Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 154 / Thursday, August 9, 2018 / Notices 39405 

Notice of Intent, a legal notice will be 

placed in the Ketchikan Daily News, the 

official newspaper of record for this 

project. Courtesy notifications will be 

placed in the Petersburg Pilot and the 

Wrangell Sentinel, local community 

newspapers. Project information, 

updates, and documents will be 

provided throughout the process on the 

project web page at https://

www.fs.usda.gov/detail/tongass/ 

landmanagement/projects/ 

?cid=fseprd568085. Individuals may 

also provide comments and sign up to 

be on the electronic mailing list at that 

site. 

The Central Tongass Project is an 

activity implementing the Forest Plan 

and is subject to the notification 

requirements and objection procedures 

of 36 CFR 218, subparts A and B, which 

states that only individuals or entities 

who submit timely and specific written 

comments about this proposed project 

during this or another public comment 

period established by the Responsible 

Official will be eligible to file an 

objection. If a Forest Plan amendment is 

included in the Central Tongass Project, 

it would only apply to the Central 

Tongass Project; therefore, the 

notification requirements of 36 CFR 219 

are not required. 

It is important that reviewers provide 

their comments at such times and in 

such a manner to be useful to the 

agency’s preparation of the EIS. 

Therefore, comments should be 

provided prior to the close of the 

comment period and should clearly 

articulate the reviewer’s concerns and 

contentions. 

Comments received in response to 

this solicitation, including names and 

addresses of those who comment, will 

be part of the public record for this 

proposed action. Comments submitted 

anonymously will be accepted and 

considered; however, anonymous 

commenters will not gain standing to 

object as defined in 36 CFR 218.2. 

Dated: July 23, 2018. 

Chris French, 

Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest 

System. 

[FR Doc. 2018–17059 Filed 8–8–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3411–15–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Rural Utilities Service 

Technical Assistance and Training 

Grant Program 

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice of Funding 

Announcement (NOFA) under the 

Technical Assistance and Training 

Grant Program. 

SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service, an 

agency of the United State Department 

of Agriculture, announces an additional 

application window for Fiscal Year (FY) 

2018 for the Technical Assistance and 

Training Grant Program (TAT). This 

Notice seeks applications emphasizing 

priorities for either a national water and 

wastewater infrastructure application 

assistance and project development 

program or a national apprenticeship/ 

workforce development program. 

DATES: Applications for the TAT grants 

will only be accepted electronically 

according to the following deadline: 

Submit grant applications at https://

www.grants.gov (Grants.gov) and follow 

the instructions found on that website. 

Electronic submissions of applications 

must be received by September 10, 2018 

to be eligible for grant funding. Late or 

incomplete applications will not be 

eligible for grant funding. Prior to 

official submission of applications, 

applicants may request technical 

assistance or other application guidance 

from the Agency, if such requests are 

made prior to August 24, 2018. The 

Agency will not solicit or consider 

scoring or eligibility information that is 

submitted after the application 

deadline. The Agency reserves the right 

to contact applicants to seek 

clarification information on materials 

contained in the submitted application. 

ADDRESSES: All grant applications must 

be submitted electronically at https://

www.grants.gov/ (Grants.gov), following 

the instructions you find on that 

website. The FY 2018 Application 

Guide may be obtained from the Water 

and Waste Disposal Technical 

Assistance & Training Grants website at 

https://www.rd.usda.gov/programsservices/water-waste-disposal-technicalassistance-training-grants. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

LaVonda Pernell, Community Program 

Specialist, Water Program Division, 

Rural Utilities Service, U.S. Department 

of Agriculture, by email at 

lavonda.pernell@wdc.usda.gov or by 

telephone: (202) 720–9635. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Overview 

Federal Agency: Rural Utilities 

Service (RUS). 

Funding Opportunity Title: Technical 

Assistance and Training Grants (TAT). 

Announcement Type: Funding 

Announcement/Solicitation of 

Applications. 

Catalog of Federal Domestic 

Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.761. 

Dates: Completed TAT grant 

applications must be submitted 

electronically through Grants.gov no 

later than September 10, 2018 to be 

eligible for funding. 

Overview 

This Notice announces that the Rural 

Utilities Service (RUS) is accepting 

applications for an additional 

application window for the Technical 

Assistance and Training Grant Program 

(TAT). For FY 2018, RUS received a 

budget appropriation of $40 million for 

the TAT Program. In response to the 

application filing period of October 1, 

2017, to December 31, 2017, as outlined 

in 7 CFR 1775, Subpart B, § 1775.10 (a), 

the Agency received 28 applications 

that will not use up all of the 

appropriation. This Notice will make 

available the remaining funds under the 

TAT Program, for either a national water 

and wastewater infrastructure 

application assistance and project 

development program or a national 

apprenticeship/workforce development 

program. 

On March 23, 2018, President Donald 

Trump signed a $1.3 trillion spending 

bill with $21.2 billion for new 

infrastructure spending on 

transportation, energy and water 

projects in FY 2018. The intent of this 

notice is to advise the public of the 

funds available to support applications 

emphasizing either of two priorities for 

technical assistance and training 

activities. Applications may emphasize 

technical assistance and training 

activities to: Provide application 

assistance and project development that 

facilitate efforts by rural communities to 

access funding for water and wastewater 

infrastructure projects, particularly 

those communities in smaller, lower 

income, and persistent poverty areas; or 

to provide technical assistance and 

training to personnel to improve the 

management, operation, and 

maintenance of water and waste 

facilities through a national 

apprenticeship/workforce development 

program. The Agency encourages 

applications that will support 

recommendations made in the Rural 

Prosperity Task Force report to help 

improve life in rural America which can 

be found at www.usda.gov/ 

ruralprosperity. Applicants are 

encouraged to consider projects that 

provide measurable results in helping 

rural communities build robust and 

sustainable economies through strategic 

investments in infrastructure, 

partnerships and innovation. Key 

strategies include: 


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• Achieving e-Connectivity for Rural 

America 

• Developing the Rural Economy 

• Harnessing Technological Innovation 

• Supporting a Rural Workforce 

• Improving Quality of Life 

A. Program Description 

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) 

provides financial and technical 

assistance to help communities bring 

safe drinking water and sanitary, 

environmentally sound waste disposal 

facilities to rural Americans in greatest 

need. The additional funding provided 

for TAT grants will allow rural 

communities to better identify and 

evaluate solutions to water and waste 

disposal problems, assist applicants in 

preparing applications for water and 

waste loans and grants, and/or improve 

operation and maintenance of existing 

water and waste disposal facilities in 

rural areas. Qualified private non-profit 

organizations may apply. 

B. Federal Award Information 

Available funds for this funding 

opportunity will not exceed the 

$13,000,000.00 remaining from the $40 

million in appropriated funds and 

additional program carryover funds. 

TAT grants will be awarded by 

September 30, 2018. 

C. Eligibility Information 

1. In accordance with 7 CFR 1775.35, 

an organization is eligible to receive a 

TAT grant if it: 

a. Is a private, non-profit organization 

that has tax-exempt status from the U.S. 

Internal Revenue Service (IRS); 

b. Is legally established and located 

within one of the following: 

i. A State within the United States 

ii. the District of Columbia 

iii. the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico 

iv. United States territory; 

c. Has the legal capacity and authority 

to carry out the grant purpose and 

scope; 

d. Has a proven record of successfully 

providing technical assistance and/or 

training to rural areas; 

e. Has capitalization acceptable to the 

Agency; 

f. Has no delinquent debt to the 

federal government or no outstanding 

judgments to repay a federal debt; 

g. Demonstrates that it possesses the 

financial, technical, and managerial 

capability to comply with federal and 

State laws and requirements; and 

h. Contracts with a nonaffiliated 

organization for not more than 49 

percent of the grant to provide the 

proposed assistance. 

2. Eligibility requirements for a 

project. 

Qualified projects from an eligible 

applicant must provide technical 

assistance and training to RUS eligible 

water and sewer utilities in rural areas 

for application assistance and project 

development to achieve the objectives 

outlined in 7 CFR 1775. 

D. Application and Submission 

Information 

1. The FY 2018 Application Guide 

may be obtained from the Water and 

Waste Disposal Technical Assistance & 

Training Grants website at https://

www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/ 

water-waste-disposal-technicalassistance-training-grants. Applicants 

must submit electronic applications at 

Grants.gov https://www.grants.gov. 

2. Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal 

Numbering System (DUNS) and System 

for Awards Management (SAM) Grant 

applicants must obtain a Dun and 

Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering 

System (DUNS) number and register in 

the System for Award Management 

(SAM) prior to submitting an 

application pursuant to 2 CFR 25.200(b). 

In addition, an entity applicant must 

maintain registration in SAM at all 

times during which it has an active 

Federal award or an application or plan 

under consideration by the Agency. 

Similarly, all recipients of Federal 

financial assistance are required to 

report information about first-tier 

subawards and executive compensation 

in accordance to 2 CFR part 170. So long 

as an entity applicant does not have an 

exception under 2 CFR 170.110(b), the 

applicant must have the necessary 

processes and systems in place to 

comply with the reporting requirements 

should the applicant receive funding. 

See 2 CFR 170.200(b). An applicant, 

unless excepted under 2 CFR 25.110(b), 

(c), or (d), is required to: 

a. Be registered in SAM before 

submitting its application; 

b. Provide a valid DUNS number in its 

application; and 

c. Continue to maintain an active 

SAM registration with current 

information at all times during which it 

has an active Federal award or an 

application or plan under consideration 

by a Federal awarding agency. 

The Federal awarding agency may not 

make a federal award to an applicant 

until the applicant has complied with 

all applicable DUNS and SAM 

requirements and, if an applicant has 

not fully complied with the 

requirements by the time the Federal 

awarding agency is ready to make a 

Federal award, the Federal awarding 

agency may determine that the 

applicant is not qualified to receive a 

Federal award and use that 

determination as a basis for making a 

Federal award to another applicant. As 

required by the Office of Management 

and Budget (OMB), all grant 

applications must provide a DUNS 

number when applying for Federal 

grants, on or after October 1, 2003. 

Organizations can receive a DUNS 

number at no cost by calling the 

dedicated toll-free number at 1–866– 

705–5711 or via internet at http://

fedgov.dnb.com/webform. Additional 

information concerning this 

requirement can be obtained on the 

Grants.gov website at http://

www.grants.gov. Similarly, applicants 

may register for SAM at https://

www.sam.gov or by calling 1–866–606– 

8220. The applicant must provide 

documentation that they are registered 

in SAM and their DUNS number. If the 

applicant does not provide 

documentation that they are registered 

in SAM and their DUNS number, the 

application will not be considered for 

funding. 

You will need the following 

information when requesting a DUNS 

number: 

a. Legal Name of the Applicant; 

b. Headquarters name and address of 

the Applicant; 

c. The names under which the 

Applicant is doing business as (dba) or 

other name by which the organization is 

commonly recognized; 

d. Physical address of the Applicant; 

e. Mailing address (if separate from 

headquarters and/or physical address) 

of the Applicant; 

f. Telephone number; 

g. Contact name and title; and 

h. Number of employees at the 

physical location. 

3. The application and any materials 

sent with it become Federal records by 

law and cannot be returned to you. RUS 

may request original signatures on 

electronically submitted documents 

later. 

4. Content of Application: 

a. To be considered for assistance, you 

must be an eligible entity and must 

submit a complete application by the 

deadline date. You must consult the 

cost principles and general 

administrative requirements for grants 

pertaining to their organizational type in 

order to prepare the budget and 

complete other parts of the application. 

You also must demonstrate compliance 

(or intent to comply), through 

certification or other means, with a 

number of public policy requirements as 

demonstrated in the forms below. 

b. Applicants must complete and 

submit the following forms to apply for 

a Technical Assistance and Training 

grant: 


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i. Standard Form 424, ‘‘Application 

for Federal Assistance’’. 

ii. Standard Form 424A, ‘‘Budget 

Information—Non-Construction 

Programs’’. 

iii. Standard Form 424B, 

‘‘Assurances—Non-Construction 

Programs’’. 

iv. Standard Form LLL, ‘‘Disclosure of 

Lobbying Activity’’. 

v. AD–3030, ‘‘Representations 

Regarding Felony Conviction and Tax 

Delinquent Status for Corporate 

Applicant’’. 

vi. AD–3031, ‘‘Assurance Regarding 

Felony Conviction or Tax Delinquent 

Status for Corporate Applicant’’. 

vii. Form RD 400–1, ‘‘Equal 

Opportunity Agreement’’. 

viii. Form RD 400–4, ‘‘Assurance 

Agreement (Under Title VI, Civil Rights 

Act of 1964).’’ (This assurance 

agreement requires the collection of 

race, color, national origin, and 

ethnicity data on program beneficiaries.) 

ix. Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if 

applicable, applicant must include 

approved cost agreement rate schedule). 

x. In accordance with 7 CFR 1775, 

subpart A § 1775.5(j), applicants must 

certify there is no duplication with the 

National Forest-Dependent Rural 

Communities Economic Diversification 

Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6613). 

c. All applications shall be 

accompanied by the following 

supporting documentation in concise 

written narrative form: 

i. Evidence of applicant’s legal 

existence and authority. 

ii. Evidence of tax exempt status from 

the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). 

iii. A short statement of applicant’s 

experience in providing services similar 

to those proposed. 

iv. A brief description of successfully 

completed projects including the need 

that was identified, and objectives 

accomplished. 

v. The latest financial information to 

show the applicant’s financial capacity 

to carry out the proposed work. 

vi. A list of proposed services to be 

provided. 

vii. An estimated breakdown of costs 

(direct and indirect) including those to 

be funded by grantee as well as other 

sources. Sufficient detail should be 

provided to permit the approval official 

to determine reasonableness, 

applicability, and eligibility. 

viii. Evidence that a Financial 

Management System is in place or 

proposed. 

ix. A description of national reach 

and capability. 

x. A description of the type of 

technical assistance and/or training to 

be provided and the tasks to be 

contracted. 

xi. A clear explanation of how the 

proposed services differ from other 

similar services being provided in the 

same area and measures to be taken to 

avoid duplication of federal effort. 

xii. Number of personnel on staff or 

to be contracted to provide the service 

and their experience with similar 

projects. 

xiii. A statement indicating the 

maximum number of months it would 

take to complete the project. 

xiv. Explanation of the cost 

effectiveness of project. 

d. Applicants must also submit a 

flexible work plan/project proposal that 

will outline the project in sufficient 

detail to provide the readers with a clear 

understanding of how the proposed 

technical assistance and/or training will 

increase water and wastewater systems’ 

access to funding for infrastructure 

projects; and/or increase water and 

wastewater systems’ ability to recognize 

the need for updated or new 

infrastructure. 

e. The applicant must provide 

evidence of compliance with other 

federal statutes, including but not 

limited to the following: 

i. Debarment and suspension 

information is required in accordance 

with 2 CFR part 417 (Nonprocurement 

Debarment and Suspension) 

supplemented by 2 CFR part 180, if it 

applies. The section heading is ‘‘What 

information must I provide before 

entering into a covered transaction with 

the Federal Government?’’ located at 2 

CFR 180.335. It is part of OMB’s 

Guidance for Grants and Agreements 

concerning Government-wide 

Debarment and Suspension. 

ii. All your organization’s known 

workplaces by including the actual 

address of buildings (or parts of 

buildings) or other sites where work 

under the award takes place. Workplace 

identification is required under the 

drug-free workplace requirements in 

Subpart B of 2 CFR part 421, which 

adopts the Government-wide Drug-Free 

Workplace Act. 

iii. 2 CFR parts 200 and 400 (Uniform 

Assistance Requirements, Cost 

Principles and Audit Requirements for 

Federal Awards). 

iv. 2 CFR part 182 (Governmentwide 

Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace 

(Financial Assistance)) and 2 CFR part 

421 (Requirements for Drug Free 

Workplace (Financial Assistance)). 

v. Executive Order 13166, ‘‘Improving 

Access to Services for Persons with 

Limited English Proficiency.’’ For 

information on limited English 

proficiency and agency-specific 

guidance, go to http://www.LEP.gov. 

E. Application Review Information 

1. RUS will acknowledge the 

application’s receipt by email to the 

applicant. The application will be 

reviewed for completeness to determine 

if it contains all of the items required. 

If the application is incomplete or 

ineligible, RUS will return it to the 

Applicant with an explanation. RUS 

reserves the right to request additional 

information once an application is 

determined to be complete to address 

application assistance and project 

development or workforce development 

needs that are known or anticipated at 

the time of evaluation or to minimize 

the risk of duplication of other federal 

efforts. The RUS grant offer to 

successful applicants will be based on 

the submitted application and may be 

more narrowly tailored than the 

submitted application to meet rural 

community needs at the time of the offer 

or over the course of the grant period. 

2. A review team, composed of at least 

two members, will evaluate all 

applications and proposals. They will 

make overall recommendations based 

on factors such as eligibility, application 

completeness, and conformity to 

application requirements. They will 

score the applications based on criteria 

in paragraph C of this section. 

3. All applications that are complete 

and eligible will be scored and ranked 

competitively. The categories for scoring 

criteria used are the following: 

Scoring criteria Points 

Scope of Assistance (National or Multi-State) .................................................................................................................................... Up to 15. 

Degree of expertise ............................................................................................................................................................................. Up to 10. 

Applicant Resources (staff and contract personnel) ........................................................................................................................... Up to 10. 

Goals/Objectives: Goals/objectives are clearly defined and tied to need, results and measurable outcomes .................................. Up to 15. 

Extent to which the work plan clearly articulates a well thought out approach to accomplishing objectives; and clearly defines 

how the applicant would respond to communities served by the TAT grant.

Up to 40. 

Financial Controls ................................................................................................................................................................................ Up to 5. 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
39408 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 154 / Thursday, August 9, 2018 / Notices 

Scoring criteria Points 

Type of technical assistance applicant is providing ............................................................................................................................ Up to 20. 

Project duration ................................................................................................................................................................................... Up to 5. 

Administrator Discretion: RUS Administrator may provide additional points based on the following factors: Geographic, economic, or agency priority issues.Up to 15. 

F. Federal Award Administration 

Information 

1. RUS will rank all qualifying 

applications by their final score. 

Applications will be selected for 

funding based on the highest scores. 

The agency expects to award two grants 

under this notice. The agency reserves 

the right to make no grant awards if all 

applications are incomplete and/or 

score below 65 points. Each applicant 

will be notified via email of the agency’s 

funding decision. 

2. In making its decision about your 

application, RUS may determine that 

your application is: 

a. Eligible and selected for funding; 

b. Eligible and offered fewer funds 

than requested; 

c. Eligible but not selected for 

funding; or 

d. Ineligible for the grant. 

3. Applicants selected for funding 

will complete a grant agreement suitable 

to RUS, which outlines the terms and 

conditions of the grant award. Pursuant 

to the grant agreement, grant funds may 

be released over the course of the grant 

period in reimbursement for the 

performance of eligible, approved 

activities which do not duplicate similar 

federal efforts or tasks. The grant 

agreement may also include reporting 

and pre-approval requirements 

consistent with 7 CFR part 1775 which 

if not met, may result in a delay in 

reimbursement, disallowance of 

expense or a suspension of the grant. 

4. Grantees will be reimbursed as 

follows: 

a. SF–270, ‘‘Request for Advance or 

Reimbursement,’’ will be completed by 

the grantee and submitted to either the 

State or National Office not more 

frequently than monthly. 

b. Upon receipt of a properly 

completed SF–270, payment will 

ordinarily be made within 30 days. 

5. Any change in the scope of the 

project, budget adjustments of more 

than 10 percent of the total budget, or 

any other significant change in the 

project must be reported to and 

approved by the approval official by 

written amendment to the Grant. Any 

change not approved may be cause for 

termination of the grant. 

6. Rates Requirements. 

All laborers, apprentices and 

mechanics employed by contractors and 

subcontractors on projects funded 

directly by or assisted in whole or in 

part by and through the Federal 

Government pursuant to this Act shall 

be paid wages at rates not less than 

those prevailing on projects of a 

character similar in the locality as 

determined by the Secretary of Labor in 

accordance with Title 40 United States 

Code, Subtitle II, Part A, chapter 31, 

subchapter IV, section 3141. Further 

details on eligible applicants and 

projects may be found in the relevant 

regulations listed in Section II.C. 

7. Reporting Requirements. 

a. Grantees shall constantly monitor 

performance to ensure that time 

schedules are being met, projected work 

by time periods is being accomplished, 

and other performance objectives are 

being achieved. 

b. SF–269, ‘‘Financial Status Report 

(short form),’’ and a project performance 

activity report will be required of all 

grantees on a quarterly basis, due 30 

days after the end of each quarter. 

c. A final project performance report 

will be required with the last SF–269 

due 90 days after the end of the last 

quarter in which the project is 

completed. The final report may serve 

as the last quarterly report. 

d. All grantees are to submit an 

original of each report to the National 

Office. The project performance reports 

should detail, in a narrative format, 

activities that have transpired for the 

specific time period. 

e. The grantee will provide an audit 

report or financial statements in 

accordance with Uniform Audit 

Requirements for Federal Awards at 2 

CFR part 200, subpart F. 

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts 

A. Website: http://www.usda.gov/rus/ 

water. RUS’ website maintains up-todate resources and contact information 

for TAT Grants program. 

B. Phone: 202–720–9635. 

C. Email: lavonda.pernell@

wdc.usda.gov. 

D. Main point of contact: LaVonda 

Pernell, Community Program Specialist, 

Water and Environmental Programs, 

Water Programs Division, Rural Utilities 

Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

H. Civil Rights 

In accordance with Federal civil 

rights law and U.S. Department of 

Agriculture (USDA) civil rights 

regulations and policies, the USDA, its 

agencies, offices, and employees, and 

institutions participating in or 

administering USDA programs are 

prohibited from discriminating based on 

race, color, national origin, religion, sex, 

gender identity (including gender 

expression), sexual orientation, 

disability, age, marital status, family/ 

parental status, income derived from a 

public assistance program, political 

beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior 

civil rights activity, in any program or 

activity conducted or funded by USDA 

(not all bases apply to all programs). 

Remedies and complaint filing 

deadlines vary by program or incident. 

Persons with disabilities who require 

alternative means of communication for 

program information (e.g., Braille, large 

print, audiotape, American Sign 

Language, etc.) should contact the 

responsible agency or USDA’s TARGET 

Center at (202) 720–2600 (voice and 

TTY) or contact USDA through the 

Federal Relay Service at (800) 877–8339. 

Additionally, program information 

may be made available in languages 

other than English. 

To file a program discrimination 

complaint, complete the USDA Program 

Discrimination Complaint Form, AD– 

3027, found online at http://

www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_

cust.html and at any USDA office or 

write a letter addressed to USDA and 

provide in the letter all of the 

information requested in the form. To 

request a copy of the complaint form, 

call (866) 632–9992. Submit your 

completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) 

Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 

Office of the Assistant Secretary for 

Civil Rights, 1400 Independence 

Avenue SW, Stop 9410, Washington, DC 

20250–9410; (2) Fax: (202) 690–7442; or 

(3) Email: program.intake@usda.gov. 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, 

employer, and lender. 

Dated: August 2, 2018. 

Edna Primrose, 

Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service. 

[FR Doc. 2018–16997 Filed 8–8–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–15–P 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES