[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 196 (Tuesday, October 13, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52444-52448]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-24611]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Business-Cooperative Service
Notice of Solicitation of Applications (NOSA) for Inviting Rural
Business Enterprise Grant Program Preapplications for Technical
Assistance for Rural Transportation Systems
AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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[[Page 52445]]
SUMMARY: The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS), an Agency within
the USDA Rural Development mission area, solicits applications of two
individual grants: one single grant from the passenger transportation
funds appropriated for the Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG)
program and another grant for Federally Recognized Native American
Tribes' (FRNAT) from funds appropriated for the RBEG program. USDA
Rural Development will administer these awards under the RBEG program
and 7 U.S.C. 1932(c)(2) for fiscal year (FY) 2010. Historically,
Congress has appropriated funding for these specific programs. This
Notice is being issued prior to passage of a FY 2010 Appropriations
Act, which may or may not provide an appropriation for these programs,
to allow applicants sufficient time to leverage financing, submit
applications, and give the Agency time to process applications within
the 2010 fiscal year. A subsequent notice identifying the amount
received in the appropriations will be published, if any. Each grant is
to be competitively awarded to a qualified national non-profit
organization. One grant is for the provision of technical assistance to
rural transportation projects. The other grant is for the provision of
technical assistance to rural transportation projects operated by
FRNAT's only.
Expenses incurred in developing applications will be at the
applicant's risk.
DATES: The deadline for receipt of preapplications in the USDA Rural
Development State Office is December 14, 2009. Applications received at
a USDA Rural Development State Office after that date will not be
considered for FY 2010 funding.
ADDRESSES: Entities wishing to apply for assistance should contact the
appropriate Rural Development State Office to receive copies of the
application package. A list of the USDA Rural Development State Offices
addresses and telephone numbers are as follows:
Alabama
USDA Rural Development State Office, Sterling Centre, Suite 601, 4121
Carmichael Road, Montgomery, AL 36106-3683, (334) 279-3400/TDD (334)
279-3495.
Alaska
USDA Rural Development State Office, 800 West Evergreen, Suite 201,
Palmer, AK 99645-6539, (907) 761-7705/TDD (907) 761-8905.
Arizona
USDA Rural Development State Office, 230 N. 1st Ave., Suite 206,
Phoenix, AZ 85003, (602) 280-8701/TDD (602) 280-8705.
Arkansas
USDA Rural Development State Office, 700 West Capitol Avenue, Room
3416, Little Rock, AR 72201-3225, (501) 301-3200/TDD (501) 301-3279.
California
USDA Rural Development State Office, 430 G Street, 4169,
Davis, CA 95616-4169, (530) 792-5800/TDD (530) 792-5848.
Colorado
USDA Rural Development State Office, 655 Parfet Street, Room E-100,
Lakewood, CO 80215, (720) 544-2903/TDD (720) 544-2976.
Delaware-Maryland
USDA Rural Development State Office, 1221 College Park Drive, Suite
200, Dover, DE 19904, (302) 857-3580/TDD (302) 857-3585.
Florida/Virgin Islands
USDA Rural Development State Office, 4440 NW 25th Place, P.O. Box
147010, Gainesville, FL 32614-7010, (352) 338-3400/TDD (352) 338-3499.
Georgia
USDA Rural Development State Office, Stephens Federal Building, 355 E.
Hancock Avenue, Athens, GA 30601-2768, (706) 546-2162/TDD (706) 546-
2034.
Hawaii
USDA Rural Development State Office, Federal Building, Room 311, 154
Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720, (808) 933-8380/TDD (808) 933-8321.
Idaho
USDA Rural Development State Office, 9173 West Barnes Dr., Suite A1,
Boise, ID 83709, (208) 378-5600/TDD (208) 378-5644.
Illinois
USDA Rural Development State Office 2118 West Park Court, Suite A
Champaign, IL 61821 (217) 403-6200/TDD (217) 403-6240
Indiana
USDA Rural Development State Office, 5975 Lakeside Boulevard,
Indianapolis, IN 46278, (317) 290-3100/TDD (317) 290-3343.
Iowa
USDA Rural Development State Office, Federal Building, Room 873, 210
Walnut Street, Des Moines, IA 50309, (515) 284-4663/TDD (515) 284-4858.
Kansas
USDA Rural Development State Office, 1303 S.W. First American Place,
Suite 100, Topeka, KS 66604-4040, (785) 271-2700/TDD (785) 271-2767.
Kentucky
USDA Rural Development State Office, 771 Corporate Drive, Suite 200,
Lexington, KY 40503, (859) 224-7300/TDD (859) 224-7422.
Louisiana
USDA Rural Development State Office, 3727 Government Street,
Alexandria, LA 71302, (318) 473-7921/TDD (318) 473-7655.
Maine
USDA Rural Development State Office, 967 Illinois Avenue, Suite 4, P.O.
Box 405, Bangor, ME 04402-0405, (207) 990-9160/TDD (207) 942-7331.
Massachusetts/Rhode Island/Connecticut
USDA Rural Development State Office, 451 West Street, Suite 2, Amherst,
MA 01002-2999, (413) 253-4300/TDD (413) 253-4590.
Michigan
USDA Rural Development State Office, 3001 Coolidge Road, Suite 200,
East Lansing, MI 48823, (517) 324-5190/TDD (517) 324-5169.
Minnesota
USDA Rural Development State Office, 375 Jackson Street, Suite 410, St.
Paul, MN 55101-1853, (651) 602-7800/TDD (651) 602-3799.
Mississippi
USDA Rural Development State Office, Federal Building, Suite 831, 100
W. Capitol Street. Jackson, MS 39269, (601) 965-4316/TDD (601) 965-
5850.
Missouri
USDA Rural Development State Office, 601 Business Loop 70 West, Parkade
Center, Suite 235, Columbia, MO 65203, (573) 876-0976/TDD (573) 876-
9480.
Montana
USDA Rural Development State Office, 900 Technology Boulevard, Suite B,
P.O. Box 850, Bozeman, MT 59771, (406) 585-2580/TDD (406) 585-2562.
Nebraska
USDA Rural Development State Office, Federal Building, Room 152, 100
Centennial Mall North, Lincoln, NE
[[Page 52446]]
68508, (402) 437-5551/TDD (402) 437-5093.
Nevada
USDA Rural Development State Office, 1390 South Curry Street, Carson
City, NV 89703-5146, (775) 887-1222/TDD (775) 885-0633.
New Jersey
USDA Rural Development State Office, 8000 Midlantic Drive, 5th Floor
North, Suite 500, Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054, (856) 787-7700/TDD (856) 787-
7784.
New Mexico
USDA Rural Development State Office, 6200 Jefferson Street, NE., Room
255, Albuquerque, NM 87109, (505) 761-4950/TDD (505) 761-4938.
New York
USDA Rural Development State Office, The Galleries of Syracuse, 441
South Salina Street, Suite 357, Syracuse, NY 13202-2541, (315) 477-
6400/TDD (315) 477-6447.
North Carolina
USDA Rural Development State Office, 4405 Bland Road, Suite 260,
Raleigh, NC 27609, (919) 873-2000/TDD (919) 873-2003.
North Dakota
USDA Rural Development State Office, Federal Building, Room 208, 220
East Rosser, P.O. Box 1737, Bismarck, ND 58502-1737, (701) 530-2037/TDD
(701) 530-2113.
Ohio
USDA Rural Development State Office, Federal Building, Room 507, 200
North High Street, Columbus, OH 43215-2418, (614) 255-2400/TDD (614)
255-2554,
Oklahoma
USDA Rural Development State Office, 100 USDA, Suite 108, Stillwater,
OK 74074-2654, (405) 742-1000/TDD (405) 742-1007.
Oregon
USDA Rural Development State Office, 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., Suite 801,
Portland, OR 97232, (503) 414-3300/TDD (503) 414-3387.
Pennsylvania
USDA Rural Development State Office, One Credit Union Place, Suite 330,
Harrisburg, PA 17110-2996, (717) 237-2299/TDD (717) 237-2261.
Puerto Rico
USDA Rural Development State Office, IBM Building, Suite 601, 654 Munos
Rivera Avenue, San Juan, PR 00918-6106, (787) 766-5095/TDD (787) 766-
5332.
South Carolina
USDA Rural Development State Office, Strom Thurmond Federal Building,
1835 Assembly Street, Room 1007, Columbia, SC 29201, (803) 765-5163/TDD
(803) 765-5697.
South Dakota
USDA Rural Development State Office, Federal Building, Room 210, 200
Fourth Street, SW., Huron, SD 57350, (605) 352-1100/TDD (605) 352-1147.
Tennessee
USDA Rural Development State Office, 3322 West End Avenue, Suite 300,
Nashville, TN 37203-1084, (615) 783-1300.
Texas
USDA Rural Development State Office, Federal Building, Suite 102, 101
South Main, Temple, TX 76501, (254) 742-9700/TDD (254) 742-9712.
Utah
USDA Rural Development State Office, Wallace F. Bennett Federal
Building, 125 South State Street, Room 4311, Salt Lake City, UT 84138,
(801) 524-4320/TDD (801) 524-3309.
Vermont/New Hampshire
USDA Rural Development State Office, City Center, 3rd Floor, 89 Main
Street, Montpelier, VT 05602, (802) 828-6000/TDD (802) 223-6365.
Virginia
USDA Rural Development State Office, 1606 Santa Rosa Road, Suite 238,
Richmond, VA 23229-5014, (804) 287-1550/TDD (804) 287-1753.
Washington
USDA Rural Development State Office, 1835 Black Lake Boulevard SW.,
Suite B, Olympia, WA 98512-5715, (360) 704-7740/TDD (360) 704-7760.
West Virginia
USDA Rural Development State Office, 75 High Street, Room 320,
Morgantown, WV 26505-7500, (304) 284-4860/TDD (304) 284-4836.
Wisconsin
USDA Rural Development State Office, 4949 Kirschling Court, Stevens
Point, WI 54481, (715) 345-7600/TDD (715) 345-7614.
Wyoming
USDA Rural Development State Office, 100 East B, Federal Building, Room
1005, P.O. Box 11005, Casper, WY 82602-5006, (307) 233-6700/TDD (307)
233-6733.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Rural Development State Office
identified in this notice.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Overview
Federal Agency: Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
Solicitation Opportunity Title: Rural Business Enterprise Grants.
Announcement Type: Initial Solicitation Announcement.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 10.769.
Dates: Application Deadline: Completed applications must be
received in the USDA Rural Development State Office no later than
December 14, 2009, to be eligible for FY 2010 grant funding.
Applications received after this date will not be eligible for FY 2010
grant funding.
I. Funding Opportunity Description
The RBEG program is authorized by section 310B(c) of the
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (CONACT) (7 U.S.C.
1932(c)). Regulations are contained in 7 CFR part 1942, subpart G. The
primary objective of the program is to improve the economic conditions
of rural areas. The program is administered on behalf of RBS at the
State level by the USDA Rural Development State Offices. Assistance
provided to rural areas under this program may include on-site
technical assistance to local and regional governments, public transit
agencies, and related non-profit and for-profit organizations in rural
areas; the development of training materials; and the provision of
necessary training assistance to local officials and agencies in rural
areas.
Awards under the RBEG passenger transportation program will be made
on a competitive basis using specific selection criteria contained in 7
CFR part 1942, subpart G, and in accordance with section 310B(c)(2) of
the CONACT. Information required to be in the application package
includes Forms SF 424, ``Application for Federal Assistance;'' RD 1940-
20, ``Request for Environmental Information;'' Scope of Work Narrative;
Income Statement; Balance Sheet or Audit for previous 3 years; AD-1047,
``Debarment/Suspension Certification;'' AD-1048, ``Certification
Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary
Exclusion;'' AD-1049, ``Certification Regarding Drug-Free Workplace
Requirements;'' Restrictions on Lobbying; RD 400-1, ``Equal
[[Page 52447]]
Opportunity Agreement;'' RD 400-4, ``Assurance Agreement;'' Letter
stating Board authorization to obtain assistance; and Letter certifying
citizenship, as referenced in 7 CFR 1942.307(b). For the FRNAT grant,
which must benefit Federally Recognized Native American Tribes, at
least 75 percent of the benefits of the project must be received by
members of Federally Recognized Native American Tribes. The project
that scores the greatest number of points based on the RBEG selection
criteria and the discretionary points will be selected for each grant.
Applications will be tentatively scored by the State Offices and
submitted to the National Office for review, final scoring, and
selection.
Applicants must be qualified national non-profit organizations with
experience in providing technical assistance and training to rural
communities for the purpose of improving passenger transportation
service or facilities. To be considered ``national'' RBS requires a
qualified organization to provide evidence that it operates rural
transportation assistance programming in multiple States. There is not
a requirement to use the grant funds in a multi-State area. Under this
notice, grants will be made to qualified, private, non-profit
organizations for the provision of technical assistance and training to
rural communities for the purpose of improving passenger transportation
services or facilities.
Definitions
The definitions are published at 7 CFR 1942.304.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Grant.
Fiscal Year Funds: FY 2010.
Total Funding: To be determined by appropriations bill, if any.
Approximate Number of Awards: Two
Average Award: Will be determined by amount received in
appropriations, if any. This Notice will be amended to provide this
information once an appropriation has been exacted.
Anticipated Award Date: January 26, 2010.
III. Eligibility Information
A. Eligible Applicants
To be considered eligible, an entity must be a private non-profit
corporation serving rural areas. Grants will be competitively awarded
to one or more qualified national organizations.
B. Cost Sharing or Matching
Matching funds are not required.
C. Other Eligibility Requirements
Applications will only be accepted from qualified national
organizations to provide technical assistance for rural transportation.
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. Fiscal Year 2010 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 identified in
this Notice to obtain copies of the application package.
Applicants are encouraged to submit applications through the
Grants.gov web site at: http://www.grants.gov. Applications may be
submitted in either electronic or paper format. Users of Grants.gov
will be able to download a copy of the application package, complete it
off line, and then upload and submit the application via the Grants.gov
web site. Applications may not be submitted by electronic mail.
When you enter the Grants.gov web site, you will find
information about submitting an application electronically through the
site as well as the hours of operation. USDA Rural Development strongly
recommends that you do not wait until the application deadline date to
begin the application process through Grants.gov.
You may submit all documents electronically through the
Web site, including all information typically included on the
application and all necessary assurances and certifications.
After electronically submitting an application through the
Web site, the applicant will receive an automatic acknowledgement from
Grants.gov that contains a Grants.gov tracking number.
USDA Rural Development may request that the applicant
provide original signatures on forms at a later date.
If applicants experience technical difficulties on the
closing date and are unable to meet the deadline, you may submit a
paper copy of your application to your respective Rural Development
State Office. Paper applications submitted to a Rural Development State
Office must meet the closing date and local time deadline.
All applicants, whether filing applications through http://
www.Grants.gov or by paper, must have a Dun and Bradstreet Data
Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number which can be obtained at no
cost via a toll-free request line at 1-866-705-5711 or at http://www.dnb.com.
Please note that applicants can 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 Submission
An application must contain all of the required elements. Each
application received in a USDA Rural Development State Office will be
reviewed to determine if it is consistent with the eligible purposes
contained in section 310B(c) of the CONACT. Each selection priority
criterion outlined in 7 CFR 1942.305(b)(3), must be addressed in the
application. Failure to address any of the criteria will result in a
zero-point score for that criterion and will impact the overall
evaluation of the application. Copies of 7 CFR part 1942, subpart G,
will be provided by any interested applicant making a request to a USDA
Rural Development State Office listed in this notice.
All projects to receive technical assistance through these
passenger transportation grant funds are to be identified when the
applications are submitted to the USDA Rural Development State Office.
Multiple project applications must identify each individual project,
indicate the amount of funding requested for each individual project,
and address the criteria as stated above for each individual project.
For multiple-project applications, the average of the individual
project scores will be the score for that application.
C. Submission Dates and Times
Application Deadline Date: December 14, 2009.
Explanation of Deadlines: Applications must be in the USDA Rural
Development State Office by the deadline date.
V. Application Review Information
The National Office will score applications based on the grant
selection criteria and weights contained in 7 CFR part 1942, subpart G
and will select a grantee subject to the grantee's satisfactory
submission of the additional items required by 7 CFR part 1942, subpart
G and the USDA Rural Development Letter of Conditions.
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VI. Award Administration Information
A. Award Notices
Successful applicants will receive notification for funding from
the USDA Rural Development State Office. Applicants must comply with
all applicable statutes and regulations before the grant award will be
approved. Unsuccessful applications will receive notification by mail.
Grantees must further comply with applicable provisions of 7 CFR parts
3015, 3016, 3019, and 3052.
VII. Agency Contacts
For general questions about this announcement, please contact your
USDA Rural Development State Office identified in this Notice.
VIII. Paperwork Reduction Act
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, the paperwork
burden has been cleared by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
under OMB Control Number 0570-0022.
Nondiscrimination Statement:
``The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits
discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of
race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable,
sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion,
sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs,
reprisal, or because all or part of an individual's income is
derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited
bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means for communication of program information (Braille,
large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at
(202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).
To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director,
Office of Adjudication and Compliance, 1400 Independence Avenue,
SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or
(202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider,
employer, and lender.''
Dated: September 23, 2009.
Judith A. Canales,
Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
[FR Doc. E9-24611 Filed 10-9-09; 8:45 am]
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