[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 15 (Monday, January 24, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3772-3775]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-1628]



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Part IV





Department of Commerce





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Economic Development Administration



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National Technical Assistance, Training, Research, and Evaluation--
Request for Grant Proposals; Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 15 / Monday, January 24, 2000 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Economic Development Administration

[Docket No. 991215337-9337-01]
RIN 0610-ZA13


National Technical Assistance, Training, Research, and 
Evaluation--Request for Grant Proposals

AGENCY:  Economic Development Administration (EDA), Department of 
Commerce (DoC).

ACTION:  Request for Grant Proposals (RFP) Upon Availability of Funds.

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SUMMARY:  A total of $361,879,000 is available to EDA for all its 
programs in FY 2000, of which approximately $1,601,000 will be 
available for National Technical Assistance, Training, Research, and 
Evaluation. EDA is soliciting proposals for the specific projects 
described herein: (1) Evaluation of EDA's Planning Program; (2) 
Evaluation of EDA's Local Technical Assistance Program; (3) Economic 
Assessment of Sustainable Development Projects; (4) Improving 
Technology-Led Economic Development Strategies; and (5) Reviews of 
Economic Development Literature and Practice. These projects will be 
funded if acceptable proposals are received. Remaining funding, if any, 
may be used to fund additional projects. EDA issues this Notice to 
describe the conditions under which eligible applications for these 
National Technical Assistance, Training, Research, and Evaluation 
projects under 13 CFR Part 307, Subpart C (64 FR 5347, 5428-5429; 64 FR 
69878-879) will be accepted and selected for funding.

DATES:  Prospective applicants are advised that EDA will conduct a pre-
proposal conference on February 16, 2000, at 10:00 a.m. EDT in the 
Department of Commerce, Herbert C. Hoover Building, 14th and 
Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20230, Room 1414, at which 
time questions on these projects can be answered. Potential applicants 
are encouraged to provide written questions (See ADDRESS section below) 
by February 14, 2000. Prospective applicants unable to attend this pre-
proposal conference may participate by teleconference. Teleconference 
information may be obtained by calling (202) 482-4085 between 8:30-5:00 
EDT on February 15, 2000.
    Proposals for funding under this program will be accepted through 
March 9, 2000, at the address provided below. Proposals received after 
5:00 p.m. EDT, on March 9, 2000, will not be considered for funding.
    By March 30, 2000, EDA will advise successful proponents to submit 
full applications. OMB has assigned application forms Control Number 
0610-0094.
    Completed applications must be submitted to EDA by April 19, 2000, 
at the address below. EDA anticipates that these projects will be 
funded about June 15, 2000, but will make the awards no later than 
September 30, 2000.

ADDRESSES:  Send proposals to John J. McNamee, Director, Research and 
National Technical Assistance Division, Economic Development 
Administration, Room 7019, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, 
D.C. 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  John J. McNamee (202) 482-4085.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  

I. Areas of Special Emphasis

 Evaluation of EDA's Planning Program

    EDA invites proposals to evaluate the impact of its Economic 
Development District (EDD) Planning Program.
    Background: Under its Planning Program, EDA provides ongoing 
funding, on an annual basis, to approximately 320 Economic Development 
Districts (EDD) to help in designing and implementing strategies and to 
build and maintain local institutional capacity for the economic 
development of the communities they serve. EDA planning grants fund a 
number of activities. These include developing and maintaining the 
Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) process, developing 
projects, coordinating local and regional economic development efforts 
in implementing the CEDS, identifying/attracting sources of funding and 
investment, and providing technical assistance to its member 
jurisdictions. The EDA grants provide communities with the critical 
resources to assist in organizing and carrying out long-and short-term 
strategies tailored to the their particular economic problems and 
opportunities. However, the fundamental impact of the program should be 
the sustainable economic development of the areas served.
    EDA's Planning Program and the network of local partnerships it has 
supported have been critical to the effectiveness of economic 
development efforts at the local and regional level for more than 30 
years. In 1998, EDA commissioned an independent evaluation of its 
regional planning process in order to increase the benefits of the 
process and enhance economic development capacity at the local level. 
That evaluation was completed in 1999. The current evaluation will 
complement this earlier evaluation by measuring the impact of EDA's 
assistance under the EDD Planning Program.
    Scope of Work: The successful applicant will: (1) evaluate the 
impact of EDA funding of EDDs under its Planning Program, including (a) 
how well the program helps communities build long-term economic 
development capacity, (b) whether the strategies developed are 
realistic and responsive to the specific economic development needs of 
the areas served, (c) how effective the technical assistance provided 
by the EDD organization is to the member jurisdictions, and (d) how 
effectively EDDs implement the CEDS; (2) select a representative sample 
of EDD grantees, including a rural, urban and regional balance; (3) 
make site visits as necessary; (4) convene a panel of stakeholders; (5) 
as appropriate, make recommendations for improving the program; (6) 
prepare a final report; and (7) conduct briefings and/or training 
workshops as set forth in IV.E. below.
    Cost: The total EDA share of the cost of this project may not 
exceed $249,000.
    Timing: The project should be completed and the final report 
submitted within one year of project approval.

 Evaluation of EDA's Local Technical Assistance Program

    Background: EDA's Local Technical Assistance Program provides 
funding to help communities solve specific economic development 
problems, respond to development opportunities, and build and expand 
local organizational capacity in distressed areas. Often, Local 
Technical Assistance projects consist of feasibility studies, support 
for other economic development providers, or similar projects necessary 
to prepare a community for further EDA support. In recent years, 
funding for the program has been approximately $1.5 million per year, 
with the average grant size approximately $25,000. The program was last 
evaluated in 1989.
    Scope of Work: The successful applicant will: (1) examine selected 
projects funded in FY's 1996-1997, provided they have been completed no 
later than September 30, 1999, to identify common and variable features 
of representative projects; (2) where appropriate, make site visits to 
obtain more detailed project information; (3) evaluate the 
effectiveness of the Local Technical Assistance Program; (4) make 
recommendations as needed for improving the program; and (5) conduct 
briefings and/or training workshops as set forth in IV.E. below. In 
evaluating

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program effectiveness, relevant questions include (but are not 
restricted to):
     Has the program influenced the design, implementation, or 
timing of local economic development projects?
     Has the program helped distressed communities undertake or 
eliminate specific economic development projects from their overall 
strategy?
     Has the program helped distressed communities build and 
expand local organizational economic development capacity?
     Has the program supported innovative economic development 
approaches and/or given local officials needed technical expertise?
     To what extent have the projects and/or the program 
targeted distressed areas?
     Were projects completed in a timely and cost-effective 
fashion?
     Were there common features that contributed to project 
success or failure?
     Could specific outcomes be tracked back to the completed 
Local Technical Assistance projects?
    Cost: The total EDA share of the cost of this project may not 
exceed $149,000.
    Timing: The project should be completed and the final report 
submitted within one year of project approval.

 Economic Assessment of Sustainable Development Projects

    EDA invites proposals to assess the economic impacts of sustainable 
development projects in distressed communities.
    Background: In recent years, EDA has funded many local projects to 
support sustainable development, including brownfields redevelopment, 
eco-industrial parks, aquaculture, and projects to support 
diversification of natural resource based economies (e.g., timber, 
fisheries, etc.). The agency also has funded several national studies 
of sustainable economic development strategies and collections of case 
studies describing strategies available to practitioners at the state 
and local level. This cumulative experience suggests that a significant 
barrier to sustainable economic development is the inability of 
prospective projects to demonstrate economic viability to potential 
investors and funding agencies.
    This project is designed to assist individuals and organization 
that are undertaking sustainable development activities to collect data 
and develop methods for assessing the economic benefits and costs of 
their projects. EDA is primarily interested in assessments of direct 
economic impacts. Simulations that assess secondary, indirect, and 
induced impacts without generating original research of direct benefits 
and costs will not be considered. Utility of the research to economic 
development practitioners is essential. EDA seeks economic impact 
assessments that are replicable in other contexts, in order to help 
future sustainable development efforts. Impacts considered may be 
either on the supply side or the demand side of the market. However, 
the economic impacts described must be quantifiable and derived from 
real economic development projects. It is not necessary to assess all 
economic impacts for a given sustainable development activity, but 
those impacts that are considered should be researched as completely as 
possible. Given the time frame of this study, EDA anticipates that most 
proposals will relate to projects already underway. EDA is especially 
interested in studies that assess impacts that have not previously been 
described well (e.g., product quality impacts, equity impacts, etc.), 
studies that improve existing assessment methods, and/or studies that 
utilize new assessment methods.
    Scope of Work: The successful applicant will: (1) quantitative 
describe the anticipated economic benefits and costs of one or more 
sustainable development project(s); (2) review prior economic 
assessments and literature relevant to assessing those impacts; (3) 
assess the direct economic benefits and costs of the project(s) as 
completely as possible, using methods deemed sound by mainstream 
professional economists; (4) place those economic benefits and costs in 
the context of the community the project is designed to serve; (5) 
prepare a final report that summarizes the research findings; and (6) 
conduct briefings and/or training workshops as set forth in IV.E. 
below.
    Cost: EDA may provide funding up to $145,000 for all projects 
funded under this RFP. EDA anticipates making multiple awards from this 
total funding available.
    Timing: The projects should be completed and the final reports 
submitted within nine months of project approval.

Improving Technology-Led Economic Development Strategies

    EDA seeks proposals to improve the technology-led strategies for 
economic development in distressed communities.
    Background: The current era of rapid technological change offers 
both promise and challenges to America's distressed communities. On the 
one hand, new technologies can help these communities enter and succeed 
in the economic mainstream by allowing them to engage in activities 
such as e-commerce, telemedicine, distance learning, and modernization 
of manufacturing. On the other hand, the speed of technological advance 
and the scale of investment and training needed threatens to leave 
behind those communities that lack a diverse economic base and solid 
infrastructure.
    EDA assists distressed communities to design and implement their 
own technology-led economic development strategies. The agency also 
funds research to support its investment strategy by identifying areas 
where further investment is most needed, methods to improve the 
effectiveness of the agency's investments, and ways to leverage 
available funding, EDA research also assists local economic development 
practitioners by disseminating lessons learned by others in the field. 
To give some examples, EDA is presently funding an assessment of the 
technology infrastructure needs of America's distressed communities, 
and recently completed a similar needs assessment in Native 
communities. EDA is also funding the preparation of a handbook to help 
local practitioners prepare technology strategic plans. Other recent 
EDA research projects in this area include a collection of best 
practices in technology transfer and commercialization (underway); a 
review of state science and technology strategic plans (1997); and a 
comprehensive guide to business incubators (1996).
    This project is designed to support EDA investments in technology-
led economic development in distressed areas. Examples of acceptable 
projects include (but are not limited to):
     Assessments of past and current EDA technology 
investments;
     Research that identifies, describes, and evaluates 
specific strategies for technology-led economic development;
     Research that identifies national investment needs to 
support specific types of technology-led economic development; and
     Exploration of methods to enhance the effectiveness of 
existing technology-led strategies, including ways to expand available 
funding in a responsible fashion.
    Projects must have significance to practitioners nationally. Local 
feasibility studies, needs assessments, and project implementation will 
generally not be funded unless the projects have compelling 
demonstration value and include a careful assessment of the strategy's 
replicability elsewhere. Likewise, purely theoretical research will not 
be funded without a convincing demonstration of its utility to 
practitioners.

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    Scope of Work: The successful applicant will: (1) describe specific 
strategies, needs, and/or methods to promote economically-important 
technological advance in distressed areas; (2) critically review 
relevant literature from academics, practitioners, and other sources 
and describe the contribution of the project to that field of 
knowledge; (3) evaluate the significance of the strategy to technology-
led economic development, using methodologies generally accepted by 
scholars and experts in the field; (4) prepare a final written report 
of findings designed to improve economic development efforts by EDA and 
state and local practitioners; and (5) conduct briefings and/or 
training workshops as set forth in IV.E. below.
    Cost: EDA may provide funding up to $145,000 for all projects 
funded under this RFP. EDA may make multiple awards from this total 
funding available.
    Timing: The project should be completed and the final report 
submitted within one year of project approval.

 Reviews of Economic Development Literature and Practice

    EDA invites proposals to review the literature and practical 
experience regarding issues of critical importance to economic 
development practitioners nationally.
    Background: One of EDA's main functions is to disseminate high 
quality information about economic development policies, issues, 
strategies, and techniques to practitioners. EDA fulfills this function 
by a number of means, including newsletters, conferences, use of the 
Internet, and targeted research. This project would help present 
important and emerging theoretical issues to practitioners and policy 
makers.
    EDA is especially interested in reviews supporting EDA's core 
programs and initiatives. Examples include: technology-led economic 
development; productivity enhancement through infrastructure 
investment; e-commerce; strategies and policies for dealing with 
sprawl; strategies that promote regional growth; counter-cyclical 
spending strategies; microenterprise development; economic development 
in Native communities; and support for regions harmed by international 
trade. EDA, however, welcomes other topics of importance to domestic 
economic development. Completed reviews must be analytical, and should 
identify important policy implications. They must also be prepared for 
practitioners rather than an academic audience.
    EDA expects researchers to demonstrate familiarity with the 
proposed topic and ability to conduct a timely, thorough, and objective 
review. EDA welcomes strong graduate student participation in these 
projects, contingent on the student's ability to demonstrate expertise 
in the field of study. Where a student is to be a primary participant 
in the research, a faculty letter in support of the student's 
participation may be included in the proposal. This letter, not to 
exceed two pages, shall not be subject to the other page limits 
specified in Part III. B. EDA anticipates making multiple awards, but 
will not make multiple awards to any individual researcher. Authors are 
encouraged to submit the final review paper for publication.
    Scope of Work: Successful applicants will:
    (1) Prepare a review paper that: a) describes and analyzes 
critically key debates in the literature, analytical techniques of 
broad importance to practitioners; and/or the range of experience with 
specific economic development strategies; b) identifies important 
policy implications of the research; c) represents original research 
not previously submitted for publication elsewhere; d) is of length and 
quality suitable for publication in a peer reviewed journal; and e) is 
written in a style appropriate for practitioners.
    (2) Conduct up to three presentations as described in IV.E below.
    Cost: EDA may provide funding up to $72,500 for all reviews funded 
under this RFP. The total EDA share of the cost for any single review 
may not exceed $20,000. EDA anticipates that most proposals will be in 
the range of $10,000 to $15,000.
    Timing: EDA anticipates that most reviews will take 6 months or 
less, but recognizes that this will vary with the nature of the 
research. Presentations may take place up to one year after the paper 
is submitted. All projects should be completed within nine months of 
project approval.

II. How To Apply

A. Eligible Applicants

    See EDA's interim final rule at 13 CFR Sec. 300.2 (64 F.R. 5347). 
Eligible applicants are as follows: institutions of higher education, 
consortiums of institutions of higher education; public or private 
nonprofit organizations or associations acting in cooperation with 
officials of a political subdivision of a state, for-profit 
organizations, and private individuals; areas meeting requirements 
under 13 CFR 301.2; Economic Development Districts; Indian tribes; 
consortiums of Indian Tribes; states, cities or other political 
subdivisions of a state; consortiums of political subdivisions of 
states.

B. Proposal Submission Procedures

    Proposals submitted should include: (1) a description of how the 
researcher(s) intend(s) to carry out the scope of work (not to exceed 
10 pages in length); (2) a proposed budget and accompanying 
explanation; (3) resumes/qualifications of key staff (not to exceed two 
pages per individual or organization), and (4) a proposed time line for 
completion of the project. EDA will not accept proposals submitted by 
FAX or email. Proposals received after 5:00 p.m. EST on March 9, 2000, 
at the address provided above, will not be considered.

III. Selection Process and Evaluation Criteria

    All proposals must meet EDA's statutory and regulatory 
requirements. Proposals will receive initial review by EDA to assure 
that they meet all requirements of this announcement and 13 CFR Chapter 
III (64 FR 5347), including eligibility and relevance to the specified 
project as described herein. EDA's general selection process and 
criteria are set out in 13 CFR Secs. 304.1 and 304.2 (64 FR 5347-5348; 
64 FR 69874-69875). Proposals that meet these requirements will then be 
evaluated by a review panel composed of at least three members. EDA 
will carry out its selection of proposals to be funded under the 
specific projects described in this RFP using the following criteria:
     The quality of a proposal's response to the scope of work 
proposed; and
     The ability of the prospective applicant to successfully 
carry out the proposed activities.
    If a proposal is selected, EDA will provide the proponent with an 
Application for Federal Assistance (OMB Control Number 0610-0094). 
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.

IV. Additional Information and Requirements

A. Authority

    The Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965, as amended 
(Pub. L. 89-136, 42 U.S.C. 3121 et seq.),

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including the comprehensive amendments by the Economic Development 
Administration Reform Act of 1998 (Pub.L. 105-393) (PWEDA) authorizes 
EDA to make grants for training, research, and technical assistance, 
including grants for program evaluation and project impact analyses, 
that would be useful in alleviating or preventing conditions of 
excessive unemployment or underemployment (42 U.S.C. 3147, Sec. 207). 
This RFP is dependent upon the availability of funds in FY 2000 for 
this program. Public Law 106-113 makes funds available for this 
program.

B. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

11.303  Economic Development Technical Assistance.
11.312  Research and Evaluation

C. Program Description

    For a description of this program see PWEDA and 13 CFR Chapter III, 
Part 307 (64 FR 5347).
    EDA assistance is focused on areas experiencing significant 
economic distress, defined principally as per capita income of 80 
percent or less of the national average, or an unemployment rate that 
is, for the most recent 24-month period for which data are available, 
at least one percent greater than the national average.

D. Costs

    Ordinarily, the applicant is expected to provide a 50 percent non-
federal share of project costs. However, the Assistant Secretary may 
waive the required 50 percent matching share of the total project 
costs, provided the applicant can demonstrate: (1) the project is not 
feasible without, and the project merits such a waiver, or (2) the 
project is addressing major causes of distress in the area serviced and 
requires the unique characteristics of the applicant, which will not 
participate if it must provide all or part of a 50 percent non-federal 
share, or (3) the project is for the benefit of local, state, regional, 
or national economic development efforts, and will be of no or only 
incidental benefit to the recipient (See 13 CFR Sec. 307.9; 64 FR 
5429).

E. Briefings and Reports

    Unless otherwise noted, each award includes a requirement that the 
applicant conduct a total of up to seven briefings and/or training 
workshops for individuals and organizations interested in the results 
of this project. Potential applicants should be aware that the 
completion dates set forth above are for completion of the project and 
submission of the final written report. Briefings/workshops will take 
place no later than one year after submission of the final report. 
Locations and dates of the briefings/workshops are at EDA's discretion. 
Usually, these consist of at least one briefing in Washington, DC, with 
the other briefings/workshops held in conjunction with one or more of 
EDA's regional conferences.
    Unless otherwise noted, each award includes a requirement that the 
applicant submit an electronic version and 200 hard copies of the final 
report in formats acceptable to EDA.

F. Website

    See 64 FR 9221-9226, Part II for additional information and 
requirements (available on the Internet at http://www.doc.gov/eda/html/notice.htm, under the heading ``Economic Development Assistance 
Programs-Availability of Funds'').

    Dated: January 18, 2000.
Chester J. Straub, Jr.,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Economic Development.
[FR Doc. 00-1628 Filed 1-21-00; 8:45 am]
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