FY2024 2501 NOFO final.pdf

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA)

Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE)

Billing Code: 3412-89-P

Notice of Funding Opportunity No.: OPPE-019

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) No.: 10.443 – Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers

AGENCY: Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement, USDA

ACTION: Notice of Funding Opportunity for Fiscal Year 2024

SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of funds for fiscal year (FY) 2024 and solicits applications from community-based and non-profit organizations, institutions of higher education, and Tribal entities to compete for financial assistance through the Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program (hereinafter referred to as the “2501 Program”). The term veteran, as used in this program, refers to military veterans.

The overall goal of the 2501 Program is to encourage and assist underserved farmers and ranchers, military veteran farmers and ranchers, and beginning farmers and ranchers with owning and operating farms and ranches and in participating equitably in the full range of agricultural, forestry, and related programs offered by USDA. It also includes projects that develop underserved youths' interest in agriculture. In partnership with the OPPE, eligible entities may compete for funding on projects that provide education and training in agriculture, agribusiness, forestry, agricultural-related services, and USDA programs, and to conduct outreach initiatives designed to accomplish those goals. This partnership includes working closely with OPPE, attend OPPE-led events in your proposed service territory, and collaborate with USDA Service Centers located in your state (Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Rural Development).

DATES: Only one project proposal may be submitted per eligible entity. Proposals must be submitted through Grants.gov (www.grants.gov) and received by July 5, 2024, at 11:59 p.m.

EDT. Proposals submitted after this deadline will not be considered for funding.

The OPPE will host two (2) webinars during the open period of this announcement as provided below. Sessions will be recorded. Additional sessions may be necessary to answer questions and clarify requirements. Registration is not required to participate.

Session 1: May 22, 2024, at 2:00pm EDT - To attend the webinar, click:

https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1616233057?pwd=MFRTRklXYnFQaThxeDZ3MmwwOWlPUT09

Session 2: June 26, 2024 at 2:00pm EDT - To attend the webinar, click:

https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1615399036?pwd=NkdUN2VIdUNwenFGZENrc1laTVo2UT09 https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1616233057?pwd=MFRTRklXYnFQaThxeDZ3MmwwOWlPUT09 https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1615399036?pwd=NkdUN2VIdUNwenFGZENrc1laTVo2UT09

Filing a Complaint of Discrimination

To file a program discrimination complaint, you may obtain a complaint form by sending an email to CR-Info@USDA.gov. You or your authorized representative must sign the complaint form.

You are not required to use the complaint form. You may write a letter instead. If you write a letter, it must contain all the information requested in the form and be signed by you or your authorized representative. Incomplete information will delay the processing of your complaint.

Employment civil rights complaints will not be accepted through this email address.

Send your completed complaint form or letter to USDA by mail, fax, or email:

Mail: Fax: (202) 690-7442 U.S. Department of Agriculture Director, Center for Civil Rights Enforcement 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20250-9410

Email: program.intake@usda.gov

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, OR FOR PROGRAMMATIC COMPLAINTS,

CONTACT:

U. S. Department of Agriculture Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement Attn: Director, Grant Programs Jamie L. Whitten Building, Room 524-A 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.

Washington, D.C. 20250 Phone: (202) 720-6350 Fax: (202) 720-7704 E-mail: 2501Grants@usda.gov

Persons with Disabilities: Persons who require alternative means for communication (Braille large print, audiotape, etc.), should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). Additionally, alternative means for submissions due to disability status will be approved on a case-by-case basis.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Funding/Awards: The total funding provided for this competitive grant program is approximately $22.3 million as provided in the 2018 Farm Bill, which was extended by H.R.

6363 (Further Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, 2024).

The OPPE will award grants from this announcement, subject to availability of funds and the quality of applications received. All applicants will compete based on their organization’s entity type (e.g., nonprofit organization, tribal entity, or higher education institution), as described below. The project period must be three (3) years for all proposals. The maximum amount of requested federal funding for projects shall not exceed $750,000 over the 3-year period.

Additionally, the maximum award per year is $250,000. Projects will be funded in accordance with a properly submitted application, the approved statement of work, and the OPPE Guidelines to maximize outreach, education and technical assistance ensuring geographical distribution of funds as required in section 7 U.S.C. 2279(c)(4)(G).

Funds will be awarded to eligible entities that have at least three (3) years of documented experience, preceding the submission of an application, in working with underserved farmers and ranchers or military veteran farmers and ranchers to improve their ability to start and maintain successful forestry and/or agricultural-related operations. The Secretary shall give priority to eligible nongovernmental and community-based organizations with demonstrated history of serving underserved and military veteran farmers and ranchers (see Section V. Application Review Information). OPPE will check several sources, including the System of Award Management (SAM.gov), to help determine the minimum of 3 years of documented experience in working with either underserved or military veteran farmers and ranchers. Entries in SAM take precedence when determining experience.

**An applicant MUST be an entity or organization. Individuals and for-profit organizations do not meet the eligibility criteria.

Unallowable use of 2501 Grant Program funds:

1. Funds may not be used for the planning, repair, rehabilitation, acquisition, or construction of a building or facility.

2. Funds may not be used to pay hourly wages such as in a jobs creation program for individual farmers or ranchers.

3. Funds may not be used as small agricultural loans for individual farmers or ranchers or used to incentivize individuals to attend events, workshops, or training.

4. Funds may not be used to purchase farming supplies for individual farmers or ranchers or to enhance individual farmers’ or ranchers’ farms or production capabilities.

5. Funds may not be used to reward individual farmers or ranchers for outstanding effort or achievement in training.

6. Funds may not be used to pay for scholarships for individual farmers or ranchers to attend college courses, certificate courses, or other “for fee” based courses.

7. Funds may not be used for start-up or financing costs for businesses or for an organization’s capacity building, which is defined as the development of organizational competencies, strategies, or systems and structures in order to improve organizational efficiency and effectiveness.

8. Funds may not be used for large equipment purchases such as vehicles, semi-tractors, or refrigeration systems.

Eligible entities may receive subsequent years funding provided that:

a) Activities and associated costs do not overlap with projects awarded in previous years; and

b) Recipients are current and compliant with financial and performance reporting. The progress of existing projects, along with the percentage of funds used to date, may impact funding decisions.

Funding will be awarded based on ranked scores comprised of the three categories described below. The OPPE has full discretion to allocate funding among the three categories based upon the number and quality of applications received. There is no commitment by the OPPE to fund any particular application nor is there a requirement to select a minimum number of recipients within each category.

Category #1: Eligible entities described in Sections III.A.2, III.A.3, and III.A.4 (1890 Land-Grant colleges and universities, 1994 Tribal Land-Grants, Alaska Native and American Indian Tribal colleges and universities, and Hispanic-Serving Institutions of higher education).

Category #2: Eligible entities described in Sections III.A.1 and III.A.6 (i.e., nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations as recognized by the Internal Revenue Service, Eligible Tribal Entities as defined in 25 U.S.C. §5304, and coalitions of such organizations or National Tribal organizations).

Category #3: Eligible entities described in Sections III.A.5 and III.A.7 (i.e., all other institutions of higher education including 1862 colleges, nonprofit organizations without a 501(c)(3) status certification from the IRS, and an organization or institution that received funding under this program before January 1, 1996). Nonprofit organizations that do not have an IRS 501(c)(3) Certificate must provide their Articles of Incorporation, filed in their state, that contains a statement of purpose indicating that the organization does not engage in activities prohibited under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

Contents of this Announcement:

I. Notice of Funding Opportunity Description

A. Background B. Scope of Work C. Anticipated Outputs (activities), Outcomes (results), and Performance Measures

II. Award Information A. Statutory Authority B. Expected Amount of Funding C. Project Period D. Award Type E. Conflict of Interest Policy

III. Eligibility Information A. Eligible Entities B. Cost-Sharing or Matching (Not Required) C. Threshold Eligibility Criteria

IV. Proposal and Submission Information

A. System for Award Management (SAM) B. Obtain Proposal Package from Grants.gov (www.grants.gov) C. Content of Proposal Package Submission D. Sub-awards and Partnerships E. Submission Dates and Times F. Confidential Information

G. Pre-Submission Proposal Assistance

V. Application Review Information

A. Evaluation Criteria B. Evaluation Criteria for New Grants Proposals C. Selection of Reviewers

VI. Award Administration Information

A. Award Notices B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements C. Reporting Requirement

I. Notice of Funding Opportunity Description

A. Background

The OPPE is committed to ensuring underserved communities can equitably participate in USDA programs. Differences in demographics, culture, economics, language, and other factors preclude a single approach to identifying solutions that can benefit underserved farmers and ranchers. Grants are provided to nonprofit community-based organizations, higher education institutions, and eligible Tribal entities with at least three

(3) years of documented experience, preceding the submission date of an application.

Eligible entities working with underserved farmers and ranchers or military veteran farmers and ranchers can improve their ability to start and maintain successful forestry and/or agricultural-related operations. With 2501 Program funding, eligible entities can provide education, training, and technical assistance and extend outreach and education efforts to connect with and assist underserved and military veteran farmers and ranchers to provide them with information on available USDA resources.

1. The 2501 Program was authorized by the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade

Act of 1990. The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 expanded the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture (the Secretary) to provide awards under the program and transferred the administrative authority to the OPPE. The Agricultural Act of 2014 further expanded the program to include outreach and technical assistance to military veterans. The 2501 Program extends USDA’s capacity to work with members of farming and ranching communities by funding projects that enhance the equitable participation of underserved and military veteran farmers and ranchers in USDA programs. It is the OPPE’s intention to build lasting relationships among USDA, recipient organizations, and underserved communities to maximize the availability of outreach and technical assistance in targeted communities.

2. Only one proposal will be accepted from each organization. This does not apply to applicants in the State of Massachusetts. The state fiscal sponsor may submit multiple proposals ensuring that only one proposal is submitted on behalf of each of its individual fiscally sponsored organizations.

B. Scope of Work

The 2501 Program provides funding to eligible organizations with at least 3 years of documented experience, preceding the submission of an application, in working with underserved farmers and ranchers or military veteran farmers and ranchers to improve their ability to start and maintain successful forestry and/or agricultural-related operations. Proposals must be consistent with requirements stated in 7 U.S.C.

2279(c)(3). Under this statute, the outreach and technical assistance program funds shall be used exclusively:

1. To enhance coordination of the outreach, technical assistance, education, and training efforts authorized under USDA agriculture programs;

2. To assist the Secretary of Agriculture in:

a. reaching current and prospective underserved farmers or ranchers, military veteran farmers or ranchers, or beginning farmers and ranchers in a linguistically appropriate manner; and

b. improving the participation of those farmers and ranchers in USDA programs.

There are five programmatic mission areas that support the goals of the 2501 Program.

Proposals from eligible entities must address at least two of the five following programmatic mission areas as they develop their goals:

i. Assist underserved, military veteran farmers and ranchers, including beginning farmers and ranchers in owning and operating successful farms and ranches;

ii. Improve participation among underserved or military veteran farmers and ranchers in USDA programs;

iii. Build relationships between current and prospective farmers and ranchers who are underserved or military veterans and USDA’s local, state, regional, and National offices;

iv. Assist in reaching current and prospective underserved farmers, ranchers, or forest landowners in a linguistically appropriate manner; and

v. Assist with identifying problems and barriers underserved farmers experience and working towards minimizing or alleviating those issues to enable their equitable participation in USDA programs.

The OPPE shall seek input from eligible entities providing technical assistance under this subsection not less than once each year to ensure that the program is responsive to the eligible entities providing that technical assistance (7 U.S.C. 2279(c)(4)(J)). The OPPE may require Project Directors to attend an Annual Meeting that can be expensed with awarded grant funds not to exceed $1,800 per award year. The Annual Meeting will allow participants, USDA officials, and other agriculture-related industry participants to network, encourage partnerships, share best practices, discuss programmatic requirements, share information on new and enhanced USDA programs and services, and obtain programmatic feedback. Stakeholder input will also be accepted by September 30th of each fiscal year by those unable to attend the Annual Meeting in person at:

2501Grants@usda.gov.

C. Evaluation Plans

Proposals must also include a plan for evaluating the success of the organization’s programs in meeting the programmatic mission areas. As noted above, proposals must address at least two of the five programmatic mission areas. Evaluation plans should include:

1. Proposed Outputs (Activities). The term “output” describes the physical result of your work. Outputs indicate the volume of project activity and generally addresses the question of “how much?” An example of an output is “number of training sessions conducted,” “number of individuals receiving training,” or “number of educational materials developed.” Other examples may include:

a. Conduct 12 workshops annually, either virtually or in-person, on how to write a business plan;

b. Assist 100 new farmers/ranchers annually on what is required to be able to process and accept SNAP payments;

c. Within the 3-year period of award, create 10 step-by-step videos in 3 languages on implementing new irrigation techniques.

2. Proposed Performance Measures. Performance Measures evaluate an organization’s progress in meeting their objective which should be based on at least two of the five programmatic mission areas mentioned above; compare actual results to expected results; and evaluate their project’s effectiveness in delivering expected results. Organizations should develop outcome-based performance measures to ensure their project is progressing to meet their goals. Applicants must develop performance measure targets for each of their proposed activities. These targets will be used as a mechanism to track the progress and success of the project. Quantitative data is expressed in quantities, amounts, or a range and can be used to measure outputs and outcomes. Qualitative data is information that cannot be measured such as a change in perceptions. Baselines must be established in order to determine whether an organization is meeting their goals. An example of a Performance Measure is a comparison of how many farmers and ranchers know about available USDA programs before an organization conducts their workshops on USDA programs compared to the number of farmers and ranchers that know about available USDA programs after training is conducted.

3. Outcomes (Results). The term “outcome” means the final impact, difference or effect that has occurred as a result from carrying out an activity, workshop, meeting, or from delivery of services related to a 2501 programmatic goal or objective.

Results may be agricultural, behavioral, social, or economic in nature. Outcomes may reflect an increase in knowledge or skills, a greater awareness of available resources or programs, or actions taken by stakeholders as a result of learning from or participating in an outreach activity. Specifically, outcomes must be quantitative as it relates to the project goals and objectives. Proposals should include the anticipated outcomes expected to result from the project’s activities.

4. Reporting Requirements. Project Managers will be required to document anticipated outcomes that are funded under this announcement. The OPPE is congressionally mandated to report progress toward the program’s performance measures each year. To do so, grantees will be required to complete a mid-year and year-end report on their progress toward meeting the program’s goals and objectives.

Grantees are encouraged to include a description of how they will collect this information in their proposed evaluation plans. Not all questions will apply to all grantees, and applicants should address the performance measures that apply to their proposed programs. The 2501 Program reporting mandates are as follows:

a. The activities undertaken by grantees and the services provided.

i. How many activities provided technical assistance.

b. The number of current and prospective socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers (SDVFRs) served and the outcomes of such service.

i. Total number of SDVFRs reached during the outreach process.

ii. Total number of SDVFRs that participated in technical assistance.

iii. Total number of SDVFRs:

1. Assisted in owning and operating successful farms or ranches

2. That improved participation in USDA programs

3. That built relationships with USDA local, state, regional, and national offices

4. Assisted in alleviating barriers to participating in USDA programs

5. Assisted with building resilience to climate change and increasing agricultural productivity

6. Assisted with efficient and renewable energy practices

7. That experienced increased access to land and credit

8. Assisted in resolving heirs’ property issues

9. Assisted with farm/financial planning to increase farm operation sustainability

10. Assisted in strengthening the food supply chain

c. The problems and barriers identified by entities in trying to increase participation by current and prospective socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers.

i. The total number of SDVFRs, at the time of assistance, reporting a desire for overcoming barriers to participating in USDA programs

ii. The total number of SDVFRs who reported overcoming barriers to participating in USDA programs

d. The number of farms or ranches started, maintained, or improved as a result of funds made available under the program.

e. Actions taken or activities performed in partnership with USDA agencies to enhance participation in agricultural programs by veteran or socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.

i. Total amount of:

1. Outreach for USDA programs and services

2. Outreach for State-level programs and services

3. Outreach for local and/or community programs

f. The effectiveness of the outreach in section (e).

i. Short Term Impacts

1. Total number of program participants reporting increases in:

a. Awareness of USDA programs; applications for and approval for USDA programs

b. Knowledge/skill development

c. Ability to apply knowledge/skills

d. Farmer/USDA connections or network development

e. Agricultural yield improvement

ii. Long Term Impacts

1. The total number of program participants reporting:

a. Reduction in problems and barriers faced by farmers/ranchers

b. Increased, equitable participation in farming and ranching activities

c. Increased representation of Socially Disadvantaged Groups in local farming and ranching activities

d. Improved quality of life in rural and tribal communities

Additionally, grantees should be prepared to collect and provide demographic information about participants collected in line with OMB’s Updated Statistical Policy Directive (SPD) 15. Technical assistance in designing data collections related to SPD-15 will be offered to grantees throughout the grant period.

Grantees are encouraged to allow at least 1% of their total project budget for evaluation services or tools.

II. Award Information

A. Statutory Authority

The statutory authority for this action is 7 U.S.C. 2279(c), which authorizes award funding for projects designed to provide outreach and technical assistance to underserved or military veteran farmers or ranchers.

B. Expected Amount of Funding

The total estimated funding expected to be available for awards under this competitive opportunity is approximately $22.3 million. The maximum amount of requested federal funding shall not exceed $750,000.

https://spd15revision.gov/ https://spd15revision.gov/

C. Project Period

The performance period for projects selected from this solicitation will not begin prior to the effective award date listed in the grant agreement. The project period must be three

(3) years.

D. Award Type

Funding for selected projects will be in the form of a grant agreement which must be fully executed no later than September 30 annually. The anticipated federal involvement will include, but not be limited to, the following activities:

1. Approval of recipients’ final budget and Project Narrative or statement of work accompanying the grant agreement;

2. Monitoring of recipients’ performance through semi-annual and final financial and performance reports; and

3. Conducting on-site and/or virtual monitoring visits to review compliance, use of federal funds and fidelity in implementing the project.

All award notifications will be “conditionally approved” pending final validation of all selected applicants’ submission documentation and/or application package. OPPE reserves the right not to fund any “conditionally approved” application(s) found to be ineligible after final validation.

E. Conflict of Interest Policy

(a) Applicability.

(1) This section intends to ensure that non-federal entities and their employees take appropriate steps to avoid conflicts of interest in their responsibilities under or with respect to federal financial assistance agreements.

(2) In the procurement of supplies, equipment, and services by recipients and by subrecipients, the conflict-of-interest provisions in 2 CFR 200.318 apply. Use of funds for the planning, repair, rehabilitation, acquisition, or construction of a building or facility is prohibited under 2279(c)(4)(H).

(b) Notification.

(1) Non-federal entities, including applicants for financial assistance awards, must disclose in writing any conflict of interest to the USDA awarding agency or pass-through entity in accordance with 2 CFR 200.112.

(2) Recipients must establish internal controls that include, at a minimum, procedures to identify, disclose, and mitigate or eliminate identified conflicts of interest. The recipient is responsible for notifying the program staff in writing of any conflicts of interest that may arise during the life of the award, including those that have been reported by subrecipients.

(c) Restrictions on lobbying. Non-federal entities are strictly prohibited from using funds under a grant or cooperative agreement for lobbying activities and must provide the required certifications and disclosures pursuant to 7 C.F.R. § 2500.003, 2 C.F.R. part 418, and 31 U.S.C. 1352.

(d) Review procedures. The program staff will examine each conflict-of-interest disclosure on the basis of its particular facts and the nature of the proposed grant or cooperative agreement, and will determine whether a significant potential conflict exists and, if it does, develop an appropriate means for resolving it.

(e) Enforcement. Failure to resolve conflicts of interest in a manner that satisfies the government may be cause for termination of the award. Failure to make required disclosures may result in any of the remedies described in 2 CFR 200.339, Remedies for noncompliance, including suspension or debarment (see also 2 CFR Part 180 and 2 CFR part 417).

III. Eligibility Information

A. Eligible Entities

1. Per 7 CFR 2500.104, proposals may be submitted by any of the following:

(a) Any community-based organization, network, or coalition of community-based organizations that:

(1) Has demonstrated experience in providing agricultural education or other agriculturally related services to underserved or military veteran farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners;

(2) has provided to the Secretary documentary evidence of work with, and on behalf of underserved or military veteran farmers, ranchers, or forest landowners during the three-year period preceding the submission of a proposal for assistance under this program; and;

(3) Does not engage in activities prohibited under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

2. An 1890 institution or 1994 institution (as defined in 7 U.S.C. §7601 and in Section 533 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. §301 note).

3. An American Indian Tribal community college or an Alaska Native cooperative college.

4. A Hispanic-Serving Institution of higher education (as defined in 7 U.S.C. §3103).

5. Any other institution of higher education (as defined in 20 U.S.C. §1001) that has demonstrated experience in providing agriculture education or other agriculturally related services to underserved or military veteran farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners in a region.

6. Eligible tribal entities as defined in 25 U.S.C. § 5304 or a national tribal organization that has demonstrated experience in providing agriculture education or other agriculturally related service to underserved or military veteran farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners in a region. Note: entities under 25 U.S.C. § 5304 are defined as “Indian tribe” or “Indian Tribe” which means any Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community, including any Alaska Native village or regional or village corporation as defined in or established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (85 Stat. 688), which is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians. The term “Indian” means a person who is a member of an Indian tribe.

7. Other organizations or institutions that received funding under this program before

January 1, 1996, but only with respect to projects that the Secretary considers similar to projects previously carried out by the entity under this program.

B. Cost-Sharing or Matching

There are no cost-sharing nor matching requirements associated with this program.

Applicants may charge their negotiated indirect cost rate or 10 percent, whichever is lower. Indirect cost rates exceeding 10 percent will not be permitted.

C. Threshold Eligibility Criteria

Applications from eligible entities that meet all criteria will be evaluated as follows:

1. Proposals must comply with the submission instructions and requirements set forth in

Section IV of this announcement. Pages greater than the page limitation will not be considered.

2. Proposals must be received through Grants.gov (www.grants.gov) as specified in

Section IV of this announcement on or before the proposal submission deadline.

Applicants will receive an electronic confirmation receipt of their proposal from Grants.gov.

3. Proposals received after the submission deadline will not be considered. Note that in order to submit proposals, organizations must create an account in Grants.gov and in the System for Awards Management (www.SAM.gov); both of which could take several weeks. Therefore, it is strongly suggested that organizations begin this process immediately. Registering early could prevent unforeseen delays in submitting your proposal.

4. Proposals must address a minimum of two programmatic mission areas listed in

Section I, Part B, (i-v) to provide outreach, education, and/or technical assistance to underserved or military veteran farmers or ranchers.

5. Recipients of a 2501 Grant with a Period of Performance that extends beyond 90 days of the current fiscal year are not eligible to apply (this does not apply to recipients with a no-cost extension). For example, current 2501 Grant recipients must complete their projects by the end of the current calendar year to be eligible to apply.

6. Incomplete or partial applications will not be eligible for consideration. Any required documents missing from an application will render that applicant ineligible and the application will not be forwarded to the Review Panel (the Panel) for review.

Additionally, applications may not be accepted for review if they exceed the maximum allowable pages for the Project Narrative, exceed the maximum federal budget request, or propose objectives that do not adhere to the specific goals of the 2501 Program. See Section IV. Content of Proposal Package Submission, subparagraph C, for required documents.

IV. Proposal and Submission Information

A. System for Award Management (SAM)

SAM.gov streamlines the application process and reduces applicant burden by enabling applicants to complete the required Financial Assistance Representations and Certifications in SAM.gov when applying for any federal financial assistance.

Registration with SAM (www.sam.gov) is mandatory. There is NO fee to register for this site. This registration must be maintained and updated annually in order to keep active status. Applicants can register or update their profile, at no cost, by visiting the SAM website at www.sam.gov. This is a requirement to registering for Grants.gov where all organizations must submit their application.

The Financial Assistance Representations and Certifications Report must be completed. Grant applicants are essentially applying for federal financial assistance.

Therefore, to complete the Financial Assistance Representations and Certifications Report, you must respond “yes” to the question in SAM.gov that asks, “Does XYZ Organization wish to apply for a federal financial assistance project or program?”

Completing this report certifies that your organization is in compliance with all relevant provisions of federal laws, executive orders, regulations, and public policies governing financial assistance awards.

Per 2 CFR part 200, applicants are required to: 1) be registered in SAM and have active status prior to submitting an application; 2) provide a valid unique entity identifier (UEI) in the application; and 3) continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which the organization has an active federal award or an application or plan under consideration by a federal awarding agency. The OPPE may not make a federal award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable UEI and SAM requirements. If an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time the OPPE is ready to make a federal award, the OPPE may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a federal award and use that determination as a basis for making a federal award to another applicant. Additionally, organizations found to have unresolved key personnel exclusions will not be awarded.

SAM contains the publicly available data for all active exclusion records entered by the Federal Government identifying those parties excluded from receiving federal contracts, certain subcontracts, and certain types of federal financial and non-financial assistance and benefits. All applicant organizations and their key personnel will be vetted through SAM to ensure compliance with this federal requirement. Organizations identified as having delinquent federal debt may contact the Treasury Offset Program for instructions on resolution at (800) 304-3107. In the meantime, organizations will not be awarded a grant prior to resolution.

Should an applicant be awarded a grant, ezFedGrants (USDA’s financial grants management system) is linked with SAM to ensure funding payments are directed properly; therefore, entities must enter their banking information through SAM. Federal agencies cannot award funding to any organization not possessing an active registration in SAM.

B. Obtain Proposal Package from Grants.gov (www.grants.gov)

Federal agencies post competitive funding opportunities on Grants.gov and applicants must submit their application or proposal to apply for federal financial assistance through Grants.gov. Applicants can learn about grants by visiting Grants.gov (www.grants.gov), clicking on the Learn Grants tab and search for funding opportunities by clicking on the Search Grants tab on this site.

All Applicants will be required to register with Grants.gov in order to begin the proposal submission process. We strongly suggest you initiate this process immediately to avoid processing delays due to registration requirements. There is no cost for registration. This website is managed by the Department of Health and Human Services, not the OPPE.

Many federal agencies use this website to post Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) announcements to the public. Click on the “Support” tab to contact their customer support personnel if you need help with submitting your application.

Applicants may download individual grant proposal forms from Grants.gov. For assistance with Grants.gov, consult the Applicant User Guide at http://grants.gov/assets/ApplicantUserGuide.pdf.

Federal funding agencies post funding opportunities on Grants.gov. The OPPE is not responsible for submission issues associated with Grants.gov. If you experience submission issues, contact Grants.gov support staff for assistance.

Proposals must be submitted by July 5, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. EDT. Proposals submitted after this deadline will not be considered.

C. Content of Proposal Package Submission

All submissions must contain completed and electronically signed original application forms, as well as a Project Narrative and a Budget Narrative as described below:

1. Required forms, documents, and attachments. The forms listed below can be found in the proposal package at Grants.gov and must be submitted with all applications.

Required forms are provided in the package as fillable forms. Applicants must download and complete these forms and submit them in the application submission portal at Grants.gov. PDF documents listed below are documents the applicant must create and submit in PDF format. Use the checklist of required documents below to submit your application through Grants.gov:

Standard Form (SF) 424, Application for Federal Assistance Project/Performance Site Location(s) Project Abstract Summary Project Narrative (in PDF format) Standard Form (SF) 424A, Budget Information–Non-Construction Programs Budget Narrative (in PDF format) Key Contacts (list names of all key personnel expected to work on the project) Grants.gov Lobbying Form

Attachments Form (where you may place all your appendices, i.e., 501(c)3 Certificate/letter from the IRS (for non-profit organizations holding this status), Articles of Incorporation for all non-profit and community-based organizations (CBOs), Resumes for Key Project Personnel, Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) for non-federal entities wanting to claim 10% on Total Direct Cost, Letters of Partnership from non-federal entities, Letters of Intent, Letters of Support from non-federal entities, and other supporting documents, etc.)

Do not include lengthy or unnecessary organizational documents such as your organization’s business plans, Annual Reports, or full course or training curriculums in your application. Excessively large documents in applications are cumbersome and increase downloading errors from Grants.gov and in forwarding to the Review Panel.

Below is further guidance, where needed, for completing the required forms, documents, and attachment forms listed above.

SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance Complete all highlighted areas on this form. Pay particular attention to blocks 8a, b, and c, Legal Name of the organization applying for Federal Assistance, Tax Identification Number, and UEI. This information should indicate the Prime or Lead applicant information (i.e., fiscal sponsor, if appropriate) that OPPE will use to determine initial applicant eligibility via SAM.gov. Also, pay particular attention to block 18a of the SF-424. This is the total 3-year award amount of federal funding you are requesting under the 2501 Program. This form is the official requesting document and the amount that will be considered if you should have any discrepancies between this form and your Budget Information Form, SF-424A. Ensure this form is completed with accuracy, particularly contact information: email addresses and phone numbers. The OPPE may not be able to reach you if your information is incorrect.

Project/Performance Site Location(s) Complete all highlighted areas on this form. Add additional locations if your project will be carried out at additional sites.

Special note concerning project/performance site location(s) in Tribal Areas:

Organizations that plan to work or interact with Native American groups and Tribal communities (both state and federally recognized) are asked to reach out to those communities to first obtain agreement/permission and prior to conducting presentations, creating printed materials, and distributing handouts.

Project Abstract Summary A Project Abstract Summary is a concise summary about your project. No points will be added or subtracted for the Project Summary Page as it will be used only for informational purposes. It may be used in its entirety or in part for media purposes to include in press releases, informational emails to potential stakeholders or partners, to provide upper echelons of government with a snapshot of an organization, and for demographic purposes. Do not restate the objectives of the 2501 Program (i.e., “to provide outreach and technical assistance for underserved farmers and ranchers and military veterans farmers and ranchers”); the Project Abstract Summary should reflect the goal of your specific project. Limit your Project Abstract Summary to 250 words and include the following:

• Your organization’s name;

• Name of your project;

• Three or four sentences describing your project;

• The primary underserved or military veteran groups to be served;

• The project’s geographic service area (counties, state(s), etc.); and

• Project Director’s name, email address, and telephone number.

Project Narrative (not to exceed 20 double-spaced pages) The Project Narrative is a document that you create. It must include a timeline of proposed activities.

Formatting requirements for Project Narratives are 1-inch margins and 12-point font, and double-spaced. Number each page of the Project Narrative to indicate the total number of pages (i.e., 1 of 20, 2 of 20, etc.). To ensure fairness and uniformity for all applicants, Project Narratives not conforming to this stipulation may not be considered.

To assist in organizing your project narrative please use the following guidelines below:

• Project proposals should include a well-conceived strategy for addressing the programmatic mission areas stated in Section I, Part B, Scope of Work.

Organizations should state which programmatic mission areas will be addressed.

• Define which underserved group(s) or military veterans will be served and establish the existence of the needs of these groups.

• Identify the geographic area of service.

• Discuss the potential impact of the project and how the impact of the project will be lasting after the project period ends.

• Clearly state your organization’s 3-years of experience in delivering agriculture-related services to underserved or military veteran farmers and ranchers and provide documented proof.

• Clearly document how you plan to fulfill the requirement to coordinate efforts in partnership with the OPPE and USDA Service Centers in your state to maximize outreach and training in your service territory.

• Address strategies to help underserved or veteran farmers/ranchers in resolving heirs’ property issues, or farm business/financial planning, or in developing underserved youths’ interest in agriculture.

• Address strategies to help producers expand the food supply chain and strengthen local and regional food systems to ensure fairness, resilience, and equity.

• Discuss plans for informing producers, forest landowners, and rural communities about making science-based decisions to support climate change mitigation, climate resilience, and managing the impacts of climate change.

• Present strategies for removing barriers to access USDA programs and services for underserved communities, producers, and military veterans.

• Present strategies for addressing food and nutrition security.

• Discuss initiatives in generating business opportunities and economic development in rural areas.

• Programmatic and Financial Management Capability: Project proposals must:

1) identify the experience of the organization’s key personnel taking part in the project, and details of successfully completed past projects; 2) identify the names of organizations that will be your non-federal partners in the project (if any); (3) identify the qualifications, relevant experience, education, and publications of each Project Manager or partners; and (4) specifically address the work to be completed by key personnel and their roles and responsibilities within the scope of the proposed project. This includes partnering scenarios whereas each partners’ roles and responsibilities must be defined. Include key personnel resumes on the Attachment Form of the application.

• Monitoring plan and Data Collection Process: Clearly document a detailed plan for tracking and measuring project progress including the results of the project in terms of achieving expected project outputs and outcomes as stated in Section I, Part C, Performance Measures. Address both quantitative and qualitative data. A mitigation or contingency plan should also be addressed.

• Timelines are an integral part of your project and must be included in your

Project Narrative. In an organized format, create a timeline for each task to be accomplished during the entire 3-year proposed period of performance.

Relate each task to one of the five programmatic mission areas in Section I, Part B. The timeline is part of the 20-page limit and should be detailed enough to show your activities, start and end dates, assigned personnel, milestones, and deliverables in a chronological order. The timeline may be in a table format and does not have to be double-spaced.

Attach your Project Narrative in PDF format to the Mandatory Project Narrative form in your Grants.gov package.

SF-424A, Budget Information–Non-Construction Programs Provide as much information as possible on the SF-424A for each year of your project. For example, on page 1 of SF-424A, line 1 across may indicate year one of your project, line 2 across may indicate year two of your project, and line 3 across may indicate year three of your project. On page 1A of SF-424A, columns 1 through 3 may represent each year of your project. All cost categories on page 1A of this form are considered direct costs. Indirect cost rates exceeding 10 percent will not be permitted.

An applicant may apply its Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) up to the statutory limit of 10 percent. In this case, the amount charged as indirect cannot be more than 10 percent of the total funds received. Entities applying their NICRA up to the 10 percent limit would base their indirect costs on Total Direct Costs (TDC). Include your NICRA Agreement on the Attachment Form of the Application.

Applicants that do not have a NICRA may apply the de minimis indirect cost rate of 10 percent. In this case, the amount charged as indirect would be based on 10 percent of the Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC). Please see 2 CFR 200.1 for the definition of Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC).

Budget Narrative (not to exceed 5 pages) The Budget Narrative is a document that you create. It must be no more than five pages. It does NOT have to be double spaced. You may use tables. While the OPPE understands that your proposed budget is an estimation of costs, your Budget Narrative should be based on financial forecasting assumptions. The Budget Narrative should identify and describe the costs associated with the proposed project, including total costs for subawards or contracts and indirect costs. Budget narratives for subawards should remain separate from the Prime or Lead applicant budget but award amount for subawards should be reflected in the Contractual Cost category of the Prime applicant’s budget. All costs should be very detailed and descriptive as to their purpose. Review 2 CFR part 200 Subpart E—Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards to ensure your project is not planned with unallowable costs. Applicants may charge their negotiated indirect cost rate or 10 percent, whichever is lower. Indirect cost rates exceeding 10 percent will not be permitted. Each cost indicated must be reasonable, allocable, necessary, and allowable under 2 CFR part 200, Subpart E in order to be funded.

• Cost categories, also called Object Class Categories, include costs for Personnel, Fringe Benefits, Travel, Equipment, Supplies, Contractual, and Other costs.

Personnel costs: For each key staff person, provide the name (if known), title, time commitment to the project as a percentage of a full-time equivalent (FTE), annual salary, and grant funded salary. You may refer to the prevailing wage rates established by the Department of Labor by occupation and geographical area. Compensation for personnel services (whether classified as personnel, contractual services, or any other form) may not exceed the pro-rated equivalent of Step III of the Executive Schedule for Federal Employees.

Costs of consultants, subgrants, or contractors should be included in the “Contractual” cost category.

Fringe Benefits: Provide a break-down of amounts and percentages that comprise fringe benefit costs such as health insurance, FICA, retirement, etc.

Travel costs: Provide specifics on purpose of travel, number of travelers, destination, and estimates on costs for airfare, lodging, meals, car rentals, and incidentals. The Federal Travel Regulations should be used as a guide.

Equipment: Any article of nonexpendable, tangible personal property having a useful life of more than one year and an acquisition cost which equals or exceeds the lesser of (a) the capitalization level established by the organization for financial statement purposes, or (b) $5,000. For each type of equipment requested, provide a description of the equipment, the cost per unit, the number of units, the total cost, and a plan for use on the project, as well as use or disposal of the equipment after the project ends.

The Recipient shall maintain an annual inventory, which will include a brief description of the item, serial number, and amount of purchase for equipment purchased with grant funds, or received under a grant, and having a $5,000 or more per unit cost. The inventory must also identify the sub-award under which the equipment was purchased. Maintenance and insurance will be the responsibility of the Recipient. Title of equipment will remain with the Recipient until closeout when disposition will be provided in writing by OPPE within 120 days of submission of final reports.

Supplies: Specify general categories of supplies and their costs (less than $5,000). Show computations and provide other information which supports the amount requested.

Contractual costs: Costs should entail all contracts for services and goods that further the work of the project only.