[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 2 (Monday, January 5, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 358-365]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-41]
[[Page 357]]
_______________________________________________________________________
Part III
Department of Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
_______________________________________________________________________
Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance Program;
Notice
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 2 / Monday, January 5, 1998 /
Notices
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
Docket No. 970103002-7304-03
RIN: 0660-ZA02
CFDA: 11.552; Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure
Assistance Program
AGENCY: National Telecommunications and Information Administration,
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of availability of funds.
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SUMMARY: The National Telecommunications and Information Administration
(NTIA) issues this notice describing the conditions under which
applications will be received under the Telecommunications and
Information Infrastructure Assistance Program (TIIAP) and how NTIA will
determine which applications it will fund. TIIAP assists eligible
organizations by promoting the widespread use and availability of
advanced telecommunications and information technologies in the public
and non-profit sectors. By providing matching grants for information
infrastructure projects, this program will help develop a nationwide,
interactive, multimedia information infrastructure that is accessible
to all Americans, in rural as well as urban areas.
DATES: Complete applications for the Fiscal Year 1998 TIIAP grant
program must be mailed or hand-carried to the address indicated below
and received by NTIA no later than 9:00 p.m. EST, March 12, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Applications must be mailed to:
Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance Program,
National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S.
Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW, HCHB, Room 4092,
Washington, D.C. 20230.
or hand-delivered to:
Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance Program,
National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S.
Department of Commerce, Room 1874, Herbert Clark Hoover Building, 1401
Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20230.
Room 1874 is located at entrance #10 on 15th Street NW, between
Pennsylvania and Constitution Avenues.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen J. Downs, Director of the
Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance Program,
Telephone: 202/482-2048. Fax: 202/501-5136. E-mail: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Program Purposes
NTIA announces the fifth annual round of a competitive matching
grant program, the Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure
Assistance Program (TIIAP). TIIAP was created to promote the
development, widespread availability, and use of advanced
telecommunications and information technologies to serve the public
interest.
To accomplish this objective, TIIAP will provide matching grants to
state, local, and tribal 1 governments; non-profit health
care providers and public health institutions; schools; libraries;
museums; colleges; universities; public safety providers; non-profit
community-based organizations; and other non-profit entities. TIIAP
will support projects that improve the quality of, and the public's
access to, cultural, education, and training resources; reduce the
cost, improve the quality, and/or increase the accessibility of health
care and public health services; promote responsive public safety
services; improve the effectiveness and efficiency of government
services; and foster communication, resource-sharing, and economic
development within communities, both rural and urban.
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\1\ American Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Villages.
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Authority
Title II of the Department of Commerce, Justice and State, the
Judiciary and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 1998 (set out in
Pub L. 105-119, 111 Stat 2440).
Funding Availability
Approximately $17 million is available for federal assistance. A
small amount of additional funds that has been deobligated from grants
awarded in previous fiscal years may also be available for Fiscal Year
1998 grants. Based on past experience, NTIA expects this year's grant
round to be highly competitive. In Fiscal Year 1997, NTIA received more
than 900 applications collectively requesting $354 million in grant
funds. From these applications, the Department of Commerce announced 55
TIIAP awards totaling $20.9 million in federal funds.
Based on previous grant rounds, TIIAP anticipates that the average
size of a grant award will be approximately $350,000. An applicant may
request up to $750,000 in total federal support over a period of up to
three years.
Eligible Organizations
State, local, and tribal governments; colleges and universities;
and non-profit entities are eligible to apply. Although individuals and
for-profit organizations are not eligible to apply, they may
participate as project partners.
Matching Funds Requirements
Grant recipients under this program will be required to provide
matching funds toward the total project cost. Applicants must document
their capacity to provide matching funds. Matching funds may be in the
form of cash or in-kind contributions. Grant funds under this program
are usually released in direct proportion to local matching funds
utilized and documented as having been expended. NTIA will provide up
to 50 percent of the total project cost, unless the applicant can
document extraordinary circumstances warranting a grant of up to 75
percent. Federal funds (such as grants) generally may not be used as
matching funds, except as provided by federal statute. If funds from a
federal agency are to be used, the applicant should contact the federal
agency that administers the funds in question and obtain documentation
from that agency's Office of General Counsel to support the use of
federal funds for matching purposes.
Universal Service Discounts
On May 8, 1997, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
released a Report and Order on Universal Service. Section 254(h) of the
Communications Act of 1934 (the Act), also known as the Snowe-
Rockefeller-Exon-Kerrey Amendment, requires that schools, libraries,
and public and non-profit rural health care providers receive access to
telecommunications services at discounted rates. NTIA requires that all
TIIAP awardees eligible for the discounts under section 254(h) of the
Act apply for all available discounts prior to purchasing
telecommunications services with grant funds. Neither federal funds nor
matching funds may be used to cover costs that could be avoided through
the use of available discounts. In addition, the discounts received
through the Universal Service Fund may not be used as matching
contributions.
Use of Program Income
Applicants are advised that any program income generated by a
proposed project is subject to special conditions. Anticipated program
income
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must be documented appropriately in the project budget. In addition,
should an application be funded, unanticipated program income must be
reported to TIIAP and the budget for the project must be renegotiated
to reflect receipt of this program income. Program income means gross
income earned by the recipient that is either directly generated by a
supported activity, or earned as a result of the award. In addition,
federal regulations prohibit any recipient or subrecipient receiving
federal funds from using equipment acquired with these funds to provide
services to non-federal outside organizations for a fee that is less
than private companies charge for equivalent services. This prohibition
does not apply to services provided to outside organizations at no
cost.
Policy on Sectarian Activities
Applicants are advised that on December 22, 1995, NTIA issued a
notice in the Federal Register on its policy with regard to sectarian
activities. Under NTIA's policy, while religious activities cannot be
the essential thrust of a grant, an application will not be ineligible
where sectarian activities are only incidental or attenuated to the
overall project purpose for which funding is requested. Applicants for
whom this policy may be relevant should read the policy that was
published in the Federal Register at 60 FR 66491, Dec. 22, 1995.
Completeness of Application
TIIAP will initially review all applications to determine whether
all required elements are present and clearly identifiable. The
required elements are listed and described in the Guidelines for
Preparing Applications--Fiscal Year 1998. Each of the required elements
must be present and clearly identified. Failure to do so may result in
rejection of the application.
Application Deadline
As noted above, complete applications for the Fiscal Year 1998
TIIAP grant program must be received by NTIA no later than 9:00 P.M.
EST, March 12, 1998. Postmark date is not sufficient. Applications
which have been provided to a delivery service on or before March 11,
1998, with ``delivery guaranteed'' before 9:00 P.M. on March 12, 1998,
will be accepted for review if the applicant can document that the
application was provided to the delivery service with delivery to the
address listed above guaranteed prior to the closing date and time.
Applications will not be accepted via facsimile machine transmission or
electronic mail. NTIA anticipates that it will take between four and
six months to complete the review of applications and make final
funding decisions.
Scope of Proposed Project
Projects funded by TIIAP must meet the Program Funding Priorities
described in this notice. Projects must involve innovative approaches
to the delivery of useful, practical services in real-world
environments within the grant award period. In Fiscal Year 1998, TIIAP
will not support the following kinds of projects:
One-Way Networks
TIIAP will not support construction or augmentation of one-way
networks, that is, networks which deliver information to a passive
audience; all networks and services proposed for TIIAP support must be
interactive.2 For example, TIIAP will not fund one-way
broadcast systems, tape duplication and/or delivery projects, or any
project which does not permit the end user in some fashion to select
the information he or she will receive.
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\2\ ``Interactivity'' is defined as the capacity of a
communications system to allow end users to communicate directly
with other users, either in real time (as in a video teleconference)
or on a store-and-forward basis (as with electronic mail), or to
seek and gain access to information on an on-demand basis, as
opposed to a broadcast basis.
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Single-Organization Projects
TIIAP will not support projects whose primary emphasis is on the
internal communications needs of a single organization, even if the
organization may have a considerable number of offices in different
cities or regions of the country. For example, TIIAP will not consider
projects that create or expand Local Area Networks or internal e-mail
systems whose end users are principally, or exclusively, staff members
of a single organization. However, TIIAP will support applications that
extend communications among multiple organizations and agencies within
a governmental jurisdiction. Projects should, to the maximum degree
feasible, include appropriate partnerships,3 with plans for
inter-organizational communications among the partners.
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\3\ A ``partner'' is defined as an organization that supplies
cash or in kind resources and/or plays an active role in the
planning and implementation of the project.
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Replacement or Upgrade of Existing Facilities
TIIAP will not support any projects whose purpose is to upgrade or
replace existing systems, add workstations or servers to existing
networks, or complete the installation of a network.
In addition, NTIA will not support projects whose primary purpose
is to develop content, hardware, or software, or to provide training on
the use of the information infrastructure.4 TIIAP will,
however, support projects that include elements of content
development,5 training, and hardware and software
development, as long as they are integral to a broader project that
will deploy and use information infrastructure to address community
problems.
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\4\ ``Information Infrastructure'' includes telecommunication
networks, computers, other end-user devices, software, standards,
and skills that collectively enable people to connect to each other
and to a vast array of services and information resources.
\5\ ``Content development'' refers to the creation of
information resources, such as databases or World Wide Web sites,
for the purpose of dissemination through one or more on-line
services.
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Content Development Projects
Many projects necessarily involve some modification or development
of content. Therefore, TIIAP will support projects in which the
creation or conversion of content is part of a larger effort to utilize
information infrastructure technologies to address real-world problems.
However, TIIAP will not support projects whose primary activity is to
develop data resources, or in any other way produce information
content. For example, TIIAP will not consider projects which are
designed only to develop curriculum, create databases, convert existing
paper-based information to a digital format, digitize existing graphics
collections, or establish World Wide Web sites.
Hardware or Software Development Projects
Some projects may require limited software development or the
customization or modification of existing software or hardware in order
to meet particular end-user requirements or to enable the exchange of
information across networks. However, the creation of a software or
hardware product cannot be a project's primary activity.
Training Projects
TIIAP will not support projects whose primary activity is to
provide training in the use of information infrastructure technology.
TIIAP does consider training to be an essential aspect of most
implementation projects; therefore, a training component is, in most
cases, a necessity. However, TIIAP will not support projects which
propose nothing more than instruction on software
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applications, Internet use, or other use of information infrastructure.
Program Funding Priorities
NTIA is committed to supporting innovative and exemplary projects
that can serve as models for using information infrastructure in the
public and non-profit sectors and thereby contribute to the development
of an advanced National Information Infrastructure (NII).6
NTIA believes that every project supported under TIIAP should be a
nationally significant demonstration of how telecommunications and
information technologies can be used to extend valuable services and
opportunities to all Americans, especially the underserved. Underserved
refers to individuals and communities that are subject to barriers that
limit or prevent their access to the benefits of information
infrastructure technologies and services. In terms of information
infrastructure, these barriers may be technological, geographic,
economic, physical, linguistic, or cultural. For example, a rural
community may be physically isolated from circuits adequate to allow
for data access; inner city neighborhoods may contain large numbers of
potential end users for whom ownership of computer hardware is
unlikely; or individuals with disabilities may have the need for
different types of interfaces when manipulating hardware and software.
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\6\ The National Information Infrastructure (NII) is a federal
policy initiative to facilitate and accelerate the development and
utilization of the nation's information infrastructure. The
Administration envisions the NII as a seamless web of communications
networks, computers, databases, and consumer electronics that will
put vast amounts of information at users' fingertips. For more
information on various aspects of the NII initiative, see The
National Information Infrastructure: Agenda for Action, 58 FR 49,025
(September 21, 1993).
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Each project should identify specific problems or needs in a
community, use information infrastructure services and technologies to
offer concrete solutions, and target measurable outcomes. TIIAP's
emphasis is on the application of technology to meet the needs of end
users, and not simply on the technology as an end in itself. In
addition, the development of the NII depends upon the contribution of a
wide variety of skills, ideas, and perspectives. Therefore, TIIAP-
supported projects should, to the greatest degree possible, reach out
to all members of a community and catalyze partnerships to help erase
the distinction between information ``haves'' and ``have-nots.''
NTIA realizes that not every model will work equally well in every
situation or region; therefore, TIIAP will continue to support a
variety of model projects among different application areas, geographic
regions, and underserved populations. However, as already noted, each
application must be innovative in its application of technology.
Innovation can be conceived broadly: it can involve the use of new or
untested network technologies that extend end-user capabilities or
enhance service delivery; an imaginative partnership or organizational
model; a new application of proven technologies; a creative strategy
for overcoming traditional barriers to access; or a new configuration
of existing information resources. As a program with a national focus,
TIIAP expects each project to offer potentially new and useful insights
into the use of network technologies.
Projects must also be exemplary in the sense that they serve as
genuine models that can be emulated, replicated, or adapted to local
conditions by other organizations and communities facing similar
challenges. For this reason, many excellent projects proposed to TIIAP
may not be considered competitive either because they (1) focus on a
problem or issue that confronts only a single applicant organization;
(2) can only be replicated at a prohibitively high cost; or (3) propose
a conventional approach that, while new to the applicant, has been
demonstrated or attempted in similar circumstances. Moreover, in order
to add to the national understanding of how the NII can be used to
benefit the public and facilitate widespread diffusion of lessons
learned from TIIAP projects, each application must include a rigorous
evaluation plan and effective documentation and dissemination
strategies.
In some previous fiscal years, TIIAP has supported planning
projects whose primary goal was to develop strategies for the enhanced
application of existing NII technologies, rather than for the actual
deployment or use of information infrastructure. Due to the limited
amount of funds available to the program, the emphasis for Fiscal Year
1998 is on projects that deploy, use, and evaluate the use of
information infrastructure applications. NTIA will, however, also
consider allocating a limited amount of funds to support outstanding
planning projects that explore potential uses of next generation
network technologies in an application area. Applications for such
projects will be evaluated against the same criteria applied to all
other applications.
In Fiscal Year 1998, TIIAP will support projects in five
application areas: Community Networking; Education, Culture, and
Lifelong Learning; Health; Public Safety; and Public Services. Each
application will be reviewed with other applications in the same area.
NTIA recognizes that many innovative projects cross the boundaries
defined by these application areas and involve services and
partnerships that combine different application areas. NTIA encourages
the formation of such cross-cutting linkages.
Community Networking
This area focuses on multi-purpose projects that enable a broad
range of community residents and organizations to communicate, share
information, promote community economic development, and participate in
civic activities. Community Networking projects typically involve
multiple stakeholder organizations that wish to link services, reduce
duplicative record-keeping, simplify and/or expand end-user access to a
variety of information resources, engage in initiatives that would not
have been possible without networking technologies, or provide
information across various application areas within a specific
geographic region.
Examples of Community Networking projects may include, but would
not be limited to: community-wide information and communication
services available to residents of a local community; projects enabling
a diverse array of organizations to share information infrastructure
and resources; and networks or information services that promote
community or regional economic development.
Education, Culture, and Lifelong Learning
Projects in this area seek to improve education and training for
learners of all ages and provide cultural enrichment through the use of
information infrastructure in both traditional and non-traditional
settings.
Examples of Education, Culture, and Lifelong Learning projects may
include, but would not be limited to: projects that explore creative
approaches to integrating computer-based learning and network resources
in the classroom; projects that forge stronger links among educators,
students, parents, and others in the community; projects linking
workplaces and job-training sites to educational institutions;
innovative distance learning networks providing educational, training,
and literacy opportunities in remote areas; projects that enrich
communities by delivering on-line informational, educational, and
cultural services from public libraries,
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museums, and other cultural centers; and projects that allow users to
collaborate in the creation of artistic works or participate actively
in meaningful online cultural exchanges.
Health
Projects in this area involve the use of information infrastructure
in the delivery of health and home health care services and the
performance of core public health functions.
Examples of Health projects may include, but would not be limited
to: systems that improve the care and treatment of patients in the home
environment; telemedicine systems that offer new approaches to
extending medical expertise to rural or underserved urban areas or non-
traditional settings such as schools; projects designed to improve
communication between health care providers and patients and enable
consumers to participate more actively in their health care; projects
to improve treatment of patients in emergency situations and extend
trauma care services beyond the emergency room; and networks or
information services aimed at disease prevention and health promotion.
Public Safety
Projects in this area will seek to increase the effectiveness of
law enforcement agencies, emergency, rescue, and fire departments, or
other entities involved in providing safety services that effectively
respond to, prevent, or intervene in crises.
Examples of Public Safety projects may include, but would not be
limited to: projects that facilitate information exchange among public
safety agencies located in a single or multiple geographic area to
increase efficiency and share resources; projects that provide
information in a timely manner to ``first-response officials,'' such as
police officers, emergency medical technicians, and firefighters;
projects that help public safety agencies provide community outreach
services; projects that develop innovative ways to share scarce
spectrum resources; and projects that aim to increase the safety and
security of children and reduce domestic violence.
Public Services
Projects in this area aim to improve the delivery of services to
people or organizations with a range of social service needs. This area
includes, for example, housing, child welfare, food assistance,
employment counseling, and other services typically delivered by state,
tribal, and local governments or by community-based non-profit
organizations.
Examples of Public Services projects may include, but would not be
limited to: projects that use information technology creatively to
promote self-sufficiency among individuals and families; networks that
facilitate coordination and collaboration among public and/or
community-based agencies; electronic information and referral services
that provide information on a variety of community-based or government
services; projects that make public agencies more accessible and
responsive to community residents; electronic benefits transfer
projects; projects that employ geographic information systems to study
demographic or environmental trends and target community strategies;
and projects that focus on the needs of special communities, such as
individuals with disabilities.
Review Criteria
Reviewers will review and rate each application using the following
equally weighted criteria:
1. Project Purpose
Each application will be judged on the overall purpose of the
proposed project and its potential impact on a community. In defining
the purpose of the project, applicants must (1) identify a specific
problem(s) or need(s) within the community to be served; (2) propose a
workable and achievable means of addressing the community's problem(s)
employing information infrastructure services and technologies; and (3)
identify anticipated outcomes that are both realistic and measurable.
The project purpose must convincingly link the three major elements--
problem, solution, and outcomes--so that reviewers understand not only
what the applicant proposes to do, but also (1) why the project needs
to be done, (2) how the application will respond to the needs of
targeted end users, and (3) how the community might be changed as a
result of successful implementation of the project.
2. Significance
Each application will be rated on the degree to which the proposed
project demonstrates innovation and is exemplary.
When rating the degree to which an application demonstrates
innovation, reviewers will use their experience as experts in their
respective fields to determine whether a proposed project introduces a
unique or novel approach and extends the state-of-the-art in a given
application area. As noted in the section on ``Program Funding
Priorities,'' reviewers will assess innovation broadly, examining both
the technology to be used and the application of technology in a
particular setting, to serve a particular population, or to solve a
particular problem. Reviewers will examine each project in a national
context and ask what insight a proposed project will add to what is
known about using network technologies in a given application area and
how a project complements and/or improves upon other activities in
their field.
With respect to identifying exemplary projects, reviewers will
assess the degree to which a project has the potential for widespread
replication. Applicants should describe how the needs or problems they
propose to address are common or of interest to other organizations and
communities. Reviewers will also assess the degree to which a project
can be easily duplicated by or adapted to other organizations and
communities. Applicants should discuss why a project would be easy to
replicate and what types of organizations would be interested in
copying the project.
3. Project Feasibility
Each application will be rated on the overall feasibility of the
proposed project and its plan of implementation. In assessing project
feasibility, reviewers will focus on the following issues: the
technical approach; the qualifications of the applicant team; the
proposed budget and implementation schedule; and the applicant's plan
for sustaining the project beyond the grant period.
The technical approach should be consistent with the vision of a
nationwide, seamless, interactive network of networks and must
therefore address issues of interoperability 7 and
scalability.8 Applications must specify in detail how the
proposed system would work, how it would operate with other systems,
the technological alternatives that have been examined, and the plans
for the maintenance and/or upgrading of the system. Applicants are
expected to make use of existing infrastructure and commercially
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available telecommunications services, unless extraordinary
circumstances require the construction of new network facilities.
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\7\ ``Interoperability'' refers to the condition achieved among
information and communication systems when information (i.e., data,
voice, image, audio, or video) can be easily and cost-effectively
shared across acquisition, transmission, and presentation
technologies, equipment, and services.
\8\ ``Scalability'' refers to the ability of a system to
accommodate a significant growth in the size of the system (i.e.,
services provided, end users served) without the need for
substantial redesign. A scalable approach that is demonstrated on a
small scale can also be applied on a larger scale.
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Applicants must describe the qualifications of the project team,
including the applicant and its partners, to show that they have the
resources, expertise, and experience necessary to undertake the project
and complete it within the proposed period.
Reviewers will analyze the budget in terms of clarity and cost-
effectiveness. The proposed budget must be appropriate to the tasks
proposed and sufficiently detailed so that reviewers can easily
understand the relationship of items in the budget to the project
narrative. In addition to a clear and well-justified budget proposal,
each application should contain a proposed implementation schedule that
identifies major project tasks and milestones.
Reviewers will also examine the potential viability of the proposed
project beyond the grant period. Applicants should therefore present a
credible plan, including a discussion of anticipated ongoing expenses
and potential sources of non-federal funds, to sustain the project
after completion of the grant. In evaluating the plan, reviewers will
consider the economic circumstances of the community or communities to
be served by the proposed project.
4. Community Involvement
Each application will be rated on the overall level of community
involvement in the development of the project and the implementation of
the proposed project. Reviewers will pay particular attention to the
partnerships involved, the strength and diversity of support for the
project within the community, and the support for the project's end
users.9
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\9\ An ``end user'' is one who customarily employs or seeks
access to, rather than provides, information infrastructure. An end
user may be a consumer of information (e.g., a member of the public
employing a touch-screen public access terminal); may be involved in
an interactive communication with other end users; or may use
information infrastructure to provide services to the public.
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Community involvement must include the development of partnerships
among unaffiliated organizations, from the public, non-profit, or
private sectors, as an integral part of each project. Partnerships must
be clearly defined, mutually beneficial, and the commitments (including
both cash and in-kind contributions) well documented in the
application. Partners are defined as organizations that supply cash or
in-kind resources and/or play an active role in the planning and
implementation of the project.
Reviewers will examine the steps the applicant has taken to involve
a wide variety of community stakeholders in the planning of the project
and the plans for ongoing community involvement in the project. Each
application should contain evidence of demand, from the community, the
end users, and the potential beneficiaries, for the services proposed
by the project.
Reviewers will consider the degree of attention paid to the needs,
skills, working conditions, and living environments of the targeted end
users. Reviewers will also consider the extent to which applicants
involve representatives from a broad range of potential users and
consider the varying degrees of abilities of all end users, including
individuals with disabilities.
Plans for training end users, upgrading their skills, and building
community awareness and knowledge of the project must be clearly
delineated. The application should also include evidence of a
significant degree of end-user involvement in the design and planning
of projects. NTIA expects applicants to safeguard the privacy of the
end users and beneficiaries 10 of the project. Where
relevant, applications must address the privacy and confidentiality of
user data. For example, an applicant proposing a project dealing with
individually identifiable information (e.g., student grades, medical
records, etc.) will be required to describe the technical and policy
mechanisms to be used for protecting the confidentiality of such
information and the privacy of the individuals involved.
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\10\ Project beneficiaries are those individuals or
organizations deriving benefits from a project's outcome(s). A
project beneficiary may also, but not necessarily, be a project end
user.
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5. Reducing Disparities
Every project proposed to TIIAP should target underserved
communities specifically and/or reach out to underserved groups within
a broader community. Underserved refers to individuals and communities
that are subject to barriers that limit or prevent their access to the
benefits of information infrastructure and services. In terms of
information infrastructure, these barriers may be technological,
geographic, economic, physical, linguistic, or cultural. For example, a
rural community may be geographically isolated from information
resources and lack local technical expertise to help install and manage
the network infrastructure; inner city neighborhoods may contain large
numbers of potential end users who lack the financial resources to
access the information infrastructure; or people with disabilities may
need a variety of special hardware or software interfaces to facilitate
their use of the information infrastructure.
Each application will be rated according to the degree to which the
proposed project will serve to reduce disparities in access to
information infrastructure. Reviewers will assess each application by
examining evidence of community need and the applicant's proposed
strategies for overcoming traditional barriers to access. Disparities
in access must be clearly described and supported by specific
quantitative data. Beyond providing service to underserved communities,
each application should also propose strategies for reaching out to
targeted groups and for tailoring any services to their specific needs
and circumstances. These strategies should reflect an understanding of
why the barriers currently exist and a sensitivity to the learning
mechanisms, attitudes, abilities, and customs of the community.
6. Evaluation, Documentation, and Dissemination
Each application will be rated on the quality of its plans for
evaluation, documentation, and dissemination and their potential to
measure both the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed
solution(s) and the anticipated outcomes of the project. Applications
must include the qualifications of any proposed evaluators and provide
sufficient funds and resources to evaluate the project, document
project activities, and disseminate project findings and lessons
learned.
First, each evaluation plan must include an evaluation design, an
implementation plan for the evaluation, and a discussion of how
resources will be allocated for evaluation (i.e., budget, staffing, and
management). The evaluation design should address the evaluation
questions; the methodological approach for answering the evaluation
questions; how data will be collected; how the data will be analyzed;
and how the evaluation findings will be reported and disseminated. The
evaluation should be linked to the overall formulation of project goals
and objectives; it should relate directly to the problem, solution, and
anticipated outcomes identified in the ``Project Purpose'' section.
Finally, the research questions and data collection plan should take
into account each of the ``Review Criteria'' treated above.
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Documentation includes the basic record keeping for a project that
will be required for analysis of the data and for meaningful reporting
about the project. However, documentation goes beyond data collection
to include information relevant to project history. The documentation
plan should enhance evaluation and aid in information dissemination
about the project. This plan should detail the methods and procedures
of documentation. Although relevant documentation will vary with
program type and application area, documentation should include, for
example, demographic and background information on the population(s) to
be served, implementation barriers, characteristics and descriptions of
project partners, external databases, activity logs, and outreach
efforts. Documentation will be very useful in the preparation of
quarterly and final reports.
Applicants are also required to submit a plan for disseminating the
knowledge gained as a result of implementing their projects. Such plans
may include presentations at professional conferences, workshops, and
symposia; hosting site visits and conferences; publications of findings
in professional journals and World Wide Web sites; and other
dissemination methods.
Selection Process
NTIA will publish a notice in the Federal Register listing all
applications received by TIIAP. Listing an application in such a notice
merely acknowledges receipt of an application that will compete for
funding with other applications. Publication does not preclude
subsequent return or disapproval of the application, nor does it ensure
that the application will be funded. The selecting process will last
four to six months and involves four stages:
(1) During the first stage, each eligible application will be
reviewed by a panel of outside readers, who have demonstrated expertise
in both the programmatic and technological aspects of the application.
The review panels will evaluate applications according to the review
criteria provided in this notice and make non-binding written
recommendations to the program.
(2) Upon completion of the external review process, program staff
may analyze applications as necessary. Program staff analysis will be
based on the degree to which a proposed project meets the program's
funding scope as described in the section entitled ``Scope of Proposed
Projects''; the eligibility of costs and matching funds included in an
application's budget; 11 and the extent to which an
application complements or duplicates projects previously funded or
under consideration by NTIA or other federal programs. The analysis of
program staff will be provided to the TIIAP Director in writing.
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\11\ See discussion of ``Eligible Costs'' and ``Matching Funds
Requirements'' in this notice.
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The TIIAP Director then prepares and presents a slate of
recommended grant awards to the Office of Telecommunications and
Information Applications' (OTIA) 12 Associate Administrator
for review and approval. The Director's recommendations and the
Associate Administrator's review and approval will take into account
the following selection factors:
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\12\ The Office of Telecommunication and Information
Applications is the division of the National Telecommunications and
Information Administration that supervises NTIA's grant awards
programs.
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1. The evaluations of the outside reviewers;
2. The analysis of program staff;
3. The degree to which a proposed project meets the program's
priorities as described in the section entitled ``Program Funding
Priorities';
4. The geographic distribution of the proposed grant awards;
5. The variety of technologies and strategies employed by the
proposed grant awards;
6. The extent to which the proposed grant awards represent a
reasonable distribution of funds across application areas;
7. The promotion of access to and use of the information
infrastructure by rural communities and other underserved groups;
8. Avoidance of redundancy and conflicts with the initiatives of
other federal agencies; and
9. The availability of funds.
(3) Upon approval by the OTIA Associate Administrator, the
Director's recommendations will then be presented to the Selecting
Official, the NTIA Administrator. The NTIA Administrator selects the
applications to be negotiated for possible grant award taking into
consideration the Director's recommendations and the degree to which
the slate of applications, taken as a whole, satisfies the selection
factors described above and the program's stated purposes as set forth
in the section entitled ``Program Purposes.''
(4) After applications have been selected in this manner,
negotiations will take place between TIIAP staff and the applicant.
These negotiations are intended to resolve any differences that exist
between the applicant's original request and what TIIAP proposes to
fund and, if necessary, to clarify items in the application. Not all
applicants who are contacted for negotiation will necessarily receive a
TIIAP award. Final selections made by the Administrator will be based
upon the recommendations by the Director and the OTIA Associate
Administrator and the degree to which the slate of applications, taken
as a whole, satisfies the program's stated purposes as set forth in the
section entitled ``Program Purposes,'' upon the conclusion of
negotiations.
Eligible Costs
Eligible Costs. Allowable costs incurred under approved projects
shall be determined in accordance with applicable federal cost
principles, i.e., OMB Circular A-21, A-87, A-122, or Appendix E of 45
CFR part 74. If included in the approved project budget, TIIAP will
allow costs for personnel, fringe benefits, computer hardware and
software, other end-user equipment, telecommunication services and
related equipment, consultants and other contractual services, travel,
rental of office equipment, furniture and space, supplies, etc. that
are reasonable and directly related to the project. Costs associated
with the construction or major renovation of buildings are not
eligible. While costs for the construction of new network facilities
are eligible costs, applicants are expected to make use of existing
infrastructure and commercially available telecommunications services.
Only under extraordinary circumstances will the construction of new
network facilities be approved. Costs of the professional services,
such as instruction, counseling, or medical care, provided via a
network supported through this program are not eligible.
Note that costs that are ineligible for TIIAP support may not be
included as part of the applicant's matching fund contribution. NTIA
also requires that all TIIAP awardees eligible for the discounts under
section 254(h) of the Communications Act of 1934 (the Act) apply for
all available discounts prior to purchasing telecommunications services
with grant funds. In addition, the discounts received through the
Universal Service Fund may not be used as matching contributions.
Indirect Costs. The total dollar amount of the indirect costs
proposed in an application under this program must not exceed the
indirect cost rate negotiated and approved by a cognizant federal
agency or 100 percent of the total proposed direct costs dollar
[[Page 364]]
amount in the application, whichever is less.
Award Period
Successful applicants will have between 12 and 36 months to
complete their projects. While the completion time will vary depending
on the complexity of the project, NTIA has found that most applicants
require at least two years to complete and fully evaluate their
projects. Accordingly, NTIA encourages applicants to propose projects
lasting between two to three years.
Waiver Authority
It is the general intent of NTIA not to waive any of the provisions
set forth in this notice. However, under extraordinary circumstances
and when it is in the best interest of the federal government, NTIA,
upon its own initiative or when requested, may waive the provisions in
this notice. Waivers may only be granted for requirements that are
discretionary and not mandated by statute. Any request for a waiver
must set forth the extraordinary circumstances for the request and be
included in the application or sent to the address provided in the
Addresses section above. NTIA will not consider a request to waive the
application deadline for an application until the application has been
received.
Other Information
Electronic Information
Information about NTIA and TIIAP, including this document and the
Guidelines for Preparing Applications--Fiscal Year 1998, can be
retrieved electronically via the Internet using the World Wide Web.
Use http://www.ntia.doc.gov to reach the NTIA home page and follow
directions to locating information about TIIAP. TIIAP can also be
reached via electronic mail at [email protected].
Application Forms
Standard Forms 424 (OMB Approval Number 0348-0044), Application
for Federal Assistance; 424A (OMB Approval Number 0348-0043), Budget
Information--Non-Construction Programs; and 424B (OMB Approval Number
0348-0040), Assurances--Non-Construction Programs, (Rev 4-92), and
other Department of Commerce forms shall be used in applying for
financial assistance. These forms are included in the Guidelines for
Preparing Applications--Fiscal Year 1998, which can be obtained by
contacting NTIA by telephone, fax, or electronic mail, as described in
the Addresses section above. TIIAP requests one original and five
copies of the application. Applicants for whom the submission of five
copies presents financial hardship may submit one original and two
copies of the application. Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
no person is required to respond to nor shall a person be subject to a
penalty for failure to comply with a collection of information subject
to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that
collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control
number. In addition, all applicants are required to submit a copy of
their application to their state Single Point of Contact (SPOC)
offices, if they have one. For information on contacting state SPOC
offices, refer to the Guidelines for Preparing Applications--Fiscal
Year 1998.
Because of the high level of public interest in projects supported
by TIIAP, the program anticipates receiving requests for copies of
successful applications. Applicants are hereby notified that the
applications they submit are subject to the Freedom of Information Act.
To assist NTIA in making disclosure determinations, applicants may
identify sensitive information and label it ``confidential.''
Type of Funding Instrument
The funding instrument for awards under this program shall be a
grant.
Federal Policies and Procedures
Recipients and subrecipients are subject to all applicable federal
laws and federal and Department of Commerce policies, regulations, and
procedures applicable to federal financial assistance awards.
Pre-Award Activities
If an applicant incurs any project costs prior to the project start
date negotiated at the time the award is made, it does so solely at its
own risk of not being reimbursed by the government. Applicants are
hereby notified that, notwithstanding any oral or written assurance
that they may have received, there is no obligation on the part of the
Department of Commerce to cover pre-award costs.
No Obligation for Future Funding
If an application is selected for funding, the Department of
Commerce has no obligation to provide any additional future funding in
connection with that award. Renewal of an award to increase funding or
extend the period of performance is at the total discretion of the
Department of Commerce.
Past Performance
Unsatisfactory performance of an applicant under prior federal
financial assistance awards may result in that applicant's proposal not
being considered for funding.
Delinquent Federal Debts
No award of federal funds shall be made to an applicant who has an
outstanding delinquent federal debt until:
1. The delinquent account is paid in full;
2. A negotiated repayment schedule is established and at least one
payment is received; or
3. Other arrangements satisfactory to the Department of Commerce
are made.
Purchase of American-Made Products
Applicants are hereby notified that any equipment or products
authorized to be purchased with funding provided under this program
must be American-made to the maximum extent feasible.
Name Check Review
All non-profit applicants are subject to a name check review
process. Name checks are intended to reveal if any key individuals
associated with the applicant have been convicted of or are presently
facing criminal charges such as fraud, theft, perjury, or other matters
that significantly reflect on the applicant's management, honesty, or
financial integrity.
Primary Applicant Certifications
All primary applicants must submit a completed Form CD-511,
``Certifications Regarding Debarment, Suspension and Other
Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free Workplace Requirements and
Lobbying,'' and the following explanations are hereby provided:
1. Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension--Prospective
participants (as defined at 15 CFR part 26, section 105) are subject to
15 CFR part 26, ``Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension'' and the
related section of the certification form prescribed above applies;
2. Drug-Free Workplace--Grantees (as defined at 15 CFR part 26,
section 605) are subject to 15 CFR part 26, subpart F, ``Government
wide Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Grants)'' and the related
section of the certification form prescribed above applies;
3. Anti-Lobbying--Persons (as defined at 15 CFR part 28, section
105) are subject to the lobbying provisions of 31 U.S.C. 1352,
``Limitation on use of appropriated funds to influence certain federal
contracting and financial
[[Page 365]]
transactions,'' and the lobbying section of the certification form
prescribed above applies to applications/bids for grants, cooperative
agreements, and contracts for more than $100,000, and loans and loan
guarantees for more than $150,000, or the single family maximum
mortgage limit for affected programs, whichever is greater; and
4. Anti-Lobbying Disclosure--Any applicant that has paid or will
pay for lobbying in connection with a covered federal action, such as
the awarding of any federal contract, the making of any federal grant,
the making of any federal loan, the entering into of any cooperative
agreement, or the extension, continuation, renewal, amendment, or
modification of any federal contract, grant, loan, or cooperative
agreement using any funds must submit an SF-LLL, ``Disclosure of
Lobbying Activities'' (OMB Control Number 0348-0046), as required under
15 CFR part 28, Appendix B.
Lower Tier Certifications
Recipients shall require applicants/bidders for subgrants,
contracts, subcontracts, or other lower tier covered transactions at
any tier under the award to submit, if applicable, a completed Form CD-
512, ``Certifications Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility
and Voluntary Exclusion--Lower Tier Covered Transactions and Lobbying''
and disclosure form SF-LLL, ``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities.'' Form
CD-512 is intended for the use of recipients and should not be
transmitted to DOC. SF-LLL submitted by any tier recipient or
subrecipient should be submitted to DOC in accordance with the
instructions contained in the award document.
False Statements
A false statement on an application is grounds for denial or
termination of funds and grounds for possible punishment by a fine or
imprisonment as provided in 18 U.S.C. 1001.
Intergovernmental Review
Applications under this program are subject to Executive Order
12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.'' It has been
determined that this notice is a ``not significant'' rule under
Executive Order 12866.
Larry Irving,
Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information.
[FR Doc. 98-41 Filed 1-2-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-60-P