[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 116 (Thursday, June 17, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33887-33888]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-13612]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary


Notice of Funding Availability for Advance Planning Grants--
Request for Grant Proposals

AGENCY: Office of Economic Adjustment, DoD.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Announcement type: New.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 12.614 
Community Economic Adjustment Assistance for Advance Planning.
    Key Dates: Proposals will be accepted and processed as received on 
a continuing basis commencing June 17, 2004.
    Executive Summary: The Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA) is 
authorized by Section 2391(b)(5) of Title 10, United States Code, to 
award planning assistance in the form of Advance Planning Grants to 
State, regional governmental organizations or local governments whose 
economic activity or population is dependent on Defense expenditures. 
Receipt of such planning assistance cannot prejudice a community in the 
Defense Base Closure and Realignment process because Section 
2903(c)(3)(B) of the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990, 
Public Law 101-510, provides that ``in considering military 
installations for closure or realignment, the Secretary may not take 
into account for any purpose any advance planning undertaken by an 
affected community with respect to anticipated closure or realignment 
of an installation.'' Assistance provided under this notice supports 
planning activities for community adjustment and economic 
diversification in response to local economic dependency on military, 
Department of Defense (DoD) civilian, or defense industry expenditures 
and can be used to support the preparation of: Diversification plans to 
lessen local economic dependency on Defense expenditures; local plans 
for organizing a community in response to a base closure or 
realignment; and/or preliminary strategies and schematic plans for the 
potential reuse or redevelopment of existing bases. Assistance may be 
provided to States, regional governmental organizations or local 
governments, or States on behalf of local governments that demonstrate 
this economic dependency. A local match of at least 10 percent of the 
total project cost will be required for awards under this notice.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    OEA is a DoD Field Activity authorized to make grants to assist 
State, regional governmental organizations or local governments in 
planning community adjustments and economic diversification if a 
substantial portion of the economic activity or population of a 
geographic area is dependent on Defense expenditures. Assistance 
provided under this notice supports planning activities for community 
adjustment and economic diversification in response to local economic 
dependency on military, DoD civilian, or defense industry expenditures, 
and can be used to support the preparation of: diversification plans to 
lessen local economic dependency on Defense expenditures; local plans 
for organizing a community in response to a base closure or 
realignment; and preliminary strategies and schematic plans for the 
potential reuse or redevelopment of existing bases. States, regional 
governmental organizations and local governments, or States on behalf 
of local governments are eligible applicants for assistance.

II. Award Information

    One Advance planning Grant, up to $175,000, may be awarded per 
base-related locale under this notice. Applicants shall ensure not less 
than 10% of the total project costs are derived from non-Federal 
sources. OEA will notify applicants within 30 days of receipt of a 
proposal whether their proposal was successful and invite such 
successful applicants to submit an electronic grant (eGrant) 
application.

III. Eligibility Information

    Eligible applicants are States, regional governmental organizations 
or local governments, or States on behalf of local governments. States 
applying on behalf of local governments shall include

[[Page 33888]]

evidence of support from elected officials of the local government.
    Eligible activities include the preparation of: Community economic 
adjustment or diversification plans in response to a proponent area's 
dependence on defense spending; contingency plans to organize in the 
event of a base closure and realignment; and/or initial strategies and 
schematic plans for the potential reuse or redevelopment of existing 
bases.
    Funds awarded under this notice shall not to be used for direct 
personnel costs apart from work directly related to the preparation of 
planning documents, as described above.
    Applicants will be asked to certify, and a special condition of 
awards under this notice is, that any assistance provided under this 
notice shall not be used to directly or indirectly inform and/or 
influence deliberations under Public Law 101-510, as amended, of either 
the Department of Defense (including any of its components) and the 
Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission.
    Receipt of planning assistance pursuant to this notice cannot 
prejudice a community in the Defense Base Closure and Realignment 
process because Section 2903(c)(3)(B) of the Defense Base Closure and 
Realignment Act of 1990, Public Law 101-510, provides that ``in 
considering military installations for closure or realignment, the 
Secretary may not take into account for any purpose any advance 
planning undertaken by an affected community with respect to 
anticipated closure of realignment of an installation.''

IV. Application and Submission Information

    Prospective applicants are advised that proposals will be accepted 
and processed as received on a continuing basis commencing June 27, 
2004.
    Each proposal submitted should include a cover or transmittal 
letter and accompanying text that shall consist of no more than six (6) 
pages (single-sided) which must include:
     A summary description of the community's defense 
dependency, including a statement of direct defense employment as a 
share of regional total employment and as a share of recent annual 
changes in regional total employment;
     A summary of the need, problem, or issue the project will 
address;
     A description of how the proponent intends to carry out 
the work required to resolve the situation identified;
     A proposed budget and accompanying explanation;
     A project schedule for completion of the work; and,
     A local point of contact.
    Proposals may be either mailed or hand-delivered to: Director, 
Office of Economic Adjustment, 400 Army Navy Drive, Suite 200, 
Arlington, VA 22202-4704, or they can be faxed to the Office of 
Economic Adjustment at (703) 604-5460.

V. Application Review Information

    1. Selection Criteria--Upon validating the level of economic 
dependence on military, DoD civilian, and defense industry employment, 
OEA considers each of the following equally balanced factors as a basis 
for inviting formal grant applications:
     An appropriate and clear project design to address the 
need, problem, or issue identified;
     The innovative quality of the proposed approach to advance 
planning, economic adjustment, or economic diversification; and,
     a reasonable proposed budget and schedule for completion 
of the work program specified.
    2. Review and Selection Process--All proposals will be reviewed on 
their individual merit by a panel of OEA staff, all of whom will be 
Federal employees. OEA will notify the applicant within thirty (30) 
days of receipt of a proposal whether their proposal was successful and 
invite the successful applicant to submit an electronic grant (eGrant) 
application. The Director, OEA, will assign a Project Manager to advise 
and assist successful applicants in the preparation of the application. 
Grant applications will be reviewed for their completeness and accuracy 
and a grant award notification, to the extent possible, will be issued 
within seven (7) business days.

VI. Award Administration Information

    1. Award Notices--A successful applicant (Grantee) will receive a 
notice of award in the form of a Grant Agreement, signed by the 
Director, OEA (Grantor), on behalf of the Department of Defense. The 
Grant Agreement will be transmitted electronically or, if necessary, by 
U.S. Mail.
    2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements--The Grantee and 
any consultant/contractor operating under the terms of a grant shall 
comply with all Federal, State, and local laws applicable to its 
activities including the following: 32 CFR Part 33, ``Uniform 
Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to 
State and Local Governments''; OMB Circulars A-87, ``Cost Principles 
for State and Local Governments'' and the revised A-133, ``Audits of 
States, Local Governments and Non-Profit Organizations''; 32 CFR Part 
25, ``Government-wide Debarment and Suspension (Non-procurement)''; 32 
CFR Part 26, ``Drug-free Workplace''; and 32 CFR Part 28, ``New 
Restrictions on Lobbying (Grants).''
    3. Reporting--OEA requires quarterly performance reports and one 
final performance report for any grant. The performance reports will 
contain information on the following:
     A comparison of actual accomplishments to the objectives 
established for the period;
     reasons for slippage if established objectives were not 
met;
     additional pertinent information when appropriate;
     a comparison of actual and projected quarterly 
expenditures in the grant; and,
     the amount of Federal cash on hand at the beginning and 
end of the reporting period.
    The final performance report must contain a summary of activaities 
for the entire grant period. All required deliverables should be 
submitted with the final performance report. The final SF 269A, 
``Financial Status Report,'' must be submitted to OEA within 90 days 
after the end of the grant. Any grant funds actually advanced and not 
needed for grant purposes shall be returned imemdiately to OEA.
    OEA will provide a schedule for reporting periods and report due 
dates in the Grant Agreement.

VII. Agency Contacts

    For further information, to answer questions, or for help with 
problems, contact: David Larson, Deputy Director, Office of Economic 
Development, telephone: (703) 604-4828, fax: (703) 604-5460, e-mail: 
[email protected] or regular mail at 400 Army Navy Drive, Suite 200, 
Arlington, VA 22202-4704.

VIII. Other Information

    The Office of Economic Adjustment Internet address is http://www/
oea.gov.

    Dated: June 10, 2004.
L.M. Bynum,
Alternate OSD Federal Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 04-13612 Filed 6-16-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-06-M