[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 137 (Tuesday, July 18, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40690-40691]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-11331]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Economic Development Administration

[Docket No.: 060710189-6189-01]


Solicitation of Applications for the Research and Evaluation 
Program

AGENCY: Economic Development Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice and request for applications.

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SUMMARY: The Economic Development Administration (EDA) is soliciting 
applications for FY 2006 Research and Evaluation 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 Research and 
Evaluation 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 15, 
2006 at 5 p.m. EDT. Applications received after 5 p.m. EDT on August 
15, 2006 will not be considered for funding. By September 15, 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 CONTACT: 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 Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) 
announcement for this competitive solicitation is available at 
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 Research and Evaluation 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)) are available for making awards 
under the Research and Evaluation 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. Funds up to 
$200,000 are available, and shall remain available until expended, for 
funding awards pursuant to this competitive solicitation. This is the 
second FFO announcement published under this program during FY 2006. 
The first announcement under National Technical Assistance was 
published on June 16, 2006. EDA anticipates publishing at least one 
more FFO announcement under this program later this fiscal year.
    Statutory Authority: The authority for the Research and Evaluation 
Program is section 207 of PWEDA (42 U.S.C. 3147). You may access EDA's 
currently effective regulations (codified at 13 CFR Chapter III) and 
PWEDA on EDA's Internet Web site at http://www.eda.gov.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 11.312, 
Economic Development--Research and Evaluation.
    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). Under this competitive 
solicitation, 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

[[Page 40691]]

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 Research and 
Evaluation Program are not subject to Executive Order 12372, 
``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.''
    Evaluation and Selection Procedures: To apply for an award under 
this announcement, an eligible applicant must submit a completed 
application (Form ED-900A, Application for Investment Assistance) to 
EDA during the timeframe specified in the DATES section of this notice. 
Applications received after 5 p.m. EDT on August 15, 2006 will not be 
considered for funding. By September 15, 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.''

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: July 12, 2006.
Benjamin Erulkar,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development and 
Chief Operating Officer.
 [FR Doc. E6-11331 Filed 7-17-06; 8:45 am]
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