[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 170 (Tuesday, September 7, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50015-50019]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-19177]


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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.

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SUMMARY: The Rural Business-Cooperative 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/notices-solicitation-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/state-offices. This notice will also be 
announced at: https://grants.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cindy Mason at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d3b0babdb7aafdbeb2a0bcbd93a6a0b7b2fdb4bca5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="395a50575d401754584a5657794c4a5d58175e564f">[email protected]</span></a>, 
Program Management Division, Business Programs, Rural Business-
Cooperative 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/state-offices.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Agency encourages applicants to consider 
projects that will advance the key priorities below:
    <bullet> Assisting Rural communities recover economically from the 
impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly disadvantaged 
communities.
    <bullet> Ensuring all rural residents have equitable access to RD 
programs and benefits from RD funded projects.
    <bullet> 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-federal-financial-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.

[[Page 50016]]

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

[[Page 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

[[Page 50018]]

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 sub-awards 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 Business-Cooperative 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

[[Page 50019]]

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: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#176765787065767a397e7963767c72576264737639707861"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0373716c6471626e2d6a6d7762686643767067622d646c75">[email protected]</span></a>.

Karama Neal,
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-19177 Filed 9-3-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XY-P


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