80 FR 81279 - Notice of Solicitation of Applications for the Section 533 Housing Preservation Grants for Fiscal Year 2016
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Housing Service Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 249 (December 29, 2015)
Rural Housing Service
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 249 (December 29, 2015)
| Page Range | 81279-81292 | |
| FR Document | 2015-32784 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 249 (Tuesday, December 29, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 81279-81292] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-32784] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Rural Housing Service Notice of Solicitation of Applications for the Section 533 Housing Preservation Grants for Fiscal Year 2016 ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Rural Housing Service (RHS), an Agency within Rural Development, announces that it is soliciting competitive applications under its Housing Preservation Grant (HPG) program. This action is taken to comply with Agency regulations found in 7 CFR part 1944, subpart N, which requires the Agency to announce the opening and closing dates for receipt of pre-applications for HPG funds from eligible applicants. DATES: The closing deadline for receipt of all pre-applications in response to this Notice is 5:00 p.m., local time for each Rural Development State Office on February 12, 2016. Rural Development State Office locations can be found at: http://www.rd.usda.gov/contact-us/state-offices. The application should be submitted to the Rural Development State Office where the project will be located. If submitting the pre-application in electronic format, the closing deadline for receipt is 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on February 12, 2016. The application closing deadline [[Page 81280]] is firm as to date and hour. RHS will not consider any application that is received after the closing deadline. Applicants intending to mail applications must provide sufficient time to permit delivery on or before the closing deadline date and time. Acceptance by the United States Postal Service or private mailer does not constitute delivery. Facsimile (FAX) and postage due applications will not be accepted. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information, applicants may contact Jeaneane Shelton, Finance and Loan Analyst, Multi-Family Housing Preservation and Direct Loan Division, USDA Rural Development, STOP 0781, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-0781, telephone (202) 720-5443 (voice) (this is not a toll free number) or (800) 877-8339 (TDD-Federal Information Relay Service) or via email at, jeaneane.shelton@wdc.usda.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Overview Federal Agency Name: USDA Rural Housing Service. Funding Opportunity Title: Housing Preservation Grants. Announcement Type: Notice. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 10.433. Dates: February 12, 2016. Paperwork Reduction Act The reporting requirements contained in this Notice have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget under Control Number 0575-0115. A. Program Description The HPG program is a grant program, authorized under 42 U.S.C. 1490m and implemented at 7 CFR part 1944, subpart N, which provides qualified public agencies, private non-profit organizations including, but not limited to, faith-based and neighborhood partnerships, and other eligible entities, grant funds to assist low- and very low-income homeowners in repairing and rehabilitating their homes in rural areas. In addition, the HPG program assists rental property owners and cooperative housing complexes in rural areas in repairing and rehabilitating their units if they agree to make such units available to low- and very low-income persons. B. Federal Award Information The funding instrument for the HPG program will be a grant agreement. The term of the grant can vary from 1 to 2 years, depending on available funds and demand. No maximum or minimum grant levels have been established at the National level. In accordance with 7 CFR 1944.652, coordination and leveraging of funding for repair and rehabilitation activities with housing and community development organizations or activities operating in the same geographic area are expected, but not required. You should contact the Rural Development State Office to determine the allocation. HPG applicants who were previously selected for HPG funds are eligible to submit new applications to apply for Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 HPG program funds. New HPG applications must be submitted for the renewal or supplementation of existing HPG repair and/or rehabilitation projects that will be completed with FY 2016 HPG funds. For FY 2016, the amount of funding available for the HPG Program can be found at the following link: http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/housing-preservation-grants. Priorities such as Rural Economic Area Partnership Zones and other funds will be distributed under a formula allocation to states pursuant to 7 CFR part 1940, subpart L, ``Methodology and Formulas for Allocation of Loan and Grant Program Funds.'' Decisions on funding will be based on pre-application scores. Anyone interested in submitting an application for funding under this program is encouraged to consult the Rural Development Web site periodically for updated information regarding the status of funding authorized for this program. The commitment of program dollars will be made to selected applicants that have fulfilled the necessary requirements for obligation. C. Eligibility Information 1. Eligible Applicants. Eligible entities for these competitively awarded grants include state and local governments, non-profit corporations, which may include, but not be limited to faith-based and community organizations, Federally recognized Indian tribes, and consortia of eligible entities. HPG applicants who were previously selected for HPG funds are eligible to submit new applications to apply for FY 2016 HPG program funds. More eligibility requirements can be found at 7 CFR 1944.658, 1944.661, and 1944.662. 2. Cost Sharing or Matching. Pursuant to 7 CFR 1944.652, grantees are expected to coordinate and leverage funding for repair and rehabilitation activities, as well as replacement housing, with housing and community development organizations or activities operating in the same geographic area. While HPG funds may be leveraged with other resources, cost sharing or matching is not a requirement that the HPG applicant do so as the HPG applicant would not be denied an award of HPG funds if all other project selection criteria have been met. 3. Other. Awards made under this Notice are subject to the provisions contained in the Consolidated and Further Appropriations Act 2015, Pub.L. 113-235, sections 738 and 739 regarding corporate felony convictions and corporate Federal tax delinquencies. To comply with these provisions, only selected applicants that are or propose to be corporations will submit this form as part of their pre-application. Form AD-3030 can be found here: http://www.ocio.usda.gov/document/ad3030. D. Application and Submission Information 1. Address to Request Application Package: Applicants wishing to submit a paper application in response to this Notice must contact the Rural Development State Office serving the State of the proposed HPG housing project in order to receive further information and copies of the paper application package. You may find the addresses and contact information for each State Office following this web link, http://www.rd.usda.gov/contact-us/state-offices. Rural Development will date and time stamp incoming paper applications to evidence timely receipt and, upon request, will provide the applicant with a written acknowledgment of receipt. You may access the electronic grant pre- application for Housing Preservation Grants at: http://www.grants.gov. 2. Content and Form of Application: 7 CFR part 1944, subpart N provides details on what information must be contained in the pre- application package. Entities wishing to apply for assistance should contact the Rural Development State Office to receive further information, the State allocation of funds, and copies of the pre- application package. Unless otherwise noted, applicants wishing to apply for assistance must make its statement of activities available to the public for comment. The applicant(s) must announce the availability of its statement of activities for review in a newspaper of general circulation in the project area and allow at least 15 days for public comment. The start of this 15-day period must occur no later than 16 days prior to the last day for acceptance of pre-applications by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)-Rural Development. Federally recognized Indian tribes, pursuant to 7 CFR 1944.674, are exempt from the [[Page 81281]] requirement to consult with local leaders including announcing the availability of its statement of activities for review in a newspaper. All applicants will file an original and two copies of Standard Form (SF) 424, ``Application for Federal Assistance,'' and supporting information with the appropriate Rural Development State Office. A pre- application package, including SF-424, is available in any Rural Development State Office. All pre-applications shall be accompanied by the following information which Rural Development will use to determine the applicant's eligibility to undertake the HPG program and to evaluate the pre-application under the project selection criteria of 7 CFR 1944.679. (a) A statement of activities proposed by the applicant for its HPG program as appropriate to the type of assistance the applicant is proposing, including: (1) A complete discussion of the type of and conditions for financial assistance for housing preservation, including whether the request for assistance is for a homeowner assistance program, a rental property assistance program, or a cooperative assistance program; (2) The process for selecting recipients for HPG assistance, determining housing preservation needs of the dwelling, performing the necessary work, and monitoring/inspecting work performed; (3) A description of the process for identifying potential environmental impacts in accordance with 7 CFR 1944.672 and the provisions for compliance with Stipulation I, A-G of the Programmatic Memorandum of Agreement, also known as PMOA, (RD Instruction 2000-FF, available in any Rural Development State Office) in accordance with 7 CFR 1944.673(b); (4) The development standard(s) the applicant will use for the housing preservation work; and, if not the Rural Development standards for existing dwellings, the evidence of its acceptance by the jurisdiction where the grant will be implemented; (5) The time schedule for completing the program; (6) The staffing required to complete the program; (7) The estimated number of very low- and low-income minority and nonminority persons the grantee will assist with HPG funds; and, if a rental property or cooperative assistance program, the number of units and the term of restrictive covenants on their use for very low- and low-income; (8) The geographical area(s) to be served by the HPG program; (9) The annual estimated budget for the program period based on the financial needs to accomplish the objectives outlined in the proposal. The budget should include proposed direct and indirect administrative costs, such as personnel, fringe benefits, travel, equipment, supplies, contracts, and other cost categories, detailing those costs for which the grantee proposes to use the HPG grant separately from non-HPG resources, if any. The applicant budget should also include a schedule (with amounts) of how the applicant proposes to draw HPG grant funds, i.e., monthly, quarterly, lump sum for program activities, etc.; (10) A copy of an indirect cost proposal when the applicant has another source of Federal funding in addition to the Rural Development HPG program; (11) A brief description of the accounting system to be used; (12) The method of evaluation to be used by the applicant to determine the effectiveness of its program which encompasses the requirements for quarterly reports to Rural Development in accordance with 7 CFR 1944.683(b) and the monitoring plan for rental properties and cooperatives (when applicable) according to 7 CFR 1944.689; (13) The source and estimated amount of other financial resources to be obtained and used by the applicant for both HPG activities and housing development and/or supporting activities; (14) The use of program income, if any, and the tracking system used for monitoring same; (15) The applicant's plan for disposition of any security instruments held by them as a result of its HPG activities in the event of its loss of legal status; (16) Any other information necessary to explain the proposed HPG program; and (17) The outreach efforts outlined in 7 CFR 1944.671(b). (b) Complete information about the applicant's experience and capacity to carry out the objectives of the proposed HPG program. (c) Evidence of the applicant's legal existence, including, in the case of a private non-profit organization, which may include, but not be limited to, faith-based and community organizations, a copy of, or an accurate reference to, the specific provisions of State law under which the applicant is organized; a certified copy of the applicant's Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws or other evidence of corporate existence; certificate of incorporation for other than public bodies; evidence of good standing from the State when the corporation has been in existence 1 year or more; and the names and addresses of the applicant's members, directors and officers. If other organizations are members of the applicant-organization, or the applicant is a consortium, pre-applications should be accompanied by the names, addresses, and principal purpose of the other organizations. If the applicant is a consortium, documentation showing compliance with paragraph (4)(ii) under the definition of ``organization'' in 7 CFR 1944.656 must also be included. (d) For a private non-profit entity, which may include, but not be limited to, faith-based and community organizations, the most recent audited statement and a current financial statement dated and signed by an authorized officer of the entity showing the amounts and specific nature of assets and liabilities together with information on the repayment schedule and status of any debt(s) owed by the applicant. (e) A brief narrative statement which includes information about the area to be served and the need for improved housing (including both percentage and the actual number of both low-income and low-income minority households and substandard housing), the need for the type of housing preservation assistance being proposed, the anticipated use of HPG resources for historic properties, the method of evaluation to be used by the applicant in determining the effectiveness of its efforts. (f) A statement containing the component for alleviating any overcrowding as defined by 7 CFR 1944.656. (g) Applicant must submit an original and one copy of Form RD 1940- 20, ``Request for Environmental Information,'' prepared in accordance with Exhibit F-1 of RD Instruction 1944-N (available in any Rural Development State Office). (h) Applicant must also submit a description of its process for: (1) Identifying and rehabilitating properties listed on or eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places; (2) Identifying properties that are located in a floodplain or wetland; (3) Identifying properties located within the Coastal Barrier Resources System; and (4) Coordinating with other public and private organizations and programs that provide assistance in the rehabilitation of historic properties (Stipulation I, D, of the PMOA, RD [[Page 81282]] Instruction 2000-FF, available as an electronic document and in any Rural Development State Office). (i) The applicant must also submit evidence of the State Historic Preservation Office's, (SHPO), concurrence in the proposal, or in the event of non-concurrence, a copy of SHPO's comments together with evidence that the applicant has received the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's advice as to how the disagreement might be resolved, and a copy of any advice provided by the Council. (j) The applicant must submit written statements and related correspondence reflecting compliance with 7 CFR 1944.674(a) and (c) regarding consultation with local government leaders in the preparation of its program and the consultation with local and state government pursuant to the provisions of Executive Order 12372. (k) The applicant is to make its statement of activities available to the public for comment prior to submission to Rural Development pursuant to 7 CFR 1944.674(b). The application must contain a description of how the comments (if any were received) were addressed. (1) The applicant must submit an original and one copy of Form RD 400-1, ``Equal Opportunity Agreement,'' and Form RD 400-4, ``Assurance Agreement,'' in accordance with 7 CFR 1944.676. Applicants should review 7 CFR part 1944, subpart N for a comprehensive list of all application requirements. 3. Address unique entity identifier and System for Award Management (SAM). As part of the application, all applicants, except for individuals or agencies excepted under 2 CFR 25.110(d), must be: (1) Registered in the System for Award Management (SAM); (2) provide a valid unique entity identifier in its applications; and (3) maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or application. An award may not be made to the applicant until the applicant has complied with the unique entity identifier and SAM requirements. 4. Intergovernmental Review Intergovernmental Review. The HPG program is subject to the provisions of Executive Order 12372, which requires intergovernmental consultation with State and local officials. 5. Funding Restrictions. There are no limits on proposed direct and indirect costs. Expenses incurred in developing pre-applications will be at the applicant's risk. 6. Other Submission Requirements. To comply with the President's Management Agenda, the Department of Agriculture is participating as a partner in the Government-wide Grants.gov site. Housing Preservation Grants [Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance #10.433] is one of the programs included at this Web site. If you are an applicant under the Housing Preservation Grant program, you may submit your pre-application to the Agency in either electronic or paper format. Please be mindful that the pre-application deadline for electronic format differs from the deadline for paper format. The electronic format deadline will be based on Eastern Standard Time. The paper format deadline is local time for each Rural Development State Office. Users of Grants.gov will be able to download a copy of the pre- application package, complete it off line, and then upload and submit the application via the Grants.gov site. You may not email an electronic copy of a grant pre-application to USDA Rural Development; however, the Agency encourages your participation in Grants.gov. The following are useful tips and instructions on how to use the Web site:When you enter the Grants.gov 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. To use Grants.gov, applicants must have a DUNS number. You may submit all documents electronically through the Web site, including all information typically included on the Application for Rural Housing Preservation Grants, and all necessary assurances and certifications. After you electronically submit your application through the Web site, you will receive an automatic acknowledgement from Grants.gov that contains a Grants.gov tracking number. RHS may request that you provide original signatures on forms at a later date. If you experience technical difficulties on the closing date and are unable to meet the 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time) deadline, print out your application and submit it to your State Office, you must meet the closing date and local time deadline. Please note that you must locate the downloadable application package for this program by the CFDA Number or FedGrants Funding Opportunity Number, which can be found at http://www.grants.gov. In addition to the electronic pre- application at the http://www.grants.gov Web site, all applicants must complete and submit the FY 2016 pre-application package, detailed later in this Notice, for Section 533 HPG. A copy of a suggested coversheet is included with this Notice. Applicants are encouraged to submit this pre-application coversheet electronically by accessing the Web site: http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/housing-preservation-grants. Click on the Forms & Resources tab to access the ``FY 2016 Pre-application for Section 533 Housing Preservation Grants (HPG).'' Applicants are encouraged but not required, to also provide an electronic copy of all hard copy forms and documents submitted in the pre-application/application package as requested by this Notice. The forms and documents must be submitted as read-only Adobe Acrobat PDF files on an electronic media such as CDs, DVDs or USB drives. For each electronic device that you submit, you must include a Table of Contents listing all of the documents and forms on that device. The electronic medium must be submitted to the local Rural Development State Office where the project will be located. Please Note: If you receive a loan or grant award under this Notice, USDA reserves the right to post all information that is not protected by the Privacy Act submitted as part of the pre- application/application package on a public Web site with free and open access to any member of the public. E. Application Review Information 1. Criteria. All paper applications for Section 533 funds must be filed with the appropriate Rural Development State Office and all paper or electronic applications must meet the requirements of this Notice and 7 CFR part 1944, subpart N. Pre-applications determined not eligible and/or not meeting the selection criteria will be notified by the Rural Development State Office. 2. Review and Selection Process. The Rural Development State Offices will utilize the following threshold project selection criteria for applicants in accordance with 7 CFR 1944.679: (a) Providing a financially feasible program of housing preservation assistance. ``Financially feasible'' is defined as proposed assistance which will be affordable to the intended recipient or result in affordable housing for very low- and low-income persons. (b) Serving eligible rural areas with a concentration of substandard housing for households with very low- and low-income. [[Page 81283]] (c) Being an eligible applicant as defined in 7 CFR 1944.658. (d) Meeting the requirements of consultation and public comment in accordance with 7 CFR 1944.674. (e) Submitting a complete pre-application as outlined in 7 CFR 1944.676. 3. Scoring. For applicants meeting all of the requirements listed above, the Rural Development State Offices will use weighted criteria in accordance with 7 CFR part 1944, subpart N as selection for the grant recipients. Each pre-application and its accompanying statement of activities will be evaluated and, based solely on the information contained in the pre-application, the applicant's proposal will be numerically rated on each criteria within the range provided. The highest-ranking applicant(s) will be selected based on allocation of funds available to the state. (a) Points are awarded based on the percentage of very low-income persons that the applicant proposes to assist, using the following scale: (1) More than 80%........................ 20 points. (2) 61% to 80%........................... 15 points. (3) 41% to 60%........................... 10 points. (4) 20% to 40%........................... 5 points. (5) Less than 20%........................ 0 points. (b) The applicant's proposal may be expected to result in the following percentage of HPG fund use (excluding administrative costs) to total cost of unit preservation. This percentage reflects maximum repair or rehabilitation with the least possible HPG funds due to leveraging, innovative financial assistance, owner's contribution or other specified approaches. Points are awarded based on the following percentage of HPG funds (excluding administrative costs) to total funds: (1) 50% or less.......................... 20 points. (2) 51% to 65%........................... 15 points. (3) 66% to 80%........................... 10 points. (4) 81% to 95%........................... 5 points. (5) 96% to 100%.......................... 0 points. (c) The applicant has demonstrated its administrative capacity in assisting very low- and low-income persons to obtain adequate housing based on the following: (1) The organization or a member of its staff has at least one or more years experience successfully managing and operating a rehabilitation or weatherization type program: 10 points. (2) The organization or a member of its staff has at least one or more years experience successfully managing and operating a program assisting very low- and low-income persons obtain housing assistance: 10 points. (3) If the organization has administered grant programs, there are no outstanding or unresolved audit or investigative findings which might impair carrying out the proposal: 10 points. (d) The proposed program will be undertaken entirely in rural areas outside Metropolitan Statistical Areas, also known as MSAs, identified by Rural Development as having populations below 10,000 or in remote parts of other rural areas (i.e., rural areas contained in MSAs with less than 5,000 population) as defined in 7 CFR 1944.656: 10 points. (e) The program will use less than 20 percent of HPG funds for administration purposes: (1) More than 20%........................ Not eligible. (2) 20%.................................. 0 points. (3) 19%.................................. 1 point. (4) 18%.................................. 2 points. (5) 17%.................................. 3 points. (6) 16%.................................. 4 points. (7) 15% or less.......................... 5 points. (f) The proposed program contains a component for alleviating overcrowding as defined in 7 CFR 1944.656: 5 points. In the event more than one pre-application receives the same amount of points, those pre-applications will then be ranked based on the actual percentage figure used for determining the points. Further, in the event that pre-applications are still tied, then those pre- applications still tied will be ranked based on the percentage for HPG fund use (low to high). Further, for applications where assistance to rental properties or cooperatives is proposed, those still tied will be further ranked based on the number of years the units are available for occupancy under the program (a minimum of 5 years is required). For this part, ranking will be based from most to least number of years. Finally, if there is still a tie, then a lottery system will be used. After the award selections are made, all applicants will be notified of the status of their applications by mail. F. Federal Award Administration Information 1. Federal Award Notices. The Agency will notify, in writing, applicants whose pre-applications have been selected for funding. At the time of notification, the Agency will advise the applicant what further information and documentation is required along with a timeline for submitting the additional information. If the Agency determines it is unable to select the application for funding, the applicant will be so informed in writing. Such notification will include the reasons the applicant was not selected. The Agency will advise applicants, whose pre-applications did not meet eligibility and/or selection criteria, of their review rights or appeal rights in accordance with 7 CFR 1944.682. 2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements. Rural Development is encouraging applications for projects that will support rural areas where, according to the American Community Survey data by census tracts, at least 20 percent of the population is living in persistent poverty. This emphasis will support Rural Development's mission of improving the quality of life for Rural Americans and commitment to directing resources to those who most need them. A persistent poverty county is a classification for counties in the United States that have had a relatively high rate of poverty over a long period. 3. Reporting. Post-award reporting requirements can be found in the Grant Agreement. G. Non-Discrimination Statement The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, religion, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.) If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form (PDF), found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632- 9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities and you wish to file either an EEO or program complaint please contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339 or (800) 845-6136 (in Spanish). [[Page 81284]] Persons with disabilities, who wish to file a program complaint, please see information above on how to contact us by mail directly or by email. If you require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) please contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). Dated: December 14, 2015. Tony J. Hernandez, Administrator, Rural Housing Service. Fiscal Year 2016 Pre-Application for Section 533 Housing Preservation Grants (HPG) Instructions Applicants are encouraged, but not required, to submit this pre- application form electronically by accessing the Web site: http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/housing-preservation-grants. Click on the Forms & Resources tab to access the ``Fiscal Year 2016 Pre- application for Section 533 Housing Preservation Grants (HPG).'' Please note that electronic submittals are not on a secured Web site. If you do not wish to submit the form electronically by clicking on the Send Form button, you may still fill out the form, print it and submit it with your application package to the State Office. You also have the option to save the form, and submit it on an electronic media to the State Office. Supporting documentation required by this pre-application may be attached to the email generated when you click the Send Form button to submit the form. However if the attachments are too numerous or large in size, the email box will not be able to accept them. In that case, submit the supporting documentation for this pre-application to the State Office with your complete application package under item IX. Documents Submitted, indicate the supporting documents that you are submitting either with the pre-application or to the State Office. [[Page 81285]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN29DE15.000 [[Page 81286]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN29DE15.001 [[Page 81287]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN29DE15.002 [[Page 81288]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN29DE15.003 [[Page 81289]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN29DE15.004 [[Page 81290]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN29DE15.005 [[Page 81291]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN29DE15.006 [[Page 81292]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN29DE15.007 [FR Doc. 2015-32784 Filed 12-28-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-XV-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 249 / Tuesday, December 29, 2015 / Notices 81279
Estimated Average Annual
Number of number of burden hours
Type of respondents burden hours
respondents responses per per requested
respondent response
GRAND TOTAL ............................................................................................... ........................ ........................ ........................ 11,658
Comments: Comments are invited on: clarity of the information to be collected information will be used to
(a) Whether the proposed record collected; (d) ways to minimize the evaluate potential international
keeping requirement and collection of burden of the collection of information volunteers and evaluate the
information are necessary for the proper on those who are to respond, including effectiveness of the volunteer program.
performance of the functions of the through the use of appropriate Without the information, NRCS would
Agency, including whether the automated, electronic, mechanical, or not know which individuals are
information will have practical utility; other technological collection interested in volunteering.
(b) the accuracy of the Agency’s techniques or other forms of information Description of Respondents:
estimate of the burden of the proposed technology should be addressed to: Desk Individuals or households; Business or
collection of information; (c) ways to Officer for Agriculture, Office of other for-profit; Not-for-profit
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity Information and Regulatory Affairs, institutions; Farms; State, Local, or
of the information to be collected; and Office of Management and Budget Tribal Government.
(d) ways to minimize the burden of (OMB), OIRA_Submission@ Number of Respondents: 3,766.
collecting the information on OMB.EOP.GOV or fax (202) 395–5806 Frequency of Responses: Reporting:
respondents, including through the use and to Departmental Clearance Office, Biennially.
of appropriate automated, electronic, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Total Burden Hours: 488.
mechanical, or other technological Washington, DC 20250–7602. Ruth Brown,
collection techniques or other forms of Comments regarding these information Departmental Information Collection
information technology. collections are best assured of having Clearance Officer.
All responses to this notice will be their full effect if received within 30 [FR Doc. 2015–32746 Filed 12–28–15; 8:45 am]
summarized and included in the request days of this notification. Copies of the
BILLING CODE 3410–16–P
to OMB for approval. All comments will submission(s) may be obtained by
become a matter of public record. calling (202) 720–8958.
Obtaining a Copy of the Information An agency may not conduct or DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Collection: A copy of the information sponsor a collection of information
collection and related instructions may unless the collection of information Rural Housing Service
be obtained free of charge by contacting displays a currently valid OMB control
Robert Martin as directed above. number and the agency informs Notice of Solicitation of Applications
Done at Washington, DC, this 16 day of potential persons who are to respond to for the Section 533 Housing
December 2015. the collection of information that such Preservation Grants for Fiscal Year
Catherine E. Woteki, persons are not required to respond to 2016
Under Secretary, Research, Education, and
the collection of information unless it
displays a currently valid OMB control ACTION: Notice.
Economics.
number.
[FR Doc. 2015–32747 Filed 12–28–15; 8:45 am] SUMMARY: The Rural Housing Service
BILLING CODE 3410–22–P Natural Resources and Conservation (RHS), an Agency within Rural
Service Development, announces that it is
Title: Volunteer Program—Earth soliciting competitive applications
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE under its Housing Preservation Grant
Team.
OMB Control Number: 0578–0024. (HPG) program. This action is taken to
Natural Resources Conservation comply with Agency regulations found
Summary of Collection: Volunteers
Service in 7 CFR part 1944, subpart N, which
have been a valuable human resource to
the Natural Resources Conservation requires the Agency to announce the
Submission for OMB Review;
Service (NRCS) since 1985. NRCS is opening and closing dates for receipt of
Comment Request
authorize by the Federal Personnel pre-applications for HPG funds from
December 22, 2015. Manual (FPM) Supplement 296–33, eligible applicants.
The Department of Agriculture has Subchapter 33, to recruit, train and DATES: The closing deadline for receipt
submitted the following information accept, with regard to Civil Service of all pre-applications in response to
collection requirement(s) to OMB for classification law, rules, or regulations, this Notice is 5:00 p.m., local time for
review and clearance under the the service of individuals to serve each Rural Development State Office on
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, without compensation. Volunteers may February 12, 2016. Rural Development
Public Law 104–13. Comments assist in any agency program/project State Office locations can be found at:
regarding (a) whether the collection of and may perform any activities which http://www.rd.usda.gov/contact-us/
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
information is necessary for the proper agency employees are allowed to do. state-offices. The application should be
performance of the functions of the Volunteers must be 14 years of age. submitted to the Rural Development
agency, including whether the NRCS will collect information using State Office where the project will be
information will have practical utility; NRCS forms. located. If submitting the pre-
(b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate Need and Use of the Information: application in electronic format, the
of burden including the validity of the NRCS will collect information on the closing deadline for receipt is 5:00 p.m.
methodology and assumptions used; (c) type of skills and type of work the Eastern Daylight Time on February 12,
ways to enhance the quality, utility and volunteers are interested in doing. The 2016. The application closing deadline
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![81282 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 249 / Tuesday, December 29, 2015 / Notices
Instruction 2000–FF, available as an 6. Other Submission Requirements. In addition to the electronic pre-
electronic document and in any Rural To comply with the President’s application at the http://www.grants.gov
Development State Office). Management Agenda, the Department of Web site, all applicants must complete
(i) The applicant must also submit Agriculture is participating as a partner and submit the FY 2016 pre-application
evidence of the State Historic in the Government-wide Grants.gov site. package, detailed later in this Notice, for
Preservation Office’s, (SHPO), Housing Preservation Grants [Catalog of Section 533 HPG. A copy of a suggested
concurrence in the proposal, or in the Federal Domestic Assistance #10.433] is coversheet is included with this Notice.
event of non-concurrence, a copy of one of the programs included at this Applicants are encouraged to submit
SHPO’s comments together with Web site. If you are an applicant under this pre-application coversheet
evidence that the applicant has received the Housing Preservation Grant electronically by accessing the Web site:
the Advisory Council on Historic program, you may submit your pre- http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-
Preservation’s advice as to how the application to the Agency in either services/housing-preservation-grants.
disagreement might be resolved, and a electronic or paper format. Please be Click on the Forms & Resources tab to
copy of any advice provided by the mindful that the pre-application access the ‘‘FY 2016 Pre-application for
Council. deadline for electronic format differs Section 533 Housing Preservation
(j) The applicant must submit written from the deadline for paper format. The Grants (HPG).’’
statements and related correspondence electronic format deadline will be based Applicants are encouraged but not
reflecting compliance with 7 CFR on Eastern Standard Time. The paper required, to also provide an electronic
1944.674(a) and (c) regarding format deadline is local time for each copy of all hard copy forms and
consultation with local government Rural Development State Office. documents submitted in the pre-
leaders in the preparation of its program Users of Grants.gov will be able to application/application package as
and the consultation with local and download a copy of the pre- application requested by this Notice. The forms and
state government pursuant to the package, complete it off line, and then documents must be submitted as read-
provisions of Executive Order 12372. upload and submit the application via only Adobe Acrobat PDF files on an
(k) The applicant is to make its the Grants.gov site. You may not email electronic media such as CDs, DVDs or
statement of activities available to the an electronic copy of a grant pre- USB drives. For each electronic device
public for comment prior to submission application to USDA Rural that you submit, you must include a
to Rural Development pursuant to 7 CFR Development; however, the Agency Table of Contents listing all of the
1944.674(b). The application must encourages your participation in documents and forms on that device.
contain a description of how the Grants.gov. The electronic medium must be
comments (if any were received) were The following are useful tips and submitted to the local Rural
addressed. instructions on how to use the Web site: Development State Office where the
• When you enter the Grants.gov site, project will be located.
(1) The applicant must submit an
you will find information about Please Note: If you receive a loan or grant
original and one copy of Form RD 400–
submitting an application electronically award under this Notice, USDA reserves the
1, ‘‘Equal Opportunity Agreement,’’ and
through the site as well as the hours of right to post all information that is not
Form RD 400–4, ‘‘Assurance
operation. USDA Rural Development protected by the Privacy Act submitted as
Agreement,’’ in accordance with 7 CFR part of the pre-application/application
strongly recommends that you do not
1944.676. package on a public Web site with free and
wait until the application deadline date
Applicants should review 7 CFR part open access to any member of the public.
to begin the application process through
1944, subpart N for a comprehensive list
Grants.gov. To use Grants.gov,
of all application requirements. E. Application Review Information
applicants must have a DUNS number.
3. Address unique entity identifier • You may submit all documents 1. Criteria. All paper applications for
and System for Award Management electronically through the Web site, Section 533 funds must be filed with the
(SAM). As part of the application, all including all information typically appropriate Rural Development State
applicants, except for individuals or included on the Application for Rural Office and all paper or electronic
agencies excepted under 2 CFR Housing Preservation Grants, and all applications must meet the
25.110(d), must be: (1) Registered in the necessary assurances and certifications. requirements of this Notice and 7 CFR
System for Award Management (SAM); • After you electronically submit part 1944, subpart N. Pre-applications
(2) provide a valid unique entity your application through the Web site, determined not eligible and/or not
identifier in its applications; and (3) you will receive an automatic meeting the selection criteria will be
maintain an active SAM registration acknowledgement from Grants.gov that notified by the Rural Development State
with current information at all times contains a Grants.gov tracking number. Office.
during which it has an active Federal • RHS may request that you provide 2. Review and Selection Process. The
award or application. An award may not original signatures on forms at a later Rural Development State Offices will
be made to the applicant until the date. utilize the following threshold project
applicant has complied with the unique • If you experience technical selection criteria for applicants in
entity identifier and SAM requirements. difficulties on the closing date and are accordance with 7 CFR 1944.679:
4. Intergovernmental Review unable to meet the 5:00 p.m. (Eastern (a) Providing a financially feasible
Intergovernmental Review. The HPG Standard Time) deadline, print out your program of housing preservation
program is subject to the provisions of application and submit it to your State assistance. ‘‘Financially feasible’’ is
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Executive Order 12372, which requires Office, you must meet the closing date defined as proposed assistance which
intergovernmental consultation with and local time deadline. will be affordable to the intended
State and local officials. • Please note that you must locate the recipient or result in affordable housing
5. Funding Restrictions. There are no downloadable application package for for very low- and low-income persons.
limits on proposed direct and indirect this program by the CFDA Number or (b) Serving eligible rural areas with a
costs. Expenses incurred in developing FedGrants Funding Opportunity concentration of substandard housing
pre-applications will be at the Number, which can be found at http:// for households with very low- and low-
applicant’s risk. www.grants.gov. income.
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Document Created: 2015-12-29 10:15:34
Document Modified: 2015-12-29 10:15:34
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice. | |
| Dates | The closing deadline for receipt of all pre-applications in response to this Notice is 5:00 p.m., local time for each Rural Development State Office on February 12, 2016. Rural Development State Office locations can be found at: http://www.rd.usda.gov/contact-us/ state-offices. The application should be submitted to the Rural Development State Office where the project will be located. If submitting the pre-application in electronic format, the closing deadline for receipt is 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on February 12, 2016. The application closing deadline is firm as to date and hour. RHS will not consider any application that is received after the closing deadline. Applicants intending to mail applications must provide sufficient time to permit delivery on or before the closing deadline date and time. Acceptance by the United States Postal Service or private mailer does not constitute delivery. Facsimile (FAX) and postage due applications will not be accepted. | |
| Contact | For general information, applicants may contact Jeaneane Shelton, Finance and Loan Analyst, Multi-Family Housing Preservation and Direct Loan Division, USDA Rural Development, STOP 0781, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-0781, telephone (202) 720-5443 (voice) (this is not a toll free number) or (800) 877-8339 (TDD-Federal Information Relay Service) or via email at, [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 81279 |
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