[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 98 (Monday, May 21, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28040-28042]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-12671]



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Part II





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. 66, No. 98 / Monday, May 21, 2001 / Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Economic Development Administration

[Docket No. 000515144-1101-02]
RIN: 0610-ZA


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: As part of its mission to assist economically distressed 
areas, EDA is soliciting proposals to (1) evaluate EDA's Economic 
Adjustment Program, (2) review the literature and practical experience 
regarding issues of critical importance to economic development 
practitioners nationally, (3) identify the location of and economic 
development problems facing communities with significant Asian American 
and Pacific Islander populations, and (4) disseminate economic 
development information to practitioners serving economically 
distressed urban areas. EDA issues this Notice to describe the 
conditions under which applications for these projects will be accepted 
and selected for funding. Projects will be funded if acceptable 
proposals are received.

DATES: Prospective applicants are advised that EDA will conduct a pre-
proposal conference on June 6, 2001, at 2:00 p.m. EDT in the Department 
of Commerce, Herbert C. Hoover Building, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW, 
Washington, DC 20230, Room 6057, at which time questions on these 
projects can be answered. Potential applicants are encouraged to 
provide written questions by June 1, 2001 (See ADDRESSES section 
below). Prospective applicants unable to attend this pre-proposal 
conference may participate by teleconference. Teleconference 
information may be obtained by calling (202) 482-4085 between 8:30-4:30 
EDT on June 5, 2001.
    Proposals for funding under this program will be accepted through 
June 20, 2001, at either of the addresses provided below. Proposals 
received after 4 p.m. EDT, on June 20, 2001, will not be considered for 
funding.
    By July 2, 2001, EDA will notify proposers whether or not they will 
be given further funding consideration. Each successful proponent will 
be invited to submit an Application for Federal Assistance, OMB Control 
Number 0610-0094. Projects will be funded no later than September 30, 
2001.

ADDRESSES: 1. Proposals may be mailed to: John J. McNamee, Director, 
Research and National Technical Assistance Division, Economic 
Development Administration, Room 7019, U.S. Department of Commerce, 
1401 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230, or Proposals may be 
hand-delivered to: John J. McNamee, Director, Research and National 
Technical Assistance Division, Economic Development Administration, 
Room 1874, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW, 
Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John J. McNamee (202) 482-4085; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Areas of Special Interest

 Impact of EDA Economic Adjustment Program Investments
    EDA invites proposals to evaluate the extent to which EDA's 
Economic Adjustment Program (EAP) investments achieve structural 
economic adjustment in the target communities and the length of time 
required to do so.
    Background: EDA's EAP, which was established in 1974, helps 
communities design and implement strategies for facilitating adjustment 
to economic changes that are causing or threaten to cause serious 
structural damage to the underlying economic base. Such changes may 
occur suddenly or over time, and result from industrial or corporate 
restructuring, reduction in defense expenditures, natural disasters, 
depletion of natural resources, or new federal laws or requirements. 
EAP grants provide such communities with the critical resources 
necessary to organize and carry out adjustment strategies tailored to 
their particular economic problems and opportunities.
    EDA economic adjustment assistance may fund, for example, strategic 
planning, technical assistance, construction of critical 
infrastructure, or establishment of a revolving loan fund (RLF). To 
date, EDA has invested approximately $2.2 billion in EAP.
    The fundamental impact of an EAP investment should be the economic 
adjustment of the target area. Much of that impact will occur a 
considerable time after the investment is made. The proposed research 
should determine the extent to which target communities have begun (or 
achieved) structural economic adjustment, factors that affect the 
length of time needed to achieve full adjustment, and the contribution 
that the EAP investment made (or did not make) in stimulating or 
enabling positive structural economic change within a community.
    In recent years EDA has funded independent evaluations of EAP's 
responses to Hurricane Andrew and to the Midwest Flood of 1993, both of 
which focused on short-term program implementation. It also funded a 
preliminary assessment of the impact of defense adjustment investments. 
An evaluation of the long-term impact of EAP RLF investments will be 
completed shortly. The evaluation proposed here will complement, but 
not duplicate, these evaluations.
    Scope of Work: The successful applicant will develop a methodology 
for determining and evaluating the economic impact of EAP investments 
in achieving structural economic adjustment. In doing so, the applicant 
will examine such issues as whether the adjustment strategy was the 
appropriate one, i.e., was the underlying adjustment strategy rational, 
realistic, and responsive to the structural dislocation; was the most 
appropriate tool or mix of tools (planning, technical assistance, RLF, 
infrastructure) used; was the community committed to following the 
strategy? The research should also evaluate whether the success or 
failure to achieve structural economic adjustment correlates with 
implementation of the economic adjustment strategy, i.e., whether the 
strategy itself was an appropriate one, or whether the economic 
adjustment happened due to other factors. The applicant will conduct 
the evaluation using a sample group of projects. The sample should be 
stratified to include investments made under EDA's (a) regular EAP, (b) 
Defense adjustment, and (c) other special initiatives, including 
disaster relief. The final report must fully document the methodology 
used for the project. The results must be presented in up to seven 
briefings and/or training workshops as set forth in Section IV.C. 
below.
    Cost: The total EDA share of the cost of this project may not 
exceed $300,000.
    Timing: This project must be completed and the final report 
submitted within one year of approval of the project.
 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

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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 will 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: e-commerce, productivity 
enhancement through infrastructure investment, leveraging of private 
investment for regional economic development, and technology-led 
economic development. EDA, however, welcomes other topics of importance 
to domestic economic development. Completed reviews must be analytical 
and should identify important policy implications. They must 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 
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 as described below.
    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 Section IV.C. below.
    Cost: EDA may provide funding totaling up to $75,000 for all 
reviews funded under this RFP. The total EDA share of the cost for any 
single review may not exceed $20,000. Should additional funding become 
available, EDA may increase the total funding for this RFP. EDA 
anticipates that most proposals will be in the range of $10,000 to 
$15,000.
    Timing: EDA anticipates that most reviews will take six months or 
less, but recognizes that this will vary with the nature of the 
research. All projects must be completed and the review paper must be 
submitted within nine months of project approval. Presentations may 
take place up to one year after the research paper is submitted.
 Economic Development Needs of Asian Americans and Pacific 
Islanders in Distressed Areas
    Background: Executive Order 13125, signed on June 7, 1999, seeks to 
improve the quality of life for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders 
(AAPI) by, among other things, increasing their participation in 
federal programs where they may be underserved. The U.S. Department of 
Commerce seeks to identify the locations of and economic development 
problems facing communities with significant AAPI populations. Where a 
community with a significant AAPI population also has a significant 
population of other minorities, the research should address the 
problems common to all minority groups in the community as well as 
those unique to the AAPI population.
    Scope of Work: The successful applicant will (1) identify the 
location of distressed communities that are composed primarily of AAPI 
populations; (2) identify and assess the special economic development 
challenges these distressed AAPI communities face; (3) prepare a final 
report that summarizes the research findings; and (4) conduct up to 
three briefings and/or training workshops as set forth in Section IV.C. 
below.
    Cost: The total EDA share of the cost of this project may not 
exceed $75,000.
    Timing: The project should be completed and the final research 
report submitted within six months of project approval.
 Information Dissemination in Distressed Urban Communities
    Background: As part of its ongoing mission to assist economically 
distressed areas, EDA supports projects that disseminate information to 
economic development practitioners serving America's distressed 
communities.
    Scope of Work: The successful applicant will undertake information 
dissemination activities that:
     Are targeted at a national audience of economic 
development practitioners working in America's distressed urban 
communities;
     Take greater advantage of new technologies for information 
dissemination (Internet, videoconferencing, e-mail, etc.);
     Identify and provide information in new or emerging areas 
of economic development needed by practitioners serving distressed 
urban areas;
     Support the development and greater understanding of new 
economic development tools and national, state, and local programs 
designed to relieve urban economic distress; and
     Influence economic development outcomes by improving the 
quality, accessibility, and timeliness of critical information 
available to economic development practitioners.
    Each proposal submitted must:
    (1) Identify and describe the target audience and the reason(s) why 
the proposed information dissemination activity is necessary;
    (2) Describe how the organization plans to achieve the proposed 
target audience penetration;
    (3) Describe the types of information that will be disseminated;
    (4) Justify why the proposed activity should be federally funded;
    (5) Describe the economic development outcomes or activities that 
will be influenced by the information dissemination efforts; and
    (6) For activities proposed for multiyear funding (up to three 
years maximum), justify the need for such funding.
    Cost: A total of $125,000 is available for this project. EDA 
anticipates funding only one information dissemination project under 
this RFP.
    Timing: The award made under this RFP is for one year. However, it 
may be eligible for multiyear funding, i.e., renewable for two 
additional years after the initial award is made, at the same or lower 
annual project cost, subject to funding availability, satisfactory 
performance under the initial and, if applicable, subsequent award, and 
at the sole discretion of EDA.
    Additional Requirements: (1) The proposed project should not be 
primarily for the benefit of the grantee, narrowly focused 
organizations, or localized geographic areas.
    (2) The grantee shall participate in up to three EDA conferences 
each year. Locations and dates of the conferences attended shall be at 
EDA's sole discretion.

II. How To Apply

A. Eligible Applicants

    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;

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consortiums of political subdivisions of states.

B. Proposal Submission Procedures

    Each proposal submitted must 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, with an additional two pages allowed for a single 
summary description of all organizations/consultants named in the 
proposal); and
    (4) A proposed schedule for completion of the project.
    EDA will not accept proposals submitted by FAX. Proposals received 
after 4:00 p.m. EDT on June 20, 2001, 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 RFP and applicable provisions 
of 13 CFR Chapter III, including, for example, 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, and 
307.10. Proposals that do not meet all items required or that exceed 
the page limitations of Section II.B. of this RFP, will be considered 
nonresponsive. Proposals that do meet these requirements will be 
evaluated by a review panel comprised of at least three members all of 
whom will be full-time federal employees. The panel will carry out its 
selection process using the following criteria:
    (1) The quality of a proposal's response to the Scope of Work and 
other requirements described in Section I above;
    (2) The ability of the prospective applicant to successfully carry 
out the proposed activities; and
    (3) Cost to the federal government.
    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

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). Public Law 106-553 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, 
Sec. 307 Subpart C.
    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.
Costs
    Ordinarily, the applicant is expected to provide a 50% non-federal 
share of project costs. However, EDA may reduce or waive the required 
50% 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 reduction or 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% 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, or (4) the requirements of 13 CFR 
Sec. 301.4(b) (table) are satisfied (see 13 CFR Sec. 307.11).
Briefings and Reports
    Three of the projects described in this RFP include a requirement 
that the successful applicant(s) conduct briefings and/or training 
workshops for individuals and organizations interested in the project 
results. The completion dates set forth above are only for completion 
of the project and submission of the 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 sole 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 500 hard copies of the final 
report in formats acceptable to EDA.

D. Other Requirements

    See EDA's Notice of Funding Availability for FY 2001 (66 FR 
15001ff, 3/14/2001) for additional information and requirements 
(available on the Internet at http://www.doc.gov/eda/html/1d_fund_prog.htm, under the heading ``Notices of Funding 
Availability.''
    This notice has been determined to be not significant for purposes 
of Executive Order 12866.

    Dated: May 15, 2001.
David L. Temple, Jr.,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Program Operations.
[FR Doc. 01-12671 Filed 5-18-01; 8:45am]
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