[Federal Register: March 14, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 51)]
[Notices]
[Page 13847-13850]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14mr08-35]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economic Development Administration
[Docket No.: 080305380-8381-01]
Solicitation of Applications for the Regional Training Curriculum
Implementation Program
AGENCY: Economic Development Administration (EDA), Department of
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice and request for applications.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In FY 2006, EDA funded the development of a practitioner-
oriented curriculum to acquaint local economic development
practitioners with the benefits, process, and practice of economic
regionalism. Pursuant to its National Technical Assistance, Training,
Research and Evaluation program, EDA previously solicited applications
for a project designed to implement the regional training curriculum,
but determined applications received under that solicitation were not
satisfactory. Accordingly, EDA now re-solicits applications to
implement the regional training curriculum developed under the FY 2006
award.
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 April 25, 2008 at 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT); (2)
transmitted and time-stamped at www.grants.gov no later than April 25,
2008 at 5 p.m. EDT; or (3) electronically transmitted to the e-mail
address of the Program Officer given below under ``Electronic
Submissions'' no later than April 25, 2008 at 5 p.m. EDT. Any
application received or transmitted, as the case may be, after 5 p.m.
EDT on April 25, 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. By June 2, 2008,
EDA expects to notify the applicants selected for investment assistance
under this notice. The selected applicants should expect to receive
funding for their projects within thirty days of EDA's notification of
selection.
Applicants choosing to submit completed applications electronically
in whole or in part through www.grants.gov should follow the
instructions set out below under
[[Page 13848]]
``Electronic Access'' and in section IV. of the complete Federal
Funding Opportunity (FFO) announcement for this request for
applications.
Application Submission Requirements: Applicants are advised to
carefully read the instructions contained in section IV. of the
complete FFO announcement for this request for applications. For a copy
of the FFO announcement, please see the Web sites listed below under
``Electronic Access.''
Applications may be submitted in two formats: (i) In paper format
at the addresses provided below; or (ii) electronically in accordance
with the procedures provided on www.grants.gov or submitted via e-mail
to the address provided below in ``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 listed
in the ``Application Checklist,'' which can be found in section IV.C.2.
of the complete FFO announcement.
You may obtain paper application packages by contacting the
designated point of contact listed below under For Further Information.
Applicants applying electronically through www.grants.gov may access
the application package by following the instructions provided on
www.grants.gov. Additionally, the following application forms may be
accessed and downloaded as follows: (i) Form ED-900A, Application for
Investment Assistance, at http://www.eda.gov/InvestmentsGrants/
Application.xml; (ii) Standard Forms (SF) at www.grants.gov or at
http://www.eda.gov/InvestmentsGrants/Application.xml; and (iii)
Department of Commerce (CD) forms at http://www.doc.gov/forms.
Paper Submissions: Full or partial paper (hardcopy) applications
submitted under the NTA program may be hand-delivered or mailed to: FY
2008 Regional Training Curriculum Implementation Competition, William
P. Kittredge, PhD., Program Officer, 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 electronic
application submissions: through www.grants.gov or via e-mail.
Applicants may submit applications electronically in whole or in part
in accordance with the instructions provided at www.grants.gov and in
section IV.B. of the applicable FFO announcement. EDA strongly
encourages that applicants not wait until the application closing date
to begin the application process through www.grants.gov. Applicants
also may submit full or partial applications by e-mail to William P.
Kittredge, PhD., Program Officer, at wkittredge@eda.doc.gov. The
preferred file format for electronic attachments (e.g., the project
narrative and additional exhibits to Form ED-900A and Form ED-900A's
program-specific component) is portable document format (PDF); however,
EDA will accept electronic files in Microsoft Word, WordPerfect, Lotus,
or Excel formats.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information on the NTA
Program or to obtain paper application packages for this notice, please
contact William P. Kittredge, PhD., Program Officer, via e-mail at
wkittredge@eda.doc.gov (preferred) or by telephone at (202) 482-5442.
For additional information regarding electronic submissions, please
access the following link for assistance in navigating 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. If you still cannot find an answer to your question, contact
www.grants.gov via e-mail at support@grants.gov or telephone at 1-800-
518-4726. The hours of operation for www.grants.gov are Monday-Friday,
7 a.m. to 9 p.m. EDT (except for Federal holidays).
Additional information about EDA and its NTA Program may be
obtained from EDA's Internet Web site at www.eda.gov. The complete FFO
announcement for this request for applications is available at
www.grants.gov and at www.eda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Program Information: Recent studies on economic development,
including several EDA-funded reports, stress the importance of a
regional approach to successful economic development. However, the
actual implementation of economic development from the regional
perspective is not robust. Therefore, in FY 2006, EDA funded the
development of a practitioner-oriented curriculum to acquaint local
economic development practitioners with the benefits, process, and
practice of economic regionalism. On July 16, 2007, EDA published a
Federal Register notice (72 FR 38812) soliciting applications for
funding under its National Technical Assistance, Training, Research and
Evaluation program (NTA Program) to deliver the regional training
curriculum across the Nation. The deadline for receipt of applications
was August 13, 2007 at 5 p.m. EDT. After completing its review of the
applications submitted, EDA decided not to make an award for the
project. EDA now re-solicits applications for the regional curriculum
training implementation project.
Electronic Access: The complete FFO announcement for the FY 2008
Regional Training Curriculum Implementation Program competition is
available at www.grants.gov and at http://www.eda.gov/
InvestmentsGrants/FFON.xml. In addition, more information regarding the
open source curriculum to be implemented may be found at the ``Know
Your Region'' Internet Web site at http://knowyourregion.wcu.edu/.
Funding Availability: EDA may use funds appropriated under the FY
2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act (Pub. L. 110-161, 121 Stat. 1844
(2007)) to make awards under the NTA Program authorized by the Public
Works and Economic Development Act of 1965, as amended (42 U.S.C. 3121
et seq.) (PWEDA). Approximately $1,500,000 is available from FY 2008
appropriations, and shall remain available until expended, for funding
awards pursuant to the NTA Program. Based on past experience with its
NTA Program, EDA anticipates the regional training curriculum
implementation award made under this competitive solicitation to be
between $175,000 and $300,000 for each year of the three-year project
period.
In all events, the funding periods and funding amounts referenced
in this notice are subject to the availability of FY 2008 funds at the
time of award, as well as to Department of Commerce's and EDA's
priorities at the time of award. The Department of Commerce and EDA
will not be held responsible for application preparation costs if the
Regional Training Curriculum Implementation Program fails to receive
funding or is cancelled because of agency priorities. Publication of
this notice does not obligate the Department of Commerce or EDA to
award any specific grant or cooperative agreement or to obligate all or
part of available funds.
Statutory Authority: The authority for the NTA Program is PWEDA.
The specific authority for the Regional
[[Page 13849]]
Training Curriculum Implementation 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: 11.303,
Economic Development--Technical Assistance.
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. Although for-profit, private-sector
entities generally do not qualify for investment assistance under
PWEDA, under its NTA Program, EDA may make an award to a for-profit
organization to carry out specific research or for other purposes set
forth in 13 CFR 306.1. See also 42 U.S.C. 3147.
Project Period: EDA contemplates a three-year project period for
the applicant selected for funding under this competitive solicitation,
with the initial award being made for the first year of the project
period. The selected applicant will not have to compete for the second
and third years of funding. Funding beyond the initial year is
dependent upon the availability of funds and satisfactory performance,
as determined by EDA and expressed in written notice. Matching share
commitment percentages, if any, must be set forth for all three years
of funding.
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 feasibility
of the 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 for funding under the
Regional Training Curriculum Implementation Program are not subject to
the state review requirements imposed by 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 FFO announcement. Any application
received or transmitted, as the case may be, after 5 p.m. EDT on April
25, 2008 will not be considered for funding. Applications that do not
meet all items required or that exceed the page limitations set forth
in section IV.C. of the FFO announcement will be considered non-
responsive and will not be considered by the review panel. By June 2,
2008, EDA expects to notify the applicant selected for investment
assistance under this notice. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified
by postal mail 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. The Assistant Secretary of
Commerce for Economic Development is the Selecting Official for
applications received under this competitive solicitation. The review
panel will submit to the Selecting Official a list of applicants
recommended for funding.
Evaluation Criteria: The evaluation of applications will be
accomplished through a review using the following criteria, listed in
descending order of importance:
(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 extent to which the application:
Includes workshops that leverage EDA investment assistance
and the open source curriculum;
Exhibits regional dispersal of workshops and other open
source curriculum delivery methods;
Provides realistic estimates of the size and composition
(e.g., urban and regional practitioners) of the audience that the
applicant expects to reach and the methods through which the
applicant's estimates were determined;
Provides a feasible and innovative plan to maximize
participant contact and practitioner participation;
Contains a plan for assessing participant satisfaction
through exit surveys and other means; and
Explains the applicant's plan to proactively address
participant concerns and suggestions for curriculum improvements.
(3) The degree to which an EDA investment will have strong
organizational leadership, relevant project management experience, and
a significant commitment of human
[[Page 13850]]
resources talent to ensure the project's successful execution (see 13
CFR 301.8(b)).
(4) The ability of the applicant to implement the proposed project
successfully (see 13 CFR 301.8).
(5) The feasibility of the budget presented.
(6) The cost to the Federal Government.
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. Also,
the Assistant Secretary 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 (here, 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 document contains collection-of-
information requirements subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA).
The use of Form ED-900A (Application for Investment Assistance) has
been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (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: March 10, 2008.
Benjamin Erulkar,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development.
[FR Doc. E8-5174 Filed 3-13-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-24-P