[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 142 (Monday, July 26, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44488-44490]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-16907]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Economic Development Administration

[Docket No. 991215339-4192-12]


National Technical Assistance, Training, Research, and Evaluation

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

ACTION: Notice and request for proposals.

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SUMMARY: The mission of EDA is to lead the Federal economic development 
agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing American 
regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. Through the 
National Technical Assistance, Training, Research and Evaluation 
Program (NTA Program), EDA will work towards fulfilling its mission by 
funding research and technical assistance projects to promote 
competitiveness and innovation in urban and rural regions throughout 
the United States and its territories. By working in conjunction with 
its research partners, EDA will assist states, local governments and 
community based organizations to achieve their highest economic 
potential.
    EDA is soliciting proposals to undertake research and provide 
technical assistance: (1) Addressing Competitiveness and Innovation in 
Rural U.S. Regions and Developing and Analyzing Rural Clusters of 
Innovation and Linking Rural and Metropolitan Regions; and (2) 
Information Dissemination to Practitioners Serving Distressed Areas.
    This competitive solicitation request was previously published as 
part of a larger competitive solicitation in the Federal Register on 
April 30, 2004 (69 FR 23727), as well as on www.grants.gov and on EDA's 
Web site at www.eda.gov. EDA is re-soliciting proposals for the 
projects listed below due to the receipt of proposals that EDA, in its 
discretion, determined were non-responsive to the original solicitation 
and thus determined to be unsuitable for funding.

DATES: Proposals for funding under this program must be received by the 
EDA representative listed below no later than August 25, 2004 at 4 p.m. 
(e.d.t.). Proposals received after 4 p.m. (e.d.t.) on August 25, 2004, 
will not be considered for funding. By September 9, 2004, EDA will 
notify proponents whether they will be given further funding 
consideration and will invite successful proponents to submit a formal 
application. Projects should expect to receive funding by September 30, 
2004; however, there is no guarantee that proponents invited by EDA to 
submit a formal application will receive funding. Proposals that were 
not recommended for funding will be retained by EDA for no longer than 
three years from the date of receipt.

ADDRESSES: Research and Evaluation proposals may be e-mailed to 
[email protected]; National Technical Assistance proposals may be e-
mailed to [email protected]. Alternatively, Research and Evaluation 
proposals may be hand-delivered to: W. Kent Lim, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, Economic Development Administration, Room 1874, 1401 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230.
    National Technical Assistance proposals may be hand-delivered to: 
Dr. John J. McNamee, U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development 
Administration, Room 1874, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, 
DC 20230; or
    Research and Evaluation proposals may be mailed to: W. Kent Lim, 
U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration, Room 
7015, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230;
    National Technical Assistance proposals may be mailed to: Dr. John 
J. McNamee, U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development 
Administration, Room 7816, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, 
DC 20230.
    Proponents are encouraged to submit proposals by e-mail. Proponents 
are advised that, due to mail security measures, EDA's receipt of mail 
sent via the United States Postal Service may be delayed for up to two 
weeks.
    EDA will not accept proposals submitted by facsimile.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For a copy of the full Federal Funding 
Opportunity (FFO) announcement for this solicitation for competitive

[[Page 44489]]

proposals, contact the appropriate EDA officer listed above. The text 
of the full FFO announcement can also be accessed at EDA's Web site: 
http://www.eda.gov and at http://www.grants.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Electronic Access: The full FFO announcement for this competitive 
solicitation with respect to the FY 2004 NTA Program is available 
through EDA's Web site, http://www.eda.gov, and through Grants.gov at 
http://www.grants.gov.
    Funding Availability: EDA may use funds appropriated under Public 
Law 108-199 for the NTA Program. Funds in the amount of $805,000 are 
available for the NTA Program and funds in the amount of $495,000 have 
been appropriated for the Research and Evaluation Program for FY 2004. 
The funds made available for both Programs are available until 
expended. Awards under this competitive solicitation will be in the 
form of grants or cooperative agreements, with cooperative agreements 
being used where there is substantial collaboration between the EDA NTA 
Program staff and the recipient of an award. For example, a cooperative 
agreement will be used if there is substantial collaboration between 
EDA Program staff and the recipient of an information dissemination 
award in the selection of topics and presenters for satellite telecasts 
and regional policy forums.

    Statutory Authority: Public Works and Economic Development Act 
of 1965, as amended (Pub. L. 89-136, 42 U.S.C. 3121 et seq.), and as 
further amended by the Economic Development Administration Reform 
Act of 1998 (Pub. L. 105-393) (PWEDA).

    CFDA: 11.303 Economic Development--Technical Assistance; 11.312 
Economic Development--Research and Evaluation.
    Eligibility: Eligible applicants and eligible recipients of EDA 
financial assistance as defined in 13 CFR 300.2, including private 
individuals and for-profit organizations.
    Cost Sharing Requirements: Ordinarily the amount of the EDA grant 
may not exceed 50 percent of the cost of the project. See 13 CFR 
301.4(a), 307.11(c)(1). While cash contributions are preferred, the 
project's non-Federal share may consist of in-kind contributions, 
fairly evaluated by EDA, such as contributions of space, equipment and 
services. 13 CFR 301.4(a). In-kind contributions must be eligible 
project costs and meet applicable Federal cost principles and uniform 
administrative requirements. Id. EDA may supplement the costs of a 
project up to and including 100 percent of such project costs where the 
applicant is able to demonstrate that the project (i) is not feasible 
without EDA supplementation, and (ii) otherwise warrants EDA 
supplementation. 13 CFR 307.11(c)(1), (2). EDA may also supplement the 
costs of a project where the applicant is able to demonstrate that the 
applicant's overall economic situation precludes its contribution of 
the non-Federal share otherwise required for the project. 13 CFR 
307.11(c)(1)(i), 301.4(b). Potential applicants should contact the 
appropriate EDA office to make this determination.
    Intergovernmental Review: Applications under the NTA Program are 
not subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of 
Federal Programs.''
    Evaluation and Selection Procedures: To apply for an award under 
this request, an eligible applicant must submit a proposal to EDA 
during the specified timeframe and in the manner provided by this 
solicitation. Proposals that do not meet all items required or that 
exceed the page limitations set forth in the FFO will be considered 
non-responsive and will not be considered by the review panel. 
Proposals that meet all the 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 first evaluates the proposals using 
(a) the general evaluation criteria set forth in 13 CFR 304.1 and 13 
CFR 304.2, and (b) the supplemental evaluation criteria (Investment 
Policy Guidelines) set forth below. The Assistant Secretary of Commerce 
for Economic Development is the Selecting Official and will normally 
follow the recommendation of the review panel. However, the Assistant 
Secretary may not make any selection, or he may substitute one of the 
lower rated proposals, if he determines that it better meets the 
overall objectives of PWEDA.

A. Evaluation Criteria

    Proposals that meet these threshold criteria will subsequently be 
evaluated by the review panel using the following criteria of 
approximate equal weight:
    1. The quality of a proponent's response to deliverables set forth 
in Section II. above;
    2. The ability of the proponent to successfully carry out the 
proposed activities; and
    3. Cost to the Federal Government.

B. Supplemental Evaluation Criteria--Investment Policy Guidelines

    EDA's mission is to lead the Federal economic development agenda by 
promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing American regions 
for growth and success in the worldwide economy. Accordingly, all 
potential EDA investments will be analyzed using the following five 
Investment Policy Guidelines, which constitute supplemental evaluation 
criteria of approximate equal weight and which further define the 
criteria provided at 13 CFR 304.2:
    1. Be market-based and results driven. An investment will 
capitalize on a region's competitive strengths and will positively move 
a regional economic indicator measured on EDA's Balanced Scorecard, 
such as: an increased number of higher-skill, higher-wage jobs; 
increased tax revenue; or increased private sector investment.
    2. Have strong organizational leadership. An investment will have 
strong leadership, relevant project management experience, and a 
significant commitment of human resources talent to ensure a project's 
successful execution.
    3. Advance productivity, innovation, and entrepreneurship. An 
investment will embrace the principles of entrepreneurship, enhance 
regional clusters, and leverage and link technology innovators and 
local universities to the private sector to create the conditions for 
greater productivity, innovation, and job creation.
    4. Look beyond the immediate economic horizon, anticipate economic 
changes, and diversify the local and regional economy. An investment 
will be part of an overarching, long term comprehensive economic 
development strategy that enhances a region's success in achieving a 
rising standard of living by supporting existing industry clusters, 
developing emerging new clusters, or attracting new regional economic 
drivers.
    5. Demonstrate a high degree of commitment by exhibiting: (a) High 
levels of local government or non-profit matching funds and private 
sector leverage; (b) clear and unified leadership and support by local 
elected officials; and (c) strong cooperation between the business 
sector, relevant regional partners and local, state and federal 
governments.
    Announcement and Award Dates: By September 9, 2004, EDA will notify 
proponents whether they will be given further funding consideration and 
will invite successful proponents to submit a

[[Page 44490]]

Form ED-900A, Research and National Technical Assistance, OMB Control 
Number 0610-0094. There is no guarantee that successful proponents will 
receive funding. The projects selected for funding should expect to 
receive funding by September 30, 2004. Proposals that were not 
recommended for funding will be retained by EDA for no longer than 
three years from the date of receipt.

The Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification Requirements for 
Grants and Cooperative Agreements

    The Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification Requirements for 
Grants and Cooperative Agreements contained in the Federal Register 
notice of October 1, 2001 (66 FR 49917), as amended by the Federal 
Register notice published on October 30, 2002 (67 FR 66109), are 
applicable to this solicitation.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This document contains collection-of-information requirements 
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). The use of Form ED-900A 
has been approved by OMB under the control number 0610-0094. 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required to 
respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty for failure to 
comply with, a collection of information subject to the requirements of 
the PRA unless that collection of information displays a currently 
valid OMB control number.

Executive Order 12866

    This notice has been determined not to be significant for purposes 
of Executive Order 12866.

Executive Order 13132 (Federalism)

    It has been determined that this notice does not contain policies 
with Federalism implications as that term is defined in Executive Order 
13132.

Administrative Procedure Act/ Regulatory Flexibility Act

    Prior notice and an opportunity for public comments are not 
required by the Administrative Procedure Act or any other law for this 
notice concerning grants, benefits and contracts (5 U.S.C. 553(a)(2)). 
Because notice and opportunity for comment are not required pursuant to 
5 U.S.C. 553 or any other law, the analytical requirements of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) are inapplicable. 
Therefore, a regulatory flexibility analysis has not been prepared.

    Dated: July 20, 2004.
David Bearden,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic Development.
[FR Doc. 04-16907 Filed 7-23-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-24-P