[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 95 (Friday, May 15, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29394-29395]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-10487]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Commodity Credit Corporation
Rural Business-Cooperative Service
[Docket number RBS-20-CO-OP-0018]
Solicitation of Applications for the Higher Blends Infrastructure
Incentive Program (HBIIP) for Fiscal Year 2020
AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation and the Rural Business-Cooperative
Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice; announcement of opening date for Higher Blends
Infrastructure Incentive Program application window.
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SUMMARY: The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) and the Rural Business-
Cooperative Service (RBCS), a Rural Development agency of the United
States Department of Agriculture (USDA), announced its general policy
and application procedures for funding under the Higher Blends
Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) in a Notice of Funding
Availability (NOFA) on May 5, 2020 in the Federal Register. The HBIIP
will provide up to $100 million in competitive grants to eligible
entities for activities designed to expand the sales and use of
renewable fuels under the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive
Program (HBIIP). This Notice announces the opening date for the HBIIP
application window.
DATES: Applications for the Higher Biofuels Infrastructure Incentive
Program will be accepted from May 15, 2020 through August 13, 2020.
Applications received after 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on August
13, 2020, will not be considered. The grant period is not to exceed 18-
months, unless otherwise specified in the Grant Agreement or agreed to
by CCC.
ADDRESSES:
[[Page 29395]]
Application Submission: The application system for electronic
submissions will be available through http://www.rd.usda.gov/HBIIP.
Electronic submissions: Electronic submissions of applications will
allow for the expeditious review of an Applicant's proposal. As a
result, all Applicants must file their application electronically.
Applicants' requests to establish an applicant user account will be
available through http://www.rd.usda.gov/HBIIP.
FOR ADDITONAL INFORMATION CONTACT: For general inquiries regarding the
HBIIP, contact Anthony Crooks: telephone (202) 205-9322, email:
[email protected]. 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:
Authority: This solicitation is issued pursuant to; 62 Stat 1070,
and the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act of 1948 (Charter Act);
U.S. Code 15 U.S.C. 714.
Overview
Federal Agency: The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) and the
Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS), (USDA).
Funding Opportunity Title: Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive
Program (HBIIP) for Fiscal Year 2020.
Announcement Type: Solicitation of Applications; announcement of
opening date for Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program
application window. The grant period is not to exceed 18-months, unless
otherwise specified in the Grant Agreement or agreed to by CCC.''
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Title: The Higher
Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP)-10.754.
I. Background
On May 5, 2020, the CCC and RBCS (the Agency) published a NOFA in
the Federal Register announcing the availability of up to $100 million
in competitive grants to eligible entities for activities designed to
expand the sales and use of renewable fuels under the Higher Blends
Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP). The Agency stated in the NOFA
that it would finalize the application window for enrollment in the
HBIIP by notice in the Federal Register and Grants.gov. subject to
future opening of the electronic application system. The purpose of
this Notice is to announce that the Agency will begin to accept
applications for the HBIIP beginning May 15, 2020.
II. General Funding Information
Grants for up to 50 percent of total eligible project costs, but
not more than $5 million, are made available to vehicle fueling
facilities, including, but not limited to, local fueling stations/
locations, convenience stores (CS), hypermarket fueling stations (HFS),
fleet facilities, and fuel terminal operations, midstream partners,
and/or distribution facilities.
A. Type of Instrument
Grants. Awards to successful applicants will be in the form of
cost-share grants for up to 50 percent of total eligible project costs,
but not to exceed $5 million, whichever is less.
B. Available Funds
Under HBIIP, up to $100 million is made available to eligible
participants. Of the total amount of available funds, approximately $86
million will be made available to transportation fueling facilities
(including fueling stations, convenience stores, hypermarket fueling
stations, fleet facilities, and similar entities with capital
investments) for eligible implementation activities related to higher
blends of fuel ethanol greater than 10 percent ethanol, such as E15 or
higher; and approximately $14 million will be made available to
transportation fueling facilities and fuel distribution facilities
(including terminal operations, depots, and midstream partners), for
eligible implementation activities related to higher blends of
biodiesel greater than 5 percent biodiesel, such as B20 or higher.
C. Approximate Number of Awards
The number of awards will depend on the number of eligible
participants and the total amount of requested funds. In the unlikely
event that every successful applicant is awarded the maximum amount
available of $5 million, 20 awards will be made. The Agency intends/
expects to make approximately 150 awards and provide assistance to
1,500 locations from this solicitation.
III. Program Requirements
To be eligible for an award, applications must meet all the
requirements contained in the NOFA published in the Federal Register on
May 5, 2020 at 85 FR 26656. Information can also be found at http://www.rd.usda.gov/HBIIP.
Robert Stephenson,
Executive Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation.
Mark Brodziski,
Acting Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-10487 Filed 5-14-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P