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[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 81 (Wednesday, April 29, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19485-19492]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-9759]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

Announcement of Rural Cooperative Development Grant Application 
Deadlines

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of solicitation of applications.

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SUMMARY: The Rural Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG) program is 
administered through USDA Rural Development on a competitive basis. 
USDA Rural Development announces the availability of approximately 
$4.424 million in competitive grant funds for the fiscal year (FY) 2009 
Rural Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG) Program. The intended effect 
of this notice is to solicit applications for FY 2009 and award grants 
on or before September 15, 2009. The maximum award per grant is 
$200,000 and matching funds are required. In accordance with section 
310B(e)(6)(B) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 
U.S.C. 1932(e)) as amended by section 6013 of the Food, Conservation 
and Energy Act of 2008, the Secretary has determined that a grant 
period of one year is in the best interest of the program at this time.

DATES: Applications for grants must be submitted on paper or 
electronically according to the following deadlines:
    Paper copies must be postmarked and mailed, shipped, or sent 
overnight no later than June 29, 2009, to be eligible for FY 2009 grant 
funding. Late applications are not eligible for FY 2009 grant funding.

[[Page 19486]]

    Electronic copies must be received by June 29, 2009, to be eligible 
for FY 2009 grant funding. Late applications are not eligible for FY 
2009 grant funding.

ADDRESSES: Application materials for a RCDG may be obtained at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/rcdg/rcdg.htm or by contacting the 
applicant's USDA Rural Development State Office. Contact information 
for State Offices can be found at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/rcdg/Contacts.htm. Submit completed paper applications for a grant to 
Cooperative Programs, Attn: RCDG Program, 1400 Independence Avenue, 
SW., Mail Stop 3250, Room 4016-South, Washington, DC 20250-3250. The 
phone number that should be used for courier delivery is (202) 720-
8460.
    Submit electronic grant applications at http://www.grants.gov, 
following the instructions found on this Web site.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Visit the program Web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/rcdg/rcdg.htm for application assistance 
or contact your USDA Rural Development State Office.
    Contact information may be obtained at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/rcdg/Contacts.htm. Applicants are encouraged to contact their 
State Offices well in advance of the deadline to discuss their projects 
and ask any questions about the application process.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Overview

    Federal Agency: Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS).
    Funding Opportunity Title: Rural Cooperative Development Grant.
    Announcement Type: Initial announcement.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 10.771.
    Dates: Application Deadline: Completed applications for grants may 
be submitted on paper or electronically according to the following 
deadlines:
    Paper copies must be postmarked and mailed, shipped, or sent 
overnight no later than June 29, 2009, to be eligible for FY 2009 grant 
funding. Electronic copies must be received by June 29, 2009, to be 
eligible for FY 2009 grant funding.
    Late applications are not eligible for FY 2009 grant funding.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    RCDGs are authorized by section 310B(e) of the Consolidated Farm 
and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1932(e)) as amended by section 6013 
of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008. Regulations are 
contained in 7 CFR part 4284, subparts A and F. The primary objective 
of the RCDG program is to improve the economic condition of rural areas 
through cooperative development. Grant funds are provided for the 
establishment and operation of Centers that have the expertise or who 
can contract out for the expertise to assist individuals or entities in 
the startup, expansion or operational improvement of rural businesses, 
especially cooperative or mutually-owned businesses (section 
310B(e)(5)). The program is administered through USDA Rural Development 
State Offices.

Definitions

    The definitions published at 7 CFR 4284.3 and 7 CFR 4284.504 are 
incorporated by reference. The definition of ``rural'' and ``rural 
area,'' as amended at section 6018(13)(A) of the Food, Conservation and 
Energy Act of 2008 is also incorporated by reference. In addition, 
since there has been some confusion on the Agency's meaning of the term 
``conflict of interest,'' the Agency is providing clarification on what 
it means by this term.
    Conflict of interest--A situation in which the ability of a person 
or entity to act impartially would be questionable due to competing 
professional or personal interests. An example of conflict of interest 
occurs when the grantee's employees, board of directors, including 
their immediate family, have a legal or personal financial interest in 
the recipients receiving the benefits or services of the grant.
    Mutually-owned business--An organization owned and governed by 
members who either are its consumers, producers, employees, or 
suppliers.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Grant.
    Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2009.
    Approximate Total Funding: $4.424 million.
    Approximate Number of Awards: 22.
    Approximate Average Award: $200,000.
    Floor of Award Range: None.
    Ceiling of Award Range: $200,000.
    Anticipated Award Date: September 15, 2009.
    Budget Period Length: 12 months.
    Project Period Length: 12 months.

III. Eligibility Information

A. Eligible Applicants

    Grants may be made to nonprofit corporations and institutions of 
higher education. Grants may not be made to public bodies.

B. Cost Sharing or Matching

    The matching fund requirement is 25 percent of the total project 
cost (5 percent in the case of 1994 Institutions). Applicants must 
verify in their applications that all matching funds are available 
during the grant period. If an applicant is awarded a grant, additional 
verification documentation may be required. All of the matching funds 
must be spent on eligible expenses during the grant period, and must be 
from eligible sources. Unless provided by other authorizing 
legislation, other Federal grant funds cannot be used as matching 
funds. However, matching funds may include loan proceeds from Federal 
sources. Matching funds must be spent in advance or as a pro-rata 
portion of grant funds being expended. All of the matching funds must 
be provided by either the applicant or a third party in the form of 
cash or in-kind contributions. The Center must be able to document and 
verify the number of hours worked and the value associated with the in-
kind contribution. Additionally, if the in-kind contributions are from 
board/advisory council members for their travel, incidentals, etc., the 
Center must have established written policies explaining how these 
costs are normally reimbursed, including rates, and an explanation of 
this policy must be included in the application. Otherwise, the in-kind 
contributions will not be considered eligible and may cause the 
application to be determined ineligible for funding. Please note that 
priority is no longer given to matching contributions greater than the 
required 25 percent. Therefore, to reduce the paperwork burden of the 
applicant with regard to verification of matching funds, the Agency 
will no longer accept board/advisory council members' time as an 
eligible match. In-kind contributions provided by individuals, 
businesses, or cooperatives which are being assisted by the Center can 
not be provided for the direct benefit of their own projects as USDA 
Rural Development considers this to be a conflict of interest or the 
appearance of a conflict of interest.

C. Other Eligibility Requirements

    Grant Period Eligibility: Applications should have a timeframe of 
no more than 365 consecutive days with the time period beginning no 
earlier than October 1, 2009 and no later than January 1, 2010. 
Projects must be completed within the 1-year timeframe. The Agency may 
approve requests to extend the grant period for up to twelve months at 
the discretion of the Agency. However, the grant must be closed 30

[[Page 19487]]

days prior to the application deadline for the subsequent grant cycle 
or the grantee will not be eligible to apply for funding for the next 
fiscal year.
    Completeness Eligibility: Applications without sufficient 
information to determine eligibility and scoring will be considered 
ineligible. Applications that are non-responsive to this notice will be 
considered ineligible.
    Activity Eligibility: Applications must propose the development or 
continuation of the cooperative development center concept or they will 
not be considered for funding. Additionally, applications that focus 
assistance on only one cooperative or mutually-owned business will not 
be considered for funding. Applications requesting more than the 
maximum grant amount will not be considered for funding. Applications 
that have ineligible costs that equal more than 10 percent of the total 
project costs will be determined ineligible, and will not be considered 
for funding. If an application has ineligible costs of 10 percent or 
less of total project costs and is selected for funding, the applicant 
must remove all ineligible costs from the budget and replace them with 
eligible activities or the amount of the grant award will be reduced 
accordingly.

IV. Application and Submission Information

A. Address To Request Application Package

    The application package for applying on paper for this funding 
opportunity can be obtained at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/rcdg/rcdg.htm. For electronic applications, applicants must visit 
http://www.grants.gov and follow the instructions.

B. Submission Dates and Times

    Applicants may submit their applications to their State Rural 
Development Office for a preliminary review up to 30 days prior to the 
final application deadline published in this notice. The preliminary 
review will assess applicant and project eligibility of the application 
and completeness of the application in terms of presence of the 
required elements. Should the Agency identify missing or incomplete 
elements, the applicant will be notified and given an opportunity to 
submit the missing elements before the final deadline published in the 
Federal Register. This preliminary review is an informal assessment of 
the application and not an evaluation of the quality of the proposal. 
Findings of the preliminary review are courtesy only and are not 
binding on the Agency nor are they appealable.
    Final paper applications must be postmarked and mailed, shipped, or 
sent overnight no later than June 29, 2009, to be eligible for FY 2009 
grant funding. Applications postmarked, mailed, or shipped after June 
29, 2009 will not be processed. Final electronic applications must be 
received by June 29, 2009, to be eligible for FY 2009 grant funding.

C. Content and Form of Submission

    Applications must be submitted on paper or electronically. An 
application guide may be viewed at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/rcdg/rcdg.htm. It is recommended that applicants use the template 
provided on the Web site. The template can be filled out electronically 
and printed out for submission with the required forms for paper 
submission or it can be filled out electronically and submitted as an 
attachment through http://www.grants.gov.
    The submission must include all pages of the application. It is 
recommended that the application be in black and white, not color. 
Those evaluating the application will only receive black and white 
images.
    If the application is submitted electronically, the applicant must 
follow the instructions given at http://www.grants.gov. Applicants are 
advised to visit the site well in advance of the application deadline 
if they plan to apply electronically to ensure they have obtained the 
proper authentication and have sufficient computer resources to 
complete the application.
    Applicants must complete and submit the following elements. The 
Agency will then screen all applications for eligibility and to 
determine whether the application is sufficiently responsive to the 
requirements set forth in this notice to allow for an informed review. 
Information submitted as part of the application will be protected to 
the extent permitted by law. An application guide and forms are 
available online at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/rcdg/rcdg.htm.
    1. Form SF-424, ``Application for Federal Assistance.'' The form 
must be completed, signed and submitted as part of the application 
package.
    Please note that applicants are required to have a DUNS number to 
apply for a grant from USDA Rural Development. The DUNS number is a 
nine-digit identification number which uniquely identifies business 
entities. There is no charge. To obtain a DUNS number, access http://www.dnb.com/us/ or call 866-705-5711. For more information, see the 
RCDG Web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/rcdg/rcdg.htm or 
contact the applicant's USDA Rural Development State Office. Contact 
information for State Offices can be found at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/rcdg/Contacts.htm.
    2. Form SF-424A, ``Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs.'' 
This form must be completed and submitted as part of the application 
package.
    3. Form SF-424B, ``Assurances--Non-Construction Programs.'' This 
form must be completed, signed, and submitted as part of the 
application package.
    4. Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants. The Agency 
is required to make this survey available to all nonprofit applicants. 
Submission of this form is voluntary.
    5. Title Page. To include the title of the project as well as any 
other relevant identifying information.
    6. Table of Contents. To include page numbers for each component of 
the application.
    7. Executive Summary. A summary of the proposal, not to exceed two 
pages, must briefly describe the Center, including project goals and 
tasks to be accomplished, the amount requested, how the work will be 
performed (e.g., Center staff, consultants, or contractors) and the 
percentage of work that will be performed among the parties.
    8. Eligibility. The applicant must describe, not to exceed two 
pages, how it meets the applicant, matching, grant period and activity 
eligibility requirements.
    9. Proposal Narrative. The proposal narrative is limited to a total 
of 40 pages.
    i. Project Title. The title of the proposed project must be brief, 
not to exceed 75 characters, yet describe the essentials of the 
project. If a title page was included under number 5 above, it is not 
necessary to include an additional title page under this section.
    ii. Information Sheet. A separate one-page information sheet 
listing each of the evaluation criteria referenced in this funding 
announcement, followed by the page numbers of all relevant material and 
documentation contained in the proposal that address or support the 
criteria. If the evaluation criteria are listed on the Table of 
Contents and specifically and individually addressed in narrative form, 
then it is not necessary to include an information sheet under this 
section.
    iii. Goals of the Project. The applicant must include the following 
statements in this section of the narrative to

[[Page 19488]]

demonstrate that the Center is following these statutory requirements:
    1. A statement that substantiates that the Center will effectively 
serve rural areas in the United States;
    2. A statement that the primary objective of the Center will be to 
improve the economic condition of rural areas through cooperative 
development;
    3. A description of the contributions that the proposed activities 
are likely to make to the improvement of the economic conditions of the 
rural areas for which the Center will provide services. Expected 
economic impacts should be tied to tasks included in the work plan and 
budget; and
    4. A statement that the Center, in carrying out its activities, 
will seek, where appropriate, the advice, participation, expertise, and 
assistance of representatives of business, industry, educational 
institutions, the Federal Government, and State and local governments.
    iv. Performance Evaluation Criteria. The Agency has established 
annual performance measures to evaluate the RCDG program. Applicants 
may provide estimates on the following performance measures.
     Number of groups who are not legal entities assisted.
     Number of businesses that are not cooperatives assisted.
     Number of cooperatives assisted.
     Number of businesses incorporated that are not 
cooperatives.
     Number of cooperatives incorporated.
     Total number of jobs created as a result of assistance.
     Total number of jobs saved as a result of assistance.
     Number of jobs created for the Center as a result of RCDG 
funding.
     Number of jobs saved for the Center as a result of RCDG 
funding.
    If the application is selected for funding, the applicant will be 
required to report actual numbers for these performance elements on a 
semi-annual basis and in the final performance report. Additional 
information on post-award requirements can be found in Section VI. 
Applicants must also suggest additional performance criteria in the 
event the proposal receives grant funding. These additional voluntary 
criteria should be specific, measurable performance criteria, but are 
not binding on USDA.
    v. Undertakings. The applicant must include the following 
statements in this section of the narrative and expressly undertake to 
do them.
    1. Take all practicable steps to develop continuing sources of 
financial support for the Center, particularly from sources in the 
private sectors;
    2. Make arrangements for the Center's activities to be monitored 
and evaluated; and
    3. Provide an accounting for the money received by the grantee in 
accordance with 7 CFR part 4284, subpart F.
    vi. Work Plan. Please see section V. A. 6. for specific 
requirements on the work plan and budget. The work plan and budget 
should be presented under proposal evaluation criterion number 6. It is 
not necessary to include the work plan and budget under this section.
    vii. Delivery of Technical Assistance and Other Services. Please 
see section V. A. 2. for specific requirements on delivery of technical 
assistance in rural areas to promote and assist the development of 
cooperatively and mutually owned businesses. Delivery should be 
presented under proposal evaluation criterion number 2. It is not 
necessary to include discussion on delivery of technical assistance 
under this section.
    viii. Qualifications of Personnel. Please see section V. A. 7. for 
specific requirements on qualifications of personnel. Qualifications of 
personnel should be presented under proposal evaluation criterion 
number 7. It is not necessary to include discussion on qualifications 
of personnel under this section.
    ix. Local Support. Please see section V. A. 8. for specific 
requirements for local support. Local support should be presented under 
proposal evaluation criterion number 8. It is not necessary to include 
discussion of local support under this section.
    x. Future Support. Please see section V. A. 9. for specific 
requirements on future support. Future support should be presented 
under proposal evaluation criterion number 9. It is not necessary to 
include discussion on future support under this section.
    xi. Proposal Evaluation Criteria. Each of the evaluation criteria 
referenced in this funding announcement must be specifically and 
individually addressed in narrative form. Applications that do not 
address all of the proposal evaluation criteria will be considered 
ineligible. See Section V. A. for a description of the Proposal 
Evaluation Criteria.
    10. Certification of Judgment Owed to the United States. Applicants 
must certify that there are no current outstanding Federal judgments 
against them. No grant funds shall be used to pay a judgment obtained 
by the United States. It is suggested that applicants use the following 
language for the certification. ``[INSERT NAME OF APPLICANT] certifies 
that the United States has not obtained a judgment against it and will 
not use grant funds to pay any judgments obtained by the United 
States.'' A separate signature is not required.
    11. Certification of Matching Funds. Applicants must certify that 
matching funds will be available at the same time grant funds are 
anticipated to be spent and that matching funds will be spent in 
advance of grant funding, such that for every dollar of the total 
project cost, not less than the required amount of matching funds will 
have been expended prior to submitting the request for reimbursement. 
Please note that this certification is a separate requirement from the 
Verification of Matching Funds requirement. To satisfy the 
Certification requirement, applicants should include a statement for 
this section that reads as follows: ``[INSERT NAME OF APPLICANT] 
certifies that matching funds will be available at the same time grant 
funds are anticipated to be spent and that matching funds will be spent 
in advance of grant funding, such that for every dollar of the total 
project cost, at least 25 cents (5 cents for 1994 Institutions) of 
matching funds will have been expended prior to submitting the request 
for reimbursement.'' A separate signature is not required.
    12. Verification of Matching Funds. Applicants must provide 
documentation of all proposed matching funds, both cash and in-kind. 
Matching funds must be used for eligible purposes and expenditures for 
this grant program. The documentation must be included in Appendix A 
and will not count towards the 40-page limitation. Template letters for 
each type of matching funds are available at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/rcdg/verifymatchsample.doc.
    If matching funds are to be provided in cash, the following 
requirements must be met at the time of application. Additional 
documentation may be required if a grant is awarded.
    Applicant: The application must include a statement verifying (1) 
the amount of the cash and (2) the source of the cash. If the applicant 
is paying for goods and/or services as part of the matching funds 
contribution, the expenditure is considered a cash match, and should be 
verified as such.
    Third-party: The application must include a signed letter from the 
third party verifying (1) how much cash will be donated and (2) that it 
will be available corresponding to the proposed grant period or donated 
on a specific date within the grant period. Cash matching contributions 
from third-parties are to be used for Center

[[Page 19489]]

operations and cannot be used to provide services which directly 
benefit the third-party contributor. Contributors of cash matching 
contributions may not limit how or where the Center may use the 
contributions.
    If matching funds are to be provided by an in-kind donation, the 
following requirements must be met.
    Applicant: The application must include a signed letter from the 
applicant or its authorized representative verifying (1) the nature of 
the goods and/or services to be donated and how they will be used (2) 
when the goods and/or services will be donated (i.e., corresponding to 
the proposed grant period or to specific dates within the grant period) 
and (3) the value of the goods and/or services.
    Third-Party: The application must include a signed letter from the 
third party verifying (1) the nature of the goods and/or services to be 
donated and how they will be used, (2) when the goods and/or services 
will be donated (i.e., corresponding to the proposed grant period or to 
specific dates within the grant period when matching contributions will 
be made available) and (3) the value of the goods and/or services. It 
should be noted that non-profit or other organizations contributing the 
services of affiliated volunteers must follow the third-party 
verification requirement above, for each individual volunteer.
    Applicants should note that only goods or services for which no 
expenditure is made can be considered in-kind. Verification for in-kind 
contributions that are over-valued will not be accepted. The valuation 
process for in-kind funds does not need to be included in the 
application. However, the applicant must be able to demonstrate how the 
valuation was derived at the time of notification of tentative 
selection for the grant award. If the applicant cannot satisfactorily 
demonstrate how the valuation was determined, the grant award may be 
withdrawn or the amount of the grant may be reduced.
    Verification for funds donated outside the proposed time period of 
the grant will not be accepted.
    Examples of unacceptable matching funds are in-kind contributions 
from individuals, businesses, or cooperatives being assisted by the 
Center to benefit their own project, donations of fixed equipment and 
buildings, and costs related to the preparation of the RCDG application 
package.
    Expected program income may not be used to fulfill the matching 
funds requirement at the time of application. However, if there are 
contracts in place at the time of application, they may be treated as 
cash match. If program income is earned during the time period of the 
grant, it is subject to the requirements of 7 CFR part 3015, subpart F 
and 7 CFR part 3019.24 and any provisions in the Grant Agreement.

D. Submission Dates and Times

    Application Deadline Date: June 29, 2009.
    Explanation of Deadlines: Paper applications must be postmarked by 
the deadline date (see Section IV.F for the address). Electronic 
applications must be received by http://www.grants.gov by the deadline 
date. If the application does not meet the deadline above, it will not 
be considered for funding. The applicant will be notified if the 
application does not meet the submission requirements. The applicant 
will also be notified by mail or by e-mail if the application is 
received on time.

E. Intergovernmental Review of Applications

    Executive Order 12372, Intergovernmental review of Federal 
programs, applies to this program. This EO requires that Federal 
agencies provide opportunities for consultation on proposed assistance 
with State and local governments. Many states have established a Single 
Point of Contact (SPOC) to facilitate this consultation. For a list of 
states that maintain an SPOC, please see the White House Web site: 
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html. If an applicant's state 
has an SPOC, the applicant may submit a copy of the application 
directly for review. Any comments obtained through the SPOC must be 
provided to USDA Rural Development for consideration as part of the 
application. If the applicant's state has not established an SPOC, or 
the applicant does not want to submit a copy of the application, USDA 
Rural Development will submit the application to the SPOC or other 
appropriate agency or agencies.
    Applicants are also encouraged to contact the USDA Rural 
Development State Office for assistance and questions on this process. 
Contact information for USDA Rural Development State Offices can be 
viewed at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/rcdg/Contacts.htm.

F. Funding Restrictions

    Funding restrictions apply to both grant funds and matching funds. 
Grant funds may be used to pay up to 75 percent (95 percent where the 
grantee is a 1994 Institution) of the total project cost.
    1. Grant funds and matching funds may be used for, but are not 
limited to, providing the following to individuals, small businesses, 
cooperative and mutually-owned businesses and other similar entities in 
rural areas served by the Center (section 310B(e)(5)):
    i. Applied research, feasibility, environmental and other studies 
that may be useful for the purpose of cooperative development.
    ii. Collection, interpretation and dissemination of principles, 
facts, technical knowledge, or other information for the purpose of 
cooperative development.
    iii. Training and instruction for the purpose of cooperative 
development.
    iv. Loans and grants for the purpose of cooperative development in 
accordance with this notice and applicable regulations.
    v. Technical assistance, research services and advisory services 
for the purpose of cooperative development.
    vi. Programs providing for the coordination of services and sharing 
of information among the Centers (section 310B(e)(4)(C)(vi).
    2. No funds made available under this solicitation shall be used 
for any of the following activities:
    i. To duplicate current services or replace or substitute support 
previously provided. If the current service is inadequate, however, 
grant funds may be used to expand the level of effort or services 
beyond that which is currently being provided;
    ii. To pay costs of preparing the application package for funding 
under this program;
    iii. To pay costs of the project incurred prior to the date of 
grant approval;
    iv. To fund political or lobbying activities;
    v. To pay for assistance to any private business enterprise that 
does not have at least 51 percent ownership by those who are either 
citizens of the United States or reside in the United States after 
being legally admitted for permanent residence;
    vi. To pay any judgment or debt owed to the United States;
    vii. To plan, repair, rehabilitate, acquire, or construct a 
building or facility, including a processing facility;
    viii. To purchase, rent, or install fixed equipment, including 
laboratory equipment or processing machinery;
    ix. To pay for the repair of privately owned vehicles;
    x. To fund research and development;
    xi. To pay costs of the project where a conflict of interest 
exists; or
    xii. To fund any activities prohibited by 7 CFR parts 3015 or 3019.

[[Page 19490]]

 G. Other Submission Requirements

    A paper application for a grant must be submitted to Cooperative 
Programs, Attn: RCDG Program, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Mail Stop 
3250, Room 4016-South, Washington, DC 20250-3250. The phone number that 
should be used for courier delivery is (202) 720-8460. Electronically 
submitted applications must apply using the following internet address: 
http://www.grants.gov. Applications may not be submitted by electronic 
mail, facsimile, or by hand-delivery. Each application submission must 
contain all required documents.

V. Application Review Information

A. Proposal Evaluation Criteria

    All eligible and complete applications will be evaluated based on 
the following criteria. Evaluators will base scores only on the 
information provided or cross-referenced in each individual evaluation 
criterion. The maximum amount of points available is 100. Note: Newly 
established or proposed Centers that do not yet have a track record on 
which to evaluate the following criteria should refer to the expertise 
and track records of staff or consultants expected to perform tasks 
related to the respective criteria.
    1. Administrative capabilities in support of Center activities. 
(maximum score of 10 points) The Agency will evaluate the application 
to determine whether the applicant demonstrates a proven track record 
in carrying out activities to promote and assist the development of 
cooperatively and mutually owned businesses. Applicants that discuss 
the capabilities of their financial systems and audit controls, 
personnel and program administration performance measures and clear 
rules of governance that will be utilized, either in-house or by 
supporting institutions to support Center activities will receive more 
points.
    2. Technical assistance and other services. (maximum score of 15 
points) The Agency will evaluate the applicant's demonstrated expertise 
in providing technical assistance and accomplishing effective outcomes 
in rural areas to promote and assist the development of cooperatively 
and mutually-owned businesses. The applicant should also discuss their 
potential for delivering effective technical assistance, the types of 
assistance provided, the expected effects of that assistance, the 
sustainability of organizations receiving the assistance, and the 
transferability of its cooperative development strategies and focus to 
other areas of the U.S. Applicants that evidence effective delivery 
systems for cooperative development will receive more points.
    3. Economic development. (maximum score of 15 points) The Agency 
will evaluate the applicant's demonstrated ability to assist in the 
retention of businesses, facilitate the establishment of cooperatives 
and new cooperative approaches and generate employment opportunities 
that will improve the economic conditions of rural areas. Applicants 
that provide statistics for historical and potential development and 
identify their role in economic development outcomes will receive more 
points.
    4. Networking and regional focus. (maximum score of 10 points) The 
Agency will evaluate the applicant's demonstrated commitment to (a) 
networking with other cooperative development centers, and other 
organizations involved in rural economic development efforts, as well 
as (b) developing multi-organization and multi-state approaches to 
addressing the economic development and cooperative needs of rural 
areas.
    5. Commitment. (maximum score of 10 points) The Agency will 
evaluate the applicant's commitment to providing technical assistance 
and other services to under-served and economically distressed areas in 
rural areas of the United States. Applicants that define the 
underserved and economically distressed areas within their service 
area, provide statistics, and identify projects within or affecting 
these areas, as appropriate, will receive more points.
    6. Work Plan/Budget. (maximum score of 10 points) The work plan 
will be reviewed for detailed actions and an accompanying timetable for 
implementing the proposal. Clear, logical, realistic and efficient 
plans will result in a higher score. Budgets will be reviewed for 
completeness and the quality of non-Federal funding commitments. 
Applicants must discuss the specific tasks (whether it be by type of 
service or specific project) to be completed using grant and matching 
funds. The work plan should reflect projects initiated by the applicant 
and in which the applicant plays a key role. The work plan should also 
show how customers will be identified, key personnel to be involved, 
and the evaluation methods to be used to determine the success of 
specific tasks and overall objectives of Center operations. The budget 
must present a breakdown of the estimated costs associated with 
cooperative development activities as well as the operation of the 
Center and allocate these costs to each of the tasks to be undertaken. 
Matching funds as well as grant funds must be accounted for in the 
budget.
    7. Qualifications of those performing the tasks. (maximum score of 
10 points) The Agency will evaluate the application to determine if the 
personnel expected to perform key tasks have a track record of positive 
solutions for complex cooperative development and/or marketing 
problems, or a successful record of conducting accurate feasibility 
studies, business plans, marketing analysis, or other activities 
relevant to applicant's success as determined by the tasks identified 
in the applicants work plan. The applicant must also identify whether 
the personnel expected to perform the tasks are full/part-time 
employees of the applicant or are contract personnel. Applicants that 
evidence commitment/availability of qualified personnel expected to 
perform the tasks will receive more points.
    8. Local support. (maximum score of 10 points) The Agency will 
evaluate applications for previous and expected local support for the 
applicant, and plans for coordinating with other developmental 
organizations in the proposed service area or with state and local 
government institutions. Applicants that evidence strong support from 
potential beneficiaries and formal evidence of intent to coordinate 
with other developmental organizations will receive more points. 
Support should be discussed directly within the response to this 
criterion. The applicant may submit a maximum of 10 letters of support 
or intent to coordinate with the application. These letters should be 
included in Appendix B of the application and will not count against 
the 40-page limit for the narrative.
    9. Future support. (maximum score of 10 points) The Agency will 
evaluate the applicant's vision for funding its operations in future 
years. Applicants should document new and existing funding sources that 
support its goals. Applicants should also discuss reliance on Federal, 
State, and local grants; and the use of in-house personnel for 
providing services versus contracting out for that expertise. 
Applications that evidence vision and likelihood of long-term 
sustainability with diversification of funding sources and building in-
house technical assistance capacity will receive more points.

B. Review and Selection Process

    The Agency will screen all of the proposals to determine whether 
the application is eligible and sufficiently responsive to the 
requirements set forth

[[Page 19491]]

in this notice to allow for an informed review.
    The Agency will evaluate applications using a panel of qualified 
reviewers who will score the applications in accordance with the point 
allocation specified in this notice. Applications will be submitted to 
the Administrator in rank order, together with funding level 
recommendations.

C. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates

    Award Date: The announcement of award selections is expected to 
occur on or about September 15, 2009.

VI. Award Administration Information

A. Award Notices

    Successful applicants will receive a notification of tentative 
selection for funding from USDA Rural Development. Applicants must 
comply with all applicable statutes and regulations before the grant 
award will be approved. Unsuccessful applicants will receive 
notification by mail, including appeal rights, as appropriate. 
Consolidated comments for reviewed applications will be made available.

B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    7 CFR parts 3015, 3019, and 4284 are applicable to this program. To 
view these regulations, please see the following internet address: 
http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/cfr-table-search.html.
    The following additional requirements apply to grantees selected 
for this program:
     Grant Agreement.
     Letter of Conditions.
     Form RD 1940-1, ``Request for Obligation of Funds.''
     Form RD 1942-46, ``Letter of Intent to Meet Conditions.''
     Form AD-1047, ``Certification Regarding Debarment, 
Suspension, and Other Responsibility Matters--Primary Covered 
Transactions.''
     Form AD-1048, ``Certification Regarding Debarment, 
Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion--Lower Tier Covered 
Transactions.''
     Form AD-1049, ``Certification Regarding Drug-Free 
Workplace Requirements (Grants).''
     Form RD 400-4, ``Assurance Agreement.''
     RD Instruction 1940-Q, Exhibit A-1, ``Certification for 
Contracts, Grants and Loans,'' including Standard Form (SF) LLL, 
``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities.''
    Additional information on these requirements can be found at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/rcdg/rcdg.htm.
    Reporting Requirements: Grantees must provide USDA Rural 
Development with an original or electronic copy that includes all 
required signatures of the following reports. The reports should be 
submitted to the Agency contact listed on the Grant Agreement and 
Letter of Conditions. Failure to submit satisfactory reports on time 
may result in suspension or termination of the grant.
    1. Form SF-269 or SF-269A. A ``Financial Status Report'' listing 
expenditures according to agreed upon budget categories, on a semi-
annual basis. Reporting periods end each March 31 and September 30. 
Reports are due 30 days after the reporting period ends.
    2. Semi-annual performance reports that compare accomplishments to 
the objectives stated in the proposal. Identify all tasks completed to 
date and provide documentation supporting the reported results. If the 
original schedule provided in the work plan is not being met, the 
report should discuss the problems or delays that may affect completion 
of the project. Objectives for the next reporting period should be 
listed. Compliance with any special conditions on the use of award 
funds should be discussed. The report should also include a summary at 
the end of the report with the following elements to assist in 
documenting the annual performance goals of the RCDG program for 
Congress.
     Number of groups who are not legal entities assisted.
     Number of businesses that are not cooperatives assisted.
     Number of cooperatives assisted.
     Number of businesses incorporated that are not 
cooperatives.
     Number of cooperatives incorporated.
     Total number of jobs created as a result of assistance.
     Total number of jobs saved as a result of assistance.
     Number of jobs created for the Center as a result of RCDG 
funding.
     Number of jobs saved for the Center as a result of RCDG 
funding.
    Reports are due as provided in paragraph 1 of this section. 
Supporting documentation must also be submitted for completed tasks. 
The supporting documentation for completed tasks includes, but is not 
limited to: Feasibility studies, marketing plans, business plans, 
publication quality success stories, applied research reports, copies 
of surveys conducted, articles of incorporation and bylaws and an 
accounting of how outreach, training, and other funds were expended.
    3. Final project performance reports. These reports shall include 
all of the requirements of the semi-annual performance reports and 
responses to the following:
    i. What have been the most challenging or unexpected aspects of 
this program?
    ii. What advice would the grantee give to other organizations 
planning a similar program? These should include strengths and 
limitations of the program. If the grantee had the opportunity, what 
would they have done differently?
    iii. If an innovative approach was used successfully, the grantee 
should describe their program in detail so that other organizations 
might consider replication in their areas.
    The final performance report is due within 90 days of the 
completion of the project.

VII. Agency Contacts

    For general questions about this announcement and for program 
technical assistance, applicants should contact their USDA Rural 
Development State Office at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/rcdg/Contacts.htm. If an applicant is unable to contact their State Office, 
please contact a nearby State Office or the USDA Rural Development 
National Office at 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Mail Stop 3250, Rm. 
4016-South, Washington, DC 20250-3250, telephone: (202) 720-8460, e-
mail: [email protected].
    The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination 
in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, 
national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital 
status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, 
genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or 
part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance 
program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with 
disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program 
information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact 
USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a 
complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil 
Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410, or 
call (866) 632-9992 (voice) or (202) 401-0216 (TDD). USDA is an equal 
opportunity provider and employer.

[[Page 19492]]

    Dated: April 14, 2009.
Pat Fiala,
Acting Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
[FR Doc. E9-9759 Filed 4-28-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XY-P
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