[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 248 (Tuesday, December 28, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77714-77716]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-28374]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economic Development Administration
[991215339-4345-13]
Solicitation of Proposals for Economic Development Assistance
Programs
AGENCY: Economic Development Administration (EDA)
ACTION: Notice and request for proposals.
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SUMMARY: The Economic Development Administration (EDA) is soliciting
proposals for the following programs: Grants for Public Works and
Economic Development Facilities; Economic Development--Support for
Planning Organizations; Economic Development--Technical Assistance;
Economic Adjustment Assistance; and Economic Development--Trade
Adjustment Assistance. 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. EDA fulfills its mission by investing in the following: Public
works, infrastructure and development facilities; the crafting and
implementation of comprehensive economic development strategies; local,
national and University Center-based technical assistance projects; and
revolving loan funds. Under separate statutory authority, EDA also
provides technical assistance to firms adversely affected by directly
competitive imported products.
DATES: Proposals are accepted on a continuing basis and applications
are invited and processed as received. Normally, two months are
required for a final decision after the receipt of a completed
application invited by EDA that meets all requirements.
ADDRESSES: For applicants in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky,
Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina or Tennessee, please send
proposals to: Economic Development Administration, Atlanta Regional
Office, 401 West Peachtree Street, NW., Suite 1820, Atlanta, Georgia
30308-3510, Telephone: (404) 730-3002, Fax: (404) 730-3025.
For applicants in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma or
Texas, please send proposals to: Economic Development Administration,
Austin Regional Office, 327 Congress Avenue, Suite 200, Austin, Texas
78701-365, Telephone: (512) 381-8144, Fax: (512) 381-8177.
For applicants in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio or
Wisconsin, please send proposals to: Economic Development
Administration, Chicago Regional Office, 111 North Canal Street, Suite
855, Chicago, IL 60606, Telephone: (313) 353-7706, Fax: (313) 353-8575.
For applicants in Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana,
Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah or Wyoming, please send
proposals to: Economic Development Administration, Denver Regional
Office, 1244 Speer Boulevard, Room 670, Denver, Colorado 80204,
Telephone: (303) 844-4715, Fax: (303) 844-3968.
For applicants in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia,
Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York,
Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Vermont, U.S. Virgin Islands
or West Virginia, please send proposals to: Economic Development
Administration, Philadelphia Regional Office, Curtis Center, 601 Walnut
Street, Suite 140 South, Philadelphia, PA 19106, Telephone: (215) 597-
4603, Fax: (215) 597-1063.
For applicants in Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, California,
Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nevada, Northern
Mariana Islands, Oregon or Washington, please send proposals to:
Economic Development Administration, Seattle Regional Office, Jackson
Federal Building, Room 1890, 915 Second Avenue, Seattle, Washington
98174,
[[Page 77715]]
Telephone: (206) 220-7660, Fax: (206) 220-7669.
For a copy of the FFO announcement for this request for proposals,
please see the Web site below listed under ``Electronic Access.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information or for a
paper copy of the FFO announcement, contact the appropriate EDA
regional office listed above. EDA's Web site, http://www.eda.gov
contains additional information on EDA and its program.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Electronic Access: EDA is not currently able to accept electronic
submission of proposal packages. However, the full funding opportunity
announcement for the FY 2005 Economic Development Assistance Programs
competition is available through Grants.gov at http://www.grants.gov.
Additional information is available through EDA's Web site, http://www.eda.gov.
Funding Availability: Funding appropriated under Public Law 108-447
is available for economic development assistance programs authorized by
the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965, as amended
(Public Law 89-136, 42 U.S.C. 3121, et seq.), and as most recently
amended by the Economic Development Administration Reauthorization Act
of 2004 (Public Law 108-373), and for trade adjustment assistance
authorized under title II, chapters 3 and 5 of the Trade Act of 1974,
as amended (19 U.S.C. 2341-2355; 2391), and as further amended by
Public Law 107-210. Funds in the amount of $253,984,652 have been
appropriated for FY 2005 and shall remain available until expended.
Statutory Authority: The authority for programs listed below is the
Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965, as amended (Public
Law 89-136, 42 U.S.C. 3121, et seq.), and as further amended by Public
Law 105-393 and 108-373. The authority for the program listed in part
II.6 is title II, chapters 3 and 5 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended
by Public Law 93-618, 98-120, 98-369, 99-272, 99-514, 100-418, 103-66,
105-277, and 107-210 (19 U.S.C. 2341-2391) (Trade Act).
CFDA: 11.300 Grants for Public Works and Economic Development
Facilities; 11.302 Economic Development--Support for Planning
Organizations; 11.303 Economic Development--Technical Assistance;
11.307 Economic Adjustment Assistance; 11.313 Economic Development--
Trade Adjustment Assistance.
Eligibility: Eligible applicants for and eligible recipients of EDA
financial assistance include Economic Development Districts: Indian
tribes or consortia of Indian tribes; states; cities or other political
subdivision; institutions of higher education or consortia of
institutions of higher education; public or private nonprofit
organizations or associations acting in cooperation with officials of a
political subdivision of a state. Projects eligible for financial
assistance include those projects meeting ``special needs'' criteria,
as set forth in Section VIII.B. of the FFO.
Cost Sharing Requirements: Generally, the amount of the EDA grant
may not exceed 50 percent of the cost of the project, unless the
project meets the requirements in 42 U.S.C. 3144. Projects meeting the
criteria may receive an additional amount that shall not exceed 30
percent based on the relative needs of the area in which the project
will be located. See 42 U.S.C. 3144. While cash contributions are
encouraged, in-kind contributions, fairly evaluated by EDA, may include
assumptions of debt and contributions of space, equipment, and services
and may provide the non-Federal share of the project cost. 42 U.S.C.
3144. 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 meets the requirements of 42 U.S.C.
3144(c). Potential applicants should contact the appropriate EDA office
to make this determination.
Intergovernmental Review: Applications under this program are
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal
Programs.''
Evaluation and Selection Procedures: Each pre-application proposal
is circulated by a project officer to the appropriate regional office
staff for review and comments. When the necessary input and information
are obtained, the pre-application proposal is considered by the
regional office Investment Review Committee (IRC), made up of regional
office staff. The IRC discusses the proposal and all pertinent
documentation and evaluates it on two levels of analysis. The IRC (a)
determines if the proposal meets the program specific criteria provided
under 13 CFR 305.2 for Public Works, 13 CFR 306.2 for Planning
Assistance, 13 CFR 307.2 for Technical Assistance, 13 CFR 308.2 and
308.4 for Economic Adjustment and 13 CFR 315.5 and 315.6 for Trade
Adjustment Assistance for Firms, and (b) rates each proposal using the
general evaluation criteria set forth at 304.2 as further defined by
the Investment Policy Guidelines set forth in this notice below.
University Center and National Technical Assistance funding proposals
will be evaluated pursuant to a separate Federal Register notice
published in this issue.
After completing its evaluation, the IRC recommends whether or not
an application should be invited, documenting its recommendation in the
meeting minutes or in the Investment Proposal Summary and Evaluation
Form. The IRC analysis of the project's fulfillment of the Investment
Policy Guidelines is reviewed at EDA headquarters for quality
assurance. After receiving quality control clearance, the Selecting
Official (depending on the program, either the Regional Director or the
Assistant Secretary) selects the applications to be invited after
considering the evaluations provided by the IRC and the degree to which
one or more of the Funding Priorities provided below are included (or
packaged together) in making his/her decision as to which
preapplication proposals should be invited. The Selecting Official then
formally invites the successful proponent to submit a formal
application. If the Selecting Official declines to invite a full
application, he/she provides written notice to the proponent. In the
case of a continuation grant, no pre-application proposal is required.
Proposals received after the date of this notice will be processed in
accordance with the requirements set forth herein until the next annual
Federal Register is published.
If a successful proponent submits a formal application, it is
reviewed by EDA program officials to determine whether it contains any
deficiencies under EDA regulations at 13 CFR chapter III. If
deficiencies are noted, the applicant is provided a written request to
amend the application to resolve any deficiencies. EDA will negotiate
with the applicant to resolve any deficiencies. If deficiencies are not
resolved 30 days after receipt of the written notice, the application
may be rejected. If the full application is accepted, the applicant and
EDR are notified and it is forwarded for final reviews and processing
in accordance with EDA and DOC procedures.
Evaluation Criteria: EDA investment proposals will be competitively
evaluated primarily on their ability to meet or exceed the following
Investment Policy Guidelines (each criterion will be given equal
weight):
1. Be market-based and results driven. An investment will
capitalize on a
[[Page 77716]]
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:
High levels of local government or non-profit matching
funds and private sector leverage;
Clear and unified leadership and support by local elected
officials; and
Strong cooperation between the business sector, relevant
regional partners and local, state and federal governments.
Funding Priorities: Highly rated preapplication proposals may or
may not be invited to submit full applications based on the following
Funding Priorities. Generally, all EDA proposals and applications
should enhance regional competitiveness and support long-term
development of the regional economy. Further priority will be given to
proposals that:
1. Encourage innovation and regional competitiveness:
a. Reflect coordination of strong regional leadership committed to
regional cluster development;
b. Encourage a formal organization structure and process for
working on cluster development and maintaining consensus;
c. Encourage a common vision and collaboration among firms,
universities, and training centers to implement a cluster strategy;
d. Establish research and industrial parks that encourage
innovation-based competition;
e. Implement cluster-focused and innovation-focused business
development efforts; and
f. Develop or implement coordinated economic and workforce
development strategies.
2. Upgrade core business infrastructure such as:
a. Transportation infrastructure;
b. Communications infrastructure; and
c. Specialized training program infrastructure.
3. Help communities plan and implement economic adjustment
strategies in response to sudden and severe economic dislocation.
Specifically, EDA will give highest priority to support manufacturing-
impacted communities by:
a. Helping communities that experience manufacturing job losses
(e.g., major layoffs, plant closures or trade impacts); and
b. Supporting innovation and competitiveness in American
manufacturing.
4. Support technology-led economic development, for example,
proposals that:
a. Reflect the important role of research and development capacity
of universities in regional development; and
b. Create and support technology transfers.
5. Advance community and faith-based social entrepreneurship in
redevelopment strategies for areas of chronic economic distress.
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, and are available on EDA's Web Site,
http://www.eda.gov.
Paperwork Reduction Act
This document contains collection-of-information requirements
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). The use of Form ED-900P
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 to be not 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
rule 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: December 21, 2004.
David A. Sampson,
Assistant Secretary for Economic Development.
[FR Doc. 04-28374 Filed 12-27-04; 8:45 am]
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