Solicitation of Applications for the National Technical Assistance, Training, Research and Evaluation Program: Information Dissemination Project and Business Incubator Research Project, 59253-59256 [E7-20627]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• Economic Development Administration

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 202 (Friday, October 19, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59253-59256]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-20627]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Economic Development Administration

[Docket No.: 070607177-7586-02]


Solicitation of Applications for the National Technical 
Assistance, Training, Research and Evaluation Program: Information 
Dissemination Project and Business Incubator Research Project

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

ACTION: Notice and request for applications.

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SUMMARY: The Economic Development Administration (EDA) publishes this 
notice to solicit applications for funding under its National Technical 
Assistance, Training, Research and Evaluation Program (NTA Program). On 
June 21, 2007, EDA published in the Federal Register a notice regarding 
NTA Program funding, to solicit applications for funding that address 
one or both of the following two projects: (1) Information 
dissemination to practitioners serving economically distressed areas; 
and (2) a national symposium to bring together leaders to discuss 
current and future trends in economic development. On July 6, 2007, EDA 
published another notice in the Federal Register to solicit 
applications for funding that address one or more of four research 
projects, including one relating to business incubators. After 
completing its review of applications submitted in response to the June 
21, 2007 and July 6, 2007 Federal Register notices, EDA decided not to 
make an award for either the information dissemination project or the 
business incubator research project. Through this notice, EDA solicits 
applications for funding that address only the information 
dissemination project or the business incubator research project. EDA 
encourages applicants to read the descriptions of both projects as EDA 
has provided additional information on important requirements that were 
not in the original Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) announcements and 
Federal Register notices.

DATES: The closing date and time for receipt of electronic or paper 
applications for funding under this notice and request for applications 
is Friday, November 9, 2007 at 5 p.m. EST. 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 9, 2007 
at 5 p.m. EST; or (2) transmitted and time-stamped at www.grants.gov no 
later than November 9, 2007 at 5 p.m. EST. Any application received or 
transmitted, as the case may be, after 5 p.m. EST on November 9, 2007 
will be considered non-responsive and will not be considered for 
funding. By December 7, 2007, EDA expects to notify the applicants 
selected for investment assistance under this notice. The selected 
applicant should expect to receive funding for its project within 
thirty days of EDA's notification of selection. Applicants choosing to 
submit completed applications electronically in whole or in part 
through www.grants.gov should follow the instructions set out below 
under ``Electronic Access'' and in section IV. of the complete FFO 
announcement for this request for applications.

ADDRESSES: Paper Submissions: Full or partial paper (hardcopy) 
applications submitted pursuant to this notice and request for 
applications may be:
    1. E-mailed to William P. Kittredge, Senior Program Analyst, at 
wkittredge@eda.doc.gov; or
    2. Hand-delivered or mailed to William P. Kittredge, Senior Program 
Analyst, Economic Development Administration, Room 7009, U.S. 
Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 
20230.

Applicants submitting full or partial paper submissions are encouraged 
to do so by e-mail. 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.
    Electronic Submissions: Applicants may submit applications 
electronically in whole or in part in accordance with the instructions 
provided at www.grants.gov and in section IV.B. of the FFO 
announcement. EDA strongly encourages that applicants not wait until 
the application closing date to begin the application process through 
www.grants.gov. The preferred file format for electronic attachments 
(e.g., the project narrative and additional exhibits to Form ED-900A 
and Form ED-900A's program-specific component) is portable document 
format (PDF); however, EDA will accept electronic files in Microsoft 
Word, WordPerfect, Lotus or Excel formats.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information regarding 
paper submissions, please contact William P. Kittredge, Senior Program 
Analyst, via e-mail at wkittredge@eda.doc.gov (preferred) or by 
telephone at (202) 482-5442. 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 www.grants.gov via email at 
support@grants.gov or telephone at 1-800-518-4726. The hours of 
operation for www.grants.gov are Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. (EST) 
(except for federal holidays). Additional information about EDA and its 
NTA Program may be obtained from EDA's Internet Web site at https://
www.eda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Background Information: On June 21, 2007 and July 6, 2007, EDA 
published two separate Federal Register notices soliciting applications 
for funding under its NTA Program. The June 21, 2007, Federal Register 
notice (72 FR 34225) solicited applications for funding that addressed 
one or both of the following two projects: (1) Information 
dissemination to practitioners serving economically distressed areas; 
and (2) a national symposium to bring together leaders to discuss 
current and future trends in economic development. The deadline for 
receipt of applications closed July 23, 2007 at 5 p.m. EST. After 
completing its review of applications submitted in response to the June 
21, 2007 Federal Register notice, EDA decided not to make an award for 
the information dissemination project. Through this notice, EDA 
solicits applications for the information dissemination project in 
accordance with the project description and deliverables set out in 
section I.B. of the FFO announcement. This notice does not address and 
does not solicit applications for the national symposium project.
    The July 6, 2007, Federal Register notice (72 FR 36952) solicited 
applications for funding that addressed one or more of the following 
four research projects: (1) Rural economic

[[Page 59254]]

development policy; (2) business incubators; (3) 21st century 
regionalism; and (4) private sector community investment. The deadline 
for receipt of applications closed on August 3, 2007 at 5 p.m. EST. 
After completing its review of applications submitted in response to 
the July 6, 2007 Federal Register notice, EDA decided not to make an 
award for the business incubator research project. Through this notice, 
EDA solicits applications for the business incubator research project 
in accordance with the project description set out in section I.B. of 
the FFO announcement. Because EDA has made awards for research projects 
for (1) Rural economic development policy, (2) 21st century 
regionalism, and (3) private sector community investments, this notice 
does not address or solicit applications for those projects.

Project Title: Information Dissemination to Practitioners Serving 
Economically Distressed Areas

    As part of its ongoing mission to assist economically distressed 
areas, EDA supports the dissemination of information to economic 
development practitioners serving distressed communities. EDA's intent 
is to implement a coordinated and complementary information 
dissemination program that, through strategic linkages, reaches the 
maximum number of economic development practitioners. The dissemination 
effort includes the development of distribution lists for each 
deliverable, which will be made available to EDA for its use.
    EDA is soliciting applications to fund three separate tasks that 
will serve the economic development needs of distressed rural and urban 
regions, take greater advantage of new technologies for information 
dissemination, and identify and widely disseminate information in new 
or emerging areas of economic development. As described in detail in 
the accompanying FFO announcement that can be accessed at 
www.grants.gov and at www.eda.gov, the information dissemination 
project will include a variety of media and has three component tasks: 
(i) Producing and broadcasting strategy telecasts; (ii) preparing and 
disseminating monthly electronic newsletters; and (iii) preparing and 
disseminating a quarterly magazine/pamphlet. The applicant must address 
all three tasks in its application.

Project Title: Business Incubators

    Recent studies on economic development, including several EDA-
funded reports, stress the importance of a regional approach to 
successful economic development efforts and the importance of fostering 
innovation and supporting entrepreneurship as key elements in regional 
economic development.
    Pursuant to its NTA Program, EDA is soliciting applications to 
undertake research involving business incubators. Business incubators 
may provide wet lab or office space, and often also offer business 
support services, such as business planning and marketing assistance. 
Business incubators of whatever type share a common principle: To 
nurture the development of entrepreneurial companies. EDA solicits 
applications from qualified researchers to build on the existing body 
of knowledge about business incubators, distilling the characteristics 
of successful incubation efforts and discussing quantitative and 
qualitative approaches to measuring incubator success. The research 
must be peer-review quality, include coverage of recent developments, 
such as virtual incubators, and must be of sufficient scope that the 
results, including but not limited to identification of best practices, 
are generalizable across the United States.
    To be considered for funding, all applications for the projects 
solicited through this notice must comply with the new program 
requirements set out in the FFO announcement. Any applicant that 
submitted an application during the previous solicitation period should 
submit a new and complete application, if it wishes to be considered 
for funding. All materials must be received by EDA by November 9, 2007 
at 5 p.m. EST.
    Application Package: An application package for either proposed 
project consists of the following three forms:
    1. Form ED-900A, Application for Investment Assistance (OMB Control 
No. 0610-0094);
    2. Form ED-900A's program-specific component, National Technical 
Assistance, Training, and Research and Evaluation Program Requirements 
(OMB Control No. 0610-0094); and
    3. Form SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance (OMB Control No. 
4040-0004).

Please note that applicants must submit all three forms in accordance 
with the instructions provided in sections IV. and VII.B. of the FFO 
announcement. Applicants also must ensure that they access and complete 
the current version of all required forms.
    As stated in section I.A. of the FFO announcement, applicants that 
applied during the prior solicitation period and are interested in 
applying under this competitive solicitation should submit new and 
complete applications that fully adhere to the project descriptions and 
deliverables set out under section I.B. of the FFO announcement.
    Submitting Application Packages: Applications for either project 
may be submitted in three formats: (1) Full paper (hardcopy) 
submission; (2) partial paper (hardcopy) submission and partial 
electronic submission; or (3) full electronic submission, each in 
accordance with the procedures provided in section IV.B. of the FFO 
announcement. The content of the application is the same for paper 
submissions as it is for electronic submissions. Applications completed 
in accordance with the instructions set forth in the FFO announcement, 
regardless of the option chosen for submission, will be considered for 
EDA funding under this request for applications. Incomplete 
applications and applications submitted by facsimile will not be 
considered.
    Paper Access: Each of the three forms listed above under 
``Application Package'' are separate attachments available at https://
www.eda.gov/InvestmentsGrants/Application.xml. You may print copies of 
each of these forms from https://www.eda.gov/InvestmentsGrants/
Application.xml. You also may obtain paper application packages by 
contacting the EDA representative listed above under ``For Further 
Information Contact.''
    Electronic Access: Applicants may apply electronically through 
www.grants.gov, and may access this grant opportunity synopsis by 
following the instructions provided on https://www.grants.gov/search/
basic.do. The synopsis will have an application package, which is an 
electronic file that contains forms pertaining to this specific grant 
opportunity. On https://www.grants.gov/search/basic.do, applicants can 
perform a basic search for this grant opportunity by completing the 
``Keyword Search,'' the ``Search by Funding Opportunity Number,'' or 
the ``Search by CFDA Number'' field, and then clicking the ``Search'' 
button.
    Funding Availability: EDA will use funds currently available to 
make awards under the NTA Program authorized under section 207 of the 
Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3147), as 
amended (PWEDA), and 13 CFR part 306, subpart A.
    Based on recent past awards for projects similar to the information 
dissemination project solicited under this announcement, the range of 
total expenditures for such projects has been from $150,000 to 
$250,000.

[[Page 59255]]

    Based on recent past awards for research projects similar to the 
business incubator research project solicited under this announcement, 
the range of funding awarded for such a project has been from $150,000 
to $350,000. The project period will be one year from the date the 
award is made, but the recipient may be required to remain available to 
present research findings at select meetings and conferences 
approximately six to twelve months beyond the project period. Although 
the schedule for such meetings and conferences will likely not be known 
until EDA has received the final business incubator research report, 
they will be scheduled in consultation with the recipient, and the 
recipient will have ample time to prepare.
    Statutory Authority: The authority for the NTA Program is PWEDA. 
EDA published final regulations (codified at 13 CFR chapter III) in the 
Federal Register on September 27, 2006 (71 FR 56658). The final 
regulations and PWEDA are accessible on EDA's Internet website at 
https://www.eda.gov/InvestmentsGrants/Lawsreg.xml. These regulations 
will govern an award made under this notice and request for 
applications.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Numbers: 11.303, 
Economic Development--Technical Assistance; 11.312, Economic 
Development--Research and Evaluation.
    Eligibility Requirement: Pursuant to PWEDA, eligible applicants for 
and eligible 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; a public or private non-profit 
organization or association; and, as provided in section 207 of PWEDA 
(42 U.S.C. 3147) for the NTA Program, a for-profit organization. See 
section 3 of PWEDA (42 U.S.C. 3122) and 13 CFR 300.3.
    Cost Sharing Requirement: Generally, the amount of the EDA grant 
may not exceed fifty (50) percent of the total cost of the project. 
However, a project may receive an additional amount that shall not 
exceed thirty (30) percent, based on the relative needs of the region 
in which the project will be located, as determined by EDA. See section 
204(a) of PWEDA (42 U.S.C. 3144) and 13 CFR 301.4(b)(1). Under this 
competitive solicitation, the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for 
Economic Development (Assistant Secretary) also 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).
    While cash contributions are preferred, in-kind contributions, 
consisting of assumptions of debt or contributions of space, equipment, 
and services, may provide the non-federal share of the total project 
cost. See section 204(b) of PWEDA (42 U.S.C. 3144). EDA will fairly 
evaluate all in-kind contributions, which must be eligible project 
costs and 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 that allows such use, 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, available as needed and 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 FFO announcement. Any application 
received or transmitted, as the case may be, after 5 p.m. EST on 
November 9, 2007 will not be considered for funding. Applications that 
do not meet all items required or that exceed the page limitations set 
forth in section IV.C. of the FFO announcement will be considered non-
responsive and will not be considered for funding. By December 7, 2007, 
EDA expects to notify the applicants selected for investment assistance 
under this notice. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified by postal 
mail 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 received for each proposed project 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:
    a. Strengthens the capacity of local, State or national 
organizations and institutions to undertake and promote effective 
economic development programs targeted to regions of distress;
    b. Benefits distressed regions; and
    c. 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; and
    5. The cost to the Federal government.
    Selection Factors: The Assistant Secretary will be the Selecting 
Official. EDA expects to fund the highest ranking application for each 
project, as recommended by the review panel, submitted under this 
competitive solicitation. However, for one or both projects, the 
Assistant Secretary may not make any selection, or he may select an 
application out of rank order for the following reasons: (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) 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

    The Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification Requirements for 
Grants and Cooperative Agreements, published in the Federal Register on 
December 30, 2004 (69 FR 78389), are applicable to this competitive 
solicitation. This notice may be accessed by entering the Federal 
Register volume and page number provided in the previous sentence at 
the following Internet website: https://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/
retrieve.html.

[[Page 59256]]

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-
900A (Application for Investment Assistance) under control number 0610-
0094. Form ED-900A's program-specific component (National Technical 
Assistance, Training, and Research and Evaluation Program Requirements) 
also is approved under OMB control number 0610-0094, and incorporates 
Forms SF-424A (Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs, OMB 
control number 0348-0044) and SF-424B (Assurances--Non-Construction 
Programs, OMB control number 0348-0040). OMB has approved the use of 
Form SF-424 (Application for Financial Assistance) under control number 
4040-0004. 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: October 15, 2007.
Benjamin Erulkar,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development and 
Chief Operating Officer.
 [FR Doc. E7-20627 Filed 10-18-07; 8:45 am]
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