[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 146 (Monday, July 31, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43105-43107]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-12250]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Economic Development Administration

[Docket No.: 060607156-6203-02]


Solicitation of Applications for the National Technical 
Assistance 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 National Technical Assistance 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 National 
Technical Assistance 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 
30, 2006 at 5 p.m. EDT. Applications received after 5 p.m. EDT on 
August 30, 2006 will not be considered for funding. By September 29, 
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 website at 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 
National Technical Assistance Program may be obtained from EDA's 
Internet website at 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 National Technical Assistance 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 $500,000 is available, and shall remain available until 
expended, for funding awards pursuant to this competitive solicitation. 
This is the third FFO announcement published under this program during 
FY 2006. The first announcement under National Technical Assistance was 
published on June 16, 2006 and the second announcement under Research 
and Evaluation was published on July 18, 2006.
    Statutory Authority: The authority for the National Technical 
Assistance Program is section 207 of PWEDA (42 U.S.C. 3147). You may 
access EDA's currently effective regulations (codified

[[Page 43106]]

at 13 CFR Chapter III) and PWEDA on EDA's Internet website at 
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). 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 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 for funding under this 
competitive solicitation are not subject to the requirements of 
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 30, 2006 will 
be considered non-responsive and will not be considered for funding. By 
September 29, 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 website: 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.''

[[Page 43107]]

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 25, 2006.
Benjamin Erulkar,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce, for Economic Development and 
Chief Operating Officer.
 [FR Doc. E6-12250 Filed 7-28-06; 8:45 am]
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