National Endowment for Children's Educational Television (NECET)

[[Page 15636]]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)

[Docket No. 950313071-5071-01]

RIN 0660-ZA00

National Endowment for Children's Educational Television (NECET)

AGENCY: National Telecommunications and Information Administration,

Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of availability of funds.

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SUMMARY: The National Endowment for Children's Educational Television

(NECET) hereby gives notice of the availability of funds for the

purpose of enhancing the education of children through the creation and

production of television programming specifically directed toward the

development of fundamental intellectual skills.

DATES: The closing date for submission of all NECET Preliminary

Applications (Pre-Applications) for the fiscal year (FY) 1995 grant

cycle is Tuesday, May 2, 1995. Pre-Applications must be received at the

NECET office no later than 5:00 p.m. EDT, May 2, 1995, whether mailed

or hand-delivered. Fax copies will not be accepted.

Successful Pre-Applicants will be invited to submit Full

Applications to NECET. Full Applications must be received at the NECET

office no later than 5:00 p.m. EDT, Wednesday, July 26, 1995. Fax

copies will not be accepted. NTIA intends to award FY 1995 NECET grants

by September 29, 1995.

ADDRESSES: National Endowment for Children's Educational Television

(NECET); Office of Telecommunications and Information Applications

(OTIA); National Telecommunications and Information Administration

(NTIA); U.S. Department of Commerce; 14th Street and Constitution

Avenue, N.W., Room H-4096; Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Heather Birnie; Acting Director,

National Endowment for Children's Educational Television (NECET);

Telephone: (202) 482-5802; Fax: (202) 501-8009; E-Mail:

[email protected]. Information on the NECET program may also be

downloaded from the NTIA Bulletin Board by contacting (202) 482-1199

via modem or ntiabbs.ntia.doc.gov via Internet.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration

(NTIA), Department of Commerce, serves as the President's principal

adviser on telecommunications and information policy. NTIA's functions

were codified as part of the Telecommunications Authorization Act of

1992, Pub. L. No. 102-538, 106 Stat. 3533 (1992)(codified at 47 U.S.C.

901-904 (1993)).

The National Endowment for Children's Educational Television was

established by The Children's Television Act of 1990, Pub. L. No. 101-

437, 104 Stat. 996, 997 (1990) (codified at 47 U.S.C. 394 (1991)).

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA)

11.551; The National Endowment for Children's Educational

Television.

Program Description

NECET Background: NECET funds are intended to support the creation

and production of children's television programming that is

specifically directed toward the development of fundamental

intellectual skills. In so doing, NECET's efforts are intended to

supplement children's educational programming that is funded by other

governmental entities.

Congress directed that NECET be administered by the Secretary of

Commerce. The Secretary, in turn, has delegated this responsibility to

the Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information, who serves

as the Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information

Administration (NTIA).

The Children's Television Act of 1990 stipulates that, during the

first two years following project completion, NECET-funded programming

may be offered for distribution only to noncommercial public television

stations. After the initial two-year period, NECET-funded programming

may be made available to commercial media as well, including broadcast

television networks and stations, and cable television networks and

systems, as long as the programming is not interrupted by commercial

advertisements.

NECET Objectives: For the FY 1995 grant round, NECET has three

major objectives that applicants should consider when preparing their

submissions.

To Improve the Fundamental Intellectual Skills of Children

Through the Vehicle of Television Programming. The term ``fundamental

intellectual skills'' may be defined in a number of ways. In general,

NECET interprets the term broadly, to include those competencies and

abilities that enable children to effectively understand and cope with

problems posed by the contemporary world. Such skills might include

proficiency in traditional academic disciplines, such as mathematics,

science, history or reading, or they might consist of more abstract

abilities, concerns or appreciations, such as problem-solving, ethics,

multiculturalism or diversity. Regardless of approach, applicants are

also encouraged to incorporate basic human development skills, such as

self-esteem and pro-social behavior development, into their proposals.

Finally, since most effective educational television programming for

children has an entertainment element woven throughout it, NECET

applicants are encouraged to incorporate this element into the design

of their proposals.

To the Extent Feasible, to Support the Development of

Programming for Children Aged 6 to 10. Although there is a need for

high-quality educational television programming for children of all

ages, NECET has identified the six-to-ten-year-old child as currently

among the most underserved by educational television programming, and

therefore deserving of special consideration for the FY 1995 grant

round. Consistent with this emphasis, projects that meet the needs of

this particular age group are more likely to be competitive and to

receive funding consideration than projects focused on other age

groups. NECET, however, will not automatically reject projects designed

for other age groups. In future grant rounds, NECET may emphasize

projects designed for different age levels.

To Encompass a Broad Range of Subject Areas within the

Overall Context of the Grant Program. NECET is imposing no limits on

the scope of the proposals that may be submitted for funding

consideration. In selecting the goals for their projects, applicants

may choose to encompass a broad array of targeted skills.

Alternatively, applicants may choose to center on a single learning

need.

Funding Availability

The Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and

Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1995, Pub.L. No. 103-317, 108

Stat. 1724, 1747 (1994), provides the Department of Commerce $2.5

million in assistance for the National Endowment for Children's

Educational Television under 47 U.S.C. Sec. 394, to be used for the

creation and production of television programming specifically directed

toward the development of fundamental intellectual skills. Congress has

appropriated a total of $2.5 million for NECET for Fiscal Year 1995.

NTIA anticipates that in FY 1995 [[Page 15637]] NECET will fund up to

twelve grant awards, depending on the nature of the projects and the

need of the recipients, and that NECET awards will range from $100,000

to $400,000.

Matching Requirements

NECET grant recipients will be required to provide matching funds

toward the total eligible costs of their project. Matching funds may be

in the form of cash or in-kind contributions (see OMB Circular A-110).

An applicant's matching share normally must be drawn entirely from non-

Federal sources. Funds from another Federal Agency may be used as the

source of an applicant's match only when those funds have been

specifically authorized by that agency's enabling legislation for use

as a non-Federal match for Federal grants.

The Department of Commerce will award funds up to 50 percent of the

total eligible costs of a project, unless extraordinary circumstances

warrant a grant of up to 75 percent. Since NECET funds are limited,

applicants are encouraged to provide as much outside funding and

matching support as possible, and to explore co-production and co-

funding opportunities for their projects. Grant funds under this

program will be released in direct proportion to non-Federal matching

funds raised and/or documented.

Type of Funding Instrument

The funding instrument for awards made under this program will be a

grant.

Eligibility Criteria

Any individual, partnership, association, joint stock company,

trust, corporation (not-for-profit or for-profit), or state or local

governmental entity is eligible to submit an application for NECET

funding.

Award Period

Successful applicants will have up to twenty-four months to

complete their project, although the grant award period will vary as a

function of the complexity and scope of the project.

Indirect Costs

The total dollar amount of the indirect costs proposed in an

application under this program must not exceed the indirect cost rate

negotiated and approved by a cognizant Federal agency prior to the

proposed effective date of the award or 100 percent of the total

proposed direct costs dollar amount in the application, whichever is

less.

Application Forms and Kit

The NECET grant program has a two-stage application process.

Preliminary Applications: All applicants are first required to

submit a Preliminary Application (Pre-Application) that provides a

brief narrative summary of the general nature of the proposed project.

The Pre-Application consists of two parts: 1) a Standard Form 424 (SF-

424) (Rev. 4-92) Application for Federal Assistance; and 2) a narrative

summary of the general nature of the proposed project, not to exceed

five single-spaced pages. An original and two copies of each complete

Pre-Application is required for each project submission. No

organization or individual is permitted to submit Pre-Applications for

more than three separate projects. Videotapes, audio cassettes and

other related materials are not permitted with Pre-Applications. A copy

of the SF-424 and an outline of points to be included in the Pre-

Application narrative summary is contained in the National Endowment

for Children's Educational Television Guidelines for Preparing

Applications: 1995 Grant Cycle. This booklet may be secured by

contacting the NECET Office by telephone, fax, or electronic mail, as

described in the ``Addresses'' section above.

Full Applications: The Full Application is a comprehensive document

that consists of required Federal forms, four sections of additional

information, and three exhibits. Detailed instructions for completing

the Full Application are contained in the Guidelines for Preparing

Applications: 1995 Grant Cycle cited earlier.

In addition, those applicants requesting funds for production of a

series, individual program(s), or special program(s) are also strongly

recommended to submit a half-inch VHS videocassette that represents the

quality of work of which the applicant is capable. This tape may take

the form of a pilot or other sample tape of the proposed project, or

may be a tape of an unrelated nature that demonstrates the creative and

technical capability of the applicant. Applicants requesting NECET

funds for pre-production activities only (e.g., planning, research,

development, scripting, etc.) and/or for production of a pilot program

do not need to submit a videocassette with their Full Applications.

Videocassettes will not be returned.

Because of the high level of public interest in projects supported

by NECET, the program anticipates receiving requests for copies of

applications. Applicants are hereby notified that the applications they

submit are subject to the Freedom of Information Act. Applicants may

identify sensitive information and label it ``confidential'' to assist

NTIA in making disclosure determinations.

Project Funding Priorities

In general, NECET funds are available to support all of the varied

tasks associated with the production of children's television, and

project eligibility is not limited to any particular stage of

production or type of activity as long as it is germane to the

production of children's television programming that furthers the

objectives of the 1990 Act.

In general, NECET expects to award funds for four categories of

projects:

Series: To initiate new series productions, or to complete a series

project already underway.

Individual Programs or Specials. To support production of new

individual program(s) or special(s).

Pilot Programs. To support various pre-production activities (e.g.,

planning, research, development, scripting, etc.) up through and

including the production of pilot program(s).

Pre-Production Projects. To support preliminary pre-production

activities, such as planning, research, development and/or scripting,

that will eventually lead to production.

Programming funded by NECET is primarily intended for general at-

home viewing by children, although it may also have value and be used

within a school-based instructional context.

Evaluation Criteria

Five Evaluation Criteria will be used to evaluate all NECET Pre-

Application and NECET Full Application submissions received during the

FY 1995 grant cycle. These criteria, and the weight accorded each

criterion, are as follows:

Creativity (30 points): The proposed project must display a high

degree of creativity, originality and artistic imagination and,

ideally, be unique and innovative in its approach.

Clarity of Educational Objectives; Plan for Evaluating Educational

Effectiveness; Indication of Developmental Appropriateness (30 points):

Applicants must provide: (1) A clear statement of the educational

objectives of their proposal; (2) a plan for evaluating the educational

effectiveness of the proposed project, and (3) an indication that the

proposed project is developmentally appropriate for the target audience

specified in the proposal. [[Page 15638]]

Conformance with NECET Objectives (15 points): Applicants must

satisfy NECET that their project will further the three NECET

objectives discussed earlier in this Notice: (1) To Improve the

Fundamental Intellectual Skills of Children through the Vehicle of

Television Programming; (2) To the Extent Feasible, to Support the

Development of Programming for Children Aged 6 to 10; and (3) To

Encompass a Broad Range of Subject Areas within the Overall Context of

the Grant Program.

Applicant Capability (15 points): Applicants must indicate why

NECET may be confident that they will be able to complete the proposed

project in a satisfactory manner. Applicants may demonstrate this

capability in various ways, including documentation of previous

experience, description of qualifications of key personnel associated

with the project, and presentation of a well-developed plan.

Thoroughness of Project Plan (10 points): Applicants must provide

evidence of a well-developed and sound plan for execution of their

project, including a detailed and realistic budget that accurately

reflects the needs of the project. Project timetables are also

acceptable and may be included in an attachment to the application.

Selection Procedures

NECET grants are awarded on the basis of a competitive review

process.

Pre-Applications: Upon receipt, each NECET Pre-Application will be

thoroughly reviewed and evaluated by outside reviewers with

demonstrated expertise in the area of children's television

programming. Criteria to be used in the evaluation of each proposal are

listed in the ``Evaluation Criteria'' section of this Notice. Reviewers

will provide written comments and assign numerical points to each Pre-

Application proposal, and then make a non-binding recommendation to

NECET staff regarding each project. Written comments and points

assigned by reviewers will not be made available to the applicant, and

Pre-Application submissions will not be returned. Following reviewer

evaluation, the NECET Director will prepare a proposed slate of the

highest rated Pre-Applications based solely on the comments,

recommendations and points assigned by outside reviewers. This proposed

slate is then submitted for consideration to the NTIA Administrator,

who, as the selecting official, shall make a final determination

regarding successful and unsuccessful Pre-Applications. Successful and

unsuccessful Pre-Applicants will be notified by letter about their

proposals in early June, 1995. Those determined to be unsuccessful Pre-

Applicants will be dropped from further consideration for the FY 1995

NECET grant cycle. Those determined to be successful Pre-Applicants

will be invited to submit Full Applications to NECET. However, not all

successful Pre-Applicants who are invited to submit Full Applications

will be funded.

Full Applications: NECET Full Applications and, as may be relevant,

accompanying videocassettes will be thoroughly reviewed by a panel of

outside reviewers with demonstrated expertise in the area of children's

television programming. The review panels will evaluate Full

Applications using criteria identical to those used in the evaluation

of Pre-Applications. These criteria are listed elsewhere in this

Notice. Reviewers will provide written comments and assign numerical

points to each Full Application proposal, and then make a non-binding

recommendation to NECET staff regarding each project. Written comments

and points assigned by reviewers will not be made available to the

applicant, and Full Application submissions and videocassettes will not

be returned. Following review panel evaluation, the NECET Director will

prepare a proposed slate of the highest rated projects based solely on

the comments, recommendations and points assigned by review panelists.

This proposed slate is then submitted for consideration to the NTIA

Administrator, who, as the selecting official, shall make a final

determination regarding those Full Applications to be negotiated for a

possible grant award. In making their final decisions, the NECET

Director and the NTIA Administrator will consider the following

selection criteria:

The written evaluations and points assigned by the outside

reviewers;

The degree to which the slate of applications, taken as a

whole, satisfies NECET Objectives and Project Funding Priorities;

The extent to which a proposed children's television

project is intended to be used within a general at-home viewing

context, as opposed to a school-based instructional viewing context;

The ability of an applicant to immediately proceed with

the project, as demonstrated by the availability and amount of non-

Federal matching funds, either raised or documented; and

The availability of NECET funds.

After applications have been selected in this manner, negotiations

will take place between NECET staff and the applicant. These

negotiations are intended to resolve any differences that exist between

the applicant's original funding request and what NECET proposes to

fund. Not all applicants who are contacted for negotiation will

necessarily receive a NECET grant. When the negotiations are completed,

the NECET Director will recommend final award actions to the NTIA

Administrator. Applying the same factors listed above, the

Administrator will then make the final selection of grant recipients

from the pool of negotiated applications.

Program Standards

Programs produced with NECET grant funding must meet broadcast-

quality production and technical standards consistent with those of the

Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). All programs must be closed-

captioned. Programming funded by NECET may not be interrupted with

commercial advertising messages for the life of the program. All NECET-

funded programming must be aired with a funding (underwriting) credit

for the National Endowment for Children's Educational Television

(NECET), and any ancillary materials produced with this grant shall

contain a similar credit. Such funding credit shall be consistent with

common practice for funding announcements on public broadcasting

stations.

Rights, Clearances, and Distribution

NECET grant recipients are entitled to retain continuing rights to

the programming that they create with NECET funding assistance.

Recipients of NECET grant funding must comply with all requirements of

United States copyright law, including requirements to obtain

permission from owners of copyright in works of authorship and to pay

any required license fees. Accordingly, NECET requires that all

completed creative works supported by NECET funding have appropriate

clearances, releases, and/or other documentation demonstrating that the

organization or individual producing the programming either has

obtained rights for the use of all elements in the programs, or has

itself originally created the work. These rights and clearances apply

to all elements of such programming.

NECET Applicants should note that they will need to obtain an

option on any material critical to the successful completion of their

projects before they apply to NECET, unless all such material has

already been cleared or is entirely original with the applicant.

[[Page 15639]]

Other Requirements

Federal Policies and Procedures: Recipients and sub-recipients are

subject to all applicable Federal laws and Federal and Department of

Commerce policies, regulations, and procedures applicable to Federal

financial assistance awards.

Past Performance: Unsatisfactory performance under prior Federal

financial assistance awards may result in an application not being

considered for funding.

Pre-award Activities: If applicants incur any costs prior to the

awarding of funds, they do so solely at their own risk of not being

reimbursed by the government. Applicants are hereby notified that,

notwithstanding any verbal or written assurance that they may have

received, there is no obligation on the part of the Department of

Commerce or NTIA to cover pre-award costs.

No Obligation for Future Funding: If an application is selected for

funding, the Department of Commerce has no obligation to provide any

additional future funding in connection with that award. Renewal of an

award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the

total discretion of the Department of Commerce. Receipt of a NECET

grant, however, will not eliminate the recipient from consideration for

future funding.

Delinquent Federal Debts: No award of Federal funds shall be made

to an applicant who has an outstanding delinquent Federal debt until

either:

The delinquent account is paid in full;

A negotiated repayment schedule is established and at

least one payment is received; or

Other arrangements satisfactory to the Department of

Commerce are made.

No Funding for Sectarian Purposes: The Department of Commerce has a

long-standing policy of not funding projects for purposes the essential

thrust of which is sectarian. Consistent with this policy, NECET will

not fund projects the essential thrust of which is sectarian. Sectarian

organizations, however, are eligible applicants and may request funds

for non-sectarian purposes. [Compare with NTIA Public

Telecommunications Facilities Program (PTFP) regulations at 15 C.F.R.

Secs. 2301.1, 2301.22(d); Fordham University v. Brown, No. 93-2120

(CRR)(D.D.C. June 29, 1994), appeal docketed, No.94-5229 (D.C.Cir. Aug.

22, 1994)]

Name Check Review: All non-profit and for-profit applicants are

subject to a name check review process. Officials of state and local

governments and officials of accredited colleges and universities who

are acting on behalf of their respective entities in applying for

assistance are exempt from the name check review process. In addition,

all elected officials of state and local governments who are serving in

capacities other than their elected capacities when applying for

assistance are also exempt. Name checks are intended to reveal if any

key individuals associated with the applicant have been convicted of or

are presently facing criminal charges such as fraud, theft, perjury, or

other matters that significantly reflect on the applicant's management

honesty or financial integrity.

Primary Applicant Certifications: All primary applicants must

submit a completed Form CD-511, ``Certifications Regarding Debarment,

Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free Workplace

Requirements and Lobbying.'' The following explanations are hereby

provided:

Non-procurement Debarment and Suspension. Prospective

participants (as defined at 15 C.F.R. Part 26, Section 105) are subject

to 15 C.F.R. Part 26, ``Non-procurement Debarment and Suspension'' and

the related section of the certification form prescribed above applies;

Drug-Free Workplace. Grantees (as defined at 15 CFR part

26, Section 605) are subject to 15 CFR part 26, Subpart F,

``Government-wide Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Grants) and the

related section of the certification form prescribed above applies;

Anti-Lobbying. Persons (as defined at 15 CFR part 28,

Section 105) are subject to the lobbying provisions of 31 U.S.C. 1352,

``Limitation on use of appropriated funds to influence certain Federal

contracting and financial transactions,'' and the lobbying section of

the certification form prescribed above applies to applications/bids

for grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts for more than

$100,000, and loans and loan guarantees for more than $150,000 or the

single family maximum mortgage limit for affected programs, whichever

is greater; and

Anti-Lobbying Disclosure. Any applicant that has paid or

will pay for lobbying in connection with a covered Federal action, such

as the awarding of any Federal contract, the making of any Federal

grant, the making of any Federal loan, the entering into of any

cooperative agreement, or the extension, continuation, renewal,

amendment, or modification of any Federal contract, grant loan, or

cooperative agreement using any funds must submit an SF-LLL,

``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities,'' as required under 15 CFR part

28, Appendix B.

Lower Tier Certifications: Grant recipients shall require

applicants/bidders for sub-grants, contracts, subcontracts, or other

lower tier covered transactions at any tier under the award to submit,

if applicable, a completed Form CD-512, ``Certifications Regarding

Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion-Lower Tier

Covered Transactions and Lobbying'' and disclosure from SF-LLL,

``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities.'' Form CD-512 is intended for the

use of recipients and should not be transmitted to DOC. SF-LLL

submitted by any tier recipient or sub-recipient should be submitted to

DOC in accordance with the instructions contained in the award

document.

False Statements: A false statement on an application is grounds

for denial or termination of funds and grounds for possible punishment

by a fine or imprisonment as provided in 18 U.S.C. 1001.

Intergovernmental Review: Applications under this program are

subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal

Programs.''

Requirement to Buy American-Made Equipment or Products: Applicants

are hereby notified that they will be encouraged, to the greatest

extent practicable, to purchase American-made equipment and products

with funding provided under this program in accordance with

Congressional intent as set forth in the resolution contained in Public

Law 103-317, Sections 607 (a) and (b).

Paperwork Reduction Act: The standard forms have been approved by

the Office of Management and Budget pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction

Act under OMB Approval Nos. 0348-0043, 0348-0044, 0348-0040 and 0348-

0046.

Executive Order 12866: This Notice has been determined to be not

significant for purposes of Executive Order 12866.

Dated: March 17, 1995.

Larry Irving,

Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information.

[FR Doc. 95-7109 Filed 3-23-95; 8:45 am]

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