[Federal Register: July 26, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 142)]
[Notices]
[Page 44488-44490]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26jy04-24]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economic Development Administration
[Docket No. 991215339-4192-12]
National Technical Assistance, Training, Research, and Evaluation
AGENCY: Economic Development Administration (EDA), Department of
Commerce (DOC).
ACTION: Notice and request for proposals.
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SUMMARY: The mission of EDA is to lead the Federal economic development
agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing American
regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. Through the
National Technical Assistance, Training, Research and Evaluation
Program (NTA Program), EDA will work towards fulfilling its mission by
funding research and technical assistance projects to promote
competitiveness and innovation in urban and rural regions throughout
the United States and its territories. By working in conjunction with
its research partners, EDA will assist states, local governments and
community based organizations to achieve their highest economic
potential.
EDA is soliciting proposals to undertake research and provide
technical assistance: (1) Addressing Competitiveness and Innovation in
Rural U.S. Regions and Developing and Analyzing Rural Clusters of
Innovation and Linking Rural and Metropolitan Regions; and (2)
Information Dissemination to Practitioners Serving Distressed Areas.
This competitive solicitation request was previously published as
part of a larger competitive solicitation in the Federal Register on
April 30, 2004 (69 FR 23727), as well as on http://www.grants.gov and on EDA's
Web site at http://www.eda.gov. EDA is re-soliciting proposals for the
projects listed below due to the receipt of proposals that EDA, in its
discretion, determined were non-responsive to the original solicitation
and thus determined to be unsuitable for funding.
DATES: Proposals for funding under this program must be received by the
EDA representative listed below no later than August 25, 2004 at 4 p.m.
(e.d.t.). Proposals received after 4 p.m. (e.d.t.) on August 25, 2004,
will not be considered for funding. By September 9, 2004, EDA will
notify proponents whether they will be given further funding
consideration and will invite successful proponents to submit a formal
application. Projects should expect to receive funding by September 30,
2004; however, there is no guarantee that proponents invited by EDA to
submit a formal application will receive funding. Proposals that were
not recommended for funding will be retained by EDA for no longer than
three years from the date of receipt.
ADDRESSES: Research and Evaluation proposals may be e-mailed to
klim1@eda.doc.gov; National Technical Assistance proposals may be e-
mailed to jmcnamee@eda.doc.gov. Alternatively, Research and Evaluation
proposals may be hand-delivered to: W. Kent Lim, U.S. Department of
Commerce, Economic Development Administration, Room 1874, 1401
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230.
National Technical Assistance proposals may be hand-delivered to:
Dr. John J. McNamee, U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development
Administration, Room 1874, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington,
DC 20230; or
Research and Evaluation proposals may be mailed to: W. Kent Lim,
U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration, Room
7015, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230;
National Technical Assistance proposals may be mailed to: Dr. John
J. McNamee, U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development
Administration, Room 7816, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington,
DC 20230.
Proponents are encouraged to submit proposals by e-mail. Proponents
are advised that, due to mail security measures, EDA's receipt of mail
sent via the United States Postal Service may be delayed for up to two
weeks.
EDA will not accept proposals submitted by facsimile.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For a copy of the full Federal Funding
Opportunity (FFO) announcement for this solicitation for competitive
[[Page 44489]]
proposals, contact the appropriate EDA officer listed above. The text
of the full FFO announcement can also be accessed at EDA's Web site:
http://www.eda.gov and at http://www.grants.gov.SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION:
Electronic Access: The full FFO announcement for this competitive
solicitation with respect to the FY 2004 NTA Program is available
through EDA's Web site, http://www.eda.gov, and through Grants.gov at
http://www.grants.gov.
Funding Availability: EDA may use funds appropriated under Public
Law 108-199 for the NTA Program. Funds in the amount of $805,000 are
available for the NTA Program and funds in the amount of $495,000 have
been appropriated for the Research and Evaluation Program for FY 2004.
The funds made available for both Programs are available until
expended. Awards under this competitive solicitation will be in the
form of grants or cooperative agreements, with cooperative agreements
being used where there is substantial collaboration between the EDA NTA
Program staff and the recipient of an award. For example, a cooperative
agreement will be used if there is substantial collaboration between
EDA Program staff and the recipient of an information dissemination
award in the selection of topics and presenters for satellite telecasts
and regional policy forums.
Statutory Authority: Public Works and Economic Development Act
of 1965, as amended (Pub. L. 89-136, 42 U.S.C. 3121 et seq.), and as
further amended by the Economic Development Administration Reform
Act of 1998 (Pub. L. 105-393) (PWEDA).
CFDA: 11.303 Economic Development--Technical Assistance; 11.312
Economic Development--Research and Evaluation.
Eligibility: Eligible applicants and eligible recipients of EDA
financial assistance as defined in 13 CFR 300.2, including private
individuals and for-profit organizations.
Cost Sharing Requirements: Ordinarily the amount of the EDA grant
may not exceed 50 percent of the cost of the project. See 13 CFR
301.4(a), 307.11(c)(1). While cash contributions are preferred, the
project's non-Federal share may consist of in-kind contributions,
fairly evaluated by EDA, such as contributions of space, equipment and
services. 13 CFR 301.4(a). In-kind contributions must be eligible
project costs and meet applicable Federal cost principles and uniform
administrative requirements. Id. EDA may supplement the costs of a
project up to and including 100 percent of such project costs where the
applicant is able to demonstrate that the project (i) is not feasible
without EDA supplementation, and (ii) otherwise warrants EDA
supplementation. 13 CFR 307.11(c)(1), (2). EDA may also supplement the
costs of a project where the applicant is able to demonstrate that the
applicant's overall economic situation precludes its contribution of
the non-Federal share otherwise required for the project. 13 CFR
307.11(c)(1)(i), 301.4(b). Potential applicants should contact the
appropriate EDA office to make this determination.
Intergovernmental Review: Applications under the NTA Program are
not subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of
Federal Programs.''
Evaluation and Selection Procedures: To apply for an award under
this request, an eligible applicant must submit a proposal to EDA
during the specified timeframe and in the manner provided by this
solicitation. Proposals that do not meet all items required or that
exceed the page limitations set forth in the FFO will be considered
non-responsive and will not be considered by the review panel.
Proposals that meet all the requirements will be evaluated by a review
panel comprised of at least three members, all of whom will be full-
time Federal employees. The panel first evaluates the proposals using
(a) the general evaluation criteria set forth in 13 CFR 304.1 and 13
CFR 304.2, and (b) the supplemental evaluation criteria (Investment
Policy Guidelines) set forth below. The Assistant Secretary of Commerce
for Economic Development is the Selecting Official and will normally
follow the recommendation of the review panel. However, the Assistant
Secretary may not make any selection, or he may substitute one of the
lower rated proposals, if he determines that it better meets the
overall objectives of PWEDA.
A. Evaluation Criteria
Proposals that meet these threshold criteria will subsequently be
evaluated by the review panel using the following criteria of
approximate equal weight:
1. The quality of a proponent's response to deliverables set forth
in Section II. above;
2. The ability of the proponent to successfully carry out the
proposed activities; and
3. Cost to the Federal Government.
B. Supplemental Evaluation Criteria--Investment Policy Guidelines
EDA's mission is to lead the Federal economic development agenda by
promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing American regions
for growth and success in the worldwide economy. Accordingly, all
potential EDA investments will be analyzed using the following five
Investment Policy Guidelines, which constitute supplemental evaluation
criteria of approximate equal weight and which further define the
criteria provided at 13 CFR 304.2:
1. Be market-based and results driven. An investment will
capitalize on a region's competitive strengths and will positively move
a regional economic indicator measured on EDA's Balanced Scorecard,
such as: an increased number of higher-skill, higher-wage jobs;
increased tax revenue; or increased private sector investment.
2. Have strong organizational leadership. An investment will have
strong leadership, relevant project management experience, and a
significant commitment of human resources talent to ensure a project's
successful execution.
3. Advance productivity, innovation, and entrepreneurship. An
investment will embrace the principles of entrepreneurship, enhance
regional clusters, and leverage and link technology innovators and
local universities to the private sector to create the conditions for
greater productivity, innovation, and job creation.
4. Look beyond the immediate economic horizon, anticipate economic
changes, and diversify the local and regional economy. An investment
will be part of an overarching, long term comprehensive economic
development strategy that enhances a region's success in achieving a
rising standard of living by supporting existing industry clusters,
developing emerging new clusters, or attracting new regional economic
drivers.
5. Demonstrate a high degree of commitment by exhibiting: (a) High
levels of local government or non-profit matching funds and private
sector leverage; (b) clear and unified leadership and support by local
elected officials; and (c) strong cooperation between the business
sector, relevant regional partners and local, state and federal
governments.
Announcement and Award Dates: By September 9, 2004, EDA will notify
proponents whether they will be given further funding consideration and
will invite successful proponents to submit a
[[Page 44490]]
Form ED-900A, Research and National Technical Assistance, OMB Control
Number 0610-0094. There is no guarantee that successful proponents will
receive funding. The projects selected for funding should expect to
receive funding by September 30, 2004. Proposals that were not
recommended for funding will be retained by EDA for no longer than
three years from the date of receipt.
The Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification Requirements for
Grants and Cooperative Agreements
The Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification Requirements for
Grants and Cooperative Agreements contained in the Federal Register
notice of October 1, 2001 (66 FR 49917), as amended by the Federal
Register notice published on October 30, 2002 (67 FR 66109), are
applicable to this solicitation.
Paperwork Reduction Act
This document contains collection-of-information requirements
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). The use of Form ED-900A
has been approved by OMB under the control number 0610-0094.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required to
respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty for failure to
comply with, a collection of information subject to the requirements of
the PRA unless that collection of information displays a currently
valid OMB control number.
Executive Order 12866
This notice has been determined not to be significant for purposes
of Executive Order 12866.
Executive Order 13132 (Federalism)
It has been determined that this notice does not contain policies
with Federalism implications as that term is defined in Executive Order
13132.
Administrative Procedure Act/ Regulatory Flexibility Act
Prior notice and an opportunity for public comments are not
required by the Administrative Procedure Act or any other law for this
notice concerning grants, benefits and contracts (5 U.S.C. 553(a)(2)).
Because notice and opportunity for comment are not required pursuant to
5 U.S.C. 553 or any other law, the analytical requirements of the
Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) are inapplicable.
Therefore, a regulatory flexibility analysis has not been prepared.
Dated: July 20, 2004.
David Bearden,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic Development.
[FR Doc. 04-16907 Filed 7-23-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-24-P