Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 11 / Wednesday, January 17, 2024 / Notices 2919 

The Council is authorized under the 

National Trails System Act (the Act) and 

operates in compliance with the Federal 

Advisory Committee Act (FACA). The 

purpose of the Council is to advise and 

make recommendations to the Secretary 

of Agriculture, through the Chief of the 

Forest Service, on matters relating to the 

Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail 

as described in the Act. 

DATES: One virtual half-day meeting will 

be held on February 13, 2024, 10 a.m.– 

2 p.m., Pacific standard time (PST). 

Written and Oral Comments: Anyone 

wishing to provide virtual oral 

comments must pre-register by 11:59 

p.m. PST on February 6, 2024. Written 

public comments will be accepted up to 

11:59 p.m. PST on February 6, 2024. 

Comments submitted after this date will 

be provided to the Forest Service, but 

the Council may not have adequate time 

to consider those comments prior to the 

meeting. 

All council meetings are subject to 

cancellation. For status of the meeting 

prior to attendance, please contact the 

person listed under FOR FURTHER

INFORMATION CONTACT. 

ADDRESSES: This meeting will be held 

virtually via Zoom or the internet and 

the public may join using the link 

posted on the PNT Advisory Council 

meetings web page: https://

www.fs.usda.gov/detail/pnt/workingtogether/advisory-committees/ 

?cid=fseprd505622. Council information 

and meeting details can be found at the 

following website: https://

www.fs.usda.gov/detail/pnt/workingtogether/advisory-committees/ 

?cid=fseprd505622 or by contacting the 

person listed under FOR FURTHER

INFORMATION CONTACT. 

Written Comments: Written comments 

must be sent by email to 

jeffrey.kitchens@usda.gov or via mail 

(i.e., postmarked) to Jeff Kitchens, 63095 

Deschutes Market Road, Bend, OR 

97701. The Forest Service strongly 

prefers comments be submitted 

electronically. 

Oral Comments: Persons or 

organizations wishing to make oral 

comments must pre-register by 11:59 

p.m. PST, February 6, 2024, and 

speakers can only register for one 

speaking slot. Oral comments must be 

sent by email to jeffrey.kitchens@

usda.gov or via mail (i.e., postmarked) 

to Jeff Kitchens, 63095 Deschutes 

Market Road, Bend, OR 97701. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff 

Kitchens, Designated Federal Officer 

(DFO), by email at jeffrey.kitchens@

usda.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

purpose of the meeting is to: 

1. Approve meeting minutes; 

2. Discuss implementation of the 

comprehensive plan for the PNT; and 

3. Discuss and identify future PNT 

Advisory Council activity. 

The agenda will include time for 

individuals to make oral statements of 

three minutes or less. Individuals 

wishing to make an oral statement 

should make a request in writing at least 

three days prior to the meeting date to 

be scheduled on the agenda. Written 

comments may be submitted to the 

Forest Service up to 14 days after the 

meeting date listed under DATES. 

Please contact the person listed under 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, by 

or before the deadline, for all questions 

related to the meeting. All comments, 

including names and addresses when 

provided, are placed in the record and 

are available for public inspection and 

copying. The public may inspect 

comments received upon request. 

Meeting Accommodations: The 

meeting location is compliant with the 

Americans with Disabilities Act, and the 

USDA provides reasonable 

accommodation to individuals with 

disabilities where appropriate. If you are 

a person requiring reasonable 

accommodation, please make requests 

in advance for sign language 

interpretation, assistive listening 

devices, or other reasonable 

accommodation to the person listed 

under the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

CONTACT section, or contact USDA’s 

TARGET Center at (202) 720–2600 

(voice and TTY) or USDA through the 

Federal Relay Service at (800) 877–8339. 

Additionally, program information may 

be made available in languages other 

than English. 

USDA programs are prohibited from 

discriminating based on race, color, 

national origin, religion, sex, gender 

identity (including gender expression), 

sexual orientation, disability, age, 

marital status, family/parental status, 

income derived from a public assistance 

program, political beliefs, or reprisal or 

retaliation for prior civil rights activity, 

in any program or activity conducted or 

funded by USDA (not all bases apply to 

all programs). Remedies and complaint 

filing deadlines vary by program or 

incident. 

Equal opportunity practices in 

accordance with USDA’s policies will 

be followed in all appointments to the 

Council. To ensure that the 

recommendations of the Council have 

taken into account the needs of the 

diverse groups served by USDA, 

membership shall include to the extent 

possible, individuals with demonstrated 

ability to represent minorities, women, 

and persons with disabilities. USDA is 

an equal opportunity provider, 

employer, and lender. 

Dated: January 10, 2024. 

Cikena Reid, 

USDA Committee Management Officer. 

[FR Doc. 2024–00785 Filed 1–16–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3411–15–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Rural Business-Cooperative Service 

[Docket No. RBS–23–BUSINESS–0026] 

Notice of Funding Opportunity for the 

Value-Added Producer Grants for 

Fiscal Year 2024 

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative 

Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice of funding opportunity. 

SUMMARY: The Rural BusinessCooperative Service (RBCS or the 

Agency), a Rural Development (RD) 

agency of the United States Department 

of Agriculture (USDA), announces 

acceptance of applications under the 

Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) 

program for Fiscal Year (FY)2024, 

subject to the availability of funding. 

This Notice is being issued prior to the 

FY 2024 appropriations act 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 $30 million will be made 

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. Applicants are 

responsible for any expenses incurred in 

developing their applications. 

DATES: Electronic applications e-filed 

through https://www.grants.gov must be 

filed by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on 

April 11, 2024. 

Complete paper applications must be 

submitted by close of business on April 

16, 2024 in the USDA RD State Office 

of the State where the project is located. 

Paper applications must be postmarked 

and mailed, shipped or sent overnight, 

hand carried or emailed by this date. 

Late applications are not eligible for 

grant funding under this Notice. 

ADDRESSES: This funding announcement 

will also be announced on 

www.grants.gov. Electronic applications 

are to be submitted through 

www.grants.gov. 

To submit a paper application, send it 

to the USDA RD State Office located in 


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the state where the project is located. 

Applicants can find USDA RD State 

Office contact information at http://

www.rd.usda.gov/contact-us/stateoffices. 

To submit an application through 

email, contact the respective USDA RD 

State Office to obtain the Agency email 

address where the application will be 

submitted. 

Application materials are also 

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

programs-services/value-addedproducer-grants. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Greg 

York at 202–281–5259, gregory.york@

usda.gov or Mike Daniels at 715–345– 

7637, mike.daniels@usda.gov, Program 

Management Division, RBCS, USDA, 

1400 Independence Avenue SW, Mail 

Stop 3226, Room 5801–S, Washington, 

DC 20250–3226. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Overview 

Federal Awarding Agency Name: 

Rural Business-Cooperative Service. 

Funding Opportunity Title: ValueAdded Producer Grant. 

Announcement Type: Notice of 

Funding Opportunity (NOFO). 

Funding Opportunity Number: 

RDBCP–VAPG–2024. 

Assistance Listing: 10.352. 

Dates: Electronic applications filed 

through https://www.grants.gov must be 

submitted by 11:59 p.m. ET on April 11, 

2024. 

A complete paper application must be 

submitted by close of business on April 

16, 2024 to the USDA RD State Office 

of the State where the project is located, 

or it will not be considered for funding. 

Paper applications must be postmarked 

and mailed, shipped or sent overnight, 

hand carried or emailed by this date. 

Late applications are not eligible for 

grant funding under this Notice. 

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): 

• Creating More and Better Markets:

Assist rural communities to recover 

economically through more and better 

market opportunities and through 

improved infrastructure; 

• Advancing Racial Justice, PlaceBased Equity, and Opportunity: Ensure 

all rural residents have equitable access 

to RD programs and benefits from RD 

funded projects; and 

• Addressing Climate Change and

Environmental Justice: Reduce climate 

pollution and increase resilience to the 

impacts of climate change through 

economic support to rural communities. 

A. Program Description

1. Purpose of the Program. The

objective of this grant program is to 

assist viable Independent Producers, 

Agricultural Producer Groups, Farmer 

and Rancher Cooperatives, and 

Majority-Controlled Producer-Based 

Businesses in starting or expanding 

value-added activities related to the 

processing and/or marketing of ValueAdded Agricultural Products. Grants 

will be awarded competitively for either 

planning or working capital projects 

directly related to the processing and/or 

marketing of value-added products. 

Generating new products, creating and 

expanding marketing opportunities, and 

increasing producer income are the end 

goals of the program. All proposals must 

demonstrate economic viability and 

sustainability to compete for funding. 

2. Statutory and Regulatory Authority:

The VAPG program is authorized under 

section 231 of the Agriculture Risk 

Protection Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106– 

224), as amended by section 10102 of 

the Agriculture Improvement Act of 

2018 (Pub. L. 115–334) (see 7 U.S.C. 

1627c) and implemented by 7 CFR part 

4284, subpart J. 

3. Definitions. The definitions

applicable to this Notice are published 

at 7 CFR 4284.902. In addition, the 

following definitions apply to this 

Notice: 

(a) Majority-Controlled ProducerBased Business Venture, incorporated 

from Section 10102 of the Agriculture 

Improvement Act of 2018, means a 

venture greater than 50 percent of the 

ownership and control of which is held 

by— 

(1) One (1) or more producers; or

(2) One (1) or more entities, 100

percent of the ownership and control of 

which is held by one (1) or more 

producers. The term ‘entity’ means— 

(i) a partnership;

(ii) a limited liability corporation;

(iii) a limited liability partnership; or

(iv) a corporation.

(b) Market Expansion Project means a

project in which the Independent 

Producer Applicant seeks to expand the 

market for an existing value-added 

product (produced and marketed by the 

Applicant for at least 2 years at the time 

of application) through sales to 

demonstrably new markets or to new 

customers in existing markets. 

4. Application of Awards. The Agency

will review, evaluate and score 

applications received in response to this 

Notice based on the provisions found in 

7 CFR 4284.940, 7 CFR 4284.942 and as 

indicated in this Notice. Awards under 

the VAPG program will be made on a 

competitive basis using specific 

selection criteria contained in 7 CFR 

4284.942. The Agency advises all 

interested parties that the Applicant 

bears the full burden for preparing and 

submitting an application in response to 

this Notice. 

B. Federal Award Information

Type of Awards: Grant.

Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2024.

Available Funds: The Agency

currently estimates that approximately 

$30 million will be available for FY 

2024. RBCS may, at its discretion, 

increase the total amount of funding 

available in this funding round from any 

authorized source provided the awards 

meet the requirements of the statute 

which made the funding available to the 

Agency. 

Ten percent of available funds for 

applications will be reserved for 

Applicants qualifying as Beginning, 

Veteran, and Socially-Disadvantaged 

Farmers or Ranchers. An additional 10 

percent of available funds will be 

reserved for applications from farmers 

or ranchers proposing development of 

Mid-Tier Value Chains. Beginning, 

Veteran, and Socially-Disadvantaged 

Farmers or Ranchers and Applicants 

proposing Mid-Tier Value Chains not 

awarded for reserved funds will 

compete with other eligible VAPG 

applications. In addition, any funds that 

become available for persistent poverty 

counties through enactment of FY 2024 

appropriations will be allocated for 

assistance in persistent poverty 

counties. Funds not obligated from 

these reserves by September 30, 2024, 

will be used for the VAPG general 

competition and made available in a 

subsequent application cycle. 

Award Amounts: Maximum Planning 

$75,000; Maximum Working Capital 

$250,000. 

Anticipated Award Date: September 

30, 2024. 

Performance Period: Up to 36 months 

depending on the complexity of the 

project. 

Renewal or Supplemental Awards: 

None. 

Type of Assistance Instrument: 

Financial Assistance Agreement. 

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants. Eligible

Applicants must meet the eligibility 

requirements of 7 CFR part 4284 

Subpart J and this Notice. Applications 

that fail to meet any of these 

requirements by the application 

deadline will be deemed ineligible and 

will not be evaluated further. 

The application narrative must 

demonstrate that the Applicant is 

eligible for the program in accordance 


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with the requirements of 7 CFR 

4284.920 and 4284.921. Application 

narratives should also take note of the 

definition requirements at 7 CFR 

4284.902, such as demonstrating that 

the Applicant satisfies the definition for 

an ‘‘Agricultural Producer’’; how the 

Applicant qualifies for one of the 

following Applicant types: Independent 

Producer, Agricultural Producer Group, 

Farmer or Rancher Cooperative, or 

Majority-Controlled Producer-Based 

Business Venture; and that the 

Applicant meets the Emerging Market, 

Citizenship, Legal Authority and 

Responsibility, Multiple Grants and 

Active Grants requirements of the 

section. Required documentation to 

support eligibility is specified at 7 CFR 

4284.931 and in this Notice. 

The Agency encourages applications 

from Federally-recognized Tribes and 

Tribal entities. Federally-recognized 

Tribes and Tribal entities must 

demonstrate that they meet the 

definition requirements for one of the 

four eligible Applicant types. RD State 

Offices and posted application toolkits 

will provide additional information on 

Tribal eligibility. Tribal Applicants are 

encouraged to contact Agency staff early 

in the process to discuss Applicant and 

project eligibility. In addition to 

contacting program staff, Tribal 

Applicants can contact USDA Rural 

Development’s Tribal Relations Team 

with Tribal specific questions and 

concerns at aian@usda.gov. 

Factors rendering an Applicant 

ineligible are provided at 7 CFR 

4284.921. The Agency will check the Do 

Not Pay (DNP) system to determine if 

the Applicant or its principals has been 

debarred or suspended. Per the 

Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 

(Pub. L. 117–328), Division E, Title VII, 

Sections 744, and 745, any corporation 

(i) that has been convicted of a felony 

criminal violation under any Federal 

law within the past 24 months or (ii) 

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, is not eligible for 

financial assistance provided with funds 

appropriated by this or any other act, 

unless a Federal agency has considered 

suspension or debarment of the 

corporation and has made a 

determination that this further action is 

not necessary to protect the interests of 

the Government. 

2. Cost-Sharing or Matching. There is 

a matching fund (cost-sharing) 

requirement of at least $1 for every $1 

in grant funds provided by the Agency 

(matching funds plus grant funds must 

equal proposed Total Project Cost). 

Matching funds may be in the form of 

cash or eligible in-kind contributions. 

As provided in 7 CFR 4284.925 and 

4284.926, matching contributions and 

grant funds may be used only for 

eligible project purposes, including any 

contributions exceeding the minimum 

amount required. 

Applicant matching contributions in 

the form of a raw commodity, time 

contributed to the project, or goods or 

services for which no out-of-pocket 

expenditure is made during the grant 

period, must be characterized as in-kind 

contributions, subject to the 

requirements and limitations specified 

in 7 CFR 4284.925(a)–(b). Donations of 

goods and services from third parties 

must be characterized as in-kind 

contributions. Tribal Applicants may 

utilize grants made available under 

Section 103(c) of the Indian SelfDetermination and Education 

Assistance Act (Pub. L. 93–638), as 

amended, as their matching 

contribution, and should check with 

appropriate Tribal authorities regarding 

the availability of such funding. As 

indicated in 7 CFR 4284.931(b)(4)(iv), a 

non-Tribal Applicant cannot provide 

matching funds paid by the Federal 

Government under another Federal 

award. 

Matching funds must be available at 

the time of application and must be 

certified and verified as described in 7 

CFR 4284.931(b)(3) and (4). Do not 

include projected income as a matching 

contribution because it cannot be 

verified as available. Note that matching 

funds must also be discussed as part of 

the scoring criterion Commitments and 

Support as described below in section 

E.1.(c). 

3. Other. 

(a) Project eligibility. Applicants must 

demonstrate within the application 

narrative that the project meets all of the 

project eligibility requirements of 7 CFR 

4284.922. 

(1) Product eligibility. Applicants for 

both planning and working capital 

grants must meet all requirements at 7 

CFR 4284.922(a), including that the 

value-added product must result from 

one of the five methodologies identified 

in the definition of Value-Added 

Agricultural Product at 7 CFR 4284.902. 

Applicants must also demonstrate that, 

as a result of the project, the customer 

base for the agricultural commodity or 

value-added product will be expanded, 

by including a baseline of current 

customers for the commodity, and an 

estimated target number of customers 

that will result from the project. In 

addition, Applicants must demonstrate 

that a greater portion of the revenue 

derived from the marketing or 

processing of the value-added product is 

available to the Applicant producer(s) of 

the agricultural commodity, by 

including a baseline of current revenues 

from the sale of the agricultural 

commodity and an estimate of increased 

revenues that will result from the 

project. Note that working capital grants 

for market expansion projects per 7 CFR 

4284.922(b) must demonstrate expanded 

customer base and increased revenue 

resulting only from sales of existing 

products to new customers. The Agency 

recognizes that VAPG market expansion 

projects may involve marketing and 

promotion activities such as trade 

shows, farmers markets, and various 

media advertising which also result in 

increased sales to existing customers. 

However, market expansion award 

recipients must use grant and matching 

funds only on activities that 

demonstrably focus on marketing 

products they have produced and sold 

for at least two years, to new markets 

and/or to new customers in existing 

markets, such that the producer’s 

customer base (number of customers) is 

expanded, per program requirements. 

Grant and matching funds cannot be 

expended on sales of existing products 

to existing customers. 

Finally, in accordance with Section 

210A(d)(3) of the Agricultural Marketing 

Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.), 

working capital applications must 

include a statement describing the 

direct or indirect producer benefits 

intended to result from the proposed 

project within a reasonable time period 

after the receipt of a grant. 

(2) Purpose eligibility. Applicants 

must meet applicable planning and 

working capital requirements at 7 CFR 

4284.922 as well as maximum grant 

amounts, verification of matching funds, 

eligible and ineligible uses of grant and 

matching funds, and a substantive, 

detailed work plan and budget. 

(i) Planning grants. A planning grant 

is used to fund development of a 

defined program of economic planning 

activities to determine the viability of a 

potential value-added venture, 

specifically for paying a qualified 

consultant to conduct and develop a 

feasibility study, business plan, and/or 

marketing plan associated with the 

processing and/or marketing of a valueadded agricultural product. 

(ii) Working Capital Grants. This type 

of grant provides funds to operate a 

value-added project, specifically to pay 

the eligible project expenses directly 

related to the processing and/or 

marketing of the value-added products 


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that are eligible uses of grant funds. 

Working capital funds may not be used 

for planning purposes. 

(3) Reserved funds eligibility. To 

qualify for reserved funds as a 

Beginning, Veteran, or SociallyDisadvantaged Farmer or Rancher or for 

proposed development of a Mid-Tier 

Value Chain, the requirements found at 

7 CFR 4284.923 must be met. 

Documentation must also be provided 

indicating that the Applicant meets all 

the requirements for the applicable 

definition specified in 7 CFR 4284.902 

and provide all the required 

documentation specified in 7 CFR 

4284.931. If the application is eligible, 

but is not awarded under the reserved 

funds, it will automatically be 

considered for general funds in that 

same fiscal year, as funding levels 

permit. 

(b) Eligible Uses of Grant and 

Matching Funds. Eligible uses of grant 

and matching funds are discussed, along 

with examples, in 7 CFR 4284.925. In 

general, grant and cost-share matching 

funds have the same use restrictions and 

must be used to fund only the costs for 

eligible purposes as defined at 7 CFR 

4284.925(a) and (b). 

(c) Ineligible Uses of Grant and 

Matching Funds. Federal procurement 

standards prohibit transactions that 

involve a real or apparent conflict of 

interest for owners, employees, officers, 

agents, or their immediate family 

members having a personal, 

professional, financial or other interest 

in the outcome of the project, including 

organizational conflicts, and conflicts 

that restrict open and free competition 

for unrestrained trade. A list (not allinclusive) of ineligible uses of grant and 

matching funds is found in 7 CFR 

4284.926. 

(d) Application limit. An Applicant, 

per 7 CFR 4284.920(e), may submit only 

one application in response to a 

solicitation and must explicitly direct 

that it competes in either the general 

funds competition or in one of the 

named reserved funds competitions. 

Multiple applications from separate 

entities with identical or greater than 75 

percent common ownership, or from a 

parent, subsidiary or affiliated 

organization (with ‘‘affiliation’’ defined 

by Small Business Administration 

regulation 13 CFR 121.103, or successor 

regulation) are not permitted. Further, 

Applicants who have already received a 

Planning Grant for the proposed project 

cannot receive another Planning Grant 

for the same project. Applicants who 

have already received a Working Capital 

Grant for the proposed project cannot 

receive any additional grants for that 

project. Proposals from previous award 

recipients should be substantially 

different in terms of products and/or 

markets and should not merely be 

extensions of previously funded 

projects. Applicant entities regardless of 

ownership percentage that are 

comprised of the same individuals of a 

previously awarded VAPG project 

(recipient) can only submit proposals 

documenting how the new project is 

substantially different in terms of 

products and/or markets from the 

previously funded project. 

(e) Alcohol Projects. Applicants who 

are proposing working capital grants to 

produce and market value-added 

products in the industries of wine, beer, 

distilled spirits or other alcoholic 

merchandise must comply with Alcohol 

and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau 

(TTB) regulations published at 27 CFR 

Chapter 1, including but not limited to 

permitting, filing of taxes and 

operational reports. Please visit TTB’s 

website at https://www.ttb.gov/ for more 

information. Applicants that are not in 

compliance with TTB’s requirements 

may be deemed ineligible by the 

Agency. If, at any time after a VAPG 

award has been received, an Applicant 

is found to be non-compliant with 

TTB’s operational reporting or tax 

requirements, the Agency may 

determine that the Applicant is not in 

compliance with the grant terms and 

conditions. 

(f) Hemp Projects. In determining 

eligibility of the Applicant project or 

use of funds, any project applying for 

funding under the VAPG program and 

proposing to produce, procure, supply 

or market any component of the hemp 

plant or hemp related by-products, must 

have a valid license from an approved 

State, Tribal or Federal plan pursuant to 

the Agricultural Marketing Act and 

amended in section 10113 of the 

Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 

(the ‘‘2018 Farm Bill), be in compliance 

with regulations published by the 

Agricultural Marketing Service at 7 CFR 

part 990, and meet any applicable U.S. 

Food and Drug Administration and U.S. 

Drug Enforcement Administration 

regulatory requirements. Verification of 

valid hemp licenses will occur prior to 

award. 

D. Application and Submission 

Information 

1. Address to Request Application 

Toolkit. The application toolkit, 

regulation, and official program 

notification for this funding opportunity 

can be obtained online at http://

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

value-added-producer-grants. You may 

also contact your USDA RD State Office 

by visiting http://www.rd.usda.gov/ 

contact-us/state-offices. The toolkit 

contains an application checklist, 

templates, required grant forms, and 

suggestions. Based upon successful 

grant awards of previous Applicants, the 

Agency highly recommends the use of 

the templates in the application toolkit. 

However, it is not mandatory to use the 

application toolkit, but this Notice and 

applicable regulations must be relied on 

when preparing the application as the 

Agency will follow those procedures 

and requirements to evaluate and award 

grants. 

2. Content and Form of Application 

Submission. Applications must contain 

all the required forms and proposal 

elements described in 7 CFR 4284.931, 

unless otherwise clarified in this Notice. 

Basic application contents are outlined 

below: 

(a) Standard Form (SF)–424, 

‘‘Application for Federal Assistance,’’ is 

required, 7 CFR 4248.931(a)(1). The 

form requires Applicants to include 

their Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and 

expiration date (or evidence that the 

System for Award Management (SAM) 

registration process has begun). If the 

SAM registration confirmation and 

expiration date has not been received, 

the applicant must provide evidence 

from SAM of having begun the 

registration process to be considered in 

the funding competition. 

(b) SF–424A, ‘‘Budget Information— 

Non-Construction Programs’’ is 

required, 7 CFR 4284.931(a)(2). 

(c) Permit. Applicants must provide a 

valid permit or evidence of having 

begun the permitting process if 

proposing a working capital grant to 

produce and market value-added 

products in the industries of wine, beer, 

distilled spirits or other alcoholic 

merchandise; or tobacco or tobacco 

products, as specified in 27 CFR 

Chapter 1. 

(d) Producer license. Applicants must 

provide a valid producer license issued 

by a State, Tribe, or USDA, as 

applicable, in accordance with 7 CFR 

part 990 if proposing to market valueadded hemp products. 

(e) Executive Summary and Abstract. 

A one-page Executive Summary 

containing the following information: 

legal name of Applicant entity, 

application type (planning or working 

capital), Applicant type, amount of 

grant request, summary of the project, 

whether it is a simplified application, 

and whether reserved funds are being 

requested. 

(f) Eligibility discussion, 7 CFR 

4284.931(b)(1). 

(g) Work plan and budget, 7 CFR 

4284.922(b)(5). 


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(h) Performance evaluation criteria, 7

CFR 4284.931(b)(2)(i). 

(i) Proposal evaluation criteria, 7 CFR

4284.931(b)(2)(ii). 

(j) Certification and verification of

matching funds, 7 CFR 4284.931(b)(3)– 

(4). 

(k) Optionally, reserved Funds and

Priority Point documentation, 7 CFR 

4284.923 and 7 CFR 4284.924. 

(l) Feasibility studies, business plans,

and/or marketing plans, as applicable, 7 

CFR 4284.922(b)(6)(i). 

(m) Appendices containing required

supporting documentation. 

(n) Applicants requesting less than

$50,000 may submit a simplified 

application, and the contents of which 

are specified in this Notice. Applicants 

requesting Working Capital Grants of 

less than $50,000 are not required to 

provide Feasibility Studies or Business 

Plans. 

3. System for Award Management and

Unique Entity Identifier. 

(a) At the time of application, each

Applicant must have an active 

registration in the System for Award 

Management (SAM) before submitting 

its application in accordance with 2 

CFR part 25. 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) Each Applicant 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 the application, unless 

determined exempt under 2 CFR 25.110. 

(e) The Agency will not make an

award until Applicants have 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 an 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.

Electronic applications filed through 

https://www.grants.gov must be filed by 

11:59 p.m. ET on April 11, 2024. 

Grants.gov will not accept applications 

submitted after the deadline. 

Paper applications must be 

postmarked and mailed, shipped, sent 

overnight, hand carried, or emailed by 

close of business on April 16, 2024 to 

the USDA RD State Office where the 

project is located. USDA RD State Office 

contact information is located at http:// 

www.rd.usda.gov/contact-us/stateoffices. The Agency will determine if 

the application is late based on the date 

shown on the postmark or shipping 

invoice. 

If the due date falls on a Saturday, 

Sunday, or Federal holiday, the 

application is due the next business 

day. The Agency will not solicit or 

consider new scoring or eligibility 

information that is submitted after the 

application deadline. The Agency also 

reserves the right to ask Applicants for 

clarifying information and additional 

verification of assertions in the 

application. Late applications will 

automatically be considered ineligible 

and will not be evaluated further. 

5. Intergovernmental Review.

Executive Order (E.O.) 12372, 

‘‘Intergovernmental Review of Federal 

Programs,’’ does not apply to this 

program. 

6. Funding Restrictions. Funding

limitations found in the program 

regulation at 7 CFR 4284.927 will apply, 

including: 

(a) Use of Funds. Grant and matching

funds may only be used for eligible 

purposes. Eligible and ineligible uses 

are provided in 7 CFR 4284.925 and 

4284.926, respectively. Grant funds may 

not be used to pay any costs of the 

project incurred prior to the date of 

grant approval. 

(b) Period of Performance (grant

period). The project timeframe or grant 

period can be a maximum of 36 months 

in length from the date of award, 

depending on the complexity of the 

project as stated in 7 CFR 

4284.922(b)(5)(iv) and 4284.927(c). The 

proposed grant period should begin no 

earlier than the anticipated award 

announcement date in this Notice and 

should end no later than 36 months 

following that date. If an Applicant 

receives an award, the grant period will 

be revised to begin on the actual date of 

award—the date the Financial 

Assistance Agreement (grant agreement) 

is executed by the Agency—and the 

grant period end date will be adjusted 

accordingly. The project activities 

should begin within 90 days of the date 

of award in accordance with 7 CFR 

4284.927(c). The length of the grant 

period should be based on the project’s 

complexity, as indicated in the 

application work plan. For example, it 

is expected that most planning grants 

can be completed within 12 months. 

(c) Program Income. If Program

Income is earned during the grant 

period as a result of the project 

activities, it is subject to the 

requirements in 2 CFR 200.307 and 

must be managed and reported 

accordingly. 

(d) Majority Controlled ProducerBased Business. The aggregate amount 

of funds awarded to Majority Controlled 

Producer-Based Businesses in response 

to this announcement shall not exceed 

10 percent of the total funds obligated 

for the program during the fiscal year in 

accordance with 7 CFR 4284.927(d). 

(e) Local Agriculture Marketing

Program (LAMP) Food Safety 

Implementation. Until farm bill 

implementation is finalized via the 

Agency rulemaking process, there will 

not be food safety reserve funding. Postharvest food safety training, 

certifications, and supplies that are 

eligible under the current program 

regulation may continue to be included 

in the work plan and budget. 

(f) Reserved Funds. Ten percent of all

funds available will be reserved to fund 

projects that benefit Beginning Farmers 

or Ranchers, Veteran Farmers or 

Ranchers, or Socially-Disadvantaged 

Farmers or Ranchers. In addition, 10 

percent of total funding available will be 

used to fund projects that propose 

development of Mid-Tier Value Chains 

as part of a Local or Regional Supply 

Network. See related definitions in 7 

CFR 4284.902. In addition, any funds 

that become available for persistent 

poverty counties through enactment of 

FY 2024 appropriations will be 

allocated for assistance in persistent 

poverty counties. 

(g) Disposition of Reserved Funds Not

Obligated. For this Notice, any reserved 

funds that have not been obligated by 

September 30, 2024, will be available to 

the Secretary to make VAPG grants in 

the next FY in accordance with section 

210A(i)(3)(D)(ii) of the Agricultural 

Marketing Act of 1946, as amended. 

7. Other Submission Requirements.

(a) Electronic submission. To apply

electronically, Applicants must follow 

the instructions for this funding 

announcement at http://

www.grants.gov. Use the search features 

along with a keyword, program name, or 

the Assistance Listing Number to find 

the Grant Opportunity for this Notice. 

After applying through Grants.gov, 

Applicants will receive an automatic 

acknowledgement from Grants.gov 

which will contain a tracking number. 

(b) Paper submission. Paper or email

submittals should be sent to the USDA 

RD State Office located in the state 

where the project is located. USDA RD 

State Offices contact information is at 


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http://www.rd.usda.gov/contact-us/ 

state-offices. Fax submittals will not be 

accepted. USDA RD State Offices should 

be contacted if there are any questions 

about eligibility or submission 

requirements. Applicants should 

contact USDA RD State Offices well in 

advance of the application deadline to 

discuss the project and to ask any 

questions about the application process. 

E. Application Review Information 

1. Criteria. The Agency will only 

score applications in which the 

Applicant and project are eligible, 

which are complete and sufficiently 

responsive to program requirements, 

and in which the Agency agrees on the 

likelihood of financial feasibility for 

working capital requests. Applications 

will be scored in accordance with the 

procedures and criteria specified in 7 

CFR 4284.942, and with tiered scoring 

thresholds as specified below. For each 

criterion, Applicants must show how 

the project has merit and why it is likely 

to be successful. The justification for 

each criterion must be included in the 

body of the application, including 

summarizations of any feasibility 

studies, and business and marketing 

plans. Scoring information must be 

readily identifiable in the application or 

it will not be considered as stated in 7 

CFR 4284.942(a). If Applicants do not 

address all parts of the criterion, or do 

not sufficiently communicate relevant 

project information, the application will 

score lower. The VAPG is a competitive 

program and, therefore, scoring will be 

based on the quality of the Applicant’s 

responses. Simply addressing the 

criteria will not guarantee higher scores. 

The total maximum number of points 

that can be awarded for an application 

is 100. For this Notice, the total 

minimum score requirement for 

consideration for funding is 50 points. 

The Agency application toolkit 

provides additional instructions to help 

you to respond to the criteria below. 

(a) Nature of the proposed venture 

(graduated score 0–30 points). For both 

planning and working capital grants, 

Applicants must discuss the 

technological feasibility of the project, 

as well as operational efficiency, 

profitability, and overall economic 

sustainability resulting from the project. 

Applicants must also demonstrate the 

potential for expansion of the customer 

base for the agricultural commodity or 

value-added product, and the expected 

increase in revenue returns to the 

producer-owners providing the majority 

of the raw agricultural commodity to the 

project. Working capital Applicants 

must also provide the potential number 

of jobs that will result from the project, 

along with a justifiable basis for these 

projections. See the application 

template for more information. All 

Applicants must reference and 

summarize third-party data and other 

information that specifically supports 

value-added projects; discuss the valueadded process being proposed; identify 

the potential markets and distribution 

channels; address the value to be added 

to the raw commodity through the 

value-added process; provide the cost 

and availability of inputs, indicate the 

Applicant’s experience in marketing the 

proposed or similar product; provide 

business financial statements; and, 

supply any other relevant information 

that supports the viability of the project. 

Working capital Applicants should 

demonstrate that these outcomes will 

result from the project and include 

supportable projections of increase in 

customer base, for revenue returned to 

producers, and of jobs resulting from the 

project in order to receive up to the 

maximum number of points. Planning 

grant Applicants should describe the 

expected results, and the reasons 

supporting those expectations. Points 

will be awarded as follows: 

(1) 0 points will be awarded if the 

application does not address the 

criterion. 

(2) 1 to 5 points will be awarded if the 

application does not address each of the 

following: technological feasibility, 

operational efficiency, profitability, and 

overall economic sustainability. 

(3) 6 to 13 points will be awarded if 

the application addresses technological 

feasibility, operational efficiency, 

profitability, and overall economic 

sustainability, but does not reference 

third-party information that supports 

the success of the project. 

(4) 14 to 22 points will be awarded if 

the application addresses technological 

feasibility, operational efficiency, 

profitability, and overall economic 

sustainability, which is supported by 

third-party information demonstrating a 

reasonable likelihood of success. 

(5) 23 to 30 points will be awarded if 

all criterion components are well 

addressed, supported by third-party 

information demonstrating a high 

likelihood of success. 

(b) Qualifications of project personnel 

(graduated score 0 to 20 points). 

Applications must identify all key 

individuals who will be responsible for 

managing and completing the proposed 

tasks in the work plan, including the 

roles and activities that owners, staff, 

contractors, consultants or new hires 

may perform; and show that these 

individuals have the necessary 

qualifications and expertise, including 

those hired to do market or feasibility 

analyses, and/or to develop a business 

operations plan for the value-added 

venture. Applications must include the 

qualifications of those individuals 

responsible for leading or managing the 

total project (Applicant owners or 

project managers), as well as those 

individuals responsible for conducting 

the various individual tasks in the work 

plan (such as consultants, contractors, 

staff or new hires). Applicants must 

discuss the commitment and the 

availability of any consultants or other 

professionals to be hired for the project; 

especially those who may be consulting 

on multiple VAPG projects. If staff or 

consultants have not been selected at 

the time of application, specific 

descriptions of the qualifications 

required for the positions to be filled 

must be provided. Applications that 

demonstrate the strong credentials, 

education, capabilities, experience, and 

availability of project personnel that 

will contribute to a high likelihood of 

project success will receive more points 

than those that demonstrate less 

potential for success in these areas. 

Points will be awarded as follows: 

(1) 0 points will be awarded if you do 

not address the criterion. 

(2) 1 to 4 points will be awarded if 

qualifications and experience of all staff 

is not addressed and/or if necessary, 

qualifications of unfilled positions are 

not provided. 

(3) 5 to 9 points will be awarded if all 

project personnel are identified but do 

not demonstrate qualifications or 

experience relevant to the project. 

(4) 10 to 14 points will be awarded if 

all key personnel demonstrate strong 

credentials and/or experience, and 

availability indicating a reasonable 

likelihood of success. 

(5) 15 to 20 points will be awarded if 

all key personnel demonstrate strong, 

relevant credentials or experience, and 

availability indicating a high likelihood 

of project success. 

(c) Commitments and support 

(cumulative score 0 to 10 points). 

Producer, end-user, and third-party 

commitments will be evaluated under 

this criterion. Sole proprietors can 

receive a maximum of 9 points. 

Multiple producer applications can 

receive a maximum of 10 points. 

(1) Independent Producer 

Commitments to the project will be 

evaluated based on the number of 

named and documented independent 

producers currently involved in the 

project. Points will be awarded as 

follows: 

(i) Sole Proprietor Applicant (one 

owner/producer Applicant): 1 point. 

(ii) Multiple Independent Producer 

Applicant (Note that in cases where 


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family members, such as husband and 

wife, are eligible Independent 

Producers, each family member will 

count as one Independent Producer.): 2 

points. 

(2) End-User Commitments will be 

evaluated based on potential or 

identified markets and the potential 

amount of output to be purchased, as 

indicated by letters of intent or contracts 

(purchase orders) from potential buyers 

referenced within the application. 

Applications that demonstrate 

documented intent to purchase the 

value-added product will receive more 

points. Note that for planning grants, 

this criterion can be addressed by 

evidence of interest or support from 

identified or potential customers. Points 

will be awarded as follows: 

(i) No, or insufficiently documented, 

commitment from end-users: 0 points. 

(ii) Well-documented commitment 

from one end-user: 1 point. 

(iii) Well-documented commitment 

from more than one end-user: 2 points. 

(3) Third-party Commitments to the 

project will be evaluated based on the 

critical and tangible nature of their 

contribution to the project, such as 

technical assistance, storage, processing, 

marketing, or distribution arrangements 

that are necessary for the project to 

proceed, and the level and quality of 

these contributions. Applications that 

demonstrate strong technical and 

logistical support to successfully 

complete the project will receive more 

points. Points will be awarded as 

follows: 

(i) No, or insufficiently documented, 

commitment from third parties: 0 

points. 

(ii) Well-documented commitment 

from one third party: 1 point. 

(iii) Well-documented commitment 

from more than one third party: 2 

points. 

Letters of Commitment by end-users, 

and third parties should be summarized 

as part of the response to this criterion, 

and the letters must be included in 

Appendix B. Please note that VAPG 

does not require Congressional letters of 

support, nor do they carry any extra 

weight during the evaluation process. 

(4) Level of Commitment will have 

points awarded as follows: 

(i) No cash match: 0 points. 

(ii) Cash match equals less than 50 

percent of the matching contribution: 1 

point. 

(iii) Cash match equals 50 percent or 

more, but less than 100 percent, of the 

matching contribution: 2 points. 

(iv) Cash match equals 100 percent of 

the matching contribution: 4 points. 

Note that because applications with 

cash matching contributions are 

awarded more points than those 

pledging only in-kind contributions, 

Applicants will not be able to substitute 

an in-kind match for cash after awards 

are made. 

(d) Work plan and budget (graduated 

score 0 to 20 points). A comprehensive 

work plan and budget must be 

submitted in accordance with 7 CFR 

4284.922(b)(5). The work plan must 

provide specific and detailed 

descriptions of the tasks and the key 

project personnel that will accomplish 

the project’s goals. The budget must 

present a detailed breakdown and 

description of all estimated costs of 

project activities (including source and 

basis for their valuation) and allocate 

those costs among the listed tasks. 

Applicants must show the source and 

use of both grant and matching funds for 

all tasks. Matching funds must be spent 

at a rate equal to, or in advance of, grant 

funds. An eligible start and end date for 

the entire project, as well as for each 

individual project task must be clearly 

shown. The project timeframe must not 

exceed 36 months and should be scaled 

to the complexity of the project. 

Working capital applications must 

include an estimate of program income 

expected to be earned during the grant 

period. Points will be awarded as 

follows: 

(1) 0 points will be awarded if the 

application does not address the 

criterion. 

(2) 1 to 7 points will be awarded if the 

work plan and budget do not account 

for all project goals, tasks, costs, 

timelines, and responsible personnel. 

(3) 8 to 14 points will be awarded if 

the application provides a clear, 

comprehensive work plan detailing all 

project goals, tasks, timelines, costs, and 

responsible personnel in a logical and 

realistic manner that demonstrates a 

reasonable likelihood of success. 

(4) 15 to 20 points will be awarded if 

the application provides a clear, 

comprehensive work plan detailing all 

project goals, tasks, timelines, costs, and 

responsible personnel in a logical and 

realistic manner that demonstrates a 

high likelihood of success. 

(e) Priority points up to 10 points 

(lump sum 0 or 5 points plus, 

cumulative score 0 to 5 points). Priority 

points may be awarded in both the 

general funds and reserved funds 

competitions. 

(1) 5 priority points will be awarded 

if the Applicant meets the requirements 

for one of the following categories and 

provides the documentation described 

in 7 CFR 4284.923 and 4284.924, as 

applicable: Beginning Farmer or 

Rancher, Socially-Disadvantaged Farmer 

or Rancher, Veteran Farmer or Rancher, 

or Operator of a Small or Medium-sized 

Farm or Ranch that is structured as a 

Family Farm, Farmer or Rancher 

Cooperative, or are proposing a MidTier Value Chain project. 

(2) Up to 5 priority points will be 

awarded if the Applicant is an 

Agricultural Producer Group, Farmer or 

Rancher Cooperative, or MajorityControlled Producer-Based Business 

Venture (referred to below as 

‘‘Applicant group’’) to the extent the 

project ‘‘best contributes to creating or 

increasing marketing opportunities’’ for 

Operators of Small and Medium-sized 

Farms and Ranches that are structured 

as Family Farms, Beginning Farmers 

and Ranchers, Socially-Disadvantaged 

Farmers and Ranchers, and Veteran 

Farmers and Ranchers (referred to below 

as ‘‘priority groups’’). For each of the 

priority point levels below, applications 

must demonstrate how the proposed 

project will contribute to new or 

increased marketing opportunities for 

respective priority groups. Applicants 

will not be awarded more than five (5) 

points even if they qualify for more than 

one of the priority categories. 

(i) Two (2) priority points will be 

awarded if the existing membership of 

the Applicant group is comprised of 

either more than 50 percent of any one 

of the four priority groups or more than 

50 percent of any combination of the 

four priority groups. 

(ii) One (1) additional priority point 

will be awarded if the existing 

membership of the Applicant group is 

comprised of two or more of the priority 

groups. One point is awarded regardless 

of whether a group’s membership is 

comprised of two, three, or all four of 

the priority groups. 

(iii) Two (2) additional priority points 

will be awarded if the Applicant’s 

proposed project will increase the 

number of priority groups that comprise 

Applicant membership by one or more 

priority groups. However, if an 

Applicant group’s membership is 

already comprised of all four priority 

groups, such an Applicant would not be 

eligible for points under this criterion 

because there is no opportunity to 

increase the number of priority groups. 

Note also that this criterion does not 

consider either the percentage of the 

existing membership that is comprised 

of the four priority groups or the 

number of priority groups currently 

comprising the Applicant group’s 

membership. 

(f) Administrator priority categories 

(cumulative score 0 to 10 points). The 

Administrator of the Agency may 

choose to award priority points to 

improve the geographic diversity of 

awardees and to applications for 


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projects that will advance RD Key 

Priorities (https://www.rd.usda.gov/ 

priority-points) as defined and measured 

on the RD Key Priorities website. Points 

will not automatically be applied if the 

VAPG project is located in a RD Key 

Priority area or if written narrative is 

provided to address climate change and 

environmental justice as further 

discussed below. 

(1) Applications may also be awarded 

points for the following three priorities: 

(i) Creating More and Better Markets: 

Assisting rural communities recover 

economically through more and better 

market opportunities and through 

improved infrastructure. Applicants can 

receive priority points if the project is 

located in or 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. 

(ii) Advancing Racial Justice, PlaceBased Equity, and Opportunity: 

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 can receive priority points if 

the project is: 

• Located in or serving a community 

with a score of 0.75 or above on the SVI; 

• A Federally recognized Tribe, 

including Tribal instrumentalities and 

entities that are wholly owned by 

Tribes; or 

• A project where at least 50 percent 

of the project beneficiaries are members 

of Federally Recognized Tribes and nonTribal applicants include a Tribal 

Resolution of Consent from the Tribe or 

Tribes that the applicant is proposing to 

serve. 

(iii) Addressing Climate Change and 

Environmental Justice: 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/ 

priority-points), applicants can receive 

priority 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. 

• Applicants demonstrate through 

written narrative how proposed climateimpact projects improve the livelihoods 

of community residents and meet 

pollution mitigation or clean energy 

goals. 

(2) The Agency will confirm if the 

project is located in an area qualifying 

for these priorities. 

(3) Review and Selection Process. 

Applications will be reviewed and 

processed as described at 7 CFR 

4284.940. The Agency will review 

applications to determine if they are 

complete and eligible. If at any time, the 

Agency determines that the application 

is ineligible, the Applicant will be 

notified in writing as to the reasons it 

was determined ineligible and will be 

informed of review and appeal rights. 

Funding of successfully scored 

applications, after an appeal, will be 

limited to available funds. 

The Agency will select applications 

for award under this Notice in 

accordance with the provisions 

specified in 7 CFR 4284.950(a). 

If an application is eligible and 

complete, it will be qualitatively scored 

by three reviewers based on criteria 

specified in section E.1. of this Notice. 

One of these reviewers will be an 

experienced RD employee from the 

applicable servicing State Office and 

two reviewers will be non-Federal, 

independent reviewers. Independent 

reviewers must have at least a bachelor’s 

degree in one or more of the following 

fields: agri-business, agricultural 

economics, agriculture, animal science, 

business, marketing, economics, or 

finance; or a minimum of 8 years of 

experience in an agriculture-related 

field (e.g., farming, marketing, 

consulting, or research; or as university 

faculty, trade association official, or 

non-Federal government official in an 

agriculturally related field). To become 

a non-Federal independent reviewer, 

please contact Grant Solutions at 

vapgreview@grantreview.org. Each 

reviewer will score evaluation criteria 

(a) through (d) and the totals for each 

reviewer will be added together and 

averaged. Reviewers are not eligible to 

apply for the program as it would result 

in a conflict of interest. The RD State 

Office reviewer will also assign priority 

points based on criterion (e) in section 

E.1. of this Notice. These points will be 

added to the average score. The sum of 

these scores will be ranked highest to 

lowest to comprise an initial ranking. 

The Administrator of the Agency may 

choose to award up to 10 Administrator 

priority points based on criteria (f) in 

section E.1. of this Notice. These points 

will be added to the cumulative score 

from the initial ranking and re-ranked 

from highest to lowest for a final 

ranking. The total maximum number of 

points that can be awarded for an 

application is 100. 

Applications for reserved funds will 

be funded in rank order until funds are 

depleted. Unfunded reserve 

applications will be returned to the 

general funds where applications will 

be funded in rank order until the funds 

are expended. Funding for Majority 

Controlled Producer-Based Business 

Ventures is limited to 10 percent of total 

grant funds expected to be obligated as 

a result of this Notice. These 

applications will be funded in rank 

order until the funding limitation has 

been reached. Grants to these 

Applicants from reserved funds will 

count against this funding limitation. In 

the event of tied scores, the 

Administrator shall have discretion in 

breaking ties. The Agency reserves the 

right to offer the Applicant less than the 

grant funding requested. 

If the application is ranked, but not 

funded, it will not be carried forward 

into the next application funding cycle. 

F. Federal Award Administration 

Information 

1. Federal Award Notices. If you are 

selected for funding, you will receive a 

signed Notice of Federal award 

containing instructions on requirements 

necessary to proceed with execution 

and performance of the award. 

If you are not selected for funding, 

you will be notified in writing and 

informed of any review and appeal 

rights. Funding of successfully scored 

applications, after an appeal, will be 

limited to available funding. 

2. Administrative and National Policy 

Requirements. Additional requirements 

that apply to Applicants selected for a 

program award can be found in 7 CFR 

part 4284, subpart J; the Grants and 

Agreements regulations of the 

Department of Agriculture codified in 2 

CFR parts 180, 200, 400, 415, 417, 418, 

421; 2 CFR parts25 and 170; and 48 CFR 

31.2, and successor regulations to these 

parts. 

The following additional 

requirements apply to Applicants 

selected for a program award: 

(a) Agency approved 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) Form RD–400–4, ‘‘Assurance 

Agreement.’’ 

(f) SF LLL, ‘‘Disclosure of Lobbying 

Activities,’’ if applicable. 

(g) Form SF 270, ‘‘Request for 

Advance or Reimbursement.’’ 


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3. Reporting. You will be required to 

provide the following, as indicated in 

the Financial Assistance Agreement, 

and specified at 7 CFR 4284.960: 

(a) An SF–425, ‘‘Federal Financial 

Report,’’ and a project performance 

report will be required on a semiannual 

basis (due 30 working days after end of 

the semiannual period). For the 

purposes of this grant, semiannual 

periods end on March 31st and 

September 30th. The project 

performance reports shall include the 

elements prescribed in the Financial 

Assistance Agreement. 

(b) A final project and financial status 

report within 120 days after the 

expiration or termination of the grant. 

(c) Outcome project performance 

reports and final deliverables. 

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts 

If you have questions about this 

Notice, please contact the USDA RD 

State Office as identified in the 

ADDRESSES section of this Notice. You 

may also contact National Office staff at 

CPGrants@wdc.usda.gov or call the 

main line at (202) 720–1400. 

H. Other Information 

1. Applicants must comply with other 

Federal laws per 7 CFR 4284.905(a). 

2. 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 0570–0064. 

3. National Environmental Policy Act. 

All recipients under this Notice are 

subject to the requirements of 7 CFR 

part 1970. However, awards for 

planning and working capital grants 

under this Notice are classified as a 

Categorical Exclusion in accordance 

with 7 CFR 1970.53(a)(3) and (b)(2), and 

usually do not require any additional 

documentation. The Agency 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 the Agency 

with this determination. 

4. Federal Funding Accountability 

and Transparency Act. All Applicants, 

in accordance with 2 CFR part 25, must 

be registered in SAM and have a UEI 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. 

5. 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. 

6. Nondiscrimination Statement. In 

accordance with Federal civil rights 

laws and 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 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, or 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/oascr/how-to-filea-program-discrimination-complaint 

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. 2024–00713 Filed 1–16–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–XY–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[RTID 0648–XD646] 

Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management 

Council (MAFMC); Public Meeting 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice; public meeting. 

SUMMARY: The Mid-Atlantic Fishery 

Management Council’s Surfclam and 

Ocean Quahog Committee and Advisory 

Panel will jointly hold a public webinar 

meeting. See SUPPLEMENTARY

INFORMATION for agenda details. 

DATES: The meeting will be held on 

Monday, February 5, 2024, from 9:30 

a.m. until 12 p.m. 

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held 

via webinar. Connection information 

will be posted to the calendar prior to 

the meeting at www.mafmc.org. 

Council address: Mid-Atlantic Fishery 

Management Council, 800 N State 

Street, Suite 201, Dover, DE 19901; 

telephone: (302) 674–2331; 

www.mafmc.org. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Christopher M. Moore, Ph.D., Executive 

Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery 

Management Council, telephone: (302) 

526–5255. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

purpose of this meeting is for the 

Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Committee 

and Advisory Panel to review the 

Species Separation Requirements 

Amendment Public Hearing Document 

and provide input on the public hearing 

document. The Committee will make 

recommendations about the Public 

Hearing Document to the Council in 

February at the Council meeting. 

Special Accommodations 

The meeting is physically accessible 

to people with disabilities. Requests for 

sign language interpretation or other 

auxiliary aid should be directed to 


lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1