[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 64 (Friday, April 3, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18219-18223]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-07707]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary


Office of Economic Adjustment; Announcement of Federal Funding 
Opportunity (FFO)

AGENCY: Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA), Department of Defense 
(DoD).

ACTION: Federal funding opportunity announcement.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces an opportunity to request funding from 
the Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA), a Department of Defense (DoD) 
field activity, for community planning assistance to help prevent the 
siting of energy projects from adversely affecting DoD's test, 
training, and military operations. Commercial development of energy 
projects may affect unique DoD activities and military readiness, 
especially when located near installations, ranges, or on lands beneath 
designated military training routes or special use airspace. State, 
tribal, and local governments can support effective collaboration, 
early engagement and dialogue between DoD and energy developers to 
ensure proposed energy projects may proceed without compromising the 
DoD missions. This notice includes proposal submission requirements and 
instructions, eligibility requirements, and selection criteria that 
will be used to evaluate proposals from eligible respondents. OEA 
grants to a state or local government may result from any proposal 
submitted under this notice, subject to the availability of 
appropriations.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    a. Federal Awarding Agency: Office of Economic Adjustment, 
Department of Defense.
    b. Funding Opportunity Title: Community Adjustment Planning 
Assistance in Response to Siting of Energy Projects to Support 
Department of Defense Mission Interests.
    c. Announcement Type: Initial Federal Funding Opportunity.
    d. Catalog Of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number & Title: 
12.610, Community Economic Adjustment Assistance for Compatible Use and 
Joint Land Use Studies.
    e. Key Dates: Proposals will be considered on a continuing basis. 
OEA will evaluate all proposal documents and requests, and provide a 
response to the respondent within 30 business days of OEA's receipt of 
a final and complete proposal.

I. Period of Funding Opportunity

    Proposals will be considered on a continuing basis, subject to the 
availability of appropriated funds, commencing on the date of 
publication of this notice.

II. Funding Opportunity

a. Program Description

    OEA is a DoD Field Activity authorized under 10 U.S.C 2391 to 
provide assistance to state or local governments, and instrumentalities 
of state and local governments, including regional governmental 
organizations, to plan and carry out community adjustments required by 
the encroachment of a civilian community on a military installation if 
the Secretary determines that the encroachment of the civilian 
community is likely to impair the continued operational utility of the 
installation, including test and training ranges and associated 
military airspace.
    OEA's Compatible Use and Joint Land Use Studies Program provides 
technical and financial assistance to state and local governments to 
plan and carry out community adjustments required to mitigate or 
prevent incompatible civilian development and activities that are 
likely to impair the continued operational utility of a DoD 
installation. The objectives of OEA's Compatible Use and Joint Land Use 
Studies Program are to assist states and local governments to plan and 
carry out community adjustments to promote compatible civilian 
development and activities in support of continued operational utility

[[Page 18220]]

of the installation; preserve and protect the public health, safety, 
and general welfare; protect and preserve military readiness and 
defense capability while supporting continued economic development; and 
enhance civilian and military communications and collaboration.
    OEA is accepting proposals for grant assistance to support 
communities, regions, and states to assist in the siting of energy 
project investments so they do not impair the continued operational 
utility of a DoD installation. Proposals will be evaluated against the 
eligibility criteria in section II.c. and the selection criteria in 
section II.e. of this notice by OEA staff in coordination with 
representatives from the DoD Siting Clearinghouse, Military 
Departments, Federal Aviation Administration, and Department of Energy, 
as well as other Federal agencies as invited by OEA. OEA will notify 
the respondent within thirty (30) days of receipt of a proposal whether 
their proposal was successful. The successful respondent will then be 
invited to submit an application through OEA's eGrants system. 
Additional details about the review and selection process are provided 
in section II.e. of the FFO.
    The final amount of each award will be determined by OEA based upon 
a review of a final grant application, and will be subject to the 
availability of appropriated funds.

b. Federal Award Information

    Awards under this FFO will be issued in the form of a grant 
agreement. In accordance with 31 U.S.C. 6304 a grant is defined as the 
legal instrument reflecting a relationship between the United States 
Government and a State, a local government, or other recipient when:
    (1) The principal purpose of the relationship is to transfer a 
thing of value to the State or local government or other recipient to 
carry out a public purpose of support or stimulation authorized by a 
law of the United States instead of acquiring (by purchase, lease, or 
barter) property or services for the direct benefit or use of the 
United States Government; and
    (2) Substantial involvement is not expected between the executive 
agency and the State, local government, or other recipient when 
carrying out the activity contemplated in the agreement.

c. Eligibility Information

    Awards resulting from this FFO are based on eligibility and the 
responsiveness of proposals to the need to support effective 
collaboration, early engagement and dialogue between DoD and energy 
developers to ensure proposed energy projects may proceed without 
compromising DoD's military test, training, and military operations.
i. Eligible Respondents
    Eligible respondents are states, counties, municipalities, other 
political subdivisions of a state; special purpose units of a state or 
local government; other instrumentalities of a state or local 
government; and tribal nations. If multiple proposals are received for 
the same affected region, or installation, OEA will ask respondents to 
coordinate and submit only one proposal.
    Respondents are encouraged to propose locations where siting of 
energy projects, including electrical transmission lines, could 
adversely impact DoD test, training, and military operations.
    A proposal must respond to the need to ensure proposed energy 
projects may proceed without compromising DoD's test, training, and 
military operations, to include radar interference from wind turbines; 
low-level flight obstructions associated with tall structures such as 
solar power towers and wind turbine projects; electromagnetic 
interference from high voltage electrical transmission lines; and glint 
and glare impacts to flight operations associated with solar 
photovoltaic arrays or power tower projects near military airfields.
    Respondents are urged to review the Program Information stated for 
CFDA Number 12.610, Community Economic Adjustment Assistance for 
Compatible Use and Joint Land Use Studies on http://www.cfda.gov, prior 
to preparing and/or submitting a proposal.
ii. Cost Sharing or Matching
    Cost sharing is required. A minimum of ten percent (10%) of the 
project's total proposed funding is to be comprised of non-Federal 
sources.
iii. Other Eligibility Information
    Funding will be awarded to only one governmental entity on behalf 
of a region, therefore applications on the behalf of a multi-
jurisdictional region should demonstrate a significant level of 
cooperation in their proposal.
    Respondents are encouraged to identify state, tribal, county or 
local planning and permitting processes that could facilitate siting of 
projects to prevent adverse impacts.
    Respondents are encouraged to submit proposals that demonstrate 
appropriate leverage of all public and private resources and programs.

d. Proposal and Submission Information

i. Submission of a Proposal
    Proposals should be submitted electronically at 
[email protected] with a courtesy copy to 
[email protected]. Include ``Community Adjustment Planning 
Assistance in Response to Siting of Energy Projects'' on the subject 
line of the message and request delivery/read confirmation to ensure 
receipt.
    Proposals may also be mailed or hand-delivered to: Director, Office 
of Economic Adjustment, 2231 Crystal Drive, Suite 520, Arlington, VA 
22202-3711.
ii. Content and Form of Proposal Submission
    A proposal from a state on behalf of itself must demonstrate how 
the proposed grant would support local community adjustment planning 
and initiatives, and stimulate cooperation between statewide and local 
adjustment planning efforts. A proposal from a state responding on 
behalf of a local jurisdiction or jurisdictions must include evidence 
of support from local officials.
    Eligible proposals from respondents may include: (1) Analysis and 
dissemination of information; (2) timely consultation and cooperation 
among DoD, energy developers, and state and local governments; (3) 
coordinated interagency and intergovernmental assistance; (4) cost-
effective strategies and action plans; (5) effective cooperation and 
involvement of the public and private sector; (6) a clearinghouse to 
exchange information among Federal, state and local efforts; (7) 
resolution of regulatory issues impeding siting of compatible energy 
projects; and (8) support innovative approaches.
    Eligible activities may include (but are not limited to): staffing, 
operating, and administrative costs for an organization; outreach to 
industry and other interests; geospatial information system mapping; 
model ordinances; and siting or permitting processes or procedures that 
could include DoD Siting Clearinghouse mitigation agreements as 
stipulations for local siting approvals or certificates of necessity 
and convenience.
    Proposals will be accepted as received on a continuing basis 
commencing on the date of this publication and processed when deemed to 
be a final, complete proposal. Each proposal shall consist of no more 
than ten (10) single-sided pages exclusive of cover sheet and/or 
transmittal letter, typed in a minimum 11-point common typeface,

[[Page 18221]]

with no less than 1'' margins, exclusive of appendices, attachments, 
and cover sheet and/or transmittal letter, and must include the 
following information:
    (a) Point of Contact: Name, Title, phone number, email address, and 
organization address of the respondent's primary point of contact;
    (b) Potential Energy Development: A description of the potential 
energy project development within the area of DoD's test, training and 
military operations;
    (c) Project Description: A description of the proposed project, 
specifically
    (i) How the project can promote compatible siting of energy 
projects, including how the project could prevent adverse impacts to 
DoD's test, training and military operations from radar interference 
from utility-scale wind turbines; low level flight obstructions 
associated with tall structures such as solar power tower and wind 
turbine projects; electromagnetic interference from high voltage 
electrical transmission lines; and glint and glare impacts to flight 
operations associated with solar photovoltaic arrays or power tower 
projects near military airfields;
    (ii) How the study area and DoD's test, training, and military 
operations are defined;
    (iii) How the project will capitalize on existing strengths (e.g., 
infrastructure, institutions, capital, etc.) within the affected area; 
and
    (iv) How the project would be integrated with existing/ongoing 
efforts to site, permit and construct energy projects.
    (d) Project Parties: A description of the partner jurisdictions, 
agencies, organizations, energy industry representatives, and their 
roles and responsibilities to carry out the proposed project. Letters 
of support may be included as attachment and will not count against the 
ten-page limit;
    (e) Local Military Involvement: A description of the role of the 
installation(s) in the study;
    (f) Grant Funds and Other Sources of Funds: A summary of local 
needs, including need for Federal funding; an overview of all State and 
local funding sources, including the funds requested under this notice; 
financial commitments for other Federal and non-Federal funds needed to 
undertake the project, to include acknowledgment of the requirement to 
provide a minimum of ten percent (10%) of the funding from non-Federal 
sources; a description of any other Federal funding for which the 
respondent has applied, or intends to apply to support this effort; and 
a statement detailing how the proposal is not duplicative of other 
available Federal funding;
    (g) Project Schedule: A sufficiently detailed project schedule, 
including milestones;
    (h) Performance Milestones: A description of milestones to be 
tracked and evaluated over the course of the project to gauge 
performance of the project;
    (i) Grants Management: Evidence of the respondent's ability and 
authority to manage Federal grant funds;
    (j) Submitting Official: Documentation that the Submitting Official 
is authorized by the respondent to submit a proposal and subsequently 
apply for assistance.
    The proposal should be emailed to the account identified in section 
II.d, and in Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat PDF format. OEA reserves 
the right to ask any respondent to supplement the information in its 
proposal, but expects the proposal to be complete upon submission. To 
the extent practicable, OEA encourages respondents to provide data and 
evidence of all project merits in a form that is publicly available and 
verifiable.
iii. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)
    Each respondent is required to: (a) Provide a valid Dun and 
Bradstreet Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number; (b) be registered 
in the System for Award Management (SAM) before submitting its 
application; and (c) continue to maintain an active SAM registration 
with current information at all times during which it has an active 
Federal award or an application or plan under consideration by a 
Federal awarding agency. OEA may not make a Federal award to a 
respondent until the respondent has complied with all applicable unique 
entity identifier and SAM requirements.
iv. Submission Dates and Times
    Proposals will be considered on a continuing basis, subject to 
available appropriations, commencing on the date of publication of this 
notice. The end date for this program has not yet been determined. OEA 
will evaluate all proposals and provide a response to each respondent 
via email within 30 business days of OEA's receipt of a final, complete 
grant proposal.
v. Funding Restrictions
    The following are unallowable activities under this grant program:
     Construction;
     Proposed activities for grants under this program should 
not duplicate nor replicate activities otherwise eligible for or funded 
through other Federal programs; and
     International travel.

OEA reserves the right to decline to fund pre-Federal award costs. 
Final awards may include pre-Federal award costs at the discretion of 
OEA; however, this must be specifically requested in the grantee's 
final application.
vi. Other Submission Requirements
    All respondents will submit all proposal materials electronically 
as an emailed attachment in Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat PDF format.

e. Application Review Information

i. Selection Criteria
    Upon validating respondent eligibility and the potential for siting 
of energy projects that may impair the operational utility of the 
installation, including test and training ranges and associated 
military airspace, OEA will consider each of the following equally-
balanced factors as a basis to invite formal grant applications:
    (a) An appropriate and clear project design to address the need, 
problem, or issue identified;
    (b) Evidence of an effective approach to ensure compatible siting 
of energy projects to support the continued operational utility of 
DoD's test, training, and military operations;
    (c) The innovative quality of the proposed approach; and
    (d) A reasonable proposed budget with a non-Federal match 
commitment and schedule for completion of the work program specified.
ii. Review and Selection Process
    All proposals will be reviewed on their individual merit by a panel 
of OEA and DoD Siting Clearinghouse staff, all of whom are Federal 
employees. OEA will also seek the input of other Federal agencies with 
relevant expertise (e.g., Federal Aviation Administration and 
Department of Energy) in the evaluation of proposals as necessary. OEA 
will notify the respondent within thirty (30) days of receipt of a 
proposal whether their proposal was successful. The successful 
respondent will then be instructed to submit an application through 
OEA's grants management system, eGrants. OEA will assign a Project 
Manager to advise and assist successful respondents in the preparation 
of the application. Grant applications will be reviewed for their 
completeness and accuracy and a grant award notification will be 
issued, to the extent possible, within seven (7) business days from its 
receipt.
    Unsuccessful respondents will be notified that their proposal was 
not

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selected for further action and funding, and may request a debriefing 
on their submitted proposal. When applicable, OEA may include 
information about other applicable federal grant programs in this 
communication. Requests for debriefing must be submitted in writing 
within 3 calendar days of notification of an unsuccessful proposal.
    OEA is committed to conducting a transparent financial assistance 
award process and publicizing information about funding decisions. 
Respondents are advised that their respective applications and 
information related to their review and evaluation may be shared 
publicly. Any proprietary information must be identified as such in the 
proposal and application. In the event of a grant award, information 
about project progress and related results may also be made publicly 
available.

f. Federal Award Adminstration Information

i. Federal Award Notices
    In the event a grant is ultimately awarded, the successful 
respondent (Grantee) will receive a notice of award in the form of a 
Grant Agreement, signed by the Director, OEA (Grantor), on behalf of 
DoD. The Grant Agreement will be transmitted electronically or, if 
necessary, by U.S. Mail.
ii. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
    Any grant awarded under this program will be governed by the 
provisions of the OMB circulars applicable to financial assistance and 
DoD's implementing regulations in place at the time of the award. A 
Grantee receiving funds under this opportunity and any consultant or 
pass-thru entity operating under the terms of a grant shall comply with 
all Federal, State, and local laws applicable to its activities. 
Federal regulations that will apply to an OEA grant include 
administrative requirements and provisions governing allowable costs as 
stated in:
     2 CFR part 200, ``Uniform Administrative Requirements, 
Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards'';
     2 CFR part 1103, ``Interim Grants and Cooperative 
Agreements Implementation of Guidance in 2 CFR part 200, ``Uniform 
Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, And Audit Requirements 
for Federal Awards'';
     2 CFR part 25, ``Universal Identifier and System for Award 
Management'';
     2 CFR part 170, ``Reporting Subaward and Executive 
Compensation Information'';
     2 CFR part 180, OMB Guidelines to Agencies on Government-
wide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement), as implemented by DoD 
in 2 CFR part 1125, Department of Defense Nonprocurement Debarment and 
Suspension; and
     32 CFR part 28, ``New Restrictions on Lobbying''.
iii. Reporting
    OEA requires periodic performance reports, an interim financial 
report for each 12 months a grant is active, and one final performance 
report for any grant. The performance reports will contain information 
on the following:
    (a) A comparison of actual accomplishments to the objectives 
established for the period;
    (b) reasons for slippage if established objectives were not met;
    (c) additional pertinent information when appropriate;
    (d) a comparison of actual and projected quarterly expenditures in 
the grant; and,
    (e) the amount of Federal cash on hand at the beginning and end of 
the reporting period.
    The final performance report must contain a summary of activities 
for the entire grant period. All required deliverables should be 
submitted with the final performance report.
    The final SF 425, ``Federal Financial Report,'' must be submitted 
to OEA within 90 days after the end of the grant.
    Any grant funds actually advanced and not needed for grant purposes 
shall be returned immediately to OEA. Upon award, OEA will provide 
include a schedule for reporting periods and report due dates in the 
Grant Agreement.

III. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts

    For further information, to answer questions, or for help with 
problems, contact: Ms. Cyrena Chiles Eitler, Compatible Use Program 
Director, Office of Economic Adjustment, 2231 Crystal Drive, Suite 520, 
Arlington, VA 22202-3711. Office: (703) 697-2078. Email: 
[email protected].
    The OEA homepage address is: http://www.oea.gov.

IV. Other Information

a. Grant Award Determination

    Selection of an organization under this FFO does not constitute 
approval of a grant for the proposed project as submitted. Before any 
funds are awarded, OEA may enter into negotiations about such items as 
program components, staffing and funding levels, and administrative 
systems in place to support implementation of the award. The amount of 
available funding may require the final award amount to be less than 
that originally requested by the respondent. If the negotiations do not 
result in a mutually acceptable submission, OEA reserves the right to 
terminate the negotiations and decline to fund an application. OEA 
further reserves the right not to fund any proposal received under this 
FFO.
    In the event OEA approves an amount that is less than the amount 
requested, the respondent will be required to modify its grant 
application to conform to the reduced amount before execution of the 
grant agreement. OEA reserves the right to reduce or withdraw the award 
if acceptable modifications are not submitted by the respondent within 
15 working days from the date the request for modification is made. Any 
modifications must be within the scope of the original application and 
approved by both the Grantee and OEA. OEA reserves the right to cancel 
any award for non-performance.

b. No Obligation for Future Funding

    Amendment or renewal of an award to increase funding or to extend 
the period of performance is at the discretion of OEA. If a respondent 
is awarded funding under this FFO, no other federal agencies are under 
any obligation to provide any additional future funding in connection 
with that award or to make any future award(s).

c. Intellectual Property Rights

    In the event of a grant award, the Grantee may copyright any work 
that is subject to copyright and was developed, or for which ownership 
was purchased, under an award. The Federal awarding agencies reserve a 
royalty-free, nonexclusive and irrevocable right to reproduce, publish, 
or otherwise use the work for Federal purposes, and to authorize others 
to do so. Such uses include, but are not limited to, the right to 
modify and distribute such products worldwide by any means, 
electronically or otherwise. The Grantee may not use Federal funds to 
pay any royalty or license fee for use of a copyrighted work, or the 
cost of acquiring by purchase a copyright in a work, where the 
Department has a license or rights of free use in such work. If 
revenues are generated through selling products developed with grant 
funds, including intellectual property, these revenues are program 
income and shall be added to

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the grant and must be expended for allowable grant activities.

    Dated: March 31, 2015.
Aaron Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2015-07707 Filed 4-2-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 5001-06-P