[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 33 (Friday, February 20, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7856-7860]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-3658]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Economic Development Administration

[Docket No.: 090212174-9175-01]


Solicitation of Applications for the FY 2009 University Center 
Economic Development Program Competition in EDA's Atlanta and Seattle 
Regional Offices

AGENCY: Economic Development Administration (EDA), Department of 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice and request for applications.

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SUMMARY: EDA is soliciting competitive applications from accredited 
institutions of higher education and from consortia of accredited 
institutions of higher education for FY 2009 University Center Economic 
Development Program funding in the geographic areas served by its 
Atlanta and Seattle regional offices. 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. Institutions of higher education have many 
assets and are able to establish and operate University Centers in 
partnership with EDA. These EDA-sponsored University Centers conduct 
research; provide technical assistance to tribal entities, local 
governments, and public and private sector organizations; and undertake 
other activities with the goal of enhancing regional economic 
development by promoting a favorable business environment to attract 
private capital investment and higher-skill, higher-wage jobs.

DATES: The closing date and time for receipt of applications for 
funding under the FY 2009 University Center Economic Development 
Program competition is April 21, 2009 at 5 p.m. Eastern Time for 
applicants in the Atlanta regional office's service area and 5 p.m. 
Pacific Time for applicants in the

[[Page 7857]]

Seattle regional office's service area. The Atlanta regional office 
will hold an informational teleconference for prospective applicants on 
March 4, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The Seattle regional office 
will hold its informational teleconference call on March 5, 2009 at 10 
a.m. Pacific Time. For instructions regarding these teleconferences, 
please see the information provided below under ``Informational 
Teleconferences.''
    Application Submission Requirements: Applicants are advised to read 
carefully the instructions contained in section IV of the complete 
Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) announcement for this request for 
applications. To access the FFO announcement, please see the Web sites 
listed below under ``Electronic Access.''
    Applications may be submitted in two formats: (a) Electronically in 
accordance with the procedures provided on http://www.grants.gov; or 
(b) in paper format to the addresses provided below. 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 listed 
in the Checklist of Application Materials, which is attached as an 
Exhibit to the FFO announcement.
    You may obtain a paper application package by contacting the 
designated point of contact listed below under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT for the EDA regional office servicing your geographic area. 
Applicants applying electronically through http://www.grants.gov may 
access the application package by following the instructions provided 
on http://www.grants.gov.
    Paper Submissions: Applicants in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, 
Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, or Tennessee 
should submit paper submissions (via postal mail, overnight delivery, 
or hand-delivery) to:

FY 2009 University Center Program Competition, Economic Development 
Administration, Atlanta Regional Office, 401 West Peachtree Street, 
NW., Suite 1820, Atlanta, GA 30308-3510.

Applicants in Alaska, Arizona, American Samoa, California, Guam, 
Hawaii, Idaho, Republic of Marshall Islands, Federated States of 
Micronesia, Nevada, Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon, Republic of 
Palau, or Washington should submit paper submissions (via postal mail, 
overnight delivery, or hand-delivery) to:

FY 2009 University Center Program Competition, Economic Development 
Administration, Seattle Regional Office, Jackson Federal Building, Room 
1890, 915 Second Avenue, Seattle, WA 98174-1001.

    Department of Commerce mail security measures may delay receipt of 
United States Postal Service mail for up to two weeks. Therefore, 
applicants who submit paper submissions are advised to use a guaranteed 
overnight delivery service.
    Electronic Submissions: Applicants may submit applications 
electronically in accordance with the instructions provided at http://www.grants.gov. EDA strongly encourages that applicants not wait until 
the application closing date to begin the application process through 
http://www.grants.gov. The preferred file format for electronic 
attachments (e.g., the Project Narrative and attachments to Form ED-
900) is portable document format (PDF); however, EDA will accept 
electronic files in Microsoft Word, WordPerfect, or Excel formats.
    Applicants should 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. 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).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information or for a 
paper copy of the application package, the designated contact person in 
the Atlanta regional office is Lee Mertins. Mr. Mertins may be reached 
at [email protected] or at 404-730-3015. The designated contact 
person in the Seattle regional office is Bettye Atkinson. Ms. Atkinson 
may be reached at [email protected] or at 206-220-7665. EDA's 
Internet Web site at http://www.eda.gov also has additional information 
on EDA and its programs, including the University Center Economic 
Development Program.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Program Information: 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. EDA fulfills its mission by helping our partners across the 
nation create wealth and minimize poverty by promoting a favorable 
business environment to attract private capital investment and higher-
skill, higher-wage jobs through capacity-building, planning, 
infrastructure, research grants and strategic initiatives. Institutions 
of higher education have many assets that can help address regional 
economic problems and opportunities, such as faculty, staff, students, 
libraries, laboratories, facilities, and computer systems. With funding 
from EDA, institutions of higher education and consortia of 
institutions of higher education establish and operate University 
Centers. These EDA-sponsored University Centers conduct applied 
research, provide technical assistance to public and private sector 
organizations, and conduct other activities with the goal of enhancing 
regional economic development. EDA began administering the University 
Center Economic Development Program as a competitive multi-year program 
in FY 2004. Under this multi-year program designation, EDA holds 
University Center Economic Development Program competitions annually 
for two of its six regional offices each fiscal year. For example, in 
FY 2004 and 2007, EDA solicited proposals for the Austin and Denver 
regional offices, and in FY 2005 and 2008, EDA solicited proposals for 
the Philadelphia and Chicago regional offices. In FY 2006, EDA 
solicited proposals for the Atlanta and Seattle regional offices. 
Pursuant to its annual schedule, for FY 2009, EDA announces that it 
will hold its competition for proposals for the Atlanta and Seattle 
regional offices.
    Electronic Access: The complete FFO announcement for the FY 2009 
University Center Economic Development Program 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 for the economic 
development assistance programs authorized by 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) in an amount based on 
FY 2008 funding levels that are pro-rated through March 6, 2009.

[[Page 7858]]

    The funding periods and funding amounts referenced in this notice 
are subject to the availability of FY 2009 funds at the time of award, 
as well as to the Department of Commerce's and EDA's priorities at the 
time of award. The Department of Commerce and EDA will not be held 
responsible for application preparation costs if the University Center 
Economic Development Program fails to receive funding or is cancelled 
because of agency priorities. Publication of this notice does not 
obligate the Department of Commerce or EDA to award any specific grant 
or cooperative agreement or to obligate all or part of available funds.
    If EDA final appropriations for FY 2009 are similar to those 
received in FY 2008, EDA expects to allocate approximately $7,202,620 
to the University Center Economic Development Program. The amount of 
University Center funding available for competition in FY 2009 is 
expected to be approximately $1,285,920 for the Atlanta regional office 
and approximately $1,127,847 for the Seattle regional office. Annual 
awards for the University Centers selected in past years generally have 
been in the range of $80,000 to $200,000, although regional offices may 
choose to fund awards under this competition outside of these ranges. 
The remaining FY 2009 University Center Economic Development Program 
funds will be used to continue support for current University Centers 
selected during the FY 2007 and 2008 competitions in EDA's other four 
regional offices. Subject to the availability of funding at the time of 
award, the funds allocated to the University Center Economic 
Development Program are anticipated to be available until expended.
    Statutory Authority: EDA's authorizing statute is the Public Works 
and Economic Development Act of 1965, as amended (42 U.S.C. 3121 et 
seq.) (PWEDA). The specific authority for the University Center 
Economic Development Program is section 207 of PWEDA (42 U.S.C. 3147), 
which authorizes EDA to make grants for the establishment of University 
Centers. EDA's regulations at 13 CFR parts 300-302 and subpart B of 13 
CFR part 306 set forth the general and specific regulatory requirements 
applicable to the University Center Economic Development 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: 11.303, 
Economic Development--Technical Assistance.
    Applicant Eligibility: An accredited institution of higher 
education or a consortium of accredited institutions of higher 
education is eligible to apply for and to receive funding under the 
University Center Economic Development Program. See section 3(12) of 
PWEDA (42 U.S.C. 3122(12)) and 13 CFR 300.3. A university-affiliated 
research foundation also is eligible to apply for and to receive 
funding under this competitive solicitation, provided it demonstrates 
(e.g., a letter or other documentation from a university President or 
Chancellor) that it maintains the full and integral support of the 
university with respect to its economic development activities. For 
applicants applying as a consortium, one accredited institution must be 
identified as the lead agent that would have lead responsibility to EDA 
and to the other members of the consortium for implementing an award.
    For FY 2009, the University Center Economic Development Program 
competition is open to eligible applicants in the geographic areas 
served by EDA's Atlanta and Seattle regional offices. The Atlanta 
regional office serves Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, 
Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. The Seattle 
regional office serves Alaska, Arizona, American Samoa, California, 
Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Republic of Marshall Islands, Federated States of 
Micronesia, Nevada, Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon, Republic of 
Palau, and Washington.
    Project Period: The Atlanta and Seattle regional offices will 
provide a three-year project period for each University Center selected 
for funding under the FY 2009 University Center Economic Development 
Program competition, with the initial award being made for the first 
year of the project period. The selected University Centers will not 
have to compete for the second and third years of funding. Funding 
beyond the initial year is dependent upon the availability of funds, 
satisfactory performance, and satisfactory progress in achieving 
milestones and program goals set forth in the three-year scope of work, 
as determined by EDA and expressed in written notice.
    Current University Center operators in the service areas of EDA's 
Austin, Chicago, Denver, and Philadelphia regional offices will not 
have to compete for continuation funding in FY 2009, subject to the 
availability of funds, satisfactory continuing performance, and 
satisfactory progress in achieving milestones and Program goals set 
forth in the three-year scope of work, as determined by EDA and 
expressed in a written notice. The servicing EDA regional office will 
contact current University Center operators regarding the procedures 
for securing FY 2009 continuation funding.
    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, 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 (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).
    In the application review process, EDA will consider the nature of 
the contribution (cash or in-kind) and the amount of the matching share 
funds. 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 complete 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 for funding under the 
University Center Economic Development Program are subject to the State 
review requirements imposed by Executive Order 12372,

[[Page 7859]]

``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs,'' where applicable.
    Evaluation and Selection Procedures: Staff in EDA's Atlanta or 
Seattle regional office, as applicable, first will undertake a 
technical review of each application to ensure that all required forms, 
signatures, and documentation are present and that the application is 
in compliance with the requirements of this competitive solicitation. 
Applications failing to meet the technical requirements of this 
competitive solicitation will not be referred to the review panel. 
Following technical review, each regional office will convene a panel 
to review the merits of each application based on the criteria provided 
under ``Evaluation Criteria'' below. The review panel will consist of 
federal employees and others recommended by the Regional Director of 
the applicable regional office. At least three (3) members of the 
review panel will be EDA staff members from the Atlanta or Seattle 
regional office, as applicable. The review panel will evaluate 
independently and rate and rank competitively all technically 
sufficient applications based on the evaluation criteria provided under 
``Evaluation Criteria'' below. No consensus advice will be given by the 
review panel.
    The review panel's rating and ranking of the applications then will 
be presented to the regional office's Investment Review Committee 
(IRC). After reviewing the panel's process and recommendations, the IRC 
may either: (i) Forward the panel's ranked list, unaltered and in its 
entirety, to the Selecting Official, who is the Regional Director of 
the applicable regional office; or (ii) identify any deficiencies in 
the review process and direct the review panel to begin the process 
anew. If the IRC directs the panel to re-evaluate the applications, the 
review panel will undertake the process again and submit a revised 
rating and ranking of the applications to the IRC.
    Evaluation Criteria: The evaluation of applications will be 
accomplished through a review using the following criteria, listed in 
descending order of importance: (a) Value of the project to EDA, its 
investment partners, and its stakeholders; (b) applicant's ability to 
successfully implement the project; and (c) feasibility of the project 
budget. Each criterion is detailed below.
    1. Value of the Project to EDA, Its Investment Partners, and Its 
Stakeholders. The review panel will evaluate:
    (i) The expected benefits of the proposed scope of work, in light 
of EDA's emphasis on market-based, results-driven, long-term regional 
economic development approaches that facilitate innovation and 
entrepreneurship and enhance regional and national competitiveness in 
the global economy and considering the region's unique strengths, 
weaknesses, opportunities, and threats;
    (ii) The expected depth and breadth of these benefits in distressed 
communities facing economic dislocations and other economic challenges;
    (iii) The extent to which the proposed project will benefit and 
collaborate and interact with other EDA investment partners, 
recipients, and stakeholders, and create synergies with EDA's Public 
Works, Economic Adjustment, and Planning Programs; and
    (iv) The cost to the Federal Government evaluated in light of these 
benefits. When evaluating cost, EDA will examine the amounts in the 
proposed budget allocated to deliver direct program activities, as 
opposed to the total budget, which includes indirect costs. EDA also 
will consider the amount and type of match committed.
    2. The Applicant's Ability to Successfully Implement the Project. 
The review panel will evaluate the applicant's ability to successfully 
implement the project. This evaluation will include the extent to which 
the applicant (including its sponsoring organization) has successfully 
implemented past technical assistance projects, especially those 
involving economic development. The review panel also will evaluate the 
subject matter expertise and project management skills of project staff 
as demonstrated in the application, as well the sponsoring 
institution's or consortium's academic programs and/or other University 
resources directly tied to the proposed scope of work on the basis of 
demonstrated subject matter leadership, research dissemination and 
results, experience working in the target geographic region with the 
target audience, and working relationships with and strong support from 
the private sector, tribal entities, and State and local elected 
officials. See 13 CFR 306.5.
    The review panel also will consider the extent to which a proposed 
project demonstrates strong organizational leadership by evaluating the 
extent to which:
    (i) The University Center will maximize coordination with other 
relevant organizations and avoid duplication of services offered by 
other organizations;
    (ii) The University Center will access, take advantage of, and be 
supported by other resources present at the sponsoring institution(s), 
especially the institution's economic development activities; and
    (iii) Evidence presented in the application demonstrates the 
support and commitment of the highest management levels of the 
University Center's sponsoring institution(s), through both financial 
and non-financial means.
    3. Feasibility of Project Budget. The review panel will evaluate 
the feasibility of the project budget, including but not limited to the 
reasonableness and the allowability of project costs and the 
feasibility of accomplishing the three-year scope of work in the target 
geographic region within the budget provided.
    Selection Factors: EDA expects to fund the highest ranking 
applications. The Selecting Official normally will follow the 
recommendations of the review panel. However, the Selecting Official 
may decide not to make a selection, or he may select an application out 
of rank order for several reasons, including: (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) availability of program 
funding; (3) geographic balance in distribution of program funds; (4) 
balanced funding for a diverse group of institutions, to include 
smaller and rural institutions, which may form part of a broader 
consortium to serve diverse populations and areas within the regional 
office's territory; (5) the program objectives as provided in section 
I.A of the complete FFO; (6) the applicant's performance under previous 
federal financial assistance awards; or (7) the overall mix of 
services, service areas, and target audiences in the regional office's 
University Center portfolio. If the Selecting Official makes a 
selection out of rank order, he will document the rationale for the 
decision in writing.
    Informational Teleconferences: For prospective applicants, the 
Atlanta regional office will hold an informational teleconference on 
March 4, 2009, at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The Seattle regional office 
will hold its informational teleconference call on March 5, 2009, at 10 
a.m. Pacific Time.
    These teleconferences will provide general program information and 
information regarding the preparation of applications for funding under 
this competitive solicitation. To ensure the integrity of this 
competition, EDA will not provide substantive information regarding the 
competition to prospective applicants outside of these scheduled 
teleconferences.

[[Page 7860]]

    To ensure that enough incoming lines are available for each caller, 
the Atlanta regional office requires interested parties planning to 
participate on the teleconference to register no later than 5 p.m. 
Eastern Time on February 27, 2009; the Seattle regional office requires 
interested parties planning to participate on the teleconference to 
register no later than 5 p.m. Pacific Time on February 27, 2009. To 
register, please send an e-mail with ``FY 2009 University Center 
Teleconference Registration'' in the subject line to the designated 
contact person in the Atlanta or Seattle regional office, as 
applicable, and provided above under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. 
The telephone number and pass code for each teleconference will be 
provided upon registration. See also section IV.D of the complete FFO 
announcement.
    Please be advised that the informational teleconferences may be 
audio-taped and the actual recordings or a transcript of the actual 
recording may be made available online or otherwise for the benefit of 
prospective applicants unable to participate. Prospective applicants 
who choose to participate on the teleconferences are deemed to consent 
to the taping.
    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 applicable to 
this competitive solicitation. These requirements may be found in the 
Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification Requirements for Grants 
and Cooperative Agreements, which was published in the Federal Register 
on February 11, 2008 (73 FR 7696). 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://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html.
    Paperwork Reduction Act: This document contains collection-of-
information requirements subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). 
The use of Form ED-900 (Application for Investment Assistance) has been 
approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the control 
number 0610-0094. 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 that 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.
    Executive Order 13132 (Federalism): It has been determined that 
this notice does not contain policies with Federalism implications as 
that term is defined in Executive Order 13132.
    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: February 17, 2009.
Barry Bird,
Chief Counsel, Economic Development Administration.
[FR Doc. E9-3658 Filed 2-19-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-24-P