; (B) a partnership; (C) a joint venture; (D) a trust; (E) a State, local or non-Federal governmental entity, agency, or instrumentality; and (F) a conservancy district, irrigation district, canal company, mutual water company, water users’ association, Indian tribe, agency created by interstate compact, or any other entity that has the capacity to contract with the United States under Federal reclamation law. (2) Eligible project costs The term eligible project costs means the total cost of activities deemed eligible for assistance in section 6(b) of this Act. (3) Federal credit instrument The term Federal credit instrument means a secured loan or loan guarantee authorized to be made available under this Act with respect to a project. (4) Investment-grade rating The term investment-grade rating means a rating of BBB minus, Baa3, bbb minus, BBB (low), or higher as assigned by a rating agency to project obligations. (5) Lender (A) In general The term lender means any non-Federal qualified institutional buyer (as defined in section 230.144A(a) of title 17, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation) (commonly known as Rule 144A(a) of the Securities and Exchange Commission and issued under the Securities Act of 1933 ( 15 U.S.C. 77a et seq.))). (B) Inclusions The term lender includes— (i) a qualified retirement plan (as defined in section 4974 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) that is a qualified institutional buyer