[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 142 (Monday, July 27, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37015-37018]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-17821]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Economic Development Administration

[Docket No.: 0907091111-91111-01]


Solicitation of Applications for the National Technical 
Assistance, Training, Research and Evaluation Program: Economic 
Development District Partnership Planning Program and CEDS Research 
Project

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

[[Page 37016]]

applications for FY 2009 National Technical Assistance, Training, 
Research and Evaluation (NTA) Program funding. Through this notice, EDA 
solicits applications to fund a research project to assess the 
effectiveness of EDA's Economic Development District (EDD) Partnership 
Planning Program and the quality of Comprehensive Economic Development 
Strategies (CEDS). 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 NTA Program, EDA works towards fulfilling its 
mission by funding research and technical assistance projects to 
promote competitiveness and innovation in rural and urban 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: The closing date and time for receipt of applications for 
funding under the FY 2009 NTA Program competition is September 8, 2009 
at 5 p.m. Eastern Time.
    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. For a copy of the FFO announcement, please see the Web 
sites listed below under ``Electronic Access.''
    Applications may be submitted in two formats: (i) Electronically in 
accordance with the procedures provided on http://www.grants.gov or 
submitted via e-mail to the address provided below in ``Electronic 
Submissions;'' or (ii) in paper format at 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.
    Applicants applying electronically through http://www.grants.gov or 
via e-mail may access the application package by following the 
instructions provided on http://www.grants.gov. You may obtain paper 
application packages by contacting the designated point of contact 
listed below under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
    Electronic Submissions: Applicants have two options for submitting 
electronically: through http://www.grants.gov or via e-mail. 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 e-mail completed application 
packages to Hillary Sherman at [email protected]. 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.
    For additional information regarding electronic submissions, please 
access the following link for assistance in navigating 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).
    Paper Submissions: Paper (hardcopy) applications submitted under 
the NTA Program may be hand-delivered or mailed to: FY 2009 Economic 
Development Research Project Competition, Hillary Sherman, 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information on the NTA 
Program or to obtain paper application packages for this notice, please 
contact Hillary Sherman, Program Analyst, via e-mail at 
[email protected] (preferred) or by telephone at (202) 482-3357.
    Additional information about EDA and its NTA Program may be 
obtained from EDA's Internet 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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Background Information: EDA is soliciting applications for an 
economic development research project to evaluate the effectiveness of 
EDA's EDD Partnership Planning Program and to assess the effectiveness 
of CEDS documents. The proposed project consists of two phases: Phase 
I--EDD Effectiveness Evaluation and Phase II--CEDS Quality Assessment. 
EDA anticipates that evaluating the EDDs and CEDS and identifying best 
practices for both will enhance the effectiveness of the agency's 
Partnership Planning Program and the ability of Program recipients to 
produce positive economic outcomes.
    About EDDs. EDA provides Partnership Planning grants to over 370 
EDDs to enable each to manage and coordinate the development and 
implementation of a CEDS to address the unique needs of an EDD's 
region. In addition, EDDs organize and assist with the implementation 
of economic development activities within their regions. EDDs work in a 
wide variety of environments that may be influenced by a number of 
factors, including population density (such as urban, suburban, metro-
rural, and non metro-rural) and available human and financial 
resources.
    About CEDS. Each CEDS results from a local or regional 
comprehensive strategic planning process and is designed to serve as 
guide for local practitioners seeking to leverage their region's 
assets, create thriving clusters of innovation, and address potential 
threats to economic stability and growth. In short, the CEDS serves as 
a regional economic development ``cookbook.'' It describes regional 
assets, assesses opportunities, and addresses regional challenges over 
a five-year horizon.
    EDA recognizes that exogenous factors such as available human, 
natural, and fiscal resources, may impact economic outcomes regardless 
of EDD performance or the quality of a CEDS. However, the agency 
continues to find that, all else equal, improved EDD performance and 
CEDS quality increase the probability of improved economic development 
outcomes. The recipient of the award will be expected to undertake and 
complete both phases. EDA expects methodologically rigorous 
applications capable of producing peer-review quality research that 
advances the understanding and skills of economic development 
practitioners, while providing practitioner-accessible tools. 
Additionally, the outcomes from this research should build upon the 
findings and work products from previous EDA research, including the 
work on industry and occupational clusters conducted by Purdue 
University and the Indiana Business Research Center

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(available at http://www.statsamerica.org/innovation/) and work on 
regional strategic planning conducted by Western Carolina University 
(available at http://knowyourregion.wcu.edu/).
    During Phase I: EDD Effectiveness Evaluation, the recipient will 
(i) Determine and report on the characteristics and components of 
effective EDDs; (ii) develop and test an EDD Evaluation Tool that will 
assess these characteristics and components; and (iii) report to EDA on 
recommended methods to improve EDD performance. During Phase II: CEDS 
Quality Assessment, the recipient will (i) assess and report on the 
effectiveness of the CEDS document; (ii) develop and test a CEDS 
Assessment Tool for CEDS documents; and (iii) report to EDA on 
recommended methods to improve CEDS guidance and requirements. At the 
completion of both phases, EDA anticipates that the recipient will 
provide training to local planning organizations, EDDs, and EDA staff. 
Please see the FFO announcement for this request for applications for 
more detailed information on the project phases and the required tasks 
under each.
    Any information disseminated to the public under this request for 
applications is subject to the Information Quality Act (Pub. L. 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 the FY 2009 
Economic Development District Partnership Planning Program and CEDS 
Research Project competition is available at http://www.grants.gov and 
at http://www.eda.gov/InvestmentsGrants/FFON.xml.
    Funding Availability: EDA may use funds appropriated under the FY 
2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act (Pub. L. 111-8, 123 Stat. 524 (2009)) 
to make awards under the NTA Program. Approximately $1,000,000 is 
available, and shall remain available until expended, for funding 
awards under the NTA Program in FY 2009, including $460,000 in FY 2009 
appropriations for economic development research.
    Statutory Authority: The authority for the NTA Program 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 Economic 
Development Research Projects Program is section 207 of PWEDA (42 
U.S.C. 3147), which authorizes EDA to make 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.
    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) Numbers: 11.303, 
Economic Development--Technical Assistance; 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.For-profit, private-sector entities also 
are eligible for investment assistance under the NTA program to carry 
out specific research or for other purposes set forth in 13 CFR 306.1. 
See also 42 U.S.C. 3147.
    Project Period: EDA anticipates a two-year project period. 
Typically, EDA gives a recipient one year from the award date to 
complete the scope of work, which consists of completing all tasks 
under both project phases. EDA anticipates that Phase I will be 
completed approximately half way through the first year of the project 
period and that Phase II will be completed by the end of the first year 
of the project period. It is expected that the second year of the 
project period will consist of the training component after completion 
of the two phases.
    A typical research project period begins with an initial meeting 
(kickoff meeting) between the recipient and EDA staff to ensure that 
all parties agree with the project terms. After the kickoff 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. Interim progress reports are required throughout the 
project period. The schedule of interim progress reports will be 
determined subsequent to award.
    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

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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 September 8, 2009 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. Applications that meet all the 
requirements will be evaluated by a review panel comprised of at least 
three full-time federal employees, of whom at least one shall be an EDA 
employee. The review panel's rating and ranking of the applications 
will be presented to the Assistant Secretary, who is the Selecting 
Official. By September 30, 2009, EDA expects to notify the applicant 
selected for investment assistance under this notice.
    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 clarity, precision, and applicability of the research 
methods proposed.
    (5) The clarity, precision, and applicability of the analytical 
methods proposed.
    (6) The clarity, precision, and applicability of the survey and 
sampling methods proposed.
    (7) The feasibility of the budget presented.
    (8) The cost to the Federal Government, using the best value to the 
government
    For purposes of this request for applications, EDA will consider 
only applications submitted by applicants with the current capacity to 
undertake research that advances economic development practice and 
theory, and that have the potential for impact on a regional or 
national scale. See section 3 of PWEDA (42 U.S.C. 3122) and 13 CFR 
300.3 and 306.2. The addition of research and project data to an 
existing Web site or the design of a companion Web site to disseminate 
the results of each research study and provide links to data 
encapsulated in reports 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 
(here, 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 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the use of Form ED-
900 (Application for Investment Assistance) under control number 0610-
0094. Forms SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance); SF-424A 
(Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs, and SF-424B 
(Assurances--Non-Construction Programs) are approved under OMB control 
numbers 4040-0004, 4040-0006, and 4040-0007, respectively. 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required to 
respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty for failure to 
comply with, a collection of information subject to the requirements of 
the PRA unless the collection of information displays a currently valid 
OMB control number.

Executive Order 12866

    This notice has been determined to be not significant for purposes 
of Executive Order 12866, ``Regulatory Planning and Review.''

Executive Order 13132

    It has been determined that this notice does not contain ``policies 
that have Federalism implications,'' as that phrase is defined in 
Executive Order 13132, ``Federalism.''

Administrative Procedure Act/Regulatory Flexibility Act

    Prior notice and an opportunity for public comments are not 
required by the Administrative Procedure Act or any other law for rules 
concerning grants, benefits, and contracts (5 U.S.C. 553(a)(2)). 
Because notice and opportunity for comment are not required pursuant to 
5 U.S.C. 553 or any other law, the analytical requirements of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) are inapplicable. 
Therefore, a regulatory flexibility analysis has not been prepared.

    Dated: July 22, 2009.
Dennis Alvord,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development.
[FR Doc. E9-17821 Filed 7-24-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-24-P