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.

Active 10.759 Rural Utilities Service, Department of Agriculture B - Project Grants Not applicable. The Food, Conservation and Energy Act, Public Law 110-234 (Farm Bill) amended Section 306(a)(2) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (CONACT) (7 U.S.C. 1926 (a)(2), Title 110, Part 234, Section 306(a)(2) , 7 U.S.C. 1926 (a)(2) 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, and financial standing. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program. Preapplication coordination is not applicable. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. 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. Selected applicant(s) will be notified by Form AD-622. Not applicable. 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. Not applicable. 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. May fund up to 100 percent of the eligible grant costs, not to exceed $30,000. Not applicable. In accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles and Audit Requirements, Subpart F, Audit Requirements (Revised, December 26, 2013)nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $750,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $750,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Subpart F. Annual audit or Management Report Required to maintain records and accounts to assure funds are used for authorized purposes. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. Not Applicable Advances and reimbursements will be disbursed over the term of the grant on request of the grantee. Consult local telephone directory under United States Government, Department of Agriculture, for Rural Development office number. If no listing, contact appropriate Rural Development State Office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog. Assistant Administrator
1400 Independence Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20250 US
charlesd.stephens@usda.gov
Phone: (202) 619-8500 http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/all-programs/water-environmental-programs 12-1980-0-1-452 (Project Grants) FY 22$1,335,652.00; FY 23 est $2,000,000.00; FY 24 est $2,000,000.00; FY 21$1,780,879.00; FY 20$2,470,100.00; FY 19$3,000,000.00; FY 18$2,356,045.00; - $19,000 to $30,000. Average is $28,418 7 CFR Part 1774; RUS Instruction 1780; OMB Circular A-87, OMB Circular A-110, OMB Circular A-102 or OMB Circular A-122; Executive Order 12866; and Executive Order 12988 Not applicable.