Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 170 / Tuesday, September 7, 2021 / Notices 50015 

USDA is an equal opportunity 

provider, employer, and lender. 

Paul Kiecker, 

Administrator. 

[FR Doc. 2021–19264 Filed 9–3–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–DM–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Rural Business-Cooperative Service 

[Docket No. RBS–21–BUSINESS–0028] 

Notice of Solicitation of Applications 

for Inviting Applications for the Rural 

Economic Development Loan and 

Grant Programs for Fiscal Year 2022 

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative 

Service, USDA (Agency). 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Rural BusinessCooperative Service (Agency), an agency 

of the United States Department of 

Agriculture (USDA) invites applications 

for loans and grants under the Rural 

Economic Development Loan and Grant 

Programs (REDLG or Programs) for fiscal 

year (FY) 2022, subject to the 

availability of funding. This notice is 

being issued to allow applicants 

sufficient time to leverage financing, 

prepare and submit their applications, 

and give the Agency time to process 

applications within FY 2022. Successful 

applications will be selected by the 

Agency for funding and subsequently 

awarded to the extent that funding may 

ultimately be made available through 

appropriations. An announcement on 

the Agency website at https://

www.rd.usda.gov/newsroom/noticessolicitation-applications-nosas will 

identify the amount received in the FY 

22 appropriations. 

DATES: The deadlines for completed 

applications to be received in the USDA 

Rural Development State Office for 

quarterly funding competitions are no 

later than 4:30 p.m. (local time) on: First 

Quarter, September 30, 2021; Second 

Quarter, December 31, 2021; Third 

Quarter, March 31, 2022 and Fourth 

Quarter, June 30, 2022. 

The application dates and times are 

firm. The Agency will not consider any 

application received after the deadline 

for funding competition in that fiscal 

quarter. 

Applicants intending to mail 

applications must allow sufficient time 

to permit deliver on or before the 

closing deadline date and time. 

Acceptance by the United States Postal 

Service or private mailer does not 

constitute delivery. 

Facsimile (FAX) or postage due 

applications will not be accepted. 

ADDRESSES: Applications must be 

submitted to the USDA Rural 

Development State Office for the state 

where the project is located. 

Applications may be submitted in paper 

or electronic format to the appropriate 

Rural Development State Office and 

must be received by 4:30 p.m. local time 

on the deadline date(s). Applicants are 

encouraged to contact their respective 

State Office for an email contact to 

submit an electronic application prior to 

the submission deadline date(s). A list 

of the USDA Rural Development State 

Office contacts can be found at: https:// 

www.rd.usda.gov/contact-us/stateoffices. This notice will also be 

announced at: https://grants.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Cindy Mason at cindy.mason@usda.gov, 

Program Management Division, 

Business Programs, Rural BusinessCooperative Service, U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue 

SW, Stop 3226, Room 5160-South, 

Washington, DC 20250–3226, or call 

(202) 720–1400. For further information 

on this notice, please contact the USDA 

Rural Development State Office in the 

State in which the applicant’s 

headquarters is located. A list of Rural 

Development State Office contacts is 

provided at the following link: https:// 

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

Agency encourages applicants to 

consider projects that will advance the 

key priorities below: 

• Assisting Rural communities 

recover economically from the impacts 

of the COVID–19 pandemic, particularly 

disadvantaged communities. 

• Ensuring all rural residents have 

equitable access to RD programs and 

benefits from RD funded projects. 

• Reducing climate pollution and 

increasing resilience to the impacts of 

climate change through economic 

support to rural communities. 

The Agency advises all interested 

parties that the applicant bears the 

burden in preparing and submitting an 

application in response to this notice 

whether or not funding is appropriated 

for these programs in FY 2022. 

If the proposal involves new 

construction; large increases in 

employment; hazardous waste; a change 

in use, size, capacity, purpose, or 

location from an original facility; or is 

publicly controversial, the following is 

required: environmental documentation 

in accordance with 7 CFR part 1970; 

financial and statistical information; 

and written project description. 

National Environmental Policy Act 

All recipients under this notice are 

subject to the requirements of 7 CFR 

1970, available at: https://rd.usda.gov/ 

resources/environmental-studies/ 

environmental-guidance. 

Intergovernmental Review 

This program is subject to Executive 

Order 12372, which requires 

intergovernmental consultation with 

state and local officials. Rural 

Development conducts 

intergovernmental consultation as 

implemented with 2 CFR part 415, 

subpart C. Not all States have chosen to 

participate in the intergovernmental 

review process. A list of participating 

States is available at the following 

website: https://www.whitehouse.gov/ 

omb/management/office-federalfinancial-management/. 

Overview 

Solicitation Opportunity Type: Rural 

Economic Development Loan and 

Grants. 

Announcement Type: Initial 

Solicitation Announcement. 

Catalog of Federal Domestic 

Assistance Number: 10.854. 

Dates: The deadlines for complete 

applications to be received in the USDA 

Rural Development State Office for 

quarterly funding competitions are no 

later than 4:30 p.m. (local time) on: First 

Quarter, September 30, 2021; Second 

Quarter, December 31, 2021; Third 

Quarter, March 31, 2022 and Fourth 

Quarter, June 30, 2022. 

Persistent poverty counties: 

The Further Consolidated 

Appropriations Act, 2020, SEC. 740 

designates funding for projects in 

persistent poverty counties. Persistent 

poverty counties as defined in SEC. 740 

is ‘‘any county that has had 20 percent 

or more of its population living in 

poverty over the past 30 years, as 

measured by the 1990 and 2000 

decennial censuses, and 2007–2011 

American Community Survey 5-year 

average, or any territory or possession of 

the United States’’. Another provision in 

SEC. 740 expands the eligible 

population in persistent poverty 

counties to include any county seat of 

such a persistent poverty county that 

has a population that does not exceed 

the authorized population limit by more 

than 10 percent. This provision expands 

the current 50,000 population limit to 

55,000 for only county seats located in 

persistent poverty counties. Therefore, 

applicants and/or beneficiaries of 

technical assistance services located in 

persistent poverty county seats with 

populations up to 55,000 (per the 2010 

Census) are eligible. 


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50016 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 170 / Tuesday, September 7, 2021 / Notices 

I. Program Description 

A. Purpose of the Program 

The Rural Economic Development 

Loan (REDL) and Grant (REDG) 

Programs (REDLG or Program(s)) 

provide financing to eligible Rural 

Utilities Service (RUS) electric or 

telecommunications borrowers 

(Intermediaries) to promote rural 

economic development and job creation 

projects. Assistance provided to rural 

areas, as defined, under this program 

may include business startup costs, 

business expansion, business 

incubators, technical assistance 

feasibility studies, advanced 

telecommunications services and 

computer networks for medical, 

educational, and job training services, 

and Community Facilities, as defined at 

7 CFR 4280.3, projects for economic 

development. 

B. Statutory Authority 

These Programs are authorized under 

7 U.S.C. 940c–2 and 7 CFR part 4280, 

subpart A. 

C. Definition of Terms 

The definitions applicable to this 

notice are published at 7 CFR 4280.3. 

D. Application Awards 

The Agency will review, evaluate, and 

score applications received in response 

to this notice based on the provisions 

found in 7 CFR part 4280, subpart A, 

and as indicated in this notice. 

II. Federal Award Information 

Type of Awards: Loans and Grants. 

Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2022. 

Available Funds: Anyone interested 

in submitting an application for funding 

under these Programs are encouraged to 

consult the Rural Development Notices 

of Solicitation of Applications website 

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

notices-solicitation-applications-nosas. 

Maximum Award: The Agency 

anticipates the following maximum 

amounts per award: Loans—$1,500,000; 

Grants—$300,000. 

Anticipated Award Dates: First 

Quarter, November 30, 2021; Second 

Quarter, February 28, 2022; Third 

Quarter, May 31, 2022; and Fourth 

Quarter, August 31, 2022. 

Performance Period: December 1, 

2021, through September 30, 2023. 

Renewal or Supplemental Awards: 

None. 

III. Eligibility Information 

A. Eligible Applicants 

Loans and grants may be made to any 

entity that is identified by USDA Rural 

Development as an eligible borrower 

under the Rural Electrification Act of 

1936, as amended (Act). In accordance 

with 7 CFR 4280.13, applicants that are 

not delinquent on any Federal debt or 

not otherwise disqualified from 

participation in these Programs are 

eligible to apply. An applicant must be 

eligible under 7 U.S.C. 940c. 

Notwithstanding any other provision of 

law, any former Rural Utilities Service 

borrower that has repaid or prepaid an 

insured, direct, or guaranteed loan 

under the Act, or any not-for-profit 

utility that is eligible to receive an 

insured or direct loan under such Act 

shall be eligible for assistance under 

section 313(b)(2)(B) of such Act in the 

same manner as a borrower under such 

Act. All other restrictions in this notice 

will apply. 

B. Cost Sharing or Matching 

For loans, either the ultimate 

recipient or the intermediary must 

provide supplemental funds for the 

project equal to at least 20 percent of the 

loan to the intermediary. For grants, the 

intermediary must establish a revolving 

loan fund and contribute an amount 

equal to at least 20 percent of the grant. 

The supplemental contribution must 

come from the intermediary’s funds 

which may not be from other Federal 

grants, unless permitted by law. 

C. Other 

There are no ‘‘responsiveness’’ or 

‘‘threshold’’ eligibility criteria for these 

loans and grants. There is no limit on 

the number of applications an applicant 

may submit under this announcement. 

None of the funds made available by 

this or any other Act may be used to 

enter into a contract, memorandum of 

understanding, or cooperative 

agreement with, make a grant to, or 

provide a loan or loan guarantee to, any 

corporation that has any unpaid Federal 

tax liability that has been assessed, for 

which all judicial and administrative 

remedies have been exhausted or have 

lapsed, and that is not being paid in a 

timely manner pursuant to an agreement 

with the authority responsible for 

collecting the tax liability, where the 

awarding agency is aware of the unpaid 

tax liability, unless a Federal agency has 

considered suspension or debarment of 

the corporation and has made a 

determination that this further action is 

not necessary to protect the interests of 

the Government. 

None of the funds made available by 

this or any other Act may be used to 

enter into a contract, memorandum of 

understanding, or cooperative 

agreement with, make a grant to, or 

provide a loan or loan guarantee to, any 

corporation that was convicted of a 

felony criminal violation under any 

Federal law within the preceding 24 

months, where the awarding agency is 

aware of the conviction, unless a 

Federal agency has considered 

suspension or debarment of the 

corporation and has made a 

determination that this further action is 

not necessary to protect the interests of 

the Government. 

D. Completeness Eligibility 

Applications will not be considered 

for funding if they do not provide 

sufficient information to determine 

eligibility or are missing required 

elements. 

IV. Application and Submission 

Information 

A. Address To Request Application 

Package 

For further information, entities 

wishing to apply for assistance should 

contact the USDA Rural Development 

State Office provided in the ADDRESSES

section of this notice to obtain copies of 

the application package. 

Prior to official submission of grant 

applications, applicants may request 

technical assistance or other application 

guidance from the Agency, as long as 

such requests are made at least 15 days 

prior to each quarter submission date. 

Technical assistance is not meant to be 

an analysis or assessment of the quality 

of the materials submitted, a substitute 

for agency review of completed 

applications, nor a determination of 

eligibility, if such determination 

requires in-depth analysis. The Agency 

will not solicit or consider scoring or 

eligibility information that is submitted 

after the application deadline. The 

Agency reserves the right to contact 

applicants to seek clarification 

information on materials contained in 

the submitted application. 

Applications may be submitted in 

paper or electronic format to the 

appropriate Rural Development State 

Office and must be received by 4:30 

p.m. local time on the deadline date(s) 

to compete for available funds in that 

quarter. Applicants are encouraged to 

contact their respective State Office for 

an email contact to submit an electronic 

application prior to the submission 

deadline date(s). Applications may be 

submitted to a Rural Development State 

Office at any time but must be received 

by 4:30 p.m. local time on deadline(s) to 

compete for the available funds in that 

fiscal quarter. 

All applicants must have a Dun and 

Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering 

System (DUNS) number which can be 

obtained at no cost via a toll-free request 


sradovich on DSKJLST7X2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 170 / Tuesday, September 7, 2021 / Notices 50017 

line at (866) 705–5711 or at https://

fedgov.dnb.com/webform. Each 

applicant applying for grant funds 

(unless the applicant is an individual or 

Federal awarding agency that is 

excepted from the requirements under 2 

CFR 25.110(b) or (c) or has an exception 

approved by the Federal awarding 

agency under 2 CFR 25.110(d)) is 

required to: (i) Register in the System for 

Award Management (SAM) before 

submitting its application; (ii) provide a 

valid unique entity identifier in its 

application; (iii) continue to maintain 

an active SAM registration with current 

information at all times while the 

Agency is considering an application or 

while a Federal grant award or loan is 

active; and, (iv) complete the Financial 

Assistance General Certifications and 

Representations in SAM. The Federal 

awarding agency may not make a 

Federal award to an applicant until the 

applicant has complied with all 

applicable unique entity identifier and 

SAM requirements and, if an applicant 

has not fully complied with the 

requirements by the time the Federal 

awarding agency is ready to make a 

Federal award, the Federal awarding 

agency may determine that the 

applicant is not qualified to receive a 

Federal award and use that 

determination as a basis for making a 

Federal award to another applicant. 

Please note that applicants must 

locate the downloadable application 

package for this program by the Catalog 

of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 

or FedGrants Funding Opportunity 

Number, which can be found at http:// 

www.grants.gov. 

B. Content and Form of Application 

Submission 

An application must contain all of the 

required elements. Each selection 

priority criterion outlined in 7 CFR 

4280.42(b) must be addressed in the 

application. Failure to address any of 

the criterion will result in a zero-point 

score for that criterion and will impact 

the overall evaluation of the application. 

Copies of 7 CFR part 4280, subpart A, 

will be provided to any interested 

applicant making a request to a Rural 

Development State Office. An original 

copy of the application package must be 

filed with the Rural Development State 

Office for the State where the 

intermediary is located. 

(a) A complete application must 

include, but is not limited to, the 

following: 

(1) An original and one copy of Form 

SF 424, ‘‘Application for Federal 

Assistance (for non-construction);’’ 

(2) Copies of applicant’s 

organizational documents showing the 

applicant’s legal existence and authority 

to perform the activities under the 

Programs; 

(3) A resolution of the Board of 

Directors; 

(4) SF–LLL, ‘‘Restrictions on 

Lobbying’’; 

(5) RD Form 400–1, ‘‘Equal 

Opportunity Agreement (if 

construction); 

(6) Evidence of compliance with the 

Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 

1977, as amended (42 U.S.C. 7701 et 

seq.), ‘‘Seismic Safety of Federal and 

Federally Assisted or Regulated New 

Building Construction’’; 

(7) Documentation required in 

accordance with 7 CR part 1970, 

‘‘Environmental Policies and 

Procedures’’; 

(8) A proposed scope of work, 

including a description of the proposed 

project, details of the proposed activities 

to be accomplished and timeframes for 

completion of each task, the number of 

months duration of the project, and the 

estimated time it will take from 

approval to beginning of project 

implementation; 

(9) A written narrative that includes, 

at a minimum, the following items: 

(i) An explanation of why the project 

is needed, the benefits of the proposed 

project, and how the project meets the 

grant eligible purposes, if applicable; 

(ii) Area to be served, identifying each 

governmental unit, i.e., tribe, town, 

county, etc., to be affected by the 

project; 

(iii) Description of how the project 

will coordinate economic development 

activities with other economic 

development activities within the 

project area; 

(iv) Businesses to be assisted, if 

appropriate, and economic development 

to be accomplished; 

(v) An explanation of how the 

proposed project will result in newly 

created, increased, or supported jobs in 

the area and the number of projected 

new and supported jobs within the next 

3 years; 

(vi) A description of the applicant’s 

demonstrated capability and experience 

in providing the proposed project 

assistance, including experience of key 

staff members and persons who will be 

providing the proposed project activities 

and managing the project; 

(vii) The method and rationale used to 

select the areas and businesses that will 

receive the service; 

(viii) A brief description of how the 

work will be performed, including 

whether organizational staff or 

consultants or contractors will be used; 

and 

(ix) Other information the Agency 

may request to assist it in making an 

award determination. 

(10) The last 3 years of financial 

information to show the applicant’s 

financial capacity to carry out the 

proposed work. If the applicant is less 

than 3 years old, at a minimum, the 

information should include all balance 

sheet(s), income statement(s), and cash 

flow statement(s). A current audited 

report is required if available; 

(11) Documentation regarding the 

availability and amount of other funds 

to be used in conjunction with the funds 

from REDLG; and 

(12) A budget which includes salaries, 

fringe benefits, consultant costs, indirect 

costs, and other appropriate direct costs 

for the project. 

(b) The applicant documentation and 

forms needed for a complete application 

are listed above and at 7 CFR 4280.39. 

Applicants may request forms and 

addresses from the ADDRESSES section of 

this notice. 

(c) There are no specific limitations 

on the number of pages, font size and 

type face, margins, paper size, number 

of copies, and the sequence or assembly 

requirements. 

(d) The component pieces of this 

application should contain original 

signatures on the original application. 

Any form that requires an original 

signature but is signed electronically in 

the application submission, must be 

signed in ink by the authorized person 

prior to the disbursement of funds. 

C. Submission Dates and Times 

(a) Application Funding Competition 

Deadlines: No later than 4:30 p.m. (local 

time) on: First Quarter, September 30, 

2021; Second Quarter, December 31, 

2021; Third Quarter, March 31, 2022; 

and Fourth Quarter, June 30, 2022. 

Explanation of Dates: Applications 

must be in the USDA Rural 

Development State Office by the dates 

and times as indicated above. If the due 

date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or 

Federal holiday, the application is due 

the next business day. 

(b) The deadline date means that the 

completed application package must be 

received in the USDA Rural 

Development State Office by the 

deadline date and time established 

above. All application documents 

identified in this notice are required. 

(c) If completed applications are not 

received by the deadline established 

above, the application will neither be 

reviewed nor considered in that quarter 

under any circumstances. 

(e) The grantee may utilize a 

previously approved indirect cost rate. 

Otherwise, the applicant may elect to 


sradovich on DSKJLST7X2PROD with NOTICES
50018 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 170 / Tuesday, September 7, 2021 / Notices 

charge the 10 percent indirect cost 

permitted under 2 CFR 200.414(f). An 

indirect cost rate determination may be 

requested with the application; 

however, due to the time required to 

evaluate indirect cost rates, it is likely 

that all funds will be awarded before the 

indirect cost rate is determined. No 

foreign travel is permitted. Pre-Federal 

award costs will only be permitted with 

prior written approval by the Agency. 

(f) Applicants may submit 

applications in hard copy or electronic 

format as previously indicated in the 

Application and Submission 

Information section of this notice. If the 

applicant wishes to hand deliver its 

application, the addresses for these 

deliveries can be located in the 

ADDRESSES section of this notice. 

(g) If you require alternative means of 

communication for program information 

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

please contact USDA’s TARGET Center 

at (202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD). 

V. Application Review Information 

A. Criteria 

All eligible and complete applications 

will be evaluated and scored based on 

the selection criteria and weights 

contained in 7 CFR part 4280, subpart 

A. Failure to address any one of the 

criteria by the application deadline will 

result in the application being 

determined ineligible, and the 

application will not be considered for 

funding. 

B. Review and Selection Process 

The State Offices will review 

applications to determine if they are 

eligible for assistance based on 

requirements contained in 7 CFR part 

4280, subpart A. If determined eligible, 

your application will be submitted to 

the National Office. Funding of projects 

is subject to the intermediary’s 

satisfactory submission of the additional 

items required by that subpart and the 

USDA Rural Development Letter of 

Conditions. Discretionary points, under 

7 CFR 4280.43(e), may be awarded for 

the following categories: 

(a) Assisting Rural communities 

recover economically from the impacts 

of the COVID–19 pandemic, particularly 

disadvantaged communities. Applicant 

would receive priority points if the 

project is located in or serving one of 

the top 10% of counties or county 

equivalents based upon county risk 

score in the United States. The website, 

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

has the data to confirm if your location 

qualifies or not. 

(b) Ensuring all rural residents have 

equitable access to RD programs and 

benefits from RD funded projects. 

Applicant would receive priority points 

if the project is located in or serving a 

community with score 0.75 or above on 

the CDC Social Vulnerability Index. The 

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

priority-points, has the data to confirm 

if your location qualifies or not. 

(c) Reduce climate pollution and 

increasing resilience to the impacts of 

climate change through economic 

support to rural communities. 

Applicants will receive points if the 

project is located in or serving coal, oil 

and gas, and power plant communities 

whose economic well-being ranks in the 

most distressed tier of the Distressed 

Communities Index. The website, 

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

has the data to confirm if your location 

qualifies or not. Or, applicants will 

receive points by demonstrating how 

proposed climate-impact projects 

improve the livelihoods of community 

residents and meet pollution mitigation 

or clean energy goals. 

To ensure the broad geographic 

distribution of funding, the highest 

scoring application from each state will 

be grouped together and then ranked 

from highest to lowest score, with funds 

awarded in ranking order. If funds are 

available, the process of grouping, 

ranking, and awarding of funds will 

continue with the second highest 

scoring application from each state. The 

process will continue in this manner 

until all available funds have been 

awarded. 

VI. Federal Award Administration 

Information 

A. Federal Award Notices 

Successful applicants will receive 

notification for funding from the Rural 

Development State Office. Applicants 

must comply with all applicable statutes 

and regulations before the loan/grant 

award can be approved. Provided the 

application and eligibility requirements 

have not changed, an eligible 

application not selected will be 

reconsidered in three subsequent 

quarterly funding competitions for a 

total of four competitions. If an 

application is withdrawn, it can be 

resubmitted and will be evaluated as a 

new application. 

B. Administrative and National Policy 

Requirements 

Additional requirements that apply to 

intermediaries or grantees selected for 

these Programs can be found in 7 CFR 

part 4280, subpart A. Awards are subject 

to USDA grant regulations at 2 CFR part 

400 which adopts the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) 

regulations 2 CFR part 200. 

All successful applicants will be 

notified by letter which will include a 

Letter of Conditions, and a Letter of 

Intent to Meet Conditions. This letter is 

not an authorization to begin 

performance. If the applicant wishes to 

consider beginning performance prior to 

the loan or grant being officially closed, 

all pre-award costs must be approved in 

writing and in advance by the Agency. 

The loan or grant will be considered 

officially awarded when all conditions 

in the Letter of Conditions have been 

met and the Agency obligates the 

funding for the project. 

Additional requirements that apply to 

intermediaries or grantees selected for 

these Programs can be found in 7 CFR 

4280, subpart A; Uniform 

Administrative Requirements, Cost 

Principles, and Audit Requirements for 

Federal Awards of the U.S. Department 

of Agriculture codified in 2 CFR 400.1 

to 400.2, and 2 CFR part 415 to 422, and 

successor regulations to these parts. 

In addition, all recipients of Federal 

financial assistance are required to 

report information about first-tier subawards and executive compensation 

(see 2 CFR part 170). You will be 

required to have the necessary processes 

and systems in place to comply with the 

Federal Funding Accountability and 

Transparency Act of 2006 (Pub. L. 109– 

282) reporting requirements (see 2 CFR 

170.200(b), unless you are exempt under 

2 CFR 170.110(b)). 

The following additional 

requirements apply to intermediaries or 

grantees selected for these Programs: 

(a) Form RD 4280–2 ‘‘Rural BusinessCooperative Service Financial 

Assistance Agreement.’’ 

(b) Letter of Conditions. 

(c) Form RD 1940–1, ‘‘Request for 

Obligation of Funds.’’ 

(d) Form RD 1942–46, ‘‘Letter of 

Intent to Meet Conditions.’’ 

(e) LLL, ‘‘Disclosure of Lobbying 

Activities,’’ if applicable. 

(f) Form SF 270, ‘‘Request for 

Advance or Reimbursement.’’ 

(g) Form RD 400–4, ‘‘Assurance 

Agreement’’ must be completed by the 

applicant and each prospective ultimate 

recipient. 

(h) Form AD–3031, ‘‘Assurance 

Regarding Felony Conviction or Tax 

Delinquent Status for Corporate 

Applicants’’ must be signed by 

corporate applicants who receive an 

award under this notice. 

(i) Intermediaries or grantees must 

collect and maintain data provided by 

ultimate recipients on race, sex, and 

national origin and ensure ultimate 

recipients collect and maintain this 


sradovich on DSKJLST7X2PROD with NOTICES
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data. Race and ethnicity data will be 

collected in accordance with OMB 

Federal Register notice, ‘‘Revisions to 

the Standards for the Classification of 

Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity’’ (62 

FR 58782), October 30, 1997. Sex data 

will be collected in accordance with 

Title IX of the Education Amendments 

of 1972. These items should not be 

submitted with the application but 

should be available upon request by the 

Agency. 

(j) The applicant and the ultimate 

recipient must comply with Title VI of 

the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of 

the Education Amendments of 1972, 

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 

1973, Age Discrimination Act of 1975, 

Executive Order 12250, Executive Order 

13166 Limited English Proficiency 

(LEP), and 7 CFR part 1901, subpart E. 

C. Reporting 

(a) A financial status report and a 

project performance activity report will 

be required of all grantees on a quarterly 

basis until initial funds are expended 

and yearly thereafter, if applicable, 

based on the Federal fiscal year. The 

grantee will complete the project within 

the total time available to it in 

accordance with the scope of work and 

any necessary modifications thereof 

prepared by the grantee and approved 

by the Agency. A final project 

performance report will be required 

with the final financial status report. 

The final report may serve as the last 

quarterly report. The final report must 

provide complete information regarding 

the jobs created and supported as a 

result of the grant if applicable. Grantees 

must continuously monitor performance 

to ensure that time schedules are being 

met, projected work by time periods is 

being accomplished, and other 

performance objectives are being 

achieved. Grantees must submit an 

original of each report to the Agency no 

later than 30 days after the end of the 

quarter. The project performance reports 

must include, but not be limited to, the 

following: 

(1) A comparison of actual 

accomplishments to the objectives 

established for that period; 

(2) Problems, delays, or adverse 

conditions, if any, which have affected 

or will affect attainment of overall 

project objectives, prevent meeting time 

schedules or objectives, or preclude the 

attainment of particular project work 

elements during established time 

periods. This disclosure shall be 

accompanied by a statement of the 

action taken or planned to resolve the 

situation; and 

(3) Objectives and timetable 

established for the next reporting 

period. 

(4) Any special reporting 

requirements, such as jobs supported 

and created, businesses assisted, or 

economic development which results in 

improvements in median household 

incomes, and any other specific 

requirements, should be placed in the 

reporting section of the Letter of 

Conditions. 

(5) Within 90 days after the 

conclusion of the project, the 

intermediary will provide a final project 

evaluation report. The last quarterly 

payment will be withheld until the final 

report is received and approved by the 

Agency. Even though the intermediary 

may request reimbursement on a 

monthly basis, the last 3 months of 

reimbursements will be withheld until a 

final report, project performance, and 

financial status report are received and 

approved by the Agency. 

(b) In addition to any reports required 

by 2 CFR part 200 and 2 CFR 400.1 to 

400.2 and 2 CFR part 415 to 422, the 

intermediary or grantee must provide 

reports as required by 7 CFR part 4280, 

subpart A. 

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s) 

For general questions about this 

announcement, please contact your 

USDA Rural Development State Office 

provided in the ADDRESSES section of 

this notice. 

H. Civil Rights Requirements 

All grants made under this notice are 

subject to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act 

of 1964 as required by the USDA (7 CFR 

part 15, subpart A) and Section 504 of 

the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VIII 

of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, Title IX, 

Executive Order 13166 (Limited English 

Proficiency), Executive Order 11246, 

and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 

1974. 

I. Other Information 

Paperwork Reduction Act 

In accordance with the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995, the information 

collection requirement contained in this 

notice has been approved by OMB 

under OMB Control Number 0570–0070. 

Nondiscrimination Statement 

In accordance with Federal civil 

rights laws and U.S. Department of 

Agriculture (USDA) civil rights 

regulations and policies, the USDA, its 

Mission Areas, agencies, staff offices, 

employees, and institutions 

participating in or administering USDA 

programs are prohibited from 

discriminating based on race, color, 

national origin, religion, sex, gender 

identity (including gender expression), 

sexual orientation, disability, age, 

marital status, family/parental status, 

income derived from a public assistance 

program, political beliefs, or reprisal or 

retaliation for prior civil rights activity, 

in any program or activity conducted or 

funded by USDA (not all bases apply to 

all programs). Remedies and complaint 

filing deadlines vary by program or 

incident. 

Program information may be made 

available in languages other than 

English. Persons with disabilities who 

require alternative means of 

communication to obtain program 

information (e.g., Braille, large print, 

audiotape, American Sign Language) 

should contact the responsible Mission 

Area, agency, or staff office; the USDA 

TARGET Center at (202) 720–2600 

(voice and TTY); or the Federal Relay 

Service at (800) 877–8339. 

To file a program discrimination 

complaint, a complainant should 

complete a Form AD–3027, USDA 

Program Discrimination Complaint 

Form, which can be obtained online at 

https://www.ocio.usda.gov/document/ 

ad-3027, from any USDA office, by 

calling (866) 632–9992, or by writing a 

letter addressed to USDA. The letter 

must contain the complainant’s name, 

address, telephone number, and a 

written description of the alleged 

discriminatory action in sufficient detail 

to inform the Assistant Secretary for 

Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature 

and date of an alleged civil rights 

violation. The completed AD–3027 form 

or letter must be submitted to USDA by: 

(1) Mail: U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, Office of the Assistant 

Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 

Independence Avenue SW, Washington, 

DC 20250–9410; or 

(2) Fax: (833) 256–1665 or (202) 690– 

7442; or 

(3) Email: program.intake@usda.gov. 

Karama Neal, 

Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative 

Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–19177 Filed 9–3–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–XY–P 

COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS 

Notice of Public Meeting of the Florida 

Advisory Committee to the U.S. 

Commission on Civil Rights 

AGENCY: U.S. Commission on Civil 

Rights. 

ACTION: Announcement of meeting. 

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given, 

pursuant to the provisions of the rules 


sradovich on DSKJLST7X2PROD with NOTICES