[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 7, Volume 11]
[Revised as of January 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 7CFR1703.125]

[Page 66-68]
 
                          TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
 
    CHAPTER XVII--RURAL UTILITIES SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 
PART 1703--RURAL DEVELOPMENT--Table of Contents
 
       Subpart E--Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program
 
Sec. 1703.125  Completed application.

    The following items are required to be submitted to RUS in support 
of an application for grant funds:
    (a) An application for Federal Assistance. A completed Standard Form 
424.
    (b) An executive summary of the project. The applicant must provide 
RUS with a general project overview that addresses the following 8 
categories:
    (1) A description of why the project is needed;
    (2) An explanation of how the applicant will address the need cited 
in paragraph (b)(1) of this section, why the applicant requires 
financial assistance, the types of educational or medical services to be 
offered by the project, and the benefits to rural residents;
    (3) A description of the applicant, documenting eligibility in 
accordance with Sec. 1703.103;
    (4) An explanation of the total project cost including a breakdown 
of the grant required and the source of matching contribution and other 
financial assistance for the remainder of the project;
    (5) A statement specifying whether the project is either a distance 
learning or telemedicine facility as defined in Sec. 1703.102. If the 
project provides both distance learning and telemedicine services, the 
applicant must identify the predominant use of the system;
    (6) A general overview of the telecommunications system to be 
developed, including the types of equipment, technologies, and 
facilities used;
    (7) A description of the participating hubs and end user sites and 
the number of rural residents that will be served by the project at each 
end user site; and
    (8) A certification by the applicant that facilities constructed 
with grants do not duplicate adequate established telemedicine or 
distance learning services.
    (9) A listing of the location of each end user site (city, town, 
village, borough, or rural areas) plus the State.
    (c) Scoring criteria documentation. Each grant applicant must 
address and provide documentation on how it meets each of the scoring 
criteria contained in Sec. 1703.126.
    (d) A scope of work. The scope of work must include, at a minimum:
    (1) The specific activities to be performed under the project;
    (2) Who will carry out the activities;
    (3) The time-frames for accomplishing the project objectives and 
activities; and
    (4) A budget for all capital expenditures reflecting the line item 
costs for approved purposes for both the grant funds and other sources 
of funds for the project. Separately, the budget must specify any line 
item costs that are nonapproved purposes for grants as contained in 
Sec. 1703.123.
    (e) Financial information and sustainability. The applicant must 
provide a narrative description demonstrating: feasibility of the 
project, including having sufficient resources and expertise necessary 
to undertake and complete the project; and, how the project will be 
sustained following completion of the project.
    (f) A statement of experience. The applicant must provide a written 
narrative (not exceeding three single spaced pages) describing its 
demonstrated capability and experience, if any, in operating an 
educational or health care endeavor and any project similar to the 
project. Experience in a similar project is desirable but not required.
    (g) Funding commitment from other sources. The applicant must 
provide evidence, in form and substance satisfactory to RUS, that 
funding agreements have been obtained to ensure completion of the 
project. These agreements shall be sufficient to ensure:
    (1) Payment of all proposed expenditures for the project;
    (2) All required matching contribution in 1703.120;
    (3) any additional matching funding provided in accordance with 
Sec. 1703.126(b)(4); and
    (4) Any other funds necessary to complete the project.

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    (h) A telecommunications system plan. A telecommunications system 
plan consisting of the following:
    (1) The capabilities of the telecommunications terminal equipment, 
including a description of the specific equipment which will be used to 
deliver the proposed service. The applicant must document discussions 
with various technical sources which could include consultants, 
engineers, product vendors, or internal technical experts, provide 
detailed cost estimates for operating and maintaining the end user 
equipment and provide evidence that alternative equipment and 
technologies were evaluated.
    (2) A listing of the proposed telecommunications terminal equipment, 
telecommunications transmission facilities, data terminal equipment, 
interactive video equipment, computer hardware and software systems, and 
components that process data for transmission via telecommunications, 
computer network components, communication satellite ground station 
equipment, or any other elements of the telecommunications system 
designed to further the purposes of this subpart, that the applicant 
intends to build or fund using RUS financial assistance.
    (3) A description of the consultations with the appropriate 
telecommunications carriers (including other interexchange carriers, 
cable television operators, enhanced service providers, providers of 
satellite services and telecommunications equipment manufacturers and 
distributors) and the anticipated role of such providers in the proposed 
telecommunications system.
    (i) Compliance with other Federal statutes. The applicant must 
provide evidence of compliance with other Federal statutes and 
regulations including, but not limited to the following:
    (1) E.O. 11246, Equal Employment Opportunity, as amended by E.O. 
11375 and as supplemented by regulations contained in 41 CFR part 60;
    (2) Architectural barriers;
    (3) Flood hazard area precautions;
    (4) Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970;
    (5) Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1998 (41 U.S.C. 701);
    (6) E.O.s 12549 and 12689, Debarment and Suspension;
    (7) Byrd Anti-Lobbying Amendment (31 U.S.C. 1352).
    (j) Environmental impact and historic preservation. (1) The 
applicant must provide details of the project's impact on the 
environment and historic preservation. Grants made under this part are 
subject to part 1794 of this chapter which contains RUS' policies and 
procedures for implementing a variety of Federal statutes, regulations, 
and executive orders generally pertaining to the protection of the 
quality of the human environment that are listed in 7 CFR 1794.1. The 
application shall contain a separate section entitled ``Environmental 
Impact of the Project.''
    (2) The applicant may use the ``Environmental Questionnaire,'' 
available from RUS, to assist in complying with the requirements of this 
section.
    (k) 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 perform the activities proposed under the 
grant application.
    (l) Federal debt certification. The applicant must provide a 
certification that it is not delinquent on any obligation owed to the 
government (7 CFR parts 3016 and 3019).
    (m) Consultation with USDA State Director, Rural Development. The 
applicant must provide evidence that it has consulted with the USDA 
State Director, Rural Development, concerning the availability of other 
sources of funding available at the State or local level.
    (n) State strategic plan conformity. The applicant must provide 
evidence from the USDA State Director, Rural Development, that the 
application conforms with the State strategic plan as prepared under 
section 381D of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 
U.S.C. 1921 et seq.). The applicant should indicate if such a plan does 
not exist.
    (o) Supplemental information. The applicant should provide any 
additional information it considers relevant to the project and likely 
to be helpful in determining the extent to which the project would 
further the purposes of the 1996 Act.

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    (p) Additional information required by RUS. The applicant must 
provide any additional information RUS may consider relevant to the 
application and necessary to adequately evaluate the application. RUS 
may request modifications or changes, including changes in the amount of 
financial assistance requested, in any proposal described in an 
application submitted under this subpart.

[64 FR 14360, Mar. 25, 1999, as amended at 64 FR 25423, May 12, 1999; 67 
FR 3040, Mar. 11, 2002]