[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 60 (Thursday, March 27, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16283-16288]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-6263]


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ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION


Election Data Collection Grant Program

AGENCY: United States Election Assistance Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Funding Opportunity Title: Election Data Collection Grant Program.
    Announcement Type: Competitive Grant--Initial.
    Funding Opportunity Number: EAC-08-001.
    CFDA Number: 90.400.

DATES: Applications are due by 4 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on April 
28, 2008.
SUMMARY: On December 22, 2007, Congress authorized the Omnibus 
Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2008. Public Law 110-161 authorized 
the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (``the EAC'') to award $10 
million in grants to States to implement an election data collection 
program (``the program''). Under the Administrative Provision of the 
Act (Section 501), the EAC shall establish a program to provide a grant 
of $2 million to each of five eligible States to improve the collection 
of precinct level data relating to the November 2008 Federal elections. 
The program is designed to: (a) Develop and document a series of 
administrative and procedural best practices in election data 
collection that can be replicated by other States; (b) improve data 
collection processes; (c) enhance the capacity of States and their 
jurisdictions to collect accurate and complete election data; and (d) 
document and describe particular administrative and management data 
collection practices, as well as particular data collection policies 
and procedures. For more information please visit http://www.eac.gov.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    The announcement for this grant program is authorized by the 
Omnibus Appropriation Act for Fiscal Year (FY) 2008, Public Law (Pub. 
L.) 110-161, Title V. Under the Act, the U.S. Election Assistance 
Commission (EAC or Commission) is sanctioned to award grants to States 
for improving the collection of precinct-level data for Federal 
elections. This announcement offers the applicant State the opportunity 
to provide for the collection of such data in a common electronic 
format to be determined by the Commission.

Election Data Collection Grant Program

    Public Law 110-161 authorizes the EAC to award $10,000,000 in 
grants to States to implement a data collection program for the Federal 
elections scheduled to be held in November 2008. Of that sum, $2 
million will be provided to each of five eligible applicants.
    The EAC is soliciting proposals from States to improve the 
collection of data at the precinct level for the November 2008 Federal 
elections. In general, a precinct is defined as an administrative 
division of a county or municipality to which voters have been assigned 
by their residing address for voting.
    Grantees will be required to report to the EAC on all data elements 
as described in Appendix A. (Appendix A is available at the Web site 
http://www.submitgrant.net or http://www.eac.gov.) States that receive 
an award are also required to report, at a minimum, precinct level data 
for questions 1, 2, 18a, 23, 29, and 30.
    The purpose of the Election Data Collection Grant Program is to:
     Develop and document a series of administrative and 
procedural best practices in election data collection that can be 
replicated by other States;
     Improve data collection processes;
     Enhance the capacity of States and their jurisdictions to 
collect accurate and complete election data; and
     Document and describe particular administrative and 
management data collection practices, as well as particular data 
collection policies and procedures.
    State grantees will use the grant funds in part to implement new 
data collection procedures, systems, and/or methodologies for the 
November 2008 election. They will have until March 2009 to report the 
data collected from that election to the EAC. They will also be 
required to submit to the EAC a semi-annual program report, which is 
due six months following the inception of the grant, as well as a final 
program report, which is due June 1, 2009. Additionally, States must 
submit an SF 269 financial report on January 15, 2009, for the period 
beginning on the date of award of the contract and ending on December 
31, 2008; and on July 31, 2009 for the period beginning January 1, 2008 
and ending on the close out of the grant program.
    Not later than June 30, 2009, the EAC will submit a report to 
Congress on the impact of the grant program on States' ability to 
effectively collect Federal election data. The EAC will consult with 
States receiving grants under the program, along with the Election 
Assistance Commission Board of Advisors, to compile the report. The 
report will include recommendations to improve the collection of data 
relating to regularly scheduled general elections

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for Federal office in all States. This will include recommendations for 
changes in Federal law or regulations and the EAC's estimate of the 
amount of funding necessary to carry out such changes.

II. Award Information

    Funding Instrument Type: Grant.
    Anticipated Total Priority Area Funding: $10,000,000.
    Anticipated Number of Awards: 5.
    Amount of Award to Each State Awarded: $2,000,000.
    Project Period for Awards: From the date of award until June 30, 
2009.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

    States, through their Chief State Election Officials, are the sole 
eligible applicants for this grant.
    States are permitted to identify other organizations that may 
assist them in implementing their data collection efforts on behalf of 
this grant. However, these organizations will be considered 
subcontractors, rather than co-participants or sub-grantees, and are 
not eligible to apply for the grant under this program. Any 
applications sent by States citing other organizations as co-applicants 
or sent by non-States will be considered non-responsive and returned 
without review.
    To be eligible for an Election Data Collection Grant, a State must 
submit an application containing the following information and 
assurances:
     A plan for the use of the funds provided by the grant 
which will expand and improve the collection of the election data 
relating to the regularly scheduled general election for Federal office 
held in November 2008, and will provide for the collection of such data 
in a common electronic format (as determined by the Commission). The 
State must, at a minimum, be able to provide data in Excel or in Excel-
compatible software.
     An assurance that the State will comply with all requests 
made by the Commission for the compilation and submission of the data.
     An assurance that the State will provide the Commission 
with such information as the Commission may require in order to assist 
the Commission in preparing and submitting a report to Congress. The 
Commission, in consultation with the States receiving grants under the 
program and the Election Assistance Commission Board of Advisors, shall 
submit a report to Congress on the impact of the program on the 
collection of the election data not later than June 30, 2009.
     Such other information and assurances as the Commission 
may require.
    For the purposes of this grant, a ``State'' has the meaning given 
in Section 901 of HAVA (42 U.S.C. 15541.). The term ``State'' is 
defined as each of the 50 States, along with the District of Columbia, 
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the United 
States Virgin Islands.
    States are also required to address the six criteria described in 
Section V. (``Application Review Information'') in a narrative 
statement that must not exceed 30 pages.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

    None.

IV. Application, Submission, and Related Information

1. General Guidelines for Application

    Your application must include a narrative statement that:
     Outlines a plan of action which describes the scope and 
detail of how the proposed work will be accomplished (e.g., identify 
the hours and dates of the program, staff to be used, role of staffers, 
and systems implemented), given the description and purpose detailed 
above regarding the Election Data Collection Grant Program;
     Illustrates the methods, work plan, and timetable for the 
data collection project;
     Describes the State's approach to collecting data, such as 
developing systems or methodologies, in order to enhance data 
collection;
     Describes the State's ability and resources that will 
enable it to quickly begin the data collection project based on stated 
capacity and the readiness of the staff and any partners to implement 
the project;
     Identifies the results and benefits to be derived from the 
data collection project;
     Illustrates how the State and any proposed partners have 
experience in data collection for elections or work related to the data 
collection program; and
     Presents a budget with reasonable project costs, 
appropriately allocated across component areas, which are sufficient to 
accomplish the objectives, such as documentation of the dollar amount 
requested, as well as a description of the fiscal controls and 
accounting procedures that will be used to ensure prudent use, proper 
disbursement, and accurate accounting of funds received under this 
program announcement.
     Indicates the level at which election data is collected 
and reported in the State--i.e., at the county, township, independent 
city, or borough level.
    The narrative statement must address each of the six criteria 
described in Section V. (``Application Review Information'').

2. Federal Assistance Forms

    Applicants must provide an Application for Federal Assistance 
consisting of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) forms SF 424, SF 
424A, and Certifications/Assurances. Standard application forms can be 
requested by mail from Mr. Eduardo Hernandez, EAC Operations Center, 
1515 Wilson Blvd., Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22209, by e-mail at 
[email protected], or by phone at (888) 203-6161.

3. Notices of Intent To Apply

    Applicants are encouraged to submit a non-binding Notice of Intent 
to Apply. To obtain this Notice of Intent to Apply, which is Appendix B 
of this document, go to the Web site http://www.submitgrant.net or 
http://www.eac.gov. Notices of Intent to Apply are not required and 
submission or failure to submit a notice has no bearing on the scoring 
of proposals received. The receipt of notices enables the EAC to better 
plan for the application review process. Notices of Intent to Apply are 
due April 9, 2008.

4. Applicant Question & Answer

    States requesting clarity on specific issues of this RFA must 
submit those questions in writing to the following e-mail address: 
[email protected]. All questions must be received by 4 p.m., Eastern 
Daylight Time, on April 14, 2008. Questions and answers will be posted 
on a rolling basis at the following Web site address: http://www.submitgrant.net.

5. Content and Form of Application Submission

The Application
    You may view this grant announcement at http://www.submitgrant.net. 
Applicants can submit applications electronically or in hard copy. 
Electronic submissions can be submitted through http://www.submitgrant.net. Hard copy applications must be sent to EAC 
Operations Center, 1515 Wilson Blvd., Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22209. 
For additional information concerning submissions, contact the EAC 
Support Center by phone at (888) 203-6161, or via e-mail at 
[email protected]. Each application must include only one proposed State 
project.

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    Data Universal Number System (DUNS) Number Requirement. All 
applicants must have a Dun & Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System 
(DUNS) number. On June 27, 2003, the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) published in the Federal Register a new Federal policy applicable 
to all Federal grant applicants. The policy requires Federal grant 
applicants to provide a DUNS number when applying for Federal grants or 
cooperative agreements on or after October 1, 2003. The DUNS number 
will be required whether an applicant is submitting a paper or 
electronic application. These numbers are issued by Dun & Bradstreet. 
Please ensure that your organization has a DUNS number. You may acquire 
a DUNS number at no cost by calling the dedicated toll-free DUNS number 
request line at 1-866-705-5711 or you may request a number online at 
http://www.dnb.com.
Application Requirements
    A complete application consists of the following items:
     Narrative Statement (must not exceed 30 pages) that 
addresses the six criteria described in Section V. (``Application 
Review Information'');
     Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424, REV 4-92);
     [cir] Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs (SF 424A, REV 
4-92);
     [cir] Budget justification for Section B--Budget Categories;
     [cir] Assurances--Non-Construction Programs (Standard Form 424B, 
REV 4-92);
     Statement attesting to non-partisanship of the program; 
and
     Certification regarding lobbying.
    Applicants that are submitting their application in paper format 
should submit one original and two copies of the complete application. 
The original and each of the two copies must include all required 
forms, certifications, assurances, and appendices. The original copy of 
the application must have the original signature(s) of the authorized 
representative of the applicant organization.
    Do not include extraneous materials as attachments, such as agency 
promotion brochures, slides, tapes, film clips, minutes of meetings, 
survey instruments, compact or DVD disks, or entire articles of 
incorporation.
    The applicant must disclose the names of individuals and 
organizations that assisted it with the proposal preparation.
Format of the Application
    Each application must include contents that meet the following 
specifications:
     Use white paper only.
     Use 8.5 x 11 pages (on one side only) with one-
inch margins (top, bottom and sides).
     Paper sizes other than 8.5 x 11 will not be 
accepted. This is particularly important because it is often not 
possible to reproduce copies in a size other than 8.5 x 11.
     Use no less than a 12-point Arial or 12-point Times New 
Roman font.
     Double-space all narrative pages.
     There is a 30-page limit for the narrative portion, 
excluding budgetary information, required appendices, assurances, 
certifications, and standard forms. Please do not repeat information 
detailing existing State programs.
     Do not include critical details in any appendices not 
required by the EAC because those appendices will not be included for 
purposes of the ratings process.
     Do not bind copies. Secure pages with a binder clip, paper 
clip, or 3-ring binder. Please do not insert dividers or other 
implements that cannot be put through a copier.
     The use of color in typefaces, graphs or charts is not 
recommended.
    No grant award will be made under this announcement on the basis of 
an incomplete application.

5. Submission Dates and Times

    Deadline: You must submit the application for this grant 
announcement no later than 4 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time, on the above 
referenced date. The deadline applies to both electronic and paper 
submissions.
    Applications hand-carried by applicants, applicant couriers, other 
representatives of the applicant, or by overnight/express mail couriers 
must be received by 4 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time, on the above 
referenced date at the following address: Eduardo Hernandez, EAC 
Operations Center, 1515 Wilson Blvd., Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22209.
    Late Applications: Late applications will not be considered. 
Applications which do not meet the aforementioned criteria are 
considered late applications, absent extreme circumstances to be 
determined by the Commission. Each late applicant will be notified that 
its application will not be considered in the current competition.
    Extension of deadlines: The EAC may extend application deadlines 
where circumstances such as Acts of God (floods, hurricanes, etc.) 
occur. Determinations to extend or waive deadline requirements rest 
with the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. Notification of any 
deadline extension will be posted on the Federal Register, as well as 
on the EAC's Web site.

6. Intergovernmental Review

State Single Point of Contact (SPOC)
    This program is covered under Executive Order 12372, 
``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.'' Under the Order, 
States may design their own processes for reviewing and commenting on 
proposed Federal assistance under covered programs. As of January 1, 
2008, the following jurisdictions have elected to participate in the 
Executive Order process:
    Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, 
Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New 
Hampshire, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, 
West Virginia, Wisconsin, District of Colombia, Puerto Rico, American 
Samoa, Guam, North Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands. Applicants 
from these jurisdictions should determine the SPOC for that 
jurisdiction, and contact their SPOC as soon as possible to alert them 
of the prospective application and receive instructions. Applicants 
must submit any required material to the SPOC as soon as possible so 
that the program office can obtain and review SPOC comments as part of 
the award process. The applicant must submit all required materials, if 
any, to the SPOC and indicate the date of this submittal (or the date 
of contact if no submittal is required) on the Standard Form 424, item 
16a. Under 45 CFR 100.8(a)(2), a SPOC has up to 60 days from the 
application deadline to comment on proposed new or competing 
continuation awards.
    Applicants from a jurisdiction that does not participate in the 
Executive Order process, and which have met the eligibility 
requirements of this program, are still eligible to apply for a grant 
even if a State, Territory, Commonwealth, etc. does not have a SPOC.
    A list of the Single Points of Contact for each State and Territory 
can be obtained from the following Web site: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html.

7. Funding Restrictions

    Grant applicants are to request $2,000,000 in funding. States may 
request neither more nor less than that amount.
    Pre-award costs are not allowable charges to this program. 
Applications

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that include pre-award costs with their submission will be considered 
non-responsive and will not be eligible for funding under this 
announcement.
    Indirect labor costs are not an allowable activity or expenditure 
under this program. Applications that propose construction projects or 
expenditures will be considered non-responsive and will not be eligible 
for funding under this announcement.
    The purpose of this program is to focus on election data. Voter 
registration and Get-Out-The-Vote (GOTV) efforts are not allowable 
activities under this program. Applications that propose voter 
registration or GOTV efforts will be considered non-responsive and will 
not be eligible for funding under this announcement.
    Grant applicants should be aware that, as States, they are subject 
to the cost principles outlined in the OMB Circular A-87 (found online 
at http://www.whitehouse.gov/OMB/circulars/a087/a87_2004.html) along 
with the Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative 
Agreements to State and Local Governments (``Common Rule,'' 
Administrative Requirements, 53 FR 8087, March 11, 1988).

8. Other Application Requirements

2008 Election Day Survey
    Please note that grantees are expected to respond to the 2008 
Election Day Survey's request for state- and county-level data.
Review Process
    Panels of elections and research experts will conduct an 
independent review of all applications. The panelists will assess each 
application based on the criteria specified in this application to 
determine the merits of the proposal and the extent to which it 
furthers the purposes of the grant program. The EAC will review the 
recommendations of the panel. Final award decisions will be made by the 
EAC after consideration of the comments and recommendations of the 
review panelists, and the availability of funds. It is anticipated that 
applicants will be notified of a grant award on or before May 30, 2008.

V. Application Review Information

    In considering how applicants will carry out the responsibilities 
addressed under this announcement, competing applications for grants 
will be reviewed and evaluated against the following criteria:

1. Criteria (Total Possible Points: 100)

Criterion 1: Program Strategy (Maximum 20 Points)
    Applicants will be evaluated on the extent to which they describe 
how the grant funds will be used for the collection of Federal election 
data.
    Applicants will also be evaluated on the extent to which their 
application:
     Proposes infrastructure development that will improve 
their State's ability to collect data for the 2008 Federal elections 
and future Federal elections at the precinct level.
     Illustrates that they understand the characteristics of 
the State's current Federal election data collection system(s) and the 
strengths and weaknesses of that system(s).
     Describes the major barriers to the collection of Federal 
election data at the precinct level in their State, as well as the 
proposed grant project in terms of its approach to barrier elimination 
and the problems for which this EAC grant will be an answer. 
Applications must address the question: Is your State currently able to 
collect and report on data at the precinct level? If the answer is yes, 
the applicant must describe its database system's ability to collect 
information at this level and how it's been done in the past (if 
applicable). If the answer is no, the applicant must describe what 
systems it will put in place in order to collect these data.
     Defines realistic milestones and work products to be 
accomplished during the budget period. Examples of work products 
include, among others, completed system designs or reporting systems. 
The timetable for accomplishing the major tasks to be undertaken should 
include key dates relevant to the proposed project (e.g., the November 
election cycle).
     Describes their State's method for collecting election 
data. Does the State allow for centralized or decentralized authority? 
That is, does the State determine how data is collected or are the 
counties (townships, independent cities, and boroughs) allowed to 
collect data as they wish?
     Briefly describes the impact, if any, of their State's 
political structure in terms of its centralized or decentralized 
authority and decision-making on their ability to collect precinct 
level data.
     Describes whether their State uses a top-down or bottom-up 
approach to collect data that feeds into the voter registration 
database. (Note: top-down means the data are hosted on a single, 
central platform (e.g., mainframe and/or client servers) and connected 
to terminals housed at the local level; bottom-up means the data are 
gathered or uploaded from local voter registration databases to form 
the statewide voter registration list).
     Indicates whether their State uses just one vendor or more 
than one vendor for its voter registration database(s).
    Furthermore, applicants will be evaluated on the extent to which 
their proposal is written clearly, is logically presented, and 
demonstrates an understanding of the grant program's objectives.
Criterion 2: Feasibility of the Plan (Maximum 15 Points)
    Applicants will be evaluated on the extent to which they illustrate 
that the methods, work plan, and timetable they provide inspire 
confidence that the goals of their proposal will be met. For example, 
States can include the extent to which:
     Outcomes and methods are clearly and effectively 
delineated;
     External partners are needed to successfully complete the 
project;
     The data collection infrastructure created complements and 
is coordinated with the State's current system; and
     Technical assistance is needed to further the project and 
can provide a budget that reflects the true costs of these services.
Criterion 3: Innovation (Maximum 20 Points)
    Applicants will be evaluated on the extent to which they provide a 
unique approach to collecting data. This can include the development of 
systems or methodologies to enhance data collection. Grantees will be 
expected to electronically report the Federal data contained in 
Appendix A. Applicants will be evaluated on the extent to which they 
explain the status of current election data systems and describe the 
modifications that will be required to track Federal election results 
in November 2008. Applicants must be able to collect precinct level 
data for the following questions in Appendix A: 1, 2, 18a, 23, 29, and 
30. Applicants should also discuss the feasibility and value of 
collecting precinct level data related to the other questions that 
appear in Appendix A. Describe the processes your state would use to 
collect these additional data. Applicants must address the following 
question: How would your State use the grant money to enhance its 
ability to collect precinct level election data? Be sure to discuss any 
innovative strategies your State has implemented (or will implement) to 
improve data collection efforts. Applicants must also describe how 
their State has been collecting at

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the State, county (township, independent city, borough), and precinct 
levels data related to:
     UOCAVA voters (e.g., ballot transmittals and receipt of 
those ballots, reasons for ballot rejection);
     Newly registered voters (e.g., tracking the sources of 
voter registration applications from various State agencies);
     Absentees (e.g., sources of absentee ballots); and
     Provisional ballots
    Applicants must discuss improvements they would make to the 
collection of these four data elements if they were to receive an 
award. Additionally, applicants that are already doing well in the area 
of data collection must go beyond describing the successes they have 
had; they should discuss how they will improve their data collection in 
an innovative way, and how those methods could possibly be replicated 
by other States.
Criterion 4: Readiness to Proceed (Maximum 15 Points)
    Applicants will be evaluated on the extent to which they describe 
their ability to quickly begin the data collection project based on 
existing capacity. Applicants will be evaluated on the extent to which 
they describe the readiness of the staff and any partners to implement 
the project. This includes the extent to which the application 
describes a qualified and sufficient staffing pattern to accomplish the 
outcomes for the demonstration, and techniques to ensure that well-
qualified staff will be enlisted in a timely manner.
     Evidence that key project staff, by virtue of their 
personal and/or first-hand professional experiences with data 
collection, have the requisite knowledge to implement project goals;
     Proposed management structure and how key project staff 
will relate to the proposed project director, the EAC, and any 
interagency or community working groups;
     Description of the sub-contractors or partners to be 
involved in the grant program and receiving funds, their management 
structure and organization, an outline of the specific tasks to be 
executed by the sub-contractor or partner and the reporting mechanisms 
that the State will require of each sub-contractor or partner;
     Brief biographical sketches of the project director and 
key project personnel indicating their qualifications, and prior 
experience for the project. Resumes for the key project personnel 
should be provided as an attachment;
     Description of your State's capacity (i.e. staffing, 
organizational, management) to implement this grant program; and
     Description of how your State's plan for precinct-level 
data collection can be implemented within the established timeframe for 
this grant.
Criterion 5: Outcomes (Maximum 20 Points)
    Applicants will be evaluated on the extent to which they describe 
processes to measure progress toward completing the assigned tasks. 
This includes the State's plans for evaluating the program's success 
over time, including establishing a baseline estimate for monitoring 
the completeness and accuracy of the Federal election data elements 
contained in Appendix A.
Criterion 6: Budget and Budget Justification (Maximum 10 Points)
    Applicants will be evaluated on the extent to which the applicant 
presents (1) a budget with reasonable project costs, appropriately 
allocated across component areas, and sufficient to accomplish the 
objectives; and (2) demonstrates an understanding of accounting 
procedures necessary for Federal grant receipt.

    Note: All necessary salary rates must appear on the application 
for the EAC.

    (1) Applications will be evaluated based on the extent to which 
they discuss and justify the costs of the proposed project as being 
reasonable and programmatically justified in view of the activities to 
be conducted and the anticipated results and benefits including:
     A line item allocation for all proposed costs (salaries, 
materials, transportation, etc.). (5 points)
     A narrative budget justification that describes how the 
categorical costs are derived and a discussion of the reasonableness 
and appropriateness of the proposed costs. (2.5 points)
    (2) Applicants will be evaluated based on the extent to which they 
detail the procedures used to ensure successful management of Federal 
grant funds including:
     A description of the fiscal control and accounting 
procedures that will be used to ensure prudent use, proper 
disbursement, and accurate accounting of funds received under this 
program announcement. (2.5 points)

VI. Other Evaluation Considerations

    In addition to the aforementioned selection criteria, the EAC will 
consider other factors when making its final award selection. The EAC 
is interested in having a wide range of States represented in the group 
of States that are awarded grants. This includes a selection of States 
with the following characteristics:
     State Size. This is based on a State's citizen voting-age 
population and on its number of electoral votes. States are broken into 
categories of large, medium, and small.
     Region of the Country. To achieve regional diversity, 
State applicants may be chosen from the North, South, East, and West.
     Voter Registration Database. Whether a State's voter 
registration database system is top-down (hosted on a single, central 
platform (e.g., mainframe and/or client servers) and connected to 
terminals housed at the local level), or bottom-up (gathers or uploads 
its information from local voter registration databases to form the 
statewide voter registration list).
    Multiple vendors versus single vendor. Consideration will be given 
to States that employ a contract with a single vendor and those that 
may use multiple vendors to operate their voter registration databases.
     Political Structure. This refers to States with 
centralized versus decentralized authority and decision-making.
     Unit of government. Data collection and reporting at the 
county, township, independent city, and borough levels.
     Election Day Registration States. Such States include 
Idaho, Maine, Montana, Iowa, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, and 
Wyoming

VII. Award Administration Information

1. Award Notices

    Successful applicants will receive a grant agreement award document 
from the authorized EAC official. Three copies of the agreement will be 
sent via surface mail. The recipient should have an authorized official 
at the organization sign and return two copies of the agreement to the 
address listed in the award document. The agreement will also include 
the standard terms and conditions, general terms and conditions (if 
any) and special award conditions (if any), that are applicable.
    Organizations whose applications will not be funded will be 
notified in writing by the EAC.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    The EAC has not promulgated any such requirements at this time. It 
is expected that general administrative and national policy 
requirements will be followed, and the EAC will seek

[[Page 16288]]

guidance on these requirements from other Federal agencies, such as the 
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

3. Reporting

Semi-Annual Program Reports
    States awarded grants will be required to submit a semi-annual 
report, which is due six months following the inception of the grant. 
They will also be required to submit a final report, which is due June 
1, 2009. Specific details regarding timeframes for submitting, and 
topics/subjects to be addressed, will be described in detail in the 
grant recipients' award letter.
Financial Reports
    A SF 269 must be submitted on January 15, 2009, for the period 
beginning on the date of award of the contract and ending on December 
31, 2008, and on July 31, 2009 for the period beginning January 1, 2008 
and ending on the close out of the grant program. Specific details 
regarding timeframes for submitting, and line item expenditures to be 
reported on, will be described in detail in the grant recipients' award 
letter.
Other Reports
    To obtain grant funds, grantees will be required to submit SF 270 
forms (Request for Advance or Reimbursement) on a quarterly basis.
    All reports will be submitted to the attention of Karen Lynn-Dyson 
at EAC Operations Center, 1515 Wilson Blvd., Suite 100, Arlington, VA 
22209, or by e-mail at [email protected]. If you have any questions 
regarding report submission, please call (888) 203-6161.
    The required standard forms 269 and 270 are located on the Internet 
at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/grants_forms.html.

4. OMB Number

    The project described in this announcement is approved under OMB 
(Office of Management and Budget) control number 3265-0012, which 
expires 09/30/2008.

VIII. Agency Contacts

    For Further Information Contact: Karen Lynn-Dyson at EAC Operations 
Center, 1515 Wilson Blvd., Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22209, by e-mail at 
[email protected], or by phone at (888) 203-6161.

IX. Other Information

Meetings

    All States receiving awards must plan to participate in periodic 
teleconferences or online meetings throughout the grant period.

Civil Rights

    All grantees receiving awards under this grant program must meet 
the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Section 
504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Age Discrimination Act of 
1975; Hill-Burton Community Service nondiscrimination provisions; and 
Title II, Subtitle A, of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Additional Information About the EAC

    Addition information about the U.S. Election Assistance Commission 
and its purpose can be found at the following Internet address: http://www.eac.gov.

Gracia Hillman,
Commissioner, U.S. Election Assistance Commission.
 [FR Doc. E8-6263 Filed 3-26-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-KF-P