[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 101 (Thursday, May 28, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25480-25483]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-12344]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service


Announcement of Grant Application Deadlines and Funding Levels

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of funding availability and solicitation of 
applications.

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SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) announces additional Fiscal 
Year (FY) 2009 funding available through its Technical Assistance and 
Training Grant Program (TAT). The Rural Utilities Service is providing 
$500,000 in funding to conduct water resource studies in the states 
affected by hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Ike, and/or Wilma (Florida, 
Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas). The additional $500,000 
will be for water resource studies only.

DATES: Applications for the Water Resource Studies grant(s) must be 
received by June 29, 2009. Reminder of competitive grant application 
deadline: Applications must be mailed, shipped or submitted 
electronically through Grants.gov no later than 30 days after this 
announcement appears in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: You may obtain application guides and materials for the 
water resource studies grants the following ways:
    <bullet> The Internet at the RUS Water and Environmental Programs 
(WEP) Web site: http://www.usda.gov/rus/water/.
    <bullet> You may also request application guides and materials from 
RUS by contacting WEP at (202) 720-9586.
    You may submit:
    Completed paper applications for Water Resource Studies grants to 
the Rural Utilities Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 
Independence Ave., SW., Room 2233, STOP 1570, Washington, DC 20250-
1570. Applications should be marked ``Attention: Assistant 
Administrator, Water and Environmental Programs.''
    <bullet> Electronic grant applications at http://www.grants.gov/ 
(Grants.gov), following the instructions you find on that Web site.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anita O'Brien, Loan Specialist, Water 
Program Division, Rural Utilities Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, telephone: (202) 690-3789, fax: (202) 690-0649.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Overview

    Federal Agency: Rural Utilities Service (RUS).
    Funding Opportunity Title: Water Resource Studies Grants.
    Announcement Type: Funding Level Announcement and Solicitation of 
Applications.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1926 (a)(14); Public Law 109-97, 119 Stat. 
2120.

    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.761.
    Dates: You may submit completed application for a TAT grant from 
the date of announcement to 30 days after this announcement appears in 
the Federal Register.
    Reminder of Competitive Grant Application Deadline: Applications 
must be mailed, shipped or submitted electronically through Grants.gov 
no later than 30 days after this announcement appears in the Federal 
Register to be eligible for funding.

Items in Supplementary Information

I. Funding Opportunity: Brief introduction to the Water Resource 
Studies Grants;
II. Award Information: Available funds, maximum amounts;
III. Eligibility Information: Who is eligible, what kinds of 
projects are eligible, what criteria determine basic eligibility;
IV. Application and Submission Information: Where to get application 
materials; what constitutes a completed application; how and where 
to submit applications; deadlines; and items that are eligible;
V. Application Review Information: Considerations and preferences; 
scoring criteria; review standards; and selection information;
VI. Award Administration Information: Award notice information and 
award recipient reporting requirements;
VII. Agency Contacts: Web, phone, fax, e-mail, and contact name.

I. Funding Opportunity

    Drinking water systems are basic and vital to both health and 
economic development. Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Ike and Wilma severely 
damaged water systems in the States of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, 
Louisiana, and Texas. Without dependable water supply, rural 
communities in these states will not attract families and businesses to 
return and invest in the hurricane damaged communities.
    The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) supports the sound development of 
rural communities and the growth of our economy without endangering the 
environment. RUS provides financial and technical assistance to help 
communities bring safe drinking water and sanitary, environmentally 
sound waste disposal facilities to rural Americans in greatest need. 
The additional funding for Water Resource Studies will allow rural 
communities to better plan and secure dependable water supplies for 
rebuilding their

[[Page 25481]]

community's health and economic development. Qualified private non-
profit organizations may apply to receive a grant to conduct water 
resource studies to evaluate sources of dependable water supplies for 
communities in the hurricane affected states.

II. Award Information

    Available funds: $500,000 is available for grants in FY 2009.

III. Eligibility Information

    A. What are the basic eligibility requirements for applying? (For 
more specific information see 7 CFR part 1775, section 1775.35.)
    The applying entity (Applicant) must:
    1. Be a private, non-profit organization that has tax-exempt status 
from the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS);
    2. Be legally established and located within one of the following:
a. A State within the United States;
b. The District of Columbia;
c. The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico;
d. The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands;
e. The Republic of the Marshall Islands;
f. The Federated States of Micronesia;
g. The Republic of Palau;
h. The U.S. Virgin Islands;
    3. Have the legal capacity and authority to carry out the grant 
purpose;
    4. Have no delinquent debt to the Federal Government or no 
outstanding judgments to repay a Federal debt.
    B. What are the basic eligibility requirements for a project?
    The project must be a water resource study that will evaluate and 
recommend sources of dependable water supply that can be developed and 
used by rural communities in one or more of the hurricane affected 
states of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    A. Where to get application information. The grant application 
guide, copies of necessary forms and samples, and the Technical 
Assistance Grants regulation (7 CFR 1775) are available from these 
sources:
    <bullet> The Internet: http://www.usda.gov/rus/water/,
    <bullet> http://www.grants.gov, or,
    <bullet> For paper copies of these materials: Call (202) 720-9586
    1. You may file an application in either paper or electronic 
format. Whether you file a paper or an electronic application, you will 
need a Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) 
number. You must provide your DUNS number on the SF-424, ``Application 
for Federal Assistance.''
    To verify that your organization has a DUNS number or to receive 
one at no cost, call the dedicated toll-free request line at 1-866-705-
5711 or access the Web site http://www.dunandbradstreet.com. You will 
need the following information when requesting a DUNS number:
a. Legal Name of the Applicant;
b. Headquarters name and address of the Applicant;
c. The names under which the Applicant is doing business as (dba) or 
other name by which the organization is commonly recognized;
d. Physical address of the Applicant;
e. Mailing address (if separate from headquarters and/or physical 
address) of the Applicant;
f. Telephone number;
g. Contact name and title;
h. Number of employees at the physical location.
    2. Send or deliver paper applications by the U.S. Postal Service 
(USPS) or courier delivery services to the RUS receipt point set forth 
below. RUS will not accept applications by fax or e-mail. For paper 
applications mail or ensure delivery of an original paper application 
(no stamped, photocopied, or initialed signatures) and two copies by 
the June 29, 2009 to the following address: Assistant Administrator, 
Water and Environmental Programs, Rural Utilities Service, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 1548, Room 5145 South, Washington, DC 
20250-1548.
    The application and any materials sent with it become Federal 
records by law and cannot be returned to you.
    3. For electronic applications, you must file an electronic 
application at the Web site: http://www.grants.gov. You must be 
registered with Grants.gov before you can submit a grant application. 
If you have not used Grants.gov before, you will need to register with 
the Central Contractor Registry (CCR) and the Credential Provider. You 
will need a DUNS number to access or register at any of the services. 
The registration processes may take several business days to complete. 
Follow the instructions at Grants.gov for registering and submitting an 
electronic application. RUS may request original signatures on 
electronically submitted documents later.
    The CCR registers your organization, housing your organizational 
information and allowing Grants.gov to use it to verify your identity. 
You may register for the CCR by calling the CCR Assistance Center at 1-
888-227-2423 or you may register Online at: http://www.ccr.gov.
    The Credential Provider gives you or your representative a username 
and password, as part of the Federal Government's e-Authentication to 
ensure a secure transaction. You will need the username and password 
when you register with Grants.gov or use Grants.gov to submit your 
application. You must register with the Central Provider through 
Grants.gov: https://apply.grants.gov/OrcRegister.
    B. What constitutes a completed application?
    1. To be considered for assistance, you must be an eligible entity 
and must submit a complete application by the deadline date. You must 
consult the cost principles and general administrative requirements for 
grants pertaining to their organizational type in order to prepare the 
budget and complete other parts of the application. You also must 
demonstrate compliance (or intent to comply), through certification or 
other means, with a number of public policy requirements.
    2. Applicants must complete and submit the following forms to apply 
for a Water Resource Study grant:
    (a) Standard Form 424, ``Application for Federal Assistance.''
    (b) Standard Form 424A, ``Budget Information--Non-Construction 
Programs.''
    (c) Standard Form 424B, ``Assurances--Non-Construction Programs.''
    (d) Standard Form LLL, ``Disclosure of Lobbying Activity.''
    (e) Form RD 400-1, ``Equal Opportunity Agreement.''
    (f) Form RD 400-4, ``Assurance Agreement (Under Title VI, Civil 
Rights Act of 1964).
    (g) Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable, applicant must 
include approved cost agreement rate schedule).
    (h) Statement of Compliance for Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 
1964.
    (i) SF LLL, ''Disclosure of Lobbying Activities'' (include only if 
grant is over $100,000).
    (j) Certification regarding Forest Service grant.
    3. All applications shall be accompanied by the following 
supporting documentation:
    (a) Evidence of applicant's legal existence and authority in the 
form of:
    (i) Certified copies of current authorizing and organizational 
documents for new applicants or former grantees where changes were made 
since the last legal opinion was obtained in conjunction with receipt 
of an RUS grant, or, certification that no changes

[[Page 25482]]

have been made in authorizing or organizing documents since receipt of 
last RUS grant by applicant.
    (ii) Current annual corporation report, Certificate of Good 
Standing, or statement they are not required.
    (iii) Certified list of directors/officers with their respective 
terms.
    (b) Evidence of tax exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service 
(IRS), if applicable.
    (c) Narrative of applicant's experience in providing services 
similar to those proposed.
    (d) Provide brief description of successfully completed projects 
including the need that was identified and objectives accomplished.
    (e) Latest financial information to show the applicant's financial 
capacity to carry out the proposed work. A current audit report is 
preferred; however applicants can submit a balance sheet and an income 
statement in lieu of an audit report.
    (f) List of proposed services to be provided.
    (g) Estimated breakdown of costs (direct and indirect) including 
those to be funded by grantee as well as other sources. Sufficient 
detail should be provided to permit the approval official to determine 
reasonableness, applicability, and allowability.
    (h) Evidence that a Financial Management System is in place or 
proposed.
    (i) Documentation on each of the priority ranking criteria listed 
in 7 CFR 1775, Sec.  1775.11 as follows:
    (i) List of the associations to be served and the State or States 
where assistance will be provided. Identify associations by name, or 
other characteristics such as size, income, location, and provide MHI 
and population.
    (ii) Description of the type of technical assistance and/or 
training to be provided and the tasks to be contracted.
    (iii) Description of how the project will be evaluated and provide 
clearly stated goals and the method proposed to measure the results 
that will be obtained.
    (iv) Documentation of need for proposed service. Provide detailed 
explanation of how the proposed services differ from other similar 
services being provided in the same area.
    (v) Personnel on staff or to be contracted to provide the service 
and their experience with similar projects.
    (vi) Statement indicating the number of months it takes to complete 
the project or service.
    (vii) Documentation on cost effectiveness of project. Provide the 
cost per association to be served or proposed cost of personnel to 
provide assistance.
    (viii) Other factors for consideration such as emergency situation, 
training need identified, health or safety problems, geographic 
distribution, Rural Development Office recommendations,
    4. Applicants must also submit a work plan/project proposal that 
will outline the project in sufficient detail to provide a reader with 
a complete understanding of how the proposed Water Resource Study will 
address the water supply needs of the study area. The proposal should 
cover the following elements (in addition to information contained in 7 
CFR part 1775, sections 1775.10 and 1775.11):
    a. Present a brief project overview. Explain the purpose of the 
project, how it relates to RUS' purposes, how you will carry out the 
project, what the project will produce, and who will direct it.
    b. Describe why the project is necessary. Describe how eligible 
rural communities will benefit from the study. Describe the service 
area. Address water needs of rural communities within the study area.
    c. Clearly state your study goals. Your objectives should clearly 
describe the goals and be concrete and specific enough to be 
quantitative or observable. They should also be feasible and relate to 
the purpose of the proposed Water Resource Study.
    d. Project Evaluation. It should describe how the results will be 
evaluated, in line with the study's objectives.
    e. In addition to completing the standard application forms, you 
must also submit supplementary materials, as follows:
    (i). Demonstrate that your organization is legally recognized under 
state and Federal law. Satisfactory documentation includes, but is not 
limited to, certificates from the Secretary of State, or copies of 
state statutes or laws establishing your organization. Letters from the 
IRS awarding tax-exempt status are not considered adequate evidence.
    (ii). Submit a certified list of directors and officers with their 
respective terms.
    (iii). Submit evidence of tax-exempt status from the Internal 
Revenue Service.
    (iv). You must disclose debarment and suspension information 
required in accordance with 7 CFR part 3017, Sec.  3017.335, if it 
applies. The section heading is ``What information must I provide 
before entering into a covered transaction with the Department of 
Agriculture?'' It is part of the Department of Agriculture's rules on 
Government-wide Debarment and Suspension.
    (v). You must identify all of your organization's known workplaces 
by including the actual address of buildings (or parts of buildings) or 
other sites where work under the award takes place. Workplace 
identification is required under the drug-free workplace requirements 
in accordance with 7 CFR part 3021, Sec.  3021.230. The section heading 
is ``How and when must I identify workplaces?'' It is part of the 
Department of Agriculture's rules on Government-wide Requirements for 
Drug-Free Workplace (Financial Assistance).
    (vi). Submit the most recent audit of your organization.

V. Application Review Information

    A. Within 30 days of receiving your application, RUS will 
acknowledge the application's receipt by letter to the Applicant. The 
application will be reviewed for completeness to determine if it 
contains all of the items required. If the application is incomplete or 
ineligible, RUS will return it to the Applicant with an explanation.
    B. A review team, composed of at least two members, will evaluate 
all applications and proposals. They will make overall recommendations 
based on factors such as eligibility, application completeness, and 
conformity to application requirements. They will score the 
applications based on criteria in paragraph C of this section.
    C. All applications that are complete and eligible will be scored 
based on the criteria outlined in 7 CFR part 1775, Sec.  1775.10 and 
Sec.  1775.11. After each application is scored they will be ranked 
competitively. The categories for scoring criteria used are the 
following:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Scoring criteria                          Points
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Scope of assistance (national, multi-     Up to 10.
 state, and single state/area).
2. Degree of expertise.....................  Up to 5.
3. Percentage of applicant's contributions.  Up to 10.
4. Applicant Resource (staff vs contract     Up to 10.
 personnel).
5. Needs Assessment: Extent that problems/   Up to 15.
 issues are clearly defined and supported
 by data.
6. Description of the service area,          Up to 25.
 particularly the demographics of the rural
 communities being served (population and
 MHI of the communities).
7. Goals/Objectives: Goals/objectives are    Up to 15.
 clearly defined, are tied to need, and are
 measurable.

[[Page 25483]]

 
8. Extent to which the work plan clearly     Up to 40.
 articulates a well thought out approach to
 accomplishing objectives; and clearly
 defines who will be served by the study.
9. Extent to which the evaluation methods    Up to 20.
 are specific to the program, clearly
 defined, measurable, with expected project
 outcomes.
10. Type of technical assistance applicant   Up to 20.
 is providing.
11. Project duration.......................  Up to 5.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

VI. Award Administration Information

    A. RUS will rank all qualifying applications by their final score. 
Applications will be selected for funding, based on the highest scores 
and the availability of funding for the Water Resource Studies grants. 
Each applicant will be notified in writing of the score its application 
receives.
    B. In making its decision about your application, RUS may determine 
that your application is:
1. Eligible and selected for funding;
2. Eligible but offered fewer funds than requested;
3. Eligible but not selected for funding; or
4. Ineligible for the grant.
    C. In accordance with 7 CFR part 1900, subpart B, you generally 
have the right to appeal adverse decisions. Some adverse decisions 
cannot be appealed. For example, if you are denied RUS funding due to a 
lack of funds available for the grant program, this decision cannot be 
appealed. However, you may make a request to the National Appeals 
Division (NAD) to review the accuracy of our finding that the decision 
cannot be appealed. The appeal must be in writing and filed at the 
appropriate Regional Office, which can be found at http://www.nad.usda.gov/offices.htm or by calling (703) 305-1166.
    D. Applicants selected for funding will complete a grant agreement, 
which outlines the terms and conditions of the grant award.
    E. Grantees will be reimbursed as follows:
    1. SF-270, ``Request for Advance or Reimbursement,'' will be 
completed by the grantee and submitted to either the State or National 
Office not more frequently than monthly.
    2. Upon receipt of a properly completed SF-270, payment will 
ordinarily be made within 30 days.
    3. Grantees are encouraged to use women- and minority-owned banks 
(a bank which is owned at least 50 percent by women or minority group 
members) for the deposit and disbursement of funds.
    F. Any change in the scope of the project, budget adjustments of 
more than 10 percent of the total budget, or any other significant 
change in the project must be reported to and approved by the approval 
official by written amendment to RUS Guide 1775-1 (Grant Agreement). 
Any change not approved may be cause for termination of the grant.
    G. Project reporting.
    1. Grantees shall constantly monitor performance to ensure that 
time schedules are being met, projected work by time periods is being 
accomplished, and other performance objectives are being achieved.
    2. SF-269, ``Financial Status Report (short form),'' and a project 
performance activity report will be required of all grantees on a 
quarterly basis, due 30 days after the end of each quarter.
    3. A final project performance report will be required with the 
last SF-269 due 90 days after the end of the last quarter in which the 
project is completed. The final report may serve as the last quarterly 
report.
    4. All multi-State grantees are to submit an original of each 
report to the National Office. Grantees serving only one State are to 
submit an original of each report to the State Office. The project 
performance reports should detail, preferably in a narrative format, 
activities that have transpired for the specific time period.
    H. The grantee will provide an audit report or financial statements 
as follows:
    1. Grantees expending $500,000 or more Federal funds per fiscal 
year will submit an audit conducted in accordance with OMB Circular A-
133. The audit will be submitted within 9 months after the grantee's 
fiscal year. Additional audits may be required if the project period 
covers more than one fiscal year.
    2. Grantees expending less than $500,000 will provide annual 
financial statements covering the grant period, consisting of the 
Grantee's statement of income and expense and balance sheet signed by 
an appropriate official of the Grantee. Financial statements will be 
submitted within 90 days after the grantee's fiscal year.

VII. Agency Contacts

    A. Web site: http://www.usda.gov/rus/water. The RUS' Web site 
maintains up-to-date resources and contact information for Technical 
Assistance and Training Grants program.
    B. Phone: 202-720-9586.
    C. Fax: 202-690-0649.
    D. E-mail: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9ffef1f6ebfeb1f0fdedf6faf1dfe8fbfcb1eaecfbfeb1f8f0e9"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="98f9f6f1ecf9b6f7faeaf1fdf6d8effcfbb6edebfcf9b6fff7ee">[email protected]</span></a>.
    E. Main point of contact: Anita O'Brien, Loan Specialist, Water and 
Environmental Programs, Water Programs Division, Rural Utilities 
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.

    Dated: May 1, 2009.
James R Newby,
Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. E9-12344 Filed 5-27-09; 8:45 am]
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