[Federal Register: January 9, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 5)]
[Notices]
[Page 1409-1411]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09ja06-15]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economic Development Administration
[991215339-6001-19]
Solicitation of Proposals for the University Center Economic
Development Program
AGENCY: Economic Development Administration (EDA), Department of
Commerce (DOC)
ACTION: Notice and request for proposals.
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SUMMARY: EDA is soliciting proposals for FY 2006 University Center
Program funding in the areas served by its Atlanta and Seattle regional
offices. 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. Institutions
of higher education have many assets, such as faculty, staff,
libraries, laboratories, and computer systems, which can help to
address local economic problems and opportunities. With funding from
EDA, institutions of higher education establish and operate University
Centers, which provide technical assistance to public and private
sector organizations with the goal of enhancing local economic
development. EDA has traditionally renewed an award to a University
Center on an annual basis, as long as it maintained a satisfactory
level of performance and Congress appropriated funds for EDA's Local
and National Technical Assistance Programs. In FY 2004, EDA began a
phased implementation of a three-year competitive grant cycle for all
University Center projects, beginning with those in its Austin and
Denver regional offices. In FY 2005, with the competition announced in
this notice for University Center projects in the areas served by EDA's
Atlanta and Seattle regional offices, EDA is completing the phased
implementation of competition for University Center Program funding.
DATES: Proposals must be received by the appropriate EDA regional
office by February 21, 2006 at 4 p.m. local time. EDA's Atlanta and
Seattle regional offices will each hold a teleconference to answer
questions about the FY 2006 competition for University Center funding
on January 19, 2006 and January 23, 2006, respectively. For further
information and instructions regarding these teleconferences, please
see the information provided below under ``Teleconferences.''
ADDRESSES: From proponents in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky,
Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee: University
Center Program Competition, Economic Development Administration,
Atlanta Regional Office, 401 West Peachtree Street, NW., Suite 1820,
Atlanta, Georgia 30308.
From proponents in Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, California,
Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nevada, Northern
Mariana Islands, Oregon, Republic of Palau and Washington: University
Center Program Competition, Economic Development Administration,
Seattle Regional Office, Federal Jackson Building, Room 1856, 915
Second Avenue, Seattle, Washington 98174.
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For a copy of the Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) announcement
for this request for proposals, please see the Web site listed below
under ``Electronic Access.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information or for a
paper copy of the FFO announcement, contact the appropriate EDA
regional office listed above. EDA's Internet Web site at http://www.eda.gov
contains additional information on EDA and its University
Center Program.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Electronic Access: EDA is not currently able to accept electronic
submissions of proposal packages. However, the FFO announcement for the
FY 2006 University Center Program competition is available through
Grants.gov at http://www.grants.gov Additional information is available through EDA's Internet Web site at http://www.eda.gov.
Funding Availability: Funding appropriated under the FY 2006
Science, State, Justice, Commerce and Related Agencies Appropriations
Act (Pub. L. 109-108) (2006 Appropriations Act) is available for
technical assistance programs authorized by the Public Works and
Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3121 et seq.), as amended
by the Economic Development Administration Reauthorization Act of 2004
(Pub. L. 108-373) (PWEDA). Funds in the amount of $8,215,711 have been
appropriated for FY 2006 and shall remain available until expended.
EDA expects to allocate approximately $6,839,529 to the University
Center Program and the remaining funds to EDA's Local and National
Technical Assistance Programs. The amount of University Center funding
available for competition in FY 2006 is expected to be approximately
$1,426,223 in the Atlanta regional office and approximately $1,324,444
in the Seattle regional office. Anticipated annual awards for
University Centers under the FY 2006 competition are in the $125,000 to
$150,000 range in the Atlanta regional office, and in the $100,000 to
$215,000 range in the Seattle regional office. Regional offices may,
however, choose to fund proposals under this competition outside these
ranges. The remaining FY 2006 program funds will be used to continue
support for current University Centers. Subject to the availability of
funding, the funds made available under the University Center Program
are anticipated to be available until expended.
Statutory Authority: The authority for the University Center
Program is PWEDA. On August 11, 2005, EDA published an interim final
rule (70 FR 47002) to reflect the amendments made to EDA's authorizing
statute by the Economic Development Administration Reauthorization Act
of 2004 (Pub. L. 108-373). The interim final rule became effective on
October 1, 2005. You may access the interim final rule and PWEDA on
EDA's Internet Web site at http://www.eda.gov. EDA's public comment
period for the interim final rule ran from August 11, 2005 to November
14, 2005. On December 15, 2005, EDA published an interim final rule (70
FR 74193; 70 FR 74196) to effect only those changes to the August 11,
2005 interim final rule specified in the Conference Report accompanying
the 2006 Appropriations Act. EDA will consider and respond to comments
received during the public comment period and will make additional
revisions to the August 11, 2005 interim final rule in publishing a
final rule during 2006.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 11.303,
Economic Development--Technical Assistance.
Eligibility: For the University Center Program, EDA considers all
accredited institutions of higher education as eligible applicants.
For FY 2006, the University Center competition is open to eligible
applicants in areas served by EDA's Atlanta and Seattle regional
offices. The Atlanta regional office serves Alabama, Florida, Georgia,
Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.
The Seattle regional office serves Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona,
California, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nevada,
Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon, Republic of Palau and Washington.
Cost Sharing Requirements: Generally, the amount of the EDA grant
may not exceed fifty (50) percent of the total cost of the project.
Projects may receive an additional amount that shall not exceed thirty
(30) percent, based on the relative needs of the region in which the
project will be located, as determined by EDA. See Section 204(a) of
PWEDA (42 U.S.C. 3144) and Section 301.4(b)(1) of the interim final
rule. For projects of a national scope under part 306 of the interim
final rule (Training, Research and Technical Assistance), and for all
other projects under part 306 of the interim final rule, after the
application of the first two (2) sentences of this paragraph, the
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development has the
discretion to establish a maximum EDA investment rate of up to one-
hundred (100) percent where the project (i) merits and is not otherwise
feasible without an increase to the EDA investment rate; or (ii) will
be of no or only incidental benefit to the recipient. See Section
204(c)(3) of PWEDA (42 U.S.C. 3144) and Section 301.4(b)(4) of the
interim final rule. Potential applicants should contact the appropriate
EDA regional office to make this determination.
While cash contributions are preferred, in-kind contributions,
fairly evaluated by EDA, may include assumptions of debt and
contributions of space, equipment, and services and may provide the
non-Federal share of the total project cost. See Section 204(b) of
PWEDA (42 U.S.C. 3144). In-kind contributions must be eligible project
costs and meet applicable Federal cost principles and uniform
administrative requirements. Funds from other Federal financial
assistance awards are not considered matching share funds. The nature
of contribution (cash or in-kind) and the amount of matching share
funds will be taken into consideration in the proposal review process.
Cash contributions are preferred.
Intergovernmental Review: Applications under the University Center
Program are subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental
Review of Federal Programs.''
Evaluation and Selection Procedures: EDA's Atlanta and Seattle
regional offices will conduct an initial administrative and technical
review of each proposal package to determine its completeness and
compliance with the requirements of this solicitation.
EDA's Atlanta and Seattle regional offices will then conduct an
internal review of each proposal meeting the requirements of this
solicitation. This review will be conducted by a minimum of three (3)
EDA staff using the criteria provided under ``Evaluation Criteria''
below. Successful proponents under this competition solicitation will
be invited to submit a complete application by the Atlanta regional
office or the Seattle regional office.
Evaluation Criteria: The following University Center-specific
investment policy guidelines have been adapted from the investment
policy guidelines set forth in Section 301.8 of the interim final rule.
EDA investments in proposed University Centers will be competitively
rated and ranked on their ability to satisfy one or more of these
University Center-specific investment policy guidelines (each criterion
will be given equivalent weight).
1. Be market-based and results driven. An investment in an EDA
University Center will capitalize on the university's
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competitive strengths and will bolster regional economic
competitiveness, resulting in tangible, quantifiable improvements in
regional economic health, such as increased numbers 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 high-
performing University Center. Specifically for University Center
investments, this includes: (a) The extent to which the proposed
University Center will maximize coordination with other relevant
organizations and avoid duplication of services offered by other
organizations; (b) the extent to which the University Center will
access, take advantage of, and be supported by the other resources
present at the sponsoring institution, especially the institution's
economic development activities; and (c) the degree of evidence
demonstrating the support and commitment (both financial and non-
financial) of the highest management levels of the proposed University
Center's sponsoring institution.
3. Advance productivity, innovation and entrepreneurship. An
investment in a proposed University Center will embrace the principles
of entrepreneurship; enhance regional industry clusters, and leverage
and link technology innovators (university research) with the private
sector to create the conditions for greater productivity, innovation
and higher-skill, higher-wage job creation.
4. Look beyond the immediate economic horizon, anticipate economic
changes, and diversify the local and regional economy. A University
Center's activities 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.
5. Demonstrate a high degree of local commitment by exhibiting:
High levels of local government or non-profit matching
funds and private sector leverage;
Clear and unified leadership and support by local elected
officials; and
Strong cooperation between the business sector, relevant
regional partners and local, State and Federal governments.
In making its recommendations on which institutions should be invited
to submit a full application, the EDA review team will strive to avoid
the concentration of program funding in a single or very limited number
of geographic areas. For that reason, EDA cannot predict a minimum
ranking of a successful proposal.
Selection Factors: EDA expects to fund the highest ranking
proposals submitted under this competition solicitation. However, EDA
may select proposals out of order for several reasons, including: (1)
Availability of funding; (2) geographic balance in distribution of
funds; (3) program priorities and policy factors as set forth in the
FFO announcement; or (4) the applicant's performance under previous
awards.
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, published in the Federal Register on
December 30, 2004 (69 FR 78389), are applicable to this solicitation.
Teleconferences
EDA's Atlanta and Seattle regional offices will each hold a
teleconference to answer questions about the FY 2006 competition for
University Center Program funding.
Atlanta: The Atlanta regional office will hold its conference call
on January 19, 2006 at 2 p.m. EST. In order to assure enough incoming
lines are available, EDA requests colleges and universities planning to
participate in the conference call to send an e-mail to
tpellegrino@eda.doc.gov with ``Conference Call Registration'' in the
subject line no later than 2 p.m. EST on January 17, 2006. The number
for the conference call is 1-800-988-0490. The pass code for this
conference call is ``46468.'' The lead contact for the conference call
is Tom Pellegrino.
Seattle: The Seattle regional office will hold its conference call
on January 23, 2006 at 11 a.m. PST. In order to assure enough incoming
lines are available, EDA requests colleges and universities planning to
participate in the conference call to send an e-mail to
batkinson@eda.doc.gov with ``Conference Call Registration'' in the
subject line no later than 2 p.m. PST on January 19, 2006. The number
for the conference call is 1-800-857-7001. The pass code for this
conference call is ``12458.'' The lead contact for the conference call
is Bettye Atkinson.
Paperwork Reduction Act
This document contains collection-of-information requirements
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). The use of Form ED-900P
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 to be not 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 rules
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: January 4, 2006.
Sandy K. Baruah,
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development.
[FR Doc. E6-65 Filed 1-6-06; 8:45 am]
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