CFR subpart F—Audit Requirements in the Uniform Requirements) and optionally through AMIS.Financial Statement Audit
For-profit and non-profit Recipients must submit a Financial Statement Audit (FSA) report in AMIS, along with the Recipient's statement of financial condition audited or reviewed by an independent certified public accountant.Federal Financial Report/OMB Standard Form 425
Recipient must submit the SF-425 Federal Financial Report to disclose how much of the SDL Program Award funds were expended during the federal government's fiscal year of October 1 through September 30.Form of Submission: Recipient's AMIS account.Uses of Award Report
The Recipient must submit the Uses of Award Report to the CDFI Fund in AMIS.If the Recipient is a Depository Institution Holding Company that deploys all or a portion of its SDL Program grant through its Subsidiary CDFI Insured Depository Institution, that Subsidiary CDFI Insured Depository Institution must also submit a Uses of Award Report. Furthermore, if the Depository Institution Holding Company itself deploys any portion of the SDL Program grant, the Depository Institution Holding Company must submit a Uses of Award Report.Performance Progress Report
The Recipient must submit the Performance Progress Report through AMIS.If the Recipient is a Depository Institution Holding Company that deploys all or a portion of its SDL Program grant through its Subsidiary CDFI Insured Depository Institution, that Subsidiary CDFI Insured Depository Institution must also submit a Performance Progress Report. Furthermore, if the Depository Institution Holding Company itself deploys any portion of the SDL Program grant, the Depository Institution Holding Company must submit a Performance Progress Report.* Personally Identifiable Information (PII) is information, which if lost, compromised, or disclosed without authorization, could result in substantial harm, embarrassment, inconvenience, or unfairness to an individual. Although Applicants are required to enter addresses of homes and other properties in AMIS, Applicants should 
                        *not*
                         include the following PII for the individuals who received the financial products or services in AMIS or in the supporting documentation: name of the individual, Social Security Number, driver's license or state identification number, passport number, Alien Registration Number or other similarly identifying information. All PII should be redacted from all supporting documentation (if applicable).
 Each Recipient is responsible for the timely and complete submission of the applicable reporting requirements. The CDFI Fund will use such information to monitor each Recipient's compliance with the requirements set forth in the Assistance Agreement and to assess the impact of the SDL Program. The CDFI Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to modify these reporting requirements if it determines it to be appropriate and necessary; however, such reporting requirements will be modified only after notice to Recipients. *F. Financial Management and Accounting:*
                     The CDFI Fund will require Recipients to maintain financial management and accounting systems that comply with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the SDL Program Award. These systems must be sufficient to permit the preparation of reports required by general and program specific terms and conditions, including the tracing of funds to a level of expenditures adequate to establish that such funds have been used in accordance with the federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the SDL Program Award and the Assistance Agreement. The cost principles used by Recipients must be consistent with federal cost principles; must support the accumulation of costs as required by the principles; and must provide for adequate documentation to support 
                    ( print page 73414)
                    costs charged to the SDL Program Award. In addition, the CDFI Fund will require Recipients to: maintain effective internal controls; comply with applicable statutes and regulations, the Assistance Agreement, and related guidance; evaluate and monitor compliance; take appropriate corrective action when not in compliance; and safeguard PII. VII. Agency Contacts *A. Availability:*
                     The CDFI Fund will respond to questions and provide support concerning this NOFA and the Application between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. ET, starting on the date of the publication of this NOFA until the date and time specified in table 1. The CDFI Fund will not respond to questions or provide support concerning this NOFA and the Application that are received after 5:00 p.m. ET on said date, until after the Application deadline. CDFI Fund IT support will be available until 5:00 p.m. ET on the date of the Application deadline specified in table 1. Applications and other information regarding the CDFI Fund and its programs may be obtained from the CDFI Fund's website at 
                    *http://www.cdfifund.gov/​sdlp.*
                     The CDFI Fund will post on its website responses to questions of general applicability regarding the SDL Program. *B. The CDFI Fund's contact information is listed in Table 11:* Table 11—Contact Information
Type of question
Preferred method
Telephone number
                             (not toll free)
Email addressesSDL Program
Submit a Service Request in AMIS
202-653-0421
*sdlp@cdfi.treas.gov.*CDFI Certification
Submit a Service Request in AMIS
202-653-0423
*ccme@cdfi.treas.gov.*Compliance Monitoring and Evaluation
Submit a Service Request in AMIS
202-653-0423
*ccme@cdfi.treas.gov.*Information Technology Support
Submit a Service Request in AMIS
202-653-0422
*AMIS@cdfi.treas.gov.*
 The preferred method of contact is to submit a Service Request within AMIS. For an SDL Program Application question, select “Small Dollar Loan Program” for the program. For a CDFI Certification question, select “Certification.” For a Compliance question, select “Compliance & Reporting.” For Information Technology, select “Technical Issues.” Failure to select the appropriate program for the Service Request could result in delays in responding to your question. *C. Communication with the CDFI Fund:*
                     The CDFI Fund will use AMIS to communicate with Applicants and Recipients, using the contact information maintained in their respective AMIS accounts. Therefore, the Recipient and any Subsidiaries, signatories, and Affiliates must maintain accurate contact information (including contact persons and Authorized Representatives, email addresses, fax numbers, phone numbers, and office addresses) in its AMIS account(s). For more information about AMIS please see the Help documents posted at 
                    *https://amis.cdfifund.gov/​s/​Training.* *D. Civil Rights and Equal Employment Opportunity:*
                     Any person who is eligible to receive benefits or services from the CDFI Fund or Recipients under any of its programs is entitled to those benefits or services without being subject to prohibited discrimination. The Department of the Treasury's Office of Civil Rights and Equal Employment Opportunity enforces various federal statutes and regulations that prohibit discrimination in financially assisted and conducted programs and activities of the CDFI Fund. If a person believes that s/he has been subjected to discrimination and/or reprisal because of because of race, color, national origin, age, sex, disability and/or reprisal, s/he may file a complaint with: Director, Office of Civil Rights and Equal Employment Opportunity, 1500 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20230 or (202) 622-1160 (not a toll-free number). *E. Statutory and National Policy Requirements:*
                     The CDFI Fund will manage and administer the federal award in a manner to ensure that federal funding is expended and associated programs are implemented in full accordance with the U.S. Constitution, federal law, and public policy requirements: including, but not limited to, those protecting free speech, religious liberty, public welfare, the environment, and prohibiting discrimination. VIII. Other Information *A. Reasonable Accommodations:*
                     Requests for reasonable accommodations under section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act should be directed to Mr. Jay Santiago, Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, U.S. Department of the Treasury, at 
                    *SantiagoJ@cdfi.treas.gov*
                     no later than 72 hours in advance of the Application deadline. *B. Paperwork Reduction Act:*
                     Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35), an agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information, and an individual is not required to respond to a collection of information, unless it displays a valid OMB control number. Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act, the SDL Program funding Application has been assigned the following control number: 1559-0051. *C. Application Information Sessions:*
                     The CDFI Fund may conduct webinars or host information sessions for organizations that are considering applying to, or are interested in learning about, the CDFI Fund's programs. For further information, please visit the CDFI Fund's website at 
                    *https://www.cdfifund.gov.* (Authority: Pub. L. 111-203. 12 U.S.C. 4719, 12 CFR part 1805, 12 CFR part 1815, 12 U.S.C. 4502) Marcia Sigal, Acting Director, Community Development Financial Institutions Fund.


# Footnotes

1.
    
                         A “federally insured depository institution” is any insured depository institution as that term is defined in section 3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813) and any insured credit union as that term is defined in section 101 of the Federal Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C. 1752). Back to Citation
 2.
    
                         12 U.S.C. 4702(16), Investment Area—The term “investment area” means a geographic area (or areas) including an Indian reservation that— Back to Citation
 * This requirement also applies to Applicant's prospective sub-recipients that are not direct beneficiaries of federal finanacial assisntance (
                        *e.g.,*) Depository Institutions Holding Company and their Subsidiary Depository Institutions). Back to Citation


[FR Doc. 2023-23503 Filed 10-24-23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4810-05-P