Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance Program

SUMMARY: Subject to the availability of fiscal year 1996 funds, the

National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)

issues this Notice describing the conditions under which applications

will be accepted under the Telecommunications and Information

Infrastructure Assistance Program (TIIAP) and how NTIA will determine

which applications it will fund. TIIAP assists eligible organizations

by promoting the widespread use of advanced telecommunications and

information technologies in the public and non-profit sectors. By

providing matching grants for Demonstration, Access, and Planning

projects, this program will help develop a nationwide, interactive,

multimedia information infrastructure that is accessible to all

citizens, in rural as well as urban areas.

DATES: Complete applications for the fiscal year 1996 TIIAP grant

program must be mailed or hand-carried to the address indicated below

and received by NTIA by 5 P.M. EST, April 4, 1996. Applications

received after that time and date will not be accepted. Applications

will not be accepted via facsimile machine transmission or e-mail. NTIA

anticipates that it will take between 4 and 6 months to process

applications and make final funding determinations.

ADDRESSES: Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance

Program, National Telecommunications and Information Administration,

U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW.,

HCHB, Room 4090, Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Stephen J. Downs, Acting Director of the Telecommunications and

Information Infrastructure Assistance Program, Telephone: 202/482-2048.

Fax: 202/501-5136. E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Program Purposes

NTIA announces the third annual round of a competitive matching

grant* program, TIIAP. TIIAP was created to promote the development and

widespread availability of advanced telecommunications and information

technologies to serve the public interest.

*Terms marked with an asterisk (*) are defined at the end of

this Notice.

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To accomplish this objective, TIIAP will provide matching grants to

state and local governments, non-profit health care and public health

providers, school districts, libraries, colleges, universities, public

safety providers, non-profit community-based organizations, and other

non-profit entities, for projects that will improve the quality of, and

the public's access to, education and lifelong learning; reduce the

cost, improve the quality, and/or increase the accessibility of health

care and public health services; promote responsive public services;

and foster communication and resource-sharing within communities, both

rural and urban.

Authority

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

Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 1994, P.L. No. 103-317, 108

Stat. 1724, 1747 (1994) and P.L. No. 104-99 ``Balanced Budget

Downpayment Act, I.''

Funding Availability

NTIA issues this Notice subject to the appropriations made

available under the continuing resolution (P.L. No. 104-99). NTIA

anticipates making grant awards provided that funding for TIIAP is

continued beyond March 15, 1996, the expiration date of the current

continuing resolution. This continuing resolution includes $21.5

million for TIIAP. Issuance of grants, however, is subject to the

future availability of FY 1996 funds. Further notice will be made in

the Federal Register of the final status of funding for this program at

the appropriate time.

Based on past experience, NTIA expects that the level of

competition will be extremely strong. In fiscal year 1995, NTIA

received more than 1,800 applications, collectively requesting more

than $680 million in grant funds. From these 1,800 applications, the

Department of Commerce announced 117 TIIAP awards totaling $35.7

million in Federal funds.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible Organizations. All state and local governments, all

colleges and universities, and all non-profit entities are eligible to

apply. However, individuals and for-profit organizations are not

eligible.

Matching Funds Requirements. Grant recipients under this program

will be required to provide matching funds toward the total project

cost. A project will not be considered eligible for funding unless the

applicant documents the capacity to supply matching funds. Matching

funds may be in the form of cash or in-kind contributions. Grant funds

under this program will be released in direct proportion to local

matching funds raised and/or documented. NTIA will supply up to 50% of

the total project cost, unless extraordinary circumstances warrant a

grant of up to 75%. Federal funds (such as grants) generally may not be

used as matching monies, except as provided by Federal statute. For

information about whether particular Federal funds may be used as

matching funds, the applicant should contact the Federal agency that

administers the funds in question.

Scope of Proposed Project. Funded projects must fall into the

program categories and priorities described in this Notice. Projects

must involve the delivery of useful, practical services in real-world

environments within the grant award period. In fiscal year 1996, TIIAP

will not fund the following kinds of projects:

One-Way Networks. TIIAP will not support the construction or

augmentation of one-way networks; all services and networks proposed

under the program must be interactive.*

Content Development* Projects. TIIAP will not support projects

whose primary focus is to develop or produce information content,

rather than to apply information infrastructure* to practical problems.

For example, TIIAP will not consider projects whose primary purpose is

the creation of databases or other information resources by converting

paper-based information. Similarly, TIIAP will not consider projects

that create new information resources, such as World Wide Web sites,

unless these projects also include specific measures to ensure access

to and use of those resources. Examples of such measures include, but

are not limited to, placement of public access workstations and

provision of training programs.

Hardware or Software Development Projects. While some hardware or

software development may be required

[[Page 7951]]

to integrate existing systems or components, it may not be a major

emphasis of any TIIAP project.

Single-Organization Projects. TIIAP will not support projects whose

primary emphasis is on the internal communications needs of a single

organization. Projects must include appropriate partnerships, with

plans for inter-organizational communications among the partners.

Replacement or Upgrade of Existing Facilities. TIIAP will not

support any projects whose primary emphasis is the upgrade or

replacement of existing facilities.

Policy on Sectarian Activities. Applicants are advised that on

December 22, 1995, NTIA issued a notice in the Federal Register on its

policy with regard to sectarian activities. Under NTIA's prior policy,

NTIA funds could not be used for any sectarian purposes. While

religious activities cannot be the essential thrust of a grant, an

application will not be ineligible where sectarian activities are only

incidental or attenuated to the overall project purpose for which

funding is requested. Applicants for whom this policy may be relevant

should read the policy that was published at 60 FR 66491, Dec. 22,

1995.

Completeness of Application. TIIAP will initially review all

proposals to determine whether all required elements are present and

clearly identifiable. The required elements are listed and described in

the Guidelines for Preparing Applications--Fiscal Year 1996

(Guidelines). Each of the required elements must be present and clearly

identified for the proposal to be reviewed. Incomplete applications

will be rejected.

Past Performance. Unsatisfactory performance of an applicant under

prior Federal financial assistance awards may result in that

applicant's proposal not being considered for funding.

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

to an applicant who has an outstanding delinquent Federal debt until:

1. The delinquent account is paid in full;

2. A negotiated repayment schedule is established and at least one

payment is received; or

3. Other arrangements satisfactory to the Department of Commerce

are made.

Program Categories

Introduction. The fiscal year 1996 TIIAP grant program is divided

into three categories: Demonstration projects, Access projects, and

Planning projects. NTIA will award approximately 65% of the funds in

this program to support Demonstration projects, approximately 30% of

the funds to support Access projects, and approximately 5% of the funds

to support Planning projects, unless the quality and/or number of

submissions in any of these categories does not, in NTIA's judgment,

merit the proposed allocation of funds. Proposals will be evaluated and

selected according to specific criteria (see the ``Evaluation

Criteria'' section in this Notice).

Demonstration Projects. The primary goal of Demonstration projects

is to demonstrate new, high-impact, useful applications of information

infrastructure which hold significant potential for replication in

other communities. The projects must deploy, use, and evaluate

innovative applications of information infrastructure to address a

particular problem or set of problems in real-world environments.

Projects selected in this category will have a high potential to serve

as models* for other communities and to demonstrate results within the

grant period.

Demonstration projects must focus on the application of information

technology to specific needs or problems, rather than on the technology

itself. Every application for a Demonstration project must clearly

describe how using information infrastructure is expected to result in

measurably improved outcomes, such as lowering the cost of health care

or improving student performance.

Successful Demonstration applicants must complete their projects

within 12-24 months.

Information on Demonstration projects previously funded by TIIAP

can be retrieved electronically (see the ``Electronic Information''

sub-section in this Notice) or by contacting the TIIAP office.

Applicants are reminded that evaluation criteria for Demonstration

projects change from year to year.

Note: No award in the Demonstration projects category will

exceed $750,000.

Access Projects. The primary goal of Access projects is to provide

underserved* communities, populations, or geographic areas with greater

access to the benefits of the National Information Infrastructure

(NII).* Access projects emphasize serving groups of people who have not

been adequately served in the past and increasing their access to

services and information. Access projects place greater emphasis on

reducing disparities than on innovation. Hence, an Access project may

build on or emulate a successful model which has gained widespread

acceptance in the field.

As is the case with Demonstration projects, the focus of Access

projects is on the application of technology to specific needs or

problems, rather than on technology itself. Every Access application

must clearly describe how using information infrastructure is expected

to result in measurably improved outcomes, such as lowering the cost of

health care or improving student performance.

Successful Access applicants must complete their projects within

12-18 months.

Examples of Access projects that have received funding in the past

are the creation of wide-area networks within school systems or

districts and the provision of Internet access to an isolated group or

population. Information on current Access projects can be retrieved

electronically (see the ``Electronic Information'' sub-section in this

Notice) or by contacting the TIIAP office. Applicants are reminded that

evaluation criteria for Access projects change from year to year.

Note: No award in the Access projects category will exceed

$250,000.

Planning Projects. The primary goal of Planning projects is to

enable organizations, or groups of organizations, to develop strategies

for the enhanced application of information infrastructure. Planning

projects provide opportunities to bring coalitions together to form

firm foundations on which to implement information infrastructure

equitably, to examine the opportunities that investment in information

infrastructure creates, to aggregate demand for telecommunications

services among multiple organizations, and to understand the needs of

potential end users. Planning projects are encouraged for rural or

underserved populations where an enhanced telecommunications

infrastructure could provide greater economic opportunity.

The end result of a Planning project should be a credible plan for

deploying and using information infrastructure and sufficient support

from the community to implement the plan. Proposals in this category

must include clear descriptions of (1) the planning process or

methodology to be employed and (2) the expected outcomes of the

process.

Successful Planning applicants must complete their projects within

9-12 months.

One example of a Planning project that has received funding in the

past is the design, testing, and documentation of a scalable planning

model for a city-wide advanced information

[[Page 7952]]

infrastructure. Another example of a funded Planning project is the

development of a statewide strategic plan for networking state

agencies, educational organizations, industry, health care, and other

public service providers so that opportunities for equitably providing

services to a state's widely dispersed population can be shared.

Information on current Planning projects can be retrieved

electronically (see the ``Electronic Information'' sub-section in this

Notice) or by contacting the TIIAP office. Applicants are reminded that

evaluation criteria for Planning projects change from year to year.

Note: No award in the Planning projects category will exceed

$100,000.

Project Funding Priorities

In fiscal year 1996, TIIAP will support projects in four broad

application groups*: Community-wide Networking, Health, Lifelong

Learning, and Public Services. In all of these groups, TIIAP is

committed to supporting projects that will use the NII to promote

services to, and/or to encourage greater participation in the NII by,

traditionally underserved populations.

Community-wide Networking. These are multi-purpose projects that

allow members of a community to share information resources and improve

communication. Community-wide networking projects must link services or

provide information resources across multiple application groups or

sub-groups. Examples include, but would not be limited to, connecting

local schools with public libraries, connecting local businesses with

job retraining programs, and/or connecting citizens to a variety of

social service programs or information resources.

Health. Projects involving the use of telecommunications in the

delivery of health and mental health services, public health, home

health care, provision of health information to the public, or the

education and training of health professionals. Examples of projects

could include, but would not be limited to: community health

information networks for sharing clinical, financial, and

administrative information among hospitals, clinics, public health

departments, and other organizations; telemedicine systems that extend

medical expertise to underserved areas and/or into the home; and

networks or information services aimed at disease prevention, health

promotion, and health education.

Lifelong Learning. Projects in this group are divided into three

subgroups.

Pre-School and K-12 Education. Projects that bring educational

materials or instruction to pre-school and K-12 students or that permit

those students to participate in educational activities via

telecommunications. Related activities such as professional development

of pre-school and K-12 teachers and administrators also fall within

this sub-group, as do projects that intend to improve the

administration of pre-school and K-12 education.

Higher Education. Projects involving the delivery of college-level

courses (including graduate courses); provision of continuing or adult

education; or activities such as professional development for community

college or university professors or administrators.

Library and Lifelong Learning Services. Projects that bring

information, education, and enrichment services on-line through public

libraries, museums, cultural centers, literacy organizations, or other

non-profit organizations. This sub-group also includes teaching adults

basic literacy and job skills.

Public Services. Projects in this group are divided into two

subgroups.

Human Services. Projects aimed at improving the delivery of

services such as public and subsidized housing, food assistance, child

welfare, day care, substance abuse prevention and counseling, job

counseling and training, poverty relief, legal assistance, or shelter

providing protection from domestic violence. Examples include, but

would not be limited to, networks that facilitate coordination and

collaboration among public and/or community-based organizations;

projects that improve agency responsiveness by providing direct

electronic access to information on available services; and projects

that employ information technology creatively to promote self-

sufficiency among individuals and families.

Public Safety. Projects aimed at increasing the effectiveness of

police and fire departments or other entities involved in providing

public safety services. Examples may include those that link public

safety agencies located in a single geographic area to increase

efficiency and share resources, or those that provide information in a

timely manner to ``first-response officials,'' such as police officers,

emergency medical technicians, and firefighters. Other projects might

link agencies with information resources, or provide community outreach

services, regarding safety issues and procedures.

TIIAP will also support projects that promote the accessibility and

usability of the NII for persons with disabilities. Such projects are

expected to fit into one of the four broad application groups described

above.

The Guidelines booklet provides more information on selecting a

group and/or subgroup for your application.

Evaluation Criteria

Demonstration projects will be evaluated against nine criteria.

While each criterion is weighted equally, the following three criteria

are qualifying criteria. Demonstration project applicants must fully

meet each qualifying criterion. If an application is deemed inadequate

on any one of these, it will be not be further evaluated.

1. Problem Definition

2. Technical Approach

3. Ability to Serve as a Model

Projects judged to be qualified will then be fully evaluated on all

nine criteria, which include the following additional six criteria.

4. Applicant Qualifications

5. Partnerships and Community Support

6. Support for End Users

7. Evaluation and Dissemination

8. Reducing Disparities in Access to and Use of the NII

9. Budget

Access projects will also be evaluated against nine criteria. While

each criterion is weighted equally, the following two criteria are

qualifying criteria. Access project applicants must fully meet both

qualifying criteria. If an application is deemed inadequate on either

of them, it will not be further evaluated.

1. Problem Definition

2. Reducing Disparities in Access to and Use of the NII

Projects judged to be qualified will then be fully evaluated on all

nine criteria, which include the following additional seven criteria.

3. Technical Approach

4. Applicant Qualifications

5. Partnerships and Community Support

6. Support for End Users

7. Evaluation and Dissemination

8. Sustainability

9. Budget

Planning projects will be evaluated against seven criteria. While

each criterion is weighted equally, the following two criteria are

qualifying criteria. Planning project applicants must fully meet both

qualifying criteria. If an application is deemed inadequate on either

of them, it will not be further evaluated.

1. Problem Definition

2. Partnerships and Community Support

Projects judged to be qualified will then be fully evaluated on all

seven criteria, which include the following additional five criteria.

3. Reducing Disparities in Access to and Use of the NII

[[Page 7953]]

4. Applicant Qualifications

5. Support for End Users

6. Evaluation and Dissemination

7. Budget

Explanations of Evaluation Criteria

1. Problem Definition. Applicants must clearly link the proposed

project to a specific problem or problems in one or more of the

application groups or sub-groups described in the ``Project Funding

Priorities'' section in this Notice.

The need(s) or problem(s) to be addressed should be thoroughly

documented, including end-user demographics and target audiences to be

served. Applicants must explain how the use of advanced

telecommunications and information technology will contribute to the

solution of the problem(s) and identify the clear and measurable

results expected as an outcome of the project. The scope of the project

must meet TIIAP eligibility criteria (see the ``Eligibility'' section

in this Notice).

For example, health care providers in rural areas may be required

to spend a disproportionate amount of time in travel to visit homebound

patients, when the time could be better spent interacting with patients

or upgrading their skills. Using an interactive video system to meet

with patients and to take continuing medical education courses could

reduce the travel time burden, improving the efficiency of health care

delivery and making it possible for nurses to develop new skills cost-

effectively.

2. Technical Approach. TIIAP defines technical quality as the

application of appropriate information technology consistent with the

vision of a nationwide, seamless, interactive network of networks, not

as innovation for its own sake. Therefore, a project proposed to TIIAP

must demonstrate a knowledge of, and a realistic approach to, issues of

interoperability* and scalability.* It is essential that the proposal

be specific about how the proposed system would work, how the proposed

system would operate with other systems, and how the system would be

maintained and/or upgraded as needed.

NTIA expects applicants to consider carefully safeguards to protect

the privacy of the end users and beneficiaries* of the project. It is

essential that the proposal address the privacy and confidentiality of

user data if this is relevant. For example, an applicant proposing a

project dealing with individually identifiable information (student

grades, medical records, etc.) will be required to describe the

mechanism(s) to be used for protecting the confidentiality of such

information and the privacy of the individuals involved.

3. Applicant Qualifications. Applicants must present evidence of

qualifications and experience essential to the successful completion of

the project. The applicant should clearly describe the experience of

its key project personnel in addressing information- and technology-

related issues. The applicant should also describe the qualifications

of project partners.

4. Partnerships and Community Support. Proposals must provide

evidence of public and/or private sector support and involvement. The

extent to which applicants have included diverse sectors of the

community in project design and development will be considered an

integral part of the proposal. Applicants are also expected to

coordinate with other entities in their states. A proposal should

present a clear discussion of who the partners will be, what their

respective roles in the project will be, what benefits each expects to

receive, and what each partner will contribute to the project in the

form of financial support, personnel, or other resources. In addition,

applicants must provide documentation of the partners' commitment to

the project, including letters of commitment from the partners to the

applicant describing their roles and contributions.

5. Support for End Users. Projects supported by TIIAP must

demonstrate a high degree of attention to the needs, skills, working

conditions, and living environments of the targeted end users.

Applicants must clearly define the end users, including demographic or

other statistical information. Plans for training end users and/or

upgrading their skills must be clearly delineated. Applicants should

explain clearly how the project will provide end users with easily

accessible, useful information, and how end users will benefit from the

services offered. Proposals should include evidence of a significant

degree of end-user involvement in the design and planning of projects.

6. Evaluation and Dissemination. Every project proposed to TIIAP

must present a clearly defined evaluation plan with specific criteria

for measuring the effectiveness of the project in reaching its intended

audience and in improving outcomes. The applicant must identify

specific evaluation instruments to be employed for this purpose. The

proposed budget should include sufficient funds to perform a thorough

and useful evaluation. In conjunction with the evaluation strategy,

TIIAP will review the applicant's plan for disseminating the knowledge

gained as a result of implementing the project. Applicants should

demonstrate a willingness to share information about their projects

with interested parties, to host site visits, and to participate in

technology demonstrations.

7. Reducing Disparities in Access to and Use of the NII. The

applicant must identify existing disparities, supported by specific

quantitative data, and must clearly describe a plan to redress these

disparities. The applicant must be sensitive to and take into

consideration the local environment of a traditionally underserved

population in developing a targeted strategy to overcoming existing

barriers. For example, unique sharing arrangements or innovative

strategies may be proposed to redress disparities in access.

Additionally, the applicant must clearly define the project's

beneficiaries; in so doing, the applicant should include demographic

and other data as appropriate.

8. Budget. The applicant must fully explain each budget item,

including both the Federal and the non-Federal shares of the total

project cost, in the manner outlined in the Guidelines. Reviewers will

closely examine the degree to which the proposed budget is reasonable

in relation to the scope of the project. The budget must be reasonable

for the tasks proposed, and the relationship of items in the budget to

the project narrative must be clearly drawn.

9. Ability to Serve as a Model. (Applicable only to Demonstration

projects.) Demonstration projects must show a strong potential to serve

as a model for others to follow. These projects should be innovative,

not necessarily in terms of the technology to be used, but in the

application of technology in a particular setting, to serve a

particular population, or to solve a particular problem. Demonstration

applicants must explain the degree to which the projects can be

replicated, or can serve as catalysts for activities, in other settings

or for other populations. Because of this requirement that a

Demonstration project show the potential for applicability in other

contexts, reviewers will also examine the economic viability of the

proposed model. Demonstration applicants must also explain how the

impact of their projects can extend beyond the scope of the original

activity funded by TIIAP. For example, the project's innovative

application of a particular technology may stimulate the creation of a

market for products and services based on that technology. In addition,

the program

[[Page 7954]]

will examine whether a subsequent evaluation of the project can

contribute significantly to our understanding of how the NII can be

used to improve the delivery of a wide range of social services and

promote economic development.

10. Sustainability. (Applicable only to Access projects.) The

applicant must clearly describe a credible plan for sustaining the

project beyond the period of Federal funding. Such a plan should

include discussion of anticipated ongoing expenses and potential

sources or mechanisms for securing needed funds. In evaluating the

plan, reviewers will consider the economic circumstances of the

community or communities to be served by the proposed project.

Selection Process

NTIA will publish a notice in the Federal Register listing all

applications received by TIIAP. Listing an application in such a notice

merely acknowledges receipt of an application that will compete for

funding with other applications. Publication does not preclude

subsequent return or disapproval of the application, nor does it ensure

that the application will be funded.

Each eligible application will first be reviewed by a panel of

outside readers, who have demonstrated expertise in both the

programmatic and technological aspects of the application. The review

panels will evaluate applications according to the evaluation criteria

provided in this Notice and make non-binding recommendations to the

program staff. Working with the staff, the TIIAP Director prepares a

slate of recommended grant awards for the Selection Official, who is

the NTIA Administrator.

In making recommendations, the Director will consider the following

selection factors:

1. The evaluations of the outside reviewers;

2. The geographic distribution of the proposed grant awards;

3. The variety of technologies employed by the proposed grant

awards;

4. The extent to which the proposed grant awards represent a

reasonable distribution of funds across application groups and sub-

groups;

5. The promotion of access to and use of the information

infrastructure for underserved groups;

6. Avoidance of redundancy and conflicts with the initiatives of

other Federal agencies; and

7. The availability of funds.

The NTIA Administrator selects the applications to be negotiated

for possible grant award taking into consideration the Director's

recommendations and the degree to which the slate of applications,

taken as a whole, satisfies the program's stated purposes as set forth

in the section entitled ``Program Purposes.'' After applications have

been selected in this manner, negotiations will take place between

TIIAP staff and the applicant. These negotiations are intended to

resolve any differences that exist between the applicant's original

request and what TIIAP proposes to fund. Not all applicants who are

contacted for negotiation will necessarily receive a TIIAP award. Final

selections made by the Administrator will be based upon the Director's

recommendations and the degree to which the slate of applications,

taken as a whole, satisfies the program's stated purposes upon the

conclusion of negotiations.

Eligible Costs

Eligible Costs. Allowable costs incurred under approved projects

shall be determined in accordance with applicable Federal cost

principles, i.e., OMB Circular A-21, A-87, A-122, or Appendix E of 45

CFR Part 74. If included in the approved project budget, TIIAP will

allow costs for personnel, fringe benefits, computer hardware and

software, other end-user equipment, telecommunication services and

related equipment, consultants and other contractual services, travel,

rental of office equipment, furniture and space, supplies, etc. that

are reasonable and directly related to the project. Construction costs

are not eligible.

Note that costs that are ineligible for TIIAP support may not be

included as part of the applicant's matching fund contribution.

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.

Award Period

Successful applicants for Demonstration grants will have between 12

and 24 months to complete their projects. Successful applicants for

Access grants will have between 12 and 18 months to complete their

projects. Successful applicants for Planning grants will have between 9

and 12 months to complete their projects. The completion time will vary

depending on the complexity of the project.

Other Information

Electronic Information. Information about NTIA and TIIAP, including

this document and the Guidelines, can be retrieved electronically via

the Internet through ftp, gopher and the World Wide Web.

To reach the ftp server, ftp to ftp.ntia.doc.gov. Use the login

name of `anonymous' and use your E-mail address as the password. Change

to the /pub/grantinfo directory to find TIIAP files.

To reach the gopher server, point your gopher client at

gopher.ntia.doc.gov and login as `gopher'.

To reach the www server, use http://www.ntia.doc.gov/tiiap/

tiiap.html to reach the TIIAP Home Page.

TIIAP can also be reached via electronic mail at

[email protected].

Application Forms. Standard Forms 424 (OMB Approval Number 0348-

0044), Application for Federal Assistance; 424A (OMB Approval Number

0348-0043), Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs; and 424B

(OMB Approval Number 0348-0040), Assurances--Non-Construction Programs,

(Rev 4-92), and other Department of Commerce forms shall be used in

applying for financial assistance. These forms are included in the

Guidelines, which can be obtained by contacting NTIA by telephone, fax,

or electronic mail, as described in the `Address' section above. TIIAP

requires one original and five copies of the application. Applicants

for whom the submission of five copies presents financial hardship may

submit one original and two copies of the application. In addition, all

applicants are required to submit a copy of their application to their

state Single Point of Contact (SPOC) offices, if they have one. (For

information on contacting state SPOC offices, refer to page 39 of the

Guidelines.)

Because of the high level of public interest in projects supported

by TIIAP, 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.

Type of Funding Instrument. The funding instrument for awards under

this program shall be a grant.

Authority and Funding Availability. The National Telecommunications

and Information Administration (NTIA), Department of Commerce, serves

as the President's principal adviser on

[[Page 7955]]

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, 47 U.S.C. Secs. 901-04 (1993).

Anticipated Funding. NTIA issues this Notice subject to the

authority of the continuing resolution (P.L. 104-99). NTIA anticipates

making grant awards provided that funding for TIIAP is continued beyond

the March 15, 1996, expiration date of the continuing resolution. This

continuing resolution includes $21.5 million for TIIAP. Issuance of

grants is subject to the availability of FY 1996 funds. Further notice

will be made in the Federal Register about the final status of funding

for this program at the appropriate time.

Federal Policies and Procedures. Recipients and subrecipients are

subject to all applicable Federal laws and Federal and Department of

Commerce policies, regulations, and procedures applicable to Federal

financial assistance awards.

Pre-Award Activities. If an applicant incurs any project costs

prior to the project start date negotiated at the time the award is

made, it does so solely at its own risk of not being reimbursed by the

government. Applicants are hereby notified that, notwithstanding any

oral 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.

Name Check Review. All non-profit applicants are subject to a name

check review process. 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,'' and the following explanations are hereby

provided:

1. Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension--Prospective

participants (as defined at 15 CFR Part 26, Section 105) are subject to

15 CFR Part 26, ``Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension'' and the

related section of the certification form prescribed above applies;

2. Drug-Free Workplace--Grantees (as defined at 15 CFR Part 26,

Section 605) are subject to 15 CFR Part 26, Subpart F, ``Governmentwide

Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Grants)'' and the related section

of the certification form prescribed above applies;

3. Anti-Lobbying--Persons (as defined at 15 CFR Part 28, Section

105) are subject to the lobbying provisions of 31 U.S.C. Sec. 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

4. 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'' (OMB Control Number 0348-0046), as required under

15 CFR part 28, Appendix B.

Lower Tier Certifications. Recipients shall require applicants/

bidders for subgrants, 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 form 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 subrecipient 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. Sec. 1001.

Intergovernmental Review. Applications under this program are

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

Programs.'' It has been determined that this notice is a not a

significant rule under Executive Order 12866.

Definitions

Application group or sub-group. The specific sector whose problems

or issues a proposed project addresses. The application groups and sub-

groups are described in the section on ``Project Funding Priorities''

in this Notice.

Content development. The creation of information resources, such as

databases or World Wide Web sites, for the purpose of dissemination

through one or more on-line services.

End user. A person who customarily employs or seeks access to,

rather than provides, information infrastructure. An end user may be a

consumer of information (e.g., a member of the public employing a

touch-screen public access terminal); may be involved in an interactive

communication with other end users; or may use information

infrastructure to provide services to the public.

Grant. Financial assistance award authorized by law to support

autonomous projects or activities of state or local governments, or

non-profit groups. This term does not include direct United States

government cash assistance to an individual, a subsidy, a loan, a loan

guarantee, or insurance.

Information infrastructure. The telecommunication networks,

computers, other end-user devices, software, standards, and skills that

collectively enable people to connect to each other and to a vast array

of services and information resources.

Interactivity. The capacity of a communications system to allow end

users to communicate directly with other users, either in real time (as

in a video teleconference) or on a store-and-forward basis (as with

electronic mail), or to seek and gain access to information on an on-

demand basis, as opposed to a broadcast basis.

Interoperability. The condition achieved among information and

communication systems when information (i.e., data, voice, image,

audio, or video) can be easily and cost-effectively shared across

acquisition, transmission, and presentation technologies, equipment,

and services.

Model. A project that employs a novel, innovative, and replicable

approach. The ultimate impact of a model project should extend far

beyond

[[Page 7956]]

the community or communities to be served by the project itself.

National Information Infrastructure (NII). A Federal policy

initiative to facilitate and accelerate the development and utilization

of the nation's information infrastructure. The Administration

envisions the NII as a seamless web of communications networks,

computers, databases, and consumer electronics that will put vast

amounts of information at users' fingertips. For more information on

various aspects of the NII initiative, see The National Information

Infrastructure: Agenda for Action, 58 Fed. Reg. 49,025 (September 21,

1993).

Project beneficiary. Individual or organization deriving benefits

from a project's outcome(s). A project beneficiary may also, but not

necessarily, be a project end user.

Scalability. The ability of a system to accommodate a significant

growth in the size of the system (i.e., services provided, end users

served) without the need for substantial redesign. A scalable approach

that is demonstrated on a small scale can also be applied on a larger

scale.

Underserved. End users who are subject to barriers that limit or

prevent their access to either social services or information

infrastructure. In terms of information infrastructure, these barriers

may be geographic, economic, physical, linguistic, or cultural. For

example, a rural community may be physically isolated from circuits

adequate to allow for data access; inner city neighborhoods may contain

large numbers of potential end users for whom ownership of computer

hardware is unlikely; individuals with disabilities may have the need

for different types of interfaces when manipulating hardware and

software.

Larry Irving,

Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information.

[FR Doc. 96-4642 Filed 2-28-96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-60-P