Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance Program

SUMMARY: The National Telecommunications and Information Administration

(NTIA) issues this Notice describing the conditions under which

applications will be received 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 and availability of

advanced telecommunications and information technologies in the public

and non-profit sectors. By providing matching grants for information

infrastructure projects, this program will help develop a nationwide,

interactive, multimedia information infrastructure that is accessible

to all Americans, in rural as well as urban areas.

DATES: Complete applications for the Fiscal Year 1999 TIIAP grant

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

and received by NTIA no later than 9:00 p.m. EST, March 11, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Applications must be mailed to:

Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance Program,

National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S.

Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW, HCHB, Room 4092,

Washington, D.C. 20230

Or hand-delivered to:

Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance Program,

National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S.

Department of Commerce, Room 1874, Herbert Clark Hoover Building, 1401

Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20230

Room 1874 is located at entrance #10 on 15th Street NW, between

Pennsylvania and Constitution Avenues.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Stephen J. Downs, 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 sixth annual round of a competitive matching

grant program, the Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure

Assistance Program (TIIAP). TIIAP was created to promote the

development, widespread availability, and use of advanced

telecommunications and information technologies to serve the public

interest.

To accomplish this objective, TIIAP will provide matching grants to

state, local, and tribal governments; 1 non-profit health

care providers and public health institutions; schools; libraries;

museums; colleges; universities; public safety providers; non-profit

community-based organizations; and other non-profit entities. TIIAP

will support projects that improve the quality of, and the public's

access to, cultural, educational, and training resources; reduce the

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

care and public health services; promote responsive public safety

services; improve the effectiveness and efficiency of government and

public services; and foster communication, resource-sharing, and

economic development within communities, both rural and urban.

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\1\ American Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Villages.

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Authority

Title II of the Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental

Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 1999, Pub. L. No. 105-277 (1998).

Funding Availability

Approximately $17 million is available for federal assistance. A

small amount of funds that have been deobligated from grants awarded in

previous fiscal years may also be available for Fiscal Year 1999

grants. Based on past experience, NTIA expects this year's grant round

to be very competitive. In Fiscal Year 1998, NTIA received more than

750 applications collectively requesting more than $300 million in

grant funds. From these applications, the Department of Commerce

announced 46 TIIAP awards totaling $18.5 million in federal funds.

Based on previous grant rounds, TIIAP anticipates that the average

size of a grant award will be approximately $350,000 and last between

two and three years. An applicant may request up to $650,000 in total

federal support.

Eligible Organizations

Non-profit entities; state, local, and tribal governments; and

colleges and universities are eligible to apply. Although individuals

and for-profit organizations are not eligible to apply, they may

participate as project partners.

Matching Funds Requirements

Grant recipients under this program will be required to provide

matching funds toward the total project cost. Applicants must document

their capacity to provide matching funds. Matching funds may be in the

form of cash or in-kind contributions. Grant funds under this program

are usually released in direct proportion to local matching funds

utilized and documented as having been expended. NTIA will provide up

to 50 percent of the total project cost, unless the applicant can

document extraordinary circumstances warranting a grant of up to 75

percent. Generally, federal funds (such as grants) may not be used as

matching funds, except as provided by federal statute. If you plan to

use funds from a federal agency, you should contact the federal agency

that administers the funds in question and obtain documentation from

that agency's Office of General Counsel to support the use of federal

funds for matching purposes.

Completeness of Application

TIIAP will initially review all applications 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 1999. Each of the required elements

must be present and clearly identified. Failure to do so may result in

rejection of the application.

Application Deadline

As noted above, complete applications for the Fiscal Year 1999

TIIAP grant program must be received by NTIA no later than 9:00 p.m.

EST, March 11, 1999. A postmark date is not sufficient. Applications

which have been provided to a delivery service on or before March 10,

1999, with ``delivery guaranteed'' before 9:00 p.m. on March 11, 1999,

will be accepted for review if the applicant can document that the

application was provided to the delivery service with delivery to the

address listed above guaranteed prior to the closing date and time.

Applications will not be accepted via facsimile machine transmission or

electronic

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mail. NTIA anticipates that it will take approximately six months to

complete the review of applications and make final funding decisions.

Program Funding Priorities

NTIA supports innovative and exemplary projects that can serve as

models for using information infrastructure in the public and non-

profit sectors and thereby contribute to the development of an advanced

National Information Infrastructure (NII).2 NTIA believes

that every project supported under TIIAP should be a nationally

significant demonstration of how telecommunications and information

technologies can be used to extend valuable services and opportunities

to all Americans, especially the underserved. ``Underserved'' refers to

individuals and communities that are subject to barriers that limit or

prevent their access to the benefits of information infrastructure

technologies and services. In terms of information infrastructure,

these barriers may be technological, geographic, economic, physical,

linguistic, or cultural.

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\2\ The National Information Infrastructure (NII) is 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).

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NTIA expects each project to serve as a national model and offer

potentially new and useful insights into the use of network

technologies. Each project should identify specific problems or needs

in a community, use information infrastructure services and

technologies to offer concrete solutions, and produce measurable

outcomes. TIIAP emphasizes the application of technology to meet

people's needs, and not simply on the technology as an end in itself.

In addition, the development of the NII depends upon the contribution

of a wide variety of skills, ideas, and perspectives. Therefore, TIIAP-

supported projects should, to the greatest degree possible, reach out

to all members of a community and catalyze partnerships 3 to

help erase the distinction between information ``haves'' and ``have-

nots.''

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\3\ A ``partner'' is defined as an organization that supplies

cash or in kind resources and/or plays an active role in the

planning and implementation of the project.

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As a national program, TIIAP supports a variety of model projects

among different application areas,4 geographic regions, and

underserved populations. Each project awarded a grant, however, must be

innovative in its application of technology. TIIAP defines innovation

broadly. It can encompass, but is not restricted to, a new application

of proven technologies; a creative strategy for overcoming traditional

barriers to access; a new configuration of existing information

resources; or uses of cutting edge technologies.

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\4\ For a discussion of the application areas TIIAP supports,

please see Notice, page 6.

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For FY 1999, TIIAP is especially interested in projects developed

by smaller, locally-based organizations that both serve and represent

technologically underserved communities across the nation. For example,

these organizations may include but are not limited to: community-based

organizations; small non-profits; colleges and universities serving

rural communities; Historically Black Colleges and Universities,

Hispanic Serving Institutions, and Tribal Colleges and Universities;

and organizations representing Empowerment Zones and Enterprise

Communities. TIIAP wants to build the capacity of smaller organizations

that work closely with the community. These non-profits often are able

to understand the local dynamics that are helpful in defining the

problem and creating a community-driven, successful solution.

For the FY 1999 grant competition, TIIAP is also especially

interested in projects that propose to use advanced network

technologies to enhance the quality and efficiency of services

delivered through non-profit organizations. Driven by research efforts

in academia, the federal government, and the private

sector,5 technological advances promise to improve

significantly the quality of today's networks. For example, higher

bandwidth networks will afford the opportunity to deliver high

resolution video to the desktop; emerging wireless networks will give

end users greater flexibility in how and when they can access

information. TIIAP encourages applicants to explore the capabilities of

these technologies.

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\5\ The Internet2 and the Next Generation Internet initiatives

are but two examples of the partnerships working to enhance the

quality of today's networking technologies.

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Applicants who are not ready to prepare a project demonstrating

innovative uses of advanced network technologies this year may want to

consider preparing a planning grant. While the emphasis for Fiscal Year

1999 is on projects that deploy, use, and evaluate the use of

information infrastructure applications, NTIA will also consider

allocating a limited amount of funds to support outstanding planning

projects that explore potential uses of advanced network technologies.

Applications for such projects will be evaluated against the same

criteria applied to all other applications.

In Fiscal Year 1999, TIIAP will support projects in five

application areas: Community Networking; Education, Culture, and

Lifelong Learning; Health; Public Safety; and Public Services. Each

application will be reviewed with other applications in the same area.

In this grant round, TIIAP is especially interested in projects that

cut across application areas to better serve the needs of individuals

and communities. Different application areas often share the same end

users. TIIAP encourages applications in which the use of network

technology enables partners in different disciplines (e.g., health,

education, and public safety) to share information. For example, health

providers and field emergency services that share responsibility in the

rescue and care of accident victims, or schools and social service

providers that work to serve the same families, could benefit by

increasing coordination and information sharing.

The five application areas are described below.

Community Networking

This area focuses on multi-purpose projects that enable a broad

range of community residents and organizations to communicate, share

information, promote community economic development, and participate in

civic activities. While TIIAP will continue to support a full range of

projects in the Community Networking application area, this year TIIAP

is particularly interested in projects that: (1) provide individual end

users with sophisticated and useful tools for gathering, analyzing, and

applying a variety of information resources to concrete community or

regional problems; (2) enable small firms, non-profit providers of

services, and persons involved in community development to communicate,

share resources, and launch collaborative initiatives more effectively

in order to promote local or regional community and economic

development; or (3) develop collaborative, regional approaches which

address the needs of both rural and urban populations.

Examples of Community Networking projects may include, but would

not be limited to: projects involving multiple stakeholder

organizations that wish to

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link services, reduce duplicative record-keeping, simplify and/or

expand end-user access to a variety of information resources, engage in

initiatives that would not have been possible without networking

technologies, or provide information across various application areas

within a specific geographic region.

Education, Culture, and Lifelong Learning

Projects in this area seek to improve education and training for

learners of all ages and provide cultural enrichment through the use of

information infrastructure in both traditional and non-traditional

settings. While TIIAP will continue to support a full range of projects

in the Education, Culture, and Lifelong Learning application area, this

year TIIAP is particularly interested in projects which propose

partnerships among multiple institutions to address lifelong learning

needs.

Examples of Education, Culture, and Lifelong Learning projects may

include, but would not be limited to: projects that explore creative

partnerships among schools, libraries, museums, colleges, or

universities to deliver network-based learning resources; projects

linking workplaces and job-training sites to educational institutions;

projects that enrich communities by delivering on-line informational,

educational, and cultural services from public libraries, museums, and

other cultural centers; and projects that allow users to collaborate in

the creation of cultural works or participate actively in meaningful

on-line learning exchanges.

Health

Projects in this area involve the use of information infrastructure

in the delivery of health care and public health services. While TIIAP

will continue to support a full range of projects in the Health

application area, this year TIIAP is particularly interested in

projects that support the delivery of public health services such as

efforts to identify physical, mental, and environmental health

problems; define priorities for public health response; prevent

disease, injury, and disability; and enforce laws and regulations that

protect physical, mental, and environmental health.

Examples of Health projects may include, but would not be limited

to: systems that improve the care and treatment of patients in their

homes; telemedicine systems that offer new approaches to extending

medical and dental expertise to rural or underserved urban areas or

non-traditional settings; projects designed to improve communication

between health care providers and patients and enable consumers to

participate more actively in their health care; projects to improve

treatment of patients in emergency situations and extend trauma care

services beyond the emergency room; and networks or information

services aimed at disease prevention and health promotion.

Public Safety

Projects in this area will seek to increase the effectiveness of

law enforcement agencies, emergency, rescue, and fire departments, the

court system, or other entities involved in providing safety services

that respond to, prevent, or intervene in crises. While TIIAP will

continue to support a full range of projects in the Public Safety

application area, this year TIIAP is particularly interested in

projects that include multiple agencies (such as those that combine

police, emergency medical services, fire companies, or courts) or

participation across municipal boundaries.

Examples of Public Safety projects may include, but would not be

limited to: projects that facilitate information exchange among public

safety agencies located in single or multiple geographic areas to

increase efficiency and share resources, including spectrum resources;

projects that provide information in a timely manner to ``first-

response officials,'' such as police officers, emergency medical

technicians, and firefighters; projects that help public safety

agencies provide community outreach services; and projects that aim to

increase the safety and security of children and reduce domestic

violence.

Public Services

Projects in this area aim to improve the delivery of services to

people with a range of social service needs. This area includes, for

example, employment counseling, housing and transportation support,

child welfare, food assistance, and other services typically delivered

by state, tribal, and local governments or by community-based non-

profit organizations. While TIIAP will continue to support a full range

of projects in the Public Services application area, this year TIIAP is

particularly interested in projects that aim to link multiple

organizations to provide a client-based focus to the delivery of

services. Such projects would focus on the comprehensive needs of

individuals and families who require the coordinated services of

multiple organizations.

Examples of Public Services projects may include, but would not be

limited to: projects that use information technology creatively to

promote self-sufficiency and independence among individuals and

families; electronic information and referral services that provide

information on a variety of community-based and government services;

projects that make public agencies more accessible and responsive to

community residents; electronic benefits transfer projects; projects

that employ geographic information systems to study demographic or

environmental trends and target community strategies to assist

individuals; and projects that focus on the needs of special

communities, such as seniors or individuals with disabilities.

Limitations on Project Scope

Projects funded by TIIAP must meet the Program Funding Priorities

described in this Notice. Projects must involve innovative approaches

to the delivery of useful, practical services in real-world

environments within the grant award period.

Listed below are types of projects TIIAP will not support in Fiscal

Year 1999.

(1) One-Way Networks. TIIAP will not support construction or

extensions of one-way networks, that is, networks which deliver

information to a passive audience; all networks and services proposed

for TIIAP support must be interactive. 6 For example, TIIAP

will not fund one-way broadcast systems, tape duplication and/or

delivery projects, or any project which does not permit the end user in

some fashion to select the information he or she will receive.

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\6\ ``Interactivity'' is defined as 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.

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(2) Single-Organization Projects. TIIAP will not support projects

whose primary emphasis is on the internal communications needs of a

single organization, even if the organization has a considerable number

of offices in different cities or regions of the country. For example,

TIIAP will not consider projects that create or expand Local Area

Networks or internal e-mail systems whose end users are principally, or

exclusively, staff members of a single organization. However, TIIAP

will support applications that extend communications among multiple

organizations and agencies within a governmental jurisdiction. Projects

should, to the maximum degree feasible,

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include appropriate partnerships, with plans for inter-organizational

communications among the partners.

(3) Replacement or Upgrade of Existing Facilities. TIIAP will not

support any projects whose purpose is to upgrade or replace existing

systems, add workstations or servers to existing networks, or complete

the installation of a network.

In addition, TIIAP will not support projects whose primary purpose

is to develop content, hardware, or software, to provide training on

the use of the information infrastructure, 7 or to build

voice-based systems.

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\7\ ``Information infrastructure'' includes 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.

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(1) Content Development Projects. Many projects necessarily involve

some modification or development of content. 8 Therefore,

TIIAP will support projects in which the creation or conversion of

content is part of a larger effort to utilize information

infrastructure technologies to address real-world problems. However,

TIIAP will not support projects whose primary purpose is to develop

data resources, or in any other way produce information content. For

example, TIIAP will not consider projects which are designed only to

develop curriculum, create databases, convert existing paper-based

information to a digital format, digitize existing graphics

collections, or establish World Wide Web sites.

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\8\ ``Content development'' refers to 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.

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(2) Hardware or Software Development Projects. Some projects may

require limited software development or the customization or

modification of existing software or hardware in order to meet

particular end-user requirements or to enable the exchange of

information across networks. However, the creation of a software or

hardware product cannot be a project's primary purpose.

(3) Training Projects. While TIIAP does consider training to be an

essential aspect of most implementation projects, TIIAP will not

support projects whose primary purpose is to provide training in the

use of software applications, Internet use, or other use of information

infrastructure.

(4) Voice-based Systems. Two-way, interactive voice networks are an

important element of the existing information infrastructure. Voice as

a means for conveying information and voice input tools play critical

roles in ensuring people with disabilities have access to network

technology. However, TIIAP will not support projects whose primary

purpose is to either build or install voice-based communication

networks such as call centers or two-way radio networks.

Review Criteria

Reviewers will review and rate each application using the following

criteria. The relative weights of each criterion are identified in

parentheses.

1. Project Definition (10%)

Each application will be judged on the overall purpose of the

proposed project and its potential impact on a community. In assessing

the ``Project Definition,'' reviewers will examine the degree to which

the applicant clearly: (1) identifies a specific problem(s) or need(s)

within the community to be served; (2) proposes a feasible means of

addressing the community's problem(s) employing network services and

technologies; and (3) identifies anticipated outcomes and potential

impacts that are both realistic and measurable.

Reviewers will assess the degree to which an applicant convincingly

links the three major elements--problem, solution, and outcomes.

2. Evaluation (15%)

Each application will be rated on the quality of its plans for

evaluation and its potential to measure both the effectiveness and

efficiency of the proposed solution(s) and anticipated outcome(s) of

the project.

Reviewers also will assess the degree to which the evaluation links

to the overall formulation of project goals and objectives (i.e., the

problem, solution, and anticipated outcomes identified in the ``Project

Definition'' section) and the Review Criteria treated below.

When examining an applicant's evaluation, reviewers will assess the

evaluation design, an implementation plan for the evaluation, and the

allocation of resources (i.e., budget, staff, and management) for

evaluation. Reviewers will also analyze the evaluation questions; the

methodological approach for answering the evaluation questions; how

data will be collected; and how the data will be analyzed. Finally,

reviewers will assess the qualifications of any proposed evaluators.

3. Significance (20%)

When considering ``Significance,'' reviewers will assess the degree

to which the proposed project is innovative and can serve as a model.

When rating the degree to which an application demonstrates

innovation, reviewers will use their experience as experts in their

respective fields to determine whether a proposed project introduces a

unique or novel approach and extends the state-of-the-art in a given

application area. As noted in the section on ``Program Funding

Priorities,'' reviewers will assess innovation broadly, examining both

the technology to be used and the application of technology in a

particular setting, to serve a particular population, or to solve a

particular problem. Reviewers will examine each project in a national

context and ask: (1) how an application compares with, complements, or

improves upon other activities in a given application area, and (2)

what insight(s) a proposed project could add to what is known about

using network technologies in a given application area.

With respect to identifying projects that could serve as models for

other communities across the country, reviewers will draw on their own

experience as experts in the field to assess the degree to which a

project has the potential to be readily duplicated or adapted to other

communities across the country.

4. Project Feasibility (15%)

Each application will be rated on the overall feasibility of the

proposed project and its plan of implementation. In assessing project

feasibility, reviewers will focus on the following issues: the

technical approach; the qualifications of the applicant team; the

proposed budget and implementation schedule; and the applicant's plan

for sustaining the project beyond the grant period.

Reviewers will assess how the proposed system would work, how it

would operate with other systems, the technological alternatives that

have been examined, the plans for the maintenance and/or upgrading of

the system, and the capability of the system to accommodate growth and

new technological developments. Applicants are expected to make use of

existing infrastructure and commercially available telecommunications

services, unless extraordinary circumstances require the construction

of new network facilities.

In assessing the qualifications of the project team, reviewers will

assess the applicant and its partners to determine if they have the

resources, expertise, and experience necessary to undertake the project

and complete it within the

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proposed period. Reviewers will also examine the proposed duration of

the project to determine if the implementation schedule is reasonable.

Reviewers will analyze the budget in terms of clarity and cost-

effectiveness. The proposed budget should be appropriate to the tasks

proposed and sufficiently detailed so that reviewers can easily

understand the relationship of items in the budget to the project

narrative.

Finally, reviewers will examine the potential long-term viability

of the applicant's plans. In evaluating the plan, reviewers will

consider the economic circumstances of the community or communities to

be served by the proposed project and the applicant's strategies to

sustain the project after the completion of the grant.

5. Community Involvement (20%)

Each application will be rated on the overall level of community

involvement in the development and implementation of the proposed

project. Reviewers will pay particular attention to the partnerships

involved, the strength and diversity of support for the project within

the community, the support for the project's end users,9 and

any applicable privacy and security issues.

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\9\ An ``end user'' is one 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.

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Reviewers will examine the breadth of community involvement to

ensure it includes the development of partnerships among unaffiliated

organizations,10 from the public, non-profit, or private

sectors, as an integral part of each project. TIIAP considers partners

to be organizations that supply cash or in-kind resources and/or play

an active role in the planning and implementation of the project.

Reviewers will:

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\10\ ``Unaffiliated'' organizations are institutions that do not

have formal associations or relationships with the applicant.

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(1) Examine the steps the applicant has taken to involve a variety

of community stakeholders in project development and the plans for

ongoing community involvement in the project. Reviewers will look for

evidence of demand, from the community, the end users, and the

potential beneficiaries, for the services proposed by the project;

(2) Consider the degree of attention paid to the needs, skills,

working conditions, and living environments of the targeted end users.

Reviewers will also consider the extent to which applicants involve

representatives from a broad range of potential users in both the

design and implementation of the project and consider the varying

degrees of abilities of all end users, including individuals with

disabilities;

(3) Assess the applicant's plans for training end users, upgrading

their skills, and building community awareness and knowledge of the

project;

(4) Evaluate the steps applicants have taken to involve and

document the support of a variety of stakeholder groups and

organizations; and

(5) examine the applicant's efforts to safeguard the privacy of the

end users and beneficiaries 11 of the project. In

circumstances where proprietary or sensitive individual data is

involved, reviewers will closely examine the applicant's strategies for

addressing the privacy and confidentiality of user data.

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\11\ Project beneficiaries are those individuals or

organizations deriving benefits from a project's outcome(s). A

project beneficiary may also, but not necessarily, be a project end

user.

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6. Reducing Disparities (15%)

Reviewers will assess the degree to which each application targets

underserved communities specifically and/or reaches out to underserved

groups within a broader community. ``Underserved'' refers to

individuals and communities that are subject to barriers that limit or

prevent their access to the benefits of information infrastructure and

services. These barriers may be technological, geographic, economic,

physical, linguistic, or cultural. For example,

(1) A rural community may be geographically isolated from

information resources and lack local technical expertise to help

install and manage the network infrastructure;

(2) An inner city neighborhood may contain large numbers of

potential end users who lack the technical and financial resources to

access the information infrastructure; or

(3) People with disabilities may need a variety of special hardware

or software interfaces to facilitate their use of the information

infrastructure.

Reviewers will assess evidence of community need and the

applicant's proposed strategies for overcoming barriers to the access

and use of information technologies. Reviewers will focus on the

applicant's strategies for reaching out to targeted groups and for

tailoring services which address the learning mechanisms, attitudes,

abilities, and customs of the community.

7. Documentation and Dissemination (5%)

Applicants will also be rated on the quality of their plans for

documentation and dissemination. Reviewers will assess whether an

applicant has allocated sufficient funds and resources to document

project activities and disseminate project findings and lessons

learned.

Applicants will be rated on the extent to which their documentation

plans include effective record keeping strategies that will assist in

the applicant's assessment of the project and facilitate future

evaluations of the applicant's efforts. Reviewers will also assess an

applicant's plans for disseminating the knowledge gained as a result of

the project.

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

C.F.R. Part 74. If included in the approved project budget, TIIAP will

allow costs for personnel; fringe benefits; computer hardware,

software, and other end-user equipment; telecommunication services and

related equipment; consultants, evaluators, and other contractual

services; travel; rental of office equipment, furniture, and space; and

supplies. All costs must be reasonable and directly related to 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 or 100 percent of the total proposed direct costs dollar amount

in the application, whichever is less.

Ineligible Costs

Costs associated with the construction or major renovation of

buildings are not eligible. While costs for the construction of new

network facilities are eligible costs, applicants are expected to make

use of existing infrastructure and commercially available

telecommunications services. Only under extraordinary circumstances

will the construction of new network facilities be approved. Costs of

the professional services, such as instruction, counseling, or medical

care, provided via a network supported through this program are not

eligible.

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

included as part of the applicant's matching fund

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contribution. In addition, the Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency

Supplemental Appropriations for Fiscal Year 1999 places restrictions on

eligible costs for applicants which are recipients of Universal Service

Fund discounts and applicants receiving assistance from the Department

of Justice's Regional Information Sharing Systems Program as part of

the project costs.

This statute provides:

That notwithstanding any other provision of law, no entity that

receives telecommunications services at preferential rates under

section 254(h) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254(h))

or receives assistance under the regional information sharing

systems grant program of the Department of Justice under part M of

title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968

(42 U.S.C. 3796h) may use funds under a grant under this heading to

cover any costs of the entity that would otherwise be covered by

such preferential rates or such assistance, as the case may

be.12

\12\ Title II of the Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency

Supplemental Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 1999, Pub. L. No.

105-277 (1998).

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Accordingly, recipients of the above-described preferential rates

or assistance are prohibited from including any costs that would be

covered by such preferential rates or assistance in their proposed

TIIAP grant budget.

Award Period

Successful applicants will have between 12 and 36 months to

complete their projects. While the completion time will vary depending

on the complexity of the project, NTIA has found that most applicants

require at least two years to complete and fully evaluate their

projects. Accordingly, NTIA encourages applicants to propose projects

that last two to three years.

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. The selection process will last

approximately six months and involves four stages:

(1) During the first stage, each eligible application will 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 review

criteria provided in this Notice and make non-binding written

recommendations to the program.

(2) Upon completion of the external review process, program staff

may analyze applications as necessary. Program staff analysis will be

based on the degree to which a proposed project meets the program's

funding scope as described in the section entitled ``Limitations on

Project Scope;'' the eligibility of costs and matching funds included

in an application's budget; 13 and the extent to which an

application complements or duplicates projects previously funded or

under consideration by NTIA or other federal programs. The analysis of

program staff will be provided to the TIIAP Director in writing.

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\13\ See discussion of ``Eligible Costs'' and ``Matching Funds

Requirements'' in this Notice.

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The TIIAP Director then prepares and presents a slate of

recommended grant awards to the Office of Telecommunications and

Information Applications' (OTIA) Associate Administrator for review and

approval. 14 The Director's recommendations and the

Associate Administrator's review and approval will take into account

the following selection factors:

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\14\ The Office of Telecommunication and Information

Applications is the division of the National Telecommunications and

Information Administration that supervises NTIA's grant awards

programs.

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1. The evaluations of the outside reviewers;

2. The analysis of program staff;

3. The degree to which the proposed grants meet the program's

priorities as described in the section entitled ``Program Funding

Priorities;''

4. The geographic distribution of the proposed grant awards;

5. The variety of technologies and strategies employed by the

proposed grant awards;

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

reasonable distribution of funds across application areas;

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

infrastructure by rural communities and other underserved groups;

8. Avoidance of redundancy and conflicts with the initiatives of

other federal agencies; and

9. The availability of funds.

(3) Upon approval by the OTIA Associate Administrator, the

Director's recommendations will then be presented to the Selecting

Official, the NTIA Administrator. 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 selection

factors described above and the program's stated purposes as set forth

in the section entitled ``Program Purposes.''

(4) 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, and if necessary, to clarify items in the application. 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 recommendations by the Director and the OTIA Associate

Administrator 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,'' upon the conclusion of

negotiations.

Use of Program Income

Applicants are advised that any program income generated by a

proposed project is subject to special conditions. Anticipated program

income must be documented appropriately in the project budget. In

addition, should an application be funded, unanticipated program income

must be reported to TIIAP, and the budget for the project must be

renegotiated to reflect receipt of this program income. Program income

means gross income earned by the recipient that is either directly

generated by a supported activity, or earned as a result of the award.

In addition, federal policy prohibits any recipient or subrecipient

receiving federal funds from the use of equipment acquired with these

funds to provide services to non-federal outside organizations for a

fee that is less than private companies charge for equivalent services.

This prohibition does not apply to services provided to outside

organizations at no cost.

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 policy, 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

[[Page 338]]

relevant should read the policy that was published in the Federal

Register at 60 FR 66491, Dec. 22, 1995.

Waiver Authority

It is the general intent of NTIA not to waive any of the provisions

set forth in this Notice. However, under extraordinary circumstances

and when it is in the best interest of the federal government, NTIA,

upon its own initiative or when requested, may waive the provisions in

this Notice. Waivers may only be granted for requirements that are

discretionary and not mandated by statute. Any request for a waiver

must set forth the extraordinary circumstances for the request and be

included in the application or sent to the address provided in the

``Addresses'' section above. NTIA will not consider a request to waive

the application deadline for an application until the application has

been received.

Other Information

Electronic Information. Information about NTIA and TIIAP, including

this document and the Guidelines for Preparing Applications--Fiscal

Year 1999, can be retrieved electronically via the Internet using the

World Wide Web. Use http://www.ntia.doc.gov to reach the NTIA home page

and follow directions to locating information about TIIAP. 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 for Preparing Applications--Fiscal Year 1999, which can be

obtained by contacting NTIA by telephone, fax, or electronic mail, as

described in the ``Addresses'' section above. TIIAP requests 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. 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. 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 the Guidelines for Preparing Applications--

Fiscal Year 1999.

Because of the high level of public interest in projects supported

by TIIAP, the program anticipates receiving requests for copies of

successful applications. Applicants are hereby notified that the

applications they submit are subject to the Freedom of Information Act.

To assist NTIA in making disclosure determinations, applicants may

identify sensitive information and label it ``confidential.''

Type of Funding Instrument. The funding instrument for awards under

this program shall be a grant.

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 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.

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.

Purchase of American Made Products. Applicants are hereby notified

that any equipment or products authorized to be purchased with funding

provided under this program must be American-made to the maximum extent

feasible.

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 C.F.R. Part 26, Section 105) are subject

to 15 C.F.R. 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 C.F.R. Part 26,

Section 605) are subject to 15 C.F.R. Part 26, Subpart F, ``Government

wide 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 C.F.R. 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 C.F.R. part 28, Appendix B.

Lower Tier Certifications. Recipients shall require applicants/

bidders for

[[Page 339]]

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

significant'' rule under Executive Order 12866.

Larry Irving,

Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information.

[FR Doc. 98-34228 Filed 12-31-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-60-P