Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 57 / Wednesday, March 25, 2015 / Notices 15743 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Title: Organizational Information. 

OMB Number: 0524–0026. 

Expiration Date of Current Approval: 

June 1, 2015. 

Type of Request: Intent to extend a 

currently approved information 

collection for three years. 

Abstract: NIFA has primary 

responsibility for providing linkages 

between the Federal and State 

components of a broad-based, national 

agricultural research, extension, and 

education system. Focused on national 

issues, its purpose is to represent the 

Secretary of Agriculture and carry out 

the intent of Congress by administering 

capacity and grant funds appropriated 

for agricultural research, extension, and 

education. Before awards can be made, 

certain information is required from 

applicants to effectively assess the 

potential recipient’s ability to manage 

Federal funds. 

Need for the Information 

Form NIFA–666 ‘‘Organizational 

Information’’: Enables NIFA to 

determine that applicants recommended 

for awards will be responsible recipients 

of Federal funds. The information 

pertains to organizational management 

and financial matters of the potential 

grantee. This form and the documents 

which the applicant attaches to it 

provide NIFA with information such as 

the legal name of grantee, certification 

that the organization has the legal 

authority to accept Federal funding, 

identification and signatures of the key 

officials of the organization, the 

organization’s practices in regard to 

compensation rates and benefits of 

employees, insurance for equipment, 

subcontracting with other organizations, 

etc., as well as the financial condition 

of the organization and certification that 

the organization is not delinquent on 

Federal taxes. All of this information is 

considered by NIFA prior to award to 

determine the grantee is both 

managerially and fiscally responsible. 

This information is submitted to NIFA 

on a one-time basis and updated 

accordingly. If sufficient changes occur 

within the organization, the grantee 

submits revised information. 

Estimate of the Burden: NIFA 

estimates the number of responses for 

the Form NIFA–666 will be 150 with an 

estimated response time of 6.3 hours per 

form, representing a total annual burden 

of 945 hours for this form. These 

estimates are based on a survey of 

grantees that were approved for grant 

awards. They were asked to give an 

estimate of time it took them to 

complete each form. This estimate was 

to include such things as: (1) Reviewing 

the instructions; (2) searching existing 

data sources; (3) gathering and 

maintaining the data needed; and (4) 

actual completion of the forms. The 

average time it took each respondent 

was calculated from their responses. 

Comments: Comments are invited on: 

(a) Whether the proposed collection of 

information is necessary for the proper 

performance of the functions of the 

Agency, including whether the 

information will have a practical utility; 

(b) the accuracy of the Agency’s 

estimate of the burden of the proposed 

collection of information, including the 

validity of the methodology and 

assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance 

the quality, utility, and clarity of the 

information to be collected; and (d) 

ways to minimize the burden of the 

information collection on those who are 

to respond, including through the use of 

appropriate automated, electronic, 

mechanical, or other technological 

collection techniques or other forms of 

information technology. 

Done at Washington, DC, this 16th day of 

2015. 

Catherine E. Woteki, 

Under Secretary, Research, Education, and 

Economics. 

[FR Doc. 2015–06826 Filed 3–24–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Rural Housing Service 

Notice of Solicitation of Applications 

(NOSA) for Section 514 Farm Labor 

Housing Loans and Section 516 Farm 

Labor Housing Grants for Off-Farm 

Housing for Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 

AGENCY: Rural Housing Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Rural Housing Service 

(RHS) announces the timeframe to 

submit pre-applications for Section 514 

Farm Labor Housing (FLH) loans and 

Section 516 FLH grants for the 

construction of new off-farm FLH units 

and related facilities for domestic farm 

laborers and for the purchase and 

substantial rehabilitation of an existing 

non-FLH property. The intended 

purpose of these loans and grants is to 

increase the number of available 

housing units for domestic farm 

laborers. This Notice describes the 

method used to distribute funds, the 

application process, and submission 

requirements. 

RHS will publish on its Web site, 

http://www.rd.usda.gov/programsservices/farm-labor-housing-directloans-grants, the amount of funding 

available in FY 2015 based on current 

appropriations. 

Of particular note this year, the 

Agency will assign additional points to 

pre-applications for projects based in or 

serving census tracts with poverty rates 

greater than or equal to 20 percent over 

the last 30 years. This emphasis will 

support Rural Development’s mission of 

improving the quality of life for rural 

Americans and commitment to directing 

resources to those who most need them. 

DATES: The deadline for receipt of all 

applications in response to this Notice 

is 5:00 p.m., local time to the 

appropriate Rural Development State 

Office on June 23, 2015. Rural 

Development will not consider any 

application that is received after the 

deadline unless the date and time is 

extended by another Notice published 

in the Federal Register. Applicants 

intending to mail applications must 

provide sufficient time to permit 

delivery on or before the deadline. 

Acceptance by a post office or private 

mailer does not constitute delivery. 

Facsimile (FAX) and postage due 

applications will not be accepted. 

ADDRESSES: Applicants wishing to 

submit an application in response to 

this Notice must contact the Rural 

Development State Office serving the 

State of the proposed off-FLH project in 

order to receive further information and 

copies of the application package. You 

may find the addresses and contact 

information for each State Office 

following this web link, http://

www.rd.usda.gov/contact-us/stateoffices. Rural Development will date 

and time stamp incoming applications 

to evidence timely receipt and, upon 

request, will provide the applicant with 

a written acknowledgment of receipt. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Mirna Reyes-Bible, Finance and Loan 

Analyst, Multi-Family Housing 

Preservation and Direct Loan Division, 

STOP 0781 (Room 1263–S), USDA Rural 

Development, 1400 Independence 

Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250– 

0781, telephone: (202) 720–1753 (this is 

not a toll free number.), or via email: 

mirna.reyesbible@wdc.usda.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Overview 

Federal Agency: Rural Housing 

Service. 

Funding Opportunity Title: NOSA for 

Section 514 Farm Labor Housing Loans 

and Section 516 Farm Labor Housing 

Grants for Off-Farm Housing for Fiscal 

Year 2015. 

Announcement Type: Solicitation of 

pre-applications from qualified 

applicants for FY 2015. 


rljohnson on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
15744 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 57 / Wednesday, March 25, 2015 / Notices 

Catalog of Federal Domestic 

Assistance Numbers (CFDA): 10.405 and 

10.427. 

Due Date for Applications: June 23, 

2015. 

A. Federal Award Description 

Pre-applications will only be accepted 

through the date and time listed in this 

Notice. All awards are subject to 

availability of funding. Individual 

requests may not exceed $3 million 

(total loan and grant). 

No State may receive more than 30 

percent of available FLH funding 

available in FY 2015. If there are 

insufficient applications from around 

the country to exhaust Sections 514/516 

funds available, the Agency may then 

exceed the 30 percent cap per State. 

Section 516 off-farm FLH grants may not 

exceed 90 percent of the total 

development cost (TDC) of the housing 

as defined in 7 CFR 3560.11. 

If leveraged funds are going to be used 

and are in the form of tax credits, the 

applicant must include in its preapplication written evidence that a tax 

credit application has been submitted 

and accepted by the Housing Finance 

Agency (HFA). All applications that will 

receive any leveraged funds must have 

firm commitments in place within 12 

months of the issuance of a ‘‘Notice of 

Pre-application Review Action,’’ 

Handbook Letter 103 (3560). Applicants 

without written evidence that a tax 

credit application has been submitted 

and accepted by the HFA must certify 

in writing they will apply for tax credits 

to the HFA and obtain a firm 

commitment within 12 months of the 

issuance of a ‘‘Notice of Pre-application 

Review Action.’’ 

Rental Assistance (RA) and operating 

assistance will be available for new 

construction in FY 2015. Operating 

assistance is explained at 7 CFR 

3560.574 and may be used in lieu of 

tenant-specific RA in off-FLH projects 

that serve migrant farm workers as 

defined in 7 CFR 3560.11, that are 

financed under Section 514 or Section 

516 (h) of the Housing Act of 1949, as 

amended (42 U.S.C. 1484 and 1486(h) 

respectively), and otherwise meet the 

requirements of 7 CFR 3560.574. 

B. Eligibility Information 

1. Eligibility 

Housing Eligibility—Housing that is 

constructed with FLH loans and/or 

grants must meet Rural Development’s 

design and construction standards 

contained in 7 CFR part 1924, subparts 

A and C. Once constructed, off-farm 

FLH must be managed in accordance 

with 7 CFR part 3560. In addition, offfarm FLH must be operated on a nonprofit basis and tenancy must be open 

to all qualified domestic farm laborers, 

regardless at which farm they work. 

Section 514(f) (3) of the Housing Act of 

1949, as amended (42 U.S.C. 1484(f) (3)) 

defines domestic farm laborers to 

include any person regardless of the 

person’s source of employment, who 

receives a substantial portion of his or 

her income from the primary production 

of agricultural or aqua cultural 

commodities in the unprocessed or 

processed stage, and also includes the 

person’s family. 

Tenant Eligibility—Tenant eligibility 

is limited to persons who meet the 

definition of a ‘‘disabled domestic farm 

laborer,’’ or a ‘‘domestic farm laborer,’’ 

or ‘‘retired domestic farm laborer,’’ as 

defined in 7 CFR 3560.11. Farm workers 

who are admitted to this country on a 

temporary basis under the Temporary 

Agricultural Workers (H–2A Visa) 

program are not eligible to occupy 

Sections 514/516 off-farm FLH. 

Applicant Eligibility— 

(a) To be eligible to receive a Section 

516 grant for off-farm FLH, the applicant 

must be a broad-based non-profit 

organization, including community and 

faith-based organizations, a non-profit 

organization of farm workers, a 

Federally recognized Indian tribe, an 

agency or political subdivision of a State 

or local Government, or a public agency 

(such as a housing authority). The 

applicant must be able to contribute at 

least one-tenth of the TDC from nonRural Development resources which can 

include leveraged funds. 

(b) To be eligible to receive a Section 

514 loan for off-farm FLH, the applicant 

must be a broad-based non-profit 

organization, including community and 

faith-based organizations, a non-profit 

organization of farm workers, a 

Federally recognized Indian tribe, an 

agency or political subdivision of a State 

or local Government, a public agency 

(such as a housing authority), or a 

limited partnership which has a nonprofit entity as its general partner, and 

(i) Be unable to provide the necessary 

housing from its own resources; 

(ii) Except for State or local public 

agencies and Indian tribes, be unable to 

obtain similar credit elsewhere at rates 

that would allow for rents within the 

payment ability of eligible residents. 

(iii) Broad-based non-profit 

organizations must have a membership 

that reflects a variety of interests in the 

area where the housing will be located. 

2. Cost Sharing or Matching—Section 

516 grants for off-farm FLH may not 

exceed 90 percent of the TDC as 

provided in 7 CFR 3560.562(c)(1). 

3. Other Requirements—The 

following requirements apply to loans 

and grants made in response to this 

Notice: 

(a) 7 CFR part 1901, subpart E, 

regarding equal opportunity 

requirements; 

(b) For grants only, 2 CFR parts 200 

and 400, which establishes the uniform 

administrative and audit requirements 

for grants and cooperative agreements to 

State and local Governments and to 

non-profit organizations; 

(c) 7 CFR part 1901, subpart F, 

regarding historical and archaeological 

properties; 

(d) 7 CFR part 1940, subpart G, 

regarding environmental assessments; 

(e) 7 CFR part 3560, subpart L, 

regarding the loan and grant authorities 

of the off-farm FLH program; 

(f) 7 CFR part 1924, subpart A, 

regarding planning and performing 

construction and other development; 

(g) 7 CFR part 1924, subpart C, 

regarding the planning and performing 

of site development work; 

(h) For construction financed with a 

Section 516 grant, the provisions of the 

Davis-Bacon Act (40 U.S.C. 276(a)– 

276(a)–5) and implementing regulations 

published at 29 CFR parts 1, 3, and 5; 

(i) All other requirements contained 

in 7 CFR part 3560, regarding the 

Sections 514/516 off-farm FLH 

programs; and 

(j) Please note that grant applicants 

must obtain a Dun and Bradstreet Data 

Universal Numbering System (DUNS) 

number and maintain registration in the 

Central Contractor Registration (CCR) 

prior to submitting a pre-application 

pursuant to 2 CFR 25.200(b). In 

addition, an entity applicant must 

maintain registration in the CCR 

database at all times during which it has 

an active Federal award or an 

application or plan under construction 

by the Agency. Similarly, all recipients 

of Federal financial assistance are 

required to report information about 

first-tier sub-awards 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). 

C. Application and Submission 

Information 

1. Pre-Application Submission 

The application process will be in two 

phases: The initial pre-application (or 

proposal) and the submission of a final 

application. Only those pre-applications 


rljohnson on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 57 / Wednesday, March 25, 2015 / Notices 15745 

or proposals that are selected for further 

processing will be invited to submit 

final applications. In the event that a 

proposal is selected for further 

processing and the applicant declines, 

the next highest ranked unfunded preapplication may be selected for further 

processing. All pre-applications for 

Sections 514 and 516 funds must be 

filed with the appropriate Rural 

Development State Office and must 

meet the requirements of this Notice. 

Incomplete pre-applications will not be 

reviewed and will be returned to the 

applicant. No pre-application will be 

accepted after the deadline unless date 

and time are extended by another Notice 

published in the Federal Register. 

Pre-applications can be submitted 

either electronically using the FLH Preapplication form found at http://

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

farm-labor-housing-direct-loans-grants 

or in hard copy to the appropriate Rural 

Development Office where the project 

will be located. Follow the link for the 

RD Office address for requesting and 

submitting pre-application at: http://

www.rurdev.usda.gov/

StateofficeAddresses.html. Applicants 

are strongly encouraged, but not 

required, to submit the pre-application 

electronically. The electronic form 

contains a button labeled ‘‘Send Form.’’ 

By clicking on the button, the applicant 

will see an email message window with 

an attachment that includes the 

electronic form the applicant filled out 

as a data file with an .fdf extension. In 

addition, an auto-reply 

acknowledgement will be sent to the 

applicant when the electronic Loan 

Proposal form is received by the Agency 

unless the sender has software that will 

block the receipt of the auto-reply email. 

The State Office will record preapplications received electronically by 

the actual date and time when all 

attachments are received at the State 

Office. 

Submission of the electronic Section 

514 Loan Proposal form does not 

constitute submission of the entire 

proposal package which requires 

additional forms and supporting 

documentation as listed within this 

Notice. You may use one of the 

following three options for submitting 

the entire proposal package comprising 

of all required forms and documents. On 

the Loan Proposal form you can indicate 

the option you will be using to submit 

each required form and document. 

(a) Electronic Media Option. Submit 

all forms and documents as read-only 

Adobe Acrobat files on electronic media 

such as CDs, DVDs or USB drives. For 

each electronic device submitted, the 

applicant should include a Table of 

Contents of all documents and forms on 

that device. The electronic media 

should be submitted to the Rural 

Development State Office listed in this 

Notice where the property is located. 

Any forms and documents that are not 

sent electronically, including the check 

for credit reports, must be mailed to the 

Rural Development State Office. 

(b) Email Option. On the Loan 

Proposal form you will be asked for a 

submission email address. This email 

address will be used to establish a folder 

on the U.S. Department of Agriculture 

(USDA) server with your unique email 

address. Once the Loan Proposal form is 

processed, you will receive an 

additional email notifying you of the 

email address that you can use to email 

your forms and documents. Please Note: 

All forms and documents must be 

emailed from the same submission 

email address. This will ensure that all 

forms and documents that you send will 

be stored in the folder assigned to that 

email address. Any forms and 

documents that are not sent in via the 

email option must be submitted on an 

electronic media or in hard copy form 

to the Rural Development State Office. 

(c) Hard Copy Submission to the 

Rural Development State Office. If you 

are unable to send the proposal package 

electronically using either of the options 

listed above, you may send a hard copy 

of all forms and documents to the Rural 

Development State Office where the 

property is located. Hard copy preapplications received on or before the 

deadline date will receive the close of 

business time of the day received as the 

receipt time. Hard copy pre-applications 

must be received by the submission 

deadline and no later than 5:00 p.m., 

local time, June 23, 2015. Assistance for 

filing electronic and hard copy preapplications can be obtained from any 

Rural Development State Office. 

For electronic submissions, there is a 

time delay between the time it is sent 

and the time it is received depending on 

network traffic. As a result, last-minute 

submissions sent before the deadline 

date and time could well be received 

after the deadline date and time because 

of the increased network traffic. 

Applicants are reminded that all 

submissions received after the deadline 

date and time will be rejected, 

regardless of when they were sent. 

If a pre-application is accepted for 

further processing, the applicant must 

submit a complete, final application, 

acceptable to Rural Development prior 

to the obligation of Rural Development 

funds. If the pre-application is not 

accepted for further processing the 

applicant will be notified of appeal 

rights under 7 CFR part 11. 

2. Pre-Application Requirements 

(a) The pre-application must contain 

the following: 

(1) A summary page listing the 

following items. This information 

should be double-spaced between items 

and not be in narrative form. 

(i) Applicant’s name. 

(ii) Applicant’s Taxpayer 

Identification Number. 

(iii) Applicant’s address. 

(iv) Applicant’s telephone number. 

(v) Name of applicant’s contact 

person, telephone number, and address. 

(vi) Amount of loan and/or grant 

requested. 

(vii) For grants of Federal financial 

assistance (including loans and grants, 

cooperative agreements, etc.), the 

applicant’s Dun and Bradstreet Data 

Universal Numbering System (DUNS) 

number and registration in the CCR 

database in accordance with 2 CFR part 

25. As required by the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB), all 

grant applicants must provide a DUNS 

number when applying for Federal 

grants, on or after October 1, 2003. 

Organizations can receive a DUNS 

number at no cost by calling the 

dedicated toll-free number at (866) 705– 

5711 or via the internet at: http://

www.dnb.com/. Additional information 

concerning this requirement can be 

obtained on the Grants.gov Web site at 

www.grants.gov. Similarly, applicants 

may register for the CCR at: https://

www.uscontractorregistration.com/ or 

by calling (877) 252–2700. 

(2) Awards made under this Notice 

are subject to the provisions contained 

in an appropriation in FY 2014 that 

funds FLH. 

(3) A narrative verifying the 

applicant’s ability to meet the eligibility 

requirements stated earlier in this 

Notice. If an applicant is selected for 

further processing, Rural Development 

will require additional documentation 

as set forth in a Conditional 

Commitment in order to verify the 

entity has the legal and financial 

capability to carry out the obligation of 

the loan. 

(4) Standard Form 424, ‘‘Application 

for Federal Assistance,’’ can be obtained 

at: http://www.grants.gov or from any 

Rural Development State Office listed in 

Section VII of this Notice. 

(5) For loan pre-applications, current 

(within 6 months of pre-application 

date) financial statements 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. 


rljohnson on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
15746 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 57 / Wednesday, March 25, 2015 / Notices 

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.’’ 

(6) For loan pre-applications, a check 

for $24 from applicants made out to the 

U.S. Department of Agriculture. This 

will be used to pay for credit reports 

obtained by Rural Development. 

(7) Evidence that the applicant is 

unable to obtain credit from other 

sources. Letters from credit institutions 

which normally provide real estate 

loans in the area should be obtained and 

these letters should indicate the rates 

and terms upon which a loan might be 

provided. (Note: Not required from State 

or local public agencies or Indian 

tribes.) 

(8) If a FLH grant is desired, a 

statement concerning the need for a FLH 

grant. The statement should include 

preliminary estimates of the rents 

required with and without a grant. 

(9) A statement of the applicant’s 

experience in operating labor housing or 

other rental housing. If the applicant’s 

experience is limited, additional 

information should be provided to 

indicate how the applicant plans to 

compensate for this limited experience 

(i.e., obtaining assistance and advice of 

a management firm, non-profit group, 

public agency, or other organization 

which is experienced in rental 

management and will be available on a 

continuous basis). 

(10) A brief statement explaining the 

applicant’s proposed method of 

operation and management (i.e., on-site 

manager, contract for management 

services, etc.). As stated earlier in this 

Notice, the housing must be managed in 

accordance with the program’s 

management regulation, 7 CFR part 

3560 and tenancy is limited to ‘‘disabled 

domestic farm laborers,’’ ‘‘domestic 

farm laborers,’’ and ‘‘retired domestic 

farm laborers,’’ as defined in 7 CFR 

3560.11. 

(11) Applicants must also provide: 

(i) A copy of, or an accurate citation 

to, the special provisions of State law 

under which they are organized, a copy 

of the applicant’s charter, Articles of 

Incorporation, and by-laws; 

(ii) The names, occupations, and 

addresses of the applicant’s members, 

directors, and officers; and 

(iii) If a member or subsidiary of 

another organization, the organization’s 

name, address, and nature of business. 

(12) A preliminary market survey or 

market study to identify the supply and 

demand for farm labor housing in the 

market area. The market area must be 

clearly identified and may include only 

the area from which tenants can 

reasonably be drawn for the proposed 

project. Documentation must be 

provided to justify a need within the 

intended market area for the housing of 

‘‘domestic farm laborers,’’ as defined in 

7 CFR 3560.11. The documentation 

must take into account disabled and 

retired farm workers. The preliminary 

survey should address or include the 

following items: 

(i) The annual income level of 

farmworker families in the area and the 

probable income of the farm workers 

who will likely occupy the proposed 

housing; 

(ii) A realistic estimate of the number 

of farm workers who remain in the area 

where they harvest and the number of 

farm workers who normally migrate into 

the area. Information on migratory 

workers should indicate the average 

number of months the migrants reside 

in the area and an indication of what 

type of family groups are represented by 

the migrants (i.e., single individuals as 

opposed to families); 

(iii) General information concerning 

the type of labor intensive crops grown 

in the area and prospects for continued 

demand for farm laborers; 

(iv) The overall occupancy rate for 

comparable rental units in the area and 

the rents charged and customary rental 

practices for these units (i.e., will they 

rent to large families, do they require 

annual leases, etc.); 

(v) The number, condition, adequacy, 

rental rates and ownership of units 

currently used or available to farm 

workers; 

(vi) A description of the units 

proposed, including the number, type, 

size, rental rates, amenities such as 

carpets and drapes, related facilities 

such as a laundry room or community 

room and other facilities providing 

supportive services in connection with 

the housing and the needs of the 

prospective tenants such as a health 

clinic or day care facility, estimated 

development timeline, estimated TDC, 

and applicant contribution; and 

(vii) The applicant must also identify 

all other sources of funds, including the 

dollar amount, source, and commitment 

status. (Note: A Section 516 grant may 

not exceed 90 percent of the TDC of the 

housing.) 

(13) The applicant must submit a 

checklist, certification, and signed 

affidavit by the project architect or 

engineer, as applicable, for any energy 

programs listed in Section IV the 

applicant intends to participate in. 

(14) The following forms are required: 

(i) A completed Form RD 1940–20, 

‘‘Request for Environmental 

Information,’’ and a description of 

anticipated environmental issues or 

concerns. The form can be found at: 

http://forms.sc.egov.usda.gov/

efcommon/eFileServices/eForms/

RD1940-20.PDF. 

(ii) A prepared HUD Form 935.2A, 

‘‘Affirmative Fair Housing Marketing 

Plan (AFHM) Multi-Family Housing,’’ in 

accordance with 7 CFR 1901.203(c). The 

plan will reflect that occupancy is open 

to all qualified ‘‘domestic farm 

laborers,’’ regardless of which farming 

operation they work and that they will 

not discriminate on the basis of race, 

color, sex, age, disability, marital or 

familial status or National origin in 

regard to the occupancy or use of the 

units. The form can be found at: http:// 

portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/

huddoc?id=935-2a.PDF. 

(iii) A proposed operating budget 

utilizing Form RD 3560–7, ‘‘Multiple 

Family Housing Project Budget/Utility 

Allowance,’’ can be found at: http://

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

eFileServices/eForms/RD3560-7.PDF. 

(iv) An estimate of development cost 

utilizing Form RD 1924–13, ‘‘Estimate 

and Certificate of Actual Cost,’’ can be 

found at: http://forms.sc.egov.usda.gov/ 

efcommon/eFileServices/eForms/

RD1924-13.PDF. 

(v) Form RD 3560–30, ‘‘Certification 

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

found at: http://forms.sc.egov.usda.gov/ 

efcommon/eFileServices/eForms/

RD3560-30.PDF and Form RD 3560–31, 

‘‘Identity of Interest Disclosure/

Qualification Certification,’’ can be 

found at: http://forms.sc.egov.usda.gov/ 

efcommon/eFileServices/eForms/

RD3560-31.PDF. 

(vi) Form HUD 2530, ‘‘Previous 

Participation Certification,’’ can be 

found at: http://portal.hud.gov/

hudportal/documents/

huddoc?id=2530.pdf. 

(vii) If requesting RA or Operating 

Assistance, Form RD 3560–25, ‘‘Initial 

Request for Rental Assistance or 

Operating Assistance,’’ can be found at: 

http://forms.sc.egov.usda.gov/

efcommon/eFileServices/eForms/

RD3560-25.PDF. 

(viii) Form RD 400–4, ‘‘Assurance 

Agreement,’’ can be found at: http://

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

eFileServices/eForms/RD400-4.PDF. 

Applicants for revitalization, repair, and 

rehabilitation funding are to apply 

through the Multifamily Housing 

Preservation and Revitalization (MPR) 

Demonstration Program. 

(ix) Evidence of compliance with 

Executive Order 12372. The applicant 

must send a copy of Form SF–424, 


rljohnson on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 57 / Wednesday, March 25, 2015 / Notices 15747 

‘‘Application for Federal Assistance’’, to 

the applicant’s State clearinghouse for 

intergovernmental review. If the 

applicant is located in a State that does 

not have a clearinghouse, the applicant 

is not required to submit the form. 

Applications from Federally recognized 

Indian tribes are not subject to this 

requirement. 

(15) Evidence of site control, such as 

an option contract or sales contract. In 

addition, a map and description of the 

proposed site, including the availability 

of water, sewer, and utilities and the 

proximity to community facilities and 

services such as shopping, schools, 

transportation, doctors, dentists, and 

hospitals. 

(16) Preliminary plans and 

specifications, including plot plans, 

building layouts, and type of 

construction and materials. The housing 

must meet Rural Development’s design 

and construction standards contained in 

7 CFR part 1924, subparts A and C and 

must also meet all applicable Federal, 

State, and local accessibility standards. 

(17) A supportive services plan, 

which describes services that will be 

provided on-site or made available to 

tenants through cooperative agreements 

with service providers in the 

community, such as a health clinic or 

day care facility. Off-site services must 

be accessible and affordable to farm 

workers and their families. Letters of 

intent from service providers are 

acceptable documentation at the preapplication stage. 

(18) A sources and uses statement 

which shows all sources of funding 

included in the proposed project. The 

terms and schedules of all sources 

included in the project should be 

included in the sources and uses 

statement. 

(19) A separate one-page information 

sheet listing each of the ‘‘PreApplication Scoring Criteria,’’ contained 

in this Notice, followed by a reference 

to the page numbers of all relevant 

material and documentation that is 

contained in the proposal that supports 

the criteria. 

(20) Applicants are encouraged, but 

not required, to include a checklist of all 

of the pre-application requirements and 

to have their pre-application indexed 

and tabbed to facilitate the review 

process; 

(21) Evidence of compliance with the 

requirements of the applicable State 

Housing Preservation Office (SHPO), 

and/or Tribal Historic Preservation 

Officer (THPO). A letter from the SHPO 

and/or THPO where the off-farm labor 

housing project is located, signed by 

their designee will serve as evidence of 

compliance. 

D. Pre-Application Review Information 

1. Selection Criteria. Section 514 FLH 

loan funds and Section 516 FLH grant 

funds will be distributed to States based 

on a national competition, as follows: 

(a) Rural Development State Office 

will accept, review, and score preapplications in accordance with this 

Notice. The scoring factors are: 

(1) The presence of construction cost 

savings, including donated land and 

construction leverage assistance, for the 

units that will serve program-eligible 

tenants. The savings will be calculated 

as a percentage of the Rural 

Development TDC. The percentage 

calculation excludes any costs 

prohibited by Rural Development as 

loan expenses, such as a developer’s fee. 

Construction cost savings includes, but 

is not limited to, funds for hard 

construction costs, and State or Federal 

funds which are applicable to 

construction costs. A minimum of 10 

percent cost savings is required to earn 

points; however, if the total percentage 

of cost savings is less than 10 percent 

and the proposal includes donated land, 

two points will be awarded for the 

donated land. To count as cost savings 

for purposes of the selection criteria, the 

applicant must submit written evidence 

from the third-party funder that an 

application for those funds has been 

submitted and accepted points will be 

awarded in accordance with the 

following table using rounding to the 

nearest whole number. 

Percentage Points 

75 or more ................................ 20 

60–74 ........................................ 18 

50–59 ........................................ 16 

40–49 ........................................ 12 

30–39 ........................................ 10 

20–29 ........................................ 8 

10–19 ........................................ 5 

0–9 ............................................ 0 

(2) The presence of operational cost 

savings, such as tax abatements, nonRural Development tenant subsidies or 

donated services are calculated on a perunit cost savings for the sum of the 

savings. Savings must be available for at 

least 5 years and documentation must 

be provided with the application 

demonstrating the availability of savings 

for 5 years. To calculate the savings, 

take the total amount of savings and 

divide it by the number of units in the 

project that will benefit from the savings 

to obtain the per unit cost savings. For 

non-Rural Development tenant subsidy, 

if the value changes during the 5 year 

calculation, the applicant must use the 

lower of the non-Rural Development 

tenant subsidy to calculate per unit cost 

savings. For example, a 10-unit property 

with 100 percent designated farm labor 

housing units receiving $20,000 per year 

non-Rural Development subsidy yields a 

cost savings of $100,000 ($20,000 × 5 

years); resulting to a $10,000 per-unit 

cost savings ($100,000/10 units). 

Use the following table to apply 

points: 

Per-unit cost savings Points 

Above $15,000 ......................... 50 

$10,001–$15,000 ...................... 35 

$7,501–$10,000 ........................ 20 

$5,001–$7,500 .......................... 15 

$3,501–$5,000 .......................... 10 

$2,001–$3,500 .......................... 5 

$1,000–$2,000 .......................... 2 

(3) Percent of units for seasonal, 

temporary, migrant housing. (10 points 

for up to and including 50 percent of the 

units; 20 points for 51 percent or more 

units used for seasonal, temporary, or 

migrant housing.) 

(4) Additional 10 points will be 

awarded to projects in persistent 

poverty counties. A county is 

considered persistently poor if 20 

percent or more of its population was 

living in poverty over the last 30 years 

(measured by the 1980, 1990 and 2000 

decennial censuses and 2007–2011 

American Community Survey 5-year 

estimates). 

(5) Presence of tenant services. 

(i) Up to 25 points will be awarded 

based on the presence of and extent to 

which a tenant services plan exists that 

clearly outlines services that will be 

provided to the residents of the 

proposed project. These services may 

include, but are not limited to, 

transportation related services, on-site 

English as a Second Language (ESL) 

classes, move-in funds, emergency 

assistance funds, homeownership 

counseling, food pantries, after school 

tutoring, and computer learning centers. 

(ii) Two points will be awarded for 

each resident service included in the 

tenant services plan up to a maximum 

of 10 points. Plans must detail how the 

services are to be administered, who 

will administer them, and where they 

will be administered. All tenant service 

plans must include letters of intent that 

clearly state the service that will be 

provided at the project for the benefit of 

the residents from any party 

administering each service, including 

the applicant. 

(6) Energy Initiative Scoring Points 

(maximum 70 points). 

Properties may receive points for energy 

initiatives in the categories of energy 

conservation, energy generation, water 

conservation and green property 


rljohnson on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
15748 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 57 / Wednesday, March 25, 2015 / Notices 

management. Depending on the scope of 

work (SOW), properties may earn 

‘‘energy initiative’’ points (up to a 

maximum of 70 points) in either one of 

two categories: (1) New Construction or 

(2) Purchase and Rehabilitation of an 

Existing Non-Farm Labor Housing 

Building. Projects will be eligible for 

one category of the two, but not both. 

Energy programs including LEED for 

Homes, Green Communities, etc., will 

each have an initial checklist indicating 

prerequisites for participation in its 

energy program. The applicable energy 

program checklist will establish 

whether prerequisites for the energy 

program’s participation will be met. All 

checklists must be accompanied by a 

signed affidavit by the project architect 

or engineer stating that the goals are 

achievable. In addition, projects that 

apply for points under the energy 

generation category must include 

calculations of savings of energy. 

Compare property energy usage of three 

scenarios: (1) Property built to required 

code of State with no renewables, to (2) 

property as-designed with commitments 

to stated energy conservation programs 

without the use of renewables and (3) 

property as-designed with commitments 

to stated energy conservation programs 

and the use of proposed renewables. 

Use local average metrics for weather 

and utility costs and detail savings in 

kWh and dollars. Provide payback 

calculations. These calculations must be 

done by a licensed engineer or 

credentialed renewable energy provider. 

Include with application, the provider/ 

engineer’s credentials including 

qualifications, recommendations, and 

proof of previous work. The checklist, 

affidavit, calculations and qualifications 

of engineer/energy provider must be 

submitted together with the loan 

application. 

Enrollment in EPA Portfolio Manager 

Program. All projects awarded scoring 

points for energy initiatives must enroll 

the project in the EPA Portfolio Manager 

program to track post-construction 

energy consumption data. More 

information about this program may be 

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

buildings/facility-owners-andmanagers/existing-buildings/useportfolio-manager. 

(i) Energy Conservation for New 

Construction or Purchase and 

Rehabilitation of an Existing Non-Farm 

Labor Housing Building (maximum 55 

points). Projects may be eligible for up 

to 55 points when the pre-application 

includes a written certification by the 

applicant to participate in the following 

energy efficiency programs. 

The points will be allocated as 

follows: 

• Participation in the EPA’s Energy 

Star for Homes V3 program. (20 points) 

http://www.energystar.gov/

index.cfm?c=bldrs_lenders_raters.pt_

bldr. 

OR 

• Participation in the Green 

Communities program by the Enterprise 

Community Partners. (30 points) 

http://www.enterprisecommunity.com/

solutions-and-innovation/enterprisegreen-communities. 

OR 

• Participation in one of the following 

two programs will be awarded points for 

certification. 

Note: Each program has four levels of 

certification. State the level of 

certification that the applicant plans 

will achieve in their certification: 

• LEED for Homes program by the 

United States Green Building Council 

(USGBC): http://www.usgbc.org. 

— Certified Level (30 points), OR 

— Silver Level (35 points), OR 

— Gold Level (40 points), OR 

— Platinum Level (45 points). 

Applicant must state the level of 

certification that the applicant’s plans 

will achieve in their certification in its 

pre-application. 

OR 

• Home Innovation’s and The 

National Association of Home Builders 

(NAHB) ICC 700 National Green 

Building Standard TM: http://

www.nahb.org/. 

— Green–Bronze Level (30 points), OR 

— Silver Level (35 points), OR 

— Gold Level (40 points), OR 

— Emerald Level (45 points). 

Applicant must state the level of 

certification that the applicant’s plans 

will achieve in their certification in its 

pre-application. 

AND 

• Participation in the Department of 

Energy’s Zero Energy Ready program. (8 

points) http://www.energy.gov/eere/

buildings/zero-energy-ready-home. 

AND 

• Participation in local green/energy 

efficient building standards. Applicants 

who participate in a city, county or 

municipality program, will receive an 

additional 2 points. 

(ii) Energy Conservation for 

Rehabilitation (maximum 55 points). 

Pre-applications for the purchase and 

rehabilitation of non-program MFH and 

related facilities in rural areas may be 

eligible to receive 55 points when the 

pre-application includes a written 

certification by the applicant to 

participate in one of the following 

energy efficiency programs. Again, the 

certification must be accompanied by a 

signed affidavit by the project architect 

or engineer stating that the goals are 

achievable. Points will be award as 

follows: 

• Participation in the Green 

Communities program by the Enterprise 

Community Partners (53 points) http:// 

www.enterprisecommunity.com/

solutions-and-innovation/enterprisegreen-communities. At least 30 percent 

of the points needed to qualify for the 

Green Communities program must be 

earned under the Energy Efficiency 

section of Green Communities. 

AND 

• Participation in local green/energy 

efficient building standards. 

Applicants who participate in a city, 

county or municipality program, will 

receive an additional 2 points. The 

applicant should be aware of and look 

for additional requirements that are 

sometimes embedded in the third-party 

program’s rating and verification 

systems. (2 points) 

(iii) Energy Generation (maximum 7 

points). Pre-applications for new 

construction or purchase and 

rehabilitation of non-program multifamily projects which participate in the 

above mentioned programs and receive 

at least 20 points in the point 

allocations above are eligible to earn 

additional points for installation of onsite renewable energy sources. Energy 

analysis of preliminary building plans 

using industry-recognized simulation 

software must document the projected 

total energy consumption of all of the 

building components and building site 

usage. Projects with an energy analysis 

of the preliminary or rehabilitation 

building plans that propose a 10 percent 

to 100 percent energy generation 

commitment (where generation is 

considered to be the total amount of 

energy needed to be generated on-site to 

make the building a net-zero consumer 

of energy) will be awarded points as 

follows: 

• 0 to 9 percent commitment to 

energy generation receives 0 points; 

• (b) 10 to 20 percent commitment to 

energy generation receives 1 point; 

• (c) 21 to 40 percent commitment to 

energy generation receives 2 points; 

• (d) 41 to 60 percent commitment to 

energy generation receives 3 points; 

• (e) 61 to 80 percent commitment to 

energy generation receives 4 points; and 

• (f) 81–100 percent or more 

commitment to energy generation 

receives 5 points. 

Projects may participate in Power 

Purchase Agreements or Solar Leases to 

achieve their on-site renewable energy 

generation goals provided that the 


rljohnson on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 57 / Wednesday, March 25, 2015 / Notices 15749 

financial obligations of the lease/

purchase agreements are clearly 

documented and included in the 

application, and qualifying ratios 

continue to be achieved. 

An additional (2) points will be 

awarded for off-grid systems, or 

elements of systems, provided that at 

least 5 percent of on-site renewable 

system is off-grid. See www.dsireusa.org 

for State and local specific incentives 

and regulations of energy initiatives. 

(iv) Water Conservation in Irrigation 

Measures (maximum 3 points). Projects 

may be awarded 3 points for the use of 

an engineered recycled water (gray 

water or storm water) for landscape 

irrigation covering 50 percent or more of 

the property’s site landscaping needs. 

(v) Property Management Credentials 

(maximum 5 points). Projects may be 

awarded an additional 5 points if the 

designated property management 

company or individuals that will 

assume maintenance and operations 

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’s Leadership in Energy 

and Environmental Design for 

Operations and Maintenance (LEED 

OM), or another source with a certifiable 

credentialing program. Credentialing 

must be illustrated in the resume(s) of 

the property management team and 

included with the pre-application. 

The National Office will rank all preapplications nationwide and distribute 

funds to States in rank order, within 

funding and RA limits. When proposals 

have an equal score, preference will be 

given first to Indian tribes as defined in 

§ 3560.11 and then local non-profit 

organizations or public bodies whose 

principal purposes include low-income 

housing that meet the conditions of 

§ 3560.55(c) and the following 

conditions: 

• Is exempt from Federal income 

taxes under section 501(c)(3) or 

501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue code; 

• Is not wholly or partially owned or 

controlled by a for-profit or limitedprofit type entity; 

• Whose members, or the entity, do 

not share an identity of interest with a 

for-profit or limited-profit type entity; 

• Is not co-venturing with another 

entity; and 

• The entity or its members will not 

be receiving any direct or indirect 

benefits pursuant to Low Income 

Housing Tax Credits. 

If there are two or more applications 

that have the same score and both 

cannot be funded, a lottery in 

accordance with 7 CFR 3560.56(c)(2) 

will be used to break the tie. If 

insufficient funds or RA remain for the 

next ranked proposal, that applicant 

will be given a chance to modify their 

pre-application to bring it within 

remaining funding levels. This will be 

repeated for each next ranked eligible 

proposal until an award can be made or 

the list is exhausted. 

Rural Development will notify all 

applicants whether their applications 

have been accepted or rejected and 

provide appeal rights under 7 CFR part 

11, as appropriate. 

E. Federal Award Administration 

Information 

1. Federal Award Notices 

Loan applicants must submit their 

initial applications by the due date 

specified in this Notice. Once the 

applications have been scored and 

ranked by the National Office, the 

National Office will advise State Offices 

of the proposals selected for further 

processing, State Offices will respond to 

applicants by letter. 

If the application is not accepted for 

further processing, the applicant will be 

notified of appeal rights under 7 CFR 

part 11. 

2. Administrative and National Policy 

All Farm Labor Housing loans and 

grants are subject to the restrictive-use 

provisions contained in 7 CFR 

3560.72(a)(2). 

3. Reporting 

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 Rural Development. Funds 

allocated to the operation and 

maintenance of the project may not be 

used to supplement 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 Rural 

Development, and then only to the 

extent necessary for Rural Development 

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,’’ [showing 

actual,] must allocate revenue and 

expense between project operations and 

the service component. 

F. Equal Opportunity and NonDiscrimination Requirements 

Borrowers and applicants will comply 

with the provisions of 7 CFR 3560.2. All 

housing must meet the accessibility 

requirements found at 7 CFR 3560.60(d). 

All applicants must submit or have on 

file a valid Form RD 400–1, ‘‘Equal 

Opportunity Agreement,’’ and Form RD 

400–4, ‘‘Assurance Agreement.’’ 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture 

prohibits discrimination against its 

customers, employees, and applicants 

for employment on the basis 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, 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.) 

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, 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) 720–7442 or email at: 

program.intake@usda.gov. 

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 


rljohnson on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
15750 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 57 / Wednesday, March 25, 2015 / Notices 

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: March 17, 2015. 

Tony Hernandez, 

Administrator, Housing and Community 

Facilities Programs. 

[FR Doc. 2015–06863 Filed 3–24–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–XV–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Submission for OMB Review; 

Comment Request 

March 19, 2015. 

The Department of Agriculture has 

submitted the following information 

collection requirement(s) to OMB for 

review and clearance under the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 

Public Law 104–13. Comments 

regarding (a) whether the collection of 

information is necessary for the proper 

performance of the functions of the 

agency, including whether the 

information will have practical utility; 

(b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate 

of burden including the validity of the 

methodology and assumptions used; (c) 

ways to enhance the quality, utility and 

clarity of the information to be 

collected; (d) ways to minimize the 

burden of the collection of information 

on those who are to respond, including 

through the use of appropriate 

automated, electronic, mechanical, or 

other technological collection 

techniques or other forms of information 

technology should be addressed to: Desk 

Officer for Agriculture, Office of 

Information and Regulatory Affairs, 

Office of Management and Budget 

(OMB), New Executive Office Building, 

725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 

20502. Commenters are encouraged to 

submit their comments to OMB via 

email to: OIRA_Submission@

omb.eop.gov or fax (202) 395–5806 and 

to Departmental Clearance Office, 

USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, 

Washington, DC 20250–7602. 

Comments regarding these information 

collections are best assured of having 

their full effect if received by April 24, 

2015. Copies of the submission(s) may 

be obtained by calling (202) 720–8681. 

An agency may not conduct or 

sponsor a collection of information 

unless the collection of information 

displays a currently valid OMB control 

number and the agency informs 

potential persons who are to respond to 

the collection of information that such 

persons are not required to respond to 

the collection of information unless it 

displays a currently valid OMB control 

number. 

Rural Business Service 

Title: 7 CFR 1951–R, Rural 

Development Loan Servicing. 

OMB Control Number: 0570–0015. 

Summary of Collection: The Rural 

Development (RD) Loan Servicing was 

legislated in 1985 under Section 1323 of 

the Food and Security Act of 1985. This 

action is needed to implement the 

provision of Section 407 of the Health 

and Human Services Act of 1986, which 

amended Section 1323 of the Food and 

Security Act of 1985. 7 CFR part 1951, 

subpart R contains regulations for 

servicing and liquidating existing loans 

previously approved and administered 

by the U.S. Department of Health and 

Human Services (HHS) under 45 CFR 

part 1076 and transferred from HHS to 

the Department of Agriculture. This 

subpart contains regulations for 

servicing and liquidating loans made by 

RD, successor to the Farmers Home 

Administration under the Intermediary 

Relending Program to eligible 

intermediaries and applies to ultimate 

recipients and other involved parties. 

Need and Use of the Information: The 

Intermediary will provide RD 

information from, i.e. assets and 

liabilities, income statement and a 

summary of its lending and guarantee 

program. Form 1951–4 gathers 

information about jobs created or saved 

for the Intermediary Relending Program 

and Rural Development Loan Fund. The 

required financial information provided 

by the Intermediary is vital to RD for the 

Agency to make sound credit and 

financial analysis decisions and monitor 

the program. 

Description of Respondents: Not-forprofit institutions; Business or other forprofit. 

Number of Respondents: 459. 

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: 

On occasion; Quarterly; Semi-annually; 

Annually. 

Total Burden Hours: 12,421. 

Charlene Parker, 

Departmental Information Collection 

Clearance Officer. 

[FR Doc. 2015–06766 Filed 3–24–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–XY–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing 

System (IOOS®) Advisory Committee 

AGENCY: National Ocean Service, 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration (NOAA), Department of 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice of open meeting. 

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of a 

meeting of the U.S. Integrated Ocean 

Observing System (IOOS®) Advisory 

Committee (Committee) in Washington, 

DC. 

DATES AND TIMES: The meeting will be 

held on Wednesday, April 29, 2015, 

from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on 

Thursday, April 30, 2015, from 9:00 

a.m.–3:00 p.m. These times and the 

agenda topics described below are 

subject to change. Refer to the Web page 

listed below for the most up-to-date 

meeting agenda. 

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at 

the Consortium for Ocean Leadership, 

1201 New York Ave. NW., Washington, 

DC 20005. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Jessica Snowden, Alternate Designated 

Federal Official, U.S. IOOS Advisory 

Committee, U.S. IOOS Program, 1100 

Wayne Ave., Suite 1225, Silver Spring, 

MD 20910; Phone 301–427–2453; Fax 

301–427–2073; Email jessica.snowden@

noaa.gov or visit the U.S. IOOS 

Advisory Committee Web site at 

http://www.ioos.noaa.gov/

advisorycommittee. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

Committee was established by the 

NOAA Administrator as directed by 

Section 12304 of the Integrated Coastal 

and Ocean Observation System Act, part 

of the Omnibus Public Land 

Management Act of 2009 (Pub. L. 111– 

11). The Committee advises the NOAA 

Administrator and the Interagency 

Ocean Observation Committee (IOOC) 

on matters related to the responsibilities 

and authorities set forth in section 

12302 of the Integrated Coastal and 

Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 

and other appropriate matters as the 

Under Secretary refers to the Committee 

for review and advice. 

The Committee will provide advice 

on: 

(a) Administration, operation, 

management, and maintenance of the 

System; 

(b) expansion and periodic 

modernization and upgrade of 

technology components of the System; 

(c) identification of end-user 

communities, their needs for 

information provided by the System, 

and the System’s effectiveness in 

dissemination information to end-user 

communities and to the general public; 

and 

(d) any other purpose identified by 

the Under Secretary of Commerce for 

Oceans and Atmosphere or the 


rljohnson on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES