Solicitation of Applications for the Research and Evaluation Program: FY 2010 Triple Bottom Line Accounting Competition-A Method for Identifying Impacts of Economic Development Initiatives on Regional Economies, 38082-38086 [2010-16054]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• Economic Development Administration

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 126 (Thursday, July 1, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38082-38086]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-16054]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Economic Development Administration

[Docket No. 100614264-0264-01]


Solicitation of Applications for the Research and Evaluation 
Program: FY 2010 Triple Bottom Line Accounting Competition--A Method 
for Identifying Impacts of Economic Development Initiatives on Regional 
Economies

AGENCY: Economic Development Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice and request for applications.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Research and Evaluation program, the Economic 
Development Administration (EDA) seeks applications to research, 
develop, and disseminate metrics to enable policymakers and 
practitioners to more effectively understand how to assess the triple 
bottom line (economic, environmental, and social impacts) of various 
economic development activities. 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 Research and Evaluation program, EDA 
works towards fulfilling its mission by funding research and technical 
assistance projects to promote competitiveness and innovation in 
distressed 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: To be considered timely, a completed application, regardless of 
the format in which it is submitted, must be either (a) transmitted and 
time-stamped at https://www.grants.gov no later than August 13, 2010, at 
5 p.m. Eastern Time; or (b) received in the office or the e-mail inbox, 
as applicable, of the EDA representative listed under Application 
Submission Requirements no later than August 13, 2010, at 5 p.m. 
Eastern Time.
    Application Submission Requirements: Applicants are advised to read 
carefully the instructions contained in section IV of the Federal 
funding opportunity (FFO) announcement for this notice and request for 
applications. For a copy of the FFO announcement, please see the Web 
sites listed below under Electronic Access.
    Applications may be submitted (a) electronically or (b) in paper 
format. 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 may 
access the application package by following the instructions provided 
at https://www.grants.gov. Alternatively, you may obtain paper 
application packages by contacting the individual listed below under 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
    Electronic Submissions: Applicants are strongly encouraged to 
submit applications electronically at https://www.grants.gov. The 
preferred electronic file format for attachments is portable document 
format (PDF);

[[Page 38083]]

however, EDA will accept electronic files in Microsoft Word, 
WordPerfect, or Microsoft Excel. To take advantage of screen-fillable 
functionality, an applicant must download the application package from 
https://www.grants.gov and use the ``Save As'' function to save the 
application package to the applicant's computer.
    To avoid delays, EDA strongly recommends that applicants start 
early and not wait until the approaching deadline before logging on, 
registering with https://www.grants.gov, reviewing the application 
instructions, and applying at https://www.grants.gov. Applicants must be 
registered users with https://www.grants.gov in order to apply; the 
registration process can take between three to five business days or as 
long as four weeks if all steps are not completed in a timely manner. 
Please register early. Applicants should save and print written proof 
of an electronic submission made at https://www.grants.gov. If problems 
occur, the applicant is advised to (a) print any error message 
received, and (b) call the https://www.grants.gov Contact Center at 1-
800-518-4726 for assistance. The Contact Center is open 24 hours a day, 
7 days a week (except for Federal holidays). The following link lists 
useful resources: https://www.grants.gov/help/help.jsp. If you do not 
find an answer to your question under ``Applicant FAQs,'' try 
consulting the ``Applicant User Guide'' or contacting https://www.grants.gov via email at support@grants.gov or telephone at 1-800-
518-4726. In the event that https://www.grants.gov fails to function 
properly at the time of application submission, the applicant must 
retain the error message received and may e-mail a completed 
application to Hillary Sherman-Zelenka at HSherman@eda.doc.gov.
    Paper Submissions: If submitting by paper, applicants must submit 
one original and two copies of the completed application package via 
postal mail, private delivery service, or hand-delivery to:

FY 2010 Triple Bottom Line Accounting Competition, Hillary Sherman-
Zelenka, 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. Please note that overnight 
delivery packages are received in the Department of Commerce's mailroom 
before distribution to applicable bureaus, a process that can take 
approximately three to five business days. Accordingly, we recommend 
applicants mail applications a week ahead of the August 13, 2010, 
deadline in order take mail processing and distribution into 
consideration and avoid delays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information on the 
Research and Evaluation program or to obtain a paper application 
package for this notice, please contact Hillary Sherman-Zelenka via e-
mail at HSherman@eda.doc.gov (preferred) or by telephone at (202) 482-
3357. Additional information about EDA and its Research and Evaluation 
program may be obtained from EDA's Web site at https://www.eda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background: Building on the concept of 
sustainable development introduced in the 1987 Bruntland Report, John 
Elkington coined the term ``triple bottom line'' in his 1994 article in 
the California Management Review where he articulated the concept of 
``win-win-win'' business strategies. The article highlighted the 
limitations of focusing exclusively on traditional economic variables 
to determine the impact of industry actions on a regional economy. 
Rather than focusing exclusively on profits, Elkington argued, 
corporations also should consider the environmental and social 
implications of their actions\1\.
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    \1\ ``Triple bottom line'' accounting means expanding the 
traditional reporting framework to take into account environmental 
and social performance in addition to economic performance.
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    With the increased focus on sustainable economic development over 
the past several years, the triple bottom line concept has been adopted 
by a wide array of firms. Companies like Patagonia, General Electric, 
and Pepsi have successfully implemented triple bottom line accounting 
into their business models.
    While the triple bottom line concept is becoming an increasingly 
common formula for corporations to utilize to assess their bottom line, 
it is rarely utilized by local jurisdictions to determine the impact 
economic development efforts have on a region. Instead, most economic 
development efforts are exclusively evaluated based on the impact that 
the initiative will have on the local tax base and the number of jobs 
that will be created. While these are undoubtedly important 
considerations, local decision-makers also should consider a range of 
other factors, such as whether the project will contribute to sprawl, 
whether jobs will go to the local population or whether labor will be 
in-sourced, and whether the economic development project utilizes 
existing vacant properties or will deplete additional natural 
resources.
    In large part, development practitioners' and policymakers' lack of 
utilization of the triple bottom line concept is due to a lack of 
research on how the concept could be adapted from its original 
corporate focus to fit the needs of local governments. In order to 
rectify this, EDA solicits applications from qualified researchers to 
develop and disseminate metrics for assessing the economic, social, and 
environmental impacts of development efforts on a regional economy.
    Proposed Study: EDA makes grant investments that support and foster 
economic development in distressed regions. Currently, EDA's primary 
measure for assessing potential investments focuses on economic 
outcomes (e.g., the amount of private investment leveraged and the 
number of jobs created and retained). For reporting to stakeholders, 
EDA employs forecasts of these performance measures in its competitive 
grant selection process and post-award administration. EDA seeks to 
broaden its perspective using a more comprehensive, triple bottom line, 
approach. The study is intended to provide the tools to implement this 
approach.
    EDA solicits competitive applications from organizations or 
consortia that will build on the existing body of research and 
experience related to the triple bottom line concept to identify, 
develop, and disseminate appropriate metrics for practitioners and 
policymakers to utilize to assess the broad array of impacts that 
economic development efforts have in their regions. EDA solicits 
applications from qualified researchers to accomplish the project tasks 
and scope of work described in paragraphs (a)-(f) below:
    a. Provide a literature review outlining key research.
    In preparing their applications, applicants are encouraged to 
examine how economic development efforts at the national, State/
regional, and local levels have used the triple bottom line concept, 
challenges that have been encountered, and how these challenges have 
been overcome. Applicants should, where possible, examine international 
scenarios where the triple bottom line concept has been implemented to 
evaluate public development efforts.
    The successful applicant will be required to conduct a literature 
review

[[Page 38084]]

on relevant work from academic and policy fields. The literature review 
should be provided to EDA as a PDF document that can be made available 
on EDA's Web site at https://www.eda.gov. The document must include a 
short narrative outlining salient points of the research, the 
implications of this work, and a bibliographic listing of writings, 
articles and books reviewed.
    b. Assess how the triple bottom line concept is currently being 
employed by policymakers and practitioners and identify best practices.
    The successful applicant will be required to solicit input through 
surveys or focus groups from practitioners and policymakers on how they 
currently utilize the triple bottom line concept, and provide a summary 
of the information obtained to EDA in a format that can be made 
available on EDA's Web site at https://www.eda.gov.
    The successful applicant should ascertain organizations both at 
local and at State/Federal levels that are currently using triple 
bottom line efforts to assess economic development impacts, and 
determine the method that will be used to assess best practices for 
implementing the triple bottom line concept. Applicants should propose 
a method to collect input from a diverse range of policymakers and 
practitioners and develop a broad spectrum of rural and urban best 
practices. EDA will work with the successful applicant to finalize the 
method for soliciting input and identifying and communicating best 
practices, as part of this phase of the project.
    c. Identify variables and data sources.
    The successful applicant is to identify the variables and data 
sources that will be used to determine the triple bottom line of 
economic development efforts. The applicant must consider the variety 
of types of economic development efforts, and as appropriate, 
distinguish the variables and data sources that would be needed to 
assess the triple bottom line of different types of projects.
    In preparing an application, the applicant should consider whether 
variables for policymakers interested in determining the triple bottom 
line of a publicly funded initiative would be the same as those 
considered by local practitioners. If different variables are 
identified for the practitioner and policymaker groups, the applicant 
should specify why and how the variation will serve the needs of each 
group.
    There is a growing body of work that describes ways to assess 
environmental impacts, social inclusion, and economic events. Examples 
of resources focused on one or more of these areas include: Ecological 
Footprint, eco-labels, and the United Nations International Council for 
Local Environmental Initiative's approach to triple bottom line using 
the ecoBudget metric. The International Organization for 
Standardization (ISO) has several accredited standards useful for 
measuring greenhouse gas emissions. There are a range of Federal data 
sources, including the Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and 
Bureau of Economic Analysis, which offer information on economic and 
social variables. Applications under this competitive solicitation 
should reflect a familiarity with the data and body of work referenced 
above, as well as the appropriate academic literature. EDA will work 
with the successful applicant to identify the universe of variables and 
data sources as part of this phase of the awarded cooperative 
agreement.
    d. Create a triple bottom line index for policymakers and 
practitioners.
    The successful applicant will be expected to create an index that 
policymakers and practitioners can easily utilize to determine the 
triple bottom line of a particular economic development activity. The 
index should identify core variables and data sources in each of the 
three categories: social, environmental and economic. The successful 
applicant will be required to construct this index from publicly 
available data, where possible, to ensure that information can be 
accessible to the broadest array of stakeholders.
    EDA will work with the successful applicant to consider 
implications of various variables as the index is constructed to ensure 
as unbiased a construction as possible. Information on the variables 
selected and data sources is to be submitted to EDA in a format that 
can be made available on EDA's Web site.
    e. Create an interactive Web-based tool.
    As they are designing their proposals, applicants should refer to 
how the EDA-funded Innovation Index, created by the Indiana Business 
Research Center, makes data available in an easy-to-use format. The 
Innovation Index may be accessed at  https://www.statsamerica.org/innovation/. In their application submissions, applicants are 
encouraged to outline the structure, template, and unique features of 
the Web tool that would be created as part of an award made under this 
competitive solicitation.
    To display the index of triple bottom line metrics, the successful 
applicant will be required to create and implement an interactive web-
based display tool with search capability for determining the triple 
bottom line of economic development efforts, which can be housed on or 
linked to EDA's Web site at https://www.eda.gov. The successful 
applicant must ensure that the index can be calculated for user-defined 
regions through the web-based tool.
    f. Produce a final report.
    The successful applicant will produce a final report that 
highlights the major findings of this research, provides policy 
recommendations, and offers lessons learned on how both policymakers 
and local practitioners can create and implement triple bottom line 
metrics to more effectively evaluate the true impact of economic 
development efforts. The report shall be posted on EDA's Web site.
    Any information disseminated to the public under this announcement 
is subject to the Information Quality Act (Pub. L. 106-554). For this 
reason, the successful applicant is 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 can be found on EDA's Web site at 
https://www.eda.gov.
    Electronic Access: The FFO announcement for the FY 2010 Triple 
Bottom Line Accounting competition is available at https://www.grants.gov and at https://www.eda.gov/InvestmentsGrants/FFON.xml.
    Funding Availability: Funding appropriated under the Consolidated 
Appropriations Act, 2010 (Pub. L. 111-117, 123 Stat. 3034 at 3114 
(2009)) is available for the economic development assistance programs 
authorized by the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965, as 
amended (42 U.S.C. 3121 et seq.) (PWEDA), and for the Trade Adjustment 
Assistance for Firms Program under the Trade Act of 1974, as amended 
(19 U.S.C. 2341 et seq.). Funds in the amount of $255,000,000 have been 
appropriated for FY 2010 and shall remain available until expended.
    For the Research and Evaluation program, EDA is allocating 
$1,500,000 in FY 2010. EDA anticipates that the award made under this 
competitive solicitation will involve a single-year project period and 
has allocated $500,000 for this purpose.
    Statutory Authority: The authority for the Research and Evaluation 
program is section 207 of PWEDA (42 U.S.C. 3147). EDA's regulations, 
which will govern an award made under this notice and request for 
applications, are codified at

[[Page 38085]]

13 CFR chapter III. The regulations and PWEDA are accessible at https://www.eda.gov/InvestmentsGrants/Lawsreg.xml.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 11.312, 
Economic Development--Research and Evaluation.
    Applicant Eligibility: Pursuant to PWEDA, eligible applicants for 
and recipients of EDA investment assistance include a District 
Organization; an Indian Tribe or a consortium of Indian Tribes; a 
State; a city or other political subdivision of a State, including a 
special purpose unit of a State or local government engaged in economic 
or infrastructure development activities, or a consortium of political 
subdivisions; an institution of higher education or a consortium of 
institutions of higher education; and a public or private non-profit 
organization or association.
    Anticipated Project Period: EDA anticipates a one-year project 
period, subject to the availability of funds, EDA policy, and 
satisfactory performance under the award. The applicant should ensure 
that its application and budget clearly specify how it will complete 
the scope of work, which consists of the tasks outlined above under 
``Proposed Study'' and section I.B of the FFO announcement, compose the 
resulting report and web-based tool, and present the report and web-
based tool to EDA senior management, within this timeframe. A typical 
research project period begins with an initial meeting between the 
recipient and EDA staff to discuss project scope and to ensure that all 
parties are in agreement as to project terms. After the initial 
meeting, the recipient generally submits a final work plan to EDA staff 
for review and approval. Since an award made under this competitive 
solicitation is envisioned as a cooperative agreement, EDA will have 
substantial involvement throughout the project period. Progress and 
financial reports, and project work will be submitted to EDA based on 
the dates agreed to during the initial meeting and as outlined in the 
award special terms and conditions.
    Typically, the recipient submits a draft research report to EDA at 
least 90 days before the end of the project period for EDA's review. If 
the draft research report is approved, EDA will approve publication of 
a final research report, and the recipient will brief EDA senior 
management on research methods and report results.
    Cost Sharing Requirement: Generally, the amount of the EDA grant 
may not exceed fifty percent of the total cost of the project. Projects 
may receive an additional amount that shall not exceed thirty percent, 
as determined by EDA, based on the relative needs of the region in 
which the project will be located. See section 204(a) of PWEDA (42 
U.S.C. 3144) and 13 CFR 301.4(b)(1). The Assistant Secretary of 
Commerce for Economic Development has the discretion to establish a 
maximum EDA investment rate of up to one-hundred percent where the 
project: (i) Merits and is not otherwise feasible without an increase 
to the EDA investment rate; or (ii) will be of no or only incidental 
benefit to the recipient. See section 204(c)(3) of PWEDA (42 U.S.C. 
3144) and 13 CFR 301.4(b)(4).
    EDA will consider the nature of the contribution (cash or in-kind), 
the amount of any matching share funds, and fairly assess any in-kind 
contributions in evaluating the cost to the Government and the 
feasibility of the project budget (see the ``Evaluation Criteria'' 
section below). While cash contributions are preferred, in-kind 
contributions, fairly evaluated by EDA, may provide the non-Federal 
share of the total project cost. See section 204(b) of PWEDA (42 U.S.C. 
3144) and section III.B of the FFO announcement for this request for 
applications. In-kind contributions, which may include assumptions of 
debt and contributions of space, equipment, and services, are eligible 
to be included as part of the non-Federal share of eligible project 
costs if they meet applicable Federal cost principles and uniform 
administrative requirements. Funds from other Federal financial 
assistance awards are considered matching share funds only if 
authorized by statute, which may be determined by EDA's reasonable 
interpretation of the statute. See 13 CFR 300.3. The applicant must 
show that the matching share is committed to the project for the entire 
project period, will be available as needed, and is not conditioned or 
encumbered in any way that precludes its use consistent with the 
requirements of EDA investment assistance. See 13 CFR 301.5.
    Intergovernmental Review: Applications under the Research and 
Evaluation program are not subject to Executive Order 12372, 
``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.''
    Application Review and Award Notification Information: To apply for 
an award under this request for applications, an eligible applicant 
must submit a completed application 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. Eastern Time 
on August 13, 2010, 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.C of the FFO announcement will be 
considered non-responsive and will not be considered by the review 
panel. This competition solicitation may be subject to an external 
review panel, in addition to a panel comprised of at least three EDA 
staff members (all of whom will be full-time Federal employees) that 
will be formed to review applications. If any review panel convened for 
this competition is comprised of non-Federal reviewers, each reviewer 
will rate and rank each application. The review panel's ratings and 
rankings will be presented to the Assistant Secretary, who is the 
Selecting Official, under this competitive solicitation. By September 
15, 2010, EDA expects to notify the applicant selected for investment 
assistance under this notice.
    Evaluation Criteria: Applications will be evaluated 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 successfully implement the 
proposed project (see 13 CFR 301.8).
    (4) The feasibility of the budget presented.
    (5) The cost to the Federal government.
    (6) The inclusion of a plan to distribute the research and project 
data to development practitioners through a project Web site that can 
be accessed free of charge.
    (7) The ability to complete key tasks within a timely manner.
    (8) The inclusion of a solid plan for sustaining the project after 
close of the project period.

[[Page 38086]]

    Under this competitive solicitation, EDA will consider applications 
submitted only by applicants with the current capacity to undertake 
research that advances innovation in economic development practice or 
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.
    Selection Factors: The Assistant Secretary, as the Selecting 
Official, expects to fund the highest ranking application submitted 
under this competitive solicitation. 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. Also, the 
Assistant Secretary 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 funds.
    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).
    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; 
SF-424B (Assurances--Non-Construction Programs); SF-LLL (Disclosure of 
Lobbying Activities); and CD-346 (Applicant for Funding Assistance) are 
approved under OMB control numbers 4040-0004, 4040-0006, 4040-0007, 
0348-0046, and 0605-0001, 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.
    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.
    Administrative Procedure Act/Regulatory Flexibility Act: Prior 
notice and an opportunity for public comments are not required by the 
Administrative Procedure Act or any other law for rules concerning 
grants, benefits, and contracts (5 U.S.C. 553(a)(2)). Because notice 
and opportunity for comment are not required pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 
or any other law, the analytical requirements of the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) are inapplicable. Therefore, a 
regulatory flexibility analysis is not required and one has not been 
prepared.

    Dated: June 25, 2010.
Brian P. McGowan,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development.
[FR Doc. 2010-16054 Filed 6-30-10; 8:45 am]
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