4280.128—Application and documentation.
The requirements in this section apply to guaranteed loan applications under this subpart.
(a) General.
Applications must be submitted in accordance with the requirements specified in § 4280.111(a).
(b) Application content for guaranteed loans greater than $600,000.
Applications and documentation for guaranteed loans greater than $600,000 must provide the required information organized pursuant to a Table of Contents in a chapter format presented in the order shown in paragraphs (b)(1) and (2) of this section.
(1) Guaranteed loan application content.
(i) Table of Contents.
Include page numbers for each component of the application in the table of contents. Begin pagination immediately following the Table of Contents.
(ii) Project Summary.
Provide a concise summary of the proposed project and applicant information, project purpose and need, and project goals, including the following:
(B) Borrower eligibility.
Describe how each of the criteria, identified in § 4280.107(a)(1) through (4), is met.
(C) Project eligibility.
Describe how each of the criteria, as applicable in § 4280.108(a) through (g), is met. Clearly state whether the application is for the purchase of a renewable energy system (including making necessary capital improvements to an existing renewable energy system) or to make energy efficiency improvements. The response to § 4280.108(a) must include a brief description of the system or improvement. This description is to provide the reader with a frame of reference for reviewing the rest of application. Additional project description information will be needed later in the application.
(D) Operation description.
Describe the applicant's total farm/ranch/business operation and the relationship of the proposed project to the applicant's total farm/ranch/business operation as specified in § 4280.111(b)(3)(iv).
(iii) Financial information for size determination.
Provide financial information to allow the Agency to determine the applicant's size as specified in § 4280.111(b)(3)(v).
(iv) Matching funds.
Submit a spreadsheet identifying sources, amounts, and status of matching funds as specified in § 4280.111(b)(5).
(v) Self-evaluation score.
Self-score the project using the evaluation criteria in § 4280.112(e) as specified in § 4280.111(b)(6).
(vi) Renewable energy and energy efficiency technical report.
For both renewable energy projects and energy efficiency improvement projects, submit a Technical Report in accordance with applicable provisions of Appendix B of this subpart and as specified in § 4280.111(b)(7)(ii). For loan requests in excess of $600,000, the services of a licensed professional engineer (P.E.) or a team of licensed P.E.'s is required. If none of the Technology Reports in Appendix B apply to the proposed technology, the applicant may submit a Technical Report that conforms to the overall outline and subjects specified in applicable provisions of § 4280.111(b)(7)(ii)(A) through (G).
(vii) Business-level feasibility study for renewable energy systems.
For each application for a renewable energy system project submitted by a start-up or existing business, a business-level feasibility study by an independent qualified consultant will be required by the Agency. An acceptable business-level feasibility study must at least include an evaluation of economic, market, technical, financial, and management feasibility.
(2) Lender forms, certifications, and agreements.
Each application submitted under paragraph (b)(1) of this section must contain applicable items described in paragraphs (b)(2)(i) through (xii) of this section.
(iii)
A personal credit report from an Agency approved credit reporting company for each owner, partner, officer, director, key employee, and stockholder owning 20 percent or more interest in the borrower's business, except passive investors and those corporations listed on a major stock exchange.
(iv)
Appraisals completed in accordance with § 4280.141. Completed appraisals should be submitted when the application is filed. If the appraisal has not been completed when the application is filed, the applicant must submit an estimated appraisal. In all cases, a completed appraisal must be submitted prior to the loan being closed.
(v)
Commercial credit reports obtained by the lender on the borrower and any parent, affiliate, and subsidiary firms.
(vii)
Intergovernmental consultation comments in accordance with 7 CFR part 3015, subpart V, of this title.
(viii)
Financial statements as specified in § 4280.111(b)(4)(i) through (iii). Financial information is required on the total operation of the agricultural producer/rural small business and its parent, subsidiary, or affiliates at other locations. All information submitted under this paragraph must be substantiated by authoritative records.
(xi)
A certification by the lender that it has completed a comprehensive written analysis of the proposal, the borrower is eligible, the loan is for authorized purposes with technical merit, and there is reasonable assurance of repayment ability based on the borrower's history, projections, equity, and the collateral to be obtained.
(xii)
A proposed Loan Agreement or a sample Loan Agreement with an attached list of the proposed Loan Agreement provisions. The following requirements must be addressed in the proposed or sample Loan Agreement:
(J)
List of collateral and lien priority for the loan, including a list of persons and corporations guaranteeing the loan with a schedule for providing the lender with personal and corporate financial statements. Financial statements for corporate and personal guarantors must be updated at least annually once the guarantee is provided;
(K)
Type and frequency of financial statements to be required from the borrower for the duration of the loan;
(N)
A provision for the lender or the Agency to have reasonable access to the project and its performance information during its useful life or the term of the loan, whichever is longer, including the periodic inspection of the project by a representative of the lender or the Agency.
(c) Application content for guaranteed loans of $600,000 or less.
Applications and documentation for guaranteed loans $600,000 or less must comply with paragraphs (c)(1) and (2) of this section.
(1) Application Contents.
Applications and documentation for guaranteed loans $600,000 or less must provide the required information organized pursuant to a Table of Contents in a chapter format presented in the order shown in § 4280.111(b)(2) through (8), except as specified in paragraphs (c)(1)(i) through (iii) of this section.
(ii)
Technical Reports must be submitted according to paragraph (c)(1)(ii)(A) or (B) of this section, as applicable.
(A)
For renewable energy projects and energy efficiency projects utilizing commercially available systems or improvements and with total eligible project costs of $200,000 or less, submit a Technical Report as described in Appendix A of this subpart. If a renewable energy project does not fit on of the technologies identified in Appendix A, the applicant must submit a Technical Report that conforms to the overall outline and subjects specified in § 4280.111(b)(7)(ii)(G).
(B)
For renewable energy projects and energy efficiency projects utilizing pre-commercial technology or with total eligible project costs greater than $200,000, submit a Technical Report as described in Appendix B of this subpart and as specified in § 4280.111(b)(7)(ii)(G) (1) through (10 ), as applicable.
(iii) Business-level feasibility study for renewable energy systems.
For each application for a renewable energy system project submitted by a start-up or existing business, a business-level feasibility study by an independent qualified consultant will be required by the Agency. An acceptable business-level feasibility study must at least include an evaluation of economic, market, technical, financial, and management feasibility. Renewable energy projects with total eligible project costs of $200,000 or less are exempt from the feasibility study requirement.
(2) Lender forms, certifications, and agreements.
Applications submitted under paragraph (c) of this section must use Form RD 4279-1A, “Application for Loan Guarantee, Short Form,” and include the documentation contained in paragraphs (b)(2)(ii), (vii), (viii), (ix), (x), and (xii) of this section. The lender must have the documentation contained in paragraphs (b)(2)(iii), (iv), (v), (vi), and (xi) available in its files for the Agency's review.