# National Technical Assistance, Training, Research, and EvaluationRequest for Grant Proposals

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URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A99-13611

## Record

- **Collection:** Federal Register
- **Document type:** Notice
- **Published:** May 28, 1999
- **Citation:** 64 FR 29194

## Text

SUMMARY: A total of $368,379,000 is available to EDA for all its
programs in FY 1999 (See Notice of Funding Availability for FY 1999 at
64 FR 9221), of which approximately $1,601,000 will be available for
National Technical Assistance, Training, Research, and Evaluation. EDA
is soliciting proposals for the specific projects described herein: (1)
Evaluation of EDA's University Center Program; (2) Evaluation of EDA's
Local Technical Assistance Program; (3) Identifying Technology
Infrastructure Needs in America's Distressed Communities; (4) Handbook
for Local Technology Strategic Planning, (5) Reviews of Economic
Development Literature and Practice, and (6) Determining a Methodology
for Estimating Infrastructure Demand. These projects will be funded if
acceptable proposals are received. Remaining funding, if any, may be
used to fund additional projects. EDA issues this Notice describing the
conditions under which eligible applications for these National
Technical Assistance, Training, Research, and Evaluation projects under
13 CFR part 307, subpart C (64 FR 5347, 5428-5429) will be accepted and
selected for funding.

DATES: Prospective applicants are advised that EDA will conduct a pre-
proposal conference on June 17, 1999, at 10 a.m. EDT in the Department
of Commerce, Herbert C. Hoover Building, 14th and Constitution Avenue,
NW, Washington, DC 20230, Room 1414, at which time questions on these
projects can be answered. Potential applicants are encouraged to
provide written questions (See Address section below) by June 10, 1999.
Prospective applicants unable to attend this pre-proposal conference
may participate by telephone conference. Teleconference information may
be obtained by calling (202) 482-4085 between 8:30-5 EDT on June 16,
1999.
Proposals for funding under this program will be accepted through
July 2, 1999. Proposals received after 5 p.m. EDT, on July 2, 1999, at
the address provided below, will not be considered for funding.
By July 21, 1999, EDA will advise successful proponents to submit
full applications, OMB Control Number 0610-0094.
Completed applications must be submitted to EDA by August 5, 1999,
at the address below. EDA will make these awards no later than
September 30, 1999.

ADDRESS: Send proposals to John J. McNamee, Director, Research and
National Technical Assistance Division, Economic Development
Administration, Room 7019, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, DC
20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John J. McNamee (202) 482-4085.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I Introduction

A. Authority

The Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965, as amended
(Pub. L. 89-136, 42 U.S.C. 3121 et seq.), including the comprehensive
amendments by the Economic Development Administration Reform Act of
1998 (Pub. L. 105-393) (PWEDA) authorizes EDA to make grants for
training, research, and technical assistance, including grants for
program evaluation and project impact analyses, that would be useful in
alleviating or preventing conditions of excessive unemployment or
underemployment (42 U.S.C. 3147, section 207). This RFP is dependent
upon the availability of funds in FY 1999 for this program. Pub. L.
105-277 makes funds available for this program.

B. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

11.303 Economic Development Technical Assistance.
11.312 Research and Evaluation.

C. Program Description

For a description of this program see PWEDA and 13 CFR chapter III,
part 307 (64 FR 5347).
EDA assistance is focused on areas experiencing significant
economic distress, defined principally as per capita income of 80
percent or less of the national average, or an unemployment rate that
is, for the most recent 24-month period for which data are available,
at least one percent greater than the national average.

D. Costs

Ordinarily, the applicant is expected to provide a 50% non-federal
share of project costs. However, the Assistant Secretary may waive the
required 50% matching share of the total project costs, provided the
applicant can demonstrate: (1) The project is not feasible without, and
the project merits such a waiver, or (2) the project is addressing
major causes of distress in the area serviced and requires the unique
characteristics of the applicant, which will not participate if it must
provide all or part of a 50 percent non-federal share, or (3) the
project is for the benefit of local, state, regional, or national
economic development efforts, and will be of no or only incidental
benefit to the recipient (See 13 CFR 307.9; 64 FR 5429).

E. Briefings and Reports

Unless otherwise noted, each award includes a requirement that the
applicant conduct a total of up to seven briefings and/or training
workshops for individuals and organizations interested in the results
of this project. Potential applicants should be aware that the
completion dates set forth below are for completion of the project and
submission of the final written report. Briefings/workshops will take
place no later than one year after submission of the final report.
Locations and dates of the briefings/workshops are at EDA's discretion.
Usually, these consist of at least one briefing in Washington, DC, with
the other briefings/workshops held in conjunction with one or more of
EDA's regional conferences.
Unless otherwise noted, each award includes a requirement that the
applicant submit 200 copies of the final report.

II. Areas of Special Emphasis

Evaluation of EDA's University Center Program

EDA invites proposals to evaluate the effectiveness of EDA's
University Center Program.
Background
EDA's University Center Program funds selected colleges and
universities to help them address economic development problems and
opportunities in the states they serve, especially in distressed areas.
The centers provide technical assistance to clients outside the
university, conduct applied research, and disseminate information. The
centers complement other forms of technical assistance by helping local
communities mobilize diverse public and private resources.

[[Page 29195]]

Many centers cover an entire state; others cover a substantial portion
of the state's population or geographic area.
The proposed research is intended to evaluate the degree to which
EDA's University Center Program has helped centers identify local
needs, alleviate economic distress, disseminate information, and
increase local economic development capacity. This research examines
the overall program and should not be confused with the evaluation of
individual university centers required under section 506 of PWEDA. It
may be necessary to examine and consult with individual centers in
order to determine overall program effectiveness.
EDA will not accept proposals for this project from current EDA-
funded centers or their representatives. Other organizational units
within universities and colleges hosting centers may be funded,
providing they demonstrate independence between themselves and the
center.
Scope of Work
The successful applicant will: (1) Evaluate the effectiveness of
EDA's University Center Program in addressing economic development
problems and opportunities in the centers' service areas; (2) make
recommendations as needed for improving the University Center Program;
(3) review the EDA evaluation guidelines (currently under development)
that will be used to assess individual centers, as required under
Section 506 of PWEDA; and (4) conduct briefings and/or training
workshops as set forth in I.E. above.
In its evaluation of the University Center Program, EDA anticipates
the successful applicant will examine output, client satisfaction,
cost-effectiveness, and ability to leverage other sources of funding
for economic development. Potential measures of output may include
numbers of short and long-term services provided, number of clients
served, newsletters published, conferences held, etc.
In evaluating EDA's University Center Program, relevant questions
include (but are not restricted to):
a. Is the number and distribution of centers appropriate given
overall budget constraints?
b. Are the centers effective in meeting economic development needs?
c. Does the University Center Program serve a unique role, or is it
duplicative of programs offered by other federal agencies?
d. Does the program effectively target distressed areas?
Cost
The total EDA share of the cost of this project may not exceed
$200,000.
Timing
The project should be completed and the final report submitted by
September 30, 2000.

Evaluation of EDA's Local Technical Assistance Program

Background
EDA's Local Technical Assistance Program provides funding to help
communities solve specific economic development problems, respond to
development opportunities, and build and expand local organizational
capacity in distressed areas. Often, Local Technical Assistance
projects consist of feasibility studies, support for other economic
development providers, or similar projects necessary to prepare a
community for further EDA support. In recent years, funding for the
program has been approximately $1.5 million per year, with the average
grant size approximately $25,000. The program was last evaluated in
1990.
Scope of Work
The successful applicant will: (1) Examine selected projects funded
in FY's 1996-1997, provided they have been completed no later than
September 30, 1998, to identify common and variable features of
representative projects; (2) where appropriate, make site visits to
obtain more detailed project information; (3) evaluate the
effectiveness of the Local Technical Assistance Program in fulfilling
its goals; (4) make recommendations as needed for improving the
program; and (5) conduct briefings and/or training workshops as set
forth in I.E. above. In evaluating program effectiveness, relevant
questions include (but are not restricted to):
a. Has the program helped communities undertake or eliminate
specific economic development projects from their overall strategy?
b. Has the program influenced the design, implementation, or timing
of local projects?
c. Has the program helped communities build long-term economic
development capacity?
d. Has the program supported innovative approaches and/or given
local officials needed expertise?
e. To what extent has the program targeted distressed areas?
f. Were projects completed in a timely and cost-effective fashion?
g. Were there common features that contributed to project success
or failure?
Cost
The total EDA share of the cost of this project may not exceed
$150,000.
Timing
The project should be completed and the final report submitted by
August 31, 2000.

Identifying Technology Infrastructure Needs in America's
Distressed Communities

EDA seeks proposals to assess the technology infrastructure needs
of America's distressed communities to support critical economic
development activities, including: Integration of new technologies into
existing economic activities; ongoing technology and skills upgrading
at the local level; development and commercialization of new
technologies; and dissemination of information about new technologies.
Background
Most experts agree that the future prosperity of American firms and
workers will depend on their abilities to identify, develop, assess,
manage and integrate new technologies. However, some communities have
far greater cumulative resources to undertake these tasks than others.
We refer to these resident, cumulative community resources as
``technology infrastructure,'' recognizing that they are as important
to future economic development as sewers, roads, schools and other
traditional forms of infrastructure. EDA is committed to helping
distressed communities pursue technology-led economic development. To
pursue this goal most effectively, the agency must understand the
technology infrastructure needs of these communities as precisely as
possible. Possible examples of technology infrastructure include fiber
optic networks; geographic information systems; smart buildings;
specialized training facilities; smart water supply systems, water and
waste water treatment systems, transportation systems, etc. This
project will complement and build on, but should not duplicate, current
EDA-sponsored research to assess technology infrastructure needs in
Native American and Alaska Native communities, and to identify best
practices of technology transfer and commercialization.
Scope of Work
The successful applicant will: (1) Broadly outline the types of
technology infrastructure needed for ongoing economic development in
U.S. communities; (2) determine which types of technology are most
needed by, and

[[Page 29196]]

appropriate for, America's distressed communities; (3) identify the
major constraints to improving the state of technology infrastructure
in America's distressed communities; (4) prepare a final written report
of findings, including recommendations regarding how EDA can most
effectively use its limited resources to help distressed communities
upgrade their technology infrastructure; and (5) conduct briefings and/
or training workshops as set forth in I.E above.
As part of Task (1), EDA anticipates the successful applicant will
develop a working definition of technology infrastructure, as well as a
list of representative types of technology infrastructure. These should
include cutting-edge technology improvements to traditional forms of
infrastructure. In Task (2), EDA expects the researchers may wish to
conduct case studies in communities that meet EDA's definitions of
distress. The researchers would consider the resources and skills
available in these communities, as well as acknowledged weaknesses in
such economies that would have an impact, either positively or
negatively, on the various types of technology infrastructure that are
identified. In Task (3), the successful applicant should consider
barriers to both private and public investment.
Costs
The total EDA share of the cost for this project may not exceed
$200,000.
Timing
The project should be completed and the final report submitted by
August 31, 2000.

Handbook for Local Technology Strategic Planning

EDA seeks proposals to create a handbook for use by local economic
development practitioners in preparing technology strategic plans.
Background
In recent years, state and local economic development agencies have
implemented a rapidly growing number and variety of technology-based
economic development policies. As a result, it is becoming increasingly
important that these policies be integrated smoothly into overall
economic development planning (including EDA's required Comprehensive
Economic Development Strategy). Among other things, economic
development practitioners need to: identify technology-based economic
development needs and opportunities; determine which kinds of projects
are most appropriate for their community; recognize possible
constraints on technology-based development strategies; and understand
how technology strategies affect other aspects of economic development.
In accordance with section 502 of PWEDA, EDA seeks to support the
efforts of practitioners by developing a handbook that will help them
undertake strategic planning for technology-based economic development.
The handbook should provide practitioners with information regarding:
what is typically included in a technology plan; how this content might
vary in different contexts; how to prepare these plans; how to
integrate these plans with other local or regional development plans,
such as EDA's Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy; and how to
maximize the likelihood the plan will be implemented. The handbook
should also identify potential sources for funding and technical
assistance for preparing technology strategic plans. This project
builds on earlier EDA-sponsored research which identified best
practices and assessed the general status of technology strategic
planning at the state level.
Scope of Work
The successful applicant will: (1) Review prior literature and
other materials documenting practical experience with technology
strategic planning for economic development; (2) consult with experts
in developing the contents and organization of the handbook; (3)
prepare a detailed outline of the handbook's contents and circulate it
among the experts for comment; (4) prepare the handbook; and (5)
conduct briefings and/or training workshops as set forth in I.E above.
Costs
The total EDA share of the cost for this project may not exceed
$150,000
Timing
The project should be completed and the final handbook submitted by
July 31, 2000.

Reviews of Economic Development Literature and Practice

EDA seeks proposals to review the literature and practical
experience regarding issues of critical importance to economic
development practitioners nationally.
Background
One of EDA's main functions is to disseminate information about
economic development policies, issues, strategies, and techniques to
practitioners. EDA fulfills this function by a number of means,
including newsletters, conferences, use of the Internet, and targeted
research. This project would help present important and emerging
theoretical issues to practitioners and policy makers. Compared to most
other EDA research, this project also gives researchers greater
latitude to choose the topic of study.
As appropriate, EDA expects that the reviews selected will describe
and critically analyze: key debates in the literature, analytical
techniques of broad importance to practitioners, and the range of
experience with specific economic development strategies. Where
possible, reviews should identify important policy implications of the
research. The subject, content, and writing style of proposed reviews
should be targeted at practitioners and policy makers rather than
academics. EDA expects proposals to be for original research, and
proposed reviews should not have been submitted for publication
elsewhere.
EDA is especially interested in reviews of literature on issues
related to EDA's core programs. Examples include: Costs of job
creation; economic development in Native American and Alaska Native
communities; innovative public infrastructure financing; and
international trade impacts on regional economies. EDA, however,
welcomes a broader range of topics of importance to domestic economic
development.
EDA expects researchers to demonstrate familiarity with the
proposed topic and ability to conduct a timely, thorough, and objective
review. EDA anticipates making multiple awards, but will not make
multiple awards to any individual researcher.
Scope of Work
Successful applicants will: (1) Prepare a paper of length and
quality suitable for publication in a peer-reviewed journal, and (2)
conduct one presentation as described in I.E. above. Authors are
encouraged to submit the final review paper for publication.
Cost
EDA may provide funding up to $100,000 for all reviews funded under
this RFP. The total EDA share of the cost for any single review may not
exceed $20,000. EDA anticipates that most proposals will be in the
range of $10,000 to $15,000.
Timing
EDA anticipates that most reviews will take 6 months or less, but
recognizes that this will vary with the

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nature of the research. A presentation may take place up to one year
after the final paper is submitted.

Determining a Methodology for Estimating Infrastructure Demand

EDA requests proposals to determine whether a methodology exists to
estimate the nature and approximate cost of the infrastructure that is
needed for the economic development of distressed areas.
Background
Under its Public Works program, EDA grants assist distressed
communities generate long-term, private sector jobs and diversify local
economies by growing new industry, and by encouraging private
investment and business expansion. EDA funds critically-needed
infrastructure such as water and sewer facilities and modern
technological improvements for industry and commerce, access roads to
industrial sites, business incubators, and skill training facilities.
EDA is cognizant of the fact that infrastructure investment needs grow
out of a local planning process where the community or region
identifies, among other needs, the type of infrastructure that is
needed for the economic development of the area. Under this request,
EDA is interested in determining whether there is a methodology for
assessing the infrastructure needs of these economically-distressed
areas that is valid and cost-effective. The availability of
comprehensive data on local infrastructure investments and the causal
relationship between the level of infrastructure investment and
regional development must be established.
Scope of Work
The successful applicant will: (1) Bring together a roundtable
panel of experts to determine whether there is a valid and cost-
effective methodology to determine the demand for economic development
infrastructure; (2) prepare a report on the findings, conclusions, and
recommendations; and (3) conduct up to two presentations as described
in I.E. above.
Cost
The total EDA share of the cost for this project may not exceed
$25,000.
Timing
The project should be completed and the final report of the
findings, conclusions, and recommendations submitted by December 31,
1999.

III. How To Apply

A. Eligible Applicants

See EDA's interim final rule at 13 CFR Sec. 300.2 (64 FR 5347).
Eligible applicants are as follows: areas meeting requirements under 13
CFR 301.2; Economic Development Districts; Indian tribes; consortiums
of Indian Tribes; states, cities or other political subdivisions of a
state; consortiums of political subdivisions of states; institutions of
higher education, consortiums of institutions of higher education;
public or private nonprofit organizations or associations acting in
cooperation with officials of a political subdivision of a state, for-
profit organizations, and private individuals.
EDA encourages submission of proposals by a broad spectrum of
potential applicants, including minority institutions and individuals.

B. Proposal Submission Procedures

Proposals submitted by potential applicants should include: (1) A
description of how the researcher(s) intend(s) to carry out the scope
of work (not to exceed fifteen pages in length); (2) a proposed budget
and accompanying explanation; (3) resumes/qualifications of key staff
(not to exceed two pages per individual), and (4) a proposed time line.
EDA will not accept proposals submitted by FAX or email. Proposals
received after 5 p.m. EDT, on July 2, 1999, at the address provided
above, will not be considered.

IV. Selection Process and Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will receive initial review by EDA to assure that they
meet all requirements of this announcement and 13 CFR Chapter III (64
FR 5347), including eligibility and relevance to the specified project
as described herein. All proposals must meet EDA's statutory and
regulatory requirements. If a proposal is selected, EDA will provide
the proponent with an Application for Federal Assistance (OMB Control
Number 0610-0094). EDA will carry out its selection process using the
following criteria:
(1) The quality of a proposal's response to the scope of work
proposed; and
(2) The ability of the prospective applicant to successfully carry
out the proposed activities.
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.

V. Additional Information and Requirements

See 64 FR 9221-9226, Part II for additional information and
requirements (available on the Internet at http://www.doc.gov/eda/html/
notice.htm, under the heading ``Economic Development Programs--
Availability of Funds'').

Dated: May 24, 1999.
Phillip A. Singerman,
Assistant Secretary for Economic Development.
[FR Doc. 99-13611 Filed 5-27-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-24-P

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A99-13611. Public record. Not legal advice.