This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains documents other than rules or

proposed rules that are applicable to the

public. Notices of hearings and investigations,

committee meetings, agency decisions and

rulings, delegations of authority, filing of

petitions and applications and agency

statements of organization and functions are

examples of documents appearing in this

section.

Notices Federal Register

19995 

Vol. 77, No. 64 

Tuesday, April 3, 2012 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Federal Crop Insurance Corporation 

Funding Opportunity Title: Risk 

Management Education in Targeted 

States (Targeted States Program); 

Announcement Type: Announcement 

of Availability of Funds and Request 

for Applications (RFA) for Competitive 

Cooperative Agreements 

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance 

(CFDA) Number: 10.458. 

DATES: All applications, which must be 

submitted electronically through 

Grants.gov, must be received by close of 

business (COB) on May 18, 2012. Hard 

copy applications will NOT be 

accepted. 

SUMMARY: The Federal Crop Insurance 

Corporation (FCIC), operating through 

the Risk Management Agency (RMA), 

announces its intent to award 

approximately $5,000,000 (subject to 

availability of funds) to fund 

cooperative agreements under the Risk 

Management Education in Targeted 

States Program. 

Purpose: The purpose of the Targeted 

States program is to deliver crop 

insurance education and information to 

U.S. agricultural producers in States 

where there is traditionally, and 

continues to be, a low level of Federal 

crop insurance participation and 

availability, and producers are 

underserved by the Federal crop 

insurance program. These states, 

defined as Targeted States for the 

purposes of this RFA, are Connecticut, 

Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, 

Massachusetts, Nevada, New 

Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, 

Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, 

Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming. 

Any cooperative agreements that may be 

funded will not exceed the maximum 

funding amount established for each of 

the Targeted States. Awardees must 

agree to the substantial involvement of 

RMA in the project. 

Applications submitted under this 

RFA must demonstrate how the 

proposed education and outreach 

activities will help producers in 

Targeted States understand: 

• The kinds of risks addressed by 

crop insurance; 

• The features of existing and 

emerging crop insurance products; 

• The use of crop insurance in the 

management of risk; 

• How the use of crop insurance can 

affect other risk management decisions, 

such as the use of marketing and 

financial tools; 

• How to make informed decisions on 

crop insurance prior to the sales closing 

date deadline; and, 

• Record-keeping requirements for 

crop insurance. 

Funding availability for this program 

may be announced at approximately the 

same time as funding availability for the 

similar but separate program, the Risk 

Management Education and Outreach 

Partnerships Program (CFDA No. 

10.460). Prospective applicants must 

carefully examine and compare the 

notices of each announcement. 

The collections of information in this 

announcement have been approved by 

the Office of Management and Budget 

(OMB) under control number 0563– 

0067. 

This Announcement Consists of Eight 

Sections 

Section I—Funding Opportunity Description 

A. Legislative Authority 

B. Background 

C. Project Goal 

Section II—Award Information 

A. Type of Application 

B. Funding Availability 

C. Location and Target Audience 

D. Maximum Award 

E. Project Period 

F. Description of Agreement Award— 

Awardee Tasks 

G. RMA Activities 

H. Other Tasks 

Section III—Eligibility Information 

A. Eligible Applicants 

B. Cost Sharing or Matching 

Section IV—Application and Submission 

Information 

A. Electronic Application Package 

B. Content and Form of Application 

Submission 

C. Funding Restrictions 

D. Limitation on Use of Project Funds for 

Salaries and Benefits 

E. Indirect Cost Rates 

F. Other Submission Requirements 

G. Acknowledgement of Applications 

Section V—Application Review Process 

A. Criteria 

B. Selection and Review Process 

Section VI—Award Administration 

Information 

A. Award Notices 

B. Administrative and National Policy 

Requirements 

1. Requirement to Use USDA Logo 

2. Requirement to Provide Project 

Information to RMA-selected 

Representative(s) 

3. Access to Panel Review Information 

4. Confidential Aspects of Applications 

and Awards 

5. Audit Requirements 

6. Prohibitions and Requirements With 

Regards to Lobbying 

7. Applicable OMB Circulars 

8. Requirement to Assure Compliance with 

Federal Civil Rights Laws 

9. Requirement to Participate in a Post 

Award Teleconference 

10. Requirement to Participate in a Post 

Award Civil Rights Training 

Teleconference 

11. Requirement to Submit Educational 

Materials to the National AgRisk 

Education Library 

12. Requirement To Submit Proposal 

Results to the National AgRisk Education 

Library 

C. Reporting Requirements 

Section VII—Agency Contact 

Section VIII—Additional Information 

A. The Restriction of the Expenditure of 

Funds to Enter into Financial 

Transactions 

B. Required Registration with the Central 

Contract Registry (CCR) for Submission 

of Proposals 

C. Related Programs 

Full Text of Announcement 

I. Funding Opportunity Description 

A. Legislative Authority 

The Targeted States Program is 

authorized under section 524(a)(2) of 

the Federal Crop Insurance Act (FCIA), 

7 U.S.C. 1524(a)(2). 

B. Background 

RMA promotes and regulates sound 

risk management solutions to improve 

the economic stability of American 

agriculture. On behalf of FCIC, RMA 

does this by offering Federal crop 

insurance products through a network 

of private-sector partners, overseeing the 

creation of new risk management 

products, seeking enhancements in 

existing products, ensuring the integrity 

of crop insurance programs, offering 

outreach programs aimed at equal 

access and participation of underserved 

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19996 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 64 / Tuesday, April 3, 2012 / Notices 

communities, and providing risk 

management education and information. 

One of RMA’s strategic goals is to 

ensure that its customers are wellinformed of risk management solutions 

available. This educational goal is 

authorized by section 524(a)(2) of the 

FCIA (7 U.S.C. 1524(a)(2). This section 

authorizes funding for the establishment 

of crop insurance education and 

information programs in States where 

there is traditionally, and continues to 

be, a low level of Federal crop insurance 

participation and availability, and 

producers are underserved by the 

Federal crop insurance program. In 

accordance with the FCIA, the States 

with this designation for FY 2012 are 

Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, 

Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New 

Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, 

Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, 

Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming 

(defined as ‘‘Targeted States’’ for the 

purposes of this RFA). 

C. Project Goal 

The goal of the Targeted States 

Program is to ensure that producers in 

the Targeted States are fully informed of 

existing and emerging crop insurance 

products in order to take full advantage 

of such products. In carrying out the 

requirements under Section 12026 of 

the Food, Conservation, And Energy Act 

of 2008, the Secretary of Agriculture has 

placed special emphasis on risk 

management strategies, education, and 

outreach specifically targeted to the 

following producers: 

(A) Beginning farmers or ranchers; 

(B) Legal immigrant farmers or 

ranchers that are attempting to become 

established producers in the United 

States; 

(C) Socially disadvantaged farmers or 

ranchers; 

(D) Farmers or ranchers that— 

(i) are preparing to retire; and 

(ii) are using transition strategies to 

help new farmers or ranchers get 

started; and 

(E) New or established farmers or 

ranchers that are converting production 

and marketing systems to pursue new 

markets. 

II. Award Information 

A. Type of Application 

Only electronic applications will be 

accepted and they must be submitted 

through Grants.gov. Hard copy 

applications will not be accepted. 

Applications submitted for the Risk 

Management Education in Targeted 

States Program are new applications: 

there are no renewals. All applications 

will be reviewed competitively using 

the selection process and evaluation 

criteria described in Section V— 

Application Review Process. Each 

award will be designated as a 

Cooperative Agreement, which will 

require substantial involvement by 

RMA. 

B. Funding Availability 

There is no commitment by USDA to 

fund any particular application or make 

a specific number of awards. RMA 

intends to award approximately 

$5,000,000 (subject to availability of 

funds) in fiscal year 2012 to fund one 

or more cooperative agreement(s) not to 

exceed the maximum funding amount 

established for each of the Targeted 

States. The maximum funding amount 

anticipated for the agreement(s) in each 

Targeted State is as follows. An 

applicant must apply for funding for 

that Targeted State where the applicant 

intends to deliver the educational 

activities, and must limit its request for 

funding in a particular Targeted State 

based upon the funding levels available 

below. 

Connecticut .......................... $250,000 

Delaware ............................... 287,000 

Hawaii .................................. 246,000 

Maine ................................... 259,000 

Maryland .............................. 371,000 

Massachusetts ...................... 239,000 

Nevada ................................. 248,000 

New Hampshire ................... 216,000 

New Jersey ........................... 282,000 

New York ............................. 586,000 

Pennsylvania ........................ 700,000 

Rhode Island ........................ 206,000 

Utah ...................................... 316,000 

Vermont ............................... 259,000 

West Virginia ....................... 242,000 

Wyoming .............................. 293,000 

Total .............................. $5,000,000 

Funding amounts were determined by 

first allocating an equal amount of 

$200,000 to each Targeted State. 

Remaining funds were allocated on a 

pro rata basis according to each 

Targeted State’s share of agricultural 

cash receipts reported in the National 

Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) 

2007 Agricultural Census, relative to the 

total for all Targeted States. Both the 

equal allocation and the pro rata 

allocation were totaled together and 

rounded to the nearest $1,000 to arrive 

at the funding limit for each Targeted 

State. 

In the event that additional funds 

become available under this program or 

in the event that no application for a 

given Targeted State is recommended 

for funding by the evaluation panel, 

these additional funds, or unused funds 

for a particular Targeted State, may be 

allocated pro-rata to other awardees. 

These additional or unused funds may 

be offered to selected awardees for use 

in broadening the size or scope of 

awarded projects within the Targeted 

States in which funds were awarded, if 

such selected awardees agree to any 

changes to the project necessary 

determined by RMA to make use of the 

additional funds. The decision of 

whether any additional or unused funds 

are offered to other award recipients, 

and the pro-rata manner in which they 

may be distributed to recipients that are 

willing to make required adjustments to 

their awarded projects to accept such 

additional funds, is within the 

discretion of the FCIC Manager. RMA is 

not required to distribute any additional 

or unused funds to the awardees. 

In the event that the Manager of FCIC 

determines that available RMA 

resources cannot support the 

administrative and substantial 

involvement requirements of all 

agreements recommended for funding, 

the Manager may elect to fund fewer 

agreements than the available funding 

might otherwise allow. All awards will 

be made and agreements finalized no 

later than September 30, 2012. 

C. Location and Target Audience 

The RMA Regional Offices that 

service the Targeted States are listed 

below. Staff from these respective RMA 

Regional Offices will provide the RMA 

substantial involvement for Targeted 

States projects conducted within the 

respective Regions. 

Billings, MT Regional Office: (WY). 

Davis, CA Regional Office: (HI, NV 

and UT). 

Raleigh, NC Regional Office: (CT, DE, 

ME, MD, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT 

and WV). 

Each application must clearly 

designate the Targeted State where crop 

insurance educational activities for the 

project will be delivered in block 14 of 

the SF–424, ‘‘Application for Federal 

Assistance.’’ Applications without this 

designation in block 14 will be rejected. 

Applicants may apply to deliver 

education to producers in more than 

one Targeted State, but a separate 

application must be submitted for each 

Targeted State because applications will 

be compared to applications submitted 

for the same state. Any single 

application proposing to conduct 

educational activities in more than one 

Targeted State will be rejected. 

D. Maximum Award 

Any application that requests funding 

under this Announcement of more than 

the amount listed above for a project in 

a given Targeted State will be rejected. 

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E. Project Period 

Projects will be funded for a period of 

up to one year from the project starting 

date. 

F. Description of Agreement Award— 

Awardee Tasks 

In conducting activities to achieve the 

purpose and goal of this program in a 

designated Targeted State, the awardee 

shall be responsible for performing the 

following tasks: 

• Develop and conduct a promotional 

program in English or a non-English 

language to producers. If non-English 

language is used, a translation in 

English must be provided. This program 

will include activities using media, 

newsletters, publications, or other 

appropriate informational dissemination 

techniques that are designed to: (a) 

Raise awareness for crop insurance; (b) 

inform producers of the availability of 

crop insurance; (c) inform producers of 

the crop insurance sales closing dates 

prior to the deadline; and (d) inform 

producers (and may inform agribusiness 

professionals) in the designated 

Targeted State of training and 

informational opportunities. 

• Deliver crop insurance training and 

informational opportunities in English 

or a non-English language to agricultural 

producers (and may deliver to 

agribusiness professionals) in the 

designated Targeted State in a timely 

manner, prior to crop insurance sales 

closing dates, in order for producers to 

make informed decisions regarding risk 

management tools prior to the crop 

insurance sales closing dates deadline. 

This delivery will include organizing 

and delivering educational activities 

using instructional materials that have 

been assembled to meet the local needs 

of agricultural producers. Activities 

must be directed primarily to 

agricultural producers, but may include 

those agribusiness professionals that 

frequently advise producers on crop 

insurance tools and decisions and shall 

use the information gained from these 

trainings to advise producers. 

• Document all educational activities 

conducted under the cooperative 

agreement and the results of such 

activities, including criteria and 

indicators used to evaluate the success 

of the program. The awardee shall also 

be required, if requested by RMA, to 

provide information to RMA-selected 

contractor(s) to evaluate all educational 

activities and advise RMA regarding the 

effectiveness of activities. 

G. RMA Activities 

RMA will be substantially involved 

during the performance of the funded 

project through RMA’s three (3) 

Regional Offices identified earlier. 

Potential types of substantial 

involvement by these three (3) Regional 

Offices will include, but are not limited 

to, the following activities. 

• Collaborate with the awardee in 

assembling, reviewing, and approving 

risk management materials for 

producers in the designated Targeted 

States. 

• Collaborate with the awardee in 

reviewing and approving a promotional 

program for raising awareness for risk 

management and for informing 

producers of training and informational 

opportunities in the Targeted States. 

• Collaborate with the awardee on the 

delivery of education to producers and 

agribusiness professionals for the 

Targeted States. This collaboration shall 

include: (a) Reviewing and approving in 

advance all producer and agribusiness 

professional educational activities; (b) 

advising the awardee on technical 

issues related to crop insurance 

education and information; and (c) 

assisting the awardee in informing 

producers and agribusiness 

professionals about educational activity 

plans and scheduled meetings. 

• Conduct an evaluation of the 

performance of the awardee in meeting 

the tasks and subtasks of the project. 

• Assist in the selection of 

subcontractors and project staff. 

Applications that do not contain 

substantial involvement by RMA will be 

rejected. 

H. Other Tasks 

In addition to the specific, required 

tasks listed above, the applicant may 

propose additional tasks that would 

contribute directly to the purpose of this 

program. For any proposed additional 

task, the applicant must identify the 

objective of the task, the specific 

subtasks required to meet the objective, 

specific time lines for performing the 

subtasks, and the specific 

responsibilities of partners. The 

applicant must also identify specific 

ways in which RMA would have 

substantial involvement in the proposed 

project task. 

III. Eligibility Information 

A. Eligible Applicants 

Eligible applicants include: State 

Departments of Agriculture, State 

Cooperative Extension Services; 

Federal, State, or tribal agencies; groups 

representing producers, communitybased organizations or a coalition of 

community-based organization that has 

demonstrated experience in providing 

agricultural education or other 

agricultural-related services to 

producers; nongovernmental 

organizations; junior and four-year 

colleges or universities or foundations 

maintained by a college or university; 

private for-profit organizations; and 

other entities with the capacity to lead 

a program of risk management 

education for producers in one or more 

Targeted States. 

1. Individuals are not eligible 

applicants. 

2. Although an applicant may be 

eligible to compete for an award based 

on its status as the type of entity 

described immediately above, other 

factors may exclude an applicant from 

receiving Federal assistance under this 

program, which is governed by Federal 

law and regulations (e.g. debarment and 

suspension; a determination of nonperformance on a prior contract, 

cooperative agreement, grant or 

cooperative partnership; a 

determination of a violation of 

applicable ethical standards). 

Applications in which the applicant or 

any of the partners are ineligible or 

excluded persons will be rejected in 

their entirety. 

3. Private organizations that are 

involved in the sale of Federal crop 

insurance, or that have financial ties to 

such organizations, are eligible to apply 

for funding under this Announcement. 

However, such entities and their 

partners, affiliates, and collaborators for 

this Announcement shall not receive 

funding to conduct activities that are 

already required under a Standard 

Reinsurance Agreement or any other 

agreement in effect between FCIC/RMA 

and the entity, or between FCIC/RMA 

and any of the partners; affiliates, or 

collaborators for awards under this 

Announcement. In addition, such 

entities and their partners, affiliates, and 

collaborators for this Announcement 

shall not be allowed to receive funding 

to conduct activities that could be 

perceived by producers as promoting 

the services or products of one company 

over the services or products of another 

company that provides the same or 

similar services or products. If applying 

for funding, such organizations must be 

aware of potential conflicts of interest 

and must describe in their application 

the specific actions they shall take to 

avoid actual and perceived conflicts of 

interest. 

B. Cost Sharing or Matching Funding 

Although RMA prefers cost sharing by 

the applicant, this program has neither 

a cost sharing nor a matching 

requirement. 

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IV. Application and Submission 

Information 

A. Electronic Application Package 

RMA will only accept electronic 

applications for this program. These 

electronic applications must be 

submitted via Grants.gov to the Risk 

Management Agency in response to this 

RFA. Prior to preparing an application, 

it is suggested that the Project Director 

(PD) first contact an Authorized 

Representative (AR) (also referred to as 

Authorized Organizational 

Representative or AOR) to determine if 

the organization is prepared to submit 

electronic applications through 

Grants.gov. If the organization is not 

prepared, the AR should see, http:// 

www.grants.gov/applicants/ 

get_registered.jsp, for steps for preparing 

to submit applications through 

Grants.gov. 

Grants.gov assistance is available as 

follows: 

• Grants.gov customer support, Toll 

Free: 1–800–518–4726, Business Hours: 

24 Hours a day, Email: 

support@grants.gov. 

B. Content and Form of Application 

Submission 

The title of the application must 

include (1) The Targeted State, (2) the 

producer group to be reached, and (3) 

the educational topic(s) to be presented. 

For an application to potentially be 

considered complete and valid, an 

application must include the following 

items, at a minimum: 

1. A completed OMB Standard Form 

424, ‘‘Application for Federal 

Assistance.’’ 

2. A completed OMB Standard Form 

424–A, ‘‘Budget Information—Nonconstruction Programs.’’ 

3. A completed OMB Standard Form 

424–B, ‘‘Assurances, Non-constructive 

Programs.’’ 

4. An Executive Summary of the 

Project (One (1) page). 

5. A Proposal Narrative (Not to 

Exceed 15 single-sided pages in 

Microsoft Word), which shall also 

include a Statement of Work. The 

Statement of Work (SOW) must include 

each task and subtask associated with 

the work, the objective of each task and 

subtask, specific time lines for 

performing the tasks and subtasks, and 

the responsible party for completing the 

activities listed under each task and 

subtask including the specific 

responsibilities of partners and/or RMA. 

The SOW must be very clear on who 

does what, where, when, as well as the 

objective for each task and subtask. 

Letters of support for the applicant 

should be an appendix to the 

application and should not be included 

as part of the Proposal Narrative. 

6. Budget Narrative (in Microsoft 

Excel) describing how the categorical 

costs listed on the SF 424–A are 

derived. The budget narrative must 

provide enough detail for reviewers to 

easily understand how costs were 

determined and how they relate to the 

tasks and subtask of the project. 

7. Partnering Plan that includes how 

each partner of the applicant (who will 

be working on this project) shall aid in 

carrying out the specific tasks and 

subtasks. The Partnering Plan must also 

include ‘‘Letters of Commitment’’ from 

each partner who will do the specific 

task or subtask as identified in the SOW. 

The Letters must (1) be dated within 45 

days of the submission and (2) list the 

specific tasks or subtasks the committed 

partner has agreed to do with the 

applicant on this project. 

8. Project Plan of Operation in the 

Event of a Human Pandemic Outbreak 

(Pandemic Plan). RMA requires that 

project leaders submit a project plan of 

operation in case of a human pandemic 

event. The plan must address the 

concept of continuing operations as they 

relate to the project. This plan must 

include the roles, responsibilities, and 

contact information for the project team 

and individuals serving as back-ups in 

case of a pandemic outbreak. 

9. Current and Pending Report. The 

application package from Grants.gov 

contains a document called the Current 

and Pending Report. On the Current and 

Pending Report you must state for this 

fiscal year if this application is a 

duplicate application or overlaps 

substantially with another application 

already submitted to or funded by 

another USDA Agency, including RMA, 

or other private organization. The 

percentage of each person’s time 

associated with the work to be done 

under this project must be identified in 

the application. The total percentage of 

time for both ‘‘Current’’ and ‘‘Pending’’ 

projects must not exceed 100% of each 

person’s time. Applicants must list all 

current public or private employment 

arrangements or financial support 

associated with the project or any of the 

personnel that are part of the project, 

regardless of whether such 

arrangements or funding constitute part 

of the project under this Announcement 

(supporting agency, amount of award, 

effective date, expiration date, 

expiration date of award, etc.). If the 

applicant has no projects to list, ‘‘N/A’’ 

should be shown on the form. An 

application submitted under this RFA 

that duplicates or overlaps substantially 

with any application already reviewed 

and funded (or to be funded) by any 

other organization or agency, including 

but not limited to other RMA, USDA, 

and Federal government programs, will 

not be funded under this program. RMA 

reserves the right to reject your 

application based on the review of this 

information. 

10. A completed and signed OMB 

Standard Form LLL, ‘‘Disclosure of 

Lobbying Activities.’’ 

11. A completed and signed AD–1049, 

‘‘Certification Regarding Drug-Free 

Workplace Requirements (Grants) 

Alternative I—For Grantees Other Than 

Individuals.’’ 

Applications that do not include the 

items listed above will be considered 

incomplete, will not receive further 

consideration, and will be rejected. 

C. Funding Restrictions 

Cooperative agreement funds under 

this RFA may not be used to: 

a. Plan, repair, rehabilitate, acquire, or 

construct a building or facility including 

a processing facility; 

b. Purchase, rent, or install fixed 

equipment; 

c. Purchase portable equipment (such 

as laptops, projectors, etc.) 

d. Repair or maintain privately owned 

vehicles; 

e. Pay for the preparation of the 

cooperative agreement application; 

f. Fund political activities; 

g. Purchase alcohol, food, beverage, or 

entertainment; 

h. Lend money to support farming or 

agricultural business operation or 

expansion; 

i. Pay costs incurred prior to receiving 

a cooperative agreement; 

j. Provide scholarships; 

k. Pay entrance fees or other expenses 

to conferences or similar activities; or 

l. Fund any activities prohibited in 7 

CFR parts 3015 and 3019, as applicable. 

D. Limitation on Use of Project Funds 

for Salaries and Benefits 

Total costs for salary and benefits 

allowed for projects under this 

Announcement shall be limited to not 

more than 70 percent reimbursement of 

the funds awarded under the 

cooperative partnership agreement. The 

reasonableness of the total costs for 

salary and benefits allowed for projects 

under this Announcement will be 

reviewed and considered by RMA as 

part of the application review process. 

Applications for which RMA does not 

consider the salary and benefits 

reasonable for the proposed application 

will be rejected, or will only be offered 

a cooperative agreement upon the 

condition of changing the salary and 

benefits structure to one deemed 

appropriate by RMA for that 

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application. The goal of the Targeted 

States Program is to maximize the use 

of the limited funding available for crop 

insurance education to producers in 

Targeted States. 

E. Indirect Cost Rates 

a. Indirect costs allowed for projects 

submitted under this announcement 

shall be limited to ten (10) percent of 

the total direct cost of the cooperative 

agreement. Therefore, when preparing 

budgets, applicants should limit their 

requests for recovery of indirect costs to 

the lesser of their institution’s official 

negotiated indirect cost rate or 10 

percent of the total direct costs. 

b. RMA reserves the right to negotiate 

final budgets with successful applicants. 

F. Other Submission Requirements 

Applicants are entirely responsible for 

ensuring that RMA receives a complete 

application package by the closing date 

and time. RMA strongly encourages 

applicants to submit applications well 

before the deadline to allow time for 

correction of technical errors identified 

by Grants.gov. Application packages 

submitted after the deadline will be 

rejected. 

G. Acknowledgement of Applications 

Receipt of applications may be 

acknowledged by email, whenever 

possible; however it is the responsibility 

of the applicant to check Grants.gov for 

successful submission. Therefore, 

applicants are encouraged to provide 

email addresses in their applications. 

There will be no notification of 

incomplete, unqualified or unfunded 

applications until the award decisions 

have been made. When received by 

RMA, applications will be assigned an 

identification number. This number will 

be communicated to applicants in the 

acknowledgement of receipt of 

applications. An application’s 

identification number must be 

referenced in all correspondence 

submitted by any party regarding the 

application. If the applicant does not 

receive an acknowledgement of 

application receipt by 15 days following 

the submission deadline, the applicant 

must notify RMA’s point of contact 

indicated in Section VII, Agency 

Contact. 

V. Application Review Information 

A. Criteria 

Applications submitted under the 

Targeted States program will be 

evaluated within each Targeted State 

according to the following criteria: 

Project Impacts—Maximum 20 Points 

Available 

Each application must demonstrate 

that the project benefits to producers 

warrant the funding requested. 

Applications will be scored according to 

the extent they can: (a) Identify the 

specific actions producers shall likely 

be able to take as a result of the 

educational activities described in the 

Proposal Narrative’s Statement of Work 

(SOW); (b) identify the specific 

measures for evaluating results that 

shall be employed in the project; (c) 

reasonably estimate the total number of 

producers that shall be reached through 

the various methods and educational 

activities described in the Statement of 

Work; (d) identify the number of 

meetings that shall be held; (e) provide 

an estimate of the number of training 

hours that shall be held; (f) provide an 

estimated cost per producer, and (e) 

justify such estimates with specific 

information. Estimates for reaching 

agribusiness professionals may also be 

provided but such estimates must be 

provided separately from the estimates 

of producers. Reviewers’ scoring will be 

based on the scope and reasonableness 

of the application’s clear descriptions of 

specific expected actions producers 

shall accomplish, and well-designed 

methods for measuring the project’s 

results and effectiveness. Applications 

using direct contact methods with 

producers will be scored higher. 

Applications must identify the type 

and number of producer actions 

expected as a result of the projects, and 

how results shall be measured, in the 

following categories: 

• Understanding risk management 

tools; 

• Evaluating the feasibility of 

implementing various risk management 

options; 

• Developing risk management plans 

and strategies; 

• Deciding on and implementing a 

specific course of action (e.g., 

participation in crop insurance 

programs or implementation of other 

risk management actions). 

Statement of Work (SOW)—Maximum 

20 Points Available 

Each application must include a clear 

and specific Statement of Work for the 

project as part of the Proposal Narrative. 

For each of the tasks contained in the 

Description of Agreement Award (see 

Section II, Award Information), the 

application must identify and describe 

specific subtasks, responsible entities 

including partners, expected completion 

dates, RMA substantial involvement, 

and deliverables that shall further the 

purpose of this program. Applications 

will obtain a higher score to the extent 

that the Statement of Work is specific, 

measurable and reasonable, has specific 

deadlines for the completion of tasks 

and subtasks, and relates directly to the 

required activities and the program 

purpose described in this 

Announcement. 

Partnering—Maximum 20 Points 

Available 

Each application must demonstrate 

experience and capacity to partner with 

and gain the support of producer 

organizations, agribusiness 

professionals, subject matter experts, 

and agricultural leaders to carry out a 

local program of education and 

information in a designated Targeted 

State. Each application must establish a 

written Partnering Plan that describes 

how each partner shall aid in carrying 

out the project goal and purpose stated 

in this announcement and should 

include letters of commitment dated no 

more than 45 days prior to submission 

of the relevant application stating that 

the partner has agreed to do this work. 

Each application must ensure this Plan 

includes a list of all partners working on 

the project, their titles, and how they 

will be contribute to the deliverables 

listed in the application. The Partnering 

Plan will not count towards the 

maximum length of the application 

narrative. Applications will receive 

higher scores to the extent that the 

application demonstrates: (a) That 

partnership commitments are in place 

for the express purpose of delivering the 

program in this announcement; (b) that 

a broad group of producers shall be 

reached within the Targeted State; (c) 

that partners are contributing to the 

project and involved in recruiting 

producers to attend the training; (d) that 

a substantial effort has been made to 

partner with organizations that can meet 

the needs of producers in the designated 

Targeted State; and (e) statements from 

each partner regarding the number of 

producers that partner is committed to 

recruit for the project that would 

support the estimates specified under 

the Project Impacts criterion. 

Project Management—Maximum 20 

Points Available 

Each application must demonstrate an 

ability to implement sound and effective 

project management practices. Higher 

scores in this category will be awarded 

to applications that demonstrate 

organizational skills, leadership, and 

experience in delivering services or 

programs that assist agricultural 

producers in the designated Targeted 

State. Each application must 

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demonstrate that the Project Director 

has the capability to accomplish the 

project goal and purpose stated in this 

announcement by (a) having a previous 

or existing working relationship with 

the agricultural community in the 

designated Targeted State of the 

application, including being able to 

recruit approximately the number of 

producers to be reached in the 

application and/or (b) having 

established the capacity to partner with 

and gain the support of producer 

organizations, agribusiness 

professionals, and agribusiness leaders 

locally to aid in carrying out a program 

of education and information, including 

being able to recruit approximately the 

number of producers to be reached in 

this application. Applications must 

designate an alternate individual to 

assume responsibility as Project Director 

in the event the original Project Director 

is unable to finish the project. 

Applications that will employ, or have 

access to, personnel who have 

experience in directing local 

educational programs that benefit 

agricultural producers in the respective 

Targeted State will receive higher 

rankings in this category. 

Budget Appropriateness and 

Efficiency—Maximum 20 Points 

Available 

Applications must provide a detailed 

budget summary, both in narrative and 

in Microsoft Excel, that clearly explains 

and justifies costs associated with the 

project’s tasks and subtasks. 

Applications will receive higher scores 

in this category to the extent that they 

can demonstrate a fair and reasonable 

use of funds appropriate for the project 

and a budget that contains the estimated 

cost of reaching each individual 

producer. 

Bonus Points for Diversity Partnering— 

Maximum 25 Bonus Points Available 

RMA is focused on adding diversity to 

this program. RMA may add up to an 

additional 25 points to the final paneled 

score of any submission demonstrating 

a partnership with another producer 

group or community based group that 

represent minority producers. The 

application must state in the Partnering 

Plan that a Diversity Partnership is in 

place as validated by a current Letter of 

Commitment that identifies the 

producer group or community based 

group partner that will represent 

minority producers. 

‘‘Minority’’ producers are defined as: 

• African American producers 

• Asian American, Pacific Islander 

producers 

• Hispanic producers 

• Native American producers 

B. Selection and Review Process 

Applications will be evaluated using 

a two-part process. First, each 

application will be screened by USDA 

and RMA personnel to ensure that it 

meets the requirements in this 

announcement. Applications that do not 

meet the minimum requirements of this 

announcement or are incomplete will 

not advance to the second portion of the 

review process. Applications that meet 

announcement requirements will be 

grouped together for comparison by the 

Targeted State for which the application 

proposes to conduct the project and will 

be presented to a review panel for 

consideration in such groups. Thus, 

applications will only be compared 

against other applications for the same 

Targeted State. 

Second, the review panel will meet in 

person or via live meeting 

teleconference to consider and discuss 

the merits of each application. The 

panel will consist of at least three 

independent reviewers. Reviewers will 

be drawn from USDA, other Federal 

agencies, and/or public and private 

organizations, as needed. After 

considering the merits of all 

applications within a Targeted State, 

panel members will score each 

application according to the criteria and 

point values described above. The panel 

will then rank each application against 

others within the Targeted State 

according to the scores received. 

The review panel will report the 

results of the evaluation to the Manager 

of FCIC. The panel’s report will include 

the applicants recommended to receive 

awards for each Targeted State. An 

application receiving a total score less 

than 60 will not receive funding. 

An organization, or group of 

organizations in partnership, may apply 

for funding under other FCIC or RMA 

programs, in addition to the program 

described in this announcement. 

However, if the Manager of FCIC 

determines that an application 

recommended for funding under this 

Announcement is substantially similar 

to or duplicative of a project that has 

been funded or has been recommended 

to be funded under another RMA or 

FCIC program, then the Manager may 

elect to not fund that application under 

this program in whole or in part, 

depending upon the extent of the 

similarity or duplicity of applications. 

The Manager of FCIC will make the final 

determination on those applications that 

will be awarded funding. 

VI. Award Administration Information 

A. Award Notices 

The award document will provide 

pertinent instructions and information 

including, at a minimum, the following: 

(1) Legal name and address of 

performing organization or institution to 

which the FCIC Manager has issued an 

award under the terms of this Request 

for Applications; 

(2) Title of project; 

(3) Name(s) and employing 

institution(s) of Project Directors chosen 

to direct and control approved 

activities; 

(4) Identifying award number 

assigned by RMA; 

(5) Project period, specifying the 

amount of time RMA intends to support 

the project without requiring 

recompeting for funds; 

(6) Total amount of RMA financial 

assistance approved by the Manager of 

FCIC for the project period; 

(7) Legal authority(ies) under which 

the award is issued; 

(8) Appropriate Catalog of Federal 

Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number; 

(9) Applicable award terms and 

conditions (see http:// 

www.rma.usda.gov/business/awards/ 

awardterms.html to view RMA award 

terms and conditions); 

(10) Approved budget plan for 

categorizing allowable project funds to 

accomplish the stated purpose of the 

award; and 

(11) Other information or provisions 

required by RMA to carry out its 

respective awarding activities or to 

accomplish the purpose of a particular 

award. 

Following approval by the Manager of 

FCIC of the applications to be selected 

for funding, awardees whose 

applications have been selected for 

funding will be notified. Within the 

limit of funds available for such a 

purpose, the Manager of FCIC will enter 

into cooperative agreements with the 

awardees. After a cooperative agreement 

has been signed by all Parties (including 

RMA), RMA will extend to awardees, in 

writing, the authority to draw down 

funds for the purpose of conducting the 

activities listed in the agreement. All 

funds provided to the awardee by RMA 

must be expended solely for the purpose 

for which the funds are obligated in 

accordance with the approved 

agreement and any applicable Federal 

law. No commitment of Federal 

assistance beyond the project period is 

made or implied for any award resulting 

from this notice. 

Notification to applicants for whom 

funding is denied will be sent to 

applicants after final funding decisions 

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have been made and awardees have 

been announced publicly. Reasons for 

denial of funding may include, but are 

not limited to, incomplete applications, 

applications with evaluation scores 

below 60, or applications with 

evaluation scores that are lower than 

those of other applications in a Targeted 

State. Debriefings will be offered to 

unsuccessful applicants. 

B. Administrative and National Policy 

Requirements 

1. Requirement to Use USDA Logo 

Awardees of cooperative agreements 

will be required to use a USDA logo 

provided by RMA for all instructional 

and promotional materials if 

appropriate. 

2. Requirement to Provide Project 

Information to RMA-selected 

Representative(s) 

Awardees of cooperative agreements 

may be required to assist RMA in 

evaluating the effectiveness of its 

educational programs by notifying the 

RMA of upcoming training, meeting, 

and by providing documentation of 

educational activities, materials, and 

related information to any 

representative(s) selected by RMA for 

program evaluation purposes. 

3. Access to Panel Review Information 

Upon written request from the 

applicant, scores from the evaluation 

panel, not including the identity of 

reviewers, will be sent to the applicant 

after the review and awards process has 

been completed. 

4. Confidential Aspects of Applications 

and Awards 

The names of applicants, the names of 

individuals identified in the 

applications, the content of 

applications, and the panel evaluations 

of applications will remain confidential, 

except to those involved in the review 

process, to the extent permitted by law. 

In addition, the identities of review 

panel members will remain confidential 

throughout the entire review process 

and will not be released to applicants. 

At the end of the fiscal year, names of 

panel members may be made available. 

However, panelists will not be 

identified with the review of any 

particular application. 

When an application results in a 

cooperative agreement, that agreement 

becomes a part of the official record of 

RMA transactions, available to the 

public upon specific request. 

Information that the Secretary of 

Agriculture determines to be of a 

confidential, privileged, or proprietary 

nature will be held in confidence to the 

extent permitted by law. Therefore, any 

information that the applicant wishes to 

be considered confidential, privileged, 

or proprietary must be clearly marked 

within an application, including the 

legal basis for such designation. The 

original copy and extra copies of all 

applications, regardless of whether the 

application results in an award, will be 

retained by RMA for a period of at least 

three years, then may be destroyed. Any 

copies of an application will be released 

only to the extent required by law. An 

application may be withdrawn at any 

time prior to the time when award 

decisions are made. 

5. Audit Requirements 

Awardees of cooperative agreements 

may be subject to audit. 

6. Prohibitions and Requirements With 

Regards to Lobbying 

All cooperative agreements will be 

subject to the requirements of 7 CFR 

part 3015, ‘‘Uniform Federal Assistance 

Regulations.’’ A signed copy of the 

certification and disclosure forms must 

be submitted with the application and 

are available at the address and 

telephone number listed in Section VII, 

Agency Contact. 

Departmental regulations published at 

7 CFR part 3018 imposes prohibitions 

and requirements for disclosure and 

certification related to lobbying on 

awardees of Federal contracts, grants, 

cooperative partnership agreements and 

loans. It provides exemptions for Indian 

Tribes and tribal organizations. Current 

and prospective awardees, and any 

subcontractors, are prohibited from 

using Federal funds, other than profits 

from a Federal contract, for lobbying 

Congress or any Federal agency in 

connection with the award of a contract, 

grant, cooperative partnership 

agreement or loan. In addition, for each 

award action in excess of $100,000 

($150,000 for loans) the law requires 

awardees and any subcontractors to 

complete a certification in accordance 

with Appendix A to Part 3018 and a 

disclosure of lobbying activities in 

accordance with Appendix B to Part 

3018.: The law establishes civil 

penalties for non-compliance. 

7. Applicable OMB Circulars 

All cooperative agreements funded as 

a result of this notice will be subject to 

the requirements contained in all 

applicable OMB circulars) http:// 

www.whitehouse.gov/omg/ 

grants_circulars. 

8. Requirement To Assure Compliance 

With Federal Civil Rights Laws 

Awardees and all partners/ 

collaborators of all cooperative 

agreements funded as a result of this 

notice are required to know and abide 

by Federal civil rights laws, which 

include, but are not limited to, Title VI 

of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 

U.S.C. 2000d et seq.), and 7 CFR part 15. 

RMA requires that awardees submit an 

Assurance Agreement (Civil Rights), 

assuring RMA of this compliance prior 

to the beginning of the project period. 

9. Requirement To Participate in a Post 

Award Teleconference 

RMA requires that project leaders 

participate in a post award 

teleconference, if conducted, to become 

fully aware of agreement requirements 

and for delineating the roles of RMA 

personnel and the procedures that shall 

be followed in administering the 

agreement and shall afford an 

opportunity for the orderly transition of 

agreement duties and obligations if 

different personnel are to assume postaward responsibility. 

10. Requirement To Participate in a Post 

Award Civil Rights Training 

Teleconference 

RMA requires that project leaders 

participate in a post award Civil Rights 

and EEO training teleconference to 

become fully aware of Civil Rights and 

EEO law and requirements. 

11. Requirement To Submit Educational 

Materials to the National AgRisk 

Education Library 

RMA requires that awardees upload 

digital copies of all risk management 

educational materials developed as part 

of the project to the National AgRisk 

Education Library (http:// 

www.agrisk.umn.edu/) for posting, if 

electronically reporting. RMA must be 

clearly identified as having provided 

funding for the materials. 

12. Requirement To Submit Proposed 

Results to the National AgRisk 

Education Library 

RMA requires that awardees submit 

results of the project to the National 

AgRisk Education Library (http:// 

www.agrisk.umn.edu/) for posting, if 

electronically reporting. RMA must be 

clearly identified as having provided 

funding for the materials. 

C. Reporting Requirements 

Awardees shall be required to submit 

quarterly progress reports using the 

Performance Progress Report (OMB SF– 

PPR) as the cover sheet and quarterly 

financial reports (OMB SF 425) 

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throughout the project period, as well as 

a final program and financial report not 

later than 90 days after the end of the 

project period. The quarterly progress 

reports and final program reports MUST 

be submitted through the Results 

Verification System. The Web site 

address is for the Results Verification 

System is www.agrisk.umn.edu/RMA/ 

Reporting. 

VII. Agency Contact 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Applicants and other interested parties 

must contact: USDA–RMA–RME, 

phone: 202–720–0779, email: 

RMA.Risk-Ed@rma.usda.gov. You may 

also obtain information regarding this 

announcement from the RMA Web site 

at: http://www.rma.usda.gov/aboutrma/ 

agreements/. 

VIII. Additional Information 

A. The Restriction of the Expenditure of 

Funds To Enter Into Financial 

Transactions 

The Agriculture, Rural Development, 

Food and Drug Administration, and 

Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 

2012 (Pub. L. 112–55) contains the 

restriction of the expenditure of funds to 

enter into financial transactions 

Corporations that have been convicted 

of felonies within the past 24 months or 

that have federal tax delinquencies 

where the agency is aware of the 

felonies and/or tax delinquencies. 

Section 738 (Felony Provision) 

None of the funds made available by 

this Act may be used to enter into a 

contract, memorandum of 

understanding, or cooperative 

agreement with, make a grant to, or 

provide a loan or loan guarantee to any 

corporation that was convicted (or had 

an officer or agency of such corporation 

acting on behalf of the corporation 

convicted) of a felony criminal violation 

under any Federal or State law within 

the preceding 24 months, where the 

awarding agency is aware of the 

conviction, unless the agency has 

considered suspension or debarment of 

the corporation, or such officer or agent, 

and made a determination that this 

further action is not necessary to protect 

the interest of the Government. 

Section 739 (Tax Delinquency 

Provision) 

None of the funds made available by 

this Act may be used to enter into a 

contract, memorandum of 

understanding, or cooperative 

agreement with, make a grant to, or 

provide a loan or loan guarantee to, any 

corporation that [has] any unpaid 

Federal tax liability that has been 

assessed, for which all judicial and 

administrative remedies have been 

exhausted or have lapsed, and that is 

not being paid in a timely manner 

pursuant to an agreement with the 

authority responsible for collecting the 

tax liability, where the awarding agency 

is aware of the unpaid tax liability, 

unless the agency has considered 

suspension or debarment of the 

corporation and made a determination 

that this further action is not necessary 

to protect the interests of the 

Government. 

B. Required Registration With the 

Central Contract Registry (CCR) for 

Submission of Proposals 

Under the Federal Funding 

Accountability and Transparency Act of 

2006, the applicant must comply with 

the additional requirements set forth in 

Attachment A regarding the Dun and 

Bradstreet Universal Numbering System 

(DUNS) Requirements and the CCR 

Requirements found at 2 CFR part 25. 

For the purposes of this RFA, the term 

‘‘you’’ in Attachment A shall mean 

‘‘applicant.’’ The applicant shall comply 

with the additional requirements set 

forth in Attachment B regarding 

Subawards and Executive 

Compensation. For the purpose of this 

RFA, the term ‘‘you’’ in Attachment B 

shall mean ‘‘applicant’’. The Central 

Contract Registry CCR is a database that 

serves as the primary Government 

repository for contractor information 

required for the conduct of business 

with the Government. This database 

will also be used as a central location 

for maintaining organizational 

information for organizations seeking 

and receiving grants from the 

Government. Such organizations must 

register in the CCR prior to the 

submission of applications. A DUNS 

number is needed for CCR registration. 

For information about how to register in 

the CCR, visit ‘‘Get Registered’’ at the 

Web site, http://www.grants.gov. Allow 

a minimum of 5 business days to 

complete the CCR registration. 

C. Related Programs 

Funding availability for this program 

may be announced at approximately the 

same time as funding availability for 

similar but separate programs—and 

CFDA No. 10.458 (Crop Insurance 

Education in Targeted States). These 

programs have some similarities, but 

also key differences. The differences 

stem from important features of each 

program’s authorizing legislation and 

different RMA objectives. Prospective 

applicants should carefully examine 

and compare the notices for each 

program. 

Attachment A 

I. Central Contractor Registration and 

Universal Identifier Requirements 

A. Requirement for Central Contractor 

Registration (CCR) 

Unless you are exempted from this 

requirement under 2 CFR 25.110, you as 

the recipient must maintain the 

currency of your information in the CCR 

until you submit the final financial 

report required under this award or 

receive the final payment, whichever is 

later. This requires that you review and 

update the information at least annually 

after the initial registration, and more 

frequently if required by changes in 

your information or another award term. 

B. Requirement for Data Universal 

Numbering System (DUNS) 

Numbers if you are authorized to 

make subawards under this award, you: 

1. Must notify potential subrecipients 

that no entity (see definition in 

paragraph C of this award) may receive 

a subaward from you unless the entity 

has provided its DUNS number to you. 

2. May not make a subaward to an 

entity unless the entity has provided its 

DUNS number to you. 

C. Definitions for Purposes of This 

Award Term 

1. Central Contractor Registration 

(CCR) means the Federal repository into 

which an entity must provide 

information required for the conduct of 

business as a recipient. Additional 

information about registration 

procedures may be found at the CCR 

Internet site (currently at http:// 

www.ccr.gov). 

2. Data Universal Numbering System 

(DUNS) number means the nine-digit 

number established and assigned by 

Dun and Bradstreet, Inc. (D & B) to 

uniquely identify business entities. A 

DUNS number may be obtained from D 

& B by telephone (currently 1–866–705– 

5711) or the Internet (currently at http:// 

fedgov.dnb.comlwebform). 

3. Entity, as it is used in this award 

term, means all of the following, as 

defined at 2 CFR part 25, subpart C: 

a. A Governmental organization, 

which is a State, local government, or 

Indian Tribe; 

b. A foreign public entity; 

c. A domestic or foreign nonprofit 

organization; 

d. A domestic or foreign for-profit 

organization; and 

e. A Federal agency, but only as a 

subrecipient under an award or 

subaward to a non-Federal entity. 

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4. Subaward: 

a. This term means a legal instrument 

to provide support for the performance 

of any portion of the substantive project 

or program for which you received this 

award and that you as the recipient 

award to an eligible subrecipient. 

b. The term does not include your 

procurement of property and services 

needed to carry out the project or 

program (for further explanation, see 

Sec. 10 of the attachment to OMB 

Circular A–I33, ‘‘Audits of States, Local 

Governments, and Non-Profit 

Organizations’’). 

c. A subaward may be provided 

through any legal agreement, including 

an agreement that you consider a 

contract. 

5. Subrecipient means an entity that: 

a. Receives a subaward from you 

under this award; and 

b. Is accountable to you for the use of 

the Federal funds provided by the 

subaward. 

Attachment B 

I. Reporting Subawards and Executive 

Compensation 

a. Reporting of First-Tier Subawards 

1. Applicability. Unless you are 

exempt as provided in paragraph d. of 

this award term, you must report each 

action that obligates $25,000 or more in 

Federal funds that does not include 

Recovery funds (as defined in section 

1512(a)(2) of the American Recovery 

and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Pub. L. 

111–5) for a subaward to an entity (see 

definitions in paragraph e. of this award 

term). 

2. Where and when to report. 

i. You must report each obligating 

action described in paragraph a.I. of this 

award term to http://www.fsrs.gov. 

ii. For subaward information, report 

no later than the end of the month 

following the month in which the 

obligation was made. (For example, if 

the obligation was made on November 

7, 2010, the obligation must be reported 

by no later than December 31, 2010.) 

3. What to report. You must report the 

information about each obligating action 

that the submission instructions posted 

at http://www.fsrs.gov specify. 

b. Reporting Total Compensation of 

Recipient Executives 

1. Applicability and what to report. 

You must report total compensation for 

each of your five most highly 

compensated executives for the 

preceding completed fiscal year, if— 

i. The total Federal funding 

authorized to date under this award is 

$25,000 or more; 

ii. In the preceding fiscal year, you 

received— 

(A) 80 percent or more of your annual 

gross revenues from Federal 

procurement contracts (and 

subcontracts) and Federal financial 

assistance subject to the Transparency 

Act, as defined at 2 CFR 170.320 (and 

subawards); and 

(B) $25,000,000 or more in annual 

gross revenues from Federal 

procurement contracts (and 

subcontracts) and Federal financial 

assistance subject to the Transparency 

Act, as defined at 2 CFR 170.320 (and 

subawards); and 

iii. The public does not have access to 

information about the compensation of 

the executives through periodic reports 

filed under section 13(a) or 15(d) of the 

Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 

U.S.C. 78m(a), 780(d)) or section 6104 of 

the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. (To 

determine if the public has access to the 

compensation information, see the U.S. 

Security and Exchange Commission 

total compensation filings at http:// 

www.sec.gov/answers/execomp.htm.) 

2. Where and when to report. You 

must report executive total 

compensation described in paragraph 

b.1. of this award term: 

i. As part of your registration profile 

at http://www.ccr.gov. 

ii. By the end of the month following 

the month in which this award is made, 

and annually thereafter. 

c. Reporting of Total Compensation of 

Subrecipient Executives 

1. Applicability and what to report. 

Unless you are exempt as provided in 

paragraph d. of this award term, for each 

first-tier subrecipient under this award, 

you shall report the names and total 

compensation of each of the 

subrecipient’s five most highly 

compensated executives for the 

subrecipient’s preceding completed 

fiscal year, if— 

i. in the subrecipient’s preceding 

fiscal year, the subrecipient received— 

(A) 80 percent or more of its annual 

gross revenues from Federal 

procurement contracts (and 

subcontracts) and Federal financial 

assistance subject to the Transparency 

Act, as defined at 2 CFR 170.320 (and 

subawards); and 

(B) $25,000,000 or more in annual 

gross revenues from Federal 

procurement contracts (and 

subcontracts), and Federal financial 

assistance subject to the Transparency 

Act (and subawards); and 

ii. The public does not have access to 

information about the compensation of 

the executives through periodic reports 

filed under section 13(a) or 15(d) of the 

Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 

U.S.C. 78m(a), 780(d) or section 6104 of 

the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. (To 

determine if the public has access to the 

compensation information, see the U.S. 

Security and Exchange Commission 

total compensation filings at http:// 

www.sec.gov/answers/execomp.htm.). 

2. Where and when to report. You 

must report subrecipient executive total 

compensation described in paragraph 

c.1. of this award term: 

i. To the recipient. 

ii. By the end of the month following 

the month during which you make the 

subaward. For example, if a subaward is 

obligated on any date during the month 

of October of a given year (i.e., between 

October 1 and 31), you must report any 

required compensation information of 

the subrecipient by November 30 of that 

year. 

d. Exemptions 

If, in the previous tax year, you had 

gross income, from all sources, under 

$300,000, you are exempt from the 

requirements to report: 

i. Subawards, and 

ii. The total compensation of the five 

most highly compensated executives of 

any subrecipient. 

e. Definitions 

For purposes of this award term: 

1. Entity means all of the following, 

as defined in 2 CFR part 25: 

i. A Governmental organization, 

which is a State, local government, or 

Indian tribe; 

ii. A foreign public entity; 

iii. A domestic or foreign nonprofit 

organization; 

iv. A domestic or foreign for-profit 

organization; 

v. A Federal agency, but only as a 

subrecipient under an award or 

subaward to a non-Federal entity. 

2. Executive means officers, managing 

partners, or any other employees in 

management positions. 

3. Subaward: 

1. This term means a legal instrument 

to provide support for the performance 

of any portion of the substantive project 

or program for which you received this 

award and that you as the recipient 

award to an eligible subrecipient. 

ii. The term does not include your 

procurement of property and services 

needed to carry out the project or 

program (for further explanation, see 

Sec. l .210 of the attachment to OMB 

Circular A–133, ‘‘Audits of States, Local 

Governments, and Non-Profit 

Organizations’’). 

iii. A subaward may be provided 

through any legal agreement, including 

an agreement that you or a subrecipient 

considers a contract. 

4. Subrecipient means an entity that: 

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i. Receives a sub award from you (the 

recipient) under this award; and 

ii. Is accountable to you for the use of 

the Federal funds provided by the 

subaward. 

5. Total compensation means the cash 

and noncash dollar value earned by the 

executive during the recipient’s or 

subrecipient’s preceding fiscal year and 

includes the following (for more 

information see 17 CFR 229.402(c)(2): 

i. Salary and bonus. 

ii. Awards of stock, stock options, and 

stock appreciation rights. Use the dollar 

amount recognized for financial 

statement reporting purposes with 

respect to the fiscal year in accordance 

with the Statement of Financial 

Accounting Standards No. 123 (Revised 

2004) (FAS 123R), Shared Based 

Payments. 

iii. Earnings for services under nonequity incentive plans. This does not 

include group life, health, 

hospitalization or medical 

reimbursement plans that do not 

discriminate in favor of executives, and 

are available generally to all salaried 

employees. 

iv. Change in pension value. This is 

the change in present value of defined 

benefit and actuarial pension plans. 

v. Above-market earnings on deferred 

compensation which is not taxqualified. 

vi. Other compensation, if the 

aggregate value of all such other 

compensation (e.g. severance, 

termination payments, value of life 

insurance paid on behalf of the 

employee, perquisites or property) for 

the executive exceeds $10,000. 

Signed in Washington, DC on March 26, 

2012. 

William J. Murphy, 

Manager, Federal Crop Insurance 

Corporation. 

[FR Doc. 2012–7902 Filed 4–2–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–08–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Food and Nutrition Service 

Agency Information Collection 

Activities: Proposed Collection; 

Comment Request—Status of Claims 

Against Households (Form FNS–209) 

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, 

USDA. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 

notice invites the general public and 

other public agencies to comment on the 

proposed information collection for the 

FNS–209, Status of Claims Against 

Households. This is a revision of an 

approved collection. 

The purpose of the Status of Claims 

Against Households is to provide a 

standardized format for State agencies 

submitting reports to the Food and 

Nutrition Service. Sections 11, 13, and 

16 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 

2008 (the Act) are the basis for the 

information collected on Form FNS– 

209, Status of Claims Against 

Households. Section 11 of the Act 

requires that State agencies submit 

reports and other information that are 

necessary to determine compliance with 

the Act and its implementing 

regulations. Section 13 of the Act 

requires State agencies to establish 

claims and collect overpayments against 

households. Section 16 of the Act 

authorizes State agencies to retain a 

portion of what is collected. The FNS– 

209 is used as the mechanism for State 

agencies to report the claim 

establishment, collection and retention 

amounts. 

DATES: Written comments must be 

submitted on or before June 4, 2012. 

ADDRESSES: Comments are invited on: 

(a) Whether the proposed collection of 

information is necessary for the proper 

performance of the functions of the 

agency, including whether the 

information has practical utility; (b) the 

accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the 

burden of the proposed collection of 

information, including the validity of 

the methodology and assumptions used; 

(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, 

and clarity of the information to be 

collected; and (d) ways to minimize the 

burden of the collection of information 

on those who are to respond, including 

the use of appropriate automated, 

electronic, mechanical, or other 

technological collection techniques or 

other forms of information technology. 

Comments may be sent to Jane 

Duffield, Branch Chief, State 

Administration Branch, Program 

Accountability and Administration 

Division, Food and Nutrition Service, 

U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 

Park Center Drive, Room 818, 

Alexandria, VA 22302. You may also 

download an electronic version of this 

notice at http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/ 

rules/regulations/default.htm and 

comment via email at SNAPHQWeb@fns.usda.gov or use the Federal 

e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to http:// 

www.regulations.gov and follow the 

online instructions for submitting 

comments electronically. 

All written comments will be open for 

public inspection at the office of the 

Food and Nutrition Service during 

regular business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5 

p.m., Monday through Friday) at 3101 

Park Center Drive, Room 822, 

Alexandria, Virginia 22302. 

All comments to this notice will be 

included in the request for Office of 

Management and Budget approval. All 

comments will also become a matter of 

public record. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Requests for additional information or 

copies of the information collection 

form and instruction should be directed 

to Jane Duffield at (703) 605–4385. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Title: Status of Claims Against 

Households. 

OMB Number: 0584–0069. 

Form Number: FNS–209. 

Expiration Date: August 31, 2012. 

Type of Request: Extension of 

currently approved collections. 

Abstract: SNAP regulations at 7 CFR 

273.18 require that State agencies 

establish, collect and efficiently manage 

SNAP recipient claims. Paragraph 7 CFR 

273.18(m)(5) requires State agencies to 

submit at the end of every quarter the 

completed Form FNS–209, Status of 

Claims Against Households. The 

information required for the FNS–209 

report is obtained from a State 

accounting system responsible for 

establishing claims, sending demand 

letters, collecting claims, and managing 

other claim activity. In general, State 

agencies must report the following totals 

on the FNS–209: the current 

outstanding aggregate claim balance; 

claims established; collections; any 

balance and collection adjustments; and 

the amount to be retained for collecting 

non-agency error claims. The burden 

associated with establishing claims 

(demand letters) and the Treasury Offset 

Program, both which are also used to 

complete the FNS–209, are already 

approved under OMB burden numbers 

0584–0492, expiration date 9/30/2014, 

and 0584–0446, expiration date 02/28/ 

2013, respectively. The estimated 

annual burden is 636 hours. This is the 

same as the currently approved burden. 

This estimate includes the time it takes 

each State agency to accumulate and 

tabulate the data necessary to complete 

the report four times a year. State 

agencies must retain the records that 

support the FNS–209 data for 3 years; 

because this reflects three-year routine 

business practice and the Program is not 

imposing any recordkeeping hours in 

this data collection. 

Affected Public: State, Local and 

Tribal Government Agencies. 

Number of Respondents: 53 State 

Agencies. 

Number of Responses per 

Respondent: 4. 

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