Part 1774 Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Households (SEARCH)

To make predevelopment planning grants for feasibility studies, design assistance, and technical assistance to financially distressed communities in rural areas with populations of 2,500 or fewer inhabitants for water and waste disposal projects.

Applicants must be (1) public bodies or governmental entities such as states, municipalities, counties, districts, authorities, and other political subdivisions of a State; (2) nonprofit organizations such as associations, cooperatives, private nonprofit corporations, and institutions of higher education and hospitals; or, (3) Native American Indian tribes on Federal and State reservations, other federally recognized Indian tribes, and Native American Organizations (includes Indian groups, cooperatives, corporations, partnerships, and associations. Applicants must demonstrate that they are financially distressed and unable to fund the project through their own means.

Beneficiaries are the entities or organizations eligible to develop projects under the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program. Eligible entities include (1) public bodies or governmental entities such as municipalities, counties, districts, authorities, and other political subdivisions of a State, (2) nonprofit organizations such as associations, cooperatives, and private nonprofit corporations, (3) Native American Indian tribes on Federal and State reservations and other federally recognized Indian tribes.

Evidence of organizational and legal capacity, financial standing, eligible service area, and eligible project.

May fund up to 100 percent of the eligible grant costs, not to exceed $30,000.

Public bodies or non-profit organizations may file applications with the RD State Office for the state in which the organization's headquarters is located. Addresses may be found on the web site of the Water and Environmental Programs http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/all-programs/water-environmental-programs All required forms may be found on the RUS Water Programs web page at http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/all-programs/water-environmental-programs; on that page, select SEARCH - Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Households. (1) Application for Federal Assistance: Standard Form 424; (2) Budget Information Non-Construction Programs: Standard Form 424-A; (3) Assurances Non-Construction Programs: Standard Form 424-B; (4) Supporting documentation necessary to make an eligibility determination such as financial statements, audits, organizational documents or existing debt instruments. The Processing Official will advise applicants regarding the required documents. (5) Project narrative detailing the project to be financed with the SEARCH grant funds. (6) Applicants will be required to submit the following items upon notification from the Processing official to proceed with further development of the full application: (a) Form RD 442-7, "Operating Budget" (b) Form RD 400-1, Equal Opportunity Agreement" (c) Form AD-1047, Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, and Other Responsibility Matters Primary Covered Transaction. (d) Form AD-1049, Certification Regarding Drug-Free Workplace Requirements (Grants) Alternative For Grantees Other Than Individuals (e) Certifications for Contracts, Grants, and Loans (f) Certification regarding prohibited tying arrangements.

Projects will be selected based primarily on the funding priorities in Section 1780.17 of RUS Instruction 1780. The State Program Official discretionary points stated in Section 1780.17 (e) of RUS Instruction 1780 can also include consideration of the following criteria: (a) Systems with limited resources. (b) Smallest systems with lowest incomes. (c) Funds availability.

Selected applicant(s) will be notified by Form AD-622.

Dependent upon funding and whether the application is considered complete. A determination on a complete application will be made within 15 federal working days. If complete, an eligibility and funding determination will be issued within 45 working days.

An application determined ineligible may request a review of this decision with the National Appeals Division of USDA in accordance with USDA regulations at 7 CFR 11.