[Federal Register: October 1, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 191)]
[Notices]
[Page 57196-57205]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr01oc08-150]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund
Funding Opportunity Title: Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA)
inviting applications for the FY 2009 funding round of the Native
American CDFI Assistance (NACA) Program.
Announcement Type: Initial announcement of funding opportunity.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 21.020
DATES: Application deadlines for the FY 2009 funding round of the NACA
Program (hereafter, the FY 2009 Funding Round) are as follows: (i) If
you wish to apply for Financial Assistance (FA) and/or Technical
Assistance (TA) funding, your funding application must be received by
midnight, Eastern Time (ET), Friday, December 19, 2008; and (ii) if you
wish to apply for CDFI certification, your certification application
must be received by midnight, ET, Monday, November 3, 2008.
Table 1--FY 2009 NACA Program Deadlines
[All midnight, ET deadlines]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Application Last date to
Application type deadline contact fund staff
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Native CDFI Certification Monday, November Wednesday, October
Application. 3, 2008. 29, 2008.
NACA Program Funding Application Friday, December Wednesday,
19, 2008. December 17,
2008.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Executive Summary: Subject to funding availability, this NOFA is
issued in connection with the FY 2009 funding round of the NACA
Program.
I. Funding Opportunity Description
A. Through the NACA Program, the CDFI Fund provides: (i) FA awards
to CDFIs that have at least 50 percent of their activities directed
toward serving Native American, Alaskan Native and/or Native Hawaiian
Communities (Native CDFIs) that have Comprehensive Business Plans for
creating demonstrable community development impact through the
deployment of credit, capital, and financial services within their
respective Target Markets or the expansion into new Investment Areas,
Low-Income Targeted Populations, or Other Targeted Populations, and
(ii) TA grants to Native CDFIs, entities proposing to become Native
CDFIs, and to Native organizations, Tribes and Tribal organizations
that propose to create Native CDFIs (Sponsoring Entities), in order to
build the Native CDFIs' capacity to better address the community
development and capital access needs of their existing or proposed
Target Markets and/or to become certified Native CDFIs.
B. The regulations governing the CDFI Program are found at 12 CFR
Part 1805 (the Regulations) and provide guidance on evaluation criteria
and other requirements of the NACA Program. The Fund encourages
Applicants to review
[[Page 57197]]
the Regulations. Detailed application content requirements are found in
the applicable funding application and related guidance materials. Each
capitalized term in this NOFA is more fully defined in the Regulations,
the application or the guidance materials.
C. The Fund reserves the right to fund, in whole or in part, any,
all, or none of the applications submitted in response to this NOFA.
The Fund reserves the right to re-allocate funds from the amount that
is anticipated to be available under this NOFA to other Fund programs,
particularly if the Fund determines that the number of awards made
under this NOFA is fewer than projected.
II. Award Information
A. Funding Availability
1. FY 2009 Funding Round: Through this NOFA, and subject to funding
availability, the Fund expects that it may award approximately $8
million in appropriated funds. The Fund reserves the right to award in
excess of $8 million in appropriated funds to Applicants in the FY 2009
Funding Round, provided that the funds are available and the Fund deems
it appropriate.
2. Availability of Funds for the FY 2009 Funding Round of the NACA
Program: Funds for the FY 2009 Funding Round have not yet been
appropriated. If funds are not appropriated for the FY 2009 Funding
Round, there will not be a FY 2009 Funding Round. Further, it is
possible that if funds are appropriated for the FY 2009 Funding Round,
the amount of such funds may be greater than or less than the amounts
set forth above. Further, if funds for the FY 2009 Funding Round are
not appropriated, entities that are eligible to apply for CDFI Program
funds and that might otherwise have applied for NACA Program funds, are
encouraged to apply for CDFI Program funds through the FY 2009 Funding
Round.
B. Types of Awards
An Applicant may submit an application either for: (i) A FA-only
award; (ii) a FA award and a TA grant; or (iii) a TA-only grant.
1. FA Awards: FA is intended to provide flexible financial support
to Native CDFIs so that they may achieve the strategies outlined in
their Comprehensive Business Plans. FA awards can be used in the
following four categories: (i) Financial Products, (ii) Loan Loss
Reserves, (iii) Capital Reserves, and/or (iv) Operations. For purposes
of this NOFA, Financial Products means loans, grants, equity
investments and similar financing activities, including the purchase of
loans originated by certified Native CDFIs and the provision of loan
guarantees, in the Applicant's Target Market, or for related purposes
that the Fund deems appropriate. Loan Loss Reserves means funds that
the Applicant will set aside in the form of cash, or through
accounting-based accrual, reserves to cover losses on loans, accounts
and notes receivable made in its Target Market, or for related purposes
that the Fund deems appropriate. Capital Reserves means funds that the
Applicant will set aside in the form of reserves to support the
Applicant's ability to leverage other capital, for such purposes as
increasing its net assets or serving the financing needs of its Target
Market, or for related purposes that the Fund deems appropriate.
Operations means: funds that the Applicant will use to undertake
Development Services, Financial Services, and/or for related purposes
that the Fund deems appropriate. FA awards are most commonly used for
an Applicant's Financial Products since FA funds can be used to support
the Applicant's community development lending activities.
The Fund may provide FA awards in the form of equity investments
(including, in the case of certain Insured Credit Unions, secondary
capital accounts), grants, loans, deposits, credit union shares, or any
combination thereof. The Fund reserves the right, in its sole
discretion, to provide a FA award in a form and amount other than that
which the Applicant requests; however, the award amount will not exceed
the Applicant's award request as stated in its application. The Fund
reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to provide a FA award to a
NACA Program Applicant on the condition that the Applicant agrees to
use a TA grant for specified capacity building purposes, even if the
Applicant has not requested a TA grant.
2. TA Grants:
(a) The Fund provides TA awards in the form of grants. The Fund
reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to provide a TA grant for
uses and amounts other than that which the Applicant requests; however,
the award amount will not exceed the Applicant's award request as
stated in its application and the applicable budget chart.
(b) TA grants may be used to address a variety of needs including,
but not limited to, development of strategic planning documents (such
as strategic or capitalization plans), market analyses or product
feasibility analyses, operational policies and procedures, curricula
for Development Services (such as entrepreneurial training, home buyer
education, financial education or training, borrower credit repair
training), improvement of underwriting and portfolio management,
development of outreach and training strategies to enhance product
delivery, operating support to expand into a new eligible market, and
tools that allow the Applicant to assess the impact of its activities
in its community.
(c) Eligible TA grant uses include, but are not limited to: (i)
Procuring professional services; (ii) acquiring/enhancing technology
items, including computer hardware, software and Internet connectivity
and related MIS; (iii) acquiring training for staff, management and/or
board members; and (iv) paying recurring expenses, including staff
salary and other key operating expenses, that will enhance the capacity
of the Applicant to serve its Target Market and/or to become certified
as a Native CDFI or to create a Native CDFI.
C. Notice of Award; Assistance Agreement
Each Awardee under this NOFA must sign a Notice of Award and an
Assistance Agreement in order to receive a disbursement of award
proceeds by the Fund. The Notice of Award and the Assistance Agreement
contain the terms and conditions of the award. For further information,
see Sections VI.A and VI.B of this NOFA.
III. Eligibility Information
A. Eligible Applicants
The Regulations specify the eligibility requirements that each
Applicant must meet in order to be eligible to apply for assistance
under this NOFA. The following sets forth additional detail and dates
that relate to the submission of applications under this NOFA:
1. FA Applicant Categories: All Applicants for FA awards through
this NOFA must meet the criteria below:
[[Page 57198]]
Table 2--FA Applicant Criteria
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FA applicant category Applicant criteria Applicant may apply for: Application deadline
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Native CDFI.................. A Certified/Certifiable Up to and including Midnight, ET, Friday,
Native CDFI that meets $500,000 in FA funds, December 19, 2008.
all other eligibility and up to $150,000 in
requirements described TA funds.
in this NOFA.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please note: (1) The Fund reserves the right, in its sole
discretion, to award amounts in excess of or less than the
anticipated maximum award amounts permitted in this NOFA, if the
Fund deems it appropriate. (2) The term ``Native Initiatives Funding
Programs'' refers to the Native American CDFI Assistance (NACA)
Program and all prior funding programs, through which funds are no
longer available, including the Native American CDFI Technical
Assistance (NACTA) Component of the CDFI Program, the Native
American CDFI Development (NACD) Program, and the Native American
Technical Assistance (NATA) Component of the CDFI Program.
2. TA Applicants: All Applicants for TA grants through this NOFA
must meet the following criteria:
Table 3--TA Applicant Criteria
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Applicant type Criteria of applicant Applicant can apply for: Application due date
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TA-Only................ A Certified Native CDFI, a Up to $150,000 for capacity- TA-only: Midnight, ET,
Certifiable Native CDFI, an building activities. Friday, December 19, 2008.
Emerging Native CDFI, or a
Sponsoring Entity.
FA/TA.................. A Certified Native CDFI, or Up to $150,000 in TA for FA/TA: Midnight, ET,
a Certifiable Native CDFI. capacity-building Friday, December 19, 2008.
activities.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fund, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to award
amounts less than the anticipated maximum award amounts permitted in
this NOFA, if the Fund deems it appropriate.
3. Native CDFI Certification Requirements: For purposes of this
NOFA, eligible FA Applicants include Certified Native CDFIs and
Certifiable Native CDFIs; eligible TA Applicants include Certified
Native CDFIs, Certifiable Native CDFIs, Emerging Native CDFIs, and
Sponsoring Entities defined as follows:
(a) Certified Native CDFIs: A Certified Native CDFI whose
certification has not expired and that has not been notified by the
Fund that its certification has been terminated. Each such Applicant
must submit a ``Certification of Material Event Form'' to the Fund not
later than the Certification Application deadline stated in Table 1 of
this NOFA, or such other dates as the Fund may proscribe, in accordance
with the instructions on the Fund's Web site at http://
www.cdfifund.gov. Please note: The Fund provided some Native CDFIs with
written notification that their certifications had been extended. The
Fund will consider the extended certification date (the later date) to
determine whether those Native CDFIs meet this eligibility requirement.
(b) Certifiable Native CDFIs: For purposes of this NOFA, a
Certifiable Native CDFI is an entity from which the Fund receives a
complete CDFI Certification Application no later than the Certification
Application deadline stated in Table 1 of this NOFA, or such other
dates as the Fund may proscribe, evidencing that the Applicant meets
the requirements to be certified as a Native CDFI. Applicants may
obtain the CDFI Certification Application through the Fund's Web site
at http://www.cdfifund.gov. Applications for certification must be
submitted as instructed in the application form.
Please note: FA Applicants that are Certifiable Native CDFIs:
While your organization may be conditionally selected for funding
(as evidenced through the Notice of Award), the Fund will not enter
into an Assistance Agreement or disburse award funds unless and
until the Fund has certified your organization as a Native CDFI. If
the Fund is unable to certify your organization as a Native CDFI
based on the CDFI certification application that your organization
submits to the Fund, the Notice of Award may be terminated and the
award commitment may be cancelled, in the sole discretion of the
Fund.
(c) Emerging Native CDFIs: For purposes of this NOFA, an Emerging
Native CDFI is an entity that demonstrates to the Fund's satisfaction
that it has a reasonable plan to be certified as a Native CDFI by
December 31, 2012 or such other date selected by the Fund. Emerging
Native CDFIs may only apply for TA grants; they are not eligible to
apply for FA awards. Each Emerging Native CDFI that is selected to
receive a TA grant will be required, pursuant to its Assistance
Agreement with the Fund, to become certified as a Native CDFI by a
certain date.
(d) Sponsoring Entities: For the purposes of this NOFA, a
Sponsoring Entity is an entity that proposes to create a separate legal
entity that will become a certified Native CDFI. For purposes of this
NOFA, Sponsoring Entities include: (a) A Tribe, Tribal entity, Alaska
Native Village, Village Corporation, Regional Corporation, Non-Profit
Regional Corporation/Association, or Inter-Tribal or Inter-Village
organization; (b) an organization whose primary mission is to serve a
Native Community including, but not limited to an Urban Indian Center,
Tribally Controlled Community College, community development
corporation (CDC), training or education organization, or Chamber of
Commerce, and that primarily serves (meaning, at least 50 percent of
its activities are directed toward serving) a Native Community.
Sponsoring Entities may only apply for TA grants; they are not eligible
to apply for FA awards. Each Sponsoring Entity that is selected to
receive a TA grant will be required, pursuant to its Assistance
Agreement with the Fund, to create a legal entity by a certain date
that will, in turn, seek Native CDFI certification and to transfer
available award funds to that Native CDFI upon certification.
4. Limitation on Awards: An Applicant may receive only one award
through the NACA Program in the FY 2009 Funding Round. No Applicant may
receive a BEA Program award if it has a NACA Program and a BEA Program
application pending in the
[[Page 57199]]
same funding round (subject to certain limitations; refer to the
Regulations at 12 CFR 1805.102). A NACA Program Applicant, its
Subsidiaries or Affiliates also may apply for and receive a tax credit
allocation through the NMTC Program, but only to the extent that the
activities approved for NACA Program awards are different from those
activities for which the Applicant receives a NMTC Program allocation.
5. Contacting the Fund. The Fund will respond to questions and
provide support concerning CDFI certification related to the FY 2009
Funding Round between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, through the
date that is three business days before the certification application
deadline. The CDFI Certification Application and other information
regarding CDFI certification may be obtained from the Fund's Web site
at http://www.cdfifund.gov.
B. Prior Awardees: Applicants must be aware that success in a prior
round of any of the Fund's programs is not indicative of success under
this NOFA. For purposes of this section, the Fund will consider an
Affiliate to be any entity that meets the definition of Affiliate in
the Regulations. Prior awardees are eligible to apply under this NOFA,
except as follows:
1. $5 Million Funding Cap: The Fund is generally prohibited from
obligating more than $5 million in assistance, in the aggregate, to any
one organization and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates during any three-
year period. In general, the three-year period extends back three years
from the date that the Fund signs a Notice of Award; for purposes of
this NOFA, and for ease of administration, the Fund will consider any
assistance documented with a Notice of Award dated between July 31,
2006 and July 31, 2009 (which is the anticipated date that the Fund
will issue Notices of Award for the FY 2009 Funding Round).
2. Failure to meet reporting requirements: The Fund will not
consider an application submitted by an Applicant if the Applicant, or
an Affiliate of the Applicant is a prior Fund Awardee or allocatee
under any Fund program and is not current on the reporting requirements
set forth in a previously executed assistance, allocation or award
agreement(s), as of the applicable application deadline of this NOFA.
Please note that the Fund only acknowledges the receipt of reports that
are complete. As such, incomplete reports or reports that are deficient
of required elements will not be recognized as having been received.
3. Pending resolution of noncompliance: If an Applicant is a prior
Awardee or allocatee under any Fund program and if: (i) It has
submitted complete and timely reports to the Fund that demonstrate
noncompliance with a previous assistance, allocation or award
agreement; and (ii) the Fund has yet to make a final determination as
to whether the entity is in default of its previous assistance,
allocation or award agreement, the Fund will consider the Applicant's
application under this NOFA pending full resolution, in the sole
determination of the Fund, of the noncompliance. Further, if an
Affiliate of the Applicant is a prior Fund Awardee or allocatee and if
such entity: (i) Has submitted complete and timely reports to the Fund
that demonstrate noncompliance with a previous assistance, allocation
or award agreement; and (ii) the Fund has yet to make a final
determination as to whether the entity is in default of its previous
assistance, allocation, or award agreement, the Fund will consider the
Applicant's application under this NOFA pending full resolution, in the
sole determination of the Fund, of the noncompliance.
4. Default status: The Fund will not consider an application
submitted by an Applicant that is a prior Fund Awardee or allocatee
under any Fund program if, as of the applicable application deadline of
this NOFA, the Fund has made a final determination that such Applicant
is in default of a previously executed assistance, allocation or award
agreement(s). Further, an entity is not eligible to apply for an award
pursuant to this NOFA if, as of the applicable application deadline of
this NOFA, the Fund has made a final determination that an Affiliate of
the Applicant is a prior Fund Awardee or allocatee under any Fund
program and has been determined by the Fund to be in default of a
previously executed assistance, allocation or award agreement(s). Such
entities will be ineligible to apply for an award pursuant to this NOFA
so long as the Applicant's, or its Affiliate's, prior award or
allocation remains in default status or such other time period as
specified by the Fund in writing.
5. Termination in default: The Fund will not consider an
application submitted by an Applicant that is a prior Fund Awardee or
allocatee under any Fund program if: (i) Within the 12-month period
prior to the applicable application deadline of this NOFA, the Fund has
made a final determination that such Applicant's prior award or
allocation terminated in default of a previously executed assistance,
allocation or award agreement(s); and (ii) the final reporting period
end date for the applicable terminated assistance, allocation or award
agreement(s) falls within the 12-month period prior to the application
deadline of this NOFA. Further, an entity is not eligible to apply for
an award pursuant to this NOFA if: (i) Within the 12-month period prior
to the applicable application deadline, the Fund has made a final
determination that an Affiliate of the Applicant is a prior Fund
Awardee or allocatee under any Fund program whose award or allocation
terminated in default of a previously executed assistance, allocation
or award agreement(s); and (ii) the final reporting period end date for
the applicable terminated assistance, allocation or award agreement(s)
falls within the 12-month period prior to the application deadline of
this NOFA.
6. Undisbursed award funds: The Fund will not consider an
application submitted by an Applicant that is a prior Fund Awardee
under any Fund program if the Applicant has a balance of undisbursed
award funds (defined below) under said prior award(s), as of the
applicable application deadline of this NOFA. Further, an entity is not
eligible to apply for an award pursuant to this NOFA if an Affiliate of
the Applicant is a prior Fund Awardee under any Fund program, and has a
balance of undisbursed award funds under said prior award(s), as of the
applicable application deadline of this NOFA. In a case where another
entity that Controls the Applicant is Controlled by the Applicant or
shares common management officials with the Applicant (as determined by
the Fund), is a prior Fund Awardee under any Fund program, and has a
balance of undisbursed award funds under said prior award(s), as of the
applicable application deadline of this NOFA, the Fund will include the
combined awards of the Applicant and such Affiliated entities when
calculating the amount of undisbursed award funds.
For purposes of the calculation of undisbursed award funds for the
BEA Program, only awards made to the Applicant (and any Affiliates)
three to five calendar years prior to the end of the calendar year of
the application deadline of this NOFA are included (`includable BEA
awards'). Thus, for purposes of this NOFA, undisbursed BEA Program
award funds are the amount of FY 2004, 2005 and 2006 awards that remain
undisbursed as of the application deadline of this NOFA.
For purposes of the calculation of undisbursed award funds for the
CDFI Program and the Native Initiatives Funding Programs, only awards
made to the Applicant (and any Affiliates) two to five calendar years
prior to the end of the calendar year of this NOFA are
[[Page 57200]]
included (`includable CDFI/NI awards'). Thus, for purposes of this
NOFA, undisbursed CDFI Program and NI awards are the amount of FY 2004,
2005, 2006 and 2007 awards that remain undisbursed as of the
application deadline of this NOFA.
To calculate total includable BEA/CDFI/NI awards: Amounts that are
undisbursed as of the application deadline of this NOFA cannot exceed
five percent (5%) of the total includable awards. Please refer to an
example of this calculation on the Fund's Web site, found in the Q&A
document for the FY 2009 Funding Round.
The ``undisbursed award funds'' calculation does not include: (i)
Tax credit allocation authority made available through the New Markets
Tax Credit (NMTC) Program; (ii) any award funds for which the Fund
received a full and complete disbursement request from the Awardee by
the applicable application deadline of this NOFA; (iii) any award funds
for an award that has been terminated in writing by the Fund or
deobligated by the Fund; or (iv) any award funds for an award that does
not have a fully executed assistance or award agreement. The Fund
strongly encourages Applicants requesting disbursements of
``undisbursed funds'' from prior awards to provide the Fund with a
complete disbursement request at least 10 business days prior to the
application deadline of this NOFA. An Applicant that is unsure about
the disbursement status of any prior award should contact the Fund's
Financial Manager via email at CDFI.disburseinquiries@cdfi.treas.gov
for more information, no less than thirty (30) calendar days prior to
the funding application deadline of this NOFA. Requests submitted less
than thirty calendar days prior to the application deadline may not
receive a response before the application deadline.
7. Contact the Fund. Applicants that are prior Fund Awardees are
advised to: (i) Comply with requirements specified in assistance,
allocation and/or award agreement(s), and (ii) contact the Fund to
ensure that all necessary actions are underway for the disbursement or
deobligation of any outstanding balance of said prior award(s).
Disbursement questions should be directed to Grants Management via e-
mail to grantsmanagement@cdfi.treas.gov. Reporting and compliance
questions should be directed to Compliance, Monitoring and Evaluation
(CME) at (202) 622-6330 or by email to cme@cdfi.treas.gov. Telephone
calls to Grants Management and Financial Management should be directed
to (202) 622-8226; facsimiles to (202) 622-7754; and mail to CDFI Fund,
601 13th Street, NW., Suite 200 South, Washington, DC 20005. The Fund
will respond to Applicants' reporting, disbursement or compliance
questions between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, starting the date
of the publication of this NOFA through the date that is two business
days before the applicable funding application deadline. The Fund will
not respond to Applicants' reporting, disbursement or compliance phone
calls or e-mail inquiries that are received after 5 p.m. ET on said
date, until after the funding application deadline.
C. Matching Funds
1. Matching Funds Requirements in General: Applicants responding to
this NOFA must obtain non-Federal matching funds from sources other
than the Federal government on the basis of not less than one dollar
for each dollar of FA funds provided by the Fund (matching funds are
not required for TA grants). Matching funds must be at least comparable
in form and value to the FA award provided by the Fund (for example, if
an Applicant is requesting a FA grant from the Fund, the Applicant must
have evidence that it has obtained matching funds through grant(s) from
non-Federal sources that are at least equal to the amount requested
from the Fund). Funds used by an Applicant as matching funds for a
prior FA award under the NACA Program or under another Federal grant or
award program cannot be used to satisfy the matching funds requirement
of this NOFA. If an Applicant seeks to use as matching funds monies
received from an organization that was a prior Awardee under the NACA
Program, the Fund will deem such funds to be Federal funds, unless the
funding entity establishes to the reasonable satisfaction of the Fund
that such funds do not consist, in whole or in part, of NACA Program
funds or other Federal funds. For the purposes of this NOFA, BEA
Program awards are not deemed to be Federal funds and are eligible as
matching funds. The Fund encourages Applicants to review the
Regulations at 12 CFR 1805.500 et seq. and matching funds guidance
materials on the Fund's Web site for further information.
2. Matching Funds Requirements per Applicant Category: Due to
funding constraints and the desire to quickly deploy Fund dollars, the
Fund will not consider for a FA award any Applicant that has no
matching funds in-hand or firmly committed as of the application
deadline of this NOFA. Specifically, FA Applicants must meet the
following matching funds requirements: An Applicant for a FA award must
demonstrate that it has eligible matching funds equal to no less than
25 percent of the amount of the FA award requested in-hand or firmly
committed, on or after January 1, 2007 and on or before the application
deadline. The Fund reserves the right to rescind all or a portion of a
FA award and re-allocate the rescinded award amount to other qualified
Applicant(s), if an Applicant fails to obtain in-hand 100 percent of
the required matching funds by March 14, 2010 (with required
documentation of such receipt received by the Fund not later than March
31, 2010), or to grant an extension of such matching funds deadline for
specific Applicants selected to receive FA, if the Fund deems it
appropriate. For any Applicant that demonstrates that it has less than
100 percent of matching funds in-hand or firmly committed as of the
application deadline, the Fund will evaluate the Applicant's ability to
raise the remaining matching funds by March 14, 2010.
3. Matching Funds Terms Defined; Required Documentation. (a)
``Matching funds in-hand'' means that the Applicant has actually
received the matching funds. If the matching funds are ``in-hand,'' the
Applicant must provide the Fund with acceptable written documentation
of the source, form and amount of the Matching Funds (i.e., grant,
loan, deposit, and equity investment). For a loan, the Applicant must
provide the Fund with a copy of the loan agreement and promissory note.
For a grant, the Applicant must provide the Fund with a copy of the
grant letter or agreement for all grants of $50,000 or more. For an
equity investment, the Applicant must provide the Fund with a copy of
the stock certificate and any related shareholder agreement. Further,
if the matching funds are ``in-hand,'' the Applicant must provide the
Fund with acceptable documentation that evidences its receipt of the
matching funds proceeds, such as a copy of a check or a wire transfer
statement.
(b) ``Firmly committed matching funds'' means that the Applicant
has entered into or received a legally binding commitment from the
matching funds source that the matching funds will be disbursed to the
Applicant. If the matching funds are ``firmly committed,'' the
Applicant must provide the Fund with acceptable written documentation
to evidence the source, form, and amount of the firm commitment (and,
in the case of a loan, the terms thereof), as well as the anticipated
date of disbursement of the committed funds.
(c) The Fund may contact the matching funds source to discuss the
[[Page 57201]]
matching funds and the documentation provided by the Awardee. If the
Fund determines that any portion of the Applicant's matching funds is
ineligible under this NOFA, the Fund, in its sole discretion, may
permit the Applicant to offer alternative matching funds as substitute
for the ineligible matching funds; provided, however, that (i) the
Applicant must provide acceptable alternative matching funds
documentation within 2 business days of the Fund's request and (ii) the
alternative matching funds documentation cannot increase the total
amount of Financial Assistance requested by the Applicant.
4. Special Rule for Insured Credit Unions. Please note that the
Regulations allow an Insured Credit Union to use retained earnings to
serve as matching funds for a FA grant in an amount equal to: (i) The
increase in retained earnings that have occurred over the Applicant's
most recent fiscal year; (ii) the annual average of such increases that
have occurred over the Applicant's three most recent fiscal years; or
(iii) the entire retained earnings that have been accumulated since the
inception of the Applicant or such other financial measure as may be
specified by the Fund. For purposes of this NOFA, if option (iii) is
used, the Applicant must increase its member and/or non-member shares
or total loans outstanding by an amount that is equal to the amount of
retained earnings that is committed as matching funds. This amount must
be raised by the end of the Awardee's second performance period, as set
forth in its Assistance Agreement, and will be based on amounts
reported in the Applicant's Audited or Reviewed Financial Statements or
NCUA Form 5300 Call Report. The Fund will assess the likelihood of this
increase during the application review process. An award will not be
made to any Applicant that has not demonstrated that it has increased
shares or loans by at least 25 percent of the requested FA award amount
between December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2008, as demonstrated by the
corresponding NCUA report.
IV. Application and Submission Information
A. Form of Application Submission
Applicants may submit applications under this NOFA only
electronically, through Grants.gov. Applications sent by mail,
facsimile or other form will not be accepted, except in circumstances
that the Fund, in its sole discretion, deems acceptable.
B. Grants.gov
For the FY 2009 Funding Round, in compliance with Public Law 106-
107 and Section 5(a) of the Federal Financial Assistance Management
Improvement Act of 1999, the Fund is accepting applications submitted
through the Grants.gov electronic system. The Fund has posted to its
Web site at http://www.cdfifund.gov instructions for accessing and
submitting an application through Grants.gov. Applicants are encouraged
to start the registration process now at www.Grants.gov as the process
may take several weeks to fully complete. See the following link for
information on getting started on Grants.gov: http://grants.gov/assets/
GrantsgovCoBrandBrochure8X11.pdf.
C. Application Content Requirements
Detailed application content requirements are found in the
application and guidance. Please note that, pursuant to OMB guidance
(68 FR 38402), each Applicant must provide, as part of its application
submission, a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS)
number. In addition, each application must include a valid and current
Employer Identification Number (EIN), with a letter or other
documentation from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) confirming the
Applicant's EIN. An electronic application that does not include an EIN
is incomplete and cannot be transmitted to the Fund. Applicants should
allow sufficient time for the IRS and/or Dun and Bradstreet to respond
to inquiries and/or requests for identification numbers. Once an
application is submitted, the Applicant will not be allowed to change
any element of the application. The preceding sentence does not limit
the Fund's ability to contact an Applicant for the purpose of obtaining
clarifying or confirming application information (such as a DUNS number
or EIN information).
D. MyCDFIFund Accounts
All Applicants must register User and Organization accounts in
myCDFIFund, the Fund's Internet-based interface. An Applicant must be
registered as both a User and an Organization in myCDFIFund as of the
applicable application deadline in order to be considered to have
submitted a complete application. As myCDFIFund is the Fund's primary
means of communication with Applicants and Awardees, organizations must
make sure that they update the contact information in their myCDFIFund
accounts before the applicable application deadline. For more
information on myCDFIFund, please see the ``Frequently Asked
Questions'' link posted at https://www.cdfifund.gov/myCDFI/Help/
Help.asp.
E. Application Deadlines
Applicants must submit all materials described in and required by
the application by the applicable deadline.
1. Application Deadlines: Applications must be received in
accordance with this NOFA by the following deadlines:
Table 4--FY 2009 CDFI Program Deadlines
[All Midnight, ET deadlines]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Application type Application deadline Last date to contact fund staff
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Native CDFI Certification Monday, November 3, 2008.. Wednesday, October 29, 2008.
Application.
NACA Program Funding Application.... Friday, December 19, 2008. Wednesday, December 17, 2008.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All funding applications must be electronic and submitted through
Grants.gov: No paper submittals or attachments will be accepted (please
see the CDFI Certification Application for requirements specific to
that application).
2. Late Delivery: The Fund will neither accept a late application
nor any portion of an application that is late; an application that is
late, or for which any portion is late, will be rejected. The Fund will
not grant exceptions or waivers. Any application that is deemed
ineligible will not be returned to the Applicant.
F. Intergovernmental Review
Not applicable.
[[Page 57202]]
G. Funding Restrictions
For allowable uses of FA proceeds, please see the Regulations at 12
CFR 1805.301.
V. Application Review Information
A. Format
Funding applications must be single-spaced and use a 12-point font
with 1-inch margins. Each section in the Application that is scored has
page limitations. Applicants are encouraged to read each section
carefully and to remain within the page limitations for each section.
The Fund will not consider responses beyond the specified page
limitation in each section. Also, the Fund will read only information
requested in the Application and will not read attachments that have
not been specifically requested in this NOFA or the Application, such
as the Applicant's five-year strategic or marketing plans.
B. Criteria
The Fund will evaluate each application on a 100-point scale using
numeric scores with respect to the five sections required in the
Application. The Fund will score each section as follows:
Table 5--Application Scoring Criteria
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scoring
Application sections points
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Market Analysis............................................... 25
Business Strategy............................................. 25
Community Development Performance & Effective Use............. 20
Management.................................................... 20
Financial Health & Viability.................................. 10
------------------------------------------------------------------------
C. Technical Assistance Proposal
Any Applicant applying for a TA grant, either alone or in
conjunction with a request for a FA award, must complete a Technical
Assistance Proposal (TAP) as part of its application. The TAP consists
of a summary of the organizational improvements needed to achieve the
objectives of the Comprehensive Business Plan, a budget, and a
description of the requested goods and/or services comprising the TA
award request. The budget and accompanying narrative will be evaluated
for the eligibility and appropriateness of the proposed uses of the TA
award (described above). In addition, if the Applicant identifies a
capacity-building need related to any of the evaluation criteria above
(for example, if the Applicant requires a market need analysis or a
community development impact tracking/reporting system), the Fund will
assess its plan to use the TA grant to address said needs.
1. Non-Certified Applicants: An Applicant that is not a Certified
Native CDFI and that requests TA to address certification requirements
must explain how the requested TA grant will assist the Applicant in
meeting the certification requirements. The Fund will assess the
reasonableness of the plan to become certified (as specified above in
Section III, Eligibility Requirements; A.3. CDFI Certification
Requirements), taking into account the requested TA. For example, if
the Applicant does not currently make loans and therefore does not meet
the Financing Entity requirement, it might describe how the TA funds
will be used to hire a consultant to develop underwriting policies and
procedures to support the Applicant's ability to start its lending
activity.
2. Recurring Activities: An Applicant that requests a TA grant for
recurring activities must clearly describe the benefit that would
accrue to its capacity or to its Target Market(s) (such as plans for
expansion of staff, market, or products) as a result of the TA award.
If the Applicant is a prior Fund Awardee, it must describe how it has
used the prior assistance and explain the need for additional Fund
dollars over and above such prior assistance. The Fund will not provide
funding for the same activities funded in prior awards.
D. Review and Selection Process
1. Eligibility and Completeness Review: The Fund will review each
application to determine whether it is complete and the Applicant meets
the eligibility requirements set forth above. An incomplete application
does not meet eligibility requirements and will be rejected. Any
application that does not meet eligibility requirements will not be
returned to the Applicant.
2. Substantive Review: If an application is determined to be
complete and the Applicant is determined to be eligible, the Fund will
conduct the substantive review of the application in accordance with
the criteria and procedures described in the Regulations, this NOFA and
the application and guidance. As part of the review process, the Fund
may contact the Applicant by telephone, email, mail, or through an on-
site visit for the sole purpose of obtaining clarifying or confirming
application information (such as statements of work, matching funds
documentation, EINs, DUNS numbers, for example). After submitting its
application, the Applicant will not be permitted to revise or modify
its application in any way nor attempt to negotiate the terms of an
award. If contacted for clarifying or confirming information, the
Applicant must respond within the time parameters set by the Fund.
3. Application Scoring; Ranking:
(a) Application Scoring: The Fund will evaluate each application on
a 100-point scale, comprising the five criteria categories described
above, and assign numeric scores. An Applicant must receive a minimum
score in each evaluation criteria in order to be considered for an
award.
(i) Evaluating Prior Award Performance: In the case of an Applicant
that has previously received funding from the Fund through any Fund
program, the Fund will consider and will deduct points for: (i) The
Applicant's noncompliance with any active award or award that
terminated in Calendar Year 2008 in meeting its performance goals and
measures, reporting deadlines and other requirements set forth in the
assistance or award agreement(s) with the Fund during the Applicant's
two complete fiscal years prior to the application deadline of this
NOFA; (ii) the Applicant's failure to make timely loan payments to the
Fund during the Applicant's two complete fiscal years prior to the
application deadline of this NOFA (if applicable); (iii) performance on
any prior Assistance Agreement as part of the overall assessment of the
Applicant's ability to carry out its Comprehensive Business Plan; and
(iv) funds deobligated from a FY 2005, FY 2006 or FY 2007 FA award (if
the Applicant is applying for a FA award under this NOFA) if (A) the
amount of deobligated funds is at least $200,000 and (B) the
deobligation occurred subsequent to the expiration of the period of
award funds availability (generally, any funds deobligated after the
September 30th following the year in which the award was made). Any
award deobligations that result in a point deduction under an
application submitted pursuant to either funding round of this NOFA
will not be counted against any future application for FA through the
NACA Program. Furthermore, in the case of an Applicant that has
previously received funding through any Fund program, the Fund will
consider and may, in its discretion, deduct points for those Applicants
that have in any proceeding instituted against the Applicant in, by or
before any court, governmental or administrative body or agency
received a final determination within the last three (3) years
indicating that the Applicant has discriminated on the
[[Page 57203]]
basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, marital status,
receipt of income from public assistance, religion, or sex.
(b) Ranking: The Fund then will rank the applications by their
scores, from highest to lowest.
4. Award Selection: The Fund will make its final award selections
based on the rank order of Applicants by their scores and the amount of
funds available. In addition, the Fund may consider the institutional
and geographic diversity of Applicants when making its funding
decisions.
5. Insured CDFIs: In the case of Insured Depository Institutions
and Insured Credit Unions, the Fund will take into consideration the
views of the Appropriate Federal Banking Agencies; in the case of
State-Insured Credit Unions, the Fund may consult with the appropriate
State banking agencies (or comparable entity). The Fund will not
approve a FA award or a TA grant to any Insured Credit Union (other
than a State-Insured Credit Union) or Insured Depository Institution
Applicant for which its Appropriate Federal Banking Agency indicates it
has safety and soundness concerns, unless the Appropriate Federal
Banking Agency asserts, in writing, that improvement in status is
imminent and such improvement is expected to occur not later than
September 30, 2009 or within such other time frame deemed acceptable by
the Fund, or (ii) the safety and soundness condition of the Applicant
is adequate to undertake the activities for which the Applicant has
requested a FA award and the obligations of an Assistance Agreement
related to such a FA award.
6. Award Notification: Each Applicant will be informed of the
Fund's award decision either through a Notice of Award if selected for
an award (see Notice of Award section, below) or written declination if
not selected for an award. Each Applicant that is not selected for an
award based on reasons other than completeness or eligibility issues
will be provided a written debriefing on the strengths and weaknesses
of its application. This feedback will be provided in a format and
within a timeframe to be determined by the Fund, based on available
resources. The Fund will notify Awardees by email using the addresses
maintained in the Awardee's myCDFIFund account (postal mailings will be
used only in rare cases).
7. The Fund reserves the right to reject an application if
information (including administrative errors) comes to the attention of
the Fund that either adversely affects an applicant's eligibility for
an award, or adversely affects the Fund's evaluation or scoring of an
application, or indicates fraud or mismanagement on the part of an
Applicant. If the Fund determines that any portion of the application
is incorrect in any material respect, the Fund reserves the right, in
its sole discretion, to reject the application. The Fund reserves the
right to change its eligibility and evaluation criteria and procedures,
if the Fund deems it appropriate; if said changes materially affect the
Fund's award decisions, the Fund will provide information regarding the
changes through the Fund's Web site. There is no right to appeal the
Fund's award decisions. The Fund's award decisions are final.
VI. Award Administration Information
A. Notice of Award
The Fund will signify its conditional selection of an Applicant as
an Awardee by delivering a signed Notice of Award to the Applicant
through its myCDFIFund account. The Notice of Award will contain the
general terms and conditions underlying the Fund's provision of
assistance including, but not limited to, the requirement that the
Awardee and the Fund enter into an Assistance Agreement. The Applicant
must execute the Notice of Award and return it to the Fund. By
executing a Notice of Award, the Awardee agrees, among other things,
that, if prior to entering into an Assistance Agreement with the Fund,
information (including administrative error) comes to the attention of
the Fund that either adversely affects the Awardee's eligibility for an
award, or adversely affects the Fund's evaluation of the Awardee's
application, or indicates fraud or mismanagement on the part of the
Awardee, the Fund may, in its discretion and without advance notice to
the Awardee, terminate the Notice of Award or take such other actions
as it deems appropriate. Moreover, by executing a Notice of Award, the
Awardee agrees that, if prior to entering into an Assistance Agreement
with the Fund, the Fund determines that the Awardee or an Affiliate of
the Awardee, is in default of any Assistance Agreement previously
entered into with the Fund, the Fund may, in its discretion and without
advance notice to the Awardee, either terminate the Notice of Award or
take such other actions as it deems appropriate. The Fund reserves the
right, in its sole discretion, to rescind its award if the Awardee
fails to return the Notice of Award, signed by the authorized
representative of the Awardee, along with any other requested
documentation, within the deadline set by the Fund. For purposes of
this section, the Fund will consider an Affiliate to mean any entity
that meets the definition of Affiliate in the Regulations.
1. Failure to meet reporting requirements: If an Awardee, or an
Affiliate of the Awardee is a prior Fund Awardee or allocatee under any
Fund program and is not current on the reporting requirements set forth
in the previously executed assistance, allocation or award
agreement(s), as of the date of the Notice of Award, the Fund reserves
the right, in its sole discretion, to delay entering into an Assistance
Agreement until said prior Awardee or allocatee is current on the
reporting requirements in any previously executed assistance,
allocation or award agreement(s). Please note that the Fund only
acknowledges the receipt of reports that are complete. As such,
incomplete reports or reports that are deficient of required elements
will not be recognized as having been received. If said prior Awardee
or allocatee is unable to meet this requirement within the timeframe
set by the Fund, the Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion,
to terminate and rescind the Notice of Award and the award made under
this NOFA.
2. Pending resolution of noncompliance: If an Applicant is a prior
Awardee or allocatee under any Fund program and if: (i) It has
submitted complete and timely reports to the Fund that demonstrate
noncompliance with a previous assistance, award or allocation
agreement; and (ii) the Fund has yet to make a final determination as
to whether the entity is in default of its previous assistance, award
or allocation agreement, the Fund reserves the right, in its sole
discretion, to delay entering into an Assistance Agreement, pending
full resolution, in the sole determination of the Fund, of the
noncompliance. Further, if an Affiliate of the Awardee is a prior Fund
Awardee or allocatee and if such entity: (i) Has submitted complete and
timely reports to the Fund that demonstrate noncompliance with a
previous assistance, award or allocation agreement; and (ii) the Fund
has yet to make a final determination as to whether the entity is in
default of its previous assistance, award or allocation agreement, the
Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to delay entering into
an Assistance Agreement, pending full resolution, in the sole
determination of the Fund, of the noncompliance. If the prior Awardee
or allocatee in question is unable to satisfactorily
[[Page 57204]]
resolve the issues of noncompliance, in the sole determination of the
Fund, the Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to terminate
and rescind the Notice of Award and the award made under this NOFA.
3. Default status: If, at any time prior to entering into an
Assistance Agreement through this NOFA, the Fund has made a final
determination that an Awardee that is a prior Fund Awardee or allocatee
under any Fund program is in default of a previously executed
assistance, allocation or award agreement(s), the Fund reserves the
right, in its sole discretion, to delay entering into an Assistance
Agreement, until said prior Awardee or allocatee has submitted a
complete and timely report demonstrating full compliance with said
agreement within a timeframe set by the Fund. Further, if at any time
prior to entering into an Assistance Agreement through this NOFA, the
Fund has made a final determination that an Affiliate of the Awardee is
a prior Fund Awardee or allocatee under any Fund program and is in
default of a previously executed assistance, allocation or award
agreement(s), the Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to
delay entering into an Assistance Agreement, until said prior Awardee
or allocatee has submitted a complete and timely report demonstrating
full compliance with said agreement within a timeframe set by the Fund.
If said prior Awardee or allocatee is unable to meet this requirement
and the Fund has not specified in writing that the prior Awardee or
allocatee is otherwise eligible to receive an Award under this NOFA,
the Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to terminate and
rescind the Notice of Award and the award made under this NOFA.
4. Termination in default: If (i) Within the 12-month period prior
to entering into an Assistance Agreement through this NOFA, the Fund
has made a final determination that an Awardee that is a prior Fund
Awardee or allocatee under any Fund program whose award or allocation
was terminated in default of such prior agreement; and (ii) the final
reporting period end date for the applicable terminated agreement falls
within the 12-month period prior to the application deadline of this
NOFA, the Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to delay
entering into an Assistance Agreement. Further, if (i) within the 12-
month period prior to entering into an Assistance Agreement through
this NOFA, the Fund has made a final determination that an Affiliate of
the Awardee is a prior Fund Awardee or allocatee under any Fund program
whose award or allocation was terminated in default of such prior
agreement; and (ii) the final reporting period end date for the
applicable terminated agreement falls within the 12-month period prior
to the application deadline of this NOFA, the Fund reserves the right,
in its sole discretion, to delay entering into an Assistance Agreement.
5. Deobligated awards: An Awardee that receives a FA award pursuant
to this NOFA for which an amount over $200,000 is deobligated by the
Fund subsequent to the expiration of the period of award funds
availability (generally, any funds deobligated after the September 30th
following the year in which the award was made) but within the 12
months prior to the application deadline, may not apply for a new award
through the NOFA for another CDFI Fund program funding round after the
date of said deobligation.
6. Compliance with Federal Anti-Discrimination Laws: If the Awardee
has previously received funding through any Fund program, and if at any
time prior to entering into an Assistance Agreement through this NOFA,
the Fund is made aware of a final determination, made within the last
three (3) years, in any proceeding instituted against the Awardee in,
by or before any court, governmental or administrative body or agency,
declaring that the Awardee has discriminated on the basis of race,
color, national origin, disability, age, marital status, receipt of
income from public assistance, religion, or sex, the Fund reserves the
right, in its sole discretion, to terminate and rescind the Notice of
Award and the award made under this NOFA.
B. Assistance Agreement
Each Applicant that is selected to receive an award under this NOFA
must enter into an Assistance Agreement with the Fund in order to
receive disbursement of award proceeds. The Assistance Agreement will
set forth certain required terms and conditions of the award, which
will include, but not be limited to: (i) The amount of the award; (ii)
the type of award; (iii) the approved uses of the award; (iv) the
approved eligible market to which the funded activity must be targeted;
(v) performance goals and measures; and (vi) reporting requirements for
all Awardees. FA-only, FA/TA, and TA-only Sponsoring Entity Assistance
Agreements under this NOFA generally will have three-year performance
periods; TA-only Assistance Agreements generally will have two-year
performance periods.
The Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to terminate
the Notice of Award and rescind an award if the Awardee fails to return
the Assistance Agreement, signed by the authorized representative of
the Awardee, and/or provide the Fund with any other requested
documentation, within the deadlines set by the Fund.
In addition to entering into an Assistance Agreement, each Awardee
that receives an award either (i) in the form of a loan, equity
investment, credit union shares/deposits, or secondary capital, in any
amount, or (ii) a FA grant in an amount greater than $500,000, must
furnish to the Fund an opinion from its legal counsel, the content of
which will be specified in the Assistance Agreement, to include, among
other matters, an opinion that the Awardee: (A) Is duly formed and in
good standing in the jurisdiction in which it was formed and/or
operates; (B) has the authority to enter into the Assistance Agreement
and undertake the activities that are specified therein; and (C) has no
pending or threatened litigation that would materially affect its
ability to enter into and carry out the activities specified in the
Assistance Agreement. Each other Awardee must provide the Fund with a
good standing certificate (or equivalent documentation) from its state
(or jurisdiction) of incorporation.
C. Reporting
1. Reporting requirements: The Fund will collect information, on at
least an annual basis, from each Awardee including, but not limited to,
an Annual Report that comprises the following components: (i) Financial
Reports (including an OMB A-133 audit, as applicable; however Financial
Reports are not required of Sponsoring Entities); (ii) Institution
Level Report; (iii) Transaction Level Report (for Awardees receiving FA
awards); (iv) Financial Status Report (for Awardees receiving TA
grants); (v) Uses of Financial Assistance and Matching Funds Report
(for Awardees receiving FA awards); (vi) Uses of Technical Assistance
(for Awardees receiving TA grants); (vii) Explanation of Noncompliance
(as applicable); and (viii) such other information as the Fund may
require. Each Awardee is responsible for the timely and complete
submission of the Annual Report, even if all or a portion of the
documents actually is completed by another entity or signatory to the
Assistance Agreement. If such other entities or signatories are
required to provide Institution Level Reports, Transaction Level
Reports, Financial Reports, or other documentation that the
[[Page 57205]]
Fund may require, the Awardee is responsible for ensuring that the
information is submitted timely and complete. The Fund reserves the
right to contact such additional signatories to the Assistance
Agreement and require that additional information and documentation be
provided. The Fund will use such information to monitor each Awardee's
compliance with the requirements set forth in the Assistance Agreement
and to assess the impact of the NACA Program. All reports must be
electronically submitted to the Fund via the Awardee's myCDFIFund
account. The Institution Level Report and the Transaction Level Report
must be submitted through the Fund's web-based data collection system,
the Community Investment Impact System (CIIS). The Financial Report may
be submitted through CIIS. All other components of the Annual Report
may be submitted electronically, as directed, by the Fund. The Fund
reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to modify these reporting
requirements if it determines it to be appropriate and necessary;
however, such reporting requirements will be modified only after notice
to Awardees.
2. Accounting: The Fund will require each Awardee that receives FA
and TA awards through this NOFA to account for and track the use of
said FA and TA awards. This means that for every dollar of FA and TA
awards received from the Fund, the Awardee will be required to inform
the Fund of its uses. This will require Awardees to establish separate
administrative and accounting controls, subject to the applicable OMB
Circulars. The Fund will provide guidance to Awardees outlining the
format and content of the information to be provided on an annual
basis, outlining and describing how the funds were used. Each Awardee
that receives an award must provide the Fund with the required complete
and accurate Automated Clearinghouse (ACH) form for its bank account
prior to award closing and disbursement.
VII. Agency Contacts
A. The Fund will respond to questions and provide support
concerning this NOFA and the funding application between the hours of 9
a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, starting the date of the publication of this NOFA
through the date that is two business days prior to the applicable
application deadline. The Fund will not respond to questions or provide
support concerning the application that are received after 5 p.m. ET on
said dates, until after the respective funding application deadline.
Applications and other information regarding the Fund and its programs
may be obtained from the Fund's Web site at http://www.cdfifund.gov.
The Fund will post on its Web site responses to questions of general
applicability regarding the NACA Program.
B. The Fund's contact information is as follows:
Table 6--Contact Information
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Telephone number (not
Type of question toll free) Email addresses
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fax number for all offices: 202-622-7754
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Information Technology/Technical 202-622-2455.......... ithelpdesk@cdfi.treas.gov.
Support.
CDFI Program/NI...................... 202-622-6355.......... cdfihelp@cdfi.treas.gov.
CDFI Certification................... 202-622-6355.......... cdfihelp@cdfi.treas.gov.
Grants Management.................... 202-622-8226.......... grantsmanagement@cdfi.treas.gov.
Compliance, Monitoring and Evaluation 202-622-6330.......... cme@cdfi.treas.gov.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C. Information Technology Support: People who have visual or
mobility impairments that prevent them from creating a Target Market
map using the Fund's Web site should call (202) 622-2455 for assistance
(this is not a toll free number).
D. Legal Counsel Support: If you have any questions or matters that
you believe require response by the Fund's Office of Legal Counsel,
please refer to the document titled ``How to Request a Legal Review,''
found on the Fund's Web site at http://www.cdfifund.gov. Further, if
you wish to review the Assistance Agreement form document from a prior
funding round, you may find it posted on the Fund's Web site (please
note that there may be revisions to the Assistance Agreement that will
be used for Awardees under this NOFA and thus the sample document on
the Fund's Web site is provided for illustrative purposes only and
should not be relied on for purposes of this NOFA).
E. Communication with the CDFI Fund: The Fund will use the
myCDFIFund Internet interface to correspond with Applicants and
Awardees, using the contact information maintained in their respective
myCDFIFund accounts. Therefore, the Applicant and any Subsidiaries,
signatories, and Affiliates must maintain accurate contact information
(including contact person and authorized representative, email
addresses, fax numbers, phone numbers, and office addresses) in its
myCDFIFund account(s). For more information about myCDFIFund (which
includes information about the Fund's Community Investment Impact
System), please see the Help documents posted at http://
www.cdfifund.gov/ciis/AccessingCIIS.pdf.
VIII. Information Sessions and Outreach
The Fund may conduct webcasts or host information sessions for
organizations that are considering applying to, or are interested in
learning about, the Fund's programs. For further information, please
visit the Fund's Web site at http://www.cdfifund.gov.
Authority: 12 U.S.C. 4703, 4703 note, 4704, 4706, 4707, 4717; 12
CFR part 1805.
Dated: September 24, 2008.
Donna J. Gambrell,
Director, Community Development Financial Institutions Fund.
[FR Doc. E8-23137 Filed 9-30-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-70-P
