Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2014/05/22/2014-11704/announcement-of-grant-application-deadlines
Timestamp: 2018-05-24 02:37:47
Document Index: 556046224

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 1739', 'art 1739', 'art 1739', 'art 25', 'art 25', 'arts 3015', 'art 417', 'art 3018', 'art 421', 'art 170', 'art 170']

A Notice by the Rural Utilities Service on 05/22/2014
79 FR 29405
29405-29409 (5 pages)
2014-11704
C. Discussion of Completed Application Items
F. Funding Purposes
B. Special Consideration Areas
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2014-11704 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2014-11704
The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Utilities Service (RUS) announces its Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 Community Connect Grant Program application window and notice of funds availability. The NOFA announces $13 million for grants from FY 2014 and prior year appropriations. In addition, RUS announces the minimum and maximum amounts for Community Connect grants applicable for the fiscal year. The Community Connect Grant Program regulations can be found at 7 CFR part 1739, subpart A.
Paper copies must carry proof of shipping no later than July 7, 2014 to be eligible for FY 2014 grant funding. Late applications are not eligible for FY 2014 grant funding.
Electronic copies must be received by July 7, 2014 to be eligible for FY 2014 grant funding. Late applications are not eligible for FY 2014 grant funding.
You may obtain application guides and materials for the Community Connect Grant Program via the Internet at the following Web site: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/​utp_​commconnect.html. You may also request application guides and materials from RUS by contacting the appropriate individual listed in section VII of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice.
Submit completed paper applications for grants to the Rural Utilities Service,
U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Room 2868, Start Printed Page 29406STOP 1599, Washington, DC 20250-1599. Applications should be marked “Attention: Director, Broadband Division, Rural Utilities Service.”
Paper copies must carry proof of shipping no later than July 7, 2014, to be eligible for FY 2014 grant funding. Late applications are not eligible for FY 2014 grant funding.
Electronic copies must be received by July 7, 2014, to be eligible for FY 2014 grant funding. Late applications are not eligible for FY 2014 grant funding.
The provision of broadband service is vital to the economic development, education, health, and safety of rural Americans. The purpose of the Community Connect Grant Program is to provide financial assistance in the form of grants to eligible applicants that will provide currently unserved areas, on a “community-oriented connectivity” basis, with broadband service that fosters economic growth and delivers enhanced educational, health care, and public safety services. Rural Utilities Service will give priority to rural areas that have the greatest need for broadband services, based on the criteria contained herein.
Grant authority will be used for the deployment of broadband service to extremely rural, lower-income communities on a “community-oriented connectivity” basis. The “community-oriented connectivity” concept will stimulate practical, everyday uses and applications of broadband facilities by cultivating the deployment of new broadband services that improve economic development and provide enhanced educational and health care opportunities in rural areas. Such an approach will also give rural communities the opportunity to benefit from the advanced technologies that are necessary to achieve these goals. Please see 7 CFR part 1739, subpart A for specifics.
The definitions applicable to this Notice are published at 7 CFR 1739.3.
The Agency will review, evaluate, and score applications received in response to this Notice based on the provisions found in 7 CFR part 1739, subpart A, and as indicated in this notice.
1. General. The Administrator has determined that the following amounts are available for grants in FY 2014 under 7 CFR 1739.2(a)
a. $13 million is available for grants from FY 2014 and prior year appropriations. Under 7 CFR 1739.2, the Administrator has established a minimum grant amount of $100,000 and a maximum grant amount of $3,000,000 for FY 2014.
b. Assistance instrument: RUS will execute grant documents appropriate to the project prior to any advance of funds with successful applicants.
B. Community Connect grants cannot be renewed. Award documents specify the term of each award.
b. An Indian tribe or tribal organization, as defined in 25 U.S.C. 450b(e),
4. Applicants must have an active registration with current information in the System for Award Management (SAM) (previously the Central Contractor Registry (CCR)) at https://www.sam.gov and have a Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number.
1. General. The regulation for the Community Connect Grant Program requires that certain definitions affecting eligibility be revised and published from time-to-time by the Agency in the Federal Register. For the purpose of this regulation, the agency shall use the following definitions: “Broadband service” and “Broadband Grant Speed.” Until otherwise revised in the Federal Register, for applications in FY 2014, to qualify as Broadband Service, the minimum rate of data transmission shall be three megabits per second (download plus upload speeds) for both fixed and mobile service and the Broadband Grant Speed will be a minimum bandwidth of five megabits per second (download plus upload speeds) for both fixed and mobile service to the customer.
2. Required matching contributions. Please see 7 CFR 1739.14 for the requirement. Grant applicants must demonstrate a matching contribution, in cash, of at least fifteen (15) percent of the total amount of financial assistance requested. Matching contributions must be used to support the broadband operations funded under the Community Connect Grant Program.Start Printed Page 29407
3. To be eligible for a grant, the Project must (see 7 CFR 1739.11):
a. Serve a Proposed Funded Service Area where Broadband Service does not currently exist, to be verified by RUS prior to the award of the grant;
b. Offer service at the Broadband Grant Speed, free of all charges for at least 2 years, to all Critical Community Facilities located within the proposed Service Area;
c. Offer service at the Broadband Grant Speed to all residential and business customers within the Proposed Funded Service Area; and
d. Provide a Community Center with at least two (2) Computer Access Points and wireless access at the Broadband Grant Speed available, free of charge, to all users for at least 2 years.
e. Not overlap with the Service area of current RUS borrowers and grantees.
a. DUNS numbers and SAM registration: Applicants must have a Dun and Bradstreet DUNS number and be registered in System Awards Management (SAM) at https://www.sam.gov prior to submitting an electronic or paper application. The DUNS number and SAM requirements are contained in 2 CFR part 25. SAM is the repository for standard information about applicants and recipients.
b. DUNS Number: As required by the OMB, all applicants for grants must supply a Dun and Bradstreet DUNS number when applying. The Standard Form 424 (SF-424) contains a field for you to use when supplying your DUNS number. Obtaining a DUNS number costs nothing and requires a short telephone call to Dun and Bradstreet. Please see http://www.grants.gov/​applicants/​org_​step1.jsp for more information on how to obtain a DUNS number or how to verify your organization's number.
c. System for Award Management (SAM): In accordance with 2 CFR part 25, applicants, whether applying electronically or by paper must be registered in SAM prior to submitting an application. Applicants may register for the SAM at https://www.sam.gov. The SAM registration must remain active, with current information, at all times during which an entity has an application under consideration by an agency or has an active Federal Award. To remain registered in the SAM database after the initial registration, the applicant is required to review and update on an annual basis from the date of initial registration or subsequent updates of its information in the SAM database to ensure it is current, accurate and complete.
See paragraph IV. B of this notice for a discussion of the items that make up a completed application. You may also refer to 7 CFR 1739.15 for completed grant application items.
1. The Internet: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/​utp_​commconnect.html.
2. The Rural Utilities Service Broadband Division, for paper copies of these materials: (202) 690-4673.
2. Applications should be prepared in conformance with the provisions in 7 CFR 1739, subpart A, and applicable USDA regulations including 7 CFR parts 3015, 3016, and 3019. Applicants must use the RUS Application Guide for this program containing instructions and all necessary forms, as well as other important information, in preparing their application. Completed applications must include the following:
c. Scoring criteria documentation. Each grant applicant must address and provide documentation on how it meets each of the scoring criteria detailed in 7 CFR 1739.17.
e. Service area demographics. The applicant must provide a map of the Proposed Funded Service Area using the RUS Mapping Tool.
f. Scope of work. The scope of work must include specific activities and services to be performed under the proposal, who will carry out the activities and services, specific time-frames for completion, and a budget for all capital and administrative expenditures reflecting the line item costs for all grant purposes, the matching contribution, and other sources of funds necessary to complete the project.
g. Community-Oriented Connectivity Plan. The applicant must provide a detailed Community-Oriented Connectivity Plan.
h. Financial information and sustainability. The applicant must provide financial statements and information and a narrative description demonstrating the sustainability of the Project.
i. A statement of experience. The applicant must provide a written narrative describing its demonstrated capability and experience, if any, in operating a broadband telecommunications system.
j. Evidence of legal authority and existence. The applicant must provide evidence of its legal existence and authority to enter into a grant agreement with RUS and to perform the activities proposed under the grant application.
k. Additional Funding. If the Project requires additional funding from other sources in addition to the RUS grant, the applicant must provide evidence that funding agreements have been obtained to ensure completion of the Project.
l. Federal Compliance. The applicant must provide evidence of compliance with other federal statutes and regulations, including, but not limited to the following:
(iii) 2 CFR part 417—Government-wide Debarment and Suspension (Non-procurement).
(iv) 7 CFR part 3018—New Restrictions on Lobbying.Start Printed Page 29408
(v) 2 CFR part 421—Government-wide Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Financial Assistance).
(viii) An environmental report/questionnaire, in accordance with 7 CFR 1794.
(ix) A certification that grant funds will not be used to duplicate lines, facilities, or systems providing Broadband Service.
(xi) Assurance Regarding Felony Conviction or Tax Delinquent Status for Corporate Applicants.
1. Applications submitted on paper: Submit the original paper application and a copy in electronic format to RUS.
2. Applications submitted through Grants.gov: The additional paper copies are not necessary if you submit the application electronically through Grants.gov.
Grant applications may be submitted on paper or through Grants.gov.
a. Address paper applications for grants to the Rural Utilities Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Room 2868, STOP 1599, Washington, DC 20250-1599. Applications should be marked “Attention: Director, Broadband Division, Rural Utilities Service.”
2. Applications submitted through Grants.gov.
1. Paper applications must be postmarked and mailed, shipped, or sent overnight no later than July 7, 2014 to be eligible for FY 2014 grant funding. Late applications are not eligible for FY 2014 grant funding.
2. Grant applications submitted through Grants.gov must be received by July 7, 2014 to be eligible for FY 2014 funding. Late applications are not eligible for FY 2014 grant funding.
a. The construction, acquisition, or leasing of facilities, including spectrum, land or buildings to deploy service at the Broadband Grant Speed to all participating Critical Community Facilities and all required facilities needed to offer such service to all residential and business customers located within the Proposed Funded Service Area;
b. The improvement, expansion, construction, or acquisition of a Community Center that furnishes free internet access at the Broadband Grant Speed and provision of Computer Access Points. Grant funds provided for such costs shall not exceed the lesser of ten percent (10%) of the grant amount requested or $150,000; and
c. The cost of bandwidth to provide service free of charge at the Broadband Grant Speed to Critical Community Facilities for the first 2 years of operation.
a. Grant funds may not be used to finance the duplication of any existing Broadband Service provided by another entity.
b. Operating expenses other than the cost of bandwidth for 2 years to provide service at the Broadband Grant Speed to Critical Community Facilities.
a. An analysis of the challenges of the following criteria, laid out on a community-wide basis, and how the project proposes to address these issues (up to 50 points): 1. The economic characteristics; 2. Educational Challenges; 3. Health care needs; 4. Public safety issues; and 5. Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (applications that according to the 2010 census show that at least 20 percent of the population of the counties included in core coverage areas is living in poverty) will receive the maximum score in this category. This emphasis will support Rural Development's goal of providing 20 percent of its funding by 2016 to these areas of need.
b. The extent of the Project's planning, development, and support by local residents, institutions, and Critical Community Facilities (up to 40 points);
c. The level of experience and past success of operating broadband systems for the management team (up to 10 points); and
d. In making a final selection among and between applications with comparable rankings and geographic distribution, the Administrator may take into consideration the characteristics of the Proposed Funded Service Area (PFSA)
RUS will offer special consideration to applications that propose to provide broadband service within a trust area or a tribal jurisdictional area. Such applications will be awarded 15 points. The applicant will need to submit evidence indicating that the proposed service area is located in a trust area or a tribal jurisdictional area.
RUS will use one or more of the following resources in determining whether a proposed service area is located in a trust area or tribal jurisdictional area:
(b) Title Status Reports issued by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs showing that title to such land is held in trust or is subject Start Printed Page 29409to restrictions imposed by the United States;
(e) Official records of the U.S. Department of the Interior, the State of Alaska, or such other documentation of ownership as the RUS may determine to be satisfactory, showing that title is owned by a Regional Corporation or a Village Corporation as such terms are defined in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.); and
(f) Any other evidence submitted by the applicant that is satisfactory to RUS to establish that area where the end-user site is located is a trust area or a tribal jurisdictional area within the meaning of 38 U.S.C. 3765(1).
1. All applications for grants must be delivered to Rural Utilities Service at the address and by the date specified in this notice or electronically submitted by the deadline (see also 7 CFR 1739.2) to be eligible for funding. Rural Utilities Service will review each application for conformance with the provisions of this part. Rural Utilities Service may contact the applicant for additional information or clarification.
3. Applications conforming with this part will then be evaluated competitively by a panel of Rural Utilities Service employees selected by the Administrator of Rural Utilities Service, and will be awarded points as described in the scoring criteria in 7 CFR 1739.17. Applications will be ranked and grants awarded in rank order until all grant funds are expended.
Grant applications are ranked by final score. Rural Utilities Service selects applications based on those rankings, subject to the availability of funds and consistent with 7 CFR 1739.17.
Rural Utilities Service recognizes that each funded project is unique, and therefore may attach conditions to different projects' award documents. Rural Utilities Service generally notifies applicants whose projects are selected for awards by emailing a scanned copy of an award letter. Rural Utilities Service follows the award letter with a grant agreement that contains all the terms and conditions for the grant. An applicant must execute and return the grant agreement, accompanied by any additional items required by the grant agreement.
The items listed in paragraph IV.B.2.l. of this notice, and the Community Connect Grant Program regulation, application guide and accompanying materials implement the appropriate administrative and national policy requirements.
2. Financial reporting. All recipients of Community Connect Grant Program financial assistance must provide an annual audit, beginning with the first year a portion of the financial assistance is expended. Audits are governed by United States Department of Agriculture audit regulations. See 7 CFR 1739.20.
a. First Tier Sub-Awards of $25,000 or more (unless they are exempt under 2 CFR Part 170) must be reported by the Recipient to http://www.fsrs.gov no later than the end of the month following the month the obligation was made.
b. The Total Compensation of the Recipient's Executives (5 most highly compensated executives) must be reported by the Recipient (if the Recipient meets the criteria under 2 CFR Part 170) to http://www.sam.gov by the end of the month following the month in which the award was made.
A. Web site: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/​utp_​commconnect.html. This Web site maintains up-to-date resources and contact information for the Community Connect Grant Program.
B. Phone: (202) 690-4673.
C. Fax: (202) 690-4389.
[FR Doc. 2014-11704 Filed 5-21-14; 8:45 am]