[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 116 (Friday, June 16, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34886-34888]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-9519]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Economic Development Administration

[Docket No.: 060607156-6156-01]


Solicitation of Applications for the National Technical 
Assistance Program

AGENCY: Economic Development Administration, Department of Commerce

ACTION: Notice and request for applications.

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

SUMMARY: The Economic Development Administration (EDA) is soliciting 
applications for FY 2006 National Technical Assistance Program (NTA 
Program) funding. 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. Through its NTA Program, EDA works 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 
governments, and community-based organizations to achieve their highest 
economic potential.

DATES: Applications (on Form ED-900A, Application for Investment 
Assistance) for funding under this notice must be received by the EDA 
representative listed below under ADDRESSES no later than August 1, 
2006 at 5 p.m. EDT. Applications received after 5 p.m. EDT on August 1, 
2006 will not be considered for funding. By September 1, 2006, EDA 
expects to notify the applicants selected for investment assistance. 
The selected applicants should expect to receive funding for their 
projects within thirty (30) days of EDA's notification of selection.

ADDRESSES: Applications submitted pursuant to this notice may be:
    1. E-mailed to William P. Kittredge at [email protected]; or
    2. Hand-delivered to William P. Kittredge, Senior Program Analyst, 
Economic Development Administration, Room 7009, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230; or
    3. Mailed to William P. Kittredge, Senior Program Analyst, Economic 
Development Administration, Room 7009, U.S. Department of Commerce, 
1401 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230.
    Applicants are encouraged to submit applications by e-mail. 
Applicants are advised that, due to mail security measures, EDA's 
receipt of mail sent via the United States Postal Service may be 
substantially delayed or suspended in delivery. EDA will not accept 
applications submitted by facsimile.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: For additional information, please contact 
William P. Kittredge at (202) 482-5442 or via e-mail at the address 
listed above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Electronic Access: The FFO announcement for 
this competitive solicitation is available at http://www.grants.gov and 
at EDA's Internet Web site at http://www.eda.gov. Paper copies of the 
Form ED-900A, ``Application for Investment Assistance'' (OMB Control 
No. 0610-0094), and additional information on EDA and its NTA Program 
may be obtained from EDA's Internet Web site at http://www.eda.gov.
    Funding Availability: Funds appropriated under the Science, State, 
Justice, Commerce and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006 (Pub. 
L. 109-108, 119 Stat. 2290 (2005)) (2006 Appropriations Act) are 
available for making awards under the NTA Program authorized by section 
207 of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 
3147), as amended (PWEDA), and 13 CFR part 306, subpart A. 
Approximately $700,000 is available, and shall remain available until 
expended, for funding awards pursuant to this request for applications. 
EDA anticipates publishing additional FFO announcements under the NTA 
Program later during this fiscal year.
    Statutory Authority: The authority for the NTA Program is PWEDA. On 
August 11, 2005, EDA published an interim final rule (70 FR 47002) to 
reflect the amendments made to EDA's authorizing statute by the 
Economic Development Administration Reauthorization Act of 2004 (Pub. 
L. 108-373, 118 Stat. 1756 (2004)). The interim final rule became 
effective on October 1, 2005. EDA's public comment period for the 
interim final rule ran from August 11, 2005 through November 14, 2005. 
On December 15, 2005, EDA published a

[[Page 34887]]

second interim final rule (70 FR 74193) to change provisions of the 
August 11, 2005 interim final rule consistent with the direction 
provided in the Conference Report (H.R. Conf. Rep. No. 109-272) 
accompanying the 2006 Appropriations Act. You may access the currently 
effective regulations and PWEDA on EDA's Internet Web site at http://www.eda.gov.

    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 11.303, 
Economic Development--Technical Assistance.

    Eligibility Requirement: Pursuant to PWEDA, eligible applicants for 
and eligible recipients of EDA investment assistance include a District 
Organization; an Indian Tribe or a consortium of Indian Tribes; a 
State; a city or other political subdivision of a State, including a 
special purpose unit of a State or local government engaged in economic 
or infrastructure development activities, or a consortium of political 
subdivisions; an institution of higher education or a consortium of 
institutions of higher education; a public or private non-profit 
organization or association; a private individual; or a for-profit 
organization. See section 3 of PWEDA (42 U.S.C. 3122) and 13 CFR 300.3.
    Cost Sharing Requirement: Generally, the amount of the EDA grant 
may not exceed fifty (50) percent of the total cost of the project. 
Projects may receive an additional amount that shall not exceed thirty 
(30) percent, based on the relative needs of the region in which the 
project will be located, as determined by EDA. See section 204(a) of 
PWEDA (42 U.S.C. 3144) and 13 CFR 301.4(b)(1). The Assistant Secretary 
of Commerce for Economic Development (Assistant Secretary) has the 
discretion to establish a maximum EDA investment rate of up to one 
hundred (100) percent where the project (i) merits and is not otherwise 
feasible without an increase to the EDA investment rate; or (ii) will 
be of no or only incidental benefit to the recipient. See section 
204(c)(3) of PWEDA (42 U.S.C. 3144) and 13 CFR 301.4(b)(4).
    While cash contributions are preferred, in-kind contributions, 
consisting of assumptions of debt or contributions of space, equipment, 
and services, may provide the non-federal share of the total project 
cost. See section 204(b) of PWEDA (42 U.S.C. 3144). EDA will fairly 
evaluate all in-kind contributions, which must be eligible project 
costs and meet applicable Federal cost principles and uniform 
administrative requirements. Funds from other Federal financial 
assistance awards are considered matching share funds only if 
authorized by statute that allows such use, which may be determined by 
EDA's reasonable interpretation of the statute. See 13 CFR 300.3. The 
applicant must show that the matching share is committed to the 
project, available as needed and not conditioned or encumbered in any 
way that precludes its use consistent with the requirements of EDA 
investment assistance. See 13 CFR 301.5.
    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 for applications, an eligible applicant must submit a 
completed application (Form ED-900A, Application for Investment 
Assistance) to EDA during the specified timeframe specified in the 
DATES section of this notice. Applications received after 5 p.m. EDT on 
August 1, 2006 will not be considered for funding. By September 1, 
2006, EDA expects to notify the applicants selected for investment 
assistance. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified by postal mail 
that their applications were not recommended for funding. Applications 
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. Applications 
that meet all the requirements will be evaluated by a review panel 
comprised of at least three (3) EDA staff members, all of whom will be 
full-time Federal employees.
    Evaluation Criteria: The review panel will evaluate the 
applications and rate and rank them using the following criteria of 
approximate equal weight:
    1. Conformance with EDA's statutory and regulatory requirements, 
including the extent to which the proposed project satisfies the award 
requirements set out below and as provided in 13 CFR 306.2:
    a. Strengthens the capacity of local, State or national 
organizations and institutions to undertake and promote effective 
economic development programs targeted to regions of distress;
    b. Benefits distressed regions; and
    c. Demonstrates innovative approaches to stimulate economic 
development in distressed regions;
    2. The degree to which an EDA investment will have strong 
organizational leadership, relevant project management experience and a 
significant commitment of human resources talent to ensure the 
project's successful execution (see 13 CFR 301.8(b));
    3. The ability of the applicant to implement the proposed project 
successfully (see 13 CFR 301.8);
    4. The feasibility of the budget presented; and
    5. The cost to the Federal Government.
    Selection Factors: EDA expects to fund the highest ranking 
applications submitted under this competitive solicitation. 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 select an application 
out of rank order for the following reasons: (1) A determination that 
the application better meets the overall objectives of sections 2 and 
207 of PWEDA (42 U.S.C. 3121 and 3147); (2) the applicant's performance 
under previous awards; or (3) the availability of funding.

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, published in the Federal Register on 
December 30, 2004 (69 FR 78389), are applicable to this competitive 
solicitation. This notice may be accessed by entering the Federal 
Register volume and page number provided in the previous sentence at 
the following Internet Web site: http://gpoaccess.gov/fr/retrieve.html.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This request for applications contains a collection of information 
subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). The 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the use of the 
Application for Investment Assistance (Form ED-900A) under control 
number 0610-0094. The Form ED-900A also incorporates Forms SF-424 
(Application for Financial Assistance), SF-424A (Budget--Non-
Construction Programs) and SF-424B (Assurances--Non-Construction 
Programs). 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 the 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, ``Regulatory Planning and Review.''

[[Page 34888]]

Executive Order 13132

    It has been determined that this notice does not contain ``policies 
that have Federalism implications,'' as that phrase is defined in 
Executive Order 13132, ``Federalism.''

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 rules 
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: June 13, 2006.
Benjamin Erulkar,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development and 
Chief Operating Officer.
 [FR Doc. E6-9519 Filed 6-15-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-24-P