[Federal Register: October 31, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 212)]
[Notices]
[Page 64909-64912]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr31oc08-35]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economic Development Administration
[Docket No.: 0810151367-81368-01]
Solicitation of Applications for the National Technical
Assistance, Training, Research and Evaluation Program: Economic
Development Research Project: Regional Innovation Systems
AGENCY: Economic Development Administration, Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice and request for applications.
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SUMMARY: The Economic Development Administration (EDA) is resoliciting
applications for a regional innovation systems research project under
FY 2009 National Technical Assistance, Training, Research and
Evaluation program (NTA Program) funding. Under a FY 2008 competition,
EDA funded two projects under the regional innovation systems research
topic. EDA now is interested in making another award exploring regional
innovation systems in an additional geographic location.
DATES: To be considered timely, a completed application, regardless of
the format in which it is submitted, must be either: (1) Received by
the EDA representative listed below under ``Paper Submissions'' no
later than November 17, 2008 at 5 p.m. Eastern Time; (2) transmitted
and time-stamped at http://www.grants.gov no later than November 17,
2008 at 5 p.m. Eastern Time; or (3) electronically transmitted to the
e-mail address of the Program Analyst listed below under ``Electronic
Submissions'' no later than November 17, 2008 at 5 p.m. Eastern Time.
Any application received or transmitted, as the case may be, after 5
p.m. Eastern Time on November 17, 2008 will be considered non-
responsive and will not be considered for funding. Please see the
instructions below under ``Application Submission Requirements'' for
information regarding format options for submitting completed
applications. Because this announcement solicits applications for a
single research project and it is anticipated that a single award will
be made, EDA expects to notify the applicant selected for investment
assistance under this notice by December 26, 2008. The selected
applicant should expect to receive project funding within thirty days
of EDA's notification of selection.
Applicants choosing to submit completed applications electronically
through http://www.grants.gov should follow the instructions set out
below under ``Electronic Access'' and in section IV.D. of the complete
Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) announcement for this request for
applications.
Application Submission Requirements: On October 1, 2008, EDA
published a notice in the Federal Register (73 FR 57049) to introduce
its new, streamlined Application for Investment Assistance (Form ED-
900), which consolidates all EDA-specific requirements into a single
application form. Applicants are advised to read carefully the
instructions contained in section IV. of the complete FFO announcement
for this request for applications, which sets out EDA's updated
application requirements. The FFO announcement may be accessed on EDA's
Internet Web site at http://www.eda.gov/InvestmentsGrants/FFON.xml and
at http://www.grants.gov.
Applications may be submitted in either of two formats: (i) In
paper format at the address provided below under ``Paper Submissions;''
or (ii) electronically in accordance with the procedures provided on
http://www.grants.gov or submitted via e-mail to the address provided
below under ``Electronic Submissions.'' EDA will not accept facsimile
transmissions of applications. The content of the application is the
same for paper submissions as it is for electronic submissions. A
complete application must contain all the items that comprise a
complete application package, as set out in section IV.A. of the FFO
announcement. Regardless of the method of transmission, applicants are
solely responsible for ensuring that EDA receives complete, accurate,
and timely applications.
You may obtain a paper application package by contacting the
designated point of contact listed below under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT. Applicants applying electronically through http://
www.grants.gov may access the application package by following the
instructions provided on http://www.grants.gov. Additionally,
applicants may download a complete application package from EDA's Web
site at http://www.eda.gov/InvestmentsGrants/Application.xml.
Paper Submissions: Full or partial paper (hardcopy) applications
submitted under the NTA program may be hand-delivered or mailed to: FY
2009 Economic Development Research Project Competition: Regional
Innovation Systems, Kerstin Millius, Program Analyst, Economic
Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401
Constitution Avenue, NW., Room 7009, Washington, DC 20230.
Applicants are advised that, due to mail security measures, EDA's
receipt of mail sent via the United States Postal Service may be
substantially delayed or suspended in delivery. Applicants may wish to
use a guaranteed overnight delivery service.
Electronic Submissions: Applicants have two options for submitting
electronically: Through http://www.grants.gov or via e-mail. Applicants
may submit applications in accordance with the instructions provided at
http://www.grants.gov and in section IV.D. of the applicable FFO
announcement. EDA strongly encourages that applicants not wait until
the application closing date to begin the application process through
http://www.grants.gov. Applicants also may submit applications by e-
mail. Completed applications may be e-mailed to Kerstin Millius,
Program Analyst, at kmillius@eda.doc.gov. The preferred file format for
electronic attachments is portable document format (PDF); however, EDA
will accept electronic files in Microsoft Word, WordPerfect, or
Microsoft Excel formats.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information on the NTA
[[Page 64910]]
Program or to obtain a paper application package for this notice,
please contact Kerstin Millius, Program Analyst, via e-mail at
kmillius@eda.doc.gov (preferred) or by telephone at (202) 482-3280.
For additional information regarding electronic submissions, please
access the following link for assistance in navigating http://
www.grants.gov and for a list of useful resources: http://
www.grants.gov/applicants/applicant_help.jsp. If you do not find an
answer to your question under Frequently Asked Questions, try
consulting the Applicant's User Guide at http://www.grants.gov/
applicants/app_help_reso.jsp. If you still cannot find an answer to
your question, contact http://www.grants.gov via e-mail at
support@grants.gov or telephone at 1-800-518-4726. The hours of
operation for http://www.grants.gov are Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Eastern Time (except for federal holidays).
Additional information about EDA and its NTA Program may be
obtained from EDA's Web site at http://www.eda.gov. The complete FFO
announcement for this request for applications is available at http://
www.grants.gov and at http://www.eda.gov/InvestmentsGrants/FFON.xml.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background Information: On March 14, 2008, EDA published an FFO and
accompanying Federal Register notice (73 FR 13844) to solicit
applications for funding under its NTA Program that addressed one or
more of the following three projects: (a) Regional innovation systems;
(b) urban economic development policy; and (c) global economic
development strategy. The deadline for receipt of applications closed
May 9, 2008 at 5 p.m. Eastern Time. After completing its review of
submitted applications, EDA funded projects under each research topic,
including two awards under the regional innovation systems project. One
successful recipient was located in West Virginia and the other was in
California, and both of these successful projects highlight regional
economies in those respective areas.
EDA now is interested in making another award exploring regional
innovation systems in an additional geographic location. Through this
notice, EDA solicits applications for funding that address only the
regional innovation systems research topic. EDA advises applicants to
read carefully the description of the research project as EDA has
provided information on important requirements that were not included
in the earlier FFO announcement and March 14, 2008 Federal Register
notice.
EDA will not review applications submitted under the previous
announcement. Therefore, to be considered for funding under this
notice, all applications must comply with the new program and
application requirements as set out in the complete FFO announcement
for this request for applications. Any applicant that submitted an
application under the previous FFO announcement must submit a new and
complete application if it wishes to be considered for funding. If an
applicant submits more than one application under this announcement,
EDA will evaluate only the first application received and will consider
subsequent applications non-responsive.
There are five deliverables under this competitive solicitation:
(1) A comparative analysis; (2) research and analysis of best-practice
case-studies; (3) development of a communication and dissemination
strategy for project findings; (4) a practitioner-accessible report or
equivalent document that presents project findings; and (5) delivery of
the practitioner-accessible report or equivalent document to EDA in a
format suitable for posting on EDA's Web site and of all data and other
materials used in the analysis. Any information disseminated to the
public under this request for applications is subject to the
Information Quality Act (Pub. L. No. 106-554). Applicants are required
to comply with the Information Quality Guidelines issued by EDA
pursuant to the Information Quality Act, which are designed to ensure
and maximize the quality, objectivity, utility and integrity of
information disseminated by EDA. These guidelines are available on
EDA's Web site at http://www.eda.gov.
Electronic Access: The complete FFO announcement for this FY 2009
Economic Development Research Project competition is available at
http://www.grants.gov and at http://www.eda.gov/InvestmentsGrants/
FFON.xml.
Funding Availability: EDA is operating with appropriations made
available under the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and
Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009, Public Law No. 110-329 (September
30, 2008). This Act makes available appropriations in an amount based
on FY 2008 funding levels that are pro-rated through March 6, 2009 for
the economic development assistance programs authorized by the Public
Works and Economic Development Act of 1965, as amended (42 U.S.C. 3121
et seq.) (PWEDA) and for the Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms
program authorized under the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C.
2341-2355, 2391). At FY 2008 funding levels, EDA estimates that the
regional innovation systems project will be funded in an amount ranging
from $200,000 to $300,000.
Statutory Authority: The authority for the NTA Program is PWEDA.
The specific authority for the Economic Development Research Projects
Program is section 207 of PWEDA (42 U.S.C. 3147), which authorizes EDA
to make grants for grants for training, research, and technical
assistance. EDA's regulations at 13 CFR parts 300-302 and subpart A of
13 CFR part 306 set forth the general and specific regulatory
requirements applicable to the NTA Program. EDA's regulations are
codified at 13 CFR chapter III. The regulations and PWEDA are
accessible on EDA's Internet Web site at http://www.eda.gov/
InvestmentsGrants/Lawsreg.xml.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 11.312,
Economic Development--Research and Evaluation.
Applicant Eligibility: Pursuant to PWEDA, eligible applicants for
and recipients of EDA investment assistance include a District
Organization; an Indian Tribe or a consortium of Indian Tribes; a
State; a city or other political subdivision of a State, including a
special purpose unit of a State or local government engaged in economic
or infrastructure development activities, or a consortium of political
subdivisions; an institution of higher education or a consortium of
institutions of higher education; and a public or private non-profit
organization or association.
Project Period: Typically, EDA gives a recipient one year from the
award date to complete the scope of work, which consists of research
and associated research activities, composing the resulting report, and
presenting the report to EDA senior management. A typical research
project period begins with an initial meeting between the recipient and
EDA staff to ensure that all parties agree with the project terms.
After the initial meeting, the recipient generally submits a final work
plan to EDA staff for review and approval. Throughout the project
period there will be regular contact between EDA staff and the
recipient for updates on project progress. Also, interim progress
reports will be required throughout the project period. The schedule of
interim progress reports will be determined subsequent to award.
[[Page 64911]]
Typically, the recipient submits a draft research report to EDA at
least 90 days before the end of the project period for EDA's review. If
the draft research report is approved, EDA will approve publication of
a final research report, and the recipient will brief EDA senior
management on research methods and report results.
Cost Sharing Requirement: Generally, the amount of the EDA grant
may not exceed fifty percent of the total cost of the project. Projects
may receive an additional amount that shall not exceed thirty percent,
as determined by EDA, based on the relative needs of the region in
which the project will be located. See section 204(a) of PWEDA (42
U.S.C. 3144) and 13 CFR 301.4(b)(1). The Assistant Secretary of
Commerce for Economic Development has the discretion to establish a
maximum EDA investment rate of up to one-hundred 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 13 CFR 301.4(b)(4).
EDA will consider the nature of the contribution (cash or in-kind),
the amount of any matching share funds, and fairly assess any in-kind
contributions in evaluating the cost to the Government and the
feasibility of the project budget (see the ``Evaluation Criteria''
section below). While cash contributions are preferred, in-kind
contributions, fairly evaluated by EDA, may provide the non-federal
share of the total project cost. See section 204(b) of PWEDA (42 U.S.C.
3144) and section III.B. of the FFO announcement for this request for
applications. In-kind contributions, which may include assumptions of
debt and contributions of space, equipment, and services, are eligible
to be included as part of the non-federal share of eligible project
costs if they meet applicable federal cost principles and uniform
administrative requirements. Funds from other federal financial
assistance awards are considered matching share funds only if
authorized by statute, which may be determined by EDA's reasonable
interpretation of the statute. See 13 CFR 300.3. The applicant must
show that the matching share is committed to the project for the entire
project period, will be available as needed, and is not conditioned or
encumbered in any way that precludes its use consistent with the
requirements of EDA investment assistance. See 13 CFR 301.5.
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 for applications, an eligible applicant must submit a
completed application package to EDA before the closing date and time
specified in the ``Dates'' section of this notice, and in the manner
provided in section IV. of the applicable FFO announcement. Any
application received or transmitted, as the case may be, after 5 p.m.
Eastern Time on November 17, 2008 will not be considered for funding.
Applications that do not include all items required or that exceed the
page limitations set forth in section IV.B. of the FFO announcement
will be considered non-responsive and will not be considered by the
review panel. Because this announcement solicits applications for a
single research project and it is anticipated that a single award will
be made, EDA expects to notify the applicant selected for funding by
December 26, 2008. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified that their
applications were not selected for funding. Applications that meet all
the requirements will be evaluated by a review panel comprised of at
least three EDA staff members, all of whom will be full-time federal
employees.
Evaluation Criteria: The review panel will evaluate the
applications and rate and rank them using the following criteria of
approximate equal weight:
(1) Conformance with EDA's statutory and regulatory requirements,
including the extent to which the proposed project satisfies the award
requirements set out below and as provided in 13 CFR 306.2:
Strengthens the capacity of local, State, or national
organizations and institutions to undertake and promote effective
economic development programs targeted to regions of distress;
Benefits distressed regions; and
Demonstrates innovative approaches to stimulate economic
development in distressed regions.
(2) The degree to which an EDA investment will have strong
organizational leadership, relevant project management experience, and
a significant commitment of human resources talent to ensure the
project's successful execution (see 13 CFR 301.8(b)).
(3) The ability of the applicant to implement the proposed project
successfully (see 13 CFR 301.8).
(4) The feasibility of the budget presented.
(5) The cost to the Federal Government.
Also, the addition of research and project data to an existing Web
site or the design of a companion Web site designed to disseminate
research results and provide links to data encapsulated in the report
free of charge is preferred.
Selection Factors: The Assistant Secretary, as the Selecting
Official, expects to fund the highest ranking applications, as
recommended by the review panel, submitted under this request for
applications. However, if EDA does not receive satisfactory
applications, the Assistant Secretary may not make any selection.
Depending on the quality of the applications received, the Assistant
Secretary may select more than one application for one research project
and make no selection for another research project. Also, he may select
an application out of rank order for the following reasons: (1) A
determination that the selected application better meets the overall
objectives of sections 2 and 207 of PWEDA (42 U.S.C. 3121 and 3147);
(2) the applicant's performance under previous awards; or (3) the
availability of funding.
The Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification Requirements for
Grants and Cooperative Agreements
Administrative and national policy requirements for all Department
of Commerce awards are contained in the Department of Commerce Pre-
Award Notification Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements,
published in the Federal Register on February 11, 2008 (73 FR 7696).
This notice may be accessed through the Federal Register Internet Web
site at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/retrieve.html, making sure the
radial button for the correct Federal Register volume is selected (in
this instance, 2008 Federal Register, Vol. 73), entering the Federal
Register page number provided in the previous sentence (7696), and
clicking the ``Submit'' button.
Paperwork Reduction Act
This request for applications contains collections of information
subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). The
use of Form ED-900 (Application for Investment Assistance) has been
approved by OMB under the control number 0610-0094. The use of Forms
SF-424 (Application for Financial Assistance), SF-424A (Budget
Information--Non-Construction Programs), SF-424B (Assurances--Non-
Construction Programs), SF-424C (Budget Information--Construction
Programs), SF-424D (Assurances--Construction Programs), and SF-LLL
Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL) has been approved under OMB
control numbers 4040-0004, 4040-0006,
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4040-0007, 4040-0008, 4040-0009, and 0348-0046, respectively. The use
of Form CD-346 has been approved under OMB control number 0605-0001.
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 the 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, ``Regulatory Planning and Review.''
Executive Order 13132
It has been determined that this notice does not contain ``policies
that have Federalism implications,'' as that phrase is defined in
Executive Order 13132, ``Federalism.''
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 is not required and none
has been prepared.
Dated: October 27, 2008.
Otto Barry Bird,
Chief Counsel, Economic Development Administration.
[FR Doc. E8-26029 Filed 10-30-08; 8:45 am]
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