Federal Register, Volume 85 Issue 133 (Friday, July 10, 2020)

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 133 (Friday, July 10, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41524-41531]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-14849]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Business-Cooperative Service

[Docket #: RBS-20-CO-OP-0021]

Inviting Applications for the Delta Health Care Services Grant
Program

AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Department of Agriculture
(USDA).

ACTION: Notice of Funding Availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This Notice of Funding Availability (Notice) announces that
the Rural Business-Cooperative Service (Agency) is accepting fiscal
year (FY) 2020 applications for the Delta Health Care Services (DHCS)
grant program. Approximately $6.0 million is currently available for FY
2020. The Agency will publish the program funding level on the Rural
Development website https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/delta-health-care-services-grants. The purpose of this program is to provide
financial assistance to address the continued unmet health needs in the
Delta Region through cooperation among health care professionals,
institutions of higher education, research institutions, and economic
development entities in the Delta Region.

DATES: Completed applications for grants must be submitted
electronically by no later than midnight Eastern Standard Time August
24, 2020 through http://www.grants.gov to be eligible for grant
funding. Please review the Grants.gov website at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html for
instructions on the process of registering your organization as soon as
possible to ensure you are able to meet the electronic application
deadline. Late applications are not eligible for funding under this
Notice and will not be evaluated.

ADDRESSES: You are encouraged to contact your USDA Rural Development
State Office well in advance of the application deadline to discuss
your Project and ask any questions about the application process.
Contact information for State Offices can be found at http://www.rd.usda.gov/contact-us/state-offices.
Program guidance as well as application templates may be obtained
at http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/delta-health-care-services-grants or by contacting your State Office. To submit an electronic
application, follow the instructions for the DHCS funding announcement
located at http://www.grants.gov. Please review the Grants.gov website
at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html for instructions on the process of registering your
organization as soon as possible to ensure you are able to meet the
electronic application deadline. You are strongly encouraged to file
your application early and allow sufficient time to manage any
technical issues that may arise.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Honie Turner, Program Management
Division, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, United States Department
of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Mail Stop 3226, Room 4204-
South, Washington, DC 20250-3226, 202-720-1400 or email
CPgrants@usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Preface

The Agency encourages applications that will support
recommendations made in the Rural Prosperity Task Force report to help
improve life in rural America. https://www.usda.gov/topics/rural/rural-prosperity. Applicants are encouraged to consider projects that provide
measurable results in helping rural communities build robust and
sustainable economies through strategic investments in infrastructure,
partnerships and innovation. Key strategies include:

Achieving e-Connectivity for Rural America
Developing the Rural Economy
Harnessing Technological Innovation
Supporting a Rural Workforce
Improving Quality of Life

Overview

Federal Agency Name: USDA Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
Funding Opportunity Title: Delta Health Care Services Grant
Program.
Announcement Type: Initial Notice.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.874.
Dates: Application Deadline. Your electronic application must be
received by http://www.grants.gov no later than Midnight Eastern
Standard Time August 24, 2020, or it will not be considered for
funding.

Hemp Related Projects

Funding cannot be provided to a project involving hemp unless the
Agency can verify that the hemp producer providing hemp to the project
has a valid license issued from an approved State, Tribal or Federal
plan as defined by the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, Public Law
115-334. Verification will occur at the time of award.

Persistent Poverty Counties

The Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020, SEC. 740
designates funding for projects in Persistent Poverty Counties.
Persistent Poverty Counties as defined in
SEC. 740 is ``any county that has had 20 percent or more of its
population living in poverty over the past 30 years, as measured by the
1990 and 2000 decennial censuses, and 2007-2011 American Community
Survey 5-year average, or any territory or possession of the United
States''. Another provision in Section 740 expands the eligible
population in Persistent Poverty Counties to include any county seat of
such a Persistent Poverty County that has a population that does not
exceed the authorized population limit by more than 10 percent.
Therefore, applications for projects in Persistent Poverty County seats
with populations up to 55,000 (per the 2010 Census) are eligible.
Funding of approximately $4.5 million is available to support
Persistent Poverty Counties.
COVID-19 Administrative Relief Exceptions: The Agency reviewed the

[[Page 41525]]

Office of Budget and Management's (OMB) Memoranda M-20-11,
``Administrative Relief for Recipients and Applicants of Federal
Financial Assistance directly impacted by the novel coronavirus (COVID-
19)'' and M-20-26, ``Extension of Administrative Relief for Recipients
and Applicants of Federal Financial Assistance Directly Impacted by the
Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) due to Loss of Operations'' and has made
every attempt to reduce administrative burden with in our authority.
Any reduction in burden will be discussed within the requirement.
The Agency will not solicit or consider new scoring or eligibility
information that is submitted after the application deadline. The
Agency reserves the right to contact applicants to seek clarification
on materials contained in the submitted application. See the
Application Guide for a full discussion of each item. For requirements
of completed grant applications, refer to Section D of this document.

Executive Order (E.O.) 13175 Consultation and Coordination With Indian
Tribal Governments

This Executive order imposes requirements on Rural Development in
the development of regulatory policies that have tribal implications or
preempt tribal laws. Rural Development has determined that this Notice
does not have a substantial direct effect on one or more Indian
tribe(s) or on either the relationship or the distribution of powers
and responsibilities between the Federal Government and the Indian
tribes. Thus, this Notice is not subject to the requirements of
Executive Order 13175. Tribal Consultation inquiries and comments
should be directed to RD's Native American Coordinator at aian@usda.gov
or (720) 544-2911.

Paperwork Reduction Act

The Paperwork Reduction Act requires Federal agencies to seek and
obtain Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval before
undertaking a collection of information directed to ten or more
persons. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
U.S.C. chapter 35), the Agency conducted an analysis to determine the
number of applications the Agency estimates that it will receive under
the DHCS grant program. It was determined that the estimated number of
applications was fewer than nine and in accordance with 5 CFR part
1320, thus OMB approval is not necessary at this time.

A. Program Description

The DHCS program is authorized by Section 379G of the Consolidated
Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2008u), as amended by the
Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Pub. L. 115-334). The primary
objective of the program is to provide financial assistance to address
the continued unmet health needs in the Delta Region through
cooperation among health care professionals, institutions of higher
education, research institutions, and other individuals and entities in
the Delta Region. Grants are awarded on a competitive basis. The
maximum award amount per grant is $1,000,000.

Definitions

The definitions you need to understand are as follows:
Academic Health and Research Institute--A combination of a medical
school, one or more other health profession schools or educational
training programs (such as allied health, dentistry, graduate studies,
nursing, pharmacy, public health), and one or more owned or affiliated
teaching hospitals or health systems; or a health care nonprofit
organization or health system, including nonprofit medical and surgical
hospitals, that conduct health related research.
Conflict of Interest--A situation in which a person or entity has
competing personal, professional, or financial interests that make it
difficult for the person or business to act impartially. Federal
procurement standards prohibit transactions that involve a real or
apparent conflict of interest for owners, employees, officers, agents,
or their immediate family members having a financial or other interest
in the outcome of the Project; or that restrict open and free
competition for unrestrained trade. Specifically, Project Funds may not
be used for services or goods going to, or coming from, a person or
entity with a real or apparent conflict of interest, including, but not
limited to, owner(s) and their immediate family members. An example of
conflict of interest occurs when the consortium member's employees,
board of directors, or the immediate family of either, have the
appearance of a professional or personal financial interest in the
recipients receiving the benefits or services of the grant.
Consortium--A group of three or more entities that are regional
Institutions of Higher Education, Academic Health and Research
Institutes, and/or Economic Development Entities located in the Delta
Region that have at least one year of prior experience in addressing
the health care issues in the region. At least one of the consortium
members must be legally organized as an incorporated organization or
other legal entity and have legal authority to contract with the
Federal Government.
Delta Region--The 252 counties and parishes within the states of
Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi,
Missouri, and Tennessee that are served by the Delta Regional
Authority. (The Delta Region may be adjusted by future Federal
statute.) To view the areas identified within the Delta Region, visit
http://dra.gov/about-dra/dra-states.
Economic Development Entity--Any public or non-profit organization
whose primary mission is to stimulate local and regional economies
within the Delta Region by increasing employment opportunities and
duration of employment, expanding or retaining existing employers,
increasing labor rates or wage levels, reducing outmigration, and/or
creating gains in other economic development-related variables such as
land values. These activities shall primarily benefit low- and
moderate-income individuals in the Delta Region.
Health System--The complete network of agencies, facilities, and
all providers of health care to meet the health needs of a specific
geographical area or target populations.
Institution of Higher Education--A postsecondary (post-high school)
educational institution that awards a bachelor's degree or provides not
less than a two year program that is acceptable for full credit toward
such a degree, or a postsecondary vocational institution that provides
a program of training to prepare students for gainful employment in a
recognized occupation.
Nonprofit Organization--An organization or institution, including
an accredited institution of higher education, where no part of the net
earnings of which may inure, to the benefit of any private shareholder
or individual.
Project--All activities funded by the DHCS grant.
Project Funds--Grant funds requested plus any other contributions
to the proposed Project.
Rural and rural area--Any area of a State:
Not in a city or town that has a population of more than
50,000 inhabitants, according to the latest decennial census of the
United States; and
The contiguous and adjacent urbanized area,

[[Page 41526]]

Urbanized areas that are rural in character as defined by
7 U.S.C. 1991(a)(13).
For the purposes of this definition, cities and towns are
incorporated population centers with definite boundaries, local self-
government, and legal powers set forth in a charter granted by the
State.
State--Includes each of the 50 States, the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico, the Virgin Islands of the United States, Guam, American Samoa,
the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and, as may be
determined by the Secretary to be feasible, appropriate and lawful, the
Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands,
and the Republic of Palau.

B. Federal Award Information

Type of Award: Competitive Grant.
Total Funding: $6,112,667.
Maximum Award: $1,000,000.
Minimum Award: $50,000.
Project Period: Up to 24 months.
Anticipated Award Date: September 30, 2020.

C. Eligibility Information

Applicants must meet all the following eligibility requirements.
Your application will not be considered for funding if it does not
provide sufficient information to determine eligibility or is missing
required elements. Applicants that fail to submit the required elements
by the application deadline will be deemed ineligible and will not be
evaluated further. Information submitted after the application deadline
will not be accepted.

1. Eligible Applicants

Grants funded through DHCS may be made to a Consortium as defined
in Paragraph A of this Notice. One member of the Consortium must be
designated as the lead entity by the other members of the Consortium
and have legal authority to contract with the Federal Government.
The lead entity is the recipient (see 2 CFR 200.86) of the DHCS
grant funds and accountable for monitoring and reporting on the Project
performance and financial management of the grant. It is expected that
the recipient will make subawards in the form of a grant, cooperative
agreement, or contract, as appropriate, to the other members of the
Consortium. If a grant or cooperative agreement is awarded, the
organization receiving the subaward is a subrecipient (see 2 CFR
200.93), and the recipient is responsible for complying with all
applicable requirements of 2 CFR part 200, including provisions for
making and monitoring an award. If a contract is awarded, the
organization receiving the subaward is a contractor, and the recipient
is responsible for following its written procurement procedures and
complying with the Federal Acquisition Regulation. Both subrecipients
and contractors are required to comply with all applicable laws and
regulations, including performance and financial reporting, as
described in their award document.
(a) An applicant is ineligible if they do not submit ``Evidence of
Eligibility'' and ``Consortium Agreements'' as described in Section
D.2. of this Notice.
(b) An applicant is ineligible if they have been debarred or
suspended or otherwise excluded from or ineligible for participation in
Federal assistance programs under Executive Order 12549, ``Debarment
and Suspension.'' The Agency will check the System for Award Management
(SAM) to determine if the applicant has been debarred or suspended. In
addition, an applicant will be considered ineligible for a grant due to
an outstanding judgment obtained by the U.S. in a Federal Court (other
than U.S. Tax Court), is delinquent on the payment of Federal income
taxes, or is delinquent on Federal debt. The applicant must certify as
part of the application that they do not have an outstanding judgment
against them. The Agency will check the DO NOT PAY System to verify
this information.
(c) Any corporation (i) that has been convicted of a felony
criminal violation under any Federal law within the past 24 months or
(ii) that has any unpaid Federal tax liability that has been assessed,
for which all judicial and administrative remedies have been exhausted
or have lapsed, and that is not being paid in a timely manner pursuant
to an agreement with the authority responsible for collecting the tax
liability, is not eligible for financial assistance provided with funds
appropriated by the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (Pub.
L. 116-94), unless a Federal agency has considered suspension or
debarment of the corporation and has made a determination that this
further action is not necessary to protect the interests of the
Government.
(d) Applications will be deemed ineligible if the application
includes any funding restrictions identified under Section D.6.
(e) Applications will be deemed ineligible if the application is
not complete in accordance with the requirements stated in Section C.3.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

Matching funds are not required. However, if you are adding any
other contributions to the proposed Project, you must provide
documentation indicating who will be providing the matching funds, the
amount of funds, when those funds will be provided, and how the funds
will be used in the Project budget. Examples of acceptable
documentation include: A signed letter from the source of funds stating
the amount of funds, when the funds will be provided, and what the
funds can be used for or a signed resolution from your governing board
authorizing the use of a specified amount of funds for specific
components of the Project. The matching funds you identify must be for
eligible purposes and included in your work plan and budget.
Additionally, expected program income may not be used as matching funds
at the time you submit your application. If you choose, you may use a
template to summarize the matching funds. The template is available
either from your State Office or the program website at: http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/delta-health-care-services-grants.

3. Other Eligibility Requirements

(a) Use of Funds. Your application must propose to use Project
Funds for eligible purposes. Eligible Project purposes include the
development of:
Health care services;
health education programs;
health care job training programs; and
the development and expansion of public health-related
facilities in the Delta Region.
(b) Project Eligibility. The proposed Project must take place
within the Delta Region as defined in this Notice. However, the
applicant need not propose to serve the entire Delta Region.
(c) Project Input. Your proposed Project must be developed based on
input from local governments, public health care providers, and other
entities in the Delta Region.
(d) Grant Period Eligibility. All awards are limited to up to a 24-
month grant period based upon the complexity of the Project. Your
proposed grant period should begin no earlier than October 1, 2020 and
should end no later than 24 months following that date. If you receive
an award, your grant period will be revised to begin on the actual date
of award--the date the grant agreement is executed by the Agency--and
your grant period end date will be adjusted accordingly. Your Project
activities must begin within 90 days of the date of award. If you
request funds for a time

[[Page 41527]]

period beginning before October 1, 2020, and/or ending later than 24
months from that date, your application will be ineligible. The length
of your grant period should be based on your Project's complexity, as
indicated in your application work plan. The Agency understands that
fiscal year 2018 and fiscal year 2019 recipients may have had loss of
operations due to COVID-19 and will work with them to determine an
acceptable grant period if they are awarded in fiscal year 2020 in
accordance with OMB Memoranda M-20-11, M-20-26 and 2 CFR 200.308.
(e) Multiple Application Eligibility. The Consortium, including its
members, is limited to submitting one application for funding under
this Notice. We will not accept applications from Consortiums that
include members who are also members of other Consortiums that have
submitted applications for funding under this Notice. If we discover
that a Consortium member is a member of multiple Consortiums with
applications submitted for funding under this Notice, all applications
will be considered ineligible for funding.
(f) Satisfactory Performance Eligibility. If you have an existing
DHCS award, you must be performing satisfactorily to be considered
eligible for a new DHCS award. Satisfactory performance includes being
up to date on all financial and performance reports as prescribed in
the grant award, and current on tasks and timeframes for utilizing
grant and matching funds as approved in the work plan and budget. If
you have any unspent grant funds on DHCS awards prior to FY 2017, your
application will not be considered for funding. If your FY 2018 or FY
2019 award has unspent funds of 50 percent or more than what your
approved work plan and budget projected at the time your FY 2020
application is evaluated, your application may not be considered for
funding. The Agency will verify the performance status of FY 2018 and
2019 awards and make a determination after the FY 2020 application
period closes. The Agency understands that fiscal year 2019 recipients
may have had a loss of operations due to COVID-19 and will consider
providing flexibility in terms of fund utilization on FY 19 awards with
acceptable justification of delays resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic
in accordance with OMB Memorandum M-20-26 and 2 CFR 200.343.
(g) Completeness Eligibility. Your application must provide all the
information requested in Section D.2. of this Notice. Applications
lacking sufficient information to determine eligibility and scoring
will be deemed ineligible and will not be considered for scoring.
(h) Indirect Costs. Your negotiated indirect cost rate approval
does not need to be included in your application, but you will be
required to provide it if a grant is awarded. Approval for indirect
costs that are requested in an application without an approved indirect
cost rate agreement is at the discretion of the Agency.

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Address To Request Application Package

The application template for this funding opportunity is located at
http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/delta-health-care-services-grants. Use of the application template is strongly recommended to
assist you with the application process. You may also contact your
State Office for more information. Contact information for State
Offices is located at http://www.rd.usda.gov/contact-us/state-offices.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

You must submit your application electronically through Grants.gov.
Your application must contain all required information.
To apply electronically, you must follow the instructions for this
funding announcement at http://www.grants.gov. Please note that we
cannot accept applications through mail, courier delivery, in-person
delivery, email or fax.
You can locate the Grants.gov downloadable application package for
this program by using a keyword, the program name, or the CFDA number
for this program.
When you enter the Grants.gov website, you will find information
about applying electronically through the site, as well as the hours of
operation.
To use Grants.gov, you must already have a DUNS number and you must
also be registered and maintain registration in SAM. We strongly
recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline date to
begin the application process through Grants.gov.
You must submit all application documents electronically through
Grants.gov. Applications must include electronic signatures. Original
signatures may be required if funds are awarded.
After applying electronically through Grants.gov, you will receive
an automatic acknowledgement from Grants.gov that contains a Grants.gov
tracking number.
The organization submitting the application will be considered the
lead entity. The Contact/Program Manager must be associated with the
lead entity submitting the application.
Your application must also contain the following required forms and
proposal elements:
(a) Form SF-424, ``Application for Federal Assistance.'' The
application for Federal assistance must be completed by the lead entity
as described in Section C.1. of this Notice. Your application must
include your DUNS number and SAM Commercial and Government Entity
(CAGE) code and expiration date (or evidence that you have begun the
SAM registration process). Because there are no specific fields for a
CAGE code and expiration date, you may identify them anywhere you want
to on the form. If you do not include the CAGE code and expiration date
and the DUNS number in your application, it will not be considered for
funding. The form must be signed by an authorized representative. In
accordance with OMB Memoranda M-20-11 and M-20-26, the Agency can
accept an application without an active SAM registration. However, the
registration must be completed before an award is made. Current
registrants in SAM with active registrations expiring before May 16,
2020 will be afforded a one-time extension of 60 days.
(b) Form SF-424A, ``Budget Information--Non-Construction
Programs.'' This form must be completed and submitted as part of the
application package. You no longer must complete the Form SF 424B,
``Assurances--Non-Construction Programs'' as a part of your
application. This information is now collected through your
registration or annual recertification in SAM.gov through the Financial
Assistance General Certifications and Representation.
(c) Form SF-424C, ``Budget Information--Construction Programs.''
This form must be completed, signed, and submitted as part of the
application package for construction Projects. You no longer must
complete the Form SF 424D, ``Assurances--Construction Programs'' as a
part of your application. This information is now collected through
your registration or annual recertification in SAM.gov.
(d) Executive Summary. A summary of the proposal, not to exceed one
page, briefly describing the Project, tasks to be completed, and other
relevant information that provides a general overview of the Project
must be provided.
(e) Evidence of Eligibility. Evidence of the Consortium's
eligibility to apply

[[Page 41528]]

under this Notice must be provided. This section must include a
detailed summary demonstrating how each Consortium member meets the
definition of an eligible entity as defined under Definitions of this
Notice.
(f) Consortium Agreements. The application must include a formal
written agreement with each Consortium member that addresses the
negotiated arrangements for administering the Project to meet Project
goals, the Consortium member's responsibilities to comply with
administrative, financial, and reporting requirements of the grant,
including those necessary to ensure compliance with all applicable
Federal regulations and policies, and facilitate a smooth functioning
collaborative venture. Under the agreement, each Consortium member must
perform a substantive role in the Project and not merely serve as a
conduit of funds to another party or parties. This agreement must be
signed by an authorized representative of the lead entity and an
authorized representative of each partnering consortium entity.
(g) Scoring Criteria. Each of the scoring criteria in this Notice
must be addressed in narrative form. Failure to address each scoring
criterion will result in the application being determined ineligible.
(h) Performance Measures. The Agency has established annual
performance measures to evaluate the DHCS program. Estimates on the
following performance measures, as part of your application, must be
provided:
Number of businesses assisted;
Number of jobs created;
Number of jobs saved;
Number of individuals assisted/trained.
It is permissible to have a zero in a performance element. When
calculating jobs created, estimates should be based upon actual jobs to
be created by your organization as a result of the DHCS funding or
actual jobs to be created by businesses as a result of assistance from
your organization. When calculating jobs saved, estimates should be
based only on actual jobs that would have been lost if your
organization did not receive DHCS funding or actual jobs that would
have been lost without assistance from your organization.
You can also suggest additional performance elements for example
where job creation or jobs saved may not be a relevant indicator. These
additional elements should be specific, measurable performance elements
that could be included in an award document.
(i) Financial Information and Sustainability. Current financial
statements and a narrative description demonstrating sustainability of
the Project, all of which show sufficient resources and expertise to
undertake and complete the Project and how the Project will be
sustained following completion must be provided. Applicants must
provide three years of pro-forma financial statements for the Project.
(j) Evidence of Legal Authority and Existence. The lead entity must
provide evidence of its legal existence and authority to enter into a
grant agreement with the Agency and perform the activities proposed
under the grant application.
(k) Service Area Maps. Maps with sufficient detail to show the area
that will benefit from the proposed facilities and services and the
location of the facilities improved or purchased with grant funds, if
applicable, must be provided.
(l) You must certify that there are no current outstanding Federal
judgments against your property and that you will not use grant funds
to pay for any judgment obtained by the United States. You must also
certify that you are not delinquent on the payment of Federal income
taxes, or any Federal debt. To satisfy the Certification requirement,
you should include this statement in your application: ``[INSERT NAME
OF APPLICANT] certifies that the United States has not obtained an
unsatisfied judgment against its property, is not delinquent on the
payment of Federal income taxes, or any Federal debt, and will not use
grant funds to pay any judgments obtained by the United States.'' A
separate signature is not required.
(m) Environmental information necessary to support the Agency's
environmental finding. Required information can be found in 7 CFR part
1970, specifically in subpart B, Exhibit C, and subpart C, Exhibit B.
These documents can be found here: http://www.rd.usda.gov/publications/regulations-guidelines/instructions. Non-construction Projects applying
under this Notice are hereby classified as Categorical Exclusions
according to 7 CFR 1970.53(b), the award of financial assistance for
planning purposes, management and feasibility studies, or environmental
impact analyses, which do not require any additional documentation.

3. DUNS Number and SAM Registration

To be eligible (unless you are exempted under 2 CFR 25.110(b), (c)
or (d)), you are required to:
(a) Provide a valid DUNS number in your application, which can be
obtained at no cost via a toll-free request line at (866) 705-5711;
(b) Register in SAM before submitting your application. You may
register in SAM at no cost at https://www.sam.gov/SAM/. You must
provide your SAM CAGE Code and expiration date. When registering in
SAM, you must indicate you are applying for a Federal financial
assistance project or program or are currently the recipient of funding
under any Federal financial assistance project or program; and
(c) The SAM registration must remain active with current
information at all times while the Agency is considering an application
or while a Federal grant award or loan is active. To maintain the
registration in the SAM database the applicant must review and update
the information in the SAM database annually from date of initial
registration or from the date of the last update. The applicant must
ensure that the information in the database is current, accurate, and
complete. Applicants must ensure they complete the Financial Assistance
General Certifications and Representations in SAM.
If you have not fully complied with all applicable DUNS
and SAM requirements, the Agency may determine that the applicant is
not qualified to receive a Federal award and the Agency may use that
determination as a basis for making an award to another applicant.
Please refer to Section F.2 for additional submission requirements that
apply to grantees selected for this program. In accordance with OMB
Memoranda M-20-11 and M-20-26, the Agency can accept an application
without an active SAM registration. However, the registration must be
completed before an award is made. Current registrants in SAM with
active registrations expiring before May 16, 2020 will be afforded a
one-time extension of 60 days.

4. Submission Date and Time

Application Deadline Date. August 24, 2020.
Explanation of Deadline: Electronic applications must be received
by http://www.grants.gov by midnight Eastern Standard Time August 24,
2020, to be eligible for funding. Please review the Grants.gov website
at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html for instructions on the process of registering your
organization as soon as possible to ensure you can meet the electronic
application deadline. Grants.gov will

[[Page 41529]]

not accept applications submitted after the deadline.

5. Intergovernmental Review

Executive Order (E.O.) 12372, Intergovernmental Review of Federal
Programs, applies to this program. This E.O. requires that Federal
agencies provide opportunities for consultation on proposed assistance
with State and local governments. Many States have established a Single
Point of Contact (SPOC) to facilitate this consultation. For a list of
States that maintain a SPOC, please see the White House website:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/SPOC-Feb.-2018.pdf. If your State has a SPOC, you may submit your application
directly for review. Any comments obtained through the SPOC must be
provided to your State Office for consideration as part of your
application. If your State has not established a SPOC or you do not
want to submit your application to the SPOC, your State Office will
submit your application to the SPOC or other appropriate agency or
agencies.
You are also encouraged to contact Honie Turner, Program Management
Division at 202-720-1400 or CPgrants@usda.gov if you have questions
about this process.

6. Funding Restrictions

Project Funds may not be used for ineligible purposes. In addition,
you may not use Project Funds for the following:
(a) To duplicate current services or to replace or to substitute
support previously provided. However, Project Funds may be used to
expand the level of effort or a service beyond what is currently being
provided;
(b) To pay for costs to prepare the application for funding under
this Notice;
(c) To pay for costs of the Project incurred prior to the effective
date of the period of performance;
(d) To pay expenses for applicant employee training not directly
related to the Project;
(e) Fund political activities;
(f) To pay for assistance to any private business enterprise which
does not have at least 51 percent ownership by those who are either
citizens of the United States or reside in the United States after
being legally admitted for permanent residence;
(g) To pay any judgment or debt owed to the United States;
(h) Engage in any activities that are considered a Conflict of
Interest, as defined by this Notice; or
(i) Fund any activities prohibited by 2 CFR part 200;
In addition, your application will not be considered for funding if
it does any of the following:
i. Requests more than the maximum grant amount: or
ii. Proposes ineligible costs that equal more than 10 percent of
the Project Funds.
We will consider your application for funding if it includes
ineligible costs of 10 percent or less of total Project Funds, if it is
determined eligible otherwise. However, if your application is
successful, those ineligible costs must be removed and replaced with
eligible costs before the Agency will make the grant award or the
amount of the grant award will be reduced accordingly. If we cannot
determine the percentage of ineligible costs, your application will not
be considered for funding.

7. Other Submission Requirements

(a) Applications will not be accepted if the text is less than 11-
point font. You must submit your application electronically, through
Grants.gov. You can find State Office contact information at: http://www.rd.usda.gov/contact-us/state-offices. You must follow the
instructions for this funding announcement at http://www.grants.gov. A
password is not required to access the website.
(b) National Environmental Policy Act. This Notice has been
reviewed in accordance with 7 CFR part 1970, ``Environmental Policies
and Procedures.'' We have determined that an Environmental Impact
Statement is not required because the issuance of regulations and
instructions, as well as amendments to them, describing administrative
and financial procedures for processing, approving, and implementing
the Agency's financial programs is categorically excluded in the
Agency's National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulation found at 7
CFR 1970.53(f). We have determined that this Notice does not constitute
a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human
environment.
The Agency will review each grant application to determine its
compliance with 7 CFR part 1970. The applicant may be asked to provide
additional information or documentation to assist the Agency with this
determination.
(c) Civil Rights Compliance Requirements. All grants made under
this Notice are subject to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as
required by the USDA (7 CFR part 15, subpart A) and Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

E. Application Review Information

1. Scoring Criteria

All eligible and complete applications will be evaluated based on
the following criteria. Evaluators will base scores only on the
information provided or cross-referenced by page number in each
individual scoring criterion. DHCS is a competitive program, so you
will receive scores based on the quality of your responses. Simply
addressing the criteria will not guarantee higher scores. The total
points possible for the criteria are 110. The minimum score requirement
for funding is 60 points. It is at the Agency's discretion to fund
applications with a score of 59 points or less if it is in the best
interest of the Federal Government.
(a) Community Needs and Benefits Derived from the Project (maximum
of 30 points). A panel of USDA employees will assess how the Project
will benefit the residents in the Delta Region. This criterion will be
scored based on the documentation in support of the community needs for
health services and public health-related facilities and the benefits
to people living in the Delta Region derived from the implementation of
the proposed Project. It should lead clearly to the identification of
the Project participant pool and the target population for the Project
and provide convincing links between the Project and the benefits to
the community to address its health needs. You must discuss the:
(1) Health care needs/issues/challenges facing the service area and
explain how the identified needs/issues/challenges were determined.
Discussion should also identify problems faced by the residents in the
region.
(2) Proposed assistance to be provided to the service area and how
the Project will benefit the residents in the region.
(3) Implementation plan for the Project and provide milestones
which are well-defined and can be realistically completed.
(4) Expected outcomes of the proposed Project and how they will be

[[Page 41530]]

tracked and monitored. You should attempt to quantify benefits in terms
of outcomes from the Project; that is, ways in which peoples' lives, or
the community, will be improved. Provide estimates of the number of
people affected by the benefits arising from the Project.
(b) The Project Management and Organization Capability (maximum of
30 points). A panel of USDA employees will evaluate the Consortium's
experience, past performance, and accomplishments addressing health
care issues to ensure effective Project implementation. This criterion
will be scored based on the documentation of the Project's management
and organizational capability. You must discuss:
(1) Your organization's management and fiscal structure including
well-defined roles for administrators, staff, and established financial
management systems.
(2) Relevant qualifications, capabilities, and educational
background of the identified key personnel (at a minimum the Project
Manager) who will manage and implement programs.
(3) Your organization's current successful and effective experience
(or demonstrated experience within the past five years) addressing the
health care issues in the Delta Region.
(4) Your organization's experience managing grant-funded programs.
(5) The extent to which administrative/management costs are
balanced with funds designated for the provision of programs and
services.
(6) The extent and diversity of eligible entity types within the
applicant's Consortium of regional institutions of higher education,
academic health and research institutes, and economic development
entities located in the Delta Region.
(c) Work Plan and Budget (maximum of 30 points). You must provide a
work plan and budget that includes the following: (1) The specific
activities, such as programs, services, trainings, and/or construction-
related activities for a facility to be performed under the Project;
(2) the estimated line item costs associated with each activity,
including grant funds and other necessary sources of funds; (3) the key
personnel who will carry out each activity (including each Consortium
member's role); and (4) the specific time frames for completion of each
activity.
An eligible start and end date for the Project and for individual
Project tasks must be clearly shown and may not exceed Agency specified
timeframes for the grant period. You must show the source and use of
both grant and other contributions for all tasks. Other contributions
must be spent at a rate equal to, or in advance of, grant funds.
A panel of USDA employees will evaluate your work plan for detailed
actions and an accompanying timetable for implementing the proposal.
Clear and comprehensive work plans detailing all project goals, tasks,
timelines, costs, and responsible personnel in a logical and realistic
manner will result in a higher score.
(d) Local Support (maximum 10 points). A panel of USDA employees
will evaluate your application for local support of the proposed
Project. The application must include documentation detailing support
solicited from local government, public health care providers, and
other entities in the Delta Region. Evidence of support can include;
but is not limited to surveys conducted amongst Delta Region residents
and stakeholders, notes from focus groups, or letters of support from
local entities.
(e) Administrator Discretionary Points (maximum of 10 points). The
Administrator may choose to award:
i. Up to 5 points for projects with a primary purpose of providing
treatment and counseling services for opioid abuse. Applicants who want
to be considered for discretionary points must discuss how their
workplan and budget addresses opioid misuse in the Delta Region; and
ii. up to 5 points for projects that seek to help rural communities
build robust and sustainable economies through strategic investment in
infrastructure, partnerships and innovation. Eligible applicants who
want to be considered for discretionary points must discuss how their
workplan and budget supports one or more of the five following key
strategies:
Achieving e-Connectivity for Rural America;
Improving Quality of Life;
Supporting a Rural Workforce;
Harnessing Technological Innovation; and
Economic Development.

2. Review and Selection Process

The State Offices will review applications to determine if they are
eligible for assistance based on requirements in this Notice, and other
applicable Federal regulations. If determined eligible, your
application will be scored by a panel of USDA employees in accordance
with the point allocation specified in this Notice. The review panel
will convene to reach a consensus on the scores for each of the
eligible applications. The Administrator may choose to award up to 10
Administrator discretionary points based on criterion (e) in section
E.1. of this Notice. These points will be added to the cumulative score
for a total possible score of 110. Applications will be funded in
highest ranking order until the funding limitation has been reached.
Applications that cannot be fully funded may be offered partial funding
at the Agency's discretion. If your application is ranked and not
funded, it will not be carried forward into the next competition.

F. Federal Award Administration Information

1. Federal Award Notices

If you are selected for funding, you will receive a signed notice
of Federal award by postal or electronic mail, containing instructions
on requirements necessary to proceed with execution and performance of
the award.
If you are not selected for funding, you will be notified in
writing via postal or electronic mail and informed of any review and
appeal rights. Funding of successfully appealed applications will be
limited to available FY 2020 funding.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

Additional requirements that apply to grantees selected for this in
program can be found in 2 CFR parts 25, 170, 180, 200, 400, 415, 417,
418, and 421; and 48 CFR 31.2, and successor regulations to these
parts. All recipients of Federal financial assistance are required to
report information about first tier subawards and executive
compensation (see 2 CFR part 170). You will be required to have the
necessary processes and systems in place to comply with the Federal
Funding Accountability and Transparency Act reporting requirements (see
2 CFR 170.200(b), unless you are exempt under 2 CFR 170.110(b)). These
regulations may be obtained at https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/ECFR?page=browse.
The following additional requirements apply to grantees selected
for this program:
Execution of an Agency approved Grant Agreement.
Acceptance of a written Letter of Conditions.
Submission of Form RD 1940-1, ``Request for Obligation of
Funds.''
Submission of Form RD 1942-46, ``Letter of Intent to Meet
Conditions.''
RD Instruction 1940-Q, Exhibit A-1, ``Certification for
Contracts, Grants and Loans.''
SF-LLL, ``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities'' if
applicable.

[[Page 41531]]

You no longer must complete the following five forms for acceptance
of a Federal award. This information is now collected through your
registration or annual recertification in SAM.gov in the Financial
Assistance General Certifications and Representations section:
Form AD-1047, ``Certification Regarding Debarment,
Suspension, and Other Responsibility Matters-Primary Covered
Transactions.''
Form AD-1048, ``Certification Regarding Debarment,
Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion-Lower Tier Covered
Transactions.''
Form AD-1049, ``Certification Regarding a Drug-Free
Workplace Requirement (Grants).''
Form AD-3031, ``Assurance Regarding Felony Conviction or
Tax Delinquent Status for Corporate Applicants.'' Must be signed by
corporate applicants who receive an award under this Notice.
Form RD 400-4 ``Assurance Statement.''

3. Reporting

After grant approval and through grant completion, you will be
required to provide the following:
a. A SF-425, ``Federal Financial Report,'' and a project
performance report will be required on a semiannual basis (due 30
working days after end of the semiannual period). For the purposes of
this grant, semiannual periods end on June 30th and December 31st. The
project performance reports shall include a comparison of actual
accomplishments to the objectives established for that period;
b. Reasons why established objectives were not met, if applicable;
c. Reasons for any problems, delays, or adverse conditions, if any,
which have affected or will affect attainment of overall project
objectives, prevent meeting time schedules or objectives, or preclude
the attainment of particular objectives during established time
periods. This disclosure shall be accompanied by a statement of the
action taken or planned to resolve the situation; and
d. Objectives and timetable established for the next reporting
period.
e. Provide a final project and financial status report within 90
days after the expiration or termination of the grant.
f. Provide outcome project performance reports and final
deliverables.

G. Agency Contacts

For general questions about this announcement and for program
Technical Assistance, please contact the appropriate State Office at
http://www.rd.usda.gov/contact-us/state-offices. You may also contact
Honie Turner, Program Management Division, Direct Programs Branch,
Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA at (202) 720-1400 or email
CPgrants@usda.gov. You are also encouraged to visit the application
website for application tools, including an application template. The
website address is: http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/delta-health-care-services-grants.

H. Other Information

Non-Discrimination Statement

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its
Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or
administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on
race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including
gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital
status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance
program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil
rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA
(not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing
deadlines vary by program or incident.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of
communication for program information (e.g., braille, large print,
audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible
Agency or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or
contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
Additionally, program information may be made available in languages
other than English.
To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA
Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office or
write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all the
information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint
form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA
by:
(1) Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC
20250-9410;
(2) Fax: (202) 690-7442; or
(3) Email: program.intake@usda.gov.

Mark Brodziski,
Acting Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-14849 Filed 7-9-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XY-P