Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2010/03/26/2010-6685/household-water-well-system-grant-program-announcement-of-application-deadlines-and-funding
Timestamp: 2017-08-16 18:30:35
Document Index: 323704041

Matched Legal Cases: ['arts 3015', 'art 15', 'art 3015', 'art 3017', 'art 3018', 'art 3019', 'art 3021', 'art 16']

A Notice by the Rural Utilities Service on 03/26/2010
The deadline for completed applications for a HWWS grant is May 31, 2010. Applications in either paper or electronic format must be postmarked or time-stamped electronically on or before the deadline. Late applications will be ineligible for grant consideration.
75 FR 14559
14559-14564 (6 pages)
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2010-6685 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2010-6685
The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) announces the availability of $993,000 in grant funds to be competitively awarded for the Household Water Well System (HWWS) Grant Program for fiscal year 2010. RUS will make grants to qualified private non-profit organizations to establish lending programs for homeowners to borrow up to $11,000 to construct or repair household water wells for an existing home. The HWWS Grant Program regulations are contained in 7 CFR 1776.
Submit electronic grant applications through http://www.grants.gov (Grants.gov), following the instructions on that Web site. Submit completed paper applications to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service, Mail Stop #1570, Room 2233-S, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250-1570. Applications should be marked “Attention: Water and Environmental Programs.”
Lorrie Davis, Community Programs Specialist, U.S. Department of Agriculture, RUS Programs, Water and Environmental Programs, telephone: (202) 720-9631, fax: (202) 690-0649, e-mail: Lorrie.davis@wdc.usda.gov.
Due Date for Applications: May 31, 2010.
Central water systems may not be the only or best solution to drinking water problems. Distance or physical barriers make public central water systems expensive in remote areas. A significant Start Printed Page 14560number of geographically isolated households without water service might require individual wells rather than connections to new or existing community systems. The goal of the RUS is not only to make funds available to those communities most in need of potable water but also to ensure that facilities used to deliver drinking water are safe and affordable. There is a role for private wells in reaching this goal.
Due to the limited amount of funds available under the HWWS Grant Program, five applications may be funded from FY 2010 funds. Previously funded grant recipients must apply for a different target area to be considered for funding under this announcement.
Anticipated Number of Awards: 5.
a. Is a private, non-profit organization;
e. Has sufficient expertise and experience in promoting the safe and productive use of individually-owned HWWS and ground water;
3. Other—Requirements
RUS publishes a list of income exclusions in 7 CFR 3550.54(b). Also, the Department of Housing and Urban Development published a list of income exclusions in the Federal Register. See “Federally Mandated Exclusions” Notice 66 FR 4669, April 20, 2001, pages 20318-20320.
2. RUS for paper copies: RUS, Water Programs Division, Room 2234 South, Stop 1570, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-1570, Telephone: (202) 720-9589, Fax: (202) 690-0649.
a. Detailed information on each item required can be found in the HWWS Grant Program regulation (7 CFR 1776) and the Application Guide. Applicants are strongly encouraged to read and apply both the regulation and the application guide. This Notice does not change the requirements for a completed application for any form of HWWS financial assistance specified in the regulation. The regulation and application guide provide specific guidance on each of the items listed.
b. Applications should be prepared in conformance with the provisions in 7 Start Printed Page 14561CFR 1776, subpart B, and applicable regulations including 7 CFR parts 3015 and 3019. Applicants should use the application guide which contains instructions and other important information in preparing their application. Completed applications must include the items found in the checklist in the next paragraph.
The forms in items a. through f. must be completed and signed where appropriate by an official of your organization who has authority to obligate the organization legally. The forms may be found on-line at the RUS Web site: http://www.usda.gov/​rus/​water/​wwforms.htm. See section V, “Application Review Information,” for instructions and guidelines on preparing Items g. through m.
a. SF-424, “Application for Federal Assistance”
b. SF-424A, “Budget Information—Non-Construction Programs”
c. SF-424B, “Assurances—Non-Construction Programs”
d. SF-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. Project Proposal, Project Summary, Needs Assessment, Project Goals and Objectives, Project Narrative
i. Budget and Budget Justification
j. Evidence of Legal Authority and Existence
k. Documentation of private non-profit status and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Tax Exempt Status
l. List of Directors and Officers
m. Financial information and sustainability (narrative)
n. Assurances and Certifications of Compliance with Other Federal Statutes
a. 7 CFR part 15, subpart A—Nondiscrimination in Federally Assisted Programs of the Department of Agriculture—Effectuation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
b. 7 CFR part 3015—Uniform Federal Assistance Regulations
c. 7 CFR part 3017—Government-wide Debarment and Suspension (Non-procurement)
d. 7 CFR part 3018—New Restrictions on Lobbying
e. 7 CFR part 3019—Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Other Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Non-profit Organizations
f. 7 CFR part 3021—Government-wide Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Financial Assistance)
g. Executive Order 13166, “Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency. ”For information on limited English proficiency and agency-specific guidance, go to http://www.LEP.gov
h. Federal Obligation Certification on Delinquent Debt
a. For paper applications mail or ensure delivery of an original paper application (no stamped, photocopied, or initialed signatures) and two copies by the deadline date to: RUS, Water Programs Division, Room 2234 South, Stop 1570, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-1570.
d. Due to screening procedures at the Department of Agriculture, packages arriving via the USPS are irradiated, which can damage the contents. RUS encourages applicants to consider the impact of this procedure in selecting an application delivery method.
(1) You will need a DUNS number to access or register at any of the services. In addition to the DUNS number required of all grant applicants, your organization must be listed in the Central Contractor Registry (CCR). If you have not used Grants.gov before, you will need to register with the CCR and the Credential Provider. Setting up a CCR listing (a one-time procedure with annual updates) takes up to five business days. RUS recommends that you obtain your organization's DUNS number and CCR listing well in advance of the deadline specified in this notice.
(3) 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 at https://apply.grants.gov/​OrcRegister. Start Printed Page 14562
(4) If a system problem or technical difficulty occurs with an electronic application, please use the customer support resources available at the Grants.gov Web site.
The deadline for paper and electronic submissions is May 31, 2010. Paper applications must be postmarked and mailed, shipped, or sent overnight no later than the closing date to be considered for FY 2010 grant funding. Electronic applications must have an electronic date and time stamp by midnight of May 31, 2010, to be considered on time. RUS will not accept applications by fax or e-mail. Applications that do not meet the criteria above are considered late applications and will not be considered. RUS will notify each late applicant that its application will not be considered.
3. Budget and Budget Justification. Both Federal and non-Federal resources shall be detailed and justified in the budget and narrative justification. “Federal resources” refers only to the HWWS Grant Program for which you are applying. “Non Federal resources” are all other Federal and non-Federal resources.
c. If the grant applicant will use a servicing contractor, the fees may be reimbursed as an administrative expense as provided in 7 CFR 1776.13. These fees must be discussed in the budget narrative. If the grant applicant will hire a servicing contractor, it must demonstrate that all procurement transactions will be conducted in a manner to provide, to the maximum Start Printed Page 14563extent practical, open and free competition. Recipients must justify any anticipated procurement action that is expected to be awarded without competition and exceed the simplified acquisition threshold fixed at 41 U.S.C. 403(11) (currently set at $100,000).
The amount of needs demonstrated in the work plan;
Previous experiences demonstrating excellent utilization of a revolving loan fund grant; and
2. Direct Federal grants, sub-award funds, or contracts under the HWWS Grant Program shall not be used to fund inherently religious activities, such as worship, religious instruction, or proselytization. Therefore, organizations that receive direct assistance should Start Printed Page 14564take steps to separate, in time or location, their inherently religious activities from the services funded under the HWWS Grant Program. Regulations for the Equal Treatment for Faith-based Organizations are contained in 7 CFR part 16, which includes the prohibition against Federal funding of inherently religious activities. The regulation may be accessed at the Web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/​rd/​fbnp/​usdafbci070904.html.
A. Web site: http://www.usda.gov/​rus/​water. The RUS Web site maintains up-to-date resources and contact information for the HWWS Grant Program.
D. E-mail: lorrie.davis@wdc.usda.gov.
E. Main point of contact: Lorrie Davis, Community Programs Specialist, Water and Environmental Programs, Water Programs Division, RUS, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
[FR Doc. 2010-6685 Filed 3-25-10; 8:45 am]