77716 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 248 / Tuesday, December 28, 2004 / Notices 

region’s competitive strengths and will 

positively move a regional economic 

indicator measured on EDA’s Balanced 

Scorecard, such as: an increased number 

of higher-skill, higher-wage jobs; 

increased tax revenue; or increased 

private sector investment. 

2. Have strong organizational 

leadership. An investment will have 

strong leadership, relevant project 

management experience, and a 

significant commitment of human 

resources talent to ensure a project’s 

successful execution. 

3. Advance productivity, innovation, 

and entrepreneurship. An investment 

will embrace the principles of 

entrepreneurship, enhance regional 

clusters, and leverage and link 

technology innovators and local 

universities to the private sector to 

create the conditions for greater 

productivity, innovation, and job 

creation. 

4. Look beyond the immediate 

economic horizon, anticipate economic 

changes, and diversify the local and 

regional economy. An investment will 

be part of an overarching, long term 

comprehensive economic development 

strategy that enhances a region’s success 

in achieving a rising standard of living 

by supporting existing industry clusters, 

developing emerging new clusters, or 

attracting new regional economic 

drivers. 

5. Demonstrate a high degree of 

commitment by exhibiting:

• High levels of local government or 

non-profit matching funds and private 

sector leverage; 

• Clear and unified leadership and 

support by local elected officials; and 

• Strong cooperation between the 

business sector, relevant regional 

partners and local, state and federal 

governments. 

Funding Priorities: Highly rated 

preapplication proposals may or may 

not be invited to submit full 

applications based on the following 

Funding Priorities. Generally, all EDA 

proposals and applications should 

enhance regional competitiveness and 

support long-term development of the 

regional economy. Further priority will 

be given to proposals that: 

1. Encourage innovation and regional 

competitiveness: 

a. Reflect coordination of strong 

regional leadership committed to 

regional cluster development; 

b. Encourage a formal organization 

structure and process for working on 

cluster development and maintaining 

consensus; 

c. Encourage a common vision and 

collaboration among firms, universities, 

and training centers to implement a 

cluster strategy; 

d. Establish research and industrial 

parks that encourage innovation-based 

competition; 

e. Implement cluster-focused and 

innovation-focused business 

development efforts; and 

f. Develop or implement coordinated 

economic and workforce development 

strategies. 

2. Upgrade core business 

infrastructure such as: 

a. Transportation infrastructure; 

b. Communications infrastructure; 

and 

c. Specialized training program 

infrastructure. 

3. Help communities plan and 

implement economic adjustment 

strategies in response to sudden and 

severe economic dislocation. 

Specifically, EDA will give highest 

priority to support manufacturingimpacted communities by: 

a. Helping communities that 

experience manufacturing job losses 

(e.g., major layoffs, plant closures or 

trade impacts); and 

b. Supporting innovation and 

competitiveness in American 

manufacturing. 

4. Support technology-led economic 

development, for example, proposals 

that: 

a. Reflect the important role of 

research and development capacity of 

universities in regional development; 

and 

b. Create and support technology 

transfers. 

5. Advance community and faithbased social entrepreneurship in 

redevelopment strategies for areas of 

chronic economic distress. 

The Department of Commerce PreAward Notification Requirements for 

Grants and Cooperative Agreements 

The Department of Commerce PreAward Notification Requirements for 

Grants and Cooperative Agreements 

contained in the Federal Register notice 

of October 1, 2001 (66 FR 49917), as 

amended by the Federal Register notice 

published on October 30, 2002 (67 FR 

66109), are applicable to this 

solicitation, and are available on EDA’s 

Web Site, http://www.eda.gov.

Paperwork Reduction Act 

This document contains collection-ofinformation requirements subject to the 

Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). The 

use of Form ED–900P has been 

approved by OMB under the control 

number 0610–0094. Notwithstanding 

any other provision of law, no person is 

required to respond to, nor shall any 

person be subject to a penalty for failure 

to comply with, a collection of 

information subject to the requirements 

of the PRA unless that collection of 

information displays a currently valid 

OMB control number. 

Executive Order 12866

This notice has been determined to be 

not significant for purposes of Executive 

Order 12866. 

Executive Order 13132 (Federalism) 

It has been determined that this notice 

does not contain policies with 

Federalism implications as that term is 

defined in Executive Order 13132. 

Administrative Procedure Act/

Regulatory Flexibility Act 

Prior notice and an opportunity for 

public comments are not required by the 

Administrative Procedure Act or any 

other law for this rule concerning 

grants, benefits and contracts (5 U.S.C. 

553(a)(2)). Because notice and 

opportunity for comment are not 

required pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 or any 

other law, the analytical requirements of 

the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 

601 et seq.) are inapplicable. Therefore, 

a regulatory flexibility analysis has not 

been prepared.

Dated: December 21, 2004. 

David A. Sampson, 

Assistant Secretary for Economic 

Development.

[FR Doc. 04–28374 Filed 12–27–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–24–M

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Economic Development Administration 

[991215339–4347–15] 

Solicitation of Proposals for National 

Technical Assistance

AGENCY: Economic Development 

Administration (EDA), Department of 

Commerce (DOC).

ACTION: Notice and request for 

proposals. 

SUMMARY: The Economic Development 

Administration (EDA) is soliciting 

proposals for the National Technical 

Assistance Program for Fiscal Year (FY) 

2006. This notice also announces 

general policies and application 

procedures for grant-based technical 

assistance investments that aim to 

increase prosperity by advancing 

comprehensive, entrepreneurial, and 

innovation-based economic 

development efforts. The mission of 

EDA is to lead the Federal economic 

development agenda by promoting 

Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 248 / Tuesday, December 28, 2004 / Notices 77717

innovation and competitiveness, 

preparing American regions for growth 

and success in the worldwide economy. 

Through the National Technical 

Assistance (NTA) program, EDA will 

work towards fulfilling its mission by 

funding technical assistance projects to 

promote competitiveness and 

innovation in urban and rural regions 

throughout the United States and its 

territories. By working in conjunction 

with its research partners, EDA will 

help states, local governments, and 

community based organizations to 

achieve their highest economic 

potential.

DATES: Proposals for funding under this 

program must be received by the EDA 

representative listed in Section VII.B. of 

this competitive solicitation no later 

than May 31, 2005 at 4 p.m. (EDT). 

Proposals received after 4 p.m. (EDT) on 

May 31, 2005, will not be considered for 

funding. By June 15, 2005, EDA will 

notify proponents whether they will be 

given further funding consideration and 

will invite successful proponents to 

submit a formal application.

ADDRESSES: National Technical 

Assistance proposals may be e-mailed to 

jmcnamee@eda.doc.gov. 

National Technical Assistance 

proposals may be hand-delivered to: Dr. 

John J. McNamee, U.S. Department of 

Commerce, Economic Development 

Administration, Room 1874, 1401 

Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, 

DC 20230; or 

National Technical Assistance 

proposals may be mailed to: Dr. John J. 

McNamee, U.S. Department of 

Commerce, Economic Development 

Administration, Room 7816, 1401 

Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, 

DC 20230, Phone: 202–482–3566; Fax 

202–501–4828.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For 

additional information or for a paper 

copy of the full Federal Funding 

Opportunity (FFO) announcement for 

this request for proposals, contact the 

appropriate EDA officer listed above. 

The text of the full FFO announcement 

is available through Grants.gov at http:/

/www.grants.gov. EDA’s Web site 

contains additional information on its 

program at 

http://www.eda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Electronic Access: The full FFO 

announcement for the FY 2005 

Economic Development Assistance 

Programs competition is available 

through Grants.gov at http://

www.grants.gov. 

Funding Availability: EDA may use 

funds appropriated under H.R. 4814 for 

the NTA Program. Funds in the amount 

of $1,122,000 are available for the NTA 

Program for FY 2005. These funds are 

available until expended. 

Statutory Authority: The authority for 

programs listed below is the Public 

Works and Economic Development Act 

of 1965 (PWEDA), as amended (Pub. L. 

89–136, 42 U.S.C. 3121, et seq.), and as 

most recently amended by the Economic 

Development Administration 

Reauthorization Act of 2004 (Public Law 

108–373). 

CFDA: 11.303 Economic 

Development—Technical Assistance. 

Eligibility: Eligible applicants for and 

eligible recipients of EDA financial 

assistance include Economic 

Development Districts; Indian tribes or 

consortia of Indian tribes; states; cities 

or other political subdivisions; 

institutions of higher education or 

consortia of institutions of higher 

education; public or private nonprofit 

organizations or associations acting in 

cooperation with officials of a political 

subdivision of a state. 

Cost Sharing Requirements:

Generally, the amount of the EDA grant 

may not exceed 50 percent of the cost 

of the project, unless the project meets 

the requirements in 41 U.S.C. 3144. 

Projects meeting the criteria may receive 

an additional amount that shall not 

exceed 30 percent, based on the relative 

needs of the area in which the project 

will be located. See 42 U.S.C. 3144. 

While cash contributions are 

encouraged, in-kind contributions, fairly 

evaluated by EDA, may include 

assumptions of debt and contributions 

of space, equipment, and services and 

may provide the non-Federal share of 

the project cost. 42 U.S.C. 3144. In-kind 

contributions must be eligible project 

costs and meet applicable Federal cost 

principles and uniform administrative 

requirements. Id. EDA may supplement 

the costs of a project up to and 

including 100 percent of such project 

costs where the applicant is able to 

demonstrate that the project meets the 

requirements of 42 U.S.C. 3144(c). 

Potential applicants should contact the 

appropriate EDA office to make this 

determination.

Intergovernmental Review:

Applications under this program are not 

subject to Executive Order 12372, 

‘‘Intergovernmental Review of Federal 

Programs.’’

Evaluation and Selection Procedures 

and Criteria 

A. Evaluation and Selection Criteria/

Procedures 

To apply for an award under this 

request, an eligible applicant must 

submit a proposal to EDA during the 

specified timeframe and in the manner 

provided in Section VII of the FFO. 

Proposals that do not meet all items 

required as set forth in the FFO will be 

considered non-responsive. Nonresponsive proposals will not be 

considered by the review panel. 

Proposals that meet all the requirements 

will be evaluated by a review panel 

comprised of at least three members, all 

of whom will be full-time Federal 

employees. The panel evaluates the 

proposals and rates and ranks them 

using the following criteria of 

approximate equal weight: 

1. Relative severity of the economic 

problem of the area; 13 CFR 304.2(a)(1). 

2. Quality and Degree of conformance 

of the scope of work; 13 CFR 304.2(a)(2). 

3. Merits of the activities—13 CFR 

304.2(a)(3) As further defined by the 

Investment Policy Guidelines provided 

below; 

4. Ability to carry out the proposed 

activities successfully—13 CFR 

304.2(a)(4). 

5. Cost to the Federal Government. 

B. Supplemental Evaluation Criteria: 

Investment Policy Guidelines 

The mission of EDA is to lead the 

Federal economic development agenda 

by promoting innovation and 

competitiveness, preparing American 

regions for growth and success in the 

worldwide economy. 

All potential EDA investments will be 

analyzed using the following five 

Investment Policy Guidelines, which 

constitute supplemental evaluation 

criteria of approximate equal weight and 

which further define the criteria 

provided at 13 CFR 304.2(a)(3). 

1. Be market-based and results driven.

An investment will capitalize on a 

region’s competitive strengths and will 

positively move a regional economic 

indicator measured on EDA’s Balanced 

Scorecard, such as: an increased number 

of higher-skill, higher-wage jobs; 

increased tax revenue; or increased 

private sector investment. 

2. Have strong organizational 

leadership. An investment will have 

strong leadership, relevant project 

management experience, and a 

significant commitment of human 

resources talent to ensure a project’s 

successful execution. 

3. Advance productivity, innovation, 

and entrepreneurship. An investment 

will embrace the principles of 

entrepreneurship, enhance regional 

clusters, and leverage and link 

technology innovators and local 

universities to the private sector to 

create the conditions for greater 

productivity, innovation, and job 

creation.

77718 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 248 / Tuesday, December 28, 2004 / Notices 

4. Look beyond the immediate 

economic horizon, anticipate economic 

changes, and diversify the local and 

regional economy. An investment will 

be part of an overarching, long term 

comprehensive economic development 

strategy that enhances a region’s success 

in achieving a rising standard of living 

by supporting existing industry clusters, 

developing emerging new clusters, or 

attracting new regional economic 

drivers. 

5. Demonstrate a high degree of 

commitment by exhibiting:

• High levels of local government or 

non-profit matching funds and private 

sector leverage. 

• Clear and unified leadership and 

support by local elected officials. 

• Strong cooperation between the 

business sector, relevant regional 

partners and local, State and Federal 

governments. 

Selection Factors: The Assistant 

Secretary of Commerce for Economic 

Development is the Selecting Official, 

and will in the normal course accept the 

ranking of the proposals recommended 

by the review panel. However, the 

Assistant Secretary may not make any 

selection, or he may substitute one of 

the lower rated proposals, if he 

determines that it better meets the 

overall objectives of PWEDA, as 

amended. 

The Department of Commerce PreAward Notification Requirements for 

Grants and Cooperative Agreements 

The Department of Commerce PreAward Notification Requirements for 

Grants and Cooperative Agreements 

contained in the Federal Register notice 

of October 1, 2001 (66 FR 49917), as 

amended by the Federal Register notice 

published on October 30, 2002 (67 FR 

66109), are applicable to this 

solicitation. 

Paperwork Reduction Act 

This document contains collection-ofinformation requirements subject to the 

Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). The 

use of Form ED–900A has been 

approved by OMB under the control 

number 0610–0094. Notwithstanding 

any other provision of law, no person is 

required to respond to, nor shall any 

person be subject to a penalty for failure 

to comply with, a collection of 

information subject to the requirements 

of the PRA unless that collection of 

information displays a currently valid 

OMB control number. 

Executive Order 12866

This notice has been determined to be 

not significant for purposes of Executive 

Order 12866. 

Executive Order 13132 (Federalism) 

It has been determined that this notice 

does not contain policies with 

federalism implications as that term is 

defined in Executive Order 13132. 

Administrative Procedure Act/

Regulatory Flexibility Act 

Prior notice and an opportunity for 

public comments are not required by the 

Administrative Procedure Act or any 

other law for rules concerning grants, 

benefits and contracts (5 U.S.C. 

553(a)(2)). Because notice and 

opportunity for comment are not 

required pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 or any 

other law, the analytical requirements of 

the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 u.S.C. 

601 et seq.) are inapplicable. Therefore, 

a regulatory flexibility analysis has not 

been prepared.

Dated: December 21, 2004. 

David A. Sampson, 

Assistant Secretary for Economic 

Development.

[FR Doc. 04–28376 Filed 12–27–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–24–M

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Economic Development Administration 

[991215339–4346–14] 

Solicitation of Proposals for the 

University Center (UC) Program

AGENCY: Economic Development 

Administration (EDA) Department of 

Commerce (DOC).

ACTION: Notice and request for 

proposals. 

SUMMARY: EDA is soliciting proposals 

for FY 2005 University Center funding 

in the areas served by its Philadelphia 

and Chicago regional offices. EDA’s 

mission is to lead the federal economic 

development agenda by promoting 

innovation and competitiveness, 

preparing American regions for growth 

and success in the worldwide economy. 

Institutions of higher education have 

many assets, such as faculty, staff, 

libraries, laboratories, and computer 

systems, which can help to address 

local economic problems and 

opportunities. With funding from EDA, 

institutions of higher education 

establish and operate University 

Centers, which provide technical 

assistance to public and private sector 

organizations with the goal of enhancing 

local economic development. EDA has 

traditionally renewed an award to a 

University Center on an annual basis as 

long as it maintained a satisfactory level 

of performance and Congress 

appropriated funds for the program. In 

FY 2004, EDA began a phased 

implementation of a three-year 

competitive grant cycle for all of its 

University Center projects, beginning 

with those in the Austin and Denver 

regional offices. With the competition 

announced in this notice for University 

Center projects in the areas served by 

EDA’s Philadelphia and Chicago 

regional offices, EDA is continuing to 

phase in competition for University 

Center funding.

DATES: Proposals must be received by 

the appropriate EDA regional office by 

April 22, 2005, at 4 p.m. (EDT).

ADDRESSES: From proponents in 

Connecticut, Delaware, District of 

Columbia, Maine, Maryland, 

Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New 

Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto 

Rico, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, 

Virgin Islands, and West Virginia: 

Economic Development Administration, 

Philadelphia Regional Office, Curtis 

Center, 601 Walnut Street, Suite 140 

South, Philadelphia, PA 19106. 

From proponents in Illinois, Indiana, 

Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and 

Wisconsin: Economic Development 

Administration, Chicago Regional 

Office, 111 North Canal Street, Suite 

844, Chicago, IL 60606. 

For a copy of the FFO announcement 

for this request for proposals, please see 

the Web site below listed under 

‘‘Electronic Access.’’

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For 

additional information or for a paper 

copy of the FFO announcement, contact 

the appropriate EDA regional office 

listed above. EDA’s Web site, http://

222.eda.gov contains additional 

information on EDA and its program.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Electronic Access: EDA is not 

currently able to accept electronic 

submission of proposal packages. 

However, the full funding opportunity 

announcement for the FY 2005 

Economic Development Assistance 

Programs competition is available 

through Grants.gov at http://

www.grants.gov. Additional information 

is available through EDA’s Web site, 

http://www.eda.gov.

Funding Availability: Funding 

appropriated under Public Law 108–447 

is available for technical assistance 

programs authorized by the Public 

Works and Economic Development Act 

of 1965, as amended (Public Law 89–

136, 42 U.S.C. 3121, et seq.), and as 

further amended by Public Law 105–393 

and 108–373, and for trade adjustment 

assistance authorized under title II, 

chapters 3 and 5 of the Trade Act of 

1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2341–2355;