[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 51 (Wednesday, March 15, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14182-14183]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-6319]



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Part VII





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. 51 / Wednesday, March 15, 2000 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Economic Development Administration

[Docket No. 991215337-0047-02]
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 $360,550,000 is available to EDA for all its 
programs in FY 2000, of which approximately $500,000 will be available 
for National Technical Assistance, Training, Research, and Evaluation. 
EDA is soliciting proposals to describe and critically analyze the role 
of EDA in efforts to alleviate domestic economic distress through 
programs funded under the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 
1965, as amended. This project will be funded if acceptable proposals 
are received. EDA issues this Notice to describe the conditions under 
which an eligible application for this National Technical Assistance, 
Training, Research, and Evaluation project under 13 CFR part 307, 
subpart C (64 FR 5347, 5428-5429; 64 FR 69868, 69878-69879) will be 
accepted and selected for funding.

DATES: Proposals for funding under this program will be accepted 
through April 14, 2000, at the address provided below. Proposals 
received after 5:00 p.m. EDT, on April 14, 2000, will not be considered 
for funding.
    By April 21, 2000, EDA will advise the successful proponent to 
submit a full application. OMB has assigned application forms Control 
Number 0610-0094.
    A completed application must be submitted to EDA by May 8, 2000, at 
the address below. EDA anticipates that this project will be funded 
about June 15, 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, DC 
20230.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Areas of Special Emphasis

     Impact of Programs Funded under the Public Works and 
Economic Development Act of 1965.
    EDA invites proposals to describe and critically analyze the role 
of EDA in efforts to alleviate domestic economic distress since 1965.
    Background: In the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 
1965 (PWEDA) (Pub.L. 89-136), Congress declared that maintaining the 
national economy at a high level was vital to the best interests of the 
United States, that some areas suffered substantial and persistent 
unemployment and underemployment, and that the Federal Government, in 
cooperation with the States, should help such areas take effective 
steps in planning and financing their public works and economic 
development. To carry out this mandate, Congress authorized the 
establishment of the Economic Development Administration (EDA). Since 
1965, PWEDA has been reauthorized on several occasions, most recently 
under the Economic Development Administration Reform Act of 1998 
(Pub.L. 105-393). Overall funding levels have varied throughout the 
years.
    As part of its ongoing mission to assist economically distressed 
areas, EDA periodically revisits the role of the Federal Government in 
economic development. The agency also undertakes periodic independent 
evaluations of its specific programs. However, in the 35 years since 
its inception, EDA has never documented in a single place the history 
of PWEDA and EDA activities as important federal policies. Given the 
large scale of public investment in this area, there is an important 
public interest in documenting these policies and determining the 
extent to which EDA has developed and implemented programs that respond 
to the actual economic development needs of the nation's distressed 
communities. In issuing this request for proposals, EDA hopes to 
document the agency's policies, examine how the policy focus of EDA has 
evolved over time in response to changing economic conditions, and 
identify emerging policy issues in economic development that the agency 
and economic development practitioners (including other governmental 
entities) must be responsive to now and in the future. The agency also 
hopes to examine, critically, changes in EDA's (and PWEDA's) role in 
overall federal economic development efforts.
    Scope of Work: The successful applicant will, for the period since 
1965:
    (1) Describe the context of EDA's economic development efforts, 
possibly including (but not necessarily restricted to):
    A. the level, location, and character of distress throughout the 
United States;
    B. changing national and regional economic conditions;
    C. the legislative history of PWEDA;
    D. policies towards economic development and EDA of each 
administration, including the proposed presidential budget submissions 
for EDA; and
    E. the level and type of Congressional support, including funding 
levels appropriated and special initiatives funded by Congress, such as 
the Local Public Works Program (1976-1977).
    (2) describe the evolution of EDA activities and policies, 
including (but not necessarily limited to):
    A. the type, level and impact of EDA's investments;
    B. the agency's funding priorities, program design, forms of 
assistance, regulations and other economic development policies; and
    C. the agency's administrative policies, including organizational 
structure, staffing levels, and methods of oversight and evaluation.
    (3) analyze critically how the changes in the context of economic 
development and EDA policies described in Tasks 1 and 2 above have 
affected the agency's ability to fulfill its mission under PWEDA, and 
the future impact these changes may have on the agency and on economic 
development in general;
    (4) prepare and submit 200 copies of a report and an electronic 
version of the report (in formats acceptable to EDA) that document the 
research and findings of Tasks 1, 2, and 3 above;
    (5) conduct up to three briefings for individuals and organizations 
interested in the results of this project. Specific locations and dates 
of the briefings are at EDA's discretion.
    EDA anticipates that the successful applicant will rely heavily on 
secondary data, including past EDA program evaluations and policy 
documents, other federal documents, and general economic development 
literature. To the extent feasible, current EDA staff will be available 
to assist in collection of necessary data that are not available 
elsewhere.
    Cost: The total EDA share of the cost of this project many not 
exceed $125,000.
    Timing: The project must be completed and the final project report 
submitted by December 31, 2000. Potential applicants should be aware 
that this completion date is for completion of the project and 
submission of the final written report documenting the research and 
findings.

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Briefings (workshops) will take place no later than one year after 
submission of the final report.

II. How To Apply

A. Eligible Applicants

    See EDA's interim final rule and final rule at 13 CFR 300.2 (64 FR 
5347, 5352; 64 FR 69868). 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 E-mail. Proposals received after 5:00 p.m. EDT on April 14, 
2000, 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 EDA's interim 
final rule and final rule at 13 CFR Chapter III (64 FR 5347, 5357; 64 
FR 69868, 69874), including eligibility and relevance to the specified 
project as described herein. EDA's general selection process and 
criteria are set out in 13 CFR 304.1, 304.2, (64 FR 5347, 5357; 64 FR 
68968, 68974-69875), and current Sec. 307.10 (Sec. 307.8 in the interim 
rule) (64 FR 5347, 5429; 64 FR 69868, 69878). Proposals that meet these 
requirements will then be evaluated by a review panel composed of at 
least three members 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.), 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, section 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

11.312  Research and Evaluation

C. Program Description

    For a description of this program see PWEDA and 13 CFR Chapter III, 
Part 307 (64 FR 5347; 64 FR 69868).
    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, or a special 
need, as determined by EDA.

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 307.11; 64 FR 69878).

E. Briefings and Reports

    This award includes a requirement that the applicant conduct a 
total of up to three 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 
held in conjunction with EDA's regional conferences.
    This 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 65 FR 3763-3769, Part III 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 Under the Public Works and Economic 
Development Act of 1965 and Trade Act of 1974; Notice'').

    Dated: March 8, 2000.
Chester J. Straub, Jr.,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Economic Development.
[FR Doc. 00-6319 Filed 3-14-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-24-P