Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 29 / Thursday, February 12, 2015 / Notices 7829 

Committee charter for a two-year term to 

expire on September 2, 2016. The 

purpose of the Committee is to advise 

the Secretary of Agriculture on the 

scope, timing, content, etc., of the 

periodic censuses and surveys of 

agriculture, other related surveys, and 

the types of information to obtain from 

respondents concerning agriculture. The 

Committee also prepares 

recommendations regarding the content 

of agriculture reports and presents the 

views and needs for data of major 

suppliers and users of agriculture 

statistics. 

DATES: The nomination period for 

interested candidates will close 

February 27, 2015. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit 

nominations by any of the following 

methods: 

• Email: Scan the completed form 

and email to: HQSDOD@nass.usda.gov. 

• eFax: (855) 593–5473. 

• Mail: Nominations should be 

mailed to Hubert Hamer, Executive 

Director, Agricultural Statistics Board, 

National Agricultural Statistics Service, 

U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 

Independence Avenue SW., Room 5431 

South Building, Washington, DC 20250– 

2010. 

• Hand Delivery/Courier: Hand 

deliver to: Hubert Hamer, Executive 

Director, Agricultural Statistics Board, 

National Agricultural Statistics Service, 

U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 

Independence Avenue SW., Room 5431 

South Building, Washington, DC 20250– 

2010. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Hubert Hamer, Executive Director, 

Agricultural Statistics Board, National 

Agricultural Statistics Service, (202) 

720–3896. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Each 

person nominated to serve on the 

committee is required to submit the 

following form: AD–755 (Advisory 

Committee Membership Background 

Information, OMB Number 0505–0001), 

available on the Internet at http://

www.usda.gov/documents/OCIO_AD_

755_Master_2012.pdf. This form may 

also be requested by telephone, fax, or 

email using the information above. 

Completed forms may be faxed to the 

number above, mailed, or completed 

and emailed directly from the Internet 

site. NASS is seeking additional 

nominations to fill vacancies on the 

Advisory Committee on Agriculture 

Statistics. The original invitation for 

nominations ran from September 18, 

2014 to October 24, 2014. Applications 

submitted during this time frame will be 

considered along with additional 

nominations received through this 

announcement. 

For more information on the Advisory 

Committee on Agriculture Statistics, see 

the NASS Web site at http://

www.nass.usda.gov. At the top of the 

homepage, click on the tab titled ‘‘About 

NASS‘‘. The ‘‘Advisory Committee on 

Agricultural Statistics’’ button is along 

the right column. 

The Committee draws on the 

experience and expertise of its members 

to form a collective judgment 

concerning agriculture data collected 

and the statistics issued by NASS. This 

input is vital to keep current with 

shifting data needs in the rapidly 

changing agricultural environment and 

keeps NASS informed of emerging 

issues in the agriculture community that 

can affect agricultural statistics 

activities. 

The Committee, appointed by the 

Secretary of Agriculture, consists of 20 

members representing a broad range of 

disciplines and interests, including, but 

not limited to, producers, 

representatives of national farm 

organizations, agricultural economists, 

rural sociologists, farm policy analysts, 

educators, State agriculture 

representatives, and agriculture-related 

business and marketing experts. 

Members serve staggered 2-year terms, 

with terms for half of the Committee 

members expiring in any given year. 

Nominations are being sought for 6 open 

Committee seats. Members can serve up 

to 3 terms for a total of 6 consecutive 

years. The Chairperson of the 

Committee shall be elected by members 

to serve a 1-year term. 

Equal opportunity practices, in line 

with USDA policies, will be followed in 

all membership appointments to the 

Committee. To ensure that the 

recommendations of the Committee 

have taken into account the needs of the 

diverse groups served by USDA, 

membership will include to the extent 

possible, individuals with demonstrated 

ability to represent the needs of all 

racial and ethnic groups, women and 

men, and persons with disabilities. 

The duties of the Committee are 

solely advisory. The Committee will 

make recommendations to the Secretary 

of Agriculture with regards to the 

agricultural statistics programs of NASS, 

and such other matters as it may deem 

advisable, or which the Secretary of 

Agriculture; Under Secretary for 

Research, Education, and Economics; or 

the Administrator of NASS may request. 

The Committee will meet at least 

annually. All meetings are open to the 

public. Committee members are 

reimbursed for official travel expenses 

only. 

Send questions, comments, and 

requests for additional information to 

the email address, fax number, or 

address listed above. 

Signed at Washington, DC, January 30, 

2015. 

Joseph T. Reilly, 

Administrator, National Agricultural 

Statistics Service. 

[FR Doc. 2015–02945 Filed 2–11–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–20–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Rural Utilities Service 

Announcement of Grant and Loan 

Application Deadlines 

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice of Solicitation of 

Applications. 

SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service 

(RUS) announces its Revolving Fund 

Program (RFP) application window for 

Fiscal Year (FY) 2015. 

The RFP is authorized under section 

306(a)(2)(B) of the Consolidated Farm 

and Rural Development Act (Con Act), 

7 U.S.C. 1926 (a)(2)(B). Under the RFP, 

qualified private, non-profit 

organizations may receive RFP grant 

funds to establish a lending program for 

eligible entities. Eligible entities for the 

revolving loan fund will be the same 

entities eligible, under paragraph 1 or 2 

of Section 306(a) of the Con Act, 7 

U.S.C. 1926(a)(1) or (b)(2), to obtain a 

loan, loan guarantee, or grant from the 

RUS Water, Waste Disposal and 

Wastewater loan and grant programs. 

This year administrative discretion 

points may be awarded for work plans 

that: Direct loans to the smallest 

communities with the lowest incomes 

emphasizing areas where according to 

the American Community Survey data 

by census tracts show that at least 20 

percent of the population is living in 

poverty. This emphasis will support 

Rural Development’s goal of providing 

20 percent of its funding by 2016 to 

these areas of need; 

Direct loans to areas that lack running 

water, flush toilets, and modern sewage 

disposal systems, and areas which have 

open sewers and high rates of disease 

caused by poor sanitation, in particular, 

colonias or Substantially Underserved 

Trust Areas; and 

Direct loans that emphasize energy 

and water efficient components to 

reduce costs and increase sustainability 

of rural systems. 

RUS will publish on its Web site at 

http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/UWPrevolvingfund.html the amount of 


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funding received in the FY2015 

Appropriations Act, if any. 

DATES: You may submit completed 

applications for grants on paper or 

electronically according to the following 

deadlines: 

• Paper copies must be postmarked 

and mailed, shipped, or sent overnight 

no later than April 13, 2015 to be 

eligible for FY2015 grant funding. Late 

or incomplete applications will not be 

eligible for FY2015 grant funding. 

• Electronic copies must be received 

by April 13, 2015 to be eligible for 

FY2015 grant funding. Late or 

incomplete applications will not be 

eligible for FY2015 grant funding. 

ADDRESSES: You may obtain application 

guides and materials for the RFP 

program at the Water and 

Environmental Programs (WEP) Web 

site: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/UWPrevolvingfund.html. You may also 

request application guides and materials 

by contacting Joyce M. Taylor at (202) 

720–0499. 

Submit completed paper applications 

for RFP grants to the Rural Utilities 

Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 

1400 Independence Avenue SW., Room 

2233, STOP 1570, Washington, DC 

20250–1570. Applications should be 

marked Attention: Joyce M. Taylor, 

Water and Environmental Programs. 

Submit electronic grant applications 

at http://www.grants.gov (Grants.gov) 

and follow the instructions you find on 

that Web site. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Joyce M. Taylor, Community Programs 

Specialist, Water Programs Division, 

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural 

Utilities Service, STOP 1570, Room 

2233–S, 1400 Independence Avenue 

SW., Washington, DC 20250–1570; 

Telephone: (202) 720–0499: Fax: (202) 

690–0649. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Overview 

Federal Agency: Rural Utilities 

Service (RUS). 

Funding Opportunity Title: Grant 

Program to Establish a Fund for 

Financing Water and Wastewater 

Projects (Revolving Fund Program 

(RFP)). 

Announcement Type: Solicitation of 

Applications. 

Catalog of Federal Domestic 

Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.864. 

Due Date for Applications: 

Applications must be mailed, shipped 

or submitted electronically through 

Grants.gov no later than April 13, 2015 

to be eligible for FY2015 grant funding. 

Items in Supplementary Information 

I. Funding Opportunity: Brief introduction to 

the RFP. 

II. Award Information: To be determined. 

III. Eligibility Information: Who is eligible, 

what kinds of projects are eligible, what 

criteria determine basic eligibility. 

IV. Application and Submission Information: 

Where to get application materials, what 

constitutes a completed application, how 

and where to submit applications, 

deadlines, items that are eligible. 

V. Application Review Information: 

Considerations and preferences, scoring 

criteria, review standards, selection 

information. 

VI. Award Administration Information: 

Award notice information, award 

recipient reporting requirements. 

VII. Agency Contacts: Web, phone, fax, email, 

contact name. 

VIII. Non-Discrimination Statement. 

I. Funding Opportunity 

Drinking water systems are basic and 

vital to both health and economic 

development. With dependable water 

facilities, rural communities can attract 

families and businesses that will invest 

in the community and improve the 

quality of life for all residents. Without 

dependable water facilities, the 

communities cannot sustain economic 

development. 

RUS provides financial and technical 

assistance to help communities bring 

safe drinking water and sanitary, 

environmentally sound waste disposal 

facilities to rural Americans. It supports 

the sound development of rural 

communities and the growth of our 

economy without endangering the 

environment. 

The Revolving Fund Program (RFP) 

has been established under 7 CFR part 

1783 to assist communities with water 

or wastewater systems. Qualified 

private, non-profit organizations, who 

are selected for funding, will receive 

RFP grant funds to establish a lending 

program for eligible entities. Eligible 

entities for the revolving loan fund will 

be the same entities eligible to obtain a 

loan, loan guarantee, or grant from the 

Water and Waste Disposal loan and 

grant programs administered by RUS, 

under 7 U.S.C.1926(a)(1) and (2). As 

grant recipients, the non-profit 

organizations will set up a revolving 

loan fund to provide loans to finance 

predevelopment costs of water or 

wastewater projects, or short-term small 

capital projects not part of the regular 

operation and maintenance of current 

water and wastewater systems. The 

amount of financing to an eligible entity 

shall not exceed $100,000.00 and shall 

be repaid in a term not to exceed 10 

years. The rate shall be determined in 

the approved grant work plan. 

II. Award Information 

Available funds: To be determined. 

This Notice is being issued prior to 

passage of an FY2015 Appropriations 

Act, which may or may not provide an 

appropriation for this program, in order 

to allow applicants sufficient time to 

prepare and submit applications and to 

provide the Agency time to process the 

applications in a timely fashion. 

Successful applications will be selected 

by RUS for funding and subsequently 

awarded to the extent that funding may 

ultimately be made available to RUS 

through appropriations. RUS will 

publish on its Web site the amount of 

funding received in the final FY2015 

Appropriations Act, if any. 

III. Eligibility Information 

A. Who is eligible to apply? 

An applicant is eligible to apply for 

the RFP grant if it: 

1. Is a private, non-profit organization; 

2. Is legally established and located 

within one of the following: 

(a) A state within the United States; 

(b) The District of Columbia; 

(c) The Commonwealth of Puerto 

Rico; or 

(d) A United States territory; 

3. Has the legal capacity and authority 

to carry out the grant purpose; 

4. Has a proven record of successfully 

operating a revolving loan fund to rural 

areas; 

5. Has capitalization acceptable to the 

Agency, and is composed of at least 51 

percent of the outstanding interest or 

membership being citizens of the United 

States or individuals who reside in the 

United States after being legally 

admitted for permanent residence; 

6. Has no delinquent debt to the 

Federal Government or no outstanding 

judgments to repay a Federal debt; 

7. Demonstrates that it possesses the 

financial, technical, and managerial 

capability to comply with Federal and 

State laws and requirements; and 

8. Is not a corporation that has been 

convicted of a felony (or had an officer 

or agent acting on behalf of the 

corporation convicted of a felony) 

within the past 24 months. Any 

Corporation that has any unpaid federal 

tax liability that has been assessed, for 

which all judicial and administrative 

remedies have been exhausted or have 

lapsed, and that is not being paid in a 

timely manner pursuant to an agreement 

with the authority responsible for 

collecting the tax liability is not eligible. 

B. What are the basic eligibility 

requirements for a project? 

1. The following activities are 

authorized under the RFP statute: 


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(a) Grant funds must be used to 

capitalize a revolving fund program for 

the purpose of providing direct loan 

financing to eligible entities for predevelopment costs associated with 

proposed or with existing water and 

wastewater systems, or, 

(b) Short-term costs incurred for 

equipment replacement, small-scale 

extension of services, or other small 

capital projects that are not part of the 

regular operations and maintenance 

activities of existing water and 

wastewater systems. 

2. Grant funds may not be used to pay 

any of the following: 

(a) Payment of the Grant Recipient’s 

administrative costs or expenses, or, 

(b) Delinquent debt owed to the 

Federal Government. 

IV. Application and Submission 

Information 

A. The Grant Application Guide, Copies 

of Necessary Forms and Samples, and 

the RFP Regulation Are Available From 

These Sources 

1. The Internet: http://

www.rurdev.usda.gov/UWPrevolvingfund.html or http://

www.grants.gov. 

2. For paper copies of these materials, 

you may call (202) 720–9589. 

B. You May File an Application in 

Either Paper or Electronic Format 

Whether you file a paper or an 

electronic application, you will need a 

DUNS number. 

1. DUNS Number. 

The applicant for a grant must supply 

a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal 

Numbering System (DUNS) number as 

part of an application. The Standard 

Form 424 (SF–424) contains a field for 

the DUNS number. The applicant can 

obtain the DUNS number free of charge 

by calling Dun and Bradstreet. Please 

see http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform for 

more information on how to obtain a 

DUNS number or how to verify your 

organization’s number. 

In accordance with 2 CFR part 25, 

whether applying electronically or by 

paper, the applicant must register in the 

System for Award Management (SAM) 

(formerly Central Contractor Registry, 

(CCR)) prior to submitting an 

application. Applicants may register for 

the SAM at https://www.sam.gov/portal/ 

public/SAM/. The SAM registration 

must remain active with current 

information at all times while RUS is 

considering an application or while a 

Federal Grant Award or loan is active. 

To remain registered in the SAM 

database the applicant must review and 

update the information in the SAM 

database annually from date of initial 

registration or from the date of the last 

update. The applicant must ensure that 

the information in the database is 

current, accurate, and complete. 

2. Applications submitted by paper: 

(a) Send or deliver paper applications 

by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) or 

courier delivery services to: Water and 

Environmental Programs, Rural Utilities 

Service, 1400 Independence Avenue 

SW., Attention: Joyce M. Taylor, Mail 

STOP 1570, Room 2233–S, Washington, 

DC 20250–1570. 

(b) For paper applications mail or 

ensure delivery of an original paper 

application (no stamped, photocopied, 

or initialed signatures) and two copies 

by the deadline date. The application 

and any materials sent with it become 

Federal records by law and cannot be 

returned to you. 

3. Electronically submitted 

applications: 

(a) Applications will not be accepted 

by fax or electronic mail. 

(b) Electronic applications for grants 

will be accepted if submitted through 

Grants.gov at http://www.grants.gov. 

(c) Applicants must preregister 

successfully with Grants.gov to use the 

electronic applications option. 

Application information may be 

downloaded from Grants.gov without 

preregistration. 

(d) Applicants who apply through 

Grants.gov should submit their 

electronic applications before the 

deadline. 

(e) Grants.gov contains full 

instructions on all required passwords, 

credentialing, and software. Follow the 

instructions at Grants.gov for registering 

and submitting an electronic 

application. 

(f) Grants.gov has two preregistration 

requirements: A DUNS number and an 

active registration in the SAM. See Item 

1 above for instructions on obtaining a 

DUNS number and registering in the 

SAM. 

C. A Complete Application Must Meet 

the Following Requirements 

1. To be considered for support, you 

must be an eligible entity and must 

submit a complete application by the 

deadline date. You should consult the 

cost principles and general 

administrative requirements for grants 

pertaining to their organizational type in 

order to prepare the budget and 

complete other parts of the application. 

You also must demonstrate compliance 

(or intent to comply), through 

certification or other means, with a 

number of public policy requirements. 

Applications should be prepared in 

conformance with the provisions in 2 

CFR parts 180, 182, and regulations 

applicable to USDA including 2 CFR 

parts 421, and 417. 

2. Applicants must complete and 

submit the following forms to apply for 

a RFP grant: 

(a) Standard Form 424, ‘‘Application 

for Federal Assistance.’’ 

(b) Standard Form 424A, ‘‘Budget 

Information—Non-Construction 

Programs.’’ 

(c) Standard Form 424B, 

‘‘Assurances—Non-Construction 

Programs.’’ 

(d) Standard Form LLL, ‘‘Disclosure of 

Lobbying Activity.’’ 

(e) Form RD 400–1, ‘‘Equal 

Opportunity Agreement.’’ 

(f) Form RD 400–4, ‘‘Assurance 

Agreement (Under Title VI, Civil Rights 

Act of 1964). 

3. The project proposal should outline 

the project in sufficient detail to provide 

a reader with a complete understanding 

of how the loan program will work. 

Explain what you will accomplish by 

lending funds to eligible entities. 

Demonstrate the feasibility of the 

proposed loan program in meeting the 

objectives of this grant program. The 

proposal should cover the following 

elements: 

(a) Present a brief project overview. 

Explain the purpose of the project, how 

it relates to RUS’s purposes, how you 

will carry out the project, what the 

project will produce, and who will 

direct it. 

(b) Describe why the project is 

necessary. Demonstrate that eligible 

entities need loan funds. Quantify the 

number of prospective borrowers or 

provide statistical or narrative evidence 

that a sufficient number of borrowers 

will exist to justify the grant award. 

Describe the service area. Address 

community needs. 

(c) Clearly state your project goals. 

Your objectives should clearly describe 

the goals and be concrete and specific 

enough to be quantitative or observable. 

They should also be feasible and relate 

to the purpose of the loan program. 

(d) The narrative should cover in 

more detail the items briefly described 

in the Project Summary. It should 

establish the basis for any claims that 

you have substantial expertise in 

promoting the safe and productive use 

of revolving funds. In describing what 

the project will achieve, you should tell 

the reader if it also will have broader 

influence. The narrative should address 

the following points: 

(1) Document your ability to 

administer and service a revolving fund 

in accordance with the provisions of 7 

CFR part 1783. 


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(2) Document your ability to commit 

financial resources to establish the RFP 

with funds your organization controls. 

This documentation should describe the 

sources of funds other than the RFP 

grant that will be used to pay your 

operational costs and provide financial 

assistance for projects. 

(3) Demonstrate that you have secured 

commitments of significant financial 

support from other funding sources, if 

appropriate. 

(4) List the fees and charges that 

borrowers will be assessed. 

(e) The work plan must describe the 

tasks and activities that will be 

accomplished with available resources 

during the grant period. It must show 

the work you plan to do to achieve the 

anticipated outcomes, goals, and 

objectives set out for the RFP. The plan 

must: 

(1) Describe the work to be performed 

by each person. 

(2) Give a schedule or timetable of 

work to be done. 

(3) Show evidence of previous 

experience with the techniques to be 

used or their successful use by others. 

(4) Outline the loan program to 

include the following: specific loan 

purposes, a loan application process, 

priorities, borrower eligibility criteria, 

limitations, fees, interest rates, terms, 

and collateral requirements. 

(5) Provide a marketing plan. 

(6) Explain the mechanics of how you 

will transfer loan funds to the 

borrowers. 

(7) Describe follow-up or continuing 

activities that should occur after project 

completion such as monitoring and 

reporting borrowers’ accomplishments. 

(8) Describe how the results will be 

evaluated. The evaluation criteria 

should be in line with the project 

objectives. 

(9) List all personnel responsible for 

administering this program along with a 

statement of their qualifications and 

experience. 

(f) The written justification for 

projected costs should explain how 

budget figures were determined for each 

category. It should indicate which costs 

are to be covered by grant funds and 

which costs will be met by your 

organization or other organizations. The 

justification should account for all 

expenditures discussed in the narrative. 

It should reflect appropriate costsharing contributions. The budget 

justification should explain the budget 

and accounting system proposed or in 

place. The administrative costs for 

operating the budget should be 

expressed as a percentage of the overall 

budget. The budget justification should 

provide specific budget figures, 

rounding off figures to the nearest 

dollar. Applicants should consult OMB 

Circular A–122: ‘‘Cost Principles for 

Non-Profit Organizations’’ or any 

successor guidance for information 

about appropriate costs for each budget 

category. 

(g) In addition to completing the 

standard application forms, you must 

submit: 

(1) Supplementary material that 

demonstrate that your organization is 

legally recognized under state or Tribal 

and Federal law. Satisfactory 

documentation includes, but is not 

limited to, certificates from the 

Secretary of State, or copies of state 

statutes or laws establishing your 

organization. Letters from the IRS 

awarding tax-exempt status are not 

considered adequate evidence. 

(2) A certified list of directors and 

officers with their respective terms. 

(3) Evidence of tax exempt status from 

the IRS. 

(4) Debarment and suspension 

information is required in accordance 

with 2 CFR part 417 (Nonprocurement 

Debarment and Suspension) 

supplemented by 2 CFR part 180, if it 

applies. The section heading is ‘‘What 

information must I provide before 

entering into a covered transaction with 

the Federal Government?’’ located at 2 

CFR 180.335. It is part of OMB’s 

Guidance for Grants and Agreements 

concerning Government-wide 

Debarment and Suspension. 

(5) All of your organization’s known 

workplaces by including the actual 

address of buildings (or parts of 

buildings) or other sites where work 

under the award takes place. Workplace 

identification is required under the 

drug-free workplace requirements in 

subpart B of 2 CFR part 421, which 

adopts the Governmentwide 

implementation (2 CFR part 182) of the 

Drug-Free Workplace Act. 

(6) The most recent audit of your 

organization. 

(7) The following financial 

statements: 

i. A pro forma balance sheet at startup and for at least three additional 

years; Balance sheets, income 

statements, and cash flow statements for 

the last three years. 

ii. If your organization has been 

formed less than three years, the 

financial statements should be 

submitted for the periods from 

inception to the present. Projected 

income and cash flow statements for at 

least three years supported by a list of 

assumptions showing the basis for the 

projections. The projected income 

statement and balance sheet must 

include one set of projections that 

shows the revolving loan fund only and 

a separate set of projections that shows 

your organization’s total operations. 

(8) Additional information to support 

and describe your plan for achieving the 

grant objectives. The information may 

be regarded as essential for 

understanding and evaluating the 

project and may be found in letters of 

support, as resolutions, policies, and 

other relevant documents. The 

supplements may be presented in 

appendices to the proposal. 

V. Application Review Information 

A. Within 30 days of receiving your 

application, RUS will send you a letter 

of acknowledgment. Your application 

will be reviewed for completeness to 

determine if you included all of the 

items required. If your application is 

incomplete or ineligible, RUS will 

return it to you with an explanation. 

B. A review team, composed of at 

least two RUS staff members, will 

evaluate all applications and proposals. 

They will make overall 

recommendations based on factors such 

as eligibility, application completeness, 

and conformity to application 

requirements. They will score the 

applications based on criteria in the 

next section. 

C. All applications that are complete 

and eligible will be ranked 

competitively based on the following 

scoring criteria: 

1. Degree of expertise and successful 

experience in making and servicing 

commercial loans, with a successful 

record, for the following number of full 

years: 

(a) At least 1 but less than 3 years— 

5 points. 

(b) At least 3 but less than 5 years— 

10 points. 

(c) At least 5 but less than 10 years— 

20 points. 

(d) 10 or more years—30 points. 

2. Extent to which the work plan 

demonstrates a well thought out, 

comprehensive approach to 

accomplishing the objectives of this 

part, clearly defines who will be served 

by the project, clearly articulates the 

problem/issues to be addressed, 

identifies the service area to be covered 

by the RFP loans and appears likely to 

be sustainable; up to 40 points 

3. Percentage of applicant 

contributions. Points allowed under this 

paragraph will be based on written 

evidence of the availability of funds 

from sources other than the proceeds of 

an RFP grant to pay part of the cost of 

a loan recipient’s project. In-kind 

contributions will not be considered. 

Funds from other sources as a 

percentage of the RFP grant and points 


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corresponding to such percentages are 

as follows: 

(a) Less than 20 percent—ineligible. 

(b) At least 20 percent but less than 

50 percent—10 points. 

(c) 50 percent or more—20 points. 

4. Extent to which the goals and 

objectives are clearly defined, tied to the 

work plan, and are measurable; up to 15 

points. 

5. Lowest ratio of projected 

administrative expenses to loans 

advanced; up to 10 points. 

6. The evaluation methods for 

considering loan applications and 

making RFP loans are specific to the 

program, clearly defined, measurable, 

and are consistent with program 

outcomes; up to 20 points. 

7. Administrator’s discretion points 

may be awarded based on the following: 

(a) Directs loans to the smallest 

communities with the lowest incomes 

emphasizing areas where according to 

the American Community Survey data 

by census tracts show that at least 20 

percent of the population is living in 

poverty. This emphasis will support 

Rural Development’s goal of providing 

20 percent of its funding by 2016 to 

these areas of need. 

(b) Directs loans to areas which lack 

running water, flush toilets, and modern 

sewage disposal systems, and areas 

which have open sewers and high rates 

of disease caused by poor sanitation, in 

particular, colonias or Substantially 

Underserved Trust Areas. 

(c) Directs loans that emphasize 

energy and water efficient components 

to reduce costs and increase 

sustainability of rural systems; up to 10 

points. 

VI. Award Administration Information 

A. RUS will rank all qualifying 

applications by their final score. 

Applications will be selected for 

funding, based on the highest scores and 

the availability of funding for RFP 

grants. Each applicant will be notified 

in writing of the score its application 

receives. 

B. In making its decision about your 

application, RUS may determine that 

your application is: 

1. Eligible and selected for funding, 

2. Eligible but offered fewer funds 

than requested, 

3. Eligible but not selected for 

funding, or 

4. Ineligible for the grant. 

C. In accordance with 7 CFR part 

1900, subpart B, you generally have the 

right to appeal adverse decisions under 

7 CFR part 11. Some adverse decisions 

cannot be appealed. For example, if you 

are denied RUS funding due to a lack 

of funds available for the grant program, 

this decision cannot be appealed. 

However, you may make a request to the 

National Appeals Division (NAD) to 

review the accuracy of our finding that 

the decision cannot be appealed. The 

appeal must be in writing and filed at 

the appropriate Regional Office, which 

can be found at http://

www.nad.usda.gov/ or by calling (703) 

305–1166. 

D. Applicants selected for funding 

will complete a grant agreement, which 

outlines the terms and conditions of the 

grant award. 

E. Grantees will be reimbursed as 

follows: 

1. SF–270, ‘‘Request for Advance or 

Reimbursement,’’ will be completed by 

the grantee in accordance with 7 CFR 

part 3000 or any successor regulations. 

2. Upon receipt of a properly 

completed SF–270, the funds will be 

requested through the field office 

terminal system. Ordinarily, payment 

will be made within 30 days after 

receipt of a proper request for 

reimbursement. 

3. Grantees are encouraged to use 

women- and minority-owned banks (a 

bank which is owned at least 50 percent 

by women or minority group members) 

for the deposit and disbursement of 

funds. 

F. Any change in the scope of the 

project, budget adjustments of more 

than 10 percent of the total budget, or 

any other significant change in the 

project must be reported to and 

approved by the approval official by 

written amendment to the grant 

agreement. Any change not approved 

may be cause for termination of the 

grant. 

G. Grantees shall constantly monitor 

performance to ensure that time 

schedules are being met, projected work 

by time periods is being accomplished, 

and other performance objectives are 

being achieved. The Grantee will 

provide project reports as follows: 

1. SF–425, ‘‘Financial Status Report 

(short form),’’ and a project performance 

activity report will be required of all 

grantees on a quarterly basis, due 30 

days after the end of each quarter. 

2. A final project performance report 

will be required with the last SF–425 

due 90 days after the end of the last 

quarter in which the project is 

completed. The final report may serve 

as the last quarterly report. 

3. All multi-State grantees are to 

submit an original of each report to the 

National Office. Grantees serving only 

one State are to submit an original of 

each report to the State Office. The 

project performance reports should 

detail, preferably in a narrative format, 

activities that have transpired for the 

specific time period. 

H. The grantee will provide an audit 

report or financial statements as follows: 

1. Grantees expending $500,000 or 

more Federal funds per fiscal year will 

submit an audit conducted in 

accordance 7 CFR part 3052 or any 

successor regulation with OMB Circular 

A–133 or any successor guidance from 

OMB. The audit will be submitted 

within 9 months after the grantee’s 

fiscal year. Additional audits may be 

required if the project period covers 

more than one fiscal year. 

2. Grantees expending less than 

$500,000 will provide annual financial 

statements covering the grant period, 

consisting of the organization’s 

statement of income and expense and 

balance sheet signed by an appropriate 

official of the organization. Financial 

statements will be submitted within 90 

days after the grantee’s fiscal year. 

3. Recipient and Subrecipient 

Reporting. 

The applicant must have the 

necessary processes and systems in 

place to comply with the reporting 

requirements for first-tier sub-awards 

and executive compensation under the 

Federal Funding Accountability and 

Transparency Act of 2006 in the event 

the applicant receives funding unless 

such applicant is exempt from such 

reporting requirements pursuant to 2 

CFR part 170, § 170.110(b). The 

reporting requirements under the 

Transparency Act pursuant to 2 CFR 

part 170 are as follows: 

(a) First Tier Sub-Awards of $25,000 

or more in non-Recovery Act funds 

(unless they are exempt under 2 CFR 

part 170) must be reported by the 

Recipient to http://www.fsrs.gov no later 

than the end of the month following the 

month the obligation was made. Please 

note that currently underway is a 

consolidation of eight federal 

procurement systems, including the 

Sub-award Reporting System (FSRS), 

into one system, the System for Award 

Management (SAM). As result the FSRS 

will soon be consolidated into and 

accessed through https://www.sam.gov/ 

portal/public/SAM/. 

(b) The Total Compensation of the 

Recipient’s Executives (5 most highly 

compensated executives) must be 

reported by the Recipient (if the 

Recipient meets the criteria under 2 CFR 

part 170) to https://www.sam.gov/

portal/public/SAM/ by the end of the 

month following the month in which 

the award was made. 

(c) The Total Compensation of the 

Subrecipient’s Executives (5 most 

highly compensated executives) must be 

reported by the Subrecipient (if the 


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7834 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 29 / Thursday, February 12, 2015 / Notices 

Subrecipient meets the criteria under 2 

CFR part 170) to the Recipient by the 

end of the month following the month 

in which the subaward was made. 

VII. Agency Contacts 

A. Web site: http://www.usda.gov/rus/ 

water. The Rural Utilities Service Web 

site maintains up-to-date resources and 

contact information for the RFP. 

B. Phone: 202–720–9589. 

C. Fax: 202–690–0649. 

D. Email: Joyce M.Taylor@

wdc.usda.gov. 

E. Main point of contact: Joyce M. 

Taylor, Community Programs Specialist, 

Water and Environmental Programs, 

Water Programs Division, Rural Utilities 

Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

VIII. Non-Discrimination Statement 

USDA Non-Discrimination Statement 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture 

(USDA) prohibits discrimination against 

its customers, employees, and 

applicants for employment on the bases 

of race, color, national origin, age, 

disability, sex, gender identity, religion, 

reprisal, and where applicable, political 

beliefs, marital status, familial or 

parental status, sexual orientation, or all 

or part of an individual’s income is 

derived from any public assistance 

program, or protected genetic 

information in employment or in any 

program or activity conducted or funded 

by the Department. (Not all prohibited 

bases will apply to all programs and/or 

employment activities.) 

How To File a Complaint 

If you wish to file an employment 

complaint, you must contact your 

agency’s EEO Counselor within 45 days 

of the date of the alleged discriminatory 

act, event, or in the case of a personnel 

action. Additional information can be 

found online at http://

www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_

file.html. 

If you wish to file a Civil Rights 

program complaint of discrimination, 

complete the USDA Program 

Discrimination Complaint Form (PDF), 

found online at http://

www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_

cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call 

(866) 632–9992 to request the form. You 

may also write a letter containing all of 

the information requested in the form. 

Send your completed complaint form or 

letter to us by mail at U.S. Department 

of Agriculture, Director, Office of 

Adjudication, 1400 Independence 

Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250– 

9410, by fax (202) 690–7442 or email at 

program.intake@usda.gov. 

Persons With Disabilities 

Individuals who are deaf, hard of 

hearing or have speech disabilities and 

you wish to file either an EEO or 

program complaint please contact 

USDA through the Federal Relay 

Service at (800) 877–8339 or (800) 845– 

6136 (in Spanish). 

Persons with disabilities who wish to 

file a program complaint, please see 

information above on how to contact us 

by mail directly or by email. If you 

require alternative means of 

communication for program information 

(e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) 

please contact USDA’s TARGET Center 

at (202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD). 

Dated: January 6, 2015. 

Jasper Schneider, 

Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service. 

[FR Doc. 2015–02702 Filed 2–11–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–15–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

Submission for OMB Review; 

Comment Request 

The Department of Commerce will 

submit to the Office of Management and 

Budget (OMB) for clearance the 

following proposal for collection of 

information under the provisions of the 

Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 

chapter 35). 

Agency: U.S. Census Bureau. 

Title: 2014–2016 Company 

Organization Survey. 

OMB Control Number: 0607–0444. 

Form Number(s): NC–99001, NC– 

99007. 

Type of Request: Extension of a 

currently approved collection. 

Number of Respondents: 47,000. 

Average Hours per Response: 3 hours 

and 10 minutes. 

Burden Hours: 148,566. 

Needs and Uses: The Census Bureau 

requests an extension of the currently 

approved Company Organization 

Survey (COS) data collection for survey 

years 2014, 2015 and 2016. 

The Census Bureau conducts the 

annual COS to update and maintain a 

centralized, multipurpose Business 

Register (BR). In particular, the COS 

supplies critical information on the 

organizational structure, operating 

characteristics, and employment and 

payroll of multi-location enterprises. 

The 2014–2016 COS collection will not 

differ from the 2013. The sample size 

will remain the same as in 2013 

surveying 47,000 respondents. 

Form NC–99001 is mailed to multilocation enterprises. We ask questions 

on ownership or control by a domestic 

parent, ownership or control by a 

foreign parent, and ownership of foreign 

affiliates; research and development; 

company activities such as—employees 

from a professional employer 

organization, operating revenue and net 

sales, royalties and license fees for the 

use of intellectual property and 

manufacturing activities. Establishment 

inquiries include questions on 

operational status, mid-March 

employment, first-quarter payroll, and 

annual payroll of establishments. 

In 2011, we submitted a nonsubstantive change to the COS 

questionnaire. This revision added three 

new inquiries as part of the Enterprise 

Statistics Program (ESP). These three 

inquiries were: (1) Operating Revenues 

and Net Sales; (2) Royalties and 

Licenses Fees for the Use of Intellectual 

Property; and (3) Manufacturing 

Activities. In 2012 and 2013 we 

continued to ask these questions on 

Form NC–99001 and it is our intention 

to continue to ask these additional 

questions for 2014–2016 on Form NC– 

99001. We also ask questions on 

ownership or control by a foreign 

parent, and ownership of foreign 

affiliates; research and development; 

royalties and license fees for the use of 

intellectual property and manufacturing 

activities. In addition to the mailing of 

multi-location enterprises, the Census 

Bureau will collect data for singlelocation companies on Form NC–99007 

to some large single-location enterprises 

that may have added some locations. 

The 2014–2016 COS will request 

company-level information from a 

selection of multi-establishment 

enterprises, which comprises roughly 

42,000 parent companies and more than 

1.4 million establishments. COS 

inquiries sent to each of the 42,000 

multi-establishment enterprises will 

include inquiries on ownership or 

control by a domestic parent, ownership 

or control by a foreign parent, and 

ownership of foreign affiliates; research 

and development; company activities, 

such as—employees from a professional 

employer organization, operating 

revenue and net sales, royalties and 

license fees for the use of intellectual 

property, and manufacturing activities. 

Establishment inquiries include 

questions on operational status, midMarch employment, first-quarter 

payroll, and annual payroll of 

establishments. 

In addition to the 42,000 multiestablishment enterprises, the 2014— 

2016 COS will include approximately 

5,000 single-location companies that 

may have added some locations. The 

NC–99007 Form will collect data for the 

5,000 single-location businesses. 


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