2015 rfa rme partnerships draft - 6-24-2015 508 update 2.pdf

Funding Opportunity Number USDA-PP-RMED-2015

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Federal Crop Insurance Corporation

Funding Opportunity Title: Risk Management Education Partnerships Program

Announcement Type: Announcement of Availability of Initial Funds and Request for

Applications (RFA) for Competitive Cooperative Partnership Agreements.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number (CFDAs): 10.460.

Summary: The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC), operating through the Risk

Management Agency (RMA), announces its intent to award approximately $2 million to fund the

Risk Management Education Partnerships Program. The minimum award for any cooperative partnership agreement is $20,000. The maximum award for any cooperative partnership agreement is $99,999. The cooperative partnership agreements will be awarded on a competitive basis up to one year from the date of the award.

Dates: All applications, which must be submitted electronically through http://rvs.umn.edu/Home.aspx , must be received by August 14, 2015 at 11:59 p.m. EDT, 45 calendar days from date of publication in Grants.gov. Hard copy applications will NOT be accepted. A tutorial on how to apply is available at http://rvs.umn.edu/rmaresources. Key dates in the following table are provided to illustrate the timing of actions related to this RFA announcement.

http://www.rma.agrisk.umn.edu/ http://rvs.umn.edu/rmaresources

Key Dates Actions

July 1, 2015 RFAs Announced in Grants.gov. RFA Open for 45 days.

July 21, 2015 RFA/RVS Training Conducted for Potential Applicants 11:00 am EDT.

July 23, 2015 RFA/RVS Training Conducted for Potential Applicants 3:00 pm EDT.

August 14, 2015 RFA Closes 11:59 pm EDT.

September 8-15, 2015 Award Letters are Mailed; Unsuccessful Applicants are Notified by Email.

September 30, 2015 Project Start Date.

Purpose: The purpose of this competitive cooperative partnership agreement program is to deliver crop insurance education and risk management training to U.S. agricultural producers to assist them in identifying and managing production, marketing, legal, financial, and human risk. The program gives priority to: (1) educating producers of crops currently not insured under Federal crop insurance, specialty crops, and underserved commodities, including livestock and forage;

and (2) providing collaborative partnerships to develop and deliver crop insurance education and other risk management training. Education activities developed under the Risk Management

Education Partnerships Program will provide U.S. farmers and ranchers, including limited resource, socially disadvantaged, and other traditionally under-served farmers and ranchers with training and information opportunities to be able to understand:

1. The kinds of risks addressed by existing and emerging risk management tools;

2. The features and appropriate use of existing and emerging risk management tools; and

3. How to make sound risk management decisions.

Funding availability for this program may be announced at approximately the same time as funding availability for similar but separate programs:—CFDA No. 10.458 (Crop Insurance

Education in Targeted States). Prospective applicants should carefully examine and compare the notices of each announcement.

The collections of information in this Announcement have been approved by OMB under control number 0563-0067.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONSISTS OF EIGHT SECTIONS:

Section I—Funding Opportunity Description

A. Legislative Authority

B. Background

C. Project Goal

D. Definition of Priority Commodities

Section II—Award Information

A. Type of Application

B. Funding Availability

C. Minimum and Maximum Award

D. Project Period

E. Location

F. Audience Emphasis

G. RMA Substantial Involvement

H. Description of Agreement Award - Awardee Tasks

I. Other Tasks

Section III—Eligibility Information

A. Eligible Applicants

B. Cost Sharing or Matching Funding

C. Other - Non-Financial Benefits

Section IV—Application and Submission Information

A. Electronic Application Package

B. Content and Form of Application Submission

C. Funding Restrictions

D. Limitation on Use of Project Funds for Salaries and Benefits

E. Indirect Cost Rates

F. Other Submission Requirements

G. Acknowledgement of Applications

Section V—Application Review Information

A. Criteria

B. Review and Selection Process

Section VI—Award Administration Information

A. Award Notices

B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

1. Requirement to Use USDA Logo

2. Requirement to Provide Project Information to an RMA-selected Representative

3. Access to Panel Review Information

4. Confidential Aspects of Applications and Awards

5. Audit Requirements

6. Prohibitions and Requirements Regarding Lobbying

7. Applicable OMB Circulars

8. Requirement to Assure Compliance with Federal Civil Rights Laws

9. Requirement to Participate in a Post Award Teleconference

10. Requirement to Participate in a Post Award Civil Rights Training

11. Requirement to Submit Educational Materials to the Ag Risk and Farm

Management Library

C. Reporting Requirements

Section VII—Agency Contact

Section VIII—Additional Information

A. The Restriction of the Expenditure of Funds to Enter into Financial Transactions

B. Required Registration with the System for Awards Management (SAM) for Submission of Proposals

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

A. Legislative Authority

The Risk Management Education Partnership Program is authorized under Section 522(d)(3)(F) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (FCIA),(7 U.S.C. § 1522(d)(3)(F)) and provides FCIC funding for risk management training and informational efforts for agricultural producers through the formation of partnerships with public and private organizations.

B. Background

RMA promotes and regulates sound risk management solutions to improve the economic stability of American agriculture. On behalf of FCIC, RMA does this by offering Federal crop insurance products through a network of private-sector partners, overseeing the creation of new risk management products, seeking enhancements in existing products, ensuring the integrity of crop insurance programs, offering programs aimed at equal access and participation of underserved communities, and providing risk management education and information.

C. Project Goal

The goal of this program is to ensure that “. . . producers will be better able to use financial management, farm financial benchmarking, crop insurance, marketing contracts, and other existing and emerging risk management tools.” One of RMA’s strategic goals is to ensure that producers are well informed of the risk management solutions available to them. This educational goal is supported by Section 522(d)(3)(F) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (FCIA) (7 U.S.C. §

1522(d)(3)(F)), which authorizes FCIC funding for risk management training and informational efforts for agricultural producers through the formation of partnerships with public and private organizations. With respect to such partnerships, priority is to be given to reaching producers of

Priority Commodities, as defined below. A project is considered as giving priority to Priority

Commodities if 75 percent of the educational and training activities of the project are directed to producers of any one of the three classes of commodities listed in the definition of Priority

Commodities or any combination of the three classes.

D. Definition of Priority Commodities

For purposes of this program, Priority Commodities are defined as:

1. Agricultural commodities covered by (7 U.S.C. 7333). Commodities in this group are commercial crops that are not covered by catastrophic risk protection crop insurance, are used for food or fiber (except livestock), and specifically include, but are not limited to, floricultural, ornamental nursery, Christmas trees, turf grass sod, aquaculture (including ornamental fish), and industrial crops.

2. Specialty crops. Commodities in this group may or may not be covered under a

Federal crop insurance plan and include, but are not limited to, fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, syrups, honey, roots, herbs, and highly specialized varieties of traditional crops.

3. Underserved commodities. This group includes: (a) commodities, including livestock and forage, that are covered by a Federal crop insurance plan but for which participation in an area is below the national average; and (b) commodities, including livestock and forage, with inadequate crop insurance coverage.

For the 2015 fiscal year, the FCIC Board of Directors and the FCIC Manager are seeking projects that (1) address one or more of the Priority Commodities (as defined above), (2) provides Crop Insurance Education on FCIC approved policies, or (3) address one or more of the five (5) areas of risk described as Production, Legal, Financial, Marketing or

Human Risk including but not limited to:

• Crop Insurance Education on:

o Pasture, Rangeland and Forage (Rainfall Index) program;

o Pasture, Rangeland and Forage (Vegetative Index) program;

o Specialty Crops;

o Organic production practices and Organic prices;

o Whole Farm Revenue Protection;

o Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO);

o Stacked Income Protection Plan (STAX) where available;

• Record Keeping practices and record requirements for o Establishing Liability o Proving a loss o Organic production;

• Farm Financial Benchmarking;

• Crop Insurance Education and Risk Management Training to producers in designated Strike Force or Promise Zones areas as defined by USDA; or

• Translating RMA Risk Management Education brochures into Spanish, Hmong or

Navajo language for producer crop insurance education.

II. Award Information

A. Type of Application

Only electronic applications will be accepted and they must be submitted through http://rvs.umn.edu/Home.aspx. Hard copy applications will NOT be accepted. Applications submitted to the Risk Management Education Partnerships Program are new applications: there are no renewals. All applications will be reviewed competitively using the selection process and evaluation criteria described in Section V – Application Review Process. Each award will be designated as a Cooperative Partnership Agreement, which will require substantial involvement by RMA (Section II, G).

B. Funding Availability

There is no commitment by USDA to fund any particular application. Approximately

$2 million is available in fiscal year 2015. All awards will be made and agreements finalized no later than September 11, 2015 with the project start date of September 30, 2015.

C. Minimum and Maximum Award

Any application that requests Federal funding of less than $20,000 or more than $99,999 for a project will be rejected. It is difficult to accurately estimate the number and amount of awards that RMA will provide this year. However, in the past few years, RMA has awarded 43-94 cooperative agreements each year with an average funding of $83,204. RMA also reserves the right to fund successful applications at an amount less than requested if it is judged that the application can be implemented at a lower funding level.

D. Project Period

Projects will be funded for a period of up to one year from the project starting date.

E. Location

RMA Regional Offices and the States available for competition for this award are listed below.

Staff from the respective RMA Regional Offices and the Risk Management Education Division

(RMED) DC Office will provide substantial involvement (as defined in G below) for projects conducted within the Region.

Billings, Montana Regional Office: (MT, ND, SD, and WY)

Davis, California Regional Office: (AZ, CA, HI, NV, and UT)

Jackson, Mississippi Regional Office: (AR, KY, LA, MS, and TN)

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Regional Office: (NM, OK, and TX)

Raleigh, North Carolina Regional Office: (CT, DE, ME, MD, MA, NH, NJ, NY, NC, PA, RI, VT, VA, and WV)

Spokane, Washington Regional Office: (AK, ID, OR, and WA)

Springfield, Illinois Regional Office: (IL, IN, MI, and OH)

St. Paul, Minnesota Regional Office: (IA, MN, and WI)

Topeka, Kansas Regional Office: (CO, KS, MO, and NE)

Valdosta, Georgia Regional Office: (AL, FL, GA, PR, and SC)

Each application must clearly designate the RMA Region where educational activities will be conducted in the application narrative in block 12 of the SF-424 form. Applications without this designation will be rejected. Applications may designate more than one state but cannot designate more than one RMA Region. Applications with proposed activities in more than one state all serviced by the same RMA Region are acceptable. Single applications proposing to conduct educational activities in states served by more than one RMA Region will be rejected.

Applications serving Tribal Nations will be accepted and managed from the RMA Regional office serving the designated Tribal Office.

F. Audience Emphasis

Audience emphasis is on U.S. producers and ranchers, while reaching out to, for example, small, limited resource and socially disadvantaged producers and ranchers to ensure they are given the opportunity to participate in educational activities. Other Producer types to which the Applicant may propose to direct its training may include, but are not necessarily limited to, traditional farmers and ranchers; new and beginning farmers; women; veterans; minority producers, crop insurance educational activities and risk management strategies to farmers and ranchers producing and marketing their products as part of a local or regional food system; and producers living in areas designated as Strike Force or Promise Zone communities as defined by USDA, provided that the producers in these categories that are emphasized also meet the minimum statutory criteria.

G. RMA Substantial Involvement

FCIC, working through RMA, will be substantially involved during the performance of the funded project through RMA’s ten (10) Regional Offices and RMED DC Office (see E above).

Potential types of substantial involvement may include, but are not limited to, the following activities.

1. Collaborate with the awardee in assembling, reviewing, and approving crop insurance and risk management materials for producers in the designated RMA Region.

2. Collaborate with the awardee in reviewing and approving a promotional program for raising awareness for crop insurance and risk management and for informing producers of training and informational opportunities in the RMA Region.

3. Collaborate with the awardee on the delivery of education to producers and agribusiness leaders in the RMA Region. This will include: (a) reviewing and approving in advance all producer and agribusiness leader educational activities; (b) advising the project leader on technical issues related to crop insurance education and information; and (c) assisting the project leader in informing crop insurance professionals about educational activity plans and scheduled meetings.

4. Conduct an evaluation of the performance of the awardee in meeting the tasks of the project.

Applications that do not address substantial involvement by RMA will be rejected.

H. Description of Agreement Award - Awardee Tasks

In conducting activities to achieve the purpose and goal of this program in a designated RMA

Region, the awardee will be responsible for performing the following tasks:

1. Develop and conduct a promotional program in English or a non-English language to producers as appropriate to the audience. This program will include activities using media, newsletters, publications, or other appropriate informational dissemination techniques that are designed to: (a) raise awareness for crop insurance and risk management; (b) inform producers of the availability of crop insurance and risk management tools; and (c) inform producers and agribusiness leaders in the designated

RMA Region of training and informational opportunities.

2. Deliver crop insurance and risk management training in English or non-English language as appropriate to the audience as well as informational opportunities to agricultural producers and agribusiness professionals in the designated RMA Region.

This will include organizing and delivering educational activities using the instructional materials assembled by the awardee to meet the local needs of agricultural producers. Activities should be directed primarily to agricultural producers, but may include those agribusiness professionals that have frequent opportunities to advise producers on risk management tools and decisions.

3. Document all educational activities conducted under the cooperative partnership agreement and the results of such activities, including criteria and indicators used to evaluate the success of the program. The awardee will also be required to provide information to RMA as requested for evaluation purposes.

I. Other Tasks

In addition to the specific, required tasks listed above, the applicant may propose additional tasks that would contribute directly to the purpose of this program such as but not limited to individual or group Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certification, other food-safety related education and training activities, or activities targeting producers engaged in local or regional food systems, such as those selling at farmers markets. For any proposed additional task, the applicant must identify the objective of the task, specific time lines for performing the tasks, and the specific responsibilities of the applicant and any entities working with the applicant in the development or delivery of the project.

III. Eligibility Information

A. Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants include not-for profit organizations, State Departments of Agriculture, State

Cooperative Extension Services; Federal, State, or tribal agencies; groups representing producers, community based organizations or a coalition of community-based organization that has demonstrated experience in providing agricultural or other agricultural-related services to producers; nongovernmental organizations; junior and four-year colleges or universities or foundations maintained by a college or university (including Minority Serving Institutions); faith-based organizations and other appropriate partners with the capacity to lead a local program of crop insurance and risk management education for producers in an RMA Region. RMA may request documents from applicants to verify eligibility requirements, proof of existence, or authority.

1. Individuals are not eligible applicants.

2. Although an applicant may be eligible to compete for an award based on its status as an eligible entity, other factors may exclude an applicant from receiving Federal assistance under this program governed by Federal law and regulations (e.g. debarment and suspension; a determination of non-performance on a prior contract, cooperative partnership agreement, or grant; or a determination of a violation of applicable ethical standards.) Reviewed applications in which the applicant or any of the partners are ineligible or excluded persons will be rejected in their entirety. RMA may request documents from applicants to verify eligibility requirements, proof of existence, or authority.

3. Private organizations that are involved in the sale of Federal crop insurance, or that have financial ties to such organizations, are eligible to apply for funding under this

Announcement. However, such entities and their partners, affiliates, and collaborators for this

Announcement will not receive funding to conduct activities that are already required under a

Standard Reinsurance Agreement or any other agreement in effect between FCIC/RMA and the entity, or between FCIC/RMA and any of the partners, affiliates, or collaborators for awards under this Announcement. In addition, such entities and their partners, affiliates, and collaborators for this Announcement will not be allowed to receive funding to conduct activities that could be perceived by producers as promoting the services or products of one company over the services or products of another company that provides the same or similar services or products. If applying for funding, such organizations must be aware of potential conflicts of interest and must describe in their application the specific actions they will take to avoid actual and perceived conflicts of interest.

4. Applicants must note funding restrictions found in Section IV, C.

B. Cost Sharing or Matching Funding

This program has neither a cost sharing nor a matching requirement, therefore does not result in any points assigned to an application.

C. Non-financial Benefits

To be eligible, applicants must also be able to demonstrate that they will receive a non-financial benefit as a result of a cooperative partnership agreement. Non-financial benefits must accrue to the applicant and must include more than the ability to provide employment income to the applicant or for the applicant’s employees or the community. The applicant must demonstrate that performance under the cooperative partnership agreement will further the specific mission of the applicant (such as providing research or activities necessary for graduate or other students to complete their educational program). Reviewed applications that do not demonstrate a non-financial benefit will be rejected. Rejected applications will be retained during the RFA process, but will not be made an award.

IV. Application and Submission Information

A. Electronic Application Package

For accessibility purposes, applicants may obtain an electronic copy at http://www.rma.usda.gov/aboutrma/agreements/ or request the application package by fax at 202-

690-3605. Only electronic applications will be accepted and they must be submitted to http://rvs.umn.edu/Home.aspx in response to this Announcement. Applicants must register for an account on the Results Verification System (RVS) website, where users will be required to enter a user name, password, email address, first and last name, address and phone number. For website and technical issues, call 1-612-624-7585 from 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. Central Time, Monday through Friday except for Federal holidays. Prior to preparing an application, it is recommended that the Project Director (PD) first contact an Authorized Representative (AR) or the Authorized

Organizational Representative (AOR) to determine if the organization is prepared to submit electronic applications through http://rvs.umn.edu/Home.aspx. Prior to submitting applications, each applicant must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) with its application and Bradstreet number and must be registered in System for Awards Management (www.SAM.gov). No applicant can receive an award until the applicant has complied with all UEI and SAM requirements. If an applicant has not fully complied with all UEI and SAM requirements by the time an award may be made, RMA may determine the applicant is not qualified to receive a

Federal award and use that determination as a basis for making an award to another applicant.

http://www.rma.usda.gov/aboutrma/agreements/ http://www.sam.gov/

Each application must continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times in which the applicant has its application under consideration, and if an award is made, during the entire time of the Federal award.

B. Content and Form of Application Submission

The applicant is strongly encouraged to use the tutorial located at http://rvs.umn.edu/Home.aspx.

After completing the tutorial, the final application must be submitted to the same site:

http://rvs.umn.edu/Home.aspx. All applications must be received in RVS by the deadline, August

14, 2015 at 11:59 p.m. EDT, 45 calendar days from date of publication in Grants.gov. If a due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or Federal holiday, the deadline will be the next business day.

Once submitted, applications will be date and time stamped by the RVS as evidence of submission. Hard copy of the application will not be accepted. The system will prompt the applicant for the following items:

1. Project Information. Information must include the Project Name, RMA Regional Office, State/Area, Project Director’s Name and Contact Information; the second, or alternative

Project Director’s Name and Contact Information, and a Financial Representative or Grants

Office Official and Contact Information. A second Point of Contact Name and Contact

Information may be added at the discretion of the applicant.

2. Executive Summary of the Project (limit 200 words). This is a summary of the project and includes the project’s goal and objectives, location of work, audience to be reached, and expected impacts and results of the work completed.

3. Proposed Results. Applicants must clearly identify the specific actions producers will take as a result of the education activities.

4. Audience Emphasis. Applicant may select one or more audiences that the project will intentionally reach.

5. Statement of Work (SOW). The SOW is in a table format and must clearly identify each task associated with the work, the objective of each, specific time lines for performing the each task, and the responsible party for completing the activities listed under each task including the specific responsibilities of applicant, the applicant’s partner(s), and RMA’s substantial involvement. Tasks that directly involve producer participants, such as workshops, must estimate the number of participants to be reached. The SOW must be very clear on who does what, where, and when, as well as, the objective for each task.

6. Proposal Narrative (limit of 600 words). The proposal narrative is a description of work to be done, why the work is important, who will benefit from the work and any additional explanation of the expected results entered under Proposed Results that you want to communicate. The narrative should (a) discuss specific crop insurance education and risk management training to be developed for use with producers; (b) identify the location and number of meetings that will be held; (c) reasonably estimate the total number of producers for each session or meeting identified in the Statement of Work that will be reached through

(i) direct face-to face educational activities with an explanation of how the number was determined and (ii) through other means such as direct mailings, website, etc. with an explanation of how the number was determined; (d) provide an estimate of the number of training hours that will be conducted with an explanation of how the number was determined;

(e) provide an estimated cost per producer with an explanation of how the cost was determined, and (f) discuss the methods and resulting measures used to evaluate the results of the education and training delivered to producers.

7. Team and Partners. There are three subsections under Team and Partners. (1) Key

Personnel: This section must list designated key personnel employed directly by the applicant, any partner(s) of the applicant, or consultant(s) of the applicant or applicant’s partner who will have significant involvement on this project. Each person identified must be described by title, role, and responsibilities including what skills, knowledge, and experience that they will provide that is not already present in the applicant’s organization, as well as why that skill, knowledge, or experience is important and what will be the cost and benefit of their involvement. Specific tasks in the SOW designated to them must agree with this section of the application or the application will be rejected. (2) Organizational

Capacity: The organizational capacity of the applicant must be described to assure RMA that designated key personnel, contracted employees, partners or consultants working on the project have the skills, knowledge, and experience to do the work described in the SOW and have the necessary resources to add other team members as necessary to complete the work.

(3) Partnering Plan: To submit a successful Partnering Plan, all partners of the applicant working on the project must submit a Letter of Commitment which clearly states that the named partner will work with the applicant on the project, if awarded, as well as the role and responsibilities assigned.

8. Budget Narrative must show the total cost for the project. The budget narrative must also include the cost per producer. The budget must describe how category costs listed on the SF

424-A are derived. The budget narrative must provide enough detail for reviewers to easily understand how costs were determined and how they relate to the tasks listed in the SOW.

There must be a relationship between work planned and performed to the costs incurred.

9. Priority Commodities. This section must list the Priorities Commodities addressed as defined in Section I, D.

10. RMA Substantial Involvement. This section must describe RMA assistance as defined under RMA Substantial Involvement in Section II, G.

11. Non-Financial Benefits. This section must describe the Non-Financial Benefits from the proposed project as defined in Section III, C.

12. RMA Substantial Involvement. This section must describe RMA assistance as defined under RMA Substantial Involvement in Section II, G.

13. Required Documents (to be downloaded from the system, completed and uploaded prior to submission of the application).

• A completed OMB Standard Form 424, “Application for Federal Assistance.”

• A completed OMB Standard Form 424-A, “Budget Information for Non-Construction

Programs.” Federal funding requested (the total of direct and indirect costs) must not be less than $20,000 or exceed $99,999.

• A completed OMB Standard Form 424-B, “Assurances for Non-Constructive

Programs.”

• A completed and signed OMB Standard Form LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities.

• A completed and signed AD-1049, Certification Regarding Drug-Free Workplace.

• Current and Pending Report. This form contains a document called the Current and

Pending Report. On the Current and Pending Report you must state for this fiscal year if this application is a duplicate application or overlaps substantially with another application already submitted to or funded by another USDA Agency, including RMA, or other private organization. The percentage of each person’s time associated with the work to be done under this project must be identified in the application. The total percentage of time for both “Current” and “Pending” projects must not exceed 100% of each person’s time.

Applicants must list all current public or private employment arrangements or financial support associated with the project or any of the personnel that are part of the project, regardless of whether such arrangements or funding constitute part of the project under this Announcement (supporting agency, amount of award, effective date, expiration date, expiration date of award, etc.). If the applicant has no projects to list, “N/A” should be shown on the form. An application submitted under this RFA that duplicates or overlaps substantially with any application already reviewed and funded (or to be funded) by any other organization or agency, including but not limited to other RMA, USDA, and Federal government programs, will not be funded under this program. RMA reserves the right to reject your application based on the review of this information.

Letters of Commitment. A Letter of Commitment is required from each partner or consultant partner of the applicant who will do the specific task as identified in the SOW. The Letters must

(1) be dated within 45 days of the submission and (2) list the specific tasks to be done.

Applications that do not include the items listed above will be considered incomplete, will not receive further consideration, and will be rejected.

C. Funding Restrictions

RMA cooperative partnership agreement funds may not be used to:

a. plan, repair, rehabilitate, acquire, or construct a building or facility including a processing facility;

b. purchase, rent, or install fixed equipment;

c. purchase portable equipment or supplies(such as laptops, I-pads, cell phones, projectors or similar items. Rental or lease fees are payable from RMA funds for such items in lieu of purchase.)

d. repair or maintain privately owned vehicles;

e. pay for the preparation of the cooperative agreement application;

f. fund political activities;

g. purchase alcohol, food, beverage, give-away promotional items, or entertainment;

h. lend money to support farming or agricultural business operation or expansion;

i. pay costs incurred prior to receiving a cooperative agreement;

j. provide producer scholarships to meetings, seminars or similar events;

k. pay entrance fees, conference registration fees, or other expenses to conferences or similar activities for any person not on the agenda or not working at an event booth promoting RMA programs or the RMA funded project. These expenses will not be paid for the awardee’s

Board of Directors, family members or similar entities. These fees will not be paid for the awardee to attend personal development training in order to train producers;

l. pay costs associated 501(c) applications; and

m. fund any activities prohibited in 2 CFR Parts 200 and 400, as applicable.

D. Limitation on Use of Project Funds for Salaries and Benefits

Total costs for salary and benefits allowed for projects under this Announcement will be limited to not more than 70 percent reimbursement of the funds awarded under the cooperative partnership agreement. The reasonableness of the total costs for salary and benefits allowed for projects under this Announcement will be reviewed and considered by RMA as part of the application review process. Applications for which RMA does not consider the salary and benefits reasonable for the proposed work will be rejected, or will only be offered a cooperative agreement upon the condition of changing the salary and benefits structure to one deemed appropriate by RMA.

E. Indirect Cost Rates

1. Indirect costs allowed for projects submitted under this Announcement will be limited to ten (10) percent of the total direct cost of the cooperative partnership agreement.

Therefore, when preparing budgets, applicants should limit their requests for recovery of indirect costs to the lesser of their institution’s official negotiated indirect cost rate or 10 percent of the total direct costs.

2. RMA reserves the right to negotiate final budgets with successful applicants.

F. Other Submission Requirements

Applicants are entirely responsible for ensuring that RMA receives a complete application package by the closing date and time at the following website: http://rvs.umn.edu/Home.aspx.

RMA strongly encourages applicants to submit applications well before the deadline.

Application packages submitted after the deadline will be rejected with no exceptions granted, therefore will not be considered until the next RFA period.

V. Application Review Information

A. Criteria

Applications submitted under the Risk Management Education Partnerships Program will be evaluated within each RMA Region according to the following criteria:

Project Results – Maximum 40 points available

Each application must demonstrate that the project benefits and results to producers warrant the funding requested. Applications will be scored according to the extent they can: (a) identify the specific actions producers will likely be able to take as a result of the educational activities http://rvs.umn.edu/Home.aspx described by the applicant in the Proposed Results; (b) identify the specific measures for evaluating results including, but not limited to, a change in producer behavior that results in (i) understanding crop insurance program and other risk management tools presented, (ii) evaluating what risk management options works best for his/her operation, and (iii) developing and implementing a specific course of action ( e.g., participation in crop insurance programs or creating a risk management plan or other risk management actions) listed by the applicant in the

Proposal Narrative; and (c) compare work described in the Proposal Narrative and the Statement of Work (e.g., work to be done) against the Budget Narrative (e.g. cost of work to be done) to the

Proposed Results (e.g., benefits to the producers). Higher consideration will be given to applications that demonstrate a clear description of the crop insurance education and risk management training to be delivered, alignment with priorities listed in Section I, C and D, expected actions producers will accomplish, well-designed methods for measuring the project’s results, and the best use of funds for the number of producers reached at the cost per producer.

Statement of Work (SOW) – Maximum 10 points available

Each application must include a clear and specific Statement of Work for the project as part of the

Proposal Narrative. For each of the tasks contained in the Description of Agreement Award (see

Section II, Award Information), the application must identify and describe specific tasks, responsible entities including partners, expected completion dates and deliverables that will further the purpose of this program. RMA substantial involvement must be included. Higher consideration will be given to the Statement of Work that demonstrates specific, measurable results and definite deadlines for the completion of tasks.

Partnering – Maximum 10 points available

Each application must list all partners working on the project, their titles, and how they will contribute to the deliverables listed in the application. The application must describe how each partner will aid in carrying out the project goal and purpose stated in this announcement and must include Letters of Commitment dated no more than 45 days prior to submission of the relevant application stating that the partner has agreed to do this work. Applications will receive higher consideration to the extent that the application demonstrates: (a) that partnership commitments are in place for the express purpose of delivering the program in this announcement; (b) that a broad group of producers will be reached within the State; (c) that partners are contributing to the project and involved in recruiting producers to attend the training; (d) that a substantial effort has been made to partner with organizations that can meet the needs of producers in the designated

State; and (e) statements from each partner regarding the number of producers that partner is committed to recruit for the project that would support the estimates specified under the Project

Impacts criterion. No points will be given if a partner is listed but there is no corresponding

Letter of Commitment from the partner who is listed in the application.

Key Personnel and Organizational Capacity – Maximum 30 points available

Each application must demonstrate an ability to implement sound and effective project management practices. Higher scores in this category will be awarded to applications that demonstrate organizational skills, leadership, and experience in delivering services or programs that assist agricultural producers in the designated State. Each application must demonstrate that the Project Director has the capability to accomplish the project goal and purpose stated in this announcement by (a) having a previous or existing working relationship with the agricultural community in the designated State of the application, including being able to recruit approximately the number of producers to be reached in the application and/or (b) having established the capacity to partner with and gain the support of producer organizations, agribusiness professionals, and agribusiness leaders locally to aid in carrying out a program of education and information, including being able to recruit approximately the number of producers to be reached in this application. Applications must designate an alternate individual to assume responsibility as Project Director in the event the original Project Director is unable to finish the project. Applications that will employ, or have access to, personnel who have experience in directing local educational programs that benefit agricultural producers in the respective State will receive higher rankings in this category.

Budget Appropriateness and Efficiency – Maximum 10 points available

Applications must provide a (1) total cost of the project; (2) cost per producer and (3) a detailed budget narrative that clearly explains and justifies costs associated with the project’s tasks listed in the Statement of Work. Applications must provide detailed costs by tasks listed in the

Statement of Work. Applications will receive higher scores in this category to the extent that they can demonstrate a fair and reasonable use of funds appropriate for the project and a budget that contains the estimated cost of reaching each individual producer.

B. Review and Selection Process

RMA does not permit applicants to nominate reviewers or propose exclusion of reviewers in the program review and selection process. Applications will be evaluated using a two-part process.

First, each application will be screened by USDA and RMA personnel to ensure that it meets the requirements in this Announcement. Applications that do not meet the requirements of this

Announcement or that are incomplete will not receive further consideration during the next process. Applications that meet Announcement requirements will be sorted into the RMA Region in which the applicant proposes to conduct the project and will be presented to a review panel for consideration.

Second, the review panel will meet to consider and discuss the merits of each application. The panel will consist of not less than three independent reviewers. Reviewers will be drawn from

USDA, other Federal agencies, and public and private organizations, as needed. After considering the merits of all applications within an RMA Region, panel members will score each application according to the criteria and point values listed above. The panel will then rank each application against others within the RMA Region according to the scores received. The review panel will report the results of the evaluation to the Manager of FCIC. The panel’s report will include the recommended applicants to receive cooperative partnership agreements for each RMA

Region. Funding will not be provided for an application receiving a score less than 60.

Funding will not be provided for an application that is “highly similar” to a higher-scoring application in the same RMA Region. “Highly similar” is defined as one that proposes to reach producers, farmers and ranchers who are likely to be reached by another applicant that scored higher by the panel and provides the same general educational material. An organization, or group of organizations in partnership, may apply for funding under other FCIC or RMA programs, in addition to the program described in this Announcement. However, if the Manager of FCIC determines that an application recommended for funding is sufficiently similar to a project that has been funded or has been recommended to be funded under this or another RMA or FCIC program, then the Manager may elect not to fund that application in whole or in part.

The Manager of FCIC will make the final determination on those applications that will be awarded funding.

VI. Award Administration Information

A. Award Notices

The award document will provide pertinent instructions and information including, at a minimum, the following:

(1) Legal name and address, as it corresponds with its Unique Entity Identifier, of performing organization or institution to which the Manager of FCIC has issued an award under the terms of this request for applications;

(2) Unique Entity Identifier;

(3) Title and description of project;

(4) Name(s) and employing institution(s) of Project Directors chosen to direct and control approved activities;

(5) Identifying Unique Federal Award Identification Number (FAIN) assigned by RMA;

(6) Project period, specifying the amount of time RMA intends to support the project;

(7) Amount of Federal funds obligated by the particular award document, total amount of Federal funds obligated, and total amount of federal award by RMA, as approved by the Manager of

FCIC during the project period;

(8) Legal authority(ies) under which the award is issued;

(9) Appropriate Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) numbers and program name

(i.e. Partnerships);

(10) Applicable RMA award terms and conditions;

(11) Approved budget plan for categorizing allocable project funds to accomplish the stated purpose of the award;

(12) Indirect cost rate;

(13) Federal awarding agency, awarding official contact information, and date the authorized agency official signs the award document;

(14) Total approved cost-sharing or matching, when applicable;

(15) Performance goals, including though not necessarily limited to timing and scope of intended outcomes aligned with Agency goals and objectives;

(16) RFA awards are not research & development (R&D) awards;

(17) SAM and UEI requirements as found in Attachment A;

(18) Subaward and executive compensation requirements as found in Attachment B;

(19) Trafficking in persons requirements from 2 C.F.R. 175.15(b);

(20) Drug-free workplace requirement from 2 C.F.R part 421, which adopts the Government-wide implementation at 2 C.F.R. part 182 of the Drug-Free Workplace Act 1988, Sections 5152-5158;

(21) Applicable administrative requirements, national policy requirements, and any other general award terms and conditions, including though not limited to RMA-specific terms and conditions at http://www.rma.usda.gov/aboutrma/agreements/; and

(22) Other information or provisions deemed necessary by RMA to carry out its respective awarding activities or to accomplish the purpose of a particular award.

Following approval by the Manager of FCIC of the applications to be selected for funding, project leaders whose applications have been selected for funding will be notified. Within the limit of funds available for such a purpose, the Manager of FCIC will enter into cooperative partnership agreements with those selected applicants.

After a cooperative partnership agreement has been signed, RMA will extend to awardees, in writing, the authority to draw down funds for the purpose of conducting the activities listed in the agreement. Successful applicants must respond to RMA in writing with either an acceptance or http://www.rma.usda.gov/aboutrma/agreements/ rejection of award. All funds provided to the applicant by FCIC must be expended solely for the purpose for which the funds are obligated in accordance with the approved cooperative partnership agreement and budget, the regulations, the terms and conditions of the award, and the applicability of Federal cost principles. No commitment of Federal assistance beyond the project period is made or implied for any award resulting from this notice.

Notification of denial of funding will be sent to applicants after final funding decisions have been made and the awardees announced publicly. Unsuccessful applicants will be provided a debriefing upon request to the Deputy Director, Risk Management Education Division.

B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

1. Requirement to Use USDA Logo

Applicants awarded cooperative partnership agreements will be required to use a USDA Logo provided by RMA for all instructional and promotional materials, when deemed appropriate.

2. Requirement to Provide Project Materials and Information to an RMA-selected Representative

Applicants awarded cooperative partnership agreements will be required to provide RMA educational materials, tools, webpages or similar items no later than 20 business days before use in the public domain for the purpose of RMA review and approval. Educational materials cannot be used without RMA approval. In addition, award recipients will assist RMA in evaluating the effectiveness of its educational programs by notifying RMA of upcoming training meeting and by providing documentation of educational activities, materials, and related information to any representative selected by RMA for program evaluation purposes.

3. Access to Panel Review Information

Upon written request from the applicant, scores from the evaluation panel, not including the identity of reviewers, will be sent to the applicant after the review and award process has been completed.

4. Confidential Aspects of Applications and Awards

The names of applicants, the names of individuals identified in the applications, the content of applications, and the panel evaluations of applications will all be kept confidential, except to those involved in the review process, to the extent permitted by law. In addition, the identities of review panel members will remain confidential throughout the entire review process and will not be released to applicants. At the end of the fiscal year, names of panel members will be made available. However, panelists will not be identified with the review of any particular application.

When an application results in a cooperative partnership agreement, that agreement becomes a part of the official record of RMA transactions, available to the public upon specific request.

Information that the Secretary of Agriculture determines to be of a confidential, privileged, or proprietary nature will be held in confidence to the extent permitted by law. Therefore, any information that the applicant wishes to be considered confidential, privileged, or proprietary should be clearly marked within an application, including the basis for such designation. The original copy of an application that does not result in an award will be retained by RMA for a period of one year. Other copies will be destroyed. Copies of applications not receiving awards will be released only with the express written consent of the applicant or to the extent required by law. An application may be withdrawn at any time prior to award.

5. Audit Requirements

Applicants awarded cooperative partnership agreements are subject to audit at any time in the present or future.

6. Prohibitions and Requirements Regarding Lobbying

All cooperative agreements will be subject to the requirements of 2 C.F.R.