FY22 Notice of Funding Opportunity RMEPP.pdf

Risk Management Education Partnership Program

Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Risk Management Education Partnership Program National Funding Opportunity (NFO)

No. USDA-RMA-MULTI-RMEPP-22-

NOFO0001129

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NFO)

SUMMARY INFORMATION

Federal Awarding Agency Name: U.S. Department of Agriculture – Risk Management Agency

Notice of Funding Opportunity Title: Risk Management Education Partnership Program

Notice of Funding Opportunity Number: USDA-RMA-MULTI-RMEPP-22-NOFO0001129

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA): This program is listed in the Assistance Listings under the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number 10.460

SAM is a web-based, government-wide application that collects, validates, stores, and disseminates business information about the federal government's trading partners in support of the contract awards, grants, and electronic payment processes.

Notice of Funding Opportunity Summary

The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC), operating through the Risk Management Agency (RMA), announces its intent to award up to $2 million to fund the Risk Management Education Partnership Program. The cooperative agreements will be awarded on a competitive basis up to twelve (12) months from the date of the award.

Key Dates

Applicants must submit their applications electronically via Results Verification System (RVS) https://rvs.umn.edu/Home.aspx, by 5:59 pm Eastern Time (ET) on March 11, 2022, 60 calendar days from date of publications in Grants.gov. Questions regarding this notice of funding opportunity (NFO) may be submitted until February 3, 2022. Responses to questions posed will be posted on Grants.gov approximately two weeks before the application due date. A tutorial on how to apply is available at http://rvs.umn.edu/rmaresources

For inquiries specific to the content of the NFO requirements, contact the federal awarding agency contact (section G of this NFO). Please limit questions to those regarding specific information contained in this NFO (such as dates, page numbers, clarification of discrepancies, etc.) Questions related to eligibility or the merits of a specific proposal will not be addressed.

Key Dates Actions January 10, 2022 NFO Announced in Grants.gov. NFO open for 60 days.

January 11, 2022 NFO/RVS Training Conducted for Potential

Applicants at 3:00pm ET. Training will be recorded and can be accessed either live or after the session at:

https://rvs.umn.edu/Home.aspx http://rvs.umn.edu/rmaresources https://z.umn.edu/RMA-Application-Webinar January 12, 2022 NFO/RVS Training Conducted for Potential

Applicants at 11:00am ET. Training will be recorded and can be accessed either live or after the session at:

https://z.umn.edu/RMA-Application-Webinar

March 11, 2022 NFO Closes at 5:59pm ET Early June 2022 Award notifications begin to be emailed;

Unsuccessful applicants are notified.

August 1, 2022 Project Start Date

The agency anticipates making selections by June 2022 and expects to execute awards no later than August 1, 2022. These dates are estimates and subject to change.

Federal Funding Floor and Ceiling Amounts

The estimated funding floor for this opportunity is $5,000, and the estimated funding ceiling is $200,000. The funding floor means the minimum agreement funding amount for the Federal share per agreement awarded. The ceiling is the maximum agreement funding amount for the Federal share per agreement awarded. These numbers refer to the total agreement amount, not any specific budget period.

Federal Financial Assistance Training

The funding available through this NFO is Federal financial assistance. Grants 101 Training is highly recommended for those seeking knowledge about Federal financial assistance. The training is free and available to the public via https://www.cfo.gov/grants-training/. It consists of five modules covering each of the following topics: 1) laws, regulations, and guidance; 2) financial assistance mechanisms; 3) uniform guidance administrative requirements; 4) cost principles; and 5) risk management and single audit. FPAC agencies also apply Federal financial assistance regulations to certain non-assistance awards (e.g., non-assistance cooperative agreements).

https://z.umn.edu/RMA-Application-Webinar https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fz.umn.edu%2FRMA-Application-Webinar&data=04%7C01%7C%7Cc13bd537231e484a261908d9b4e007de%7Ced5b36e701ee4ebc867ee03cfa0d4697%7C0%7C0%7C637739696577482093%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=uOyns53td9C1CB1ddpTrKMBIRgr2MTYDtVnhwGfB2Uo%3D&reserved=0

Table of Contents

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

1. Available Funding

2. Type of Award

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

1. Eligible Applicants

2. Other

3. Cost Sharing or Matching

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. Electronic Application Package

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

3. Submission Dates and Times and Correspondence

4. Intergovernmental Review

5. Funding Restrictions

6. Indirect costs limitations

E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

1. Review and Selection Process

2. Merit/Technical Criteria

3. Administrative and Risk Criteria

4. Awards Over the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (if applicable)

5. Anticipated Selection Announcement and Federal Award Dates

F. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

1. Federal Award Notices

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

3. Reporting

G. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACT

H. OTHER INFORMATION

APPENDIX - Budget Narrative Guidance

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

1. Purpose

The purpose of this competitive 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 Partnership Program will provide U.S. farmers and ranchers, including limited resource and other traditionally under-served farmers and ranchers with training and information opportunities to be able to understand:

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

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

iii. How to make sound risk management decisions.

The authorizing statutes and regulations for this opportunity are Section 522(d)(3)(F) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (FCIA), (7 U.S.C. § 1522(d)(3)(F)).

2. 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.

3. 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. Cooperative Agreements are awarded with the goal that FCIC will fund crop insurance and risk management projects that are likely to become self-sustaining and not indefinitely dependent on FCIC funds. 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.

4. Definition of Priority Commodities

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

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), sea grass and sea oats, camelina, sweet sorghum, biomass sorghum, and industrial crops.

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.

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.

5. For Fiscal Year 2022:

FCIC through RMA is seeking projects that address one or more of the five (5) areas of risk described as Production, Legal, Financial, Marketing or Human Risk.

Priorities include:

Crop Insurance 101:

What crop insurance is available; How different kinds of insurance work;

Benefits for Beginning Farmers;

What options within each policy are available;

What if crop insurance isn’t available in a county (written agreements-what they are/how they work/how to get them/when they are available);

Who the producer buys insurance from;

How the relationship with the insurance company/agent/loss adjuster/FCIC works;

Understanding policy selections;

Insurance tools available online; Importance of unit selection;

Importance of record keeping and risk management strategies for perennial/specialty/organic crops;

How actual production history and production reporting work and what’s important to the producer;

Price and coverage level interaction with options;

Maintaining production records, etc.; and/or

Specific information on crop insurance that is currently available.

Whole-Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP) Training:

What is WFRP;

How does it work;

What records are required from the producer;

How the amount of insurance is determined and expenses are used in the policy;

How do producers evaluate WFRP for their farm;

How a loss is determined (including replant payments);

How do producers buy WFRP;

Micro farm policy; and

Recordkeeping for fruit/vegetable producers to meet WFRP requirements.

Rainfall Index Insurance: Pasture, Rangeland, Forage (PRF)/Annual Forage/Apiculture:

Training on what PRF is (excluding Alaska and Hawaii), how it works, and how producers can evaluate PRF for their particular farm.

Training on Annual Forage (for Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and any known new states).

Training on Apiculture (all states except Alaska and Hawaii).

For PRF, specific for Arizona, Idaho, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Wyoming, include how the new Rainfall Index (RI-PRF) model works differently from what policy offered previously (these areas converted from Vegetative Index VI-PRF).

All Livestock Products: General education on all the livestock products so producers know what their choices of Federal crop insurance are.

Other Agency Priorities:

Provide education, assistance, and resources to producers on risk management options such as Whole Farm Revenue Protection and Micro Farm policies

Equity and Opportunity

Climate Smart Ag (wildfires, Post Application Coverage Endorsement, Pandemic Cover Crop Program)

Local Foods and Urban Ag

Recordkeeping and Marketing Strategies

Cover Crops and other Soil Conservation Practices

Crop Insurance Education to Tribes

New or Emerging Risk Management Tool

6. Audience Emphasis

Audience emphasis is on U.S. producers and ranchers and should specifically reach out to producer types not normally reached, such as limited resource and underserved producers, to ensure they are given the opportunity to participate in educational activities. Audience groups may include: traditional farmers and ranchers; new and beginning farmers; farmers or ranchers that are preparing to retire and are using transition strategies to help new farmers or ranchers get started; legal immigrant farmers or ranchers, minority producers; African American; Asian American; Pacific Islander, Hispanic; Native American; Urban Farmers; military veterans;

women; farmers and ranchers marketing their products as part of a local or regional food system;

livestock producers, organic producers, new or established farmers or ranchers that are converting production and marketing systems to pursue new markets; producers that demonstrate and document climate smart ag practices; producers using sustainable and/or regenerative practices; small farms or ranches, and value-added producers.

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

1. Available Funding

a. Estimated Funding

The total amount of Federal funding the agency expects to award through this opportunity is up to $2 million. However, the agency retains the discretion to award a larger or lesser amount.

b. Start Dates and Performance Periods Projects will be 12 months in duration. Applicants should plan their projects based on an estimated project start date no later than September 30, 2022.

c. Number of Awards The agency expects to make 20 award(s).

2. Type of Award

a. Type of Federal Award

The agency plans to award a cooperative agreement(s) pursuant to this opportunity. The agency will be substantially involved through RMA’s DC Office and RMA’s ten (10) Regional Offices in the work performed under the agreement and will undertake activities such as the following:

a. Collaborate with the recipient in assembling, reviewing, and approving crop insurance and risk management materials for producers in the designated state(s) or RMA region(s).

b. Collaborate with the recipient 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 designated state(s) or RMA region(s).

c. Collaborate with the recipient on the delivery of education to producers and agribusiness leaders in the designated state(s) or RMA region(s). 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;

(c) assisting the project leader in informing crop insurance professionals about educational activity plans and scheduled meetings; and (d) promoting and creating awareness of scheduled partnership activities.

Regional Office direct involvement in activities is dependent upon resources available. Applicants are encouraged to consider teleconferences or webinars as alternatives to in-person requests.

d. Conduct an evaluation of the performance of the recipient in meeting the tasks of the project.

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

b. Description of Agreement Award – Recipient Tasks In conducting activities to achieve the purpose and goal of this program in a designated state(s) or RMA region(s), the recipient will be responsible for performing the following tasks:

a. 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 state(s) or RMA region(s) of training and informational opportunities.

b. 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 state or RMA region(s). This will include organizing and delivering educational activities using the instructional materials assembled by the recipient 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.

c. 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 recipient will also be required to provide information to RMA as requested for evaluation purposes.

c. 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 clearly identify the objective of the task (e.g., for website tools or mobile phone Apps, applicants must clearly identify the risk management tool they are developing, the targeted user and relationship to crop insurance or managing farm risk and can be self-sustaining for future utilization), specific timelines for performing the tasks, how they will measure the success of these tasks, and the specific responsibilities of partners. The applicant must also identify specific ways in which RMA would have substantial involvement in the proposed project task.

d. Procurement Contracts

The agency does not expect to award procurement contracts associated with this

NFO.

e. Eligibility of Renewal or Supplemental Project Applications Applications for renewal or supplementation of existing projects are not eligible to compete with applications for new Federal awards. An application for renewal means an application submitted to continue an existing agreement that meets the objectives and requirements of this NFO. An application for supplementation of an existing project means an application to add components to an existing agreement so that it would meet the objectives and requirements in this NFO.

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

1. Eligible Applicants Applicants and applications must meet eligibility criteria by the application deadline to be considered for award. Eligible applicant type is determined by the implementing program statute. Applicant entities identified in the SAM.gov exclusions database as ineligible, prohibited/restricted, or excluded from receiving Federal contracts and certain Federal assistance and benefits will not be considered for Federal funding, as applicable to the funding being requested under this Federal program (2 CFR 200.206(d)).

Eligibility for this opportunity is limited to the following entity types:

a. City or township governments

b. County governments

c. For profit organizations other than small businesses

d. Independent school districts

e. Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)

f. Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)

g. Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS (other than institutions of higher education)

h. Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c)(3) status with the IRS (other than institutions of higher education)

i. Nonprofits registered as 501(c)4 or 501(c)5

j. Private institutions of higher education

k. Public and State-controlled institutions of higher education

l. Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities

m. Small businesses

n. Special district governments

o. State governments

2. Other Any award made pursuant to this NFO will be made to a single entity. Applicants that apply as “partnerships” or other similar groupings must clearly describe the relationship between the applicant and the “partner” parties. In all but exceptional cases, it must be reflected in the award as an awardee/subawardee relationship.

An applicant organization may submit more than one application for different projects or proposing different approaches. In the case of applications submitted as revisions or corrections to a previously submitted application under this NFO, the agency will consider the last application submitted prior to the established deadline.

RMA may request documents from applicants to verify eligibility requirements, proof of existence, or authority.

a. Individuals are not eligible applicants.

b. 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 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. Rejected applications will be retained during the NFO process, but will not be made an award.

c. 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. Applications for which applicants fail to identify and disclose possible or actual conflicts of interest may result in, among other possible outcomes, application rejection, funding reimbursement denial, and/or termination.

d. Applicants must note funding restrictions found in Section D 5.

3. Cost Sharing or Matching There is no cost sharing or matching requirement for this opportunity. There is no competitive advantage to applicants who voluntarily provide a match.

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. Electronic Application Package For accessibility purposes, applicants may obtain an electronic copy at http://www.rma.usda.gov/aboutrma/agreements/. Only electronic applications will be accepted and they must be submitted to https://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 username, password, e-mail 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 https://rvs.umn.edu/Home.aspx. Prior to submitting applications, each applicant must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) 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. Each application must continue to maintain an http://www.rma.usda.gov/aboutrma/agreements/ https://rvs.umn.edu/Home.aspx http://www.sam.gov/ 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. RMA strongly encourages you to begin the process early to ensure that the application deadline is met.

Address to Request Application Package All information necessary to apply for this opportunity is included in the Grants.gov opportunity announcement.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission The agency may choose not to consider applications that fail to comply with the required content, format, and page limits, or those that are incomplete.

To be considered for funding under this opportunity, an application must contain the documents below.

The applicant is strongly encouraged to use the tutorial located at https://rvs.umn.edu/Home.aspx. After completing the tutorial, the final application must be submitted to the same site: https://rvs.umn.edu/Home.aspx. All applications must be received in RVS by the deadline, March 11, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. EDT, 60 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:

a. Project Information.

Information must include the Project Name, proposed State(s)/Area(s), 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.

b. Executive Summary of the Project (Maximum of 200 words).

This is a summary of the project and includes the project’s goal and objectives, locations of work, audience to be reached, and expected impact and results of the work completed.

c. Proposed Results.

Applicants must clearly identify the specific actions producers will take as a result of the education activities. In a table format, you must explain what producers will learn, achieve, or apply as a result of participating in the project. The applicant must select a Producer action which describes what program participants will do relative to the specific proposed result. There are five levels of producer actions to choose from within RVS. Projects which include the action “implement” have the most producer engagement and may be more likely to demonstrate a change of behavior. You may have several producer actions for a component of your program. Applicants must also include the method and/or tool that will be used to verify or measure results

d. Audience Emphasis.

Applicant must select at least one or more audiences that the project will intentionally reach.

e. 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 task specific timelines for performing 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 should demonstrate the logical progression of tasks that will lead your target audience to achieve the project’s proposed results. The SOW must be very clear on who does what, where, and when, as well as, the objective for each task.

f. Proposal Narrative (Maximum of 1000 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 SOW 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; (f) discuss the methodology and resulting measures used to evaluate the results of the education and training delivered to producers, (g) provide an explanation of who the target audience is and why they were chosen; and (h) identify clear and reasonable producer outcomes that demonstrate the highest level of behavior change that can be directly linked to the proposed educational activities.

If your proposal will include information collection from non-Federal sources, ensure the collection meets the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act.

Surveys of individuals or entities are generally prohibited without prior approval from the Office of Management and Budget. For additional guidance about allowable and unallowable activities, please visit the following website:

https://pra.digital.gov/do-i-need-clearance/.

g. Innovative Approach.

Applicants are encouraged to introduce new ideas or methods of reaching their targeted audience; propose alternative versus traditional strategies to manage agriculture risk; and/or provide innovative risk management education training, materials, or tools. Applicants should build upon, or collaborate with, previously funded projects, as applicable.

h. Team and Partners.

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

This section must list key personnel by title, role, and responsibilities including specific tasks and subtasks in the SOW designated to them. Key personnel have the primary responsibility for the leadership of the project and actively participate in the development, delivery, and management. Key personnel may include the Project Director, Co-Project Director, and essential partner(s) or consultant(s) whose contributions are essential to the success of the project. Resumes of key personnel are strongly encouraged, and may be uploaded as additional documentation in RVS. (2) Organizational Capacity: The organizational capacity of the applicant must demonstrate 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) Letters of Commitment: 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.

i. Budget Narrative.

The budget narrative must be included and provide a detailed explanation for each budget line item where the activity purpose or means of calculation may not be clear or require further justification. It should include at minimum: (1) Formula used to calculate totals for multiple or replicated costs (e.g., travel and per diem costs for multiple people; training materials and expenses based on participant number, etc.); (2) Supportive explanation and justification for activities and expenses determined essential, but that may not be understood from the narrative or may otherwise be unclear to reviewers; (3) Breakdown of costs associated with relatively high amount line items. The total cost for the project must show how they relate to the tasks listed in the SOW and line items listed on the SF-424A. There must be a relationship between work planned and performed to the costs incurred. Applicants are encouraged to refer to 2 CFR 200 to ensure unallowable costs, including those associated with advertising, public relations, and conferences; as well as the items listed https://pra.digital.gov/do-i-need-clearance/ in the funding restrictions section of this NFO, are not included as part of the budget or project design. Budgets that contain unallowable costs under 2 CFR 200 or restricted items listed in Section D 6, will not be approved.

Any non-Federal entity (except State and local governments that receive more than $35 million per year in Federal funding) that does not have a current negotiated (including provisional) rate may elect to charge a de minimis rate of 10 percent of modified total direct costs (MTDC) which may be used indefinitely. No documentation is required to justify the 10 percent de minimis indirect cost rate. As described in 2 CFR 200.403, costs must be consistently charged as either indirect or direct costs but may not be double charged or inconsistently charged as both. If chosen, this methodology once elected must be used consistently for all Federal awards until such time as a non-Federal entity chooses to negotiate for a rate, which the non-Federal entity may apply to do at any time.

Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC) means all direct salaries and wages, applicable fringe benefits, materials and supplies, services, travel, and up to the first $25,000 of each subaward (regardless of the period of performance of the subawards under the award). MTDC excludes equipment, capital expenditures, charges for patient care, rental costs, tuition remission, scholarships and fellowships, participant support costs and the portion of each subaward in excess of $25,000. Other items may only be excluded when necessary to avoid a serious inequity in the distribution of indirect costs, and with the approval of the cognizant agency for indirect costs.

As required in 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart F Audit Requirements, all U.S.

states, local governments, Federally recognized Indian tribal governments, and non-profit organizations expending $750,000 or more in Federal award funds in a fiscal year must submit a Single Audit report for that year through the Federal Audit Clearinghouse’s Internet Data Entry System.

j. Priority Commodities.

This section must list the Priorities Commodities addressed as defined in Section A 4.

k. RMA Substantial Involvement.

This section must describe RMA assistance as defined under RMA Substantial Involvement in Section B 2 a.

l. Required Documents.

To be downloaded from the RVS resource page (https://rvs.umn.edu/Resources/RMA/), completed and uploaded prior to submission of the application.

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

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.403 https://rvs.umn.edu/Resources/RMA/

• A completed OMB Standard Form 424-A, “Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs.” Federal funding requested (the total of direct and indirect costs) that includes the funding amount requested.

Fill in all spaces as appropriate. Section B, Item 6, Column 1 should reflect the agency funds, and Column 2 should reflect the applicant’s matching funds. This form is the summary budget for the project and should include the full project totals on pages one and two. Refer to Section D of this opportunity for information regarding indirect costs.

• Certification Regarding Lobbying Form: Under Title 31 of the United States Code, Section 1352, an applicant or recipient must not use any federally appropriated funds (both annually appropriated and continuing appropriations) or matching funds under a grant or cooperative agreement award to pay any person for lobbying in connection with the award. Lobbying is defined as influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency, a Member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member of Congress connection with the award.

Submission of an application also represents the applicant’s certification of the statements in 2 CFR Part 418, Appendix A- Certification Regarding Lobbying. If you/your organization have/has made or agrees to make any payment using non-appropriated funds for lobbying, you must also complete and submit the SF LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities located at 2 CFR 418, Appendix B. See 2 CFR 418.110 for more information on when additional submission of this form is required.

• A completed OMB Standard Form LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities. Note: Only required if the applicant reports the use of non-federal funding in lobbying activities

• 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 percent 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 NFO 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.

• Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) if applicable:

If charging indirect costs (including for cost share), upload the NICRA as a PDF document to the Application Package. See Section D 6 for information regarding indirect costs.

RVS does not check for RMA required attachments or whether the documents are completed and signed. It is the responsibility of the Applicant.

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

m. Disclosure of Potential Conflict of Interest

Applicants must maintain written standards of conduct covering conflicts of interest and governing the performance of its employees in the selection, award, and administration of Federal awards. No employee, officer, or agent may participate in the selection, award, or administration of a Federal award if he or she has a real or apparent conflict of interest. Such a conflict of interest would arise when the employee, officer or agent, any member of his or her immediate family, his or her partner, or an organization which employs or is about to employ any of the parties referenced, has a financial or other interest in or a tangible personal benefit from an applicant considered for a Federal award. The standards of conduct must provide for disciplinary actions to be applied for violations of such standards by officers, employees, or agents of the applicant.

If the applicant has a parent, affiliate, or subsidiary organization that is not a state, local government, or Indian tribe, the applicant must also maintain written standards of conduct covering organizational conflicts of interest.

Organizational conflict of interest means that because of the relationships with a parent company, affiliate, or subsidiary organization, the applicant is unable or appears to be unable to be impartial in conducting a Federal award action involving a related organization.

n. Post Award Documentation N/A

o. Unique entity identifier (UEI)/DUNS and System for Award Management

(SAM)

Each applicant (unless the applicant is an individual excepted from those requirements under 2 CFR 25.110(b) or (c), or has an exception approved by the Federal awarding agency under 2 CFR 25.110(d)) is required to: (i) Be registered in SAM before submitting its application; (ii) provide a valid unique entity identifier in its application; and (iii) continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or an application or plan under consideration by a Federal awarding agency. The agency may not make a Federal award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable unique entity identifier and SAM requirements and, if an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time the agency is ready to make an award, it 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.

Entities must obtain a DUNS or UEI and register in SAM prior to application submission. A description of each is below. Entities are strongly encouraged to apply early for their SAM registration.

System for Award Management (SAM) Registration: To register, go to:

https://www.sam.gov. The Federal Service Desk is available for registration assistance and can be contacted via the Help tab at the website listed above.

Awarding agency staff cannot support applicants regarding DUNS/UEI or SAM issues.

The Government intends to replace the D-U-N-S® number with a “new, non-proprietary identifier” requested in, and assigned by SAM.gov. This new identifier is being called the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), or the Entity ID.

See Planned UEI Updates in Grant Application Forms for UEI updates.

3. Submission Dates and Times and Correspondence Applicants must submit applications via RVS at the following website:

http://rvs.umn.edu/Home.aspx. Applications must be received by 5:59 pm Eastern Time (ET) on March 11th. An application submitted or resubmitted after the deadline is late (an application is considered on time at 5:59.59 pm ET, but it is late at 6:00 pm ET). Late submissions will not be reviewed or considered. RMA strongly encourages applicants to submit applications well in advance of the deadline.

Application packages submitted after the deadline will be rejected with no exceptions granted. Rejected applications will be retained during the NFO process, but will not be made an award

4. Intergovernmental Review This funding opportunity is not subject to Executive Order 12372, “Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.”

5. Funding Restrictions Funds may not be used to pay any of the following costs unless otherwise permitted https://www.sam.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/search-site.html?p_p_id=com_liferay_portal_search_web_portlet_SearchPortlet&p_p_lifecycle=0&p_p_state=maximized&p_p_mode=view&_com_liferay_portal_search_web_portlet_SearchPortlet_mvcPath=%2Fview_content.jsp&_com_liferay_portal_search_web_portlet_SearchPortlet_redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.grants.gov%2Fweb%2Fgrants%2Fsearch-site.html%3Fp_p_id%3Dcom_liferay_portal_search_web_portlet_SearchPortlet%26p_p_lifecycle%3D0%26p_p_state%3Dmaximized%26p_p_mode%3Dview%26_com_liferay_portal_search_web_portlet_SearchPortlet_redirect%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.grants.gov%252Fweb%252Fgrants%252Fsearch-site.html%253Fp_p_id%26_com_liferay_portal_search_web_portlet_SearchPortlet_mvcPath%3D%252Fsearch.jsp%26_com_liferay_portal_search_web_portlet_SearchPortlet_keywords%3Dunique%2Bentity%2Bidentifier%26_com_liferay_portal_search_web_portlet_SearchPortlet_formDate%3D1603122751437%26_com_liferay_portal_search_web_portlet_SearchPortlet_scope%3Dthis-site&_com_liferay_portal_search_web_portlet_SearchPortlet_assetEntryId=1139656&_com_liferay_portal_search_web_portlet_SearchPortlet_type=content&inheritRedirect=true http://rvs.umn.edu/Home.aspx by law and approved in writing by the agency in advance of incurring such costs:

a. Costs above the amount of funds authorized for the project:

b. Costs incurred prior to the effective date of the award, including time spent applying for this opportunity;

c. Costs which lie outside the scope of the approved project and amendments there to;

d. Entertainment costs, regardless of their apparent relationship to project objectives;

e. Compensation for injuries to persons, or damage to property arising out of project activities;

f. Consulting services performed by a Federal employee during official duty hours when such consulting services result in the payment of additional compensation to the employee; and

g. Renovation or refurbishment of research or related spaces, the purchase or installation of fixed equipment in such spaces, and the planning, repair, rehabilitation, acquisition, or construction of buildings or facilities.

h. Management fees and profit. Any funds awarded to for-profit entities must be used for reimbursement of award related direct and indirect costs only;

i. Meals: Meals may be charged to an award only if they are necessary for the performance of the project. For instance, meals (normally only lunch) that are a necessary part of the costs of meetings and conferences (i.e., required attendance and continuity of a meeting), the primary purpose of which is the dissemination of information, are allowable, as are costs of transportation, rental of facilities, speakers’ fees, and other items incidental to such meetings or conferences. Note: Meals consumed while in official travel status do not fall in this category. They are considered to be per diem expenses and should be reimbursed in accordance with the organization’s established travel policies subject to statutory limitations or in accordance with Federal travel policies.

j. Costs normally charged as indirect costs may not be charged as direct costs without proper justification and agency approval. Proper justification includes documentation that the costs meet the criteria for allowability (see 2 CFR 200.403). Examples of such costs include rent, utilities, depreciation on buildings and equipment, the costs of operating and maintaining facilities, and general administration and general expenses, such as the salaries and expenses of executive officers, personnel administration, and accounting.

k. Salaries that are not commensurate with level of work: All costs must be reasonable to be allowable (CFR 200.403), and 2 CFR 200.404 defines a reasonable cost as one if, in its nature and amount, it does not exceed that which would be incurred by a prudent person under the circumstances prevailing at the time the decision was made to incur the cost. Salaries determined not to be reasonable compared to the level of work will be unallowable.

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=43998412b2085db150f66a3e62296ad8&mc=true&node=pt2.1.200&rgn=div5#se2.1.200_156 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=43998412b2085db150f66a3e62296ad8&mc=true&node=pt2.1.200&rgn=div5#se2.1.200_1413

This list is not exhaustive. For additional information please refer to 2 CFR Part 200, subpart E, Cost Principles. Questions regarding the allowances of particular items of cost should be directed to the administrative contact listed in this NFO.

6. Indirect costs limitations

a. A non-profit organization or institution of higher education awarded a cooperative agreement will be limited to a 10 percent indirect cost rate in accordance with the agency’s annual appropriations act. The 10 percent indirect cost rate applies to both federal and non-federal funds. Other types of entities are not subject to this statutory limitation.

b. To be eligible to recover any indirect cost under a Federal award, recipients must either 1) have a current negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA) with a Federal agency that has not expired; or 2) qualify for use of the de minimis rate authorized by 2…