[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 137 (Tuesday, July 19, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41372-41374]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-14158]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Economic Development Administration

[Docket No. 991215339-5181-18]


National Technical Assistance: Research and Evaluation Program

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

ACTION: Notice and request for proposals.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 
Research and Evaluation 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 help States, local and 
tribal governments and community-based organizations to achieve their 
highest economic potential. Pursuant to its Research and Evaluation 
program, EDA is soliciting competitive proposals for the following 
project: Addressing Competitiveness and Innovation in Rural U.S. 
Regions--Developing and Analyzing Rural Clusters of Innovation and 
Linking Rural and Metropolitan Regions.

DATES: Proposals for funding pursuant to this competitive solicitation 
must be received by the EDA Headquarters representative listed in the 
ADDRESSES section of this notice no later than August 18, 2005 at 4 
p.m. (e.d.t.). Proposals received after 4 p.m. (e.d.t.) on August 18, 
2005 will not be considered for funding. By September 2, 2005, EDA will 
notify proponents whether they will be given further funding 
consideration and will invite the successful proponent to submit a 
formal application for EDA investment assistance.

ADDRESSES: Proposals submitted pursuant to this competitive 
solicitation may be (a) E-mailed to W. Kent Lim at [email protected]; 
(b) hand-delivered to: W. Kent Lim, Economic Development 
Administration, Room 1874, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230; or (c) mailed to: W. 
Kent Lim, Economic Development Administration, Room 7015, U.S. 
Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 
20230. Proponents are encouraged to submit proposals by e-mail. EDA 
will not accept proposals submitted by facsimile. Please note that any 
correspondence sent by regular mail may be substantially delayed or 
suspended in delivery, since all regular mail sent to the Department of 
Commerce is subject to extensive security screening.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please contact W. Kent Lim at (202) 
482-6225 or via e-mail at the address listed above. The text of the 
full FFO announcement may also be accessed at EDA's Internet Web site: 
http://www.eda.gov and at Grants.gov: http://www.grants.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Electronic Access: The full FFO announcement for this competitive 
solicitation is available at EDA's Web site, http://www.eda.gov, and at 
Grants.gov at http://www.grants.gov.
    Funding Availability: EDA may use funds appropriated under Public 
Law 108-447 for the Research and Evaluation program. These funds are 
available until expended. EDA expects that the successful proposal for 
this project will require an EDA investment of between $250,000 and 
$500,000. The EDA award under this competitive solicitation will be in 
the form of a grant between EDA and the successful proponent.
    Statutory Authority: The statutory authority for the Research and 
Evaluation program is 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 made by the Economic Development 
Administration Reauthorization Act of 2004 (Pub. L. 108-373) (PWEDA).
    CFDA: 11.312 Economic Development--Research and Evaluation Program.
    Eligibility: Eligible applicants for, and eligible recipients of, 
EDA financial assistance under the Research and Evaluation program 
include: Economic Development Districts; Indian tribes; States; cities 
or other political subdivision of a State, including a special purpose 
unit of State or local government engaged in economic or infrastructure 
development activities, or a consortium of political subdivisions; 
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; private individuals; and for-profit

[[Page 41373]]

organizations. See 42 U.S.C. 3122 and 13 CFR 300.2.
    Cost Sharing Requirements: Section 204(a) of PWEDA (42 U.S.C. 3144) 
provides that the maximum EDA investment rate for a project must not 
exceed the sum of fifty (50) percent of the overall project cost, plus 
an additional thirty (30) percent of the overall project cost that is 
based on the ``relative needs'' of the region in which the project will 
be located. For projects under the Research and Evaluation program, the 
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development (the 
``Assistant Secretary'') has the discretion to establish a maximum EDA 
investment rate of up to one hundred (100) percent of the overall 
project cost where the project merits and is not otherwise feasible 
without an increase to the EDA investment rate. While cash 
contributions are preferred, the project's matching funds requirement 
(i.e., the non-Federal share) may consist of in-kind contributions, 
fairly evaluated by EDA, such as contributions of space, equipment and 
services. See Section 204(b) of PWEDA (42 U.S.C. 3144) and 13 CFR 
301.4(a). In-kind contributions must be eligible project costs and meet 
applicable Federal cost principles and uniform administrative 
requirements. Id. Additionally, the non-Federal share of the project's 
costs must be committed to the project, available as needed and not 
conditioned or encumbered in any way that preclude its use consistent 
with the requirements of the EDA investment assistance. See 13 CFR 
316.17.
    Intergovernmental Review: Proposals and applications under the 
Research and Evaluation program are not subject to Executive Order 
12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.''
    Evaluation and Selection Procedures:

A. Review Criteria and Selection Procedures

    To apply for an award under this request, an eligible applicant 
must submit a proposal to EDA during the specified timeframe provided 
in the DATES section of this notice. Proposals that are not timely 
submitted or that do not meet all items required or that exceed the 
page limitations set forth in this competitive solicitation will be 
considered non-responsive and will not be considered by the review 
panel. Proposals that meet all of the technical requirements set forth 
in this competitive solicitation will be evaluated by a review panel 
comprised of at least three members, all of whom will be full-time 
Federal employees. See 13 CFR 304.1(b), 304.2(a). The review panel will 
evaluate those proposals meeting the technical requirements of this 
competitive solicitation and rate and rank them using the following 
criteria of approximate equal weight:
    1. General evaluation criteria set forth in 13 CFR 304.2;
    2. Supplemental evaluation criteria (Investment Policy Guidelines) 
set forth in Section B. below; and the
    3. Cost to the Federal Government.
    The Assistant Secretary 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.

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 
general evaluation 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 2, 2005, EDA will notify 
proponents whether they will be given further funding consideration and 
will invite the successful proponent to submit a formal application for 
EDA investment assistance. The proponent invited by EDA to submit a 
formal application should expect to receive funding for its project by 
September 30, 2005; however, there is no guarantee that the proponent 
will receive funding.

Supplemental Notice

    EDA's reauthorization legislation was signed into law on October 
27, 2004, with amendments made to PWEDA through the Economic 
Development Administration Reauthorization Act of 2004 (Pub. L. 108-
373). Since reauthorization, EDA is in the process of conducting a full 
scale review and revision of its regulations. When revised regulations 
are published, EDA may publish a supplemental notice in the Federal 
Register in order to provide applicants with updated information on the 
revised regulations.

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 December 28, 2004 (69 FR 78389) is 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

[[Page 41374]]

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 
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: July 13, 2005.
Sandy Baruah,
Chief of Staff.
[FR Doc. 05-14158 Filed 7-18-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-24-P