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| 10.761 TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING GRANTS |
| FEDERAL AGENCY |
| RURAL UTILITIES SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE |
| AUTHORIZATION |
| Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, as amended, Sections 306(a)(16)(A), Public Law 99-198, 7 U.S.C. 1926(a). |
| OBJECTIVES |
| To identify and evaluate solutions to water and waste disposal problems in rural areas; to assist applicants in preparing applications made in accordance with 7 CFR 1780; to improve operation and maintenance of water and waste disposal facilities in rural areas. |
| TYPES OF ASSISTANCE |
| Project Grants. |
| USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS |
| Funds may be used to pay expenses associated with providing technical assistance and/or training (TAT) to identify and evaluate solutions to water problems relating to source, storage, treatment, and distribution, and to waste disposal problems relating to collection, treatment, and disposal; assist applicants that have filed a preapplication with RUS in the preparation of water and/or waste disposal loan and/or grant applications; and to provide training that will improve the management, operation and maintenance of water and waste disposal facilities. Grant funds may not be used to recruit applications, duplicate current services such as those performed by a consultant in developing a project, fund political activities, pay for capital assets, purchase real estate or vehicles, improve and renovate office space or repair and maintain privately owned property, pay construction or O&M costs, and pay costs incurred prior to the effective date of grants made. |
| Applicant Eligibility |
| Private nonprofit organizations that have been granted tax exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service of the United States. Applicants must have proven ability, background, experience, legal authority and actual capacity to provide technical assistance and/or training on a regional basis to associations. |
| Beneficiary Eligibility |
| Entities that may be eligible for water and waste disposal loans and grants (10.760) such as municipalities, counties, districts, authorities, and other political subdivisions of a State, organizations operated on a not-for-profit basis, such as associations, cooperatives, or private corporations, Indian tribes on Federal and State reservations and other federally recognized Indian tribes. |
| Credentials/Documentation |
| This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular Nos. A-110 and A-122. |
| Preapplication Coordination |
| This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. An environmental impact assessment is required for this program. |
| Application Procedure |
| This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular Nos. A-110 and A-122. Preapplication form SF 424.1, will be filed with the appropriate Rural Development (RD), formerly FMHA, State or Rural Utilities Service (RUS) National Office between October 1 and December 31 each fiscal year. |
| Award Procedure |
| Preapplications received by an RD State office will be reviewed and forwarded with any written comments within 7 working days to the RUS National Office, Washington, DC. |
| Deadlines |
| Preapplications must be filed between October 1 and December 31 of each fiscal year. |
| Range of Approval/Disapproval Time |
| Form AD-622 "Notice of Preapplication Review Action" will normally be issued within 45 days after December 31 of each year. SF 424.1 "Application for Federal Assistance (for Non-construction)," will be submitted by the applicant upon notification of funding eligibility. |
| Appeals |
| If an application is rejected, the reasons for rejection are fully stated. The applicant may request a review of this decision with the National Appeals Division of USDA. |
| Renewals |
| None. |
| Formula and Matching Requirements |
| This program has no statutory formula or matching requirements. Not less than one percent or more than three percent of appropriated Water and Waste Disposal grant funds may be used for TAT grants. Nonprofit organizations with proven ability to provide technical assistance/training are eligible. |
| Length and Time Phasing of Assistance |
| A time limitation is not specified, however, priority will be given to applicants whose time frame for completion of the technical assistance and/or training grant project is 12 months or less. |
| Reports |
| All grantees will submit quarterly reports to the RUS National Office through the appropriate RD State Office. |
| Audits |
| In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. |
| Records |
| Financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other records pertinent to the grant must be retained for a period of at least three years after closing. |
| Account Identification |
| 12-0400-0-1-452. |
| Obligations |
| (Grants) FY 07 $18,358,694; FY 08 est $16,215,000; and FY 09 est not reported. (Note: Grants included in program 10.760, Water and Waste Disposal Systems for Rural Communities). |
| Range and Average of Financial Assistance |
| $40,000 to $10,270,000. Average: $5,155,000 (FY 07). |
| PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS |
| In fiscal year 2007, 12 grants were made. |
| REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE |
| 7 CFR, Part 1775, Technical Assistance and Training Grants. |
| Regional or Local Office |
| Consult your local telephone directory for RD district office number. If no listing, get in touch with the appropriate RD State Office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog. |
| Headquarters Office |
| Assistant Administrator, Water and Environmental Programs, Rural Utilities Service, Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250. Telephone: (202) 690-2670. |
| Web Site Address |
| http://www.rurdev.usda.gov |
| RELATED PROGRAMS |
| None. |
| EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS |
| Recipients of this program received funds to administer technical assistance and training to small communities experiencing water and waste disposal problems. |
| CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS |
| Assistance will be directed to those applicants who: (1) Have demonstrated ability to provide technical assistance and/or training to rural associations; (2) propose to serve multi-state, regional, or nationwide areas; (3) maximize use of grant funds for direct staffing of activities that are delivered to the associations; and (4) the population of the associations served have low income. |
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General Services Administration Office of Chief Acquisition Officer Regulatory and Federal Assistance Division (VIR) |
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