Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 231 / Monday, December 4, 2023 / Notices 84123 

Tameka Owens, 

Assistant Administrator, Food and Nutrition 

Service. 

[FR Doc. 2023–26561 Filed 12–1–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–30–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Rural Business-Cooperative Service 

[Docket #: RBS–23–BUSINESS–0020] 

Notice of Solicitation of Applications 

for the Rural Business Development 

Grant Programs for Fiscal Year 2024 

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative 

Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Rural BusinessCooperative Service (RBCS or the 

Agency) invites the submission of 

applications for grants under the Rural 

Business Development Grant (RBDG) 

Program for fiscal year (FY) 2024, 

subject to the availability of funding. 

This notice is being issued prior to 

passage of a FY 2024 Appropriations 

Act in order to allow applicants 

sufficient time to leverage financing, 

prepare and submit their applications, 

and give the Agency time to process 

applications within FY 2024. Based on 

FY 2023 appropriated funding, the 

Agency estimates that approximately 

$37,000,000 will be available for FY 

2024. Successful applications will be 

selected by the Agency for funding and 

subsequently awarded to the extent that 

funding may ultimately be made 

available through appropriations. All 

applicants are responsible for any 

expenses incurred in developing their 

applications. 

DATES: Complete applications may be 

submitted in paper or electronic format 

and must be received by 4:30 p.m. local 

time on February 28, 2024, in the 

United States Department of Agriculture 

(USDA) Rural Development (RD) State 

Office for the State where the project is 

located. A list of the USDA RD State 

Offices can be found at: https://

www.rd.usda.gov/about-rd/state-offices. 

ADDRESSES: This funding announcement 

will also be announced on 

www.Grants.gov. Applications must be 

submitted to the USDA RD State Office 

for the State where the project is 

located. For projects involving multiple 

states, the application must be filed in 

the RD State Office where the Applicant 

is located. Applicants are encouraged to 

contact their respective RD State Office 

for an email contact to submit an 

electronic application prior to the 

submission deadline date. A list of the 

USDA RD State Office contacts can be 

found at: https://www.rd.usda.gov/ 

about-rd/state-offices. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lisa 

Sharp at lisa.sharp@usda.gov, or Cindy 

Mason at cindy.mason@usda.gov, 

Program Management Division, Rural 

Business-Cooperative Service, USDA, 

1400 Independence Avenue SW, MS 

3226, Room 5160—South, Washington, 

DC 20250–3226, or call (202) 720–1400. 

For further information on submitting 

program applications under this notice, 

please contact the USDA RD State Office 

in the State where the applicant’s 

headquarters is located. A list of RD 

State Office contacts is provided at the 

following link: https://

www.rd.usda.gov/about-rd/state-offices. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Overview 

Federal Agency Name: Rural 

Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS). 

Funding Opportunity Title: Rural 

Business Development Grant Program 

(RBDG). 

Announcement Type: Notice of 

Solicitation Announcement (NOSA). 

Funding Opportunity Number: 

RDBCP–RBDG–2024. 

Assistance Listing: 10.351. 

Dates: Complete applications may be 

submitted in paper or electronic format 

and must be received by 4:30 p.m. local 

time on February 28, 2024, in the 

United States Department of Agriculture 

(USDA) Rural Development (RD) State 

Office for the State where the project is 

located. A list of the USDA RD State 

Offices can be found at: https://

www.rd.usda.gov/about-rd/state-offices. 

Rural Development Key Priorities: The 

Agency encourages applicants to 

consider projects that will advance the 

following key priorities (more details 

available at https://www.rd.usda.gov/ 

priority-points): 

• Assisting rural communities to 

recover economically through more and 

better market opportunities and through 

improved infrastructure. 

• Ensuring all rural residents have 

equitable access to RD programs and 

benefits from RD funded projects. 

• Reducing climate pollution and 

increasing resilience to the impacts of 

climate change through economic 

support to rural communities. 

A. Program Description 

1. Purpose of the Program. The 

purpose of the program is to promote 

economic development and job creation 

projects through the awarding of grant 

funds to eligible entities. Applications 

will compete in two separate categories, 

business opportunity grants and 

business enterprise grants, for use in 

funding various business and 

community projects that serve rural 

areas. 

Business opportunity projects must be 

in compliance with eligible uses as 

stated in 7 CFR 4280.417(a)(1) that 

include the establishment of business 

support centers or providing funds for 

job training and leadership development 

in rural areas. Business opportunity 

projects must be consistent with any 

tribal, local and area-wide strategic 

plans for community and economic 

development, coordinated with other 

economic development activities in the 

project area, and consistent with any RD 

State Strategic Plan. 

Business enterprise projects must be 

in compliance with eligible uses as 

stated in 7 CFR 4280.417(a)(2) and are 

to be used to finance or develop small 

and emerging businesses in rural areas. 

Enterprise grant purposes include 

projects for the acquisition and 

development of land, access streets and 

roads, the conversion or modernization 

of buildings, capitalization of revolving 

loan funds and the purchase of 

machinery and equipment for 

businesses located in a rural area. 

2. Statutory and Regulatory Authority. 

(a) RBDG Program: The RBDG 

Program is authorized under 7 U.S.C. 

1932(c) (https://www.govinfo.gov/link/ 

uscode/7/1932) and implemented by 7 

CFR part 4280, subpart E (https://

www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/part-4280/ 

subpart-E). Assistance provided under 

the RBDG Program will be made to 

eligible entities and will be used for 

funding various business opportunity 

projects and business enterprise 

projects, as applicable, that serve Rural 

Areas. 

(b) Set-Aside Funding: The 

Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 

(Pub. L. 117–328), designated funding 

for Federally-Recognized Native 

American Tribes, Rural Empowerment 

Zone/Enterprise Communities/Rural 

Economic Area Partnerships, projects in 

Persistent Poverty Counties (as 

discussed below), Native American 

Persistent Poverty areas and for 

Strategic Economic and Community 

Development (SECD) projects in FY 

2023. 

Set-aside funding may or may not be 

made available through appropriations 

in FY 2024 where continued emphasis 

is given to financial assistance for 

projects located in these areas. For 

funding made available in FY 2023, 

eligible applicants for the Native 

American and Rural Empowerment 

Zone/Enterprise Communities/Rural 

Economic Area Partnership set-aside 

funds were required to demonstrate that 


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84124 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 231 / Monday, December 4, 2023 / Notices 

at least 75 percent of the benefits of an 

approved grant would assist 

beneficiaries in the designated areas. 

For funding made available in FY 2023, 

eligible applicants for the Persistent 

Poverty Counties, Native American 

Persistent Poverty areas, and the SECD 

set-aside funds were required to 

demonstrate that 100 percent of the 

benefits of an approved grant would 

assist beneficiaries in the designated 

areas. The completed application 

deadline for these set-aside funds, if 

available, is consistent with the RBDG 

application deadline date of February 

28, 2024. Applicants for set-aside funds 

must indicate that they are applying for 

set-aside funds and may not submit a 

duplicate application for regular RBDG 

funds. If funding for an anticipated setaside program is not appropriated in FY 

2024, or if any eligible applications for 

set-aside funding are not funded due to 

insufficient funds, such applications 

will be allowed to compete for available 

FY 2024 regular RBDG funds in the 

State where the project is located. 

(c) Persistent Poverty Funding: The 

Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 

(Pub. L. 117–328) provided designated 

funding for projects in Persistent 

Poverty Counties. ‘‘Persistent Poverty 

Counties’’ as defined in Section 736 is 

‘‘any county that has had 20 percent or 

more of its population living in poverty 

over the past 30 years, as measured by 

the 1990 and 2000 decennial censuses, 

and 2007–2011 American Community 

Survey 5-year average, or any territory 

or possession of the United States’’. 

Another provision in Section 736 

expanded the eligible population in 

Persistent Poverty Counties to include 

any county seat of such a Persistent 

Poverty County that had a population 

that did not exceed the authorized 

population limit by more than 10 

percent. This provision expanded the 

current 50,000 population limit to 

55,000 for only county seats located in 

Persistent Poverty Counties. Therefore, 

beneficiaries of technical assistance 

services located in county seats of 

Persistent Poverty Counties with 

populations up to 55,000 (per the 2020 

Census) were deemed eligible. 

Comparable statutory provisions may or 

may not be included in the 

appropriations act for FY 2024. 

3. Definitions. The definitions 

applicable to this notice are published 

at 7 CFR 4280.403 (eCFR :: 7 CFR 

4280.403—Definitions.). 

4. Application of Awards. Awards 

under the RBDG Program will be made 

on a competitive basis using specific 

selection criteria contained in 7 CFR 

part 4280, subpart E (https://

www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/part-4280/ 

subpart-E). The Agency will review, 

evaluate, and score applications 

received in response to this notice based 

on the provisions found in 7 CFR part 

4280, subpart E (https://www.ecfr.gov/ 

current/title-7/part-4280/subpart-E), 

and as indicated in this notice. The 

Agency advises all interested parties 

that the applicant bears the full burden 

of preparing and submitting an 

application in response to this notice 

whether or not funding is appropriated 

for this program in FY 2024. 

B. Federal Award Information 

Type of Awards: Grants. 

Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2024. 

Available Funds: Dependent upon FY 

2024 appropriations. Funding is 

anticipated to be approximately $37 

million based on FY 2023 amounts. 

RBCS may at its discretion, increase the 

total level of funding available in this 

funding round [or in any category in 

this funding round] from any available 

source provided the awards meet the 

requirements of the statute which made 

the funding available to the Agency. 

Award Amounts: No Minimum or 

Maximum. 

Anticipated Award Dates: Set-Aside 

awards, if applicable: May 31, 2024. 

Regular awards: August 31, 2024. 

Performance Period: June 1, 2024, 

through September 30, 2026. 

Renewal or Supplemental Awards: 

None. 

Type of Financial Assistance 

Instrument: Grant Agreement. 

C. Eligibility Information 

1. Eligible Applicants. Grants may be 

made to a Public Body/Government 

Entity, an Indian Tribe, or a Nonprofit 

entity primarily serving rural areas. In 

accordance with 7 CFR 4280.416(d) 

(https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/ 

section-4280.416#p-4280.416(d)), 

applicants that are not delinquent on 

any Federal debt or not otherwise 

disqualified from participation in these 

Programs are eligible to apply. The 

Agency will check the System for 

Award Management (SAM) to determine 

if the applicant has been debarred or 

suspended at the time of application 

and prior to the awarding of grant funds. 

2. Cost Sharing or Matching. There are 

no cost sharing or matching 

requirements associated with this grant. 

Matching funds are not required for 

eligibility purposes, however, additional 

priority points may be awarded for 

leveraging per 7 CFR 4280.435 (a). 

3. Other. Grant funds may be used for 

projects identified in 7 CFR 4280.417(a) 

(eCFR: 7 CFR 4280.417—Project 

eligibility.) as either a business 

opportunity type grant or a business 

enterprise type grant. 

D. Application and Submission 

Information 

1. Address to Request Application 

Package. Entities wishing to apply for 

financial assistance should contact the 

USDA RD State Office provided in the 

ADDRESSES section of this notice to 

obtain copies of the application 

package. 

2. Content and Form of Application 

Submission. 

(a) The applicant documentation and 

forms needed for a complete application 

are located in 7 CFR part 4280, subpart 

E (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/ 

part-4280/subpart-E), a copy of which 

will be provided to any interested 

applicant making a request to a USDA 

RD State Office for the State where the 

project is located. A list of the USDA RD 

State Offices can be found at: https://

www.rd.usda.gov/about-rd/state-offices. 

(b) The Agency requires information 

to make an eligibility determination 

through applications that must include 

the items identified in 7 CFR 4280.427 

(https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/ 

section-4280.427). The written narrative 

outlined in 7 CFR 4280.427(d) should 

include the following for Other 

Information: 

(1) Please note that no assistance or 

funding can be provided to hemp 

producers or processors unless they 

have a valid license issued from an 

approved State, Tribal or Federal plan 

as per section 10113 of the Agriculture 

Improvement Act of 2018, Public Law 

115–334 (https://www.govinfo.gov/app/ 

details/PLAW-115publ334). Verification 

of valid hemp licenses will occur at the 

time of award; and 

(2) Other information the Agency may 

request to assist in making a grant award 

determination. 

Each selection priority criterion 

outlined in 7 CFR 4280.427 (https://

www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/section4280.427) must be addressed in the 

application. Failure to address any of 

the criterion will result in a zero-point 

score for that criterion and will impact 

the overall evaluation of the application. 

(c) The application must be submitted 

in one package. The single package 

should be well organized and include a 

table of contents, if appropriate. There 

are no specific limitations on number of 

pages, font size and type face, margins, 

paper size, and the sequence or 

assembly requirements other than those 

described in 7 CFR part 4280, subpart E 

(https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/ 

part-4280/subpart-E). 

(d) An original copy of the application 

must be filed with the RD State Office 


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for the State where the project is 

located. For projects involving multiple 

states, the application must be filed in 

the RD State Office where the Applicant 

is located. 

(e) The component pieces of this

application require original signatures 

on the original application. Any form 

that requires an original signature but is 

signed electronically in the application 

submission must be signed in ink by the 

authorized person prior to the 

disbursement of funds. 

(f) RBDG grants must conform with

the environmental policies and 

procedures of 7 CFR part 1970 (eCFR :: 

7 CFR part 1970—Environmental 

Policies and Procedures). 

3. System for Award Management and

Unique Entity Identifier. 

(a) At the time of application, each

applicant must have an active 

registration in SAM before submitting 

its application in accordance with 2 

CFR part 25 (https://www.ecfr.gov/ 

current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-I/part25). In order to register in SAM, entities 

will be required to obtain a Unique 

Entity Identifier (UEI). Instructions for 

obtaining the UEI are available at 

https://sam.gov/content/entityregistration. 

(b) Applicants must maintain an

active SAM registration, with current, 

accurate and complete information, at 

all times during which it has an active 

Federal award or an application under 

consideration by a Federal awarding 

agency. 

(c) Applicants must ensure they

complete the Financial Assistance 

General Certifications and 

Representations in SAM. 

(d) Applicants must provide a valid

UEI in its application, unless 

determined exempt under 2 CFR 25.110 

(https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/ 

subtitle-A/chapter-I/part-25/subpart-A/ 

section-25.110). 

(e) The Agency will not make an

award until the applicant has complied 

with all SAM requirements including 

providing the UEI. If an applicant has 

not fully complied with the 

requirements by the time the Agency is 

ready to make an award, the 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. 

4. Submission Dates and Times.

(a) Application Technical Assistance

Deadline Date. Prior to official 

submission of grant applications, 

applicants may request technical 

assistance or other application guidance 

from the Agency, as long as such 

requests are made prior to February 10, 

2024. Technical assistance is not meant 

to be an analysis or assessment of the 

quality of the materials submitted, a 

substitute for agency review of 

completed applications, nor a 

determination of eligibility. 

(b) Application Deadline Date.

Applications (paper or electronic 

format) must be submitted to the 

appropriate RD State Office no later 

than 4:30 p.m. (local time) on February 

28, 2024. If completed applications are 

not received by the deadline date, the 

application will neither be reviewed nor 

considered for funding under any 

circumstances. 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. 

5. Intergovernmental Review.

Executive Order (E.O.) 12372, 

‘‘Intergovernmental Review of Federal 

Programs,’’ applies to this program. This 

E.O. requires that Federal agencies 

provide opportunities for consultation 

on proposed assistance with State and 

local governments. Many states have 

established a Single Point of Contact 

(SPOC) to facilitate this consultation. 

For a list of States that maintain a SPOC, 

please see the White House website: 

https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/ 

management/office-federal-financialmanagement/. If your State has a SPOC, 

you may submit a copy of the 

application directly for review. Any 

comments obtained through the SPOC 

must be provided to your State Office 

for consideration as part of your 

application. If your state has not 

established a SPOC, you may submit 

your application directly to the Agency. 

Applications from Federally recognized 

Indian Tribes are not subject to this 

requirement. 

6. Funding Restrictions.

(a) Indirect costs will be permitted in

accordance with applicable law and in 

accordance with 2 CFR part 200 (https:// 

www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200). 

Pre-Federal award costs will only be 

permitted with prior written approval 

by the Agency. 

(b) In accordance with 7 CFR

4280.421 (eCFR :: 7 CFR 4280.421— 

Term requirement.), a project must 

reasonably be expected to be completed 

within one (1) full year after it has 

begun. 

7. Other Submission Requirements.

Applicants may submit applications in 

hard copy or electronic format as 

previously indicated in the Application 

and Submission Information section of 

this notice. If the applicant wishes to 

hand deliver its application, the 

addresses for these deliveries are 

located in the ADDRESSES section of this 

notice. 

E. Application Review Information

1. Criteria.

(a) The Agency will review each

application for assistance in accordance 

with the priorities established in 7 CFR 

4280.435. The Agency will assign each 

application a priority rating and will 

select applications for funding based on 

the priority ratings and the total funds 

available to the program. Failure to 

address any one of the criteria by the 

application deadline will result in the 

application being determined ineligible, 

and the application will not be 

considered for funding. 

(b) The Agency will use the criteria in

7 CFR 4280.435 and this notice to score 

applications for purposes identified 

under 7 CFR 4280.417(a)(1) and (2). 

Leveraging. In addition to the 

requirements provided in 7 CFR 

4280.435(a), and to the extent that an 

applicant contributes leveraged funds to 

a project, the application must contain 

a firm commitment in writing of other 

funding for the project or points will not 

be awarded to the application for 

leveraging. 

Discretionary points. Either the State 

Director or Administrator may assign up 

to 50 discretionary points to an 

application. Assignment of 

discretionary points must include a 

written justification. Permissible 

justifications are geographic distribution 

of funds, special Secretary of 

Agriculture initiatives such as Priority 

Communities, or a state’s strategic goals. 

Discretionary points may only be 

assigned to initial grants. However, in 

the case where two projects have the 

same score, the State Director may add 

one point to the project that best fits the 

State’s strategic plan regardless of 

whether the project is an initial or 

subsequent grant. 

(c) The following are examples of

special Secretary of Agriculture 

initiatives that can support obtaining 

discretionary points. 

(1) Assisting rural communities

recover economically through more and 

better market opportunities and through 

improved infrastructure. Applicant 

would receive priority points if the 

project is located in or is serving a rural 

community whose economic well-being 

ranks in the most distressed tier 

(distress score of 80 or higher) of the 

Distressed Communities Index using the 

Distressed Communities Look-Up Map 

available at https://www.rd.usda.gov/ 

priority-points. 


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(2) Ensuring all rural residents have 

equitable access to RD programs and 

benefits from RD funded projects. Using 

the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) 

Look-Up Map (available at https://

www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points), an 

applicant would receive priority points 

if the project is: 

• Located in or serving a community 

with a score 0.75 or above on the SVI; 

• Is a Federally recognized tribe, 

including Tribal instrumentalities and 

entities that are wholly owned by 

Tribes; or 

• Is a project where at least 50 

percent of the project beneficiaries are 

members of Federally Recognized Tribes 

and non-Tribal applicants include a 

Tribal Resolution of Consent from the 

Tribe or Tribes that the applicant is 

proposing to serve. 

(3) Reducing climate pollution and 

increasing resilience to the impacts of 

climate change through economic 

support to rural communities. Using the 

Disadvantaged Community and Energy 

Community Look-Up Map (available at 

https://www.rd.usda.gov/prioritypoints), applicants can receive priority 

points in three ways: 

• If the project is located in or serves 

a Disadvantaged Community as defined 

by the Climate and Economic Justice 

Screening Tool (CEJST), from the White 

House Council on Environmental 

Quality (CEQ), or 

• If the project is located in or serves 

an Energy Community as defined by the 

Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). 

• If applicants demonstrate through 

written narrative how proposed climateimpact projects improve the livelihoods 

of community residents and meet 

pollution mitigation or clean energy 

goals. 

See the website, https://

www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points, for 

options. 

The Agency will assign each 

application a priority rating based on 

the total score and will select 

applications for funding based on the 

priority ratings and the total funds 

available to the program for 

opportunity-type projects and 

enterprise-type projects. 

2. Review and Selection Process. 

The RD State Offices will review 

applications to determine if they are 

eligible for assistance based on 

requirements contained in 7 CFR 

4280.416 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/ 

title-7/section-4280.416) and 7 CFR 

4280.417 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/ 

title-7/section-4280.417). Funding of 

projects is subject to the availability of 

funds and Applicant’s satisfactory 

submission of the items required by 7 

CFR part 4280, subpart E (https://

www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/part-4280/ 

subpart-E) and this notice, in addition 

to any conditions specifically outlined 

in any issued USDA RD Letter of 

Conditions if available funds are to be 

awarded. The agency reserves the right 

to offer the applicant less than the 

amount of grant funding requested. 

The Agency will score each 

application based on the information 

contained in the application and its 

supporting information. All applications 

submitted for funding must be in one 

package and contain sufficient 

information to permit the Agency to 

complete a thorough priority rating. 

Agency employees may not consider 

any information that is not provided by 

the applicant in writing for scoring 

purposes. Applications will not be 

considered for funding if they do not 

provide sufficient information to 

determine eligibility or are missing 

required elements. 

Applications for set-aside funds, if 

available, will compete at the National 

Office in their respective categories. 

Applications for regular RBDG projects 

will compete at the state level in their 

respective category, business 

opportunity grants or business 

enterprise grants, for funding made 

available through RD State allocated 

funds. Applications will be reviewed, 

prioritized by score, and funded by 

ranking each project in highest to lowest 

score order until available funds are 

exhausted. If funds are exhausted at the 

state level, each State’s highest scoring 

unfunded business enterprise project 

will have the opportunity to compete for 

funding through a final national 

competition. 

The Agency will notify eligible 

applicants in writing if RBDG funds are 

not available. The applicant is permitted 

to respond in writing that they wish 

their application to be reconsidered in 

the next FY. The applicant may provide 

additional updated information to the 

Agency prior to the next FY’s 

application deadline for their project. 

The Agency will notify eligible 

applicants in writing if set-aside funds 

are not available. Applications that are 

eligible for set-aside funds but are 

unfunded due to the unavailability of 

funds will be allowed to compete for 

available FY 2024 regular RBDG funds 

in the State where the project is located. 

For projects involving multiple states, 

the application will be returned to the 

RD State Office where the Applicant is 

located and will compete for funds in 

that State. The Agency will notify 

eligible applicants in writing if their 

application will not be funded in FY 

2024 due to insufficient funds in the setaside and regular RBDG programs. 

F. Federal Award Administration 

Information 

1. Federal Award Notices. 

Successful applicants will receive 

notification for funding from the USDA 

RD State Office. Applicants must 

comply with all applicable statutes and 

regulations before the grant award can 

be approved and funded. If an 

application is withdrawn by the 

applicant, it can be resubmitted later 

and will be evaluated as a new 

application in the period submitted. 

2. Administrative and National Policy 

Requirements. 

Additional requirements that apply to 

grantees selected for this Program can be 

found in 7 CFR part 4280, subpart E 

(https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/ 

part-4280/subpart-E), and in the Grants 

and Agreements regulations of the 

Department of Agriculture codified in 2 

CFR parts 25, 170, 180, 200, 400, 415, 

417, 418, 421. Awards are subject to 

USDA grant regulations at 2 CFR part 

400 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title2/part-400) which incorporates the 

Office of Management and Budget 

(OMB) regulations at 2 CFR part 200 

(https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/ 

part-200). 

All successful applicants will be 

notified by letter which will include a 

Letter of Conditions and a Letter of 

Intent to Meet Conditions. This letter is 

not an authorization to begin 

performance, but it is a notification that 

grant funds may be awarded subject to 

the applicant meeting certain specified 

conditions. The grant will be considered 

officially awarded when all conditions 

in the Letter of Conditions have been 

met and the Agency obligates the 

funding for the project. If the applicant 

wishes to consider beginning their 

project performance prior to the grant 

being officially closed, all pre-award 

costs must be approved in writing and 

in advance by the Agency. 

Additional requirements that apply to 

grantees selected for these programs can 

be found in 7 CFR part 4280, subpart E 

(https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/ 

part-4280/subpart-E), the Grants and 

Agreements regulations of the USDA 

codified in 2 CFR Chapter IV (https://

www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-B/ 

chapter-IV), and successor regulations 

to these parts. 

In addition, all recipients of Federal 

financial assistance are required to 

report information about first-tier subawards and executive compensation 

(see 2 CFR part 170 (https://

www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-170)). 

The applicant will be required to have 

the necessary processes and systems in 

place to comply with the Federal 


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Funding Accountability and 

Transparency Act of 2006 (Pub. L. 109– 

282–Federal Funding Accountability 

and Transparency Act of 2006—Content 

Details—(govinfo.gov)) reporting 

requirements (see 2 CFR 170.200(b) 

(https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/ 

section-170.200#p-170.200(b)), unless 

the recipient is exempt under 2 CFR 

170.110(b) (https://www.ecfr.gov/ 

current/title-2/section-170.110#p170.110(b))). 

The following additional 

requirements apply to grantees selected 

for these programs: 

(a) Form RD 4280–2 ‘‘Rural BusinessCooperative Service Financial 

Assistance Agreement.’’ 

(b) Letter of Conditions. 

(c) Form RD 1940–1, ‘‘Request for 

Obligation of Funds.’’ 

(d) Form RD 1942–46, ‘‘Letter of 

Intent to Meet Conditions.’’ 

(e) SF LLL, ‘‘Disclosure of Lobbying 

Activities,’’ if applicable. 

(f) Grantees will use Form SF 270, 

‘‘Request for Advance or 

Reimbursement’’ when requesting grant 

funds from the Agency. 

3. Reporting. 

(a) A Financial Status Report and a 

Project Performance Activity Report will 

be required of all grantees on a quarterly 

basis until initial funds are expended 

and yearly thereafter, if applicable, 

based on the Federal FY. Grantees must 

continuously 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. Grantees must submit an 

original of each report to the Agency no 

later than 30 days after the end of the 

quarter. The grantee will complete the 

project within the total time available to 

it in accordance with the Scope of Work 

and any necessary modifications thereof 

prepared by the grantee and approved 

by the Agency. A final Project 

Performance Report will be required 

with the final Financial Status Report. 

The final report may serve as the last 

quarterly report. The final report must 

provide complete information regarding 

the jobs created and supported as a 

result of the RBDG grant, if applicable. 

The Project Performance Reports must 

include, but not be limited to, the 

following: 

(1) A comparison of actual 

accomplishments to the objectives 

established for that period. 

(2) Problems, delays, or adverse 

conditions, if any, which have affected 

or will affect attainment of overall 

project objectives, prevent meeting time 

schedules or objectives, or preclude the 

attainment of particular project work 

elements during established time 

periods. This disclosure shall be 

accompanied by a statement of the 

action taken or planned to resolve the 

situation. 

(3) Objectives and timetable 

established for the next reporting 

period. 

(4) Any special reporting 

requirements, such as jobs supported 

and created, businesses assisted, or 

economic development which results in 

improvements in median household 

incomes, and any other specific 

requirements, will be placed in the 

reporting section of the Letter of 

Conditions. 

(5) Within 90 days after the 

conclusion of the project, the grantee 

will provide a final Project Evaluation 

Report. The last quarterly payment will 

be withheld until the final report is 

received and approved by the Agency. 

Even though the grantee may request 

reimbursement on a monthly basis, the 

last 3 months of reimbursements will be 

withheld until the final Project 

Evaluation, Project Performance, and 

Financial Status Reports are received 

and approved by the Agency. 

(b) In addition to any reports required 

by 2 CFR part 200 (https://

www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200) 

and 2 CFR chapter IV (https://

www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-B/ 

chapter-IV), the grantee must provide 

reports as required by 7 CFR part 4280, 

subpart E (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/ 

title-7/part-4280/subpart-E). 

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s) 

For general questions about this 

announcement, please contact your 

USDA RD State Office provided in the 

ADDRESSES section of this notice. 

H. Build America, Buy America 

Funding to Non-Federal Entities. 

Awardees that are Non-Federal Entities, 

defined pursuant to 2 CFR 200.1 as any 

State, local government, Indian tribe, 

Institution of Higher Education, or 

nonprofit organization, shall be 

governed by the requirements of Section 

70914 of the Build America, Buy 

America Act (BABAA) within the 

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act 

(IIJA) (Pub. L. 117–58). Any requests for 

waiver of these requirements must be 

submitted pursuant to USDA’s guidance 

available online at https://

www.usda.gov/ocfo/federal-financialassistance-policy/ 

USDABuyAmericaWaiver. Pursuant to 

USDA’s ‘‘Tribal Consultation Waiver in 

the Public Interest for Indian Tribes,’’ 

approved on July 14, 2023, and effective 

until July 13, 2024, Tribal applicants 

will not be subject to the requirements 

of BABAA described in this notice. 

I. Other Information 

1. Paperwork Reduction Act. In 

accordance with the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 

chapter 35), the information collection 

requirements associated with the 

programs, as covered in this notice, 

have been approved by the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) under 

OMB Control Number 0570–0070. 

2. National Environmental Policy Act. 

All recipients under this notice are 

subject to the requirements of 7 CFR 

part 1970. RBCS will review each grant 

application to determine its compliance 

with 7 CFR part 1970. The applicant 

may be asked to provide additional 

information or documentation to assist 

RBCS with this determination. 

3. Federal Funding Accountability 

and Transparency Act. All applicants, 

in accordance with 2 CFR part 25, must 

be registered in SAM and have a UEI 

number as stated in Section D.3 of this 

notice. All recipients of Federal 

financial assistance are required to 

report information about first-tier subawards and executive total 

compensation in accordance with 2 CFR 

part 170. 

4. Civil Rights Act. All grants made 

under this notice are subject to Title VI 

of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as 

required by the USDA (7 CFR part 15, 

subpart A—Nondiscrimination in 

Federally-Assisted Programs of the 

Department of Agriculture—Effectuation 

of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 

1964) and Section 504 of the 

Rehabilitation Act of 1973, title VIII of 

the Civil Rights Act of 1968, title IX, 

Executive Order 13166 (Limited English 

Proficiency), Executive Order 11246, 

and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 

1974. 

5. Nondiscrimination Statement. In 

accordance with Federal civil rights 

laws and U.S. Department of 

Agriculture (USDA) civil rights 

regulations and policies, the USDA, its 

Mission Areas, agencies, staff offices, 

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 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
84128 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 231 / Monday, December 4, 2023 / Notices 

filing deadlines vary by program or 

incident. 

Program information may be made 

available in languages other than 

English. Persons with disabilities who 

require alternative means of 

communication to obtain program 

information (e.g., Braille, large print, 

audiotape, American Sign Language) 

should contact the responsible Mission 

Area, agency, staff office or the 711 

Relay Service. 

To file a program discrimination 

complaint, a complainant should 

complete a Form AD–3027, USDA 

Program Discrimination Complaint 

Form, which can be obtained online at 

https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/ 

files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any 

USDA office, by calling (866) 632–9992, 

or by writing a letter addressed to 

USDA. The letter must contain the 

complainant’s name, address, telephone 

number, and a written description of the 

alleged discriminatory action in 

sufficient detail to inform the Assistant 

Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about 

the nature and date of an alleged civil 

rights violation. The completed AD– 

3027 form or letter must be submitted to 

USDA by: 

(1) Mail: U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, Office of the Assistant 

Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 

Independence Avenue SW, 

Washington, DC 20250–9410; or 

(2) Fax: (833) 256–1665 or (202) 690– 

7442; or 

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

USDA is an equal opportunity 

provider, employer, and lender. 

Karama Neal, 

Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative 

Service, USDA Rural Development. 

[FR Doc. 2023–26562 Filed 12–1–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–XY–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

International Trade Administration 

Advisory Committee on Supply Chain 

Competitiveness Renewal 

AGENCY: International Trade 

Administration, U.S. Department of 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Department of 

Commerce, with the concurrence of the 

General Services Administration, 

renewed the Advisory Committee on 

Supply Chain Competitiveness. 

DATES: The charter for the Advisory 

Committee on Supply Chain 

Competitiveness was renewed on 

November 9, 2023. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Richard Boll, Designated Federal 

Officer, Room 11004, U.S. Department 

of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue 

NW, Washington, DC 20230; phone 

202–482–1135; email: richard.boll@

trade.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

Department of Commerce, with the 

concurrence of the General Services 

Administration, renewed the Advisory 

Committee on Supply Chain 

Competitiveness. The effective date of 

the charter renewal is November 9, 

2023. This Notice is published in 

accordance with the Federal Advisory 

Committee Act (FACA). It has been 

determined that renewal of the 

Committee is necessary and in the 

public interest. The Committee was 

established pursuant to Commerce’s 

authority under 15 U.S.C. 1512, in 

accordance with the FACA, and with 

the concurrence of the General Services 

Administration. The Committee 

provides advice to the Secretary on the 

necessary elements of a comprehensive 

policy approach to supply chain 

competitiveness designed to support 

U.S. export growth and national 

economic competitiveness, encourage 

innovation, facilitate the movement of 

goods, and improve the competitiveness 

of U.S. supply chains for goods and 

services in the domestic and global 

economy; and to provide advice to the 

Secretary on regulatory policies and 

programs and investment priorities that 

affect the competitiveness of U.S. 

supply chains. The total number of 

members that may serve on the 

Committee is a maximum of 45. 

Dated: November 29, 2023. 

Heather Sykes, 

Director, Office of Supply Chain Services. 

[FR Doc. 2023–26536 Filed 12–1–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–DR–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

Agency Information Collection 

Activities; Submission to the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) for 

Review and Approval; Comment 

Request; Alaska Prohibited Species 

Donation (PSD) Program 

AGENCY: National Oceanic & 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice of information collection, 

request for comment. 

SUMMARY: The Department of 

Commerce, in accordance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 

(PRA), invites the general public and 

other Federal agencies to comment on 

proposed, and continuing information 

collections, which helps us assess the 

impact of our information collection 

requirements and minimize the public’s 

reporting burden. The purpose of this 

notice is to allow for 60 days of public 

comment preceding submission of the 

collection to OMB. 

DATES: To ensure consideration, 

comments regarding this proposed 

information collection must be received 

on or before February 2, 2024. 

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are 

invited to submit written comments to 

Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, 

at Adrienne.thomas@noaa.gov. Please 

reference OMB Control Number 0648– 

0316 in the subject line of your 

comments. Do not submit Confidential 

Business Information or otherwise 

sensitive or protected information. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Requests for additional information or 

specific questions related to collection 

activities should be directed to Megan 

Mackey, Fishery Management 

Specialist, NOAA, (907) 586–7228, 

megan.mackey@noaa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract 

The National Marine Fisheries 

Services (NMFS) Alaska Regional Office 

is requesting extension of a currently 

approved information collection for the 

Prohibited Species Donation Program 

(PSD Program). 

Retention of incidentally caught 

prohibited species is prohibited in the 

groundfish fisheries except for salmon 

and halibut for the purposes of the PSD 

Program. The PSD Program allows 

participating seafood vessels and 

processors to retain salmon and halibut 

bycatch for distribution to economically 

disadvantaged individuals. Regulations 

at 50 CFR 679.26 authorize the 

voluntary distribution of salmon and 

halibut taken incidentally in the 

groundfish trawl fisheries off Alaska to 

economically disadvantaged individuals 

by tax-exempt organizations through an 

authorized distributor. 

The Administrator, Alaska Region, 

NMFS (Regional Administrator) may 

select one or more tax-exempt 

organizations to be authorized 

distributors, as defined at § 679.2. An 

organization seeking to distribute 

salmon bycatch and halibut bycatch 

under the PSD Program must provide 

the Regional Administrator with the 

information listed at 50 CFR 

679.26(b)(1). 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1