Water
and Environmental Programs
| Objectives | Required Forms | |
| Eligibility | Evaluation Procedures | Examples |
| Limitations | Application Requirements | Contact Information |
| Purpose | FY 2007 Grantees |
Objectives:
The objectives of the Technical Assistance and Training Grant Program
are to:
- Identify and evaluate solutions to water and waste disposal problems in rural areas.
- Assist applicants in preparing applications for water and waste grants made at the State level offices.
- Improve operation and maintenance of existing water and waste disposal facilities in rural areas.
NOTE: Rural areas are defined as any area not in a city or town with a population in excess of 10,000, according to the latest decennial census of the United States.
Eligibility: (for more information, See Eligibility Section 1775.35).
(
a) Entities eligible for grants must be private nonprofit organizations with tax exempt status, designated by the Internal Revenue Service. A nonprofit organization is defined as any corporation, trust, association, cooperative, or other organization that:
Is operated primarily for scientific, education, service, charitable, or similar purposes in the public interest.
Is not organized primarily for profit.
Uses its net proceeds to maintain, improve, and/or expand its operations.
(b) Entities must be legally established and located within a state as defined in § 1775.2.
(c) Organizations must be incorporated by December 31 of the year the application period occurs to be eligible for funds.
(d) Private businesses, Federal agencies, public bodies, and individuals are ineligible for these grants.
(e) Applicants must also have the proven ability; background; experience, as evidenced by the organization’s satisfactory completion of project(s) similar to those proposed; legal authority; and actual capacity to provide technical assistance and/or training on a regional basis to associations as provided in § 1775.63. Associations are defined as an entity, including a small city or town, that is eligible for Rural Utilities Service (RUS) water and waste financial assistance in accordance with RUS Regulation 1780, part 7. To meet the requirement of actual capacity, an applicant must either:
Have the necessary resources to provide technical assistance and/or training to associations in rural areas through its staff, or
Be assisted by an affiliate or member organization which has such background and experience and which agrees, in writing, that it will provide the assistance, or
Contract with a nonaffiliated organization for not more than 49 percent of the grant to provide the proposed assistance.
Applications will be accepted from October 1 through December 31 of each calendar year. Applications may be hand-delivered to the State Office by close of business December 31, or postmarked by midnight December 31 to be considered submitted on time. Applications received after December 31 will NOT be considered in that year’s review and will be returned to the applicant.
Grant funds may NOT be used to:
Recruit applications for the Agency’s water and waste loan and/or any loan and/or grant program.
Duplicate current services, replacement or substitution of support previously provided such as those performed by an association’s consultant in developing a project.
Fund political activities.
Pay for capital assets, the purchase of real estate or vehicles, improve and renovate office space, or repair and maintain privately owned property.
Pay for construction or operation and maintenance costs.
Pay for costs incurred prior to the effective date of the grant.
Pay for technical assistance which duplicates assistance provided to implement an action plan funded by the Forest Service (FS) under the National Forest-Dependent Rural Communities Economic Diversification Act (7U.S.C. 6601 note) for five continuous years from the date of grant approval by the FS. To avoid duplicate assistance, coordinate with the State Rural Development office and the Forest Service before submitting an application.
Technical Assistance and Training grants may be used to:
1. Identify and evaluate solutions to water problems of associations in rural areas relating to:
Source
Storage
Treatment
Distribution
2. Identify and evaluate solutions to waste problems of associations in rural areas relating to:
Collection
Treatment
Disposal
3. Assist associations that have filed a pre-application with the Agency in the preparation of water and/or waste loan and/or grant applications.
4. Provide training to association personnel that will improve the management, operation and maintenance of water and waste disposal facilities.
5. To pay expenses associated with providing technical assistance and/or training.
Applicant will provide:
1. An original and one copy of Application for Federal Assistance (for non-construction).
For projects that will serve only one state, the forms will be submitted to the local State Rural Development office.
For projects that will serve multiple states, the forms will be submitted to the National USDA, Rural Development, WEP office.
2. Evidence of applicant’s legal existence and authority in the form of certified copies of organizational documents and a certified list of directors and officers with their respective terms.
3. Evidence of tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service.
4. Brief written narrative which includes:
The need for the project/service.
The proposed service(s) to be provided.
The benefits of the technical assistance and/or training.
Areas to be served, including population and non-metropolitan median household income information.
Name of association(s) or type of association(s) that will be served.
Experience of the applicant to provide the proposed service, including experience of key staff members and person(s) providing the technical assistance and/or training.
The number of months duration of the project or service, and the estimated time from grant approval to beginning of project or service.
Method used to select the association(s) that will receive the service.
Brief description of how the service will be provided, whether through currently employed personnel or through contracted personnel.
Clearly defined goals and objectives and how they will be measured.
Evaluation method to determine if objective(s) or the proposed activity is being accomplished.
Plans for increased self-sustainability for the project/service in future years.
Latest financial information to show the applicant’s financial capacity to carry out the proposed work. A current audit report is preferred. At a minimum, the information should include a balance sheet and an income statement.
Estimated breakdown of costs including those to be funded by the applicant as well as from other sources.
Budget and accounting system in place or proposed.
5. Provide the Dunn & Bradstreet DUNS number (Data Universal Numbering System) for the organization - if you do not have a DUNS number, go to the web site www.dnb.com to apply. There is no charge for this service, and the number will be received within 30 business days, according to the information on the web site.
Standard Form 424 - Application for Federal Assistance for Non-construction Programs
Standard Form 424A - Budget Information for Non-construction Programs
Standard Form 424B - Assurances – Non-construction Programs
Form AD 1047 - Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension & Other Responsibility Matters – Primary Covered Transactions
Form AD 1048 - Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion - Lower Tier Covered Transactions
Form AD 1049 - Certification Regarding Drug-free Workplace Requirements
1940Q - Exhibit A-1 - Exhibit A Disclosure for Lobbying Activities ($100,000)
Form RD 400-1 - Equal Opportunity Agreement
Form RD 400-4
-
Assurance Agreement
Other forms may be required for approved grants and will be provided
at that time by the National Office of Rural Development.
If you have any questions regarding the Federal Regulation 7 CFR 1775 or the RUS Guide 1775-2, as it pertains to Technical Assistance and Training Grants, please contact:
Anita O'Brien, Loan Specialist
202-690-3789 or anita.obrien@wdc.usda.gov
Applications will be accepted from October 1 through December 31 of each calendar year.
-
Evaluation will take place from January 1 through March 1 of the following year. Priority will be given to applications using the following criteria:
-
Applicant’s demonstrated capability and past performance in providing technical assistance and/or training to rural associations.
-
The extent to which the population of the associations served has low income.
-
Service being provided is to areas with populations below 5,500 or 2,500.
-
Applicant’s or other sources in-kind contributions that combine with the requested funds to maximize service performed.
-
Technical assistance and/or training will be directly delivered to staff of the associations being served.
-
Applicants proposing to serve regional, multi-state, or nationwide areas.
-
Applicants whose timeframe for completion of service/project is 12 months or less.
-
The extent to which the service/project will be cost effective.
-
Applicants whose proposed service/project coincides with the given objectives of the program given above.
Applicants will be notified using Form A D-622 "Notice of Pre-Application Review Action" indicating the action taken on the application:
-
Ineligible – applicants will be notified and advised of their appeal rights.
-
Eligible but not funded – applicants will be notified and advised against incurring obligations that cannot be fulfilled without Agency funds. The application will not be retained for future years’ consideration.
-
Eligible and selected for funding – applicant will be notified and instructed on how to complete required forms for funding. NOTE: If the applicant does not submit the necessary forms within 30 days from the date on the Form A D-622, the Agency may discontinue consideration of the application.
Examples:
The
National Rural Water Association
of Duncan, Oklahoma has operated the Wastewater Technician Program under
the T A T program since 1988 when they contracted with their
State-affiliate Rural Water Associations to employ full-time wastewater
technicians in 15 States. The program has expanded over the years to
provide full-time wastewater technical assistance and training in all of
the 48 contiguous States and in Puerto Rico. These technicians provide
technical assistance and training to system operators in the areas of
water or wastewater treatment, facility operations and maintenance,
system financial management, regulatory compliance, and conservation
issues. They also provide liaison support for interactions with
regulatory and funding agencies.
Rural water or wastewater system officials may request assistance under this program by contacting their local Rural Water Association or the USDA Rural Development local office.
The Rural Community Assistance Program, Inc. (RCAP) in Washington, DC, administers two USDA, RD grants - Technitrain (i.e., water and wastewater infrastructure training and technical assistance) and the Solid Waste Training & Technical Assistance Project. RCAP has managed these grants for more than ten years and they have grown to serve more than 1,000 rural and tribal communities annually, in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
RCAP is a national partnership of six regional organizations staffed with water, wastewater, and solid waste professionals that provide community-based managerial, technical, and financial assistance throughout rural America to communities with populations fewer than 10,000 residents. RCAP works directly with rural communities, counties, tribal governments and water, wastewater, and solid waste management districts to enable them to make decisions regarding their local public services and economic development opportunities.
The RCAP partnership is comprised of the following six affiliated organizations:
Great Lakes RCAP - WSOS Community Action Commission (WSOS);
Midwest RCAP - Midwest Assistance Program
(MAP);
Northeast RCAP - Rural Housing Improvement (RHI);
Southeast RCAP - Southeast Rural Community
Assistance Project (SERCAP);
Southern RCAP - Community Resources Group (CRG);
and
Western RCAP - Rural Community Assistance
Corporation (RCAC).
For more information on how to receive RCAP services, please call the national office at (800) 321-2772 or (202) 408-1273, or via email at: info@rcap.org. You can also obtain additional information by visiting the RCAP website at: www.rcap.org.
Rural water or wastewater system officials may request assistance under this program by contacting their local USDA Rural Development office.
National Drinking Water Clearinghouse. Funded by the Rural Development, the National Drinking Water Clearinghouse (N D W C) assists small communities by collecting, developing, and providing timely information relevant to drinking water issues. Services provided by the N D W C include two quarterly newsletters, toll-free telephone consultation, an electronic bulletin board, educational and informational products, and a number of databases. For more information call the N D W C at (800) 624-8301, or write N D W C, P.O. Box 6064, Morgantown, WV 26506-6064.
Alaska Forum, Inc (AK) $200,000
Alaska Forum, Inc will assist rural Alaska communities in identifying, evaluating, and addressing waste disposal problems, and improving the operation and maintenance of existing waste disposal facilities.
Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association, Inc. (AK) $ 80,000
Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association, Inc. will provide training courses to help increase efficient operation and maintenance procedures and assist administration staff to ensure greater efficiency in administration.
Eastern Maine Development Corporation (ME) $ 75,000
Eastern Maine Development Corporation will provide wastewater management technical assistance to targeted rural, low-income municipalities in its service area with a specific focus on promoting implementation of Low Impact Development practices at the municipal level.
LENOWISCO, Inc. 1 (VA) $ 40,000
LENOWISCO, Inc. 1 will: 1) develop the recipient’s understanding of leveraging funding and the importance of proper planning to produce a competitive application to be awarded this limited available grant fund; 2) provide technical and planning assistance for water and wastewater projects; 3) assist in preparing the required environmental reports for water and sewer projects funded with federal money; and 4) provide technical assistance in the management, operation, and maintenance of water and waste disposal operations.
National Rural Water Association (OK) $ 10,270,000
National Rural Water Association will provide training and on-site technical assistance to wastewater systems in the contiguous 48 states, Alaska, Puerto Rico, and Hawaii. The training provided will help to reduce exposure to waste related health and safety hazards and enhance the sustainability of wastewater systems in rural and small communities.
National Tribal Environmental Council (NM) $ 850,000
NTEC will continue to provide technical assistance and training to operators and utility managers of Tribal drinking water systems in 9 states and 163 tribal communities. The project will also training to water system operators to receive their certification.
Native American Water Association (NV) $ 275,000
Native American Water Association will: 1) develop and deliver instructional training course workshops to Tribal Drinking water and wastewater systems; 2) build a Tribal Water and Wastewater systems network group coalition; and 3) provide on-site Tribal Water and Wastewater training program follow-up activities.
Rural Community Assistance Partnership (DC) $ 5,300,000
RCAP will continue to address the growing infrastructure needs and federally mandated security requirements for rural communities. The combination of these factors has resulted in a greater demand for vulnerability assessments (VAs) and emergency response plans (ERPs) for Rural Utility borrowers. The proposed Technitrain project will provide on-site technical assistance and community specific training to address water and waste disposal issues in eligible, rural areas in 48 to 50 states and Puerto Rico during the twelve-month period from September 1, 2007, through August 31, 2008. A total of approximately 800 communities or projects will be served under Technitrain. Within the number of projects proposed, RCAP will also continue to provide technical assistance to Native American communities.
Syracuse University (NY) $ 123,694
Syracuse University will facilitate partnerships and collaborations among the technical assistance community; provide public outreach and education for projects that lead to environmental improvements; and provide training to local government officials, operators, engineers, and technical assistance providers.
Tanana Chiefs Conference (AK) $ 85,000
Tanana Chiefs Conference will provide technical assistance and training project aimed at developing the capacity of villages in interior Alaska and rural communities throughout Alaska to operate and maintain village water treatment and wastewater disposal facilities.
United Presbyterians of Wilcox County, Inc. (AL) $ 40,000
United Presbyterians of Wilcox County will continue to educate and train people about the design, installation, operation and maintenance of alternative onsite wastewater treatment.
West Virginia University – NDWC (WV) $1,020,000
West Virginia University will continue the National Drinking Water Clearinghouse program. The program provides quality information for regulatory compliance; information for sustainable water services; and information for improving small system security and emergency response plans.
Objectives Eligibility Limitations Purpose Application Requirements Required Forms Evaluation Procedure Examples
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