[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 98 (Monday, May 21, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28040-28042]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-12671]
[[Page 28039]]
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Part II
Department of Commerce
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Economic Development Administration
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National Technical Assistance, Training, Research, and Evaluation--
Request for Grant Proposals; Notice
Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 98 / Monday, May 21, 2001 / Notices
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economic Development Administration
[Docket No. 000515144-1101-02]
RIN: 0610-ZA
National Technical Assistance, Training, Research, and
Evaluation--Request for Grant Proposals
AGENCY: Economic Development Administration (EDA), Department of
Commerce (DoC).
ACTION: Request for Grant Proposals (RFP) Upon Availability of Funds.
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SUMMARY: As part of its mission to assist economically distressed
areas, EDA is soliciting proposals to (1) evaluate EDA's Economic
Adjustment Program, (2) review the literature and practical experience
regarding issues of critical importance to economic development
practitioners nationally, (3) identify the location of and economic
development problems facing communities with significant Asian American
and Pacific Islander populations, and (4) disseminate economic
development information to practitioners serving economically
distressed urban areas. EDA issues this Notice to describe the
conditions under which applications for these projects will be accepted
and selected for funding. Projects will be funded if acceptable
proposals are received.
DATES: Prospective applicants are advised that EDA will conduct a pre-
proposal conference on June 6, 2001, at 2:00 p.m. EDT in the Department
of Commerce, Herbert C. Hoover Building, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW,
Washington, DC 20230, Room 6057, at which time questions on these
projects can be answered. Potential applicants are encouraged to
provide written questions by June 1, 2001 (See ADDRESSES section
below). Prospective applicants unable to attend this pre-proposal
conference may participate by teleconference. Teleconference
information may be obtained by calling (202) 482-4085 between 8:30-4:30
EDT on June 5, 2001.
Proposals for funding under this program will be accepted through
June 20, 2001, at either of the addresses provided below. Proposals
received after 4 p.m. EDT, on June 20, 2001, will not be considered for
funding.
By July 2, 2001, EDA will notify proposers whether or not they will
be given further funding consideration. Each successful proponent will
be invited to submit an Application for Federal Assistance, OMB Control
Number 0610-0094. Projects will be funded no later than September 30,
2001.
ADDRESSES: 1. Proposals may be mailed to: John J. McNamee, Director,
Research and National Technical Assistance Division, Economic
Development Administration, Room 7019, U.S. Department of Commerce,
1401 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230, or Proposals may be
hand-delivered to: John J. McNamee, Director, Research and National
Technical Assistance Division, Economic Development Administration,
Room 1874, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW,
Washington, DC 20230.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John J. McNamee (202) 482-4085; email:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Areas of Special Interest
Impact of EDA Economic Adjustment Program Investments
EDA invites proposals to evaluate the extent to which EDA's
Economic Adjustment Program (EAP) investments achieve structural
economic adjustment in the target communities and the length of time
required to do so.
Background: EDA's EAP, which was established in 1974, helps
communities design and implement strategies for facilitating adjustment
to economic changes that are causing or threaten to cause serious
structural damage to the underlying economic base. Such changes may
occur suddenly or over time, and result from industrial or corporate
restructuring, reduction in defense expenditures, natural disasters,
depletion of natural resources, or new federal laws or requirements.
EAP grants provide such communities with the critical resources
necessary to organize and carry out adjustment strategies tailored to
their particular economic problems and opportunities.
EDA economic adjustment assistance may fund, for example, strategic
planning, technical assistance, construction of critical
infrastructure, or establishment of a revolving loan fund (RLF). To
date, EDA has invested approximately $2.2 billion in EAP.
The fundamental impact of an EAP investment should be the economic
adjustment of the target area. Much of that impact will occur a
considerable time after the investment is made. The proposed research
should determine the extent to which target communities have begun (or
achieved) structural economic adjustment, factors that affect the
length of time needed to achieve full adjustment, and the contribution
that the EAP investment made (or did not make) in stimulating or
enabling positive structural economic change within a community.
In recent years EDA has funded independent evaluations of EAP's
responses to Hurricane Andrew and to the Midwest Flood of 1993, both of
which focused on short-term program implementation. It also funded a
preliminary assessment of the impact of defense adjustment investments.
An evaluation of the long-term impact of EAP RLF investments will be
completed shortly. The evaluation proposed here will complement, but
not duplicate, these evaluations.
Scope of Work: The successful applicant will develop a methodology
for determining and evaluating the economic impact of EAP investments
in achieving structural economic adjustment. In doing so, the applicant
will examine such issues as whether the adjustment strategy was the
appropriate one, i.e., was the underlying adjustment strategy rational,
realistic, and responsive to the structural dislocation; was the most
appropriate tool or mix of tools (planning, technical assistance, RLF,
infrastructure) used; was the community committed to following the
strategy? The research should also evaluate whether the success or
failure to achieve structural economic adjustment correlates with
implementation of the economic adjustment strategy, i.e., whether the
strategy itself was an appropriate one, or whether the economic
adjustment happened due to other factors. The applicant will conduct
the evaluation using a sample group of projects. The sample should be
stratified to include investments made under EDA's (a) regular EAP, (b)
Defense adjustment, and (c) other special initiatives, including
disaster relief. The final report must fully document the methodology
used for the project. The results must be presented in up to seven
briefings and/or training workshops as set forth in Section IV.C.
below.
Cost: The total EDA share of the cost of this project may not
exceed $300,000.
Timing: This project must be completed and the final report
submitted within one year of approval of the project.
Reviews of Economic Development Literature and Practice
EDA invites proposals to review the literature and practical
experience regarding issues of critical importance to economic
development practitioners nationally.
Background: One of EDA's main functions is to disseminate high-
quality
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information about economic development policies, issues, strategies,
and techniques to practitioners. EDA fulfills this function by a number
of means, including newsletters, conferences, use of the Internet, and
targeted research. This project will help present important and
emerging theoretical issues to practitioners and policy makers.
EDA is especially interested in reviews supporting EDA's core
programs and initiatives. Examples include: e-commerce, productivity
enhancement through infrastructure investment, leveraging of private
investment for regional economic development, and technology-led
economic development. EDA, however, welcomes other topics of importance
to domestic economic development. Completed reviews must be analytical
and should identify important policy implications. They must be
prepared for practitioners rather than an academic audience. EDA
expects researchers to demonstrate familiarity with the proposed topic
and ability to conduct a timely, thorough, and objective review. EDA
anticipates making multiple awards, but will not make multiple awards
to any individual researcher. Authors are encouraged to submit the
final review paper for publication as described below.
Scope of Work: Successful applicants will: (1) Prepare a review
paper that (a) describes and analyzes critically, key debates in the
literature, analytical techniques of broad importance to practitioners
and/or the range of experience with specific economic development
strategies; (b) identifies important policy implications of the
research; (c) represents original research not previously submitted for
publication elsewhere; (d) is of length and quality suitable for
publication in a peer-reviewed journal; and (e) is written in a style
appropriate for practitioners. (2) Conduct up to three presentations as
described in Section IV.C. below.
Cost: EDA may provide funding totaling up to $75,000 for all
reviews funded under this RFP. The total EDA share of the cost for any
single review may not exceed $20,000. Should additional funding become
available, EDA may increase the total funding for this RFP. EDA
anticipates that most proposals will be in the range of $10,000 to
$15,000.
Timing: EDA anticipates that most reviews will take six months or
less, but recognizes that this will vary with the nature of the
research. All projects must be completed and the review paper must be
submitted within nine months of project approval. Presentations may
take place up to one year after the research paper is submitted.
Economic Development Needs of Asian Americans and Pacific
Islanders in Distressed Areas
Background: Executive Order 13125, signed on June 7, 1999, seeks to
improve the quality of life for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
(AAPI) by, among other things, increasing their participation in
federal programs where they may be underserved. The U.S. Department of
Commerce seeks to identify the locations of and economic development
problems facing communities with significant AAPI populations. Where a
community with a significant AAPI population also has a significant
population of other minorities, the research should address the
problems common to all minority groups in the community as well as
those unique to the AAPI population.
Scope of Work: The successful applicant will (1) identify the
location of distressed communities that are composed primarily of AAPI
populations; (2) identify and assess the special economic development
challenges these distressed AAPI communities face; (3) prepare a final
report that summarizes the research findings; and (4) conduct up to
three briefings and/or training workshops as set forth in Section IV.C.
below.
Cost: The total EDA share of the cost of this project may not
exceed $75,000.
Timing: The project should be completed and the final research
report submitted within six months of project approval.
Information Dissemination in Distressed Urban Communities
Background: As part of its ongoing mission to assist economically
distressed areas, EDA supports projects that disseminate information to
economic development practitioners serving America's distressed
communities.
Scope of Work: The successful applicant will undertake information
dissemination activities that:
Are targeted at a national audience of economic
development practitioners working in America's distressed urban
communities;
Take greater advantage of new technologies for information
dissemination (Internet, videoconferencing, e-mail, etc.);
Identify and provide information in new or emerging areas
of economic development needed by practitioners serving distressed
urban areas;
Support the development and greater understanding of new
economic development tools and national, state, and local programs
designed to relieve urban economic distress; and
Influence economic development outcomes by improving the
quality, accessibility, and timeliness of critical information
available to economic development practitioners.
Each proposal submitted must:
(1) Identify and describe the target audience and the reason(s) why
the proposed information dissemination activity is necessary;
(2) Describe how the organization plans to achieve the proposed
target audience penetration;
(3) Describe the types of information that will be disseminated;
(4) Justify why the proposed activity should be federally funded;
(5) Describe the economic development outcomes or activities that
will be influenced by the information dissemination efforts; and
(6) For activities proposed for multiyear funding (up to three
years maximum), justify the need for such funding.
Cost: A total of $125,000 is available for this project. EDA
anticipates funding only one information dissemination project under
this RFP.
Timing: The award made under this RFP is for one year. However, it
may be eligible for multiyear funding, i.e., renewable for two
additional years after the initial award is made, at the same or lower
annual project cost, subject to funding availability, satisfactory
performance under the initial and, if applicable, subsequent award, and
at the sole discretion of EDA.
Additional Requirements: (1) The proposed project should not be
primarily for the benefit of the grantee, narrowly focused
organizations, or localized geographic areas.
(2) The grantee shall participate in up to three EDA conferences
each year. Locations and dates of the conferences attended shall be at
EDA's sole discretion.
II. How To Apply
A. Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants are as follows: Institutions of higher
education; consortiums of institutions of higher education; public or
private nonprofit organizations or associations acting in cooperation
with officials of a political subdivision of a state, for-profit
organizations, and private individuals; areas meeting requirements
under 13 CFR 301.2; Economic Development Districts; Indian tribes;
consortiums of Indian tribes; states, cities, or other political
subdivisions of a state;
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consortiums of political subdivisions of states.
B. Proposal Submission Procedures
Each proposal submitted must include:
(1) A description of how the researcher(s) intend(s) to carry out
the scope of work (not to exceed 10 pages in length);
(2) A proposed budget and accompanying explanation;
(3) Resumes/qualifications of key staff (not to exceed two pages
per individual, with an additional two pages allowed for a single
summary description of all organizations/consultants named in the
proposal); and
(4) A proposed schedule for completion of the project.
EDA will not accept proposals submitted by FAX. Proposals received
after 4:00 p.m. EDT on June 20, 2001, will not be considered.
III. Selection Process and Evaluation Criteria
All proposals must meet EDA's statutory and regulatory
requirements. Proposals will receive initial review by EDA to assure
that they meet all requirements of this RFP and applicable provisions
of 13 CFR Chapter III, including, for example, eligibility and
relevance to the specified project as described herein. EDA's general
selection process and criteria are set out in 13 CFR 304.1, 304.2, and
307.10. Proposals that do not meet all items required or that exceed
the page limitations of Section II.B. of this RFP, will be considered
nonresponsive. Proposals that do meet these requirements will be
evaluated by a review panel comprised of at least three members all of
whom will be full-time federal employees. The panel will carry out its
selection process using the following criteria:
(1) The quality of a proposal's response to the Scope of Work and
other requirements described in Section I above;
(2) The ability of the prospective applicant to successfully carry
out the proposed activities; and
(3) Cost to the federal government.
If a proposal is selected, EDA will provide the proponent with an
Application for Federal Assistance (OMB Control Number 0610-0094).
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required to
respond to, nor shall a person be subject to, a penalty for failure to
comply with a collection of information subject to the requirements of
the Paperwork Reduction Act, unless that collection of information
displays a currently valid OMB Control Number.
IV. Additional Information
A. Authority
The Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965, as amended
(Pub. L. 89-136, 42 U.S.C. 3121 et seq.), including the comprehensive
amendments by the Economic Development Administration Reform Act of
1998 (Pub. L. 105-393) (PWEDA) authorizes EDA to make grants for
training, research, and technical assistance, including grants for
program evaluation and project impact analyses, that would be useful in
alleviating or preventing conditions of excessive unemployment or
underemployment (42 U.S.C. 3147, Section 207). Public Law 106-553 makes
funds available for this program.
B. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
11.303 Economic Development Technical Assistance.
11.312 Research and Evaluation.
C. Program Description
For a description of this program see PWEDA and 13 CFR Chapter III,
Sec. 307 Subpart C.
EDA assistance is focused on areas experiencing significant
economic distress, defined principally as per capita income of 80
percent or less of the national average; or an unemployment rate that
is, for the most recent 24-month period for which data are available,
at least one percent greater than the national average; or a special
need, as determined by EDA.
Costs
Ordinarily, the applicant is expected to provide a 50% non-federal
share of project costs. However, EDA may reduce or waive the required
50% matching share of the total project costs, provided the applicant
can demonstrate: (1) The project is not feasible without and the
project merits such a reduction or waiver, or (2) the project is
addressing major causes of distress in the area serviced and requires
the unique characteristics of the applicant, which will not participate
if it must provide all or part of a 50% non-federal share, or (3) the
project is for the benefit of local, state, regional, or national
economic development efforts, and will be of no or only incidental
benefit to the recipient, or (4) the requirements of 13 CFR
Sec. 301.4(b) (table) are satisfied (see 13 CFR Sec. 307.11).
Briefings and Reports
Three of the projects described in this RFP include a requirement
that the successful applicant(s) conduct briefings and/or training
workshops for individuals and organizations interested in the project
results. The completion dates set forth above are only for completion
of the project and submission of the written report. Briefings/
workshops will take place no later than one year after submission of
the final report. Locations and dates of the briefings/workshops are at
EDA's sole discretion. Usually these consist of at least one briefing
in Washington, DC, with the other briefings/workshops held in
conjunction with one or more of EDA's regional conferences.
Unless otherwise noted, each award includes a requirement that the
applicant submit an electronic version and 500 hard copies of the final
report in formats acceptable to EDA.
D. Other Requirements
See EDA's Notice of Funding Availability for FY 2001 (66 FR
15001ff, 3/14/2001) for additional information and requirements
(available on the Internet at http://www.doc.gov/eda/html/1d_fund_prog.htm, under the heading ``Notices of Funding
Availability.''
This notice has been determined to be not significant for purposes
of Executive Order 12866.
Dated: May 15, 2001.
David L. Temple, Jr.,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Program Operations.
[FR Doc. 01-12671 Filed 5-18-01; 8:45am]
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