2024-16580. Announcement of the Availability of Community Facilities Program Disaster Grants

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Department of Agriculture

Rural Housing Service

1. [Docket No. RHS-24-CF-0026]

AGENCY:

Rural Housing Service, USDA.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Rural Housing Service (RHS or Agency), a Rural Development (RD) mission area of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), announces the availability of up to $38 million in grant funding through its Community Facilities Program (CF) to repair essential community facilities damaged by Presidentially Declared Disasters in Calendar Year (CY) 2022 or to repair or replace essential community facilities damaged by Presidentially Declared Disasters in CY 2023 and Other Disasters in CY 2023, to remain available until expended. RHS may at its discretion, increase the total level of funding available from any available source provided the awards meet the requirements of the statute which made the funding available to the Agency. This Notice supersedes the prior Disaster Grant Notice published in the Federal Register on July 20, 2023.

DATES:

Preapplications and complete applications for the Community Facilities Program Disaster Grants will be accepted on a continual basis by the applicable USDA RD State Office (see ADDRESSES section for details), beginning on July 29, 2024, until all funds have been obligated. The applicable USDA RD State Office will conduct an initial review and rating of preapplications and complete applications received by 4:00 p.m. local time on September 12, 2024. Subsequent preapplication and application reviews, rankings, and selections will occur in additional rounds if funds remain. Interested applicants must contact the RD Office for the state where the project is located to discuss potential projects prior to preparing their application.

ADDRESSES:

This funding opportunity will be made available on Grants.gov for informational purposes only. Preapplications and complete applications must be submitted to the USDA RD State Office for the state where the project is located. Application information may be submitted in paper or electronic format to the appropriate RD State Office and will be accepted on a continual basis until all funds have been obligated.

Applicants must contact their respective RD State Office for information on grant eligibility, the application process, and for an address to submit application information. A list of the USDA RD State Office contacts can be found at: https://www.rd.usda.gov/​about-rd/​state-offices.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Surabhi Dabir at [e-mail], Community Facilities Program, RHS, USDA, or call 202-578-9315. Persons with disabilities that require alternative means for communication should contact the Federal Relay Service at 711 Relay Service.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Overview

Federal Agency Name: Rural Housing Service (RHS), USDA.

Funding Opportunity Title: Announcement of the Availability of Community Facilities Program Disaster Grants.

Announcement Type: Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

Funding Opportunity Number: USDA-RHS-CFDG-2024.

Assistance Listing: 10.766.

Dates: Preapplications and complete applications for the Community Facilities Disaster Grant Program will be accepted on a continual basis by the applicable USDA RD State Office (see ADDRESSES section for details), beginning on July 29, 2024, until all funds have been obligated. The applicable USDA RD State Office will conduct an initial review and rating of preapplications and complete applications received by 4:00 p.m. local time on September 12, 2024. Subsequent preapplication and application reviews, rankings, and selections will occur in additional rounds if funds remain. Interested applicants must contact the RD Office for the state where the project is located to discuss potential projects prior to preparing their application.

Rural Development Key Priorities: The Agency encourages applicants to consider projects that will advance the following key priorities (more details available at https://www.rd.usda.gov/​priority-points):

• Creating More and Better Market Opportunities: Assisting rural communities recover economically through more and better market opportunities and through improved infrastructure;
• Advancing Racial Justice, Place-Based Equity, and Opportunity: Ensuring all rural residents have equitable access to RD programs and benefits from RD funded projects; and
• Addressing Climate Change and Environmental Justice: Reducing climate pollution and increasing resilience to the impacts of climate change through economic support to rural communities.

A. Program Description

1. Purpose of the Program

CF offers direct loans, loan guarantees and grants to develop or improve essential public services and facilities in communities across rural America. Public bodies, non-profit organizations and Federally recognized Tribes can use the funds to construct, expand or improve facilities that provide health care, education, public safety, and public services. Projects include fire and rescue stations, village and town halls, health care clinics, hospitals, adult and childcare centers, assisted living facilities, rehabilitation centers, public buildings, schools, libraries, and many other community-based initiatives.

This Notice supersedes the prior Notice titled “Announcement of the Availability of Community Facilities Program Disaster Repair Grants” that published in the Federal Register [88 FR 46732] on July 20, 2023. This Notice is being issued pursuant to the disaster funds made available by the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023 and amended by General Provision sec. 774 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024. Grants will be provided to eligible applicants to repair eligible essential community facilities damaged by Presidentially Declared Disasters that occurred in CY 2022 or to repair or replace eligible community facilities damaged by Presidentially Declared Disasters and Other Disasters that occurred in CY 2023. For the most current list of Presidentially Declared Disasters, visit the United States (U.S.) Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) website at https://www.fema.gov/​disaster/​declarations.

Details on eligible CF applicants and eligible CF projects may be found in Section C. Eligibility Information below.

While RD State Offices will review and process applications received, grant funds will be held in reserve by the USDA Rural Development National Office. State Offices may request funds for obligation as needed. If at any time the demand for grant funds is greater than the amount of grant funds available, a priority ranking scoring system will be used by the RD National Office to determine which projects are selected for further processing.

2. Statutory and Regulatory Authority

The Community Facilities Disaster Grant Program is authorized under Division N—Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Pub. L. 117-328); Sec. 774 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (Pub. L. 118-42); and Section 306(a)(19) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)(19)); 2 CFR parts 200 and 400 (uniform Federal grant awards regulations) and 7 CFR part 3570, subpart B, Community Facilities Grant Program regulations.

3. Definitions

In addition to the definitions and abbreviations noted below that are relevant to this Notice, please refer to 7 CFR 3570.53 [ https://www.ecfr.gov/​current/​title-7/​section-3570.53] for further additional definitions relevant to this Notice:

Calendar Year (CY). The period of time beginning on January 1 and ending on December 31 for a given year.

Eligible 2022 Disasters. Disasters that occurred in CY 2022 for which a declaration was made by the President in accordance with applicable statutes that a disaster occurred, necessitating assistance in the recovery of the impacted area.

Eligible 2023 Disasters.

(i) Disasters that occurred in CY 2023 for which a declaration was made by the President in accordance with applicable statutes that a disaster occurred, necessitating assistance in the recovery of the impacted area; or

(ii) Other Disasters: Events that occurred in CY 2023 that were caused by a natural catastrophe, technological accident, or human-caused event that results in severe property damage, deaths, multiple injuries, and/or severe environmental harm for which:

1. there was a declaration of a disaster or public health emergency by a local, state, or Tribal government in accordance with applicable law;

2. there was a Presidential Executive Order related to the disaster; or

3. there was a multi agency response effort at the Federal and/or Tribal level was undertaken to address the impact of the disaster.

Preapplication. The components of an application and supporting information that will be used to determine applicant eligibility and a proposed project's priority for available funds.

4. Application of Awards

The Agency will review and evaluate applications received in response to this notice based on the eligibility provisions found in 7 CFR 3570.61 and as indicated in this notice. For instance, applicants must be organized as a public body, community-based nonprofit corporation or association, or a Federally recognized Tribe. Further, the proposed project must primarily serve rural areas, be in an eligible rural area, serve a public purpose, and the applicant must be unable to finance the proposed project from its own resources, or other funding resources, or through commercial credit at reasonable rates and terms without the requested grant assistance. Applications will be processed by the USDA RD State Office in the state where the applicant's project is located. Applications under the Community Facilities Disaster Grant Program will be accepted on a continual basis until funds are fully obligated. Applications received by 4:00 p.m. local time on September 12, 2024 will be scored on a priority basis in accordance with criteria outlined in E. Application Review Information in this notice.

If at any time the demand for grant funds is greater than the amount of grant funds available, a priority ranking scoring system will be used to determine which projects are selected for further processing.

B. Federal Award Information

Type of Award: Grants.

Fiscal Year Funds: Funds available until expended.

Available Funds: Up to $38 million. RHS may at its discretion, increase the total level of funding available from any available source provided the awards meet the requirements of the statute which made the funding available to the Agency.

Award Amounts: Grants may cover up to 75 percent of total project cost. There is no minimum or maximum award amount. The Agency will review and evaluate applications received as set forth in this Notice. The Agency will assign points to each application in accordance with the scoring and selection criteria outlined in this Notice.

Anticipated Award Date: It is anticipated that all awards will be made by December 31, 2024. However, funds remain available until fully obligated. Subsequent application reviews, rankings, and selections may occur in additional rounds if funds remain available.

Performance Period: The period of performance will be noted in the Grant Agreement and will extend for 5 years from the date of obligation of funds.

Renewal or Supplemental Awards: None.

Type of Assistance Instrument: Grant.

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

An eligible CF applicant must:

(a) Be one of the types of entities outlined in 7 CFR 3570.61(a);

(b) Be unable to finance the proposed project from its own resources, or through commercial credit as outlined in 7 CFR 3570.61(c); and

(c) Have the legal authority and responsibility to own, construct, operate, and maintain the proposed Facility as outlined in 7 CFR 3570.61(e).

2. Eligible Projects

An eligible CF project must:

(a) Be an eligible Facility as outlined in 7 CFR 3570.61(b);

(b) Be financially feasible as outlined in 7 CFR 3570.61(d); and

(c) Be for public use as outlined in 7 CFR 3570.61(f).

3. Eligible Uses of Funds

Grant funds must be used to repair essential community facilities damaged by Eligible 2022 Disasters, or to repair or replace essential community facilities damaged by Eligible 2023 Disasters, including the replacement of damaged equipment or vehicles and/or the purchase of new equipment to undertake repairs to damaged facilities and for related purposes as outlined in 7 CFR 3570.62. Such damage may include physical or environmental harm that reduces the value, usefulness, or normal function of an eligible essential community facility.

4. Project Location Eligibility

To be eligible for CF Program Disaster Grants under this Notice:

The eligible project must be located in an eligible rural area (including a rural area of a Reservation for Tribes) impacted by Eligible 2022 Disasters or Eligible 2023 Disasters. The term “rural and rural area” is defined in Section 343(a)(13)(C) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a)(13)(C)), as amended, as a city, town or, unincorporated area that has a population of not more than 20,000 inhabitants, and which excludes certain populations pursuant to 7 U.S.C. 1991(a)(13)(H) and (I). The boundaries for unincorporated areas in determining populations will be based on the Census Designated Places (CDP). Data from the 2020 Census will be used in determining population.

For information on determining if a project is located in an area with a Presidential Disaster Declaration go to https://www.fema.gov/​disaster/​declarations.

For information indicating a project is located in an area impacted by Other Disasters in CY 2023, please secure documentation such as a declaration of a disaster or public health emergency by a local, state, or Tribal government in accordance with applicable law; Presidential Executive Order related to the disaster; or demonstration that a multi-agency response effort at the Federal or Tribal level was undertaken to address the impact of the disaster. Your state emergency management agency may be able to assist. Go to https://www.usa.gov/​state-emergency-management for more information. This documentation should be included with your preapplication.

5. Cost Sharing or Matching

The Community Facilities Program Disaster Grant may fund up to 75 percent of the cost of repair to a damaged Facility. Funding for the balance of the project may consist of other CF financial assistance, applicant contributions, or loans and grants from other sources. In-kind contributions are not an acceptable source of cost-sharing funds. Applicants must utilize cash contributions to fund the remaining project costs and these funds must be expended for an eligible purpose. The Community Facilities Direct Loan Program resources are also available to eligible applicants to satisfy cost sharing requirements. Applicants may request a combination of Community Facilities Direct Loan and Disaster Grants in one application.

6. Other Program Requirements

Grant funds will be administered in accordance with this notice and all applicable statutory and regulatory requirements including eligibility for CF grants. Further, the Agency will consider the applicant's ability to finance the proposed project from its own resources, other funding resources, and/or through commercial credit at reasonable rates and terms.

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Address To Request Application Package

The requirements for submitting an application can be found at 7 CFR 3570.65. Applications will be processed by a USDA RD State Office. Agency state office contact information is available at https://www.rd.usda.gov/​about-rd/​state-offices. Interested applicants must contact the RD Office for the state where the project is located to discuss potential projects prior to preparing their application. Applications will be accepted on a continual basis until funds are fully obligated.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

An application must contain all the required elements outlined in 7 CFR 3570.65. Applicants must meet applicable statutory and regulatory requirements including environmental, procurement, and construction requirements, including adherence to applicable Tribal, state and local codes and standards. The applicable RD State Office can assist applicants in understanding complete application requirements based on the scope of the proposed project.

Applicants may elect to submit a preapplication or a complete application for funds. Applicants that elect to first submit a preapplication will do so to determine applicant eligibility and the proposed project's priority for available funds. Each preapplication must include an SF-424, “Application for Federal Assistance” with project description; evidence of an applicant's legal existence and authority; appropriate clearinghouse agency comments; and financial feasibility report, RD Form 1942-54 “Applicant's Feasibility Report.” Preapplications and complete applications must address the criteria presented in E. Application Review Information of this Notice, such as population of the project location, median household income of the population served, whether the project addresses a public healthcare emergency or public safety response at the local, state, national and/or Tribal level, and whether the project is in an area impacted by a disaster that has necessitated a coordinated inter-agency strategic response.

For projects located in an area impacted by an Other Disasters event in CY 2023, applications and preapplications must include documentation such as a declaration of a disaster or public health emergency by a local, state, or Tribal government in accordance with applicable law; a Presidential Executive Order related to the disaster; or documentation demonstrating that a multi-agency response effort at the Federal or Tribal level was undertaken to address the impact of the disaster.

3. System for Award Management and Unique Entity Identifier

(a) At the time of application, each applicant must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) before submitting its application in accordance with 2 CFR part 25. In order to register in SAM, entities will be required to obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). Instructions for obtaining the UEI are available at https://sam.gov/​content/​entity-registration.

(b) Applicant must maintain an active SAM registration, with current, accurate and complete information, at all times during which it has an active Federal award or an application under consideration by a Federal awarding agency.

(c) Applicant must ensure they complete the Financial Assistance General Certifications and Representations in SAM.

(d) Applicants must provide a valid UEI in its application, unless determined exempt under 2 CFR 25.110.

(e) The Agency will not make an award until the applicant has complied with all SAM requirements including providing the UEI. If an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time the Agency is ready to make an award, the Agency 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.

4. Submission Dates and Times

Applications will be accepted on a continual basis, beginning on the publication date of this Notice, until all funds are obligated. The applicable USDA Rural Development State Office will conduct an initial review and rating of complete applications and preapplications received by 4:00 p.m. local time on September 12, 2024. Subsequent application reviews, rankings, and selections may occur in additional rounds if funds remain.

5. Intergovernmental Review

Executive Order (E.O.) 12372, “Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs,” applies to this program. This E.O. requires that Federal agencies provide opportunities for consultation on proposed assistance with State and local governments. Many states have established a Single Point of Contact (SPOC) to facilitate this consultation. For a list of States that maintain a SPOC, please see the White House website: https://www.whitehouse.gov/​omb/​management/​office-federal-financial-management/​. If your State has a SPOC, you may submit a copy of the application directly for review. Any comments obtained through the SPOC must be provided to your State Office for consideration as part of your application. If your state has not established a SPOC, you may submit your application directly to the Agency. Applications from Federally recognized Tribes are not subject to this requirement.

6. Funding Restrictions

Grant funds may not be used to fund ineligible purposes per 7 CFR 3570.63.

Grant funds may not be used to:

(a) Pay initial operating expenses or annual recurring costs, including purchases or rentals that are generally considered to be operating and maintenance expenses (unless a CF loan is part of the funding package);

(b) Construct or repair electric generating plants, electric transmission lines, or gas distribution lines to provide services for commercial sale;

(c) Refinance existing indebtedness;

(d) Pay interest;

(e) Pay for facilities located in nonrural areas, except as noted in § 3570.61(b)(1);

(f) Pay any costs of a project when the median household income of the population to be served by the proposed Facility is above 90 percent of the State Nonmetropolitan Median Household Income (SNMHI);

(g) Pay project costs when other loan funding for the project is available at reasonable rates and terms;

(h) Pay an amount greater than 75 percent of the cost to develop the Facility;

(i) Pay costs to construct facilities to be used for commercial rental unless it is a minor part (15 percent or less) of the total floor space of the proposed Facility, provided, however, that the ineligible activity must be related to and enhance the primary purpose of the Facility;

(j) Construct facilities primarily for the purpose of housing State, Federal, or quasi-Federal agencies;

(k) Pay for any purposes restricted by 7 CFR 1942.17(d)(2); and

(l) Pay expenses that have been reimbursed from any other sources or that other sources are obligated to reimburse.

E. Application Review Information

1. Criteria

Application Review Information—Applications and preapplications will be reviewed in accordance with 7 CFR 3570.70 and scored by RD State Offices on a priority basis in accordance with the criteria below. If at any time the demand for grant funds is greater than the amount of grant funds available, the RD National Office will utilize a priority ranking scoring system to determine which projects may proceed with a complete application for funding. Points will be distributed as follows:

(a) Population priorities. The proposed project is located in a rural community having a population of:

(1) 5,000 or less—30 points;

(2) Between 5,001 and 12,000, inclusive—20 points; or

(3) Between 12,001 and 20,000, inclusive—10 points.

(b) Income priorities. The median household income of the population to be served by the proposed project is below the higher of the poverty line or:

(1) 60 percent of the SNMHI—30 points;

(2) 70 percent of the SNMHI—20 points;

(3) 80 percent of the SNMHI—10 points; or

(4) 90 percent of the SNMHI—5 points.

(c) Other priorities. Points will be assigned for one or more of the following:

(1) Project is aligned with a state strategic plan or priorities—10 points;

(2) Project addresses a declared public health emergency by a local, state, or Tribal government in accordance with applicable law—10 points; and/or

(3) Project addresses public safety—10 points.

(d) Discretionary.

The State Director may assign up to 15 points to a project in addition to those that may be scored under paragraphs (a) through (c) of this section, in accordance with 7 CFR 3570.67(d)(1). These points are to address unforeseen exigencies or emergencies, such as the loss of a community facility due to an accident or natural disaster or the loss of joint financing if Agency funds are not committed in a timely fashion. In addition, the points will be awarded to projects benefiting from the leveraging of funds in order to improve compatibility and coordination between the Agency and other agencies' selection systems and for those projects that are the most cost effective.

In selecting projects for funding at the National Office level, additional points will be awarded based on the priority assigned to the project by the State Office. Only the three highest priority projects for a State will be awarded points, with the top ranked project receiving 5 points, the next one receiving 3 points, and the third ranked project receiving 1 point.

The Administrator may also assign up to 30 additional points to account for geographic distribution of funds, emergency conditions caused by economic problems, and other initiatives identified by the Secretary.

Due to the competitive nature of this program, complete applications and Preapplications receiving the same score will be competed/ranked based on the Income priority score, and then if necessary, the Population priority score.

2. Review and Selection Process

The Agency reserves the right to offer the applicant less than the grant funding requested.

Applications will be reviewed by RD State Offices in accordance with 7 CFR 3570.70 (a)-(d) and scored on a priority basis in accordance with the criteria outlined in this Notice. If at any time the demand for grant funds is greater than the amount of grant funds available, the RD National Office will use a priority ranking scoring system to determine which projects are invited to submit a complete application. Each request for grant assistance will be carefully scored and prioritized to determine which projects should be selected for further development and funding.

The RD National Office will inform State Office approval officials of the eligible applications with the highest priority score that may proceed with a complete application for funding. When selecting projects, the following circumstances must be considered:

(1) Scoring of project and scores of other applications on hand;

(2) Funds available in the National Office reserve; and

(3) If other Community Facilities financial assistance is needed for the project, the availability of other funding sources.

3. Anticipated Announcement and Federal Award Dates

The applicable USDA Rural Development State Office will conduct an initial review and rating of preapplications and complete applications received by 4:00 p.m. local time on September 12, 2024. Subsequent application reviews, rankings, and selections will occur in additional rounds if funds remain.

F. Federal Award Administration Information

1. Federal Award Notices

Applicants selected for funding will be provided a Letter of Conditions. Upon acceptance of the conditions, the applicant will sign and return to the processing office Forms RD 1942-46, “Letter of Intent to Meet Conditions”, and RD 1940-1, “Request for Obligation of Funds”. The grant is approved on the date an Agency signed copy of Form RD 1940-1, “Request for Obligation of Funds,” is mailed to the applicant.

Prior to the disbursement of grant funds, applicants approved for funding will be required to sign an Agency approved Grant Agreement, meet any pre-disbursement conditions outlined in the Letter of Conditions, and meet the applicable Statutory or Regulatory authority for this action listed in Section A. Program Description.

In the event the application is not approved, the applicant will be notified in writing of the reasons for rejection and provided applicable review and appeal rights in accordance with 7 CFR part 11.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

Additional requirements that apply to grantees selected to receive Community Facilities Program Disaster Grants can be found in the Grants and Agreements regulations applicable to the Department of Agriculture and codified in 2 CFR parts 180, 200, 400, 415, 417, 418, 421; 2 CFR parts 25 and 170; and 48 CFR 31.2.

3. Reporting

As outlined in the letter of conditions and grant agreement issued by the Agency, grant recipients will be required to provide performance reports and annual financial statements in accordance with 2 CFR part 200 as adopted by the Agency in 2 CFR part 400. Grant recipients will also provide performance and financial monitoring and reporting information in accordance with 2 CFR part 200, subpart D, “Post Federal Award Requirements.”

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts

For general questions about this announcement, please contact your USDA Rural Development State Office provided in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.

H. Other Information

(a) Paperwork Reduction Act.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35), the information collection requirements associated with this program, as covered in this notice, have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under OMB Control Number 0575-0173.

(b) National Environmental Policy Act.

All recipients under this Notice are subject to the requirements of 7 CFR part 1970.

(c) Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act.

All applicants, in accordance with 2 CFR part 25, must be registered in SAM and have a UEI number as stated in Section D.3 of this notice. All recipients of Federal financial assistance are required to report information about first-tier sub-awards and executive total compensation in accordance with 2 CFR part 170.

(d) Civil Rights Act.

All grants made under this notice are subject to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as required by the USDA (7 CFR part 15, subpart A and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, Title IX, Executive Order 13166 (Limited English Proficiency), Executive Order 11246, and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974).

(e) Equal Opportunity for Religious Organizations.

(1) Faith-based organizations may apply for this award on the same basis as any other organization, as set forth at, and subject to the protections and requirements of, this part and any applicable constitutional and statutory requirements, including 42 U.S.C. 2000bb et seq. USDA will not, in the selection of recipients, discriminate for or against an organization on the basis of the organization's religious character, motives, or affiliation, or lack thereof, or on the basis of conduct that would not be considered grounds to favor or disfavor a similarly situated secular organization.

(2) A faith-based organization that participates in this program will retain its independence from the Government and may continue to carry out its mission consistent with religious freedom and conscience protections in Federal law. Religious accommodations may also be sought under many of these religious freedom and conscience protection laws.

(3) A faith-based organization may not use direct Federal financial assistance from USDA to support or engage in any explicitly religious activities except when consistent with the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment and any other applicable requirements. An organization receiving Federal financial assistance also may not, in providing services funded by USDA, or in their outreach activities related to such services, discriminate against a program beneficiary or prospective program beneficiary on the basis of religion, a religious belief, a refusal to hold a religious belief, or a refusal to attend or participate in a religious practice.

(f) Non-Discrimination Statement.

In accordance with Federal civil rights laws and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Mission Areas, agencies, staff offices, employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information ( e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language) should contact the responsible Mission Area, agency, staff office; or the 711 Federal Relay Service.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, which can be obtained online at https://www.usda.gov/​sites/​default/​files/​documents/​ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling [phone], or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant's name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

(1) Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410; or

(2) Fax: [phone] or [phone]; or

(3) Email: [e-mail].

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Joaquin Altoro,

Administrator, Rural Housing Service.