[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 212 (Friday, October 31, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64909-64912]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-26029]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Economic Development Administration

[Docket No.: 0810151367-81368-01]


Solicitation of Applications for the National Technical 
Assistance, Training, Research and Evaluation Program: Economic 
Development Research Project: Regional Innovation Systems

AGENCY: Economic Development Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice and request for applications.

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SUMMARY: The Economic Development Administration (EDA) is resoliciting 
applications for a regional innovation systems research project under 
FY 2009 National Technical Assistance, Training, Research and 
Evaluation program (NTA Program) funding. Under a FY 2008 competition, 
EDA funded two projects under the regional innovation systems research 
topic. EDA now is interested in making another award exploring regional 
innovation systems in an additional geographic location.

DATES: To be considered timely, a completed application, regardless of 
the format in which it is submitted, must be either: (1) Received by 
the EDA representative listed below under ``Paper Submissions'' no 
later than November 17, 2008 at 5 p.m. Eastern Time; (2) transmitted 
and time-stamped at http://www.grants.gov no later than November 17, 
2008 at 5 p.m. Eastern Time; or (3) electronically transmitted to the 
e-mail address of the Program Analyst listed below under ``Electronic 
Submissions'' no later than November 17, 2008 at 5 p.m. Eastern Time. 
Any application received or transmitted, as the case may be, after 5 
p.m. Eastern Time on November 17, 2008 will be considered non-
responsive and will not be considered for funding. Please see the 
instructions below under ``Application Submission Requirements'' for 
information regarding format options for submitting completed 
applications. Because this announcement solicits applications for a 
single research project and it is anticipated that a single award will 
be made, EDA expects to notify the applicant selected for investment 
assistance under this notice by December 26, 2008. The selected 
applicant should expect to receive project funding within thirty days 
of EDA's notification of selection.
    Applicants choosing to submit completed applications electronically 
through http://www.grants.gov should follow the instructions set out 
below under ``Electronic Access'' and in section IV.D. of the complete 
Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) announcement for this request for 
applications.
    Application Submission Requirements: On October 1, 2008, EDA 
published a notice in the Federal Register (73 FR 57049) to introduce 
its new, streamlined Application for Investment Assistance (Form ED-
900), which consolidates all EDA-specific requirements into a single 
application form. Applicants are advised to read carefully the 
instructions contained in section IV. of the complete FFO announcement 
for this request for applications, which sets out EDA's updated 
application requirements. The FFO announcement may be accessed on EDA's 
Internet Web site at http://www.eda.gov/InvestmentsGrants/FFON.xml and 
at http://www.grants.gov.
    Applications may be submitted in either of two formats: (i) In 
paper format at the address provided below under ``Paper Submissions;'' 
or (ii) electronically in accordance with the procedures provided on 
http://www.grants.gov or submitted via e-mail to the address provided 
below under ``Electronic Submissions.'' EDA will not accept facsimile 
transmissions of applications. The content of the application is the 
same for paper submissions as it is for electronic submissions. A 
complete application must contain all the items that comprise a 
complete application package, as set out in section IV.A. of the FFO 
announcement. Regardless of the method of transmission, applicants are 
solely responsible for ensuring that EDA receives complete, accurate, 
and timely applications.
    You may obtain a paper application package by contacting the 
designated point of contact listed below under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT. Applicants applying electronically through http://www.grants.gov may access the application package by following the 
instructions provided on http://www.grants.gov. Additionally, 
applicants may download a complete application package from EDA's Web 
site at http://www.eda.gov/InvestmentsGrants/Application.xml.
    Paper Submissions: Full or partial paper (hardcopy) applications 
submitted under the NTA program may be hand-delivered or mailed to: FY 
2009 Economic Development Research Project Competition: Regional 
Innovation Systems, Kerstin Millius, Program Analyst, Economic 
Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Room 7009, Washington, DC 20230.
    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. Applicants may wish to 
use a guaranteed overnight delivery service.
    Electronic Submissions: Applicants have two options for submitting 
electronically: Through http://www.grants.gov or via e-mail. Applicants 
may submit applications in accordance with the instructions provided at 
http://www.grants.gov and in section IV.D. of the applicable FFO 
announcement. EDA strongly encourages that applicants not wait until 
the application closing date to begin the application process through 
http://www.grants.gov. Applicants also may submit applications by e-
mail. Completed applications may be e-mailed to Kerstin Millius, 
Program Analyst, at [email protected]. The preferred file format for 
electronic attachments is portable document format (PDF); however, EDA 
will accept electronic files in Microsoft Word, WordPerfect, or 
Microsoft Excel formats.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information on the NTA

[[Page 64910]]

Program or to obtain a paper application package for this notice, 
please contact Kerstin Millius, Program Analyst, via e-mail at 
[email protected] (preferred) or by telephone at (202) 482-3280.
    For additional information regarding electronic submissions, please 
access the following link for assistance in navigating http://www.grants.gov and for a list of useful resources: http://www.grants.gov/applicants/applicant_help.jsp. If you do not find an 
answer to your question under Frequently Asked Questions, try 
consulting the Applicant's User Guide at http://www.grants.gov/applicants/app_help_reso.jsp. If you still cannot find an answer to 
your question, contact http://www.grants.gov via e-mail at 
[email protected] or telephone at 1-800-518-4726. The hours of 
operation for http://www.grants.gov are Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. 
Eastern Time (except for federal holidays).
    Additional information about EDA and its NTA Program may be 
obtained from EDA's Web site at http://www.eda.gov. The complete FFO 
announcement for this request for applications is available at http://www.grants.gov and at http://www.eda.gov/InvestmentsGrants/FFON.xml.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Background Information: On March 14, 2008, EDA published an FFO and 
accompanying Federal Register notice (73 FR 13844) to solicit 
applications for funding under its NTA Program that addressed one or 
more of the following three projects: (a) Regional innovation systems; 
(b) urban economic development policy; and (c) global economic 
development strategy. The deadline for receipt of applications closed 
May 9, 2008 at 5 p.m. Eastern Time. After completing its review of 
submitted applications, EDA funded projects under each research topic, 
including two awards under the regional innovation systems project. One 
successful recipient was located in West Virginia and the other was in 
California, and both of these successful projects highlight regional 
economies in those respective areas.
    EDA now is interested in making another award exploring regional 
innovation systems in an additional geographic location. Through this 
notice, EDA solicits applications for funding that address only the 
regional innovation systems research topic. EDA advises applicants to 
read carefully the description of the research project as EDA has 
provided information on important requirements that were not included 
in the earlier FFO announcement and March 14, 2008 Federal Register 
notice.
    EDA will not review applications submitted under the previous 
announcement. Therefore, to be considered for funding under this 
notice, all applications must comply with the new program and 
application requirements as set out in the complete FFO announcement 
for this request for applications. Any applicant that submitted an 
application under the previous FFO announcement must submit a new and 
complete application if it wishes to be considered for funding. If an 
applicant submits more than one application under this announcement, 
EDA will evaluate only the first application received and will consider 
subsequent applications non-responsive.
    There are five deliverables under this competitive solicitation: 
(1) A comparative analysis; (2) research and analysis of best-practice 
case-studies; (3) development of a communication and dissemination 
strategy for project findings; (4) a practitioner-accessible report or 
equivalent document that presents project findings; and (5) delivery of 
the practitioner-accessible report or equivalent document to EDA in a 
format suitable for posting on EDA's Web site and of all data and other 
materials used in the analysis. Any information disseminated to the 
public under this request for applications is subject to the 
Information Quality Act (Pub. L. No. 106-554). Applicants are required 
to comply with the Information Quality Guidelines issued by EDA 
pursuant to the Information Quality Act, which are designed to ensure 
and maximize the quality, objectivity, utility and integrity of 
information disseminated by EDA. These guidelines are available on 
EDA's Web site at http://www.eda.gov.
    Electronic Access: The complete FFO announcement for this FY 2009 
Economic Development Research Project competition is available at 
http://www.grants.gov and at http://www.eda.gov/InvestmentsGrants/FFON.xml.
    Funding Availability: EDA is operating with appropriations made 
available under the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and 
Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009, Public Law No. 110-329 (September 
30, 2008). This Act makes available appropriations in an amount based 
on FY 2008 funding levels that are pro-rated through March 6, 2009 for 
the economic development assistance programs authorized by the Public 
Works and Economic Development Act of 1965, as amended (42 U.S.C. 3121 
et seq.) (PWEDA) and for the Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms 
program authorized under the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 
2341-2355, 2391). At FY 2008 funding levels, EDA estimates that the 
regional innovation systems project will be funded in an amount ranging 
from $200,000 to $300,000.
    Statutory Authority: The authority for the NTA Program is PWEDA. 
The specific authority for the Economic Development Research Projects 
Program is section 207 of PWEDA (42 U.S.C. 3147), which authorizes EDA 
to make grants for grants for training, research, and technical 
assistance. EDA's regulations at 13 CFR parts 300-302 and subpart A of 
13 CFR part 306 set forth the general and specific regulatory 
requirements applicable to the NTA Program. EDA's regulations are 
codified at 13 CFR chapter III. The regulations and PWEDA are 
accessible on EDA's Internet Web site at http://www.eda.gov/InvestmentsGrants/Lawsreg.xml.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 11.312, 
Economic Development--Research and Evaluation.
    Applicant Eligibility: Pursuant to PWEDA, eligible applicants for 
and 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; and a public or private non-profit 
organization or association.
    Project Period: Typically, EDA gives a recipient one year from the 
award date to complete the scope of work, which consists of research 
and associated research activities, composing the resulting report, and 
presenting the report to EDA senior management. A typical research 
project period begins with an initial meeting between the recipient and 
EDA staff to ensure that all parties agree with the project terms. 
After the initial meeting, the recipient generally submits a final work 
plan to EDA staff for review and approval. Throughout the project 
period there will be regular contact between EDA staff and the 
recipient for updates on project progress. Also, interim progress 
reports will be required throughout the project period. The schedule of 
interim progress reports will be determined subsequent to award.

[[Page 64911]]

    Typically, the recipient submits a draft research report to EDA at 
least 90 days before the end of the project period for EDA's review. If 
the draft research report is approved, EDA will approve publication of 
a final research report, and the recipient will brief EDA senior 
management on research methods and report results.
    Cost Sharing Requirement: Generally, the amount of the EDA grant 
may not exceed fifty percent of the total cost of the project. Projects 
may receive an additional amount that shall not exceed thirty percent, 
as determined by EDA, based on the relative needs of the region in 
which the project will be located. 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 has the discretion to establish a 
maximum EDA investment rate of up to one-hundred 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).
    EDA will consider the nature of the contribution (cash or in-kind), 
the amount of any matching share funds, and fairly assess any in-kind 
contributions in evaluating the cost to the Government and the 
feasibility of the project budget (see the ``Evaluation Criteria'' 
section below). While cash contributions are preferred, in-kind 
contributions, fairly evaluated by EDA, may provide the non-federal 
share of the total project cost. See section 204(b) of PWEDA (42 U.S.C. 
3144) and section III.B. of the FFO announcement for this request for 
applications. In-kind contributions, which may include assumptions of 
debt and contributions of space, equipment, and services, are eligible 
to be included as part of the non-federal share of eligible project 
costs if they 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, 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 for the entire 
project period, will be available as needed, and is 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 package to EDA before the closing date and time 
specified in the ``Dates'' section of this notice, and in the manner 
provided in section IV. of the applicable FFO announcement. Any 
application received or transmitted, as the case may be, after 5 p.m. 
Eastern Time on November 17, 2008 will not be considered for funding. 
Applications that do not include all items required or that exceed the 
page limitations set forth in section IV.B. of the FFO announcement 
will be considered non-responsive and will not be considered by the 
review panel. Because this announcement solicits applications for a 
single research project and it is anticipated that a single award will 
be made, EDA expects to notify the applicant selected for funding by 
December 26, 2008. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified that their 
applications were not selected for funding. Applications that meet all 
the requirements will be evaluated by a review panel comprised of at 
least three 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:
     Strengthens the capacity of local, State, or national 
organizations and institutions to undertake and promote effective 
economic development programs targeted to regions of distress;
     Benefits distressed regions; and
     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.
    (5) The cost to the Federal Government.
    Also, the addition of research and project data to an existing Web 
site or the design of a companion Web site designed to disseminate 
research results and provide links to data encapsulated in the report 
free of charge is preferred.
    Selection Factors: The Assistant Secretary, as the Selecting 
Official, expects to fund the highest ranking applications, as 
recommended by the review panel, submitted under this request for 
applications. However, if EDA does not receive satisfactory 
applications, the Assistant Secretary may not make any selection. 
Depending on the quality of the applications received, the Assistant 
Secretary may select more than one application for one research project 
and make no selection for another research project. Also, he may select 
an application out of rank order for the following reasons: (1) A 
determination that the selected 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

    Administrative and national policy requirements for all Department 
of Commerce awards are contained in the Department of Commerce Pre-
Award Notification Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements, 
published in the Federal Register on February 11, 2008 (73 FR 7696). 
This notice may be accessed through the Federal Register Internet Web 
site at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/retrieve.html, making sure the 
radial button for the correct Federal Register volume is selected (in 
this instance, 2008 Federal Register, Vol. 73), entering the Federal 
Register page number provided in the previous sentence (7696), and 
clicking the ``Submit'' button.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This request for applications contains collections of information 
subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). The 
use of Form ED-900 (Application for Investment Assistance) has been 
approved by OMB under the control number 0610-0094. The use of Forms 
SF-424 (Application for Financial Assistance), SF-424A (Budget 
Information--Non-Construction Programs), SF-424B (Assurances--Non-
Construction Programs), SF-424C (Budget Information--Construction 
Programs), SF-424D (Assurances--Construction Programs), and SF-LLL 
Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL) has been approved under OMB 
control numbers 4040-0004, 4040-0006,

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4040-0007, 4040-0008, 4040-0009, and 0348-0046, respectively. The use 
of Form CD-346 has been approved under OMB control number 0605-0001. 
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 is not required and none 
has been prepared.

    Dated: October 27, 2008.
Otto Barry Bird,
Chief Counsel, Economic Development Administration.
[FR Doc. E8-26029 Filed 10-30-08; 8:45 am]
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