Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 188 / Friday, September 27, 2024 / Notices 79229 

decision memo even if the originating 

agency’s NEPA procedures do not 

require it. 

2. Extraordinary Circumstances 

Forest Service NEPA regulations state 

that a CE may only be applied ‘‘if there 

are no extraordinary circumstances 

related to the proposed action’’ and if 

the proposed action is within a CE listed 

within a category as specified in 

regulations (36 CFR 220.6(a)). Forest 

Service NEPA regulations list seven 

resource conditions that ‘‘should be 

considered in determining whether 

extraordinary circumstances related to a 

proposed action warrant further analysis 

and documentation in an EA or an EIS’’ 

(36 CFR 220.6(b)). 

For the CEs adopted from USGS and 

described in this notice, the Forest 

Service will also apply the Department 

of the Interior’s extraordinary 

circumstances criteria set forth in 43 

CFR 46.215(a) through (l), which are 

slightly different from the Forest 

Service’s resource conditions that 

should be considered in evaluating 

extraordinary circumstances. 

III. Consultation With USGS on 

Categorical Exclusion Adoption 

In June 2024 the Forest Service 

conducted consultation with the USGS 

on adoption of their CEs 516 

Departmental Manual 9.5 B, G, H, I, K, 

and P. The USGS and Forest Service 

consultation included a review of USGS 

experience developing and applying the 

CEs, as well as the types of actions for 

which Forest Service plans to utilize the 

CEs. The Forest Service actions would 

be similar to the type of projects for 

which USGS has applied the CEs and 

therefore the effects of Forest Service 

projects will be similar to the effects of 

USGS projects, which are not 

significant, absent extraordinary 

circumstances. Therefore, the Forest 

Service has determined that its 

proposed use of USGS CEs as described 

in this notice is appropriate. 

IV. Identification of USGS Categorical 

Exclusions 

B. Collection of data and samples for 

geologic, palaeontologic, hydrologic, 

mineralogic, geochemical and surface or 

subsurface geophysical investigations, 

and resource evaluation, including 

contracts therefor. 

G. Test or exploration drilling and 

downhole testing, including contracts 

therefor. 

H. Establishment of survey marks, 

placement and operation of field 

instruments, and installation of any 

research/monitoring devices. 

I. Digging and subsequent site 

restoration of exploratory trenches not 

to exceed one acre of surface 

disturbance. 

K. Off-road travel to drilling, data 

collection or observation sites which 

does not impact ecologically sensitive 

areas such as wilderness areas, 

wetlands, or areas of critical habitat for 

listed endangered or threatened species. 

P. Minor activities required to gain or 

prepare access to sites selected for 

completion of exploration drilling 

operations or construction of stations for 

hydrologic, geologic, or geophysical 

data collection. 

Dated: September 23, 2024. 

Jacqueline Emanuel, 

Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest 

System. 

[FR Doc. 2024–22154 Filed 9–26–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3411–15–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Rural Housing Service 

[Docket No.: RHS–24–MFH–0006] 

Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) for 

the Multifamily Housing Preservation 

and Revitalization Demonstration 

Program (MPR) and for Section 515 

Subsequent Loans for Preservation 

Activities for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 

AGENCY: Rural Housing Service, United 

States Department of Agriculture 

(USDA). 

ACTION: Notice of Funds Availability 

(NOFA). 

SUMMARY: The Rural Housing Service 

(RHS or Agency), a Rural Development 

(RD) agency of the United States 

Department of Agriculture, announces 

that it is inviting applications for the 

Multifamily Housing Preservation and 

Revitalization Demonstration Program 

(MPR) and Section 515 Loan Program. 

These loan and grant funds will be 

made available to qualified applicants 

which may be used to preserve and 

improve existing Rural Rental Housing 

(RRH) and Off-Farm Labor Housing 

(OFF–FLH) projects to extend their 

affordable use. 

DATES: Electronic submissions must be 

received no later than December 26, 

2024, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET), to 

be eligible for funding under this 

Notice. The applicant must send an 

email message by 12 p.m. ET (noon) on 

December 16, 2024, to the RHS 

Production and Preservation Division 

(see the ADDRESSES section for 

additional information). 

ADDRESSES: All applications made in 

response to this Notice must be 

submitted electronically to the RHS 

Production and Preservation Division, 

Processing and Report Review (PRR) 

Branch using the following process: The 

applicant must send an email message 

by the date and time provided in the 

DATES section to the RHS Production 

and Preservation Division at RD.MPR@

usda.gov. The email message must 

contain the following information: 

Subject line: MPR NOFA Submission. 

Body of email: Applicant Name, 

Project State, Project Name, Project City 

and complete Applicant Contact 

Information (including address, phone 

number, email address to receive 

application submission information). 

Request language: Please provide 

application submission instructions so 

that we may submit our MPR 

application documents. 

Application submission instructions 

will be emailed to all interested 

respondents supplying valid email 

addresses within two (2) business days 

from the date the email of interest is 

received by the Agency. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Jonathan Bell, Director, Processing and 

Report Review Branches, Production 

and Preservation Division, MFH, RD, 

USDA, via email: MFHprocessing1@

usda.gov or telephone: (202) 205–9217 

for additional information on this 

Notice. 

Persons with disabilities that require 

alternative means of communication for 

program information (e.g., Braille, large 

print, audiotape, American Sign 

Language) may contact the Agency or 

staff office; or the 711 Relay Service. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Late or 

incomplete applications will not be 

eligible for funding under this Notice. 

Paper applications will not be accepted. 

Applications that are deemed eligible 

but are not selected for further 

processing due to lack of funding will 

be withdrawn from processing. 

Authority 

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 

2024, Public Law 118–42, authorized 

USDA to conduct a demonstration 

program (i.e., the Multifamily Housing 

Preservation and Revitalization (MPR) 

Demonstration Program) for the 

preservation and revitalization of 

sections 515 (rural rental housing) 

(RRH) and 514 and 516 (off-farm labor 

housing) properties to restructure 

existing USDA multi-family housing 

(MFH) loans expressly to ensure the 

project has sufficient resources to 

provide safe and affordable housing for 

low-income residents and farm laborers 


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under the programs authorized by the 

Housing Act of 1949, as amended (42 

U.S.C. 1484, 1485 and 1486). The MPR 

Demonstration Program is implemented 

under 7 CFR part 3560 and the 

requirements set forth in this Notice. 

Title V of the Housing Act of 1949; 42 

U.S.C. 1480; implemented under 7 CFR 

part 3560 authorizes the Section 515 

Direct Loan program. The section 515 

RRH direct loan program provides 

competitive financing for affordable 

multi-family rental housing for lowincome, elderly, or disabled individuals 

and families in eligible rural areas. 

Rural Development Key Priorities 

RD will continue to support and 

promote activities and investments that 

will achieve the following: 

1. Creating More and Better Markets: 

Assisting rural communities to recover 

economically through more and better 

market opportunities through improved 

infrastructure. 

2. Addressing Climate Change and 

Environmental Justice: Reducing climate 

pollution and increasing resilience to 

the impacts of climate change through 

economic support to rural communities. 

3. Advancing Racial Justice, PlaceBased Equity, and Opportunity: 

Ensuring all rural residents have 

equitable access to RD programs and 

benefits from RD funded projects. 

For further information, visit https:// 

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

Overview 

Federal Awarding Agency Name: The 

Rural Housing Service’s (RHS) 

Multifamily Housing Program (MFH). 

Funding Opportunity Title: Notice of 

Funds Availability (NOFA) for the 

Multifamily Housing Preservation and 

Revitalization (MPR) Demonstration 

Program and Section 515 Rural Rental 

Housing Subsequent Loans for 

Preservation Activities for Fiscal Year 

(FY) 2024. 

Announcement Type: Notice of Funds 

Availability (NOFA). 

Assistance Listing: 

(1) 10.447—Rural Multifamily 

Housing Revitalization Demonstration 

Program (MPR). 

(2) 10.415—Section 515 Rural Rental 

Housing Subsequent Loans 

A. Program Descriptions 

1. Purpose of the Programs 

The MPR Demonstration Program 

restructures loans and provides 

additional financing for existing Section 

515 Rural Rental Housing (RRH) and 

Section 514/516 Off-Farm Labor 

Housing (Off-FLH) projects to help 

improve and preserve the availability of 

safe affordable rental housing for lowincome residents. The Section 515 RRH 

Subsequent Loan program provides 

additional financing for existing Section 

515 RRH projects to help improve and 

preserve the affordability of safe 

affordable rental housing for lowincome residents. MPR and the Section 

515 RRH Program are being combined in 

this Notice to gain efficiencies in the 

announcement of funding opportunities, 

application, and selection process, as 

both programs are eligible preservation 

resources. Although Section 515 

Subsequent Loans, as described under 7 

CFR 3560.73 are not required to be 

awarded under a NOFA, including these 

funds in this NOFA will enhance 

program transparency for the public and 

allow for fair and equitable competition 

for the resource. 

Both programs are designed to 

address preservation needs in Rural 

Development’s Multifamily Housing 

portfolio. Funds may be used to address 

health, safety and accessibility needs 

and to repair or renovate existing project 

items identified in the Capital Needs 

Assessment (CNA). Additional items 

may be added to the scope of work, if 

practical and feasible, at the sole 

discretion of the RHS. Proposals to 

develop or construct additional units 

within the existing building envelope, 

only if needed to comply with 

accessibility requirements, will be 

considered and are eligible under this 

Notice. To be considered for funding, all 

applicants are required to meet both the 

general threshold requirements, as well 

as the program-specific requirements as 

outlined in this Notice. The CNA 

Template and CNA Process Addendum 

are provided at the Multifamily Housing 

Direct Loans website, click on the ‘‘To 

Apply’’ tab; https://www.rd.usda.gov/ 

programs-services/multifamily-housingprograms/multifamily-housing-directloans#to-apply. Questions regarding the 

CNA Template and CNA Process 

Addendum or assistance with accessing 

the CNA documents should be directed 

to Jonathan Bell, Director, Processing 

and Report Review Branches, 

Production and Preservation Division, 

MFH, RD, USDA, via email: 

MFHprocessing1@usda.gov or 

telephone: (202) 205–9217. 

RHS will hold workshops to provide 

general guidance and assistance 

regarding this NOFA prior to the 

application deadline. These workshops 

will be announced via GovDelivery 

notice and will also be posted on the 

MFH Programs website (https://

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

multi-family-housing-programs). Sign 

up for GovDelivery notifications by 

visiting the GovDelivery website 

(https://public.govdelivery.com/ 

accounts/USDARD/signup/10420). 

Additional information and guidance 

outlining applicant, property, and 

tenant eligibility requirements; factors 

for scoring and ranking applications and 

making awards; and any requirements 

and/or limitations specific to each 

program application opportunity can be 

found in this Notice. Prospective 

applicants are encouraged to read this 

entire Notice thoroughly and attend the 

informational workshops for more 

information and clarification prior to 

submitting applications for funding. 

All applications must follow the 

applicable Agency regulations in 7 CFR 

part 3560. The MPR Program and the 

Section 515 RRH Program are subject to 

title V of the Housing Act of 1949; 7 

CFR part 3560: and the requirements set 

forth in this Notice. 

2. Applicant Eligibility 

To be eligible for funding under this 

NOFA, applicants must meet all 

statutory and regulatory requirements 

applicable to the MPR and/or Section 

515 RRH program funding. Program 

regulations may be found at the 

following link: https://

www.rd.usda.gov/page/regulations-andguidance. 

3. Definitions 

The definitions applicable to this 

Notice are published at 7 CFR 3560.11 

which can be found on the following 

website: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/ 

title-7/subtitle-B/chapter-XXXV/part3560. 

4. Application of Awards 

Awards under the MPR 

Demonstration Program and Section 515 

RRH Program will be made using the 

specific selection criteria contained in 

this Notice. 

The Agency will review, evaluate, and 

score applications received in response 

to this Notice based on the provisions 

found in 7 CFR part 3560 (https://

www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/part-3560), 

and as indicated in this Notice. The 

Agency advises all interested parties 

that the applicant bears the full burden 

in preparing and submitting 

applications in response to this Notice 

for this Program in FY 2024. 

B. Federal Award Information 

Type of Award: Loans and grants 

(MPR) and loans (Section 515). 

Fiscal Year Funds: FY 24 (MPR and 

Section 515) and carryover funds (MPR). 

Available Funds: The Agency will 

make available the following funds in 

this NOFA: MPR: $80,491,882 and 

Section 515: $27,000,000. Available 


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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 188 / Friday, September 27, 2024 / Notices 79231 

loan and grant funding for the MPR 

program and Section 515 RRH program 

for FY 2024 will also be announced via 

GovDelivery Notice. Sign up for 

GovDelivery notifications by visiting the 

GovDelivery website at: https://public.

govdelivery.com/accounts/USDARD/ 

signup/10420. Funding amounts will 

also be posted on the RHS MFH website 

at: https://www.rd.usda.gov/programsservices/multifamily-housing-programs/ 

multifamily-preservation-andrevitalization-mpr#to-apply. Funding 

awards will be posted to the RHS 

website as funding is obligated. RHS 

reserves the right to post all information 

submitted as part of the application 

package that is not protected under the 

Privacy Act on a public website with 

free and open access to any member of 

the public. 

Award Amounts: The Agency 

anticipates a maximum per unit award 

amount of $60,000 and no minimum 

award amount. The Agency reserves the 

right to reduce requested funding 

amounts based on funding availability. 

Supplemental Awards: With the 

submission of a new application, 

projects that have previously received 

Agency funding are eligible to apply for 

supplemental funding. 

Type of Assistance Instrument: Grant 

Agreement, Direct Loan. 

C. Eligibility Information 

1. Eligible Applicants 

Eligibility for MPR and section 515 

funding under this NOFA includes 

current RD borrowers that have received 

a loan from the Agency and eligible 

applicants under 7 CFR part 3560 who 

are applying to assume ownership and 

the associated outstanding RD loans on 

RD-financed MFH properties. Eligible 

applicants for the MPR and Section 515 

programs include individuals, 

partnerships or limited partnerships, 

consumer cooperatives, trusts, State or 

local public agencies, corporations, 

limited liability companies, non-profit 

organizations, Indian Tribes, 

associations, or other entities that own 

or will be the owner of the project for 

which an application for transfer of 

ownership by the Agency is submitted. 

Applicants must be eligible entities and 

not currently debarred, suspended, or 

delinquent on any Federal debt. Agency 

regulations for the Section 515 MFH 

program and the Sections 514/516 Farm 

Labor Housing (FLH) program are 

published at 7 CFR part 3560. 

2. Eligible Projects 

Projects must meet at least one of the 

following requirements to be eligible to 

receive funding: 

(a) All Agency loans on the project 

will reach mortgage maturity prior to 

January 1, 2027. If a consolidation of 

two or more projects into a single 

project is proposed, all loans on the 

consolidated project must reach 

maturity prior to January 1, 2028. 

(b) The project has an existing MPR 

debt deferral that expires prior to 

January 1, 2028. 

(c) The project sustained damage due 

to a storm, fire, flood, wind, or other 

man-made or natural disaster and 

necessary repairs as a result of the 

damage are incomplete and/or units are 

uninhabitable due to inadequate 

insurance proceeds. 

(d) The project has been approved 

under the Agency’s Simple Transfer 

Pilot Program, published in the Federal 

Register on December 9, 2022 (87 FR 

75457), and has an Agency-required 

rehabilitation plan that lacks full 

funding. 

(e) A purchase and sale agreement has 

been approved for the project under the 

Agency’s sale to nonprofit process in 7 

CFR 3560.659 and the project requires 

additional funding to complete a 

transfer of ownership to the new buyer. 

(f) Loan(s) on the project were 

reamortized at the request of the owner 

to avoid payoff and program exit prior 

to imminent loan maturity 

(‘‘reamortization lite’’) and the project 

requires funding to address unmet 

rehabilitation needs. 

(g) Repairs or modifications are 

needed to address health and safety 

findings or violations and/or 

accessibility modifications identified in 

the property’s Capital Needs 

Assessment (CNA) submitted with the 

application. The combined amount of 

the health, safety, and accessibility 

repairs or modifications identified in 

the CNA must exceed an average cost of 

$4,000 per unit to meet the project 

eligibility criteria. 

3. Threshold Eligibility Requirements 

All applications must meet all 

threshold eligibility requirements as 

follows: 

(a) Applications must be complete as 

specified by this Notice; 

(b) Applications must be submitted 

electronically; 

(c) Complete applications must be 

received by 12 p.m., Eastern Time 

December 26, 2024; 

4. Determination of Initial Eligibility 

The determination of initial eligibility 

for any application will be determined 

as of the application submission 

deadline date. The RHS reserves the 

right to discontinue the processing of 

any application due to material changes 

in the applicant’s status occurring any 

time after the initial eligibility 

determination. 

D. Program Funding 

1. Cost Sharing or Matching 

There are no cost sharing or matching 

requirements to receive program 

funding. 

2. Funding Priority for Areas of 

Persistent Poverty 

To focus investments in areas where 

the need for increased prosperity is 

greatest, RHS will set aside 10 percent 

of the available funds for applications 

that will serve persistent poverty 

counties. The term ‘‘persistent poverty 

counties’’ means any county that has 

had 20 percent or more of its population 

living in poverty over the last 30 years, 

using the 2020 Decennial Census data 

and the 2017–2021 American 

Community Survey five-year average), 

or any territory or possession of the 

United States. Information on which 

counties are considered persistent 

poverty counties can be found through 

using the following link: https://rural

development.maps.arcgis.com/apps/ 

webappviewer/index.html?

id=a0bcd25194434ac784

493fd5dc7f8191. 

3. Funding Priority for REAP Zones 

To address issues of geographic 

isolation of communities separated by 

long distances, absence of large 

metropolitan centers, low-density 

settlement patterns, historic dependence 

on agriculture, continued population 

loss, outmigration, and economic 

upheaval or economic distress, the 

Agency will provide a set aside under 

this announcement for applications in 

Rural Economic Area Partnership 

(REAP) Zones. REAP Zones locations 

are as follows: 

Zone State Counties 

CONAC ........................................................ ND McHenry, Bottineau, Rolette, Towner, Pierce and Benson; and the Indian reservations 

of the Turtle Mountain Chippewa and Spirit Lake Sioux. 

Southwest ..................................................... ND Dunn, Stark, Hettinger, Adams, Bowman, Slope, Golden Valley, Billings, and part of 

the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation. 


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Zone State Counties 

Sullivan-Wawarsing ...................................... NY Sullivan and the Town of Wawarsing. 

Tioga ............................................................ NY Tioga. 

Northeast Kingdom ...................................... VT Caledonia, Essex, Orleans. 

4. Geographic Distribution of Funding 

The Agency has an interest in 

supporting a broad geographic 

distribution of program funds. Projects 

will be scored without regard to State 

location. However, if five projects in a 

State have received program funding 

obligations, no further obligations will 

be made to projects in that State until 

a funding decision has been made on all 

projects that have met the minimum 

scoring requirements as described in the 

Scoring section of this Notice. When all 

other funding decisions have been 

made, the Agency may provide 

additional awards in States that have 

already received five awards. Projects 

located on tribal lands will not count 

against the five-project State limit. 

E. Additional Program Requirements 

1. Loan Requirements 

Each loan made by the Agency will be 

secured in a manner that adequately 

protects the financial interest of the 

Federal Government throughout the 

period of the loan in accordance with 7 

CFR 3560.61. The Agency will not make 

any loans without adequate security. 

The following limitations will be set on 

loan amounts: 

(a) For all loan applicants who will 

receive benefits from the low-income 

housing tax credit (LIHTC) program, the 

amount of Agency financing for the 

housing will not exceed 95 percent of 

the security value available for the 

Agency loan. 

(b) For all loan applicants who will 

not receive LIHTC benefits and who are 

comprised solely of nonprofit 

organizations, consumer cooperatives, 

or State or local public agencies, the 

amount of the loan will be limited to the 

security value available for the Agency 

loan, plus the 2 percent initial operating 

capital and any necessary relocation 

costs incurred. 

(c) For all other loan applicants who 

will not receive LIHTC benefits, the loan 

amount will be limited to no more than 

97 percent of the security value 

available for the Agency loan. 

2. Equity Contribution Requirements 

Loan applicants, with the exception of 

nonprofit organizations, consumer 

cooperatives, or State or local public 

agencies who will not be receiving 

LIHTC benefits, must make an equity 

contribution from their own resources 

as follows: 

(a) Loan applicants who will receive 

LIHTC benefits must make an equity 

contribution in the amount of 5 percent 

of the Agency loan. The maximum 

Agency loan will be determined in 

accordance with 7 CFR 3560.63(c). 

(b) Loan applicants who will not 

receive LIHTC benefits and are not 

nonprofit organizations, consumer 

cooperatives, or state or local public 

agencies must make an equity 

contribution in the amount of 3 percent 

of the Agency loan. The maximum 

Agency loan will be determined in 

accordance with 7 CFR 3560.63(c). 

3. Grant Requirements 

Grant awards are subject to the 

requirements outlined in 2 CFR parts 

200 and 400. 

4. Security Requirements 

The total of all liens against the 

project, with the exception of Agency 

deferred debt, cannot exceed the 

Agency-approved security value of the 

project, except as permitted by 7 CFR 

3560.63(b)(2). All Agency debt, either in 

first lien position or in a subordinated 

lien position, must be secured by the 

project, except deferred debt, which is 

not included in the Agency’s total lien 

position for computation of the 

Agency’s security value in the MPR 

program. Payment of any deferred debt 

will not be required from normal project 

operations income during the term of 

the debt deferral. Upon expiration of the 

deferral, if no further deferral is 

approved, the remaining balance will be 

reamortized. 

5. Transfers, Consolidations and 

Portfolios 

Transfers and consolidations may be 

approved as part of the transaction for 

the selected applicants in accordance 

with 7 CFR part 3560 and the following: 

(a) If a transfer is part of the 

transaction, and the transfer includes a 

seller payment and/or an increase in the 

allowable Return to Owner (RTO), the 

transfer must first be underwritten to 

meet the requirements of 7 CFR 

3560.406 to establish the maximum 

RTO amount RD will recognize for the 

buyer and seller before the transaction 

is underwritten. 

(b) If a consolidation of existing 

properties is simultaneously proposed, 

all projects being consolidated must be 

submitted in one application that 

identifies each project. Each property in 

the proposed consolidated project must 

be located in the same market area. 

Market area is defined in 7 CFR 3560.11 

as the geographic or locational 

delineation for a specific project, 

including outlying areas that will be 

impacted by the project including the 

area in which alternative, similar 

properties effectively compete with the 

subject property. 

(c) Applicants should discuss 

proposed consolidations with the 

assigned Servicing Specialist prior to 

filing their application under this 

NOFA. RD may permit two or more 

properties to be consolidated as defined 

in 7 CFR 3560.410 when it is in the best 

interests of the Government. The 

applicant should consult with the RD 

loan official before engaging the CNA 

Provider in any case where the CNA 

intends to encompass more than a single 

existing RD property to determine if a 

consolidated CNA may be acceptable for 

RD underwriting. 

(d) If the preservation proposal 

involves a portfolio transaction (sale or 

stay-in owner), a separate application 

for each project in the portfolio is 

required and each application must 

identify all projects included in the 

portfolio transaction. Eligibility 

determinations will be conducted on 

each application associated with the 

portfolio. 

6. Occupancy Standards 

(a) For Section 515 RRH projects, the 

average physical vacancy rate for the 12 

months preceding this Notice’s 

application submission date can be no 

more than 10 percent for projects 

consisting of 16 or more revenue units 

and no more than 15 percent for projects 

less than 16 revenue units. If the average 

physical vacancy rate exceeds those 

limits, the applicant must provide 

current market data (defined as no more 

than 6 months old at time of filing) that 

demonstrates there is a need for the 

project evidenced by waiting lists and a 

housing shortage confirmed by local 

housing agencies and realtors. The data 

demonstrating a need and housing 

shortage must be accepted by the 

Agency. The market data must show a 

clear need and demand for the project 

once the transaction is completed. The 

results of the survey of existing or 


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proposed rental or labor housing, 

including complex name, location, 

number of units, bedroom mix, family 

or elderly type, year built, and rent 

charges, must be provided, as well as 

the existing vacancy rate of all available 

rental units in the community, their 

waiting lists and amenities, and the 

availability of Rental Assistance (RA) or 

other subsidies. The Agency will 

determine if the proposal has market 

feasibility based on the data provided by 

the applicant. Any costs associated with 

compiling the market data is NOT an 

eligible program project expense. If the 

information provided by the applicant is 

inadequate, the Agency may require 

additional information, which may 

include a current market study, to assess 

the need of the project and its continued 

financial feasibility. If a project 

consolidation is involved, the 

consolidation will remain eligible so 

long as the average vacancy rate for each 

individual project meets the occupancy 

standard noted in this paragraph. Any 

individual project submitted as a 

portfolio application that does not 

continue to meet the occupancy 

threshold, regardless of reason, may be 

withdrawn by the owner or the Agency 

without jeopardizing the formal 

portfolio application so long as the 

application continues to meet the 

eligibility conditions otherwise 

described in this Notice. 

(b) For Sections 514/516 FLH projects, 

rather than an average physical vacancy 

rate, a positive cash flow for the 

previous full three (3) years of operation 

is required unless the applicant has an 

Agency approved workout agreement 

and is in compliance with the 

provisions of the workout agreement for 

a minimum of six (6) consecutive 

months. 

7. Funding Restrictions 

Funds under this NOFA cannot be 

used to add additional housing units, 

build community rooms, or add 

additional parking areas, playgrounds, 

or laundry rooms unless these 

improvements are needed to address 

accessibility requirements. 

F. Available Funding Tools 

Applicants must propose a funding 

plan for the project and request specific 

tools as part of the funding plan. For 

loans, the applicant must specify the 

type of loan requested and the amount 

of funding requested. For grants, the 

applicant must specify the amount of 

funding requested. For debt deferrals, 

the applicants must specify all loans 

requested for deferral and provide an 

estimate of the current outstanding loan 

balance. 

(1) Debt deferral: Deferral of loan 

principal and interest payments for up 

to 20 years for presently outstanding 

Section 514 or Section 515 loans. The 

applicant’s proposal should describe 

how the cash flow from the deferred RD 

direct loan principal and interest 

payments will be deposited to the 

project’s reserve account and/or used to 

help meet the project’s future physical 

needs, support new debt, reduce rents, 

or otherwise be directed to be in the best 

interests of the tenants and Government. 

(a) If an applicant requests a debt 

deferral and the term of any existing 

Section 514 or Section 515 loans is less 

than 20 years, the Agency requires a reamortization of the existing loans and 

extending the term up to 20 years. 

(b) All terms and conditions of the 

deferral will be described in the MPR 

Debt Deferral Agreement. A balloon 

payment of principal and accrued 

interest (deferral balloon) will be due at 

the end of the deferral period, or upon 

default pursuant to the terms contained 

therein. Interest will accrue at the 

promissory note rate and, if applicable, 

the subsidy will be applied as set out in 

the Agency’s ‘‘Multiple Family Housing 

Interest Credit Agreement,’’ Form RD 

3560–9. 

(c) At the time of the deferral balloon, 

borrowers may request any available 

servicing tools to preserve any needed 

projects as affordable rental housing. 

(2) MPR Grant. Grant funding is 

limited to non-profit or public housing 

agency applicants/borrowers only. The 

grant use will be limited to the cost of 

correcting health and safety violations 

of a project, including accessibility 

requirements identified by a CNA 

accepted by the Agency. 

(3) MPR Zero Percent Loan. An 

amortizing loan offered at zero percent 

interest. This loan is not deferred. 

Monthly payments are required for the 

maximum term and the amortization 

period will be as authorized by the 

respective program authority. 

(a) For Section 515 RRH projects, the 

maximum loan term is 30 years 

amortized over a maximum term of 50 

years. 

(b) For Sections 514/516 projects, the 

loan will be amortized over a maximum 

term of the loan which is 33 years. 

(4) MPR Soft-Second Loan. A loan 

with a one percent interest rate that will 

have its accrued interest and principal 

deferred to a balloon payment. The 

balloon payment will be due at the same 

time as the latest modified Section 514 

or Section 515 maturity date of any 

current loan being reamortized. 

(5) MPR or Section 515 Direct Loan. 

An amortizing loan with a one percent 

effective interest rate. This loan is not 

deferred. Monthly payments are 

required for the maximum term and 

amortization period will be as 

authorized by the respective program 

authority: 

(a) For Section 515 RRH projects, the 

maximum loan term is 30 years 

amortized over a maximum term of 50 

years. 

(b) For Sections 514/516 projects, the 

loan will be amortized over a maximum 

term of the loan which is 33 years. 

Funding tools are only for authorized 

purposes in the respective RRH and 

FLH programs in accordance with 7 CFR 

part 3560. The program will be 

administered within the resources 

available to the Agency through Public 

Law 118–42. 

(6) Other Possible Sources of Funds 

(not all-inclusive): 

(a) RD Section 538 Guaranteed RRH 

(GRRH) loan. The current Federal 

Register Notification for the Section 538 

Program is available at 88 FR 26221 

(April 28, 2023) (https://

www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2023- 

04-28/pdf/2023-08952.pdf); 

(b) Third-party loans, grants, tax 

credits and tax-exempt financing; 

(c) Owner-provided capital 

contributions in the form of a cash 

infusion. A cash infusion cannot be a 

loan. 

G. Application Information 

Respondents to this Notice must 

submit complete final applications by 

the application submission deadline as 

specified in the DATES section and this 

section of this Notice. Expenses 

incurred in developing applications will 

be at the applicant’s sole risk. 

All applications made in response to 

this Notice must be submitted 

electronically to the RHS Production 

and Preservation Division, Processing 

and Report Review (PRR) Branch using 

the process outlined in the ADDRESSES

section above. 

Applicants are encouraged to include 

a checklist of all the application 

requirements and to index and tab their 

application to facilitate the review 

process. The applicant should provide a 

Table of Contents of all of the 

documents that have been submitted. 

Last-minute requests and submissions 

may not allow adequate time for the 

submission process to take place prior 

to the deadline. 

Note: Applicants are reminded that all 

submissions must be received by the 

deadline and the application will be rejected 

if it is not received by the deadline date and 

time, regardless of when the application was 

submitted. 

(1) Application Requirements. The 

application must contain the following: 


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(a) An executed and dated Executive 

Summary on the applicant’s letterhead 

that must include at least the following: 

i. Brief description of the project and 

its history. Include the borrower’s name, 

project name, project location, number 

of units, number of RA or Operating 

Assistance (OA) units and unit mix. For 

FLH projects, address whether the 

project operates year-round or on a 

seasonal basis. Provide the year the 

property was built and placed into 

service, the original sources of funding, 

and the original amounts of funding 

received. Include a description of any 

significant improvements, repairs, or 

modifications that have been made 

since the property was placed in 

service, which would include 

substantial rehabilitations and 

significant repairs that were needed due 

to natural disasters. Provide any other 

information that you may want to 

disclose regarding the project and its 

history. 

ii. Brief description of the proposed 

transaction. Provide a narrative of the 

loan and/or grant funds that the 

applicant is seeking from the RHS, or 

any other third-party source, and a 

description of what the funds will be 

utilized for. Describe the scope of work 

and explain how the transaction will 

come together overall, including 

information on how the project will 

absorb any additional debt service, if 

applicable. 

iii. Description of the current 

ownership structure with a detailed 

organizational chart. If a transfer of 

ownership is proposed as part of the 

transaction, include the proposed 

ownership structure with a detailed 

organization chart. 

iv. Narrative verifying the applicant’s 

ability to meet the applicant eligibility 

requirements stated earlier in this 

Notice. 

v. A statement of the applicant’s 

experience in operating affordable rental 

housing, labor housing or other rental 

housing. 

vi. Description of the applicant’s legal 

and financial capability to carry out the 

obligation and purpose of the loan and/ 

or grant. 

vii. Current management. A brief 

description of how the property is 

currently managed. If a change in 

management is proposed as part of the 

transaction, provide a brief description 

of the proposed plan to manage the 

property. As stated earlier in this 

Notice, the housing must be managed in 

accordance with the management 

regulations, 7 CFR part 3560. 

viii. Any financial commitments, 

financial concessions, or other 

economic benefits proposed to be 

provided by the RHS. 

ix. Third-party funding sources, if 

applicable. For each third-party funding 

source, briefly discuss the provider, 

amount, including terms, commitment 

status, timing issues, any restrictions 

that will be applicable to the project, 

and whether any accommodation from 

the RHS is proposed, such as a 

subordination in lien position. The 

desired lien position of any third-party 

funding source must be clearly 

disclosed, as well as any proposal for 

the RHS to subordinate its lien position. 

x. Any proposed compensation to 

parties having an identity of interest 

(IOI) with either the consultant or 

technical assistance provider. An IOI is 

defined in 7 CFR 3560.11 

xi. Any proposed construction 

financing, for example, a construction or 

bridge loan or the use of multiple 

advances. 

xii. Type and method of construction, 

such as negotiated bid or contractor 

method. 

xiii. Signed statement by the 

applicant that they will pay any cost 

overruns in accordance with 7 CFR 

3560.63(f). 

xiv. Estimated development timeline 

to include estimated start and end date, 

as well as any other important 

milestones such as the proposed closing 

date. 

xv. Description of any required state 

or local approvals and how they will be 

obtained. 

xvi. Description of the required and 

intended applicant contribution, if 

applicable. 

xvii. Any other pertinent information 

the applicant wishes to disclose as part 

of this proposal. 

xviii. A separate one-page information 

sheet listing each of the application 

scoring criteria contained in this Notice, 

followed by a reference to the page 

numbers of all relevant material and 

documentation contained in the 

proposal that supports the outlined 

criteria. 

(b) The following forms and 

certifications are required: 

i. Form RD 3560–1, ‘‘Application for 

Partial Release, Subordination, or 

Consent,’’ can be obtained at: https://

formsadmin.sc.egov.usda.gov//

efcommon/eFileServices/eFormsAdmin/ 

RD3560-0001.pdf. 

ii. Standard Form 424, ‘‘Application 

for Federal Assistance,’’ can be obtained 

at: https://www.grants.gov/. 

iii. Form RD 3560–30, ‘‘Certification 

of no Identity of Interest (IOI),’’ can be 

found at: https://forms.sc.egov.

usda.gov/efcommon/eFileServices/ 

eForms/RD3560-30.PDF. OR 

iv. Form RD 3560–31, ‘‘Identity of 

Interest Disclosure/Qualification 

Certification,’’ can be found at: https:// 

forms.sc.egov.usda.gov/efcommon/ 

eFileServices/eForms/RD3560-31.PDF. 

An IOI is defined in 7 CFR 3560.11. The 

RHS must review Form RD 3560–30 and 

Form RD 3560–31, as applicable, to 

determine if they are completed in 

accordance with the Forms Manual 

Insert and to determine that all IOI’s 

have been disclosed. 

v. Form HUD 2530, ‘‘Previous 

Participation Certification,’’ if 

applicable, can be found at: https://

www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/OCHCO/ 

documents/2530.pdf. 

vi. Form RD 400–4, ‘‘Assurance 

Agreement,’’ can be found at: https://

forms.sc.egov.usda.gov/efcommon/ 

eFileServices/eForms/RD400-4.PDF. 

vii. RD Instruction 1940–Q, Exhibit 

A–1, ‘‘Certification for contracts, grants 

and loans,’’ can be found at: https://

www.rd.usda.gov/files/1940q.pdf. 

viii. Form RD 1910–11, ‘‘Applicant 

Certification, Federal Collection Policies 

for Consumer or Commercial Debts,’’ 

can be found at: https://forms.sc.egov.

usda.gov//efcommon/eFileServices/ 

eForms/RD1910-11.PDF. 

ix. Form RD 400–1, ‘‘Equal 

Opportunity Agreement,’’ can be found 

at: https://www.rd.usda.gov/files/UEP_

RD_From_400-1.pdf. 

x. Form RD 400–6, ‘‘Compliance 

Statement,’’ if applicable can be found 

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

RD400-6.PDF. 

xi. For projects that have five or more 

rental units, an Affirmative Fair 

Housing Marketing Plan (AFHMP) as 

defined in 24 CFR part 200, subpart M. 

(c) Provide the following financial 

and organizational information: 

i. Current (within 6 months of this 

Notice’s application submission due 

date) financial statements for each entity 

within the ownership structure with the 

following paragraph certified by the 

applicant’s designated and legally 

authorized signer: 

‘‘I/we certify the above is a true and 

accurate reflection of our financial 

condition as of the date stated herein. 

This statement is given for the purpose 

of inducing the United States of 

America to make a loan or to enable the 

United States of America to make a 

determination of continued eligibility of 

the applicant for a loan as requested in 

the loan application of which this 

statement is a part.’’ 

ii. Submit a current (within 6 months 

of this Notice’s application submission 

due date) comprehensive credit report 

for both the entity and the actual 

individual principals, partners and 

members within the applicant entity, 


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including any sub-entities who are 

responsible for controlling the 

ownership and operations of the entity. 

If any of the principals in the applicant 

entity are not natural persons (e.g., 

corporations, other limited liability 

companies, trusts), separate commercial 

credit reports must be submitted on 

those organizations as well. Individual 

personal consumer credit reports are not 

required if a combination report is being 

provided. Only credit reports provided 

by accredited major credit bureaus will 

be accepted (Experian, Equifax or 

TransUnion). If the credit report(s) is 

not submitted by the application 

deadline, the application will be 

considered incomplete and will not be 

considered for funding. 

iii. Letter from the IRS indicating the 

applicant’s tax identification number. 

iv. Individual applicants and 

principals of organizational applicants 

must provide to their attorney 

acceptable evidence of U.S. citizenship 

and/or qualified alien status. Acceptable 

evidence of U.S. citizenship may 

include a valid U.S. birth certificate, a 

valid U.S. Passport, a valid U.S. 

Certificate of Naturalization, or other 

acceptable evidence of U.S. citizenship 

proposed by the applicant and accepted 

by the Agency. Acceptable evidence of 

qualified alien status may include valid 

documentation issued by the U.S. 

Citizenship and Immigration Services 

(USCIS), or other acceptable 

documentation of qualified alien status 

proposed by the applicant and accepted 

by the Agency. 

Attorney Certification. The 

applicant’s attorney must review all 

applicable evidence to verify U.S. 

citizenship and/or qualified alien status, 

must certify that the Agency’s U.S. 

citizenship and/or qualified alien status 

eligibility requirements are met by all 

applicants, and must submit the 

certification for Agency review with the 

application. 

v. Documentation verifying the 

applicant is registered in the System for 

Award Management (SAM) and the 

applicant’s Unique Entity Identifier 

(UEI) number (unless exempt under 2 

CFR 25.110(b), (c), or (d)). 

vi. For applicants that are limited 

partnerships, a current and fully 

executed limited partnership agreement 

and certificates of limited partners. 

vii. For applicants that are limited 

liability corporations, evidence of 

organization under State and local law 

and a copy of the applicant’s Articles of 

Organization and Operating Agreement. 

viii. If a nonprofit organization: 

a. Tax-exempt ruling from the Internal 

Revenue Service designating them as a 

501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) organization. 

b. Purpose statement, including the 

provision of low-income housing. 

c. Evidence of organization under 

state and local law and a copy of the 

applicant’s charter, Articles of 

Incorporation, and By-laws. 

d. List of Board of Directors including 

names, occupations, phone numbers, 

and addresses. 

e. If a member or subsidiary of 

another organization, the organization’s 

name, address, and nature of business. 

ix. For entity applicants, a Certificate 

of Good Standing. 

x. Attorney Certification. Letter from 

the applicant’s attorney certifying the 

legal sufficiency of the organizational 

documents. The attorney must certify: 

a. The applicant’s legal capacity to 

successfully operate the proposed 

project for the life of the loan and/or 

grant. 

b. For entity applicants, that the 

organizational documents comply with 

applicable RHS regulations. 

c. For partnership or limited 

partnership applicants, that the term of 

the partnership extends at least through 

the latest maturity of all proposed RHS 

debt. 

d. For entity applicants, that the 

organizational documents require prior 

written RHS approval for any of the 

following: withdrawal of a general 

partner from a partnership or any 

member from an LLC, admission of a 

general partner to a partnership or any 

member to an LLC, amending the 

organizational documents, and selling 

all or substantially all of the assets of 

the applicant. 

e. For current RHS borrowers, that 

there have been no changes to either the 

ownership entity or the property that 

have not been approved by the RHS. 

(d) Provide the following information 

about the Project: 

i. Document the need for the project. 

The applicant must provide 

documentation that the average physical 

vacancy rate for the twelve (12) months 

preceding this Notice’s application 

submission due date has been no more 

than ten (10) percent for projects 

consisting of sixteen (16) or more 

revenue units, and no more than fifteen 

(15) percent for projects with less than 

sixteen (16) revenue units, unless the 

project is seasonal Off-FLH, or unless 

the applicant has an RHS approved 

workout plan and is in compliance with 

the provisions of the workout plan, and 

provides documentation that clearly 

demonstrates to the RHS that sufficient 

market demand exists. If the project is 

seasonal Off-FLH, the applicant must 

provide detailed documentation for the 

twenty-four (24) months preceding this 

Notice’s application submission due 

date that verifies the project’s 

operations, including information 

regarding the open and close date, leaseup, vacancy, rent rolls, waiting lists, 

operating budgets, and any other 

information the applicant wants to 

provide to document the need for the 

seasonal Off-FLH project. 

If the project does not meet the 

vacancy requirements above, a 

description of the cause of the vacancy 

rate and the plan to increase the 

occupancy rate must be submitted. The 

requested loan or grant funds must be 

needed to stabilize occupancy. In 

addition, if the project does not meet the 

vacancy requirements above, the 

project’s waiting list and documentation 

regarding the market area must be 

submitted to support the need for the 

project. The market area must be clearly 

identified and may include only the 

area from which tenants can reasonably 

be drawn to the project. For Off-Farm 

projects that do not meet the vacancy 

requirements above, documentation 

must be provided to justify the need 

within the primary market area for the 

housing of domestic farm laborers. The 

documentation must also consider 

disabled and retired farm workers and 

adjusted median incomes of very-low, 

low, and moderate. 

ii. Documentation that the project has 

a positive cash flow. The applicant must 

provide documentation that the project 

had a positive cash flow for the previous 

full three (3) years of operations 

preceding this Notice’s application 

submission due date. An exception 

applies for projects with an RHS 

approved workout plan wherein the 

applicant is in compliance with the 

provisions of the workout plan for a 

minimum of six consecutive months 

before becoming eligible for a loan and/ 

or grant under this Notice. Additionally, 

an exception will apply to projects that 

have a negative cash flow in operations 

if surplus cash exists in either the 

general operating account as defined in 

7 CFR 3560.306(d)(1) or the reserve 

account. Surplus cash exists when the 

balance is greater than the required 

deposits minus authorized withdrawals. 

The applicant must provide the project’s 

annual financial report(s) to document 

the project complies with this exception 

for each year the project has a negative 

cash flow, if applicable. Seasonal OffFLH properties that receive Operating 

Assistance (OA) are exempt from this 

requirement. 

(e) Provide the following construction 

related documents: 

i. Plans and specifications along with 

the proposed manner of construction. 

The housing must meet RHS’s design 

and construction standards contained in 


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7 CFR part 1924, subparts A and C, and 

must also meet all applicable Federal, 

State, and local accessibility standards 

and current codes. The plans and 

specifications along with the proposed 

manner of construction must be 

submitted prior to the approval of the 

application. The RHS will notify eligible 

applicants of the deadline to submit 

these materials. Also, applications for 

Off-FLH loans and grants must meet the 

design requirements in 7 CFR 3560.559. 

ii. Construction planning, bidding, 

and contract documents, including the 

construction contract and architectural 

agreement. The construction planning, 

bidding, and contract documents, 

including the construction contract and 

architectural agreement, must be 

submitted prior to the approval of the 

application. The RHS will notify eligible 

applicants of the deadline to submit 

these materials. 

iii. For Off-FLH projects that do not 

currently have interior/exterior washing 

facilities, applicants should consider 

incorporating interior/exterior washing 

facilities for tenants, as necessary to 

protect the asset and the tenants from 

excess dirt and chemical exposure. Such 

facilities might include a boot washing 

station or hose bibs, among others. 

iv. The applicant must submit a 

checklist, certification, and signed 

affidavit by the project architect or 

engineer, as applicable, for any energy 

programs in which the applicant 

intends to participate. 

v. An estimate of development costs 

utilizing Form RD 1924–13, ‘‘Estimate 

and Certificate of Actual Cost,’’ which 

can be found at: https://forms.sc.egov.

usda.gov/efcommon/eFileServices/ 

eForms/RD1924-13.PDF. 

(f) Provide the following project 

financing information: 

i. A Sources and Uses Statement 

which shows all sources of funding 

included in the proposed transaction. 

The terms and schedules of all sources 

included in the project should be 

included in the Sources and Uses 

Statement. (Note: A Section 516 grant 

may not exceed 90 percent of the total 

development cost (TDC) of the 

transaction.) 

ii. All applications that propose the 

use of any grant, leveraged funds, or 

similar funding source must submit firm 

commitment letters with their 

application, if available. Applicants 

dependent upon third-party funding, 

including but not limited to local, State, 

and Federal resources through 

competitive and noncompetitive 

application rounds, must obtain and 

submit to the Agency a satisfactory 

commitment of those funds, as 

determined by the Agency, upon 

receipt, but no later than the twelvemonth time frame, as specified in the 

award commitment. An extension of the 

award commitment of up to six months 

may be given, at the sole discretion of 

the Agency, and will be based on project 

viability, current program demand, and 

availability of program funds. 

Applicants unable to satisfy this 

condition of the award commitment will 

be subject to having the award 

rescinded and will be required to 

reapply in future funding 

announcements. 

iii. Description of how the applicant 

will meet the applicable equity 

contribution requirement. 

(g) Provide the following 

environmental information: 

i. Environmental information in 

accordance with the requirements of 7 

CFR part 1970. The applicant is 

responsible for preparing and 

submitting the environmental review 

document in accordance with the format 

and standards provided by RHS in 7 

CFR part 1970. Applicants may employ 

a design or environmental professional 

or technical service provider to assist 

them in the preparation of their 

environmental review documents at 

their own expense. 

ii. Evidence of the submission of the 

project description to the applicable 

State Housing Preservation Office 

(SHPO), and/or Tribal Historic 

Preservation Officer (THPO) with the 

request for comments, if applicable. A 

letter from the SHPO and/or THPO 

where the project is located, signed by 

their designee, will serve as evidence of 

compliance. 

iii. Intergovernmental review. 

Evidence of compliance with Executive 

Order 12372. Information is available on 

the USDA website at: https://

www.usda.gov/ocfo/federal-financialassistance-policy/intergovernmentalreview. The applicant must initiate the 

intergovernmental review by submitting 

the required information to the 

applicable State Clearinghouse. The 

applicant must provide documentation 

that the intergovernmental review 

process was completed. The applicant 

must also submit any comments that 

were received as part of this review to 

the agency. If no comments are received, 

the applicant must provide 

documentation that the review was 

properly initiated and that the required 

comment period has expired. 

Applications from Federally recognized 

Indian Tribes are not subject to this 

requirement. 

(h) Provide the following budget and 

project management information: 

i. A proposed post-transaction 

operating budget utilizing Form RD 

3560–7, ‘‘Multiple Family Housing 

Project Budget/Utility Allowance’’. 

Form can be found at: https://forms.sc.

egov.usda.gov/efcommon/eFileServices/ 

eForms/RD3560-7.PDF. The budget 

must include the debt service of the new 

RHS loan(s), if applicable. This will be 

a post transaction budget that must 

include a narrative which provides 

justification for any changes between 

the current budget and proposed budget. 

The RHS will review the budget to 

determine that the income and expenses 

are reasonable and customary for the 

area. The RHS will also verify that the 

budget reflects the new RHS loan debt 

service, if applicable, the existing RHS 

loan debt service, the number of units, 

unit mix, and rents. Overall, the RHS 

must review the budget for feasibility, 

accuracy, and reasonableness. 

ii. Form RD 3560–13, ‘‘Multifamily 

Project Borrower’s/Management Agent’s 

Management Certification,’’ can be 

found at: https://forms.sc.egov.

usda.gov//efcommon/eFileServices/ 

eForms/RD3560-13.PDF. This document 

is required only if the owner is changing 

the management agent or the 

management fee as part of this proposal. 

iii. Management plan with all 

attachments, including the proposed 

record keeping system, the proposed 

lease with an attorney’s certification and 

the proposed occupancy rules. This 

document is required only if the owner 

is changing the management agent or 

revising the management plan and any 

attachments as part of this proposal. 

iv. Management Agreement. This 

document is only required if the owner 

is changing the management agent or 

revising the management agreement and 

any attachments as part of this proposal. 

v. Tenant relocation plan, if 

applicable. Loans and/or grants that are 

made for major repair may require the 

temporary relocation of tenants while 

the project is undergoing work. The 

applicant must provide a plan and 

financial assistance for relocation of 

displaced persons from a site on which 

a project will be located. 

(i) Provide the following third-party 

reports: 


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i. Acceptable appraisal. Appraisals 

may be conditioned but will be required 

prior to closing. For Off-Farm projects, 

please refer to the Agency’s appraisal 

assignment guidance under the ‘‘To 

Apply’’ tab on the Off-Farm Labor 

Housing Direct Loans & Grants website 

(https://www.rd.usda.gov/programsservices/multifamily-housing-programs/ 

farm-labor-housing-direct-loansgrants#to-apply). For this funding type, 

applicants should use the appraisal 

assignment guidance named ‘‘MFH_

514_516_Off Farm_Rehabilitation Only_

Appraisal Assignment Guidance’’ or 

‘‘MFH_514_516_Off Farm_Transfer and 

Rehabilitation_Appraisal Assignment 

Guidance,’’ as applicable. 

For Section 515 projects, please refer 

to the Agency’s appraisal assignment 

guidance under the ‘‘To Apply’’ tab on 

the Multifamily Preservation and 

Revitalization (MPR) website (https://

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

multifamily-housing-programs/ 

multifamily-preservation-andrevitalization-mpr#to-apply). For this 

funding type, applicants should use the 

appraisal assignment guidance named 

‘‘MFH_515_Rehabilitation_Appraisal 

Assignment Guidance’’ or ‘‘MFH_515_

Transfer and Rehabilitation_Appraisal 

Assignment Guidance,’’ as applicable. 

Project funds may be used to obtain 

the appraisal if there are adequate funds 

available and the request to use project 

funds is approved by the Field 

Operations Division servicing official. 

No appraisal is required for 

subsequent Section 516 Off-FLH grant 

only requests. 

ii. An acceptable As-Is CNA in 

accordance with the requirements set 

forth in the CNA Template and CNA 

Process Addendum provided at https:// 

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

multifamily-housing-programs/ 

multifamily-housing-direct-loans#toapply. 

Project funds may be used to obtain 

the As-Is CNA if there are adequate 

funds available and the request to use 

project funds is approved by the Field 

Operations Division servicing official. 

The repair plan should be developed in 

accordance with the CNA and the 

applicant should submit documentation 

of the detailed plan and timeline for 

completion of the repair work. 

If any of the required items listed 

above, with the exception of the 

appraisal, are not submitted within the 

application in accordance with this 

Notice, or are incomplete, the 

application will be considered 

incomplete and will not be considered 

for funding. An acceptable appraisal 

will be required as a condition of 

funding but may be submitted prior to 

closing to minimize upfront third-party 

report costs for applicants. If the 

application is incomplete or deemed 

ineligible, the applicant will be notified 

of any applicable appeal rights under 7 

CFR part 11. Applications that are 

deemed eligible but are not selected for 

further processing due to a lack of 

funding will be withdrawn from 

processing and will be encouraged to 

apply to future Notices. This action is 

not appealable. 

The RHS will not consider 

information from the applicant after the 

application deadline, expect as 

expressly specified in this Notice. The 

RHS may contact the applicant to clarify 

other items in its application. The RHS 

will uniformly notify applicants of each 

curable deficiency. A curable deficiency 

is an error or oversight that if corrected 

it would not alter, in a positive or 

negative fashion, the review and rating 

of the application. An example of a 

curable (correctable) deficiency would 

be inconsistencies in the amount of the 

funding request. Non-curable 

deficiencies are threshold components 

that effect the review and rating of the 

application, including but not limited 

to, evidence of an eligible entity and 

evidence of the need for the project. 

Each application must address the 

applicable scoring criteria presented in 

this Notice for the type of funding being 

requested. 

(2) System for Award Management 

and Unique Entity Identifier. The 

System for Award Management (SAM) 

is the Official U.S. Government system 

for collection of forms for acceptance of 

a Federal award through the registration 

or annual recertification process. On 

April 4, 2022, the unique entity 

identifier used across the Federal 

Government changed from the Data 

Universal Numbering System (DUNS) 

Number to the Unique Entity ID (UEI) 

(generated by SAM.gov). 

All program applicants, unless 

exempt under 2 CFR 25.110(b), (c), or 

(d), are required to: 

i. Be registered in System Award 

Management (SAM) before submitting 

their applications; 

ii. Provide a valid Unique Entity ID 

(UEI) in their applications; and 

iii. Continue to maintain an active 

SAM registration with current 

information at all times during which 

they have an active Federal award or an 

application or plan under consideration 

by a Federal awarding agency. 

The Federal awarding agency may not 

make a Federal award to an applicant 

until the applicant has complied with 

all applicable SAM requirements and, if 

an applicant has not fully complied 

with the requirements by the time the 

Federal awarding agency is ready to 

make a Federal award, the Federal 

awarding agency may determine that the 

applicant is not qualified to receive a 

Federal award and use that 

determination as a basis for making a 

Federal award to another applicant. 

SAM is the Official U.S. Government 

system for collection of forms for 

acceptance of a Federal award through 

the registration or annual recertification 

process. Applicants may register for 

SAM at https://www.sam.gov or by 

calling 1–866–606–8220. The applicant 

must ensure that the information in the 

database is current, accurate, and 

complete. On April 4, 2022, the unique 

entity identifier used across the Federal 

Government changed from the DUNS 

Number to the UEI (generated by 

SAM.gov). As required by the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB), all 

applications must provide a UEI number 

when applying for Federal assistance. 

Instructions for obtaining the UEI are 

available at https://sam.gov/content/ 

entity-registration. Applicants must 

ensure they complete the Financial 

Assistance General Certifications and 

Representations in SAM. Similarly, all 

recipients of Federal financial assistance 

are required to report information about 

first-tier subawards and executive 

compensation in accordance with 2 CFR 

part 170. So long as an entity applicant 

does not have an exception under 2 CFR 

170.110(b), the applicant must have the 

necessary processes and systems in 

place to comply with the reporting 

requirements should the applicant 

receive funding. See 2 CFR 170.200(b). 

Additional information concerning 

these requirements can be obtained on 

the Grants.gov website at https://

www.grants.gov. The applicant must 

provide documentation that they are 

registered in SAM and their UEI number 

or the application will not be 

considered for funding. The following 

forms for acceptance of a Federal award 

are now collected through the 

registration or annual recertification in 

SAM.gov in the Financial Assistance 

General Certifications and 

Representations section: 

• Form AD–1047, ‘‘Certification 

Regarding Debarment, Suspension, and 

Other Responsibility Matters-Primary 

Covered Transactions.’’ 

• Form AD–1048, ‘‘Certification 

Regarding Debarment, Suspension, 

Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion. 

Lower Tier Covered Transactions.’’ 

• Form AD–1049, ‘‘Certification 

Regarding Drug-Free Workplace 

Requirements (Grants).’’ 

• Form AD–3031, ‘‘Assurance 

Regarding Felony Conviction or Tax 


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Delinquent Status for Corporate 

Applicants.’’ 

• Form AD–3030, ‘‘Representations 

Regarding Felony Conviction and Tax 

Delinquent Status for Corporate 

Applicants.’’ 

(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. 

H. Submission Information 

The Agency will not solicit, accept, or 

consider new scoring or eligibility 

information that is submitted after the 

application deadline. RHS reserves the 

right to ask applicants for clarifying 

information and additional verification 

of assertions in the application. All 

required application documents in 

accordance with this Notice must be 

submitted on or before 12 p.m. (ET) 

December 26, 2024. Please refer to the 

DATES section of this Notice for details. 

Last-minute requests and submissions 

may not allow adequate time for the 

submission process to take place prior 

to the application deadline. 

Applications will be rejected if not 

received by the deadline date and time, 

regardless of when submitted. The 

Agency is not liable for technical issues 

or system-related difficulties that affect 

an applicant’s ability to submit 

applications in a timely fashion in 

accordance with the instructions of this 

NOFA. Application submissions must 

meet all the requirements of this Notice. 

No application will be accepted after the 

deadline unless the date and time is 

extended by another Notice published 

in the Federal Register. Incomplete 

applications and applications submitted 

after the deadline will be rejected 

without being scored. 

Applicants are encouraged to include 

a checklist of all the application 

requirements and to index and tab their 

application to facilitate the review 

process: 

b Table of Contents citing all 

documents submitted; 

b Checklist of Application 

Requirements indexed in order; and 

b Application Scoring Criteria Sheet 

listing each of the scoring criteria 

contained in the Program Notice, 

followed by page number references 

for all supporting materials and 

documentation contained in the 

application package. 

I. Application Review Process 

The Agency will determine if 

applications meet the following criteria: 

• The application was received by the 

submission deadline; 

• The application is complete as 

specified in the NOFA; 

• The application is for an authorized 

purpose; and 

• The applicant meets Agency 

eligibility requirements. 

Applicants that are rejected by the 

Agency because they do not meet the 

criteria above will not be scored or 

ranked. Only applications meeting the 

above criteria will be scored and ranked. 

RHS will use the scoring and ranking 

factors outlined in this Notice for MPR 

and Section 515 RRH application(s). 

After the Agency’s initial assessment 

is complete, the Agency will score and 

rank complete and eligible 

application(s) as outlined in this Notice. 

The Agency will process the 

applications in order of their ranking 

(from highest score to lowest score) 

taking into account available funds. If 

any loan applications are withdrawn, 

rejected, or delayed for a period of time 

that will not permit funding in the 

current funding cycle, the Agency will 

process, in rank order, the next loan 

application as funding levels permit, 

subject to the goals for geographic 

distribution of funds as described in 

section D of this Notice. The Agency 

reserves the right to offer the applicant 

less than the funding amount requested. 

Upon completion of the funding round, 

the Agency will notify applicants of 

their score, upon request. 

J. Scoring Criteria 

Application scoring will be based on 

information provided in the 

applications and in Agency records. A 

minimum score of 20 points for scoring 

criteria (1) and (2), along with meeting 

all other eligibility requirements, e, will 

be required for a project to receive 

funding. Meeting the minimum scoring 

requirements does not guarantee 

funding. Points will be awarded as 

follows: 

(1) Development Team Experience (up 

to 15 points). Applicants should 

demonstrate their team’s recent 

experience in successfully completing 

the rehabilitation of affordable MFH 

and/or FLH projects, as applicable, in a 

timely manner. If other funding sources 

are being sought, RHS will consider the 

applicant’s experience with utilizing 

Federal financing programs, including 

timely project completion. A firm 

resume must be provided for all 

members of the applicant’s ownership 

entity and the proposed management 

team, including the management agent. 

The description or firm resumes must 

include any rental housing projects 

facilities that the applicant team 

sponsored, owns, or operates. To score 

the highest number of points for this 

factor, applicants must describe 

significant previous experience in 

development, rehabilitation, and 

preservation of affordable housing 

projects. Points will be awarded as 

follows: 

(a) Low level of development experience 

(5 points) 

(b) Medium level of development 

experience (10 points) 

(c) High level of development 

experience (15 points) 

(2) Ownership and Management 

Capacity (10 points). Applicants should 

demonstrate that they have the 

experience and organizational resources 

to successfully own, operate and 

manage affordable MFH and/or FLH 

projects on a long-term basis. A firm 

resume must be provided for all 

members of the applicant’s ownership 

entity and the proposed management 

team, including the management agent. 

Each resume must include FLH and 

affordable MFH ownership and 

management experience, as applicable. 

In addition, the resume should include 

a description of all similar projects that 

the applicant and Sponsors/CoSponsors have been involved with, to 

include whether they were Federal 

housing projects, and information 

regarding the success of the projects. 

Points will be awarded as follows: 

(a) Inadequate owner and management 

experience (0 points) 

(b) Acceptable owner and management 

experience (10 points) 

(3) Disaster-Impacted Properties (5 

points). Points may be awarded to 

projects that have been adversely 

impacted by the occurrence of a natural 

or man-made disaster that caused 

physical property damage or failure that 

is not fully reimbursable by property, 

casualty or liability insurance or any 

other form of third-party compensation, 

such as disaster loans and grants from 

other agencies. To qualify for points, 

properties must have outstanding repair 

and rehabilitation needs stemming from 

the natural or man-made disaster that 

have not been remedied due to 

inadequate insurance/third-party 

compensation. 

(4) Projects with Existing MPR Debt 

Deferrals Expiring Prior to January 1, 

2027 (5 points). Points are awarded to 

properties with an existing MPR debt 

deferral that is expiring prior to January 

1, 2027. Documentation of the existing 


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loan deferral(s) must be provided with 

the application. 

(5) Projects Reaching Mortgage 

Maturity Prior to January 1, 2027 (5 

points). Points are awarded if all Agency 

loans on the property have maturity 

dates prior to January 1, 2027. If the 

applicant is proposing a consolidation 

of two or more properties into a single 

project, all Agency loans on the 

consolidated project must have loan 

maturity dates prior to January 1, 2027, 

to receive points. 

(6) Non-Selected Projects with a 

Complete Application Submitted for 

Section 515 Subsequent Loan Funding 

in FY2023 (5 points). Points are 

awarded to projects for which a 

complete application was submitted for 

an FY2023 Section 515 Subsequent 

Loan but the project was not selected for 

funding. Applicants must provide a 

copy of the letter from the Agency 

indicating that a complete application 

was received but the project was not 

selected for funding. 

(7) Immediate Capital Needs for 

Health, Safety and Accessibility Repairs 

(up to 20 points). To receive points, 

applicants must submit a Capital Needs 

Assessment that includes 

documentation of the immediate health, 

safety and accessibility (H/S/A) repairs 

required for the property. Points will be 

awarded based on the percentage of 

project construction costs allocated for 

immediate H/S/A repairs and 

improvements. To receive points, 

applicants must clearly document the 

immediate H/S/A repairs and calculate 

the cost of those repairs as a percentage 

of the total project construction costs. 

Points will be awarded as follows: 

(a) Immediate H/S/A repairs >40% of 

construction costs: 20 points 

(b) Immediate H/S/A repairs 31–40% of 

construction costs: 15 points 

(c) Immediate H/S/A repairs 21–30% of 

construction costs: 10 points 

(d) Immediate H/S/A repairs 11–20% of 

construction costs: 5 points 

(8) Energy Efficiency and Green 

Building (up to 5 points). Points will be 

awarded to applicants demonstrating 

through written narrative how the 

proposed repair project meets energy 

efficiency, pollution mitigation or clean 

energy goals through the following 

programs. Applicants must submit the 

corresponding checklist, registrations in 

programs, and commitments signed by 

the owner, the architect, applicable 

mechanical, electrical plumbing, and 

structural engineers, and other programrequired green building professionals, 

energy modelers and raters as applicable 

to the programs selected for point 

consideration. 

(a) Program participation (3 points). 

Applicants will receive points for 

participation in one of the following 

programs: 

• EPA’s Energy Star Multifamily 

Certification or Energy Star Next Gen 

(https://www.energystar.gov/partner_

resources/residential_new/homes_

prog_reqs/multifamily_national_page) 

• DOE Zero Energy Ready Homes 

(https://www.energy.gov/eere/ 

buildings/zero-energy-ready-homes) 

• Earth Advantage (https://www.earth

advantage.org/) 

• Earthcraft Gold or Platinum (https://

earthcraft.org/programs/earthcrafthouse/) 

• Green Communities program by the 

Enterprise Community Partners (2020 

Criteria, EGC + Zero Ready/Phius) 

(https://www.enterprise

community.org/solutions-andinnovation/green-communities) 

• Greenpoint Gold or Platinum (https:// 

www.greenpointrated.com/ 

greenpoint-rated/) 

• The National Green Building 

Standard (–GBS)—Multifamily and 

Mixed Use (four levels of base 

certification, plus *NGBS Green + 

NET ZERO ENERGY 

CERTIFICATION) (https://www.home

innovation.com/services/certification/ 

green_homes/multifamily_

certification) 

• International Living Future Institute 

(ILFI) Living Building Challenge (LBC 

4.0—Core Building Certification, 

*Zero Energy, *Zero Carbon) (https:// 

living-future.org/lbc/) 

• LEED V4 Homes and Multifamily 

Midrise, or LEED BD+C: Homes and 

Multifamily Lowrise LEED BD+C: 

Multifamily Midrise (four levels of 

certification, plus *LEED Zero) 

(https://www.usgbc.org/resources/ 

leed-v4-homes-and-multifamilymidrise-current-version) 

• Passive House Institute US, Inc. 

(Phius Core, *Phius Zero) (https://

multifamily.phius.org/servicecategory/phius-within-reach) 

(b) Water Conservation (1 point). One 

point will be awarded for xeriscaping of 

site landscaping and/or water 

conservation in irrigation measures to 

include a recycled water (gray water or 

storm water) for landscape irrigation 

covering 50 percent or more of the 

property’s site landscaping needs. To 

receive points, the architect or 

consulting landscape architect must 

illustrate in narrative, draft 

specifications, and schematic drawings 

how this will be achieved. 

(c) Property Management Credentials 

(1 point). One point will be awarded if 

the designated property management 

company or individuals that will 

assume maintenance and operation 

responsibilities upon completion of 

construction work have a Credential for 

Green Property Management. 

Credentialing can be obtained from the 

National Apartment Association (NAA), 

National Affordable Housing 

Management Association, The Institute 

for Real Estate Management, U.S. Green 

Building Council Leadership in Energy 

and Environmental Design (USGBC 

LEED) for Operations and Maintenance, 

or another source with a certifiable 

credentialing program. To receive 

points, credentialing must be illustrated 

in the resume(s) of the property 

management team and included with 

the application. 

All projects awarded scoring points 

for energy initiatives will be required to 

enroll the project in the EPA Portfolio 

Manager program and the associated 

EPA Water Score program to track post 

construction energy consumption data 

as well as water usage. More 

information about this program may be 

found at: https://www.energystar.gov/ 

buildings/benchmark. 

(9) Leveraging Other Funding Sources 

(up to 15 points). Points will be 

allocated for applications that leverage 

other funds based on the percentage of 

leveraged funds. . Leveraged funds are 

defined as non-Section 514/515/516/ 

MPR funds, including third-party funds 

from equity, grants, loans and deferred 

developer fees. Points are calculated as 

follows: 

(a) Leveraged funds/TDC is greater than 

50%: 15 points 

(b) Leveraged funds/TDC is 26–50%: 10 

points 

(c) Leveraged funds/TDC is 11–25%: 5 

points 

(10) Projects Providing Access to 

Supportive Services for Tenants (5 

points). Points are awarded to projects 

that employ a Service Coordinator, 

documented as a project expense in the 

most recent agency-approved Form RD 

3560–7 Multifamily Housing Project 

Budget/Utility Allowance, or include 

units designated as permanent 

supportive units or for homeless 

households, documented by an 

agreement with another Federal or State 

funding source. To receive points, the 

applicant must describe the basis for 

claiming points (i.e., service coordinator 

and/or permanent supportive housing/ 

homeless unit set-aside) and provide 

documentation to include the Form 

3560–7 and/or an agreement describing 

the terms and conditions for the units 

designated as permanent supportive 

housing or for homeless households, as 

applicable. 


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(11) Creating More and Better 

Markets: Assisting rural communities to 

recover economically through more and 

better market opportunities through 

improved infrastructure. (5 points). 

Applicants receive priority points if the 

project is located in or serving a rural 

community whose economic well-being 

ranks in the most distressed tier of the 

Distressed Communities Index. The 

Distressed Communities Index provides 

a score between 1–100 for every 

community at the zip code level. The 

most distressed tier of the index are 

those communities with a score over 80. 

Applicants should use the Distressed 

Communities Index Look-Up Map to 

determine if the project qualifies for 

priority points. Provide a copy of the 

map showing the project is eligible to 

claim points. 

Note: U.S. Territories are considered 

distressed and qualify for priority points. For 

additional information on data sources used 

for this priority determination, please 

download the Data Sources for Rural 

Development Priorities document at the 

website: https://www.rd.usda.gov/media/file/ 

download/rd-ic-prioritiesdatasupplemental

updatedfy2024.pdf. Additional information 

for priority points can be found on the 

following website: https://www.rd.usda.gov/ 

priority-points. 

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

Ensuring all rural residents have 

equitable access to RD programs and 

benefits from RD funded projects. (5 

points). Applicants receive priority 

points if the project is located in or 

serving a community with a score of 

0.75 or above on the Centers for Disease 

Control and Prevention (CDC) Social 

Vulnerability Index. Applicants should 

use Social Vulnerability Index Map look 

up map or list to determine if the project 

qualifies for points. Provide a copy of 

the map showing the project is eligible 

to claim points. Applications from 

Federally Recognized Tribes, including 

Tribal instrumentalities and entities that 

are wholly owned by Tribes will receive 

points. Federally Recognized Tribes are 

classified as any Indian or Alaska Native 

Tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, or 

community as defined by the Federally 

Recognized Indian Tribe List Act (List 

Act) of 1994 (Pub. L. 103–454). Please 

refer to the Bureau of Indian Affairs for 

a listing of Federally Recognized Tribes 

at 89 FR 944 (January 8, 2024) (https:// 

www.federalregister.gov/documents/ 

2024/01/08/2024-00109/indian-entitiesrecognized-by-and-eligible-to-receiveservices-from-the-united-states-bureauof). Additionally, projects where at least 

50% of the project beneficiaries are 

members of Federally Recognized 

Tribes, will receive points if 

applications from non-Tribal applicants 

include a Tribal Resolution of Consent 

from the Tribe or Tribes that the 

applicant is proposing to serve. Note: 

U.S. Territories are considered socially 

vulnerable and qualify for points. 

An applicant would receive priority 

points if the project is an application 

from or benefiting a Rural Partner’s 

Network’s (RPN) community network. 

Currently RPN Networks exist in 

Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, Kentucky, 

Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, 

North Carolina, Puerto Rico, West 

Virginia, and Wisconsin. Use the 

Community Look-Up map available at 

www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points to 

determine if your project qualifies. 

Please provide a map or other 

documentation showing that the project 

is located in an RPN community 

network. 

For additional information on data 

sources used for this priority 

determination, please download the 

Data Sources for Rural Development 

Priorities document at the website: 

https://www.rd.usda.gov/media/file/ 

download/rd-ic-prioritiesdata

supplementalupdatedfy2024.pdf. 

Additional information for priority 

points can be found on the following 

website: https://www.rd.usda.gov/ 

priority-points. 

(13) Addressing Climate Change and 

Environmental Justice: Reducing 

climate pollution and increasing 

resilience to the impacts of climate 

change through economic support for 

rural communities (5 points). 

Applicants can receive points through 

one of the options listed below. A 

maximum of 5 points can be received 

even if the applicant meets the 

requirements for both options. 

Option 1: Points will be awarded 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). CEJST is a tool to help 

Federal agencies identify disadvantaged 

communities that will benefit from 

programs included in the Justice40 

initiative. Census tracts are considered 

disadvantaged if they meet the 

thresholds for at least one of the CEJST’s 

eight (8) categories of burden: Climate, 

Energy, Health, Housing, Legacy 

Pollution, Transportation, Water and 

Wastewater, or Workforce Development. 

Option 2: Points will be awarded if 

the project is located in or serves an 

Energy Community as defined by the 

Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The IRA 

defines energy communities as: 

• A ‘‘brownfield site’’ (as defined in 

certain subparagraphs of the 

Comprehensive Environmental 

Response, Compensation, and Liability 

Act of 1980 (CERCLA)). 

• A ‘‘metropolitan statistical area’’ or 

‘‘non-metropolitan statistical area’’ that 

has (or had at any time after 2009). 

• 0.17% or greater direct employment 

or 25% or greater local tax revenues 

related to the extraction, processing, 

transport, or storage of coal, oil, or 

natural gas, and has an unemployment 

rate at or above the national average 

unemployment rate for the previous 

year. 

• A census tract (or directly adjoining 

census tract) in which a coal mine has 

closed after 1999, or in which a coalfired electric generating unit has been 

retired after 2009. 

To determine if your project qualifies 

for points under Option 1 or Option 2, 

please use the Disadvantaged 

Community & Energy Community LookUp Map on the following website: 

https://www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points. 

Provide a copy of the map showing the 

project is eligible to claim points. 

K. Federal Award Administration 

Information 

1. Federal Award Notices 

Successful applicants will receive 

notification by email for funding from 

the USDA Rural Development Office of 

Multifamily Housing. Applicants must 

comply with all applicable statutes and 

regulations before the award will be 

approved. Receipt of an award letter 

does not serve to authorize the applicant 

to commence performance under the 

award. Award letters will include 

conditions that must be met prior to 

award closing. Unsuccessful 

applications will receive notification by 

email, detailing why the application 

was unsuccessful. 

2. Administrative and National Policy 

Requirements 

There are no known unusual 

Administrative and National Policy 

Requirements associated with this 

program under this Notice. 

3. Reporting 

Performance reporting, including 

applicable forms, narratives, and other 

documentation, are to be completed and 

submitted in accordance with the 

provisions of 7 CFR 3560.308 and the 

Grant Agreement. 

Borrowers must maintain separate 

financial records for the operation and 

maintenance of the project and for 

tenant services. Tenant services will not 

be funded by RHS. Funds allocated to 

the operation and maintenance of the 

project may not be used to supplement 


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the cost of tenant services, nor may 

tenant service funds be used to 

supplement the project operation and 

maintenance. Detailed financial reports 

regarding tenant services will not be 

required unless specifically requested 

by RHS, and then only to the extent 

necessary for RHS and the borrower to 

discuss the affordability (and 

competitiveness) of the service provided 

to the tenant. The project audit, or 

verification of accounts on Form RD 

3560–10, ‘‘Borrower Balance Sheet,’’ 

together with an accompanying Form 

RD 3560–7, ‘‘Multiple Family Housing 

Project Budget/Utility Allowance,’’ must 

allocate revenue and expenses between 

project operations and the tenant 

services component. 

L. Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s) 

For general questions about this 

announcement, please contact Jonathan 

D. Bell, Director, Processing and Report 

Review Branches, Production and 

Preservation Division, MFH, RD, USDA, 

via email: MFHprocessing1@usda.gov or 

telephone: (202) 205–9217. 

M. Build America, Buy America 

Funding to Non-Federal Entities: Forprofit entities and other entities not 

included in the definition of NonFederal Entities, defined pursuant to 2 

CFR 200.1, are not subject to the Build 

America, Buy America Act (BABAA). 

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs 

Act (IIJA) (Pub. L. 117–58), requires the 

following Buy America preference for 

the Multifamily Housing Revitalization 

Demonstration Program (MPR) 

(Assistance Listing 10.447) and the 

Section 515 Direct Loan program: 

(a) All iron and steel used in the 

project are produced in the United 

States. This means all manufacturing 

processes, from the initial melting stage 

through the application of coatings, 

occurred in the United States. 

(b) All manufactured products used in 

the project are produced in the United 

States. This means the manufactured 

product was manufactured in the 

United States, and the cost of the 

components of the manufactured 

product that are mined, produced, or 

manufactured in the United States is 

greater than 55 percent of the total cost 

of all components of the manufactured 

product, unless another standard for 

determining the minimum amount of 

domestic content of the manufactured 

product has been established under 

applicable law or regulation. 

(c) All construction materials are 

manufactured in the United States. This 

means that all manufacturing processes 

for the construction material occurred in 

the United States. 

Awards under this announcement for 

infrastructure projects to 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 BABAA within the 

IIJA, and its implementing regulations. 

Infrastructure projects include 

structures, facilities, and equipment that 

generate, transport, and distribute fuel 

or energy, including electric vehicle 

(EV) charging stations. Infrastructure 

projects also include structures, 

facilities, and equipment for roads, 

highways, and bridges; public 

transportation; dams, ports, harbors, and 

other maritime facilities; intercity 

passenger and freight railroads; freight 

and intermodal facilities; airports; water 

systems, including drinking water and 

wastewater systems; electrical 

transmission facilities and systems; 

utilities; broadband infrastructure; and 

buildings and real property. 

In accordance with BABAA, however, 

USDA has determined that de minimis, 

small grants, and minor components 

shall be waived from the requirements 

of BABAA, pursuant to a public interest 

waiver that was granted to the 

Department on September 13, 2022. 

Under such waiver, small grants below 

the Simplified Acquisition Threshold, 

which is currently set at $250,000 shall 

not be subject to BABAA. Additionally, 

de minimis and minor components, as 

described in the Department waiver, are 

also not subject to BABAA. 

Applicants and projects that are 

subject to BABAA may request other 

specific waivers, pursuant to the 

requirements posted at the USDA Office 

of the Chief Financial Officer Office 

website: https://www.usda.gov/ocfo/ 

federal-financial-assistance-policy/ 

USDABuyAmericaWaiver. 

N. Other Information 

(a) 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 0570–0190. 

(b) National Environmental Policy 

Act. All recipients under this Notice are 

subject to the requirements of 7 CFR 

part 1970. 

(c) Federal Funding Accountability 

and Transparency Act. All applicants, 

in accordance with 2 CFR part 25 

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

part-25), must be registered in SAM and 

have a UEI number as stated in 

‘‘GENERAL SECTION’’ of this Notice. 

All recipients of Federal financial 

assistance are required to report 

information about first-tier sub-awards 

and executive total compensation in 

accordance with 2 CFR part 170 (https:// 

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

(d) Debarment and Suspension. 

Applicants are not eligible if they have 

been debarred or suspended or 

otherwise excluded from, or ineligible 

for, participation in Federal assistance 

programs under 2 CFR parts 180 and 

417. The Applicant will be required to 

comply with the requirement in 2 CFR 

180.335. 

(e) 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, 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. 

(f) Non-Discrimination Policy. 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 

Federal 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 


lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
79242 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 188 / Friday, September 27, 2024 / Notices 

1See Initiation of Five-Year (Sunset) Reviews, 89 

FR 47525 (June 3, 2024); see also Antidumping Duty 

Order; Raw Flexible Magnets from the People’s 

Republic of China, 73 FR 53847 (September 17, 

2008); and Antidumping Duty Order: Raw Flexible 

Magnets from Taiwan, 73 FR 53848 (September 17, 

2008) (collectively, Orders). 

2See Magnum’s Letters, ‘‘Notice of Intent to 

Participate,’’ dated June 14, 2024. 

3See Magnum’s Letters, ‘‘Substantive Response,’’ 

dated June 28, 2024. 

4See Commerce’s Letter, ‘‘Sunset Reviews 

Initiated on June 3, 2024,’’ dated July 23, 2024. 

5See Memorandum, ‘‘Tolling of Deadlines for 

Antidumping and Countervailing Duty 

Proceedings,’’ dated July 22, 2024. 

6See Memorandum, ‘‘Decision Memorandum for 

the Final Results of the Expedited Third Sunset 

Reviews of the Antidumping Duty Orders on raw 

flexible magnets from the People’s Republic of 

China and Taiwan,’’ dated concurrently with, and 

hereby adopted by, this notice (Issues and Decision 

Memorandum). 7 Id. 

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. 

Yvonne Hsu, 

Acting Administrator, Rural Housing Service. 

[FR Doc. 2024–22177 Filed 9–24–24; 4:15 pm] 

BILLING CODE 3410–XV–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

International Trade Administration 

[A–570–922, A–583–842] 

Raw Flexible Magnets From the 

People’s Republic of China and 

Taiwan: Final Results of the Expedited 

Third Sunset Reviews of the 

Antidumping Duty Orders 

AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, 

International Trade Administration, 

Department Commerce. 

SUMMARY: As a result of these third 

expedited sunset reviews, the U.S. 

Department of Commerce (Commerce) 

finds that revocation of the antidumping 

duty orders on raw flexible magnets 

from the People’s Republic of China 

(China) and Taiwan would be likely to 

lead to continuation or recurrence of 

dumping at the levels indicated in the 

‘‘Final Results of Expedited Sunset 

Reviews’’ section of this notice. 

DATES: Applicable September 27, 2024. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Garry Kasparov, AD/CVD Operations, 

Office I, Enforcement and Compliance, 

International Trade Administration, 

U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 

Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, 

DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482–1397. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

On June 3, 2024, Commerce published 

in the Federal Register the initiation of 

the third sunset reviews of antidumping 

duty orders on raw flexible magnets 

from China and Taiwan pursuant to 

section 751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930, 

as amended (the Act).1

On June 14, 2024, we received a 

timely notice of intent to participate in 

these sunset reviews from Magnum 

Magnetics Corporation (Magnum), a 

domestic interested party, pursuant to 

19 CFR 351.218(d)(1)(i).2 Magnum 

claimed interested party status under 

section 771(9)(C) of the Act as a 

manufacturer of a domestic like product 

in the United States. On June 28, 2024, 

Magnum provided complete substantive 

responses for these reviews within the 

30-day deadline specified in 19 CFR 

351.2218(d)(3)(i).3 Commerce did not 

receive substantive responses from any 

respondent parties, and no party 

requested a hearing. 

On July 23, 2024, Commerce notified 

the U.S. International Trade 

Commission that it did not receive an 

adequate substantive response from 

other interested parties.4 As a result, in 

accordance with section 751(c)(3)(B) of 

the Act and 19 CFR 

351.218(e)(1)(ii)(C)(2), Commerce 

conducted expedited, i.e., 120-day, 

sunset reviews of the Orders. On July 

22, 2024, Commerce tolled certain 

deadlines in this administrative 

proceeding by seven days.5 The 

deadline for these final results is now 

October 8, 2024. 

Scope of the Orders 

The products covered by the Orders 

are are certain flexible magnets 

regardless of shape, color, or packaging. 

For a full description of the scope of the 

Orders, see the Issues and Decision 

Memorandum.6

Analysis of the Comments Received 

A complete discussion of all issues 

raised in this sunset review, including 

the likelihood of continuation or 

recurrence of dumping and the 

magnitude of the dumping margin likely 

to prevail if the Order were to be 

revoked, is provided in the 

accompanying Issues and Decision 

Memorandum.7 A list of topics 

discussed in the Issues and Decision 

Memorandum is included as the 

appendix to this notice. The Issues and 

Decision Memorandum is a public 

document and is on file electronically 

via Enforcement and Compliance’s 

Antidumping and Countervailing Duty 

Centralized Electronic Service System 

(ACCESS). ACCESS is available to 

registered users at https://access.

trade.gov. In addition, a complete 

version of the Issues and Decision 

Memorandum can be accessed directly 

at https://access.trade.gov/public/ 

FRNoticesListLayout.aspx. 

Final Results of Sunset Reviews 

Pursuant to sections 751(c)(1) and 

752(c)(1) and (3) of the Act, Commerce 

determines that revocation of the Orders 

would be likely to lead to continuation 

or recurrence of dumping and that the 

magnitude of the margins of dumping 

likely to prevail would be margins up to 

185.28 percent for China and up to 

38.03 percent for Taiwan. 

Administrative Protective Order 

This notice serves as the only 

reminder to parties subject to an 

administrative protective order (APO) of 

their responsibility concerning the 

disposition of proprietary information 

disclosed under APO in accordance 

with 19 CFR 351.305(a). Timely written 

notification of the return or destruction 

of APO materials or conversion to 

judicial protective order is hereby 

requested. Failure to comply with the 

regulations and terms of an APO is a 

violation which is subject to sanction. 

Notification to Interested Parties 

We are issuing, and publishing notice 

of, the final results of these sunset 

reviews in accordance with sections 

751(c), 752(c), and 777(i)(1) of the Act 

and 19 CFR 351.218(e)(1)(ii)(C)(2) and 

19 CFR 351.221(c)(5)(ii). 

Dated: September 23, 2024. 

Abdelali Elouaradia, 

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Enforcement 

and Compliance. 

Appendix 

List of Topics Discussed in the Issues and 

Decision Memorandum 

I. Summary 

II. Background 

III. Scope of the Orders 

IV. History of the Orders 

V. Legal Framework 

VI. Discussion of the Issues 


lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1