Published ARPA-ERHC NOFA

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Notices

Federal Register
Vol. 86, No. 153
Thursday, August 12, 2021

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER
contains documents other than rules or
proposed rules that are applicable to the
public. Notices of hearings and investigations,
committee meetings, agency decisions and
rulings, delegations of authority, filing of
petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are
examples of documents appearing in this
section.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Submission for OMB Review;
Comment Request

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August 9, 2021.

The Department of Agriculture has
submitted the following information
collection requirement(s) to OMB for
review and clearance under the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
Public Law 104–13. Comments are
requested regarding; whether the
collection of information is necessary
for the proper performance of the
functions of the agency, including
whether the information will have
practical utility; the accuracy of the
agency’s estimate of burden including
the validity of the methodology and
assumptions used; ways to enhance the
quality, utility and clarity of the
information to be collected; and ways to
minimize the burden of the collection of
information on those who are to
respond, including through the use of
appropriate automated, electronic,
mechanical, or other technological
collection techniques or other forms of
information technology.
Comments regarding this information
collection received by September 13,
2021 will be considered. Written
comments and recommendations for the
proposed information collection should
be submitted within 30 days of the
publication of this notice on the
following website www.reginfo.gov/
public/do/PRAMain. Find this
particular information collection by
selecting ‘‘Currently under 30-day
Review—Open for Public Comments’’ or
by using the search function.
An agency may not conduct or
sponsor a collection of information
unless the collection of information
displays a currently valid OMB control
number and the agency informs
potential persons who are to respond to
the collection of information that such
persons are not required to respond to
the collection of information unless it

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displays a currently valid OMB control
number.
Food and Nutrition Service
Title: Evaluation of Child Support
Enforcement Cooperation Requirements.
OMB Control Number: 0584–NEW.
Summary of Collection: The
Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018
(Pub. L. 115–334) requires the U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food
and Nutrition Service (FNS) to conduct
an independent evaluation of the child
support cooperation requirement in the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program (SNAP). The planned data
collection fulfills this evaluation
requirement. Section 17 [7 U.S.C. 2026]
(m) (1, 2) of the Food and Nutrition Act
of 2008 Section 17, 7 U.S.C. 2026), as
amended by the Agriculture
Improvement Act of 2018, authorizes
the Secretary of Agriculture to enter into
contracts with private institutions to
assess the implementation, impacts,
costs, and benefits of having a child
support cooperation requirement in
SNAP. The Personal Responsibility and
Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of
1996 (Appendix A3: Legal Authority
Pub. L. 104–193) gave States the option
to require custodial and noncustodial
parents who apply for and participate in
SNAP to cooperate with the child
support program. The goals of this
requirement are to increase child
support participation, increase the
income of families, and reduce their
need for public assistance.
Need and Usse of the Information:
The primary purpose of this voluntary,
one-time data collection is to assess the
implementation of the following: (1)
The implementation of the child
support cooperation requirement for
each State in the study that currently
implements the requirement; (2) the
feasibility of implementing the child
support cooperation requirement in a
sample of State agencies that formerly
implemented the requirement or are
considering implementing the
requirement; (3) the impact of the child
support cooperation requirement in
SNAP on both custodial and
noncustodial parents in study States
that have or formerly had a child
support cooperation requirement; (4)
how State agencies align the procedures
for the implementing child support
cooperation requirement in SNAP to
those in other Federal programs; (5)
determine the costs and benefits to State

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SNAP agencies, child support agencies,
and households of requiring State
agencies to implement the requirement;
(6) assess the impact of the requirement
on SNAP eligibility, benefit levels, food
security, income, and economic
stability.
Description of Respondents:
Individuals/Households (750) Businessfor-not-for-Profit (12) State, Local, or
Tribal Government (352).
Number of Respondents: 1,114.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting;
On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 1,514.
Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021–17232 Filed 8–11–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–30–P

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Housing Service
[Docket No. RHS–21–CF–0009]

The American Rescue Plan Act
Emergency Rural Health Care Grant
Program
Rural Housing Service,
Department of Agriculture (USDA).
ACTION: Notice of Funds Availability
(NOFA).
AGENCY:

The Rural Housing Service
(RHS), a Rural Development agency of
the United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA), announces the
availability of up to $500 million in
grant funding, appropriated under the
American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, for
the establishment of the Emergency
Rural Health Care (ERHC) Grant
Program. As authorized under Section
1002 of the American Rescue Plan Act
of 2021, funds will be made available
and distributed between two tracks of
funding to eligible applicants: Track
One, Recovery grants to offer support for
rural health care services in the form of
immediate relief to address the
economic conditions arising from the
COVID–19 emergency; and Track Two,
Impact grants to offer longer-term
funding to advance ideas and solutions
to support long-term sustainability of
rural health.
DATES: Applications for the ERHC Grant
Program must be submitted to the
applicable USDA Rural Development
SUMMARY:

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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 153 / Thursday, August 12, 2021 / Notices
Office (See ADDRESSES section for
details). Track One, Recovery
applications will be accepted on a
continual basis, beginning on the
publication date of this Notice, until
funds are exhausted. The applicable
USDA Rural Development State Office
will conduct an initial review, rating,
and selection of complete applications
received by 4:00 p.m. local time on
October 12, 2021. Subsequent
application reviews, rankings, and
selections will occur in additional
rounds for all complete applications
until all remaining funds are utilized.
Track Two, Impact applications must be
received by the applicable USDA Rural
Development Office by 4:00 p.m. local
time on October 12, 2021. Track Two,
Impact applications received after
October 12, 2021 will not be considered.
Comments related to the collection of
information must be submitted by
October 12, 2021. Please follow the
directions provided in Section IX of this
NOFA.

Authority:
This solicitation is authorized
pursuant to the American Rescue Plan
Act of 2021 (Pub. L. 117–2), 7 CFR part
3570, subpart B; 7 U.S.C. 8103(f)), Farm
Security and Rural Investment Act,
2002; 7 U.S.C. 1926(a)(13), and the
Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act; 7 U.S.C. 1926(a)(26).

This funding opportunity
will be made available for informational
purposes on Grants.gov.
Application Submission: Track One,
Recovery applications will be submitted
to a processing office as designated by
the USDA Rural Development State
Office in the state where the applicant’s
project is located. Agency state office
contact information is available at
https://www.rd.usda.gov/about-rd/stateoffices. Track Two, Impact applications
will be submitted to a processing office
as designated by the USDA Rural
Development State Office in the state
where the applicant is headquartered.
For applicants with headquarters
located in the District of Columbia,
applications will be submitted to the
USDA Rural Development National
Office, ATTN: Jamie Davenport, 1400
Independence Ave., SW, STOP 0787,
Washington, DC 20250. Both paper and
electronic applications must be received
by the Agency by the deadlines stated
in the DATES section of this Notice. The
use of a courier and package tracking for
paper applications is strongly
encouraged.

Congressional Review Act
Pursuant to Subtitle E of the Small
Business Regulatory Enforcement
Fairness Act of 1996 (also known as the
Congressional Review Act or CRA), 5
U.S.C. 801 et seq., the Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs in
the Office of Management and Budget
designated this action as a major rule as
defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2), (Pub. L. 104–
121), because it is likely to result in an
annual effect on the economy of
$100,000,000 or more. Accordingly,
there is a 60-day delay in the effective
date of this action. Application rating,
ranking, and selection will not begin
until after October 12, 2021. Therefore,
the 60-day delay required by the CRA is
not expected to have a material impact
upon the administration and/or
implementation of the ERHC Grant
Program.

ADDRESSES:

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jamie Davenport: USDA Rural
Development, Community Facilities
Program. Telephone: (202) 720–0002,
email: Jamie.Davenport@usda.gov.
Persons with disabilities that require
alternative means for communication
should contact the U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) Target Center at
(202) 720–2600 (voice).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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Rural Development Funding Priorities
The Agency encourages applicants to
consider projects that will advance the
following key priorities:
Æ Assisting rural communities
recover economically from the impacts
of the COVID–19 pandemic, particularly
disadvantaged communities;
Æ Ensuring all rural residents have
equitable access to RD programs and
benefits from RD funded projects; and
Æ Reducing climate pollution and
increasing resilience to the impacts of
climate change through economic
support to rural communities.
For further information, visit https://
www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points.

Background
USDA’s Rural Development Agencies,
comprising the Rural BusinessCooperative Service (RB–CS), Rural
Housing Service (RHS), and the Rural
Utilities Service (RUS), are leading the
way in helping rural America improve
the quality of life and increase the
economic opportunities for rural people.
RHS offers a variety of programs to
build or improve housing and essential
community facilities in rural areas. The
Agency also offers loans, grants, and
loan guarantees for single- and multifamily housing, child-care centers, fire
and police stations, hospitals, libraries,
nursing homes, schools, first responder
vehicles and equipment, housing for

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farm laborers and much more. The
Agency also provides technical
assistance loans and grants in
partnership with non-profit
organizations, Indian tribes, state and
Federal government agencies, and local
communities.
The American Rescue Plan Act of
2021 (ARPA), Public Law 117–2, was
signed by the President on March 11,
2021. It provides the Rural Housing
Service Community Facilities (CF)
Program up to $500,000,000 in grant
funding for eligible CF applicants and
eligible CF facilities to help broaden
access to COVID–19 vaccines and
testing, health care services including
telehealth services, food assistance
through food banks and food
distribution facilities, and collaborative,
evidence-based support for the longterm sustainability of rural health care.
Nearly one in five Americans live in
rural areas and depend on local
hospitals for care. Data shows that
between January 2013 and February
2020, 101 rural hospitals closed in 28
states. According to data from the U.S.
Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS) and a recent study by
the U.S. Government Accountability
Office (GAO), counties with a hospital
closure experience an immediate and
steady decline in availability of health
care providers compared to counties
that do not experience a closure. Rural
residents in these counties must travel
an additional median distance of 20
miles to access health care services after
a closure. Furthermore, HHS data shows
that Medicare fee-for-service
beneficiaries are less healthy in areas
with hospital closures compared to their
counterparts in service areas without
closures. In addition, HHS data shows
that rural hospitals operated under
negative margins before closure and
hospitals that remain open are
increasingly showing signs of financial
distress.
The financial stress on rural hospitals
and the negative impact on rural
residents was exacerbated by the
COVID–19 pandemic. In 2020 alone, 20
hospitals closed and as many as 453
more rural hospitals are considered
highly vulnerable for future closure. It is
estimated that rural hospitals lost an
estimated 70 percent of their income in
2020 due to delayed and deferred care
caused by the pandemic. Rural residents
are generally older, less healthy, and
more reliant on government payors than
their urban counterparts.
In designing this ERHC program,
USDA determined that the challenges
facing rural health care are primarily
two-fold: immediate financial needs
stemming from COVID–19 related

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expenses and long-term access and
availability of rural health care services
that have been further hampered as a
result of the COVID–19 pandemic. In
response to these challenges, this ERHC
Grant Program NOFA provides two
tracks of funding: Track One for
recovery grants to support immediate
financial relief needs and Track Two for
impact grants to advance ideas and
solutions to support the long-term
sustainability of rural health care.
Overview
Federal Agency: Rural Housing
Service (RHS), (USDA).
Funding Opportunity Title: The
American Rescue Plan Act Emergency
Rural Health Care (ERHC) Grant
Program.
Funding Opportunity Number:
USDA–RHS–ERHC–2021.
Announcement Type: Notice of Funds
Availability.
Assistance Listings (AL) Number:
10.766.
Due Date for Applications: Track One,
Recovery applications will be accepted
on a continual basis and will be
evaluated as long as funding remains
available. Complete applications
received by 4:00 p.m. local time on
October 12, 2021 will be evaluated and
ranked according to the scoring criteria
in this Notice. Applications
subsequently received and/or deemed
complete will be evaluated and ranked
as long as funding remains available.
Applications for Track Two, Impact
applications must be received by 4:00
p.m. local time on October 12, 2021.
Applications received after 4:00 p.m.
local time on October 12, 2021 will not
be considered.
For further information, visit the
Emergency Rural Health Care Grant
Program web page at https://
www.rd.usda.gov/erhc.
Items in Supplementary Information
I. Funding Opportunity Description
II. Federal Award Information
III. Definitions
IV. Eligibility Information
V. Application Submission Information
VI. Application Review Information
VII. Federal Awarding Administration
Information
VIII. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts
IX. Other Information

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I. Funding Opportunity Description
A. Background
This NOFA is being issued pursuant
to the recently passed American Rescue
Plan Act of 2021 and is considered to be
Economically Significant and Major.
Funds will be administered in
accordance with this NOFA and will be

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distributed between two tracks of
funding: Under Track One, Recovery
grants are designed to provide
emergency grant funding for eligible CF
applicants to help rural hospitals and
local communities broaden access to
COVID–19 vaccines and testing, health
care services including telehealth
services, and food assistance through
food banks and food distribution
facilities in rural areas.
Track Two, Impact grants are
designed to plan for, implement, and
evaluate models to support the longterm sustainability of rural health care.
Long-term sustainability is defined as
improved health outcomes, improved
access to quality health care, and
creating and maintaining health care as
a key economic driver of small
communities. Details on eligible
Community Facilities (CF) applicants
and eligible CF facilities may be found
in Section IV. Eligibility Information of
this Notice.
Applicants may request assistance for
costs for a performance period of up to
36 months. Track One, Recovery
applicants may additionally request preaward costs incurred on or after March
13, 2020. Applicants may not request
assistance for expenses or losses that
have been reimbursed from other
Federal sources or that other Federal
sources are obligated to reimburse.
Rural communities face unique
challenges due to the COVID–19
pandemic that include financial and
economic vulnerability. At the same
time, rural communities have essential
community infrastructure needs that are
essential to promote vaccine
administration and distribution,
conduct COVID–19 testing, provide
access to quality health care services,
and support the needs of food banks and
food distribution facilities. This
program provides critical grant funding
to support rural communities’ health
care needs in the face of COVID–19.
B. Program Description
This program is designed for essential
community facilities located in rural
areas, primarily serving rural areas, and
serving populations with median
household income that is lower than
ninety percent of the State
nonmetropolitan median household
income. Within these parameters, the
Agency is further encouraging
investment in distressed communities.
RD utilizes the Distressed Communities
Index, developed by the Economic
Innovation Group (EIG), which
combines seven publicly available
metrics to assess the economic wellbeing of communities. For more
information on EIG’s Distressed

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Communities Index, visit https://
eig.org/dci. EIG’s Distressed Community
Map can be found at the following
website: https://
ruraldevelopment.maps.arcgis.com/
apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=
06a26a91d074426d944d22715a90311e.
As part of its annual performance plan
and strategic goals and objectives, the
Agency tracks the percent of RD
assistance that goes to distressed
communities in its loan and grant
programs and will do the same for this
program.
C. Implementation of the American
Rescue Act of 2021 Provisions
Track One, Recovery grant funds will
be allocated to USDA Rural
Development State Offices. The
allocation of funds will be based on an
adaptation of 7 CFR part 1940, subpart
L, Methodology and Formulas for
Allocation of Loan and Grant Program
Funds. USDA Rural Development State
Offices will have until June 30, 2022 to
obligate funds allocated to their
respective state. After June 30, 2022,
unobligated funds may be pooled into
the USDA Rural Development National
Office Reserve to fund additional
qualified applications based on the
evaluation criteria specified in this
Notice. The Agency intends to provide
a minimum $350,000,000 to fund
eligible facilities under Track One.
Track Two, Impact grant funds will be
held within the USDA Rural
Development National Office Reserve.
The Agency intends to provide up to
$125,000,000 to fund no more than 15
projects under Track Two. Any
unobligated funds for Track Two,
Impact grants will be made available for
Track One, Recovery grants.
II. Federal Award Information
A. Assistance Listings (AL) Number:
10.766
Assistance Listings (AL) Title:
American Rescue Plan Act Emergency
Rural Health Care (ERHC) Grant
Program.
B. Available Funds
The American Rescue Plan Act of
2021 provides $500,000,000 in
budgetary authority for this program
through September 30, 2023. The
Agency may publish future notices in
the Federal Register to align with the
demand for these grants.
C. Funding Limitations
The Agency will review and evaluate
applications received as set forth in this
NOFA. The Agency anticipates that
demand for grant funding may exceed
the supply of funds and will assign

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points to each application in accordance
with the scoring and selection criteria
for the applicable funding track outlined
in this Notice.

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III. Definitions
The terms and conditions provided in
this NOFA are applicable to and for
purposes of this NOFA only. Unless
otherwise provided in the award
documents, all financial terms not
defined herein shall have the meaning
as defined by Generally Accepted
Accounting Principles (GAAP).
Agency means the Rural Housing
Service (RHS), an agency of the U.S.
Department of Agriculture.
Consortium means institutions of
health care, higher education, academic
health and research institutes, federallyrecognized tribes, or economic
development entities (inclusive of tribal
economic development entities), or
combination thereof, located in the
region identified to be served that have
experience in addressing these issues in
the region.
Eligible Project Costs means only
those costs incurred during the grant
period and eligible pre-award period
and that are directly related to the use
and purposes of the American Rescue
Plan Act’s Emergency Rural Health Care
Grant Program.
GAAP means accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States
of America.
Poverty line means the level of
income for a family of four as defined
by section 673(2) of the Community
Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C.
9902(2)).
Rural and rural area mean a city,
town, or unincorporated area with a
population of not more than 20,000
inhabitants in accordance with 7 U.S.C.
1991(a)(13). Population may be adjusted
by exclusion of individuals incarcerated
on a long-term or regional basis and the
exclusion of the first 1,500 individuals
who reside in housing located on a
military base. The boundaries for
unincorporated areas will be based on
Census Designated Place(s). Population
data from the most recent decennial
census of the United States will be used.
For projects located on tribal trust land,
the population of the tribal trust land,
based on the most recent decennial
census, will be used to determine the
rural area regardless of whether the
tribal trust land is located within the
boundaries of a city or town.
Rural Development (RD) means a
mission area within USDA which
includes Rural Housing Service, Rural
Utilities Service, and Rural BusinessCooperative Service.

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State nonmetropolitan median
household income (MHI) means the
median household income of the State’s
nonmetropolitan counties and portions
of metropolitan counties outside of
cities, towns, or places of 50,000 or
more population.
IV. Eligibility Information
A. Applicant Eligibility
(1) An eligible applicant under this
program must be one of the types of
entities outlined in 7 CFR 3570.61(a):
(a) Public body, such as a
municipality, county, district, authority,
or other political subdivision of a State.
State public bodies are not eligible for
assistance under this program.
(b) Nonprofit corporation or
association. Applicants, other than
nonprofit utility applicants, must have
significant ties with the local rural
community. Such ties are necessary to
ensure to the greatest extent possible
that a facility under private control will
carry out a public purpose and continue
to primarily serve rural areas. Nonprofit
Track Two, Impact applicants must
demonstrate a consortium of partners
that demonstrate significant ties with
the local rural community(ies) as
referenced in paragraph (2) of this
section.
(c) Federally recognized Indian Tribe,
including a political subdivision of a
Tribe, in a rural area.
(2) In addition to meeting the
eligibility requirements of Section
IV(A)(1) above, Track Two, Impact grant
applicants must establish a network or
consortium of entities for the purposes
of this grant. The network or consortium
shall:
(a) Be comprised of at least three or
more health care provider organizations,
economic development entities,
federally-recognized tribes, and/or
institutions of higher education,
academic health, and research institutes
(including the applicant organization).
(b) Be comprised of rural and/or
urban nonprofit entities, as long as at
least 66% (two-thirds) of network
members are located in a rural area and
primarily serve a rural area as defined
by this Notice; and
(c) Identify one lead entity to serve as
the primary applicant and recipient of
the Track Two, Impact grant funds and
accountable for monitoring and
reporting on the project performance
and financial management of the grant.
The lead entity or applicant must be an
eligible entity described above in
Section IV (A) (1), although significant
ties to the local rural community may be
satisfied as long as at least 66% (twothirds) of consortium members are

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located in a rural area and primarily
serve a rural area. The lead entity must
also be legally organized as an
incorporated organization or other legal
entity with legal authority to contract
with the Federal Government.
B. Project Location Eligibility
To be eligible for grant funds under
this Notice, the eligible facility or
project to be financed must be located
in a rural area as defined in section
343(a)(13)(C) of the Consolidated Farm
and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C.
1991(a)(13)) and must primarily serve
rural residents. The terms ‘‘rural’’ and
‘‘rural area’’ mean any area other than
a city, town, or unincorporated area that
has a population of greater than 20,000
inhabitants. Population may be adjusted
by exclusion of individuals incarcerated
on a long-term or regional basis and the
exclusion of the first 1,500 individuals
who reside in housing located on a
military base. The boundaries for
unincorporated areas in determining
populations will be based on the Census
Designated Places(s) (CDP). Data from
the most recent decennial census of the
United States will be used in
determining population. For projects
located on tribal trust land, the
population of the tribal trust land, based
on the most recent decennial census,
will be used to determine the rural area
regardless of whether the tribal trust
land is located within the boundaries of
a city or town.
Non-public body applicants are not
required to be headquartered in a rural
area. However, applicants must
demonstrate how the facility to be
financed with these grant funds is
located in and will primarily serve rural
areas. For Track Two, Impact grants, the
lead applicant must demonstrate how
the project is for the benefit of facilities
located in rural areas and which
primarily serve rural areas.
When considering whether a facility
primarily serves rural residents, the
Agency will consider the applicant or
facility’s normal service territory,
excluding any temporary expansion of
service area resulting from the COVID–
19 pandemic.
C. Eligible Grant Amounts
An applicant is limited in the amount
of grant funds that can be requested to
assist a facility, depending on the
population to be served and the median
household income of that population.
Facilities and projects must demonstrate
other sources of funds to fund the
remaining portion of project costs. In
these cases, grant assistance will be
provided on a graduated scale with
smaller communities with the lowest

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median household income being eligible
for a higher proportion of grant funds.
Grant funds will be limited to:
(1) The percentages of eligible project
costs as outlined below:
(a) Up to 75 percent when the
proposed project is located in a rural
community having a population of
5,000 or less and the median household
income of the population to be served
by the proposed facility is below the
poverty line or 60 percent of the State
nonmetropolitan median household
income, whichever is greater.
(b) Up to 55 percent when the
proposed project is located in a rural
community having a population of
12,000 or less and the median
household income of the population to
be served by the proposed facility is
below the poverty line or 70 percent of
the State nonmetropolitan median
household income, whichever is greater.
(c) Up to 35 percent when the
proposed project is located in a rural
community having a population of
20,000 or less and the median
household income of the population to
be served by the proposed facility is
below the poverty line or 80 percent of
the State nonmetropolitan median
household income, whichever is greater.
(d) Up to 15 percent when the
proposed project is located in a rural
community having a population of
20,000 or less and the median
household income of the population to
be served by the proposed facility is
below the poverty line or 90 percent of
the state nonmetropolitan median
household income, whichever is greater.
(e) 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
outlined in this Notice.
(i) If requesting Track One, Recovery
funds for lost revenue or staffing
expenses as defined in paragraphs
D.(1)(c) and D.(1)(f) of this section,
respectively, applicants may utilize the
applicable percentage of lost revenue or
staffing expenses to satisfy the costsharing requirement. For example, an
applicant that experienced $100,000 in
lost revenues associated with a facility
located in a rural community of less
than 5,000 population and a median
household income of less than 60
percent of the state nonmetropolitan
median household income is eligible for
a maximum project cost of 75 percent.
In this example, the applicant can
request $75,000 for grant funding
associated with lost revenues and the
remaining $25,000 in lost revenues

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serves as the balance of the total project
cost.
(ii) Applicants may not use grant
funds received under other Rural
Development (RD) programs to satisfy
cost-sharing or matching requirements.
Federal and state resources may be
acceptable sources to the extent it is
allowable under the Federal or state
program(s).
(iii) If awarded grant funds under this
program, grant funds may not be
utilized as matching funds for other
Federal programs.
(2) Under Track One, Recovery, the
maximum grant assistance allowed is
$1,000,000. Under Track Two, Impact,
the maximum grant assistance allowed
is $10,000,000.
(3) Under Track One, Recovery, the
minimum grant assistance allowed is
$25,000. Under Track Two, Impact, the
minimum grant assistance is $5,000,000.
(4) Applicants may request and
receive assistance under both Track One
and Track Two awards. Applicants may
submit only one application for Track
Two assistance. Affiliated entities may
only participate in a single Track Two
application.
(5) Applicants may request assistance
for more than one project location. An
applicant entity with wholly owned
affiliated entities or subsidiaries may
apply on behalf of one or more affiliated
entities. An Affiliate is an entity
controlling or having the power to
control another entity, or a third party
or parties that control or have the power
to control both entities.
(6) If it is determined that an
applicant is affiliated with another
entity that has also applied, then the
maximum grant award applies to all
affiliated entities as if they applied as
one applicant.
D. Eligible Use of Grant Funds
Grant funds must be used to support
health care and nutritional assistance
needs in correlation with the COVID–19
pandemic and as defined below. Funds
may be requested for one or more
purposes outlined below:
(1) Track One, Recovery funds must
be used to support immediate health
care needs stemming from the COVID–
19 pandemic, to support preparedness
for a future pandemic event, and/or to
increase access to quality health care
services to improve community health
outcomes. To be eligible for this
program, a project must support the
health care needs, including access to
nutrition assistance through food banks
and food distribution facilities, for a
rural community(ies). Funds requested
from the categories below may be
requested for expenses incurred during

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the grant period and/or the eligible preaward period dating back to March 13,
2020:
(a) Increase capacity for vaccine
distribution, including cold storage,
vehicle, transportation, and other
equipment expenses.
(b) Provide medical supplies and
equipment to increase medical surge
capacity, including personal protective
equipment and laboratory equipment.
(c) Reimburse for health care-related
revenue lost during the COVID–19
pandemic, including revenue losses
incurred prior to the awarding of the
grant through March 13, 2020. Requests
for this category must include a
certification from a certified public
accountant (CPA) that the calculation of
health care-related lost revenue
requested is accurate and in alignment
with previous years’ revenue. When
calculating lost revenue, CPAs may use
budgeted revenues if the budget(s) and
associated documents covering calendar
year 2020 were established and
approved on or before March 13, 2020.
To be considered an approved budget,
the budget must have been ratified,
certified, or adopted by the applicant’s
financial executive or executive officer
as of that date, and the CPA will be
required to attest that the budget was
established and approved on or before
March 13, 2020. The CPA certification
must also definitively state that these
lost revenues have not been reimbursed
from other Federal or state resources.
(d) Increase telehealth capabilities,
including the purchase of and training
needed for provider and end-user
telehealth equipment, telehealth
software, telehealth electronic security
upgrades, electronic health records, data
sharing capacity, video and
teleconference services, and other
underlying health care information
systems.
(e) Construct or renovate temporary or
permanent structures to provide health
care services, such as vaccine
administration, testing, and facility
modifications. Examples of facilities
offering health care services include
health care clinics, hospitals, medical
offices, outpatient facilities, mobile
health clinics, mental/behavioral health,
and addiction treatment centers,
assisted and skilled living facilities,
rehabilitation facilities, urgent care,
telehealth facilities, and wellness
centers. Any construction work
completed with grant funds under this
award shall meet the Davis-Bacon Act
conditions set forth in section 9003(f) of
the Farm Security and Rural Investment
Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8103(f)).
(f) Support staffing needs for vaccine
administration and/or testing. Requests

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for this category must include a
certification from a certified public
accountant (CPA) that these staffing
expenses have not been reimbursed
from other Federal or state resources.
(g) Support facility, equipment, and
operating expenses associated with food
banks and food distribution facilities,
including transportation, vehicles, food
storage, and other equipment. Operating
expenses are limited to the grant award
period and pre-award cost period.
(h) To pay professional service fees
and charges, but only when such
expenses are a necessary part of a
facility or project allowable under this
Notice, are a secondary part of the grant
amount requested, and when the
Agency agrees that the amounts are
reasonable and customary for the type of
facility and—
(i) The professional service provider
is selected through a qualificationsbased selection process; or
(ii) The professional service provider
is the project architect, project engineer,
environmental professional,
environmental consultant, or legal
counsel, in which case a competitive
qualifications-based procurement
process is not required.
(i) To pay for pre-award costs
incurred between March 13, 2020 and
the proposed project start date for any
eligible category in paragraph D.(1)(a)
through (h) of this section. Applicants
should note that any pre-award
activities related to construction or
renovation costs must still adhere to
requirements specified in this Notice,
including Davis-Bacon Act requirements
and all Agency environmental
requirements as specified in 7 CFR part
1970.
(2) Track Two, Impact funds must be
used to support the long-term
sustainability of rural health care. Longterm sustainability is defined as
improved health outcomes, improved
access to quality health care, and
creating/maintaining sustainable
economic development for small
communities. Often, health care is the
key economic driver for small rural
communities and the closures of these
facilities creates negative ripple effects
throughout the regional economy.
Projects funded under Track Two,
Impact funds must define how the
proposed project will contribute to
improving rural health care access, rural
health outcomes, and/or the economic
viability of rural health care. Track Two,
Impact applicants may request and use
grant funding for one or more of the
following activities:
(a) Establish or scale a regional
partnership or consortium of
community leaders and health care

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partners to plan, implement, and
evaluate a model(s) to support solving
regional health care problems and the
long-term sustainability of rural health
care. Health care networks can be an
effective strategy to help small rural
health care providers align resources,
achieve economies of scale and
efficiencies, share decision-making
authority, collaboratively address
community challenges, and create
impactful, innovative solutions as a
group rather than single providers.
(b) Establish or scale an evidencebased model and disseminate lessons
learned for possible replication in other
small communities and regions.
(c) Identify a health-related problem
within the applicant’s region, develop
and implement a method and solution
to overcome the problem and conduct a
program evaluation to examine health
related outcomes, long-term
sustainability, and replicability.
Implementation may include
construction or other related expenses
that adhere to requirements specified in
this Notice.
The Agency encourages, but does not
require, that applicants consider the
following high need topical areas:
development of integrated health care
models, reducing facility bypass
whether through telemedicine or
business plan adjustments, telehealth,
electronic health data sharing,
workforce development, transportation,
paramedicine, obstetrics, behavioral
health, farmworker health care,
cooperative home care, and supporting
health care as a small community,
anchor institution.
(d) Establish a methodology to
calculate summary impact measures or
an estimated return on investment for
the grant funds requested, including job
creation/retention numbers, and
improving quality of life.
(e) Cover the cost of technical
assistance to assist with one or more
aspects of project implementation,
project evaluation, data sharing, and/or
reporting requirements.
(f) Cover indirect costs in an amount
up to a federally negotiated indirect cost
rate. A copy of the current rate
agreement must be provided with the
application. Applicants without a
negotiated indirect cost rate, except for
those non-Federal entities described in
Appendix VII to Part 200—States and
Local Government and Indian Tribe
Indirect Cost Proposals, paragraph
(D)(1), may use the de minimis rate of
10 percent of modified total direct costs.
Lead applicants may not request
indirect costs on behalf of any other
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(g) Make sub-awards in the form of a
grant, cooperative agreement, or
contract, as appropriate, to other
members of the consortium or other
service providers such as technical
assistance providers. If a grant or
cooperative agreement is awarded, the
organization receiving the subaward is a
subrecipient (see 2 CFR 200.1), and the
recipient is responsible for complying
with all applicable requirements of 2
CFR part 200, including provisions for
making and monitoring an award. If a
contract is awarded, the organization
receiving the subaward is a contractor,
and the recipient is responsible for
following its written procurement
procedures and complying with the
Federal Acquisition Regulation. Both
subrecipients and contractors are
required to comply with all applicable
laws and regulations, including
performance and financial reporting, as
described in their award document.
(h) To pay professional service fees
and charges associated with the grant
request if the Agency agrees that the
amounts are reasonable and customary
for the type of facility and
(i) the professional service provider is
selected through a qualifications-based
selection process; or
(ii) the professional service provider
is the project architect, project engineer,
appraiser, environmental professional,
environmental consultant, or legal
counsel, in which case a competitive
qualifications-based procurement
process is not required.
(3) Grant funds must not be used to
reimburse for the following purposes:
(a) Expenses or losses that have been
reimbursed from any other sources or
that other sources are obligated to
reimburse.
(b) Expenses related to staffing needs
may not exceed an annual salary of
$100,000, as prorated over the
applicable time period. This limitation
is placed on cash compensation and
does not include other health care or
retirement plan compensation.
(c) Construction, renovation,
purchase, or acquisition costs for
facilities located in nonrural areas.
(d) Purchase or acquisition costs for
facilities or property.
(e) Pay for existing indebtedness
unrelated to the COVID–19 pandemic.
Refinance may be eligible for Track
One, Recovery applicants for short-term
debt incurred for an eligible purpose
outlined in paragraph D. (1) above.
(f) With exception for eligible preaward costs for Track One, Recovery
applicants, paying obligations
incurred before the beginning date or
after the ending date of the grant
agreement; and

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(g) Any purpose prohibited in 2 CFR
part 200 or 2 CFR part 400.
V. Application Submission Information
A. Request Application Package
Entities wishing to apply for
assistance may download the
application documents and
requirements outlined in this NOFA
from the ERHC Grant Program web page:
https://www.rd.usda.gov/erhc.
Track One, Recovery applicants must
submit application packages to the
USDA Rural Development office in their
state. Applications will be processed by
the USDA Rural Development State
Office in the state where the applicant’s
project is located. For project activities
located in more than one state, the
applicant’s headquarters location will
determine the applicable USDA Rural
Development State Office. Agency state
office contact information is available at
https://www.rd.usda.gov/about-rd/stateoffices.
Track Two, Impact applicants must
submit application packages to the
USDA Rural Development office in the
state in which the applicant
organization is headquartered. If a Track
Two applicant is headquartered in the
District of Columbia, the applicant must
submit its application package to the
USDA Rural Development National
Office and the application will be
processed by the USDA Rural
Development Maryland/Delaware State
Office.

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B. Content and Form of Application
Submission
For Track One, Recovery applicants,
the applicable USDA Rural
Development State Office will conduct
an initial review, rating, and selection of
complete applications received by the
date established in this Notice,
according to the selection criteria in this
Notice. Subsequent application reviews,
rankings, and selections will occur for
all complete applications until funding
has been fully utilized. Complete
applications must contain all parts
necessary for the Agency to determine
applicant and project eligibility, ensure
environmental and architectural
requirements are met, calculate a
priority score, and rank the application
in order to be considered. Track One,
Recovery, applications deemed
incomplete as of the date established in
this Notice will compete for any
remaining funding once the applicant
submits a complete application. For as
long as funding remains available, the
applicable USDA Rural Development
State Office will work with Track One,

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Recovery applicants to reach a complete
application status.
For Track Two, Impact applicants, the
applicable USDA Rural Development
State Office will conduct initial
eligibility reviews. The USDA Rural
Development National Office will
coordinate application reviews,
rankings, and selections based on the
information received by the Agency as
of the deadline established in this
Notice.
The application for Track One and
Track Two funding must include the
following:
(a) A summary page, double-spaced
between items, listing the following
(this information should not be
presented in narrative form):
(1) Track of funding requested: Track
One, Recovery or Track Two, Impact;
(2) Applicant’s name;
(3) Amount of grant request, and
(4) Project description, no more than
three sentences summarizing applicant
entity, location of assistance, and
purpose and use of the grant funds.
(b) A detailed Table of Contents
containing page numbers for each
component of the application.
(c) One executed complete
application. This includes the SF–424
‘‘Application for Federal Assistance,’’
and SF–424A ‘‘Budget Information—
Non-Construction Programs’’ or SF–
424C ‘‘Budget Information—
Construction Programs.’’
(d) Organizational documents that
demonstrate the applicant is an eligible
entity as described in Section IV.
Eligibility Information. Nonprofits must
provide articles of organization,
incorporation, or association; by-laws;
evidence of good standing; and evidence
of ties to the local rural community.
Ties to the local rural community may
be demonstrated through: (1) Close
association with, or controlled by a local
unit of government; (2) Broad-based
ownership and control by members of
the community, as demonstrated
through a listing and description of
board members; and/or (3) Substantial
public funding as demonstrated through
pledged taxes, local government
sources, or community-wide fundraising
campaign.
(e) Evidence of eligibility. Applicants
must submit sufficient documentation
to demonstrate how the health care
facility(ies) or project to be funded
through this grant primarily serves rural
areas, is located in a rural area, and
serves a population with a median
household income below the poverty
line or applicable percentage defined in
this Notice. This submission must
describe the proposed facility or project
and its service area, including:

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(1) Location of facility, including
population demographics of that
location.
(2) Description of area and number
and demographics (if known) of
populations to be served, sufficiently
detailed to verify Project Location
Eligibility as outlined in Section IV.
Eligibility Information of this Notice;
and
(3) Evidence that the facility or project
will primarily serve rural residents.
(f) A written budget narrative
providing a detailed project budget,
which also includes the following
information:
(1) The amount of funds requested
from each Eligible Use of Grant
category, with a description of how the
figure was calculated.
(2) A breakdown of project cost
demonstrating the percentage of total
project costs that this grant assistance
will cover. This grant will cover a
portion of total project costs as outlined
in this Notice, and dependent on
population and median household
income.
(3) The time period for which this
assistance is requested. All awards are
limited to up to a 36-month grant period
based upon the complexity of the
project. In limited circumstances and
only with prior Agency approval, the
Agency may grant a no cost extension to
the grant period. Under no circumstance
shall the grant period extend beyond
five full fiscal years past the award date.
For planning purposes, applicants
should assume that the proposed grant
period will begin no earlier than
November 1, 2021 and should end no
later than 36 months following that
date. Eligible pre-award costs may be
requested for costs incurred between
March 13, 2020, and the project start
date. If you receive an award, your grant
period will be revised to begin on the
actual date of award—the date the grant
agreement is executed by the Agency—
and your grant period end date will be
adjusted accordingly.
(g) Environmental information
necessary to support the Agency’s
environmental finding. Required
information can be found in 7 CFR part
1970.
(h) For projects involving
construction, a preliminary architectural
feasibility report or engineering
documentation, completed in
accordance with Agency guidelines in
RD Instruction 1942–A, Guide 6.
(i) Description and certification of
applicant’s cost share sources. For Track
One, Recovery applicants seeking funds
for lost health care-related revenue or
staffing associated with COVID–19
vaccines and/or testing, the applicant’s

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required cost share can be the
applicable percentage of lost health care
revenue and actual staffing expenses.
(j) Three years of the most recent
audits or financial statements, including
a current balance sheet and income and
expense statement. If audits are not
available, applicants may provide this
information on Forms RD 442–7,
‘‘Operating Budget,’’ including
projected cash flow; RD 442–2,
‘‘Statement of Budget, Income and
Equity,’’ and RD 442–3 ‘‘Balance Sheet.’’
(k) Intergovernmental Review
comments, if applicable, from the local
planning district commission.
(l) Certification of Non-Lobbying
Activities.
(m) Standard Form LLL, ‘‘Disclosure
of Lobbying Activities,’’ if applicable.
(n) Certification regarding any known
relationship or association with an
Agency employee in accordance with 7
CFR part 1900, subpart D.
(o) For applicants requesting funds
under Track One, Recovery, a written
narrative that includes:
(1) Description of how the assistance
requested will broaden access to
COVID–19 vaccines, COVID–19 testing,
health care services and/or food bank or
food distribution assistance in rural
communities.
(2) If requesting funds for lost health
care revenue or for staffing needs, a CPA
issued certification stating that:
(a) No funds requested have been
reimbursed from other Federal or state
sources.
(b) No funds requested are obligated
to be reimbursed from other Federal or
state sources; and
(c) Funds requested are reasonable,
appropriate, and align with actual or
anticipated costs and/or lost revenues
during the grant period.
(q) For applicants requesting funds
under Track Two, Impact, provide a
written narrative that addresses the
following:

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(1) Organizational Capacity and
Strength of Consortium
(a) Evidence of an agreement
formalizing a consortium for purposes
of this grant funding. The agreement
must address the negotiated
arrangements for administering the
grant funding to meet an applicant’s
project goals and the roles and
responsibilities of each consortium
member to comply with the
administrative, financial, and reporting
requirements of the grant and all other
applicable Federal regulations and
policies. This agreement must be signed
by an authorized representative of the
lead entity applicant and an authorized

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representative of each partnering
consortium entity.
(b) Describe the actual composition of
the consortium members and how each
member is appropriate and needed to
successfully accomplish project
activities.
(c) Describe the abilities and
contributions of the lead applicant
organization and other consortium
members. Provide a brief overview such
as each organization’s current mission,
scope of current activities, demonstrated
experience serving rural populations,
key personnel to manage the award
project, and access to financial practices
and systems to ensure that Federal
funds can be properly accounted for and
managed.
(d) Evidence and description of how
the consortium will maintain ties to the
local rural community(ies). If the lead
applicant is located in an urban area,
describe the geographical relationship to
the proposed rural service population,
and plans to ensure that rural
populations are served. Urban
applicants must describe how they will
ensure a high degree of local rural
control in the project. At least 66%
(two-thirds) of consortium members
must be located in a rural area and
primarily serve a rural area as defined
by this Notice.
(e) Describe how the consortium will
impact rural community(ies) and
providers, and how the network will
strengthen its relationship with the
community and region it serves.
(f) Identify the project director for the
award (or strategy for hiring), along with
key activities and approximate
percentage of time to be devoted to this
project.
(2) Workplan and Proposed Budget
(a) Provide a project work plan that
clearly illustrates the consortium’s
goals, strategies, activities, and
measurable outcomes proposed during
the entire period of performance. The
work plan must identify the individual
or organization responsible for carrying
out each activity, include a timeline for
the period of performance, and illustrate
its relation to the COVID–19 pandemic.
(b) Provide a complete, consistent,
and detailed budget presentation for up
to a three-year period of performance
through the submission of the SF–424A
budget form and a Budget Narrative that
justifies the appropriateness of the
requested funds. The budget should be
reasonable in relation to the objectives,
the complexity of the activities, and the
anticipated results. The budget narrative
should logically and clearly document
how and why each line item request
(such as personnel, travel, equipment,

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contractual service, etc.) supports the
goals and activities of the proposed
award-funded activities.
(3) Evaluation, Impact, and Replicability
(a) Describe how the proposed
progress toward meeting program goals
contributes to the long-term
sustainability of rural health care by
improving rural health care access,
improving rural health outcomes, and
sustaining health care as an economic
driver for the rural community or
region.
(b) Describe how progress toward
meeting program goals and
determination of a return on investment
will be tracked, measured, and
evaluated. How will this assessment
contribute to the consortium’s quality
improvement efforts and sustainability
beyond the period of Federal funding?
(c) Explain a process for evaluating
how the consortium’s resources will be
leveraged and utilized to increase access
to health care services, improve rural
health outcomes, and/or support health
care as a key economic driver for small
communities. Include a discussion
regarding the consortium’s plan for any
necessary data collection efforts
amongst members of the consortium, as
well as any plans to solicit or provide
technical assistance to support these
efforts.
(d) Identify factors and strategies that
will lead to project viability,
sustainability of the consortium’s
activities after Federal funding ends,
and establishment of an evidence-based
model for dissemination of lessons
learned for future replication.
C. Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal
Numbering System (DUNS) for Award
Management (SAM)
Grant applicants must obtain a Dun
and Bradstreet Data Universal
Numbering System (DUNS) number and
register in the System for Award
Management (SAM) prior to submitting
an application pursuant to 2 CFR
25.200(b). In addition, an entity
applicant must maintain registration in
SAM at all times during which it has an
active Federal award or an application
or plan under consideration by the
Agency. The applicant must ensure that
the information in the database is
current, accurate, and complete.
Applicants must ensure they complete
the Financial Assistance General
Certifications and Representations in
SAM. Similarly, all recipients of Federal
financial assistance are required to
report information about first-tier
subawards and executive compensation
in accordance to 2 CFR part 170. So long
as an entity applicant does not have an

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exception under 2 CFR 170.110(b), the
applicant must have the necessary
processes and systems in place to
comply with the reporting requirements
should the applicant receive funding.
See 2 CFR 170.200(b).
An applicant, unless excepted under
2 CFR 25.110(b), (c), or (d), is required
to:
(a) Be registered in SAM before
submitting its application;
(b) Provide a valid DUNS number in
its application; and
(c) Continue to maintain an active
SAM registration with current
information at all times during which it
has an active Federal award or an
application or plan under consideration
by a Federal awarding agency.
The Federal awarding agency may not
make a federal award to an applicant
until the applicant has complied with
all applicable DUNS and SAM
requirements and, if an applicant has
not fully complied with the
requirements by the time the Federal
awarding agency is ready to make a
Federal award, the Federal awarding
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.
As required by the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB), all
grant applications must provide a DUNS
number when applying for Federal
grants, on or after October 1, 2003.
Organizations can receive a DUNS
number at no cost by calling the
dedicated toll-free number at 1–866–
705–5711 or via internet at http://
fedgov.dnb.com/webform. Additional
information concerning this
requirement can be obtained on the
Grants.gov website at http://
www.grants.gov. Similarly, applicants
may register for SAM at https://
www.sam.gov or by calling 1–866–606–
8220.
The applicant must provide
documentation that they are registered
in SAM and their DUNS number. If the
applicant does not provide
documentation that they are registered
in SAM and their DUNS number, the
application will not be considered for
funding.
You no longer must complete the
following forms for acceptance of a
federal award. This information is now
collected through your registration or
annual recertification in SAM.gov in the
Financial Assistance General
Certifications and Representations
section:
• Form AD–1047, ‘‘Certification
Regarding Debarment, Suspension, and

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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 (Grants).’’
• Form AD–3031, ‘‘Assurance
Regarding Felony Conviction or Tax
Delinquent Status for Corporate
Applicants.’’
D. Instructions and Resources
Instructions and additional resources
for compiling and submitting an
application are available on the
Emergency Rural Health Care Grant
Program web page at: https://
www.rd.usda.gov/erhc.
E. Submission Dates and Times
The deadline date for applications to
be considered for funding is specified in
the DATES section at the beginning of
this notice.
VI. Application Review Information
Applications will first be reviewed to
determine if they meet the eligibility
requirements in this Notice. If an
application is deemed ineligible, the
application will not be processed,
evaluated, or scored. The Agency will
notify ineligible applicants in writing
regarding the reason(s) for ineligibility.
Applications deemed eligible will be
evaluated based on the criteria below.
Complete applications received by the
deadline specified in this Notice will be
scored and ranked to determine which
applications are funded. Eligible and
complete Track One, Recovery
applications received after the deadline
specified in this Notice will be reviewed
and processed according to the criteria
below for as long as funding remains
available.
The Agency will review each grant
application to determine eligibility. The
applicant may be asked to provide
additional information or
documentation to assist the Agency
with this determination.
A. Evaluation Criteria
Applications will be evaluated based
only on the information provided in the
application. References to websites or
publications will not be reviewed, so
full documentation and support of
application criteria is encouraged.
Scoring and ranking of applications will
be a function of the criteria below.
(1) Track 1, Recovery applicants will
receive a score based on the criteria
below (maximum 100 points):
a. Distressed Communities/
Communities below the poverty line

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threshold priority. 15 points will be
given for facilities located in distressed
communities according to the EIG index
or communities below the poverty line.
For applications supporting two or more
facility locations, these priority points
will only be given if 50 percent or more
of the requested award funds will
support distressed communities or those
communities below the poverty line.
EIG’s Distressed Community Map can be
found here: https://
ruraldevelopment.maps.arcgis.com/
apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=
06a26a91d074426d944d22715a90311e.
Maximum 15 points will be given.
b. Income priority. If the median
household income of the facility’s
service area is below the higher of the
poverty line or—
i. 60 percent of the State
nonmetropolitan median household
income: 20 points.
ii. 70 percent of the State
nonmetropolitan median household
income: 15 points.
iii. 80 percent of the State
nonmetropolitan median household
income: 10 points; or
iv. 90 percent of the State
nonmetropolitan median household
income: 5 points.
c. Population priority. If the facility is
located in a rural community having a
population, according to the most recent
decennial census, of—
i. 5,000 or less: 15 points.
ii. 5,001 to 10,000: 10 points; or
iii. 10,001 to 15,000: 5 points.
d. COVID–19 vaccine administration
or testing priority. 20 points will be
given to applications that directly
support activities to administer COVID–
19 vaccines or conduct COVID–19
testing. Maximum 20 points will be
given.
e. COVID–19 Impacts priority. 20
points will be given to applications with
projects located in one of the top 10
percent of counties or county
equivalents based upon county risk
score in the United States. The risk
score is calculated based on COVID–19
confirmed cases (per 10,000
population); Distressed Communities
Index (DCI); Job Loss Projections
(Bureau of Labor Statistics data) and the
Center for Disease Control’s (CDC)
Social Vulnerability Index (SVI).
Counties that qualify for the COVID–19
impact priority points are listed on the
RD web page at https://
www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points. For
applications supporting two or more
facility locations, these priority points
will only be given if 50 percent or more
of the requested award funds will
support these high COVID–19 impact

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counties. Maximum 20 points will be
given.
f. Equity priority. 10 points will be
given to applications with projects
located in a community with a score of
0.75 or above according to the CDC’s
Social Vulnerability Index. Applicants
may verify whether projects qualify for
these priority points by viewing the RD
web page at https://www.rd.usda.gov/
priority-points. For applications
supporting two or more facility
locations, these priority points will only
be given if 50 percent or more of the
requested award funds will support
these communities identified for
priority points through the CDC’s Social
Vulnerability Index. Maximum 10
points will be given.
(2) Track Two, Impact applicants will
receive a score based on the criteria
below (maximum score 100 points):
a. Distressed Communities/
Communities below the poverty line
threshold priority. 10 points will be
given for facilities or projects targeting
distressed communities according to the
EIG index or communities below the
poverty line. For applications
supporting two or more facility
locations, these priority points will only
be given if 50 percent or more of the
requested award funds will support
distressed communities or those
communities below the poverty line.
EIG’s Distressed Community Map can be
found here: https://
ruraldevelopment.maps.arcgis.com/
apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=
06a26a91d074426d944d22715a90311e.
Maximum 10 points will be given.
b. Income priority. If the median
household income of the project’s
service area is below the higher of the
poverty line or—
i. 60 percent of the State
nonmetropolitan median household
income: 15 points.
ii. 70 percent of the State
nonmetropolitan median household
income: 12 points.
iii. 80 percent of the State
nonmetropolitan median household
income: 9 points; or
iv. 90 percent of the State
nonmetropolitan median household
income: 6 points.
c. Population priority. If the project or
facility(ies) will be located in a rural
community having a population,
according to the most recent decennial
census, of—
i. 5,000 or less: 10 points.
ii. 5,001 to 10,000: 6 points; or
iii. 10,001 to 15,000: 3 points.
d. Need, Methodology, and
Innovation (maximum 25 points). The
Agency will utilize a panel of internal
and/or external qualified reviewers to

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assess need, methodology, and
innovation along the following factors:
i. The extent to which the application
clearly describes the purpose of the
proposed project, the local/regional
health care environment and how the
need was identified, expected outcomes,
focus area(s) and the aim(s) the project
would support.
ii. The extent to which the applicant
describes an innovative approach to
address the need, goals, and objectives
and the appropriateness of the proposed
strategy.
iii. The extent to which the
applicant’s project will provide
demonstrable impact to rural
community(ies) and the health care
community.
Maximum 25 points will be given.
e. Organizational Capacity and
Strength of Consortium (maximum 15
points). The Agency will utilize a panel
of internal and/or external qualified
reviewers to assess organizational
capacity and strength of consortium
along the following factors:
i. Clarity of the roles and
responsibilities for each consortium
member and the extent to which the
network members demonstrate the
strength of their mutual commitment in
carrying out the planning activities.
ii. The extent to which the application
identifies the composition, capacity,
and expertise of each consortium
member and successfully connects this
expertise to the consortium members’
(and project director’s) proposed
responsibilities.
iii. The extent to which the
application describes the geographical
relationship with the rural service
population. Urban-based applicants also
must demonstrate how the rural
population will be served, and that a
high degree of local rural control of the
project will be maintained.
iv. Strength of the relationship
between the consortium and the
community or region it serves. Degree to
which the consortium collaborates with
appropriate organizations in the
community to fulfill the goals of the
consortium and the project.
v. Strength and qualifications of the
project director, who will dedicate an
appropriate amount of their time to the
program and be responsible for
monitoring the program and ensuring
award activities are carried out. This
element includes measuring the
effectiveness of the application in
clearly demonstrating how the project
director’s role contributes to the success
of the network.
Maximum 15 points will be given.
f. Workplan and Proposed Budget
(maximum 10 points). The Agency will

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utilize a panel of internal and/or
external qualified reviewers to assess
the workplan and proposed budget
along the following factors:
i. The feasibility of activities and
objectives identified in the work plan
including measurable outcomes and the
extent to which the expected outcomes
this program will accomplish by the end
of the period of performance.
ii. The reasonableness of the proposed
budget for each year of the period of
performance in relation to the
objectives, the complexity of the project
activities, and the anticipated results.
Maximum 10 points will be given.
g. Evaluation, Impact, and
Replicability (maximum 10 points). The
Agency will utilize a panel of internal
and/or external qualified reviewers to
assess evaluation, impact, and
replicability along the following factors:
i. The clarity and appropriateness of
the proposed goals, objectives, strategy
to calculate summary impact measures
and/or return on investment, and extent
to which project activities would result
in achieving the proposed goals
outlined in the work plan. The extent to
which measures are able to be tracked,
to assess whether the program objectives
will be met and the extent to which
these can be attributed to the program.
ii. The appropriateness and strength
of data collection efforts from the lead
applicant as well as other members of
the consortium, including any plans to
solicit or provide technical assistance to
support data collection efforts.
iii. The appropriateness and strength
of the proposed process for evaluation.
iv. The extent to which the applicant
clearly identifies factors and strategies
that will lead to viability and
sustainability of the network beyond
Federal funding, and after the program
ends. The clarity and reasonableness of
proposed steps to disseminate lessons
learned and encourage replication
where appropriate.
Maximum 10 points will be given.
h. Equity priority (maximum 5 points)
will be given to applications with
projects located in a community with a
score of 0.75 or above according to the
CDC’s Social Vulnerability Index. For
applications supporting two or more
project locations, these priority points
will only be given if 50 percent or more
of the requested award funds will
support these communities identified
for priority points through the CDC’s
Social Vulnerability Index. Applicants
may verify whether projects qualify for
these priority points through a link on
the RD website.
Maximum 5 points will be given.

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B. Review and Selection Process
All complete applications will be
competed/ranked as specified above.
Due to the competitive nature of this
program, applications receiving the
same score will be competed/ranked
based on the Income priority score, and
then if necessary, the Population
priority score. A complete application
contains all information requested by
this Notice and is sufficient to allow the
determination of eligibility, score, rank,
and compete the application for
funding, subject to funds available.
USDA Rural Development State Offices
will work with Track One, Recovery
applicants to obtain a complete
application for as long as funding
remains available.
For Track One, Recovery applicants,
determinations of eligibility, scoring,
and ranking will occur at the applicable
USDA Rural Development State Office
where the project is located.
Applications will compete for available
funding allocated to the applicable
USDA Rural Development State Office.
If no funding remains available at the
applicable State Office, the project will
compete for available funding held in
the USDA Rural Development National
Office reserve.
For Track Two, Impact applicants,
eligibility determinations will occur at
the applicable USDA Rural
Development State Office where the
lead applicant is headquartered. If a
Track Two applicant is headquartered
in the District of Columbia, the
applicant must submit its application
package to the USDA Rural
Development National Office and the
application will be processed by the
USDA Rural Development Maryland/
Delaware State Office. The USDA Rural
Development National Office will
coordinate the application review,
ranking, and selection for Track Two,
Impact applications. These applications
will be evaluated by an Application
Review Panel consisting of qualified
health care experts using the criteria
described in Section VI Application
Review Information of this Notice. Panel
members will be selected by the Agency
and will be qualified to evaluate the
type of work proposed by the applicant.
If you are interested in serving as a nonFederal independent panel reviewer and
have expertise as it relates to rural
health care, please send a resume
addressing relevant qualifications and
experience to communityfacilities@
usda.gov no later than October 1, 2021.
In accordance with 2 CFR 200.206,
the Agency will conduct a review of risk
posed by applicants. For Track One,
Recovery and Track Two, Impact

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applications that exceed $250,000, the
Agency will review and consider any
information about the applicant that is
in the designated integrity and
performance system accessible through
SAM, currently the Federal Awardee
Performance and Integrity Information
System (FAPIIS). Applicants have the
option to review information in FAPIIS
and comment on any information about
itself that a Federal awarding agency
previously entered. The Agency will
consider any comments by the
applicant, in addition to the other
information in FAPIIS, in making a
judgment about the applicant’s integrity,
business ethics, and record of
performance under Federal awards
when completing the review of risk
posed by applicants.
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
I. Funding Opportunity 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.
VII. Federal Awarding Administration
Information
For Track One, Recovery grant
recipients, the USDA Rural
Development State Office in the state
where the applicant’s project is located
will administer the selected awards. For
Track Two, Impact grant recipients, the
USDA Rural Development State Office
in the state where the lead applicant is
headquartered will administer the
selected awards. Agency state office
contact information is available at
https://www.rd.usda.gov/about-rd/stateoffices.
As outlined in the letter of conditions
and grant agreement issued by the
Agency, grant recipients will be
required to provide annual financial
statements in accordance with 2 CFR
part 200 as adopted by the Agency in 2
CFR part 400. Grant recipients will also

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provide performance and financial
monitoring and reporting information in
accordance with 2 CFR part 200, subpart
D, ‘‘Post Federal Award Requirements.’’
VIII. Federal Awarding Agency
Contacts
Jamie Davenport: USDA Rural
Development, Community Facilities
Program. Telephone: (202) 720–0002,
email: Jamie.Davenport@usda.gov.
Persons with disabilities that require
alternative means for communication
should contact the U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) Target Center at
(202) 720–2600 (voice).
IX. Other Information
A. Paperwork Reduction Act
In accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.
chapter 35), USDA requested that the
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) conduct an emergency review by
July 16, 2021 of a new information
collection that contains the Information
Collection and Recordkeeping
requirements contained in this notice.
In addition to the emergency
clearance, the regular clearance process
is hereby being initiated to provide the
public with the opportunity to comment
under a full comment period, as the
Agency intends to request regular
approval from OMB for this information
collection. Comments from the public
on new, proposed, revised, and
continuing collections of information
help us assess the impact of our
information collection requirements and
minimize the public’s reporting burden.
Comments may be submitted regarding
this information collection by the
following method:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
https://www.regulations.gov and, in the
‘‘Search’’ box, type in the Docket No.
RHS–21–CF–0009. A link to the Notice
will appear. You may submit a comment
here by selecting the ‘‘Comment’’ button
or you can access the ‘‘Docket’’ tab,
select the ‘‘Notice,’’ and go to the
‘‘Browse & Comment on Documents’’
Tab. Here you may view comments that
have been submitted as well as submit
a comment. To submit a comment,
select the ‘‘comment’’ button, complete
the required information, and select the
‘‘Submit Comment’’ button at the
bottom. Information on using
Regulations.gov, including instructions
for accessing documents, submitting
comments, and viewing the docket after
the close of the comment period, is
available through the site’s ‘‘FAQ’’ link
at the bottom. Comments on this
information collection must be received
by October 12, 2021.

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Copies of all forms, regulations, and
instructions referenced in this NOFA
may be obtained from RHS. Data
furnished by the applicants will be used
to determine eligibility for program
benefits. Furnishing the data is
voluntary; however, the failure to
provide data could result in program
benefits being withheld or denied.
Comments are invited on (a) whether
the collection of information is
necessary for the proper performance of
the functions of the agency, including
whether the information will have
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the
agency’s estimate of burden including
the validity of the methodology and
assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance
the quality, utility and clarity of the
information to be collected; and (d)
ways to minimize the burden of the
collection of information on those who
are to respond, including through the
use of appropriate automated,
electronical, mechanical, or other
technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
OMB Control Number: 0575–0200.
Title: American Rescue Plan Act
Emergency Rural Health Care (ERHC)
Grant Program.
Type of Request: New collection.
Abstract: The American Rescue Plan
Act Emergency Rural Health Care Grant
Program was authorized by the
American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to
assist rural hospitals and local
communities broaden access to COVID–
19 vaccines, health care services, and
food assistance through food banks and
food distribution facilities, and projects
supporting the long-term sustainability
of rural health care. As authorized
under Section 1002 of the American
Rescue Plan Act, funds will be made
available to eligible applicants to offer
support for rural health care services in
the form of immediate relief, longerterm funding to advance ideas and
solutions to support long-term
sustainability of rural health, and
provide expeditious relief to address the
current economic conditions arising
from the COVID–19 emergency.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting
burden for this collection of information
is estimated to average 3.70 hours per
response.
Respondents: Public bodies,
nonprofits, and Federally recognized
Tribes.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
3,392.
Estimated Number of Responses per
Respondent: 16.
Estimated Number of Total Annual
Responses: 54,300.

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Estimated Total Annual Burden and
Record Keeping Hours on Respondents:
201,272 hours.
Copies of this information collection
can be obtained from MaryPat Daskal,
Chief, Branch 1, Rural Development
Innovation Center, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave.
SW Washington, DC 20250. Phone: 202–
720–7853.
All responses to this information
collection and recordkeeping notice will
be summarized and included in the
request for OMB approval. All
comments will also become a matter of
public record.
B. Civil Rights
Programs referenced in this Notice are
subject to applicable Civil Rights Laws.
These laws include the Equal Credit
Opportunity Act, Title VI of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964, Title VIII of the Civil
Rights Act of 1968, and Section 504 of
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
C. Intergovernmental Review
The Emergency Rural Health Care
Grant Program is subject to Executive
Order 12372, ‘‘Intergovernmental
Review of Federal Programs.’’ Submit
one copy of the application to the State
government single point of contact, if
one has been designated, at the same
time as application submission to the
Agency. If the project is located in more
than one state, submit a copy to each
applicable state government single point
of contact. Go to https://
www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/
uploads/2020/04/SPOC-4-13-20.pdf for
state office contact information.
Applications from Federally recognized
Indian tribes are not subject to this
requirement.
D. Executive Order 13175, Consultation
and Coordination With Indian Tribal
Governments
Executive Order 13175 requires
federal agencies to consult and
coordinate with tribes on a governmentto-government basis on policies that
have tribal implications. USDA’s Office
of Tribal Relations and Rural
Development hosted a tribal
consultation held virtually on May 4,
2021. The virtual meeting consisted of
more than 120 participants, 30 of whom
identified as Tribal Leaders or their
proxies. USDA attendees included the
Director of the Office of Tribal
Relations, the Acting Administrator of
RD’s Rural Housing Service, RD’s Chief
Innovation Officer, and RD’s National
Native American Coordinator.
Tribal leaders expressed strong
interest in broad flexibility of program
design, allowing use of funds for

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construction, and offering grant sizes
considerably larger than the existing
average Community Facilities grant of
$30,000 to support sizable, long-lasting
impacts. Leaders highlighted specific
needs around behavioral health,
workforce development, data
availability, food sovereignty, poverty,
substance use disorders, and other
infrastructure needs such as broadband
and water. Leaders expressed concern
that the cost-sharing requirements
imposed in the statute may be too
burdensome and highlighted the need
for streamlined applications and limited
reporting and federal data collection
requirements.
This NOFA takes into consideration
Tribal leader comments, particularly
with respect to award size and use of
funds. Cost-sharing requirements are
mandated in the American Rescue Plan
Act.
E. Federal Funding Accountability and
Transparency Act
All applicants, in accordance with 2
CFR part 25, must have a DUNS/UEI
number, which can be obtained at no
cost via a toll-free request line at (866)
705–5711 or online at http://
fedgov.dnb.com/webform. 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.
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, or staff office; the USDA

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TARGET Center at (202) 720–2600
(voice and TTY); or the Federal Relay
Service at (800) 877–8339.
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.ocio.usda.gov/document/
ad-3027, from any USDA office, by
calling (866) 632–9992, 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: (833) 256–1665 or (202) 690–
7442; or
(3) Email: program.intake@usda.gov.
Chadwick Parker,
Acting Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 2021–17199 Filed 8–11–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–XV–P

COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS
Notice of Public Meeting of the
Washington Advisory Committee
U.S. Commission on Civil
Rights.
ACTION: Announcement of meetings.
AGENCY:

Notice is hereby given,
pursuant to the provisions of the rules
and regulations of the U.S. Commission
on Civil Rights (Commission) and the
Federal Advisory Committee Act that
the Washington Advisory Committee
(Committee) will hold a series of
meetings via web teleconference on the
dates and times listed below for the
purpose of reviewing the latest draft of
their report on police use of force and
barriers to accountability.
DATES: These meetings will be held on:
• Wednesday, September 8, 2021, from
1:30 p.m.–3:00 p.m. Pacific Time
• Tuesday, September 28, 2021, from
12:00 p.m.–1:30 p.m. Pacific Time
• Wednesday, October 13, 2021, from
2:00 p.m.–3:30 p.m. Pacific Time
• Tuesday, November 2, 2021, from
1:30 p.m.–3:00 p.m. Pacific Time
• Wednesday, December 1, 2021, from
1:30 p.m.–3:00 p.m. Pacific Time
• Tuesday, December 14, 2021, from
12:00 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time

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SUMMARY:

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September 8th PUBLIC WEBEX
REGISTRATION LINK: https://
tinyurl.com/4c6xw35m
September 28th PUBLIC WEBEX
REGISTRATION LINK: https://
tinyurl.com/93ccfkc9
October 13th PUBLIC WEBEX
REGISTRATION LINK: https://
tinyurl.com/2yhy6d37
November 2nd PUBLIC WEBEX
REGISTRATION LINK: https://
tinyurl.com/yesrus3h
December 1st PUBLIC WEBEX
REGISTRATION LINK: https://
tinyurl.com/37axray6
December 14th PUBLIC WEBEX
REGISTRATION LINK: https://
tinyurl.com/yjj5whrf
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Brooke Peery, Designated Federal
Officer (DFO), at bpeery@usccr.gov or by
phone at (202) 701–1376.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Members
of the public may listen to the
discussion. This meeting is available to
the public through the public WebEx
registration link listed above. An open
comment period will be provided to
allow members of the public to make a
statement as time allows. The
conference call operator will ask callers
to identify themselves, the organization
they are affiliated with (if any), and an
email address prior to placing callers
into the conference room. Callers can
expect to incur regular charges for calls
they initiate over wireless lines,
according to their wireless plan. The
Commission will not refund any
incurred charges. Callers will incur no
charge for calls they initiate over landline connections to the toll-free
telephone number. Persons with hearing
impairments may also follow the
proceedings by first calling the Federal
Relay Service at 1–800–877–8339 and
providing the Service with the
conference call number and conference
ID number.
Members of the public are also
entitled to submit written comments;
the comments must be received in the
Regional Programs Unit within 30 days
following the meeting. Written
comments may be emailed to Brooke
Peery at bpeery@usccr.gov. Persons who
desire additional information may
contact the Regional Programs Unit
Office/Advisory Committee
Management Unit at (202) 701–1376.
Records generated from this meeting
may be inspected and reproduced at the
Regional Programs Unit Office, as they
become available, both before and after
the meeting. Records of the meeting will
be available at: https://
www.facadatabase.gov/FACA/
FACAPublicViewCommitteeDetails?id=
a10t0000001gzkZAAQ

PO 00000

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Please click on the ‘‘Meeting Details’’
and ‘‘Documents’’ links. Persons
interested in the work of this Committee
are also directed to the Commission’s
website, http://www.usccr.gov, or may
contact the Regional Programs Unit
office at the above email address.
Agenda
I. Welcome & Roll Call
II. Approval of Minutes
III. Discussion of Report Draft
IV. Public Comment
V. Adjournment
Dated: August 9, 2021.
David Mussatt,
Supervisory Chief, Regional Programs Unit.
[FR Doc. 2021–17270 Filed 8–11–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P

COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS
Notice of Public Meetings of the
Maryland Advisory Committee
Commission on Civil Rights.
Announcement of meeting.

AGENCY:
ACTION:

Notice is hereby given,
pursuant to the provisions of the rules
and regulations of the U.S. Commission
on Civil Rights (Commission), and the
Federal Advisory Committee Act
(FACA), that a briefing of the Maryland
Advisory Committee to the Commission
will convene by WebEx virtual platform
and conference call at 12:00 p.m. (ET)
on Monday, September 13, 2021. The
purpose of the meeting is continue
planning on the water affordability
project.
DATES: Monday, September 13, 2021;
12:00 p.m. (ET)
Public Web Conference Link (video and
audio): Link: https://bit.ly/3kFNC9A;
password, if needed: USCCR–MD
If Phone Only: 1–800–360–9505; Access
code: 199 638 6973#
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Evelyn Bohor at ero@usccr.gov or by
phone at 202–381–8915.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
meeting is available to the public
through the web link above. If joining
only via phone, callers can expect to
incur charges for calls they initiate over
wireless lines, and the Commission will
not refund any incurred charges.
Individuals who are deaf, deafblind and
hard of hearing may also follow the
proceedings by first calling the Federal
Relay Service at 1–800–877–8339 and
providing the Service with conference
details found through registering at the
web link above. To request additional
accommodations, please email
bdelaviez@usccr.gov at least 7 days prior
to the meeting.
SUMMARY:

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