Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 35 / Thursday, February 22, 2007 / Notices 8019 

initial claims and appeal of denied 

claims. The regulation requires specific 

information to be disclosed at different 

stages of the claims process. It also 

requires claims denial notices to be 

provided within specific time frames 

and to include specific information. 

Agency: Employee Benefits Security 

Administration. 

Type of Review: Extension without 

change of currently approved collection. 

Title: PTE 80–83—Sale of Securities 

to Reduce Indebtedness of Party in 

Interest. 

OMB Number: 1210–0064. 

Type of Response: Recordkeeping. 

Affected Public: Private Sector: 

Business or other for-profits. 

Estimated Number of Respondents: 

25. 

Estimated Number of Annual 

Responses: 25. 

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 2. 

Estimated Total Annualized Capital/ 

Startup Costs: $0. 

Estimated Total Annual Costs 

(operating/maintaining systems or 

purchasing services): $0. 

Description: Section 408(a) of the 

Employee Retirement Income Security 

Act of 1974 authorizes the Secretary of 

Labor ‘‘to grant a conditional or 

unconditional exemption of any 

fiduciary or class of fiduciaries or 

transactions, from all or part of the 

restrictions imposed by section 406 and 

407(a).’’ In order to grant such 

exemptions under 408(a), however, the 

Secretary must determine that the 

exemption is administratively feasible, 

in the interest of the plan and its 

participants and beneficiaries, and 

protects the rights of participants and 

beneficiaries. To insure the exemption 

is not abused, that the rights of 

participants and beneficiaries are 

protected, and that compliance with 

exemption’s conditions is taking place, 

the Department often requires minimal 

information collection pertaining to the 

exempted transactions. 

Agency: Employee Benefits Security 

Administration. 

Type of Review: Extension without 

change of currently approved collection. 

Title: Prohibited Transaction Class 

Exemption 75–1 Security Transactions 

with Broker-Dealers, Reporting Dealers 

and Banks. 

OMB Number: 1210–0092. 

Type of Response: Recordkeeping. 

Affected Public: Private Sector: 

Business or other for-profits. 

Estimated Number of Respondents: 

9,752. 

Estimated Number of Annual 

Responses: 9,750. 

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 1,625. 

Estimated Total Annualized Capital/ 

Startup Costs: $0. 

Estimated Total Annual Costs 

(operating/maintaining systems or 

purchasing services): $0. 

Description: This class exemption 

from the prohibited transaction 

provisions of the Employee Retirement 

Income Security Act of 1974 permits 

certain banks, registered broker-dealers, 

and reporting dealers in government 

securities who are parties in interest to 

employee benefit plans to engage in 

specified kinds of securities transactions 

with the plans. 

Agency: Employee Benefits Security 

Administration. 

Type of Review: Extension without 

change of currently approved collection. 

Title: Petition for Finding Under 

Section 3(40) of ERISA. 

OMB Number: 1210–0119. 

Type of Response: Reporting. 

Affected Public: Private Sector: 

Business or other for-profits. 

Estimated Number of Respondents: 

45. 

Estimated Number of Annual 

Responses: 45. 

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 0. 

Estimated Total Annualized capital/ 

startup costs: $0. 

Estimated Total Annual Costs 

(operating/maintaining systems or 

purchasing services): $120,420. 

Description: The Department’s 

regulations at 29 CFR 2570.150 et seq. 

provide procedures for an entity against 

whom state jurisdiction has been asserts 

to petition the Secretary to make a 

finding under section 3(40)(A)(i) of 

ERISA that the entity is established or 

maintained under or pursuant to one or 

more collective bargaining agreements. 

The regulations establish procedures for 

initiating an administrative proceeding 

before the Office of Administrative Law 

Judges (ALJs) and establish that an ALJ’s 

decision shall constitute a finding under 

section 3(40)(A)(i) of ERISA. The 

regulations also provide for an appeal of 

an ALJ decision to the Secretary. 

Agency: Employee Benefits Security 

Administration. 

Type of Review: New collection 

(Request for a new OMB control 

number). 

Title: HDCI 2 Survey of Group Health 

Plans. 

OMB Number: 1210–0NEW. 

Type of Response: Reporting. 

Affected Public: Private Sector: 

Business or other for-profits. 

Estimated Number of Respondents: 

5,000. 

Estimated Number of Annual 

Responses: 5,000. 

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 417. 

Estimated Total Annualized capital/ 

startup costs: $0. 

Estimated Total Annual Costs 

(operating/maintaining systems or 

purchasing services): $0. 

Description: EBSA exercises delegated 

authority under ERISA to protect 

workers’ pensions and group health 

benefits and has issued regulations 

under Part 7, codified at 29 CFR 

2590.701–1 et seq., to effectuate these 

rights and provide guidance to affected 

group health plans pertaining to a 

number of laws applicable to group 

health plans, including Health 

Insurance Portability and 

Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), the 

Newborns’ and Mothers’ Health 

Protection Act of 1996, the Mental 

Health Parity Act of 1996, and the 

Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act 

of 1998. In 2001, EBSA conducted a 

program to increase compliance with 

these laws, the Health Disclosure and 

Clainms. 

Issues: Fiscal Year 2001 Compliance 

Project (HDCI). EBSA is now planning 

to conduct a follow-up program to 

assess the effectiveness of its 

compliance assistance efforts that will 

involve the examination of a number 

and variety of group health plans that is 

sufficient to constitute a representative 

sample of existing plans from which 

EBSA can extrapolate compliance rates 

for group health plans in general. 

However, in order to make its 

assessment meaningful, EBSA must first 

identify ERISA-covered single-employer 

group health plans in two groups: (1) 

Plans sponsored by firms with 3–99 

employees, and (2) plans sponsored by 

firms with 100 or more employees. 

EBSA intends to conduct a narrowscope, one-time telephone survey of 

business firms in order to identify a 

representative sample of large and small 

group health plans sponsored by 

private-sector employers. The agency 

intends to ask each firm a limited 

number of questions designed to 

determine whether the firm sponsors a 

group health plan covered by Title I of 

ERISA and how many employees are 

covered under the plan. 

Darrin A. King, 

Acting Departmental Clearance Officer. 

[FR Doc. E7–2895 Filed 2–21–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4510–29–P 

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 

Employment and Training 

Administration (ETA) 

Solicitation for Grant Application 

(SGA), Program Year 2006 

Announcement Type: New. 


rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES
8020 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 35 / Thursday, February 22, 2007 / Notices 

Notice of availability of funds and 

solicitation for grant applications for 

Workforce Innovation in Regional 

Economic Development (WIRED) 

Initiative—Third Generation. 

Funding Opportunity Number: SGA/ 

DFA PY 06–09 

Catalog of Federal Domestic 

Assistance Number: 17.268 

DATES: The closing date for receipt of 

applications is April 13, 2007. A 

Webinar for prospective applicants will 

be held for this grant competition in 

February 2007. The date and access 

information for the Webinar will be 

posted on the U.S. Department of 

Labor’s Employment and Training 

Administration (ETA) Web site at http:// 

www.doleta.gov. 

SUMMARY: In the 21st century global 

economy, talent development is a 

critical component in our nation’s 

economic competitiveness. To stay 

ahead of global competition, we must 

identify strategies to further integrate 

workforce development, economic 

development, and education at the 

regional level—where companies, 

workers, researchers, entrepreneurs and 

governments come together to create a 

competitive advantage. Launched in 

February 2006, the Workforce 

Innovation in Regional Economic 

Development (WIRED) Initiative focuses 

on the role of talent development in 

driving regional economic 

competitiveness, job growth and new 

opportunities for American workers. 

The goal of WIRED is to expand 

employment and advancement 

opportunities for workers and catalyze 

the creation of high-skill and high-wage 

opportunities in regional economies. 

The WIRED Initiative is currently 

providing regions across the country 

with grant funding and ongoing 

technical assistance from ETA and a 

cadre of experts in order to help them 

achieve these goals. 

To further support regions that are 

seeking to transform their economies 

and enhance their global 

competitiveness through talent 

development, ETA is announcing a new 

round of grants for the third generation 

of regions under the WIRED Initiative. 

The third generation is designed to fully 

engage local workforce investment 

boards in collaborative partnerships and 

transformational leadership within 

regional economies nationwide. The 

Department of Labor is making $65 

million available for this new round of 

grants. This round of the WIRED 

Initiative will take place over the course 

of three years and the Department 

anticipates that individual grant awards 

will total $5 million over this period. 

Only Governors may apply on behalf of 

regions within their states or across state 

lines. Each Governor may submit up to 

two applications. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This 

solicitation provides background 

information on the WIRED Initiative and 

critical elements required of projects 

funded under the solicitation. It also 

describes the application submission 

requirements, the process that eligible 

applicants must use to apply for funds 

covered by this solicitation, and how 

grantees will be selected. This 

announcement consists of eight parts: 

• Part I provides background 

information on the WIRED Initiative. 

• Part II describes the size and nature 

of the anticipated awards. 

• Part III describes the qualifications 

of an eligible applicant. 

• Part IV provides information on the 

application and submission process. 

• Part V explains the review process 

and rating criteria that will be used to 

evaluate applications. 

• Part VI provides award 

administration information. 

• Part VII contains ETA contact 

information. 

• Part VIII addresses Office of 

Management and Budget information 

collection requirements. 

I. Funding Opportunity Description 

A. Background 

The world is now witnessing one of 

the greatest economic transformations in 

history. Revolutions in technology and 

information have ushered in the era we 

know as globalization. This era is 

marked by tremendous advances in 

communications, travel, and trade, 

allowing individuals instant access to 

commerce from almost anywhere in the 

world. As a result, American businesses 

now compete not only with companies 

across the street, but also with 

companies around the globe. In the new 

global economy, talent development is a 

key factor in our nation’s economic 

competitiveness. 

Global competition is typically seen 

as a national challenge. In reality, 

regions are where companies, workers, 

researchers, entrepreneurs and 

governments come together to create a 

competitive advantage in the global 

marketplace. That advantage stems from 

the ability to transform new ideas and 

new knowledge into advanced, high 

quality products or services—in other 

words, to innovate. 

Those regions that are successful in 

creating a competitive advantage 

demonstrate the ability to network 

‘‘innovation assets’’—people, 

institutions, capital and infrastructure—

to generate growth and prosperity in the 

region’s economy. These regions—such 

as San Diego, California; the Research 

Triangle in North Carolina; and the 

Greater Austin region of Texas—are 

successful precisely because they have 

connected three key elements: 

workforce skills and lifelong learning 

strategies, investment and 

entrepreneurship strategies, and 

regional infrastructure and economic 

development strategies. 

While some regions of the country 

have thrived as a result of globalization, 

others have struggled to compete. For 

example, some regions are seeking to 

transform their economies because they 

have been dependent on a single 

industry that is not faring well in the 

global economy and others have been 

negatively affected by global trade. 

These regions are being forced to 

revitalize and reinvent themselves. 

B. WIRED Initiative 

To facilitate the growth of a regional 

economy requires attention to three 

critical elements. These elements were 

identified in a groundbreaking report, 

Innovate America, published by the 

Council on Competitiveness. The first 

element is infrastructure. This includes 

not only the traditional factors such as 

highways, bridges, and buildings, but 

also 21st century factors like access to 

broadband and wireless networks. The 

second is investment, including the 

availability of risk capital and the 

conditions that encourage the use of 

such capital. 

The third critical element is talent. A 

region may possess a strong 

infrastructure and the investment 

resources for success, but without the 

talented men and women to use those 

elements for economic growth, they are 

meaningless. Talent can also drive the 

other two elements because investment 

capital is smart money and it will follow 

the talent while infrastructure can be 

built to support a growing economy. 

The WIRED initiative was launched in 

recognition that this third key element, 

talent, drives prosperity. In other words, 

the bedrock of a nation’s 

competitiveness is a well educated and 

skilled workforce. 

Many regions have made considerable 

progress in incorporating talent and 

skills development into their larger 

economic strategies and integrating 

workforce development, economic 

development, and education efforts into 

a comprehensive system that is both 

flexible and responsive to the needs of 

businesses and workers. However, ETA 

recognizes the importance of supporting 

regions that need additional technical 


rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 35 / Thursday, February 22, 2007 / Notices 8021 

and financial assistance to achieve these 

goals. 

In response, ETA launched the 

WIRED Initiative in February 2006. The 

goal of the WIRED Initiative is to 

expand employment and advancement 

opportunities for American workers and 

catalyze the creation of high-skill and 

high-wage opportunities in the regional 

economies. ETA invested in 13 regional 

economies across the country—the first 

generation of WIRED regions—and is 

providing these regions with grant 

funding, technical assistance, access to 

a cadre of experts, and peer-to-peer 

learning opportunities. 

An additional 13 regions—the second 

generation of WIRED regions—were 

invited to participate in the WIRED 

Initiative as ‘‘virtual’’ sites. These 

regions originally received small 

planning grants and the opportunity to 

be a part of the WIRED learning 

network. In January 2007, ETA 

announced that these regions would be 

provided with additional funding to 

support the strategies identified to 

transform their regional economies. 

WIRED grantees have a unique 

opportunity to design and implement 

strategic approaches that will transform 

their regional economies and the 

systems that support those economies. 

In addition to financial support, ETA 

staff work closely with WIRED regions 

to provide technical assistance to 

support their development of innovative 

approaches to workforce development, 

economic development and education 

that go beyond traditional strategies in 

preparing workers to compete and 

succeed both within the United States 

and globally. 

A key focus for WIRED regions is to 

implement strategies that will result in 

their workforce investment system 

becoming a key component of their 

region’s economic development 

strategy. In this vision, elements of a 

transformed workforce system are: 

• The workforce investment system 

operates as a talent development 

system; it is no longer defined as a job 

training system. Its goal is an educated 

and prepared workforce—on a U.S. or 

global standard. 

• Workforce investment system 

formula funds are transformed, 

providing tuition assistance for postsecondary education for lifelong 

learning opportunities aligned with the 

region’s talent development strategy. 

• The workforce investment system 

no longer operates as an array of siloed 

programs and services. 

• The workforce investment boards 

are structured and operate on a regional 

basis and are composed of regional 

strategic partners who drive 

investments, aligning spending with a 

regional economic vision for talent 

development. 

• Economic and workforce 

development regions are aligned, and 

these regions adopt common and 

innovative policies across the 

workforce, education and economic 

development systems and structures 

that support talent development and the 

regional economy. 

• The workforce investment system is 

agile enough to serve the innovation 

economy, recognizing the reality that 2⁄3

of all new jobs are created by small 

businesses. 

• The workforce investment system 

actively collaborates with economic 

development, business, and education 

partners to gather and analyze a wide 

array of current and real time workforce 

and economic data in order to create 

new knowledge about regional 

economies and support strategic 

planning, routinely track economic 

conditions, measure outcomes, and 

benchmark economic competitiveness 

in the global marketplace. 

C. Regional Approach 

Economic regions do not typically 

correspond to geographic or political 

jurisdictions such as state, county, local 

workforce investment area, or municipal 

boundaries. Such boundaries do not 

always match labor market areas as 

evidenced by Philadelphia’s tri-state 

area or the greater Kansas City area, 

among others. The WIRED Initiative 

focuses on labor market areas that are 

comprised of multiple jurisdictions 

within a state or across state borders, or 

non-contiguous regional economies. 

Factors that contribute to the formation 

of a region include economic 

interdependence, such as common 

industries or sectors; assets, such as 

human and financial capital and 

infrastructure; and networks, such as 

leadership or investor networks. 

A key to success for the WIRED 

Initiative is the quality and strength of 

the regional partnership. The 

partnership should be a strong team 

composed of the organizations 

necessary to transform the regional 

economy, including workforce, civic, 

business, investor, education, 

government, entrepreneurial, and 

philanthropic organizations. To be able 

to drive economic transformation, the 

leaders involved in the partnership 

should be at the most senior level and 

have decision-making authority over 

their organization’s activities and 

resources. 

Governors are asked to submit an 

application on behalf of the regional 

partnership. State officials have a 

critical role to play in this effort by 

providing leadership and helping to 

facilitate an environment that is 

conducive to innovation. At the same 

time, regional leaders from a variety of 

fields must invest in this process and be 

dedicated to taking the necessary action 

steps. 

D. Technical Assistance and Learning 

Opportunities 

Regions in the WIRED Initiative have 

the opportunity to participate in a 

robust learning network focused on 

creating competitive advantages for 

regional economies in the global 

marketplace. ETA works closely with 

and provides technical assistance and 

support to regions throughout the 

implementation of the WIRED Initiative. 

Regions also have opportunities for 

peer-to-peer learning, most notably 

through WIRED Academies. The 

Academies are held three times per year 

and provide regions with opportunities 

to network and share their challenges 

and promising practices, as well as 

consult with experts from the 

workforce, education, and economic 

development communities; Federal 

departments and agencies; and the 

private sector. The regions also have 

access to an interactive Web site, the 

Collaborative Workspace, which 

facilitates the exchange of resources and 

information among the learning 

network. Additionally, ETA facilitates 

linkages between the WIRED regions 

and other key Federal agencies—such as 

the Departments of Commerce, 

Agriculture, Energy, Transportation, 

Interior, Defense and Education and the 

National Science Foundation—to 

further support WIRED regions in their 

efforts. 

ETA is compiling resource tool kits, 

such as a regional assessment tool and 

an asset mapping tool, and promising 

practices regarding workforce and 

economic development strategies. These 

resources will be disseminated widely 

to the workforce investment system and 

economic development community, so 

that all regions, even those not selected 

to participate, will benefit from the 

WIRED Initiative. 

II. Award Information 

A. Award Amount 

Each competitively selected project 

will be funded at approximately $5 

million over a period of three years—$1 

million in the first year, $2 million in 

the second year, and $2 million in the 

third year. However, this does not 

preclude funding decisions above or 

below this amount, based on the 

number and quality of submissions and 


rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES
8022 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 35 / Thursday, February 22, 2007 / Notices 

1For the purpose of this application, the 

definition of State Governor includes the Governor 

of Puerto Rico and the Mayor of the District of 

Columbia. 

the availability of funds. ETA 

anticipates awarding a total of $65 

million in third generation WIRED 

grants over a three-year period. 

B. Use of Funds 

The WIRED Initiative supports the 

transformation of regional economies 

through the development and 

implementation of broad, 

comprehensive, innovative approaches 

to workforce development, economic 

development, and education. WIRED 

grants will be funded with H–1B fees as 

authorized under Sec. 414(c) of the 

American Competitiveness and 

Workforce Improvement Act of 1998 

(Pub. L. 105–277, title IV), as amended 

by Pub. L. 108–447 ( codified at 29 

U.S.C. 2916a). These funds are focused 

on the development of the workforce, 

and may be used to provide job training 

and related activities for workers to 

assist them in gaining the skills and 

competencies needed to obtain or 

upgrade employment in industries or 

economic sectors projected to 

experience significant growth. Funds 

may also be used to enhance the 

provision of job training services and 

information. Activities related to 

training may include: supporting talent 

development related to 

entrepreneurship; supporting talent 

development related to small business 

development; and purchasing 

equipment to train job seekers and 

workers for high-growth occupations. 

Activities to enhance training and 

information may include: development 

and implementation of model activities 

to build core competencies and train 

workers; identifying and disseminating 

career and skill information; developing 

or purchasing regional data tools or 

systems to deepen understanding of the 

regional economic landscape and labor 

market; and integrated regional 

planning such as increasing the 

integration of community and technical 

college activities with activities of 

businesses and the public workforce 

investment system to meet the training 

needs of business. Applicants are 

expected to leverage additional 

resources to support the 

transformational strategies and activities 

that are beyond those allowed by these 

funds. 

C. Period of Performance 

The period of performance will be 36 

months from the date of execution of the 

grant documents. ETA may approve a 

request for a no-cost extension to 

grantees for an additional period of time 

based on the success of the project and 

other relevant factors. 

III. Eligibility Information 

A. Eligible Applicants 

State Governors 1 are the eligible 

applicants. The Governor must submit 

an application on behalf of a specific, 

defined multi-county region and a 

regional team of public and private 

partners. The application must clearly 

identify the state entity that will serve 

as the grant recipient, the state entity or 

local workforce investment board that 

will serve as the project’s fiscal agent, 

and the sub-recipient that will have 

responsibility for administering the 

project on the Governor’s behalf. The 

grant application form should contain 

the information of the state agency that 

is serving as the grant recipient. 

Given that one of the significant goals 

for WIRED is to fully align the public 

workforce investments with a regional 

economic growth agenda, regional 

partnership teams must include a senior 

representative of the workforce 

investment system within the region as 

the lead, or co-lead with at least one 

other regional partner, for the region’s 

WIRED grant activities. Examples of 

senior workforce system representatives 

include the chair or the executive 

director of a local workforce investment 

board or a senior representative of a 

regional workforce consortium. 

In addition to workforce investment 

system partners, other mandatory 

partners of a regional partnership team 

must include senior leaders from the 

following entities: 

• Education, including K–12, 

community colleges, and four year 

institutions within the region; 

• Regional business leadership; and 

• Economic development at the 

regional/local level. 

Joint applications for regions that 

cross state lines will be accepted. All 

participating Governors of multi-state 

regions must jointly submit and sign the 

transmittal letter for the application. 

Applications for multi-state regions 

must identify the state entity that will 

be the grant recipient, the state agency 

or local workforce investment board that 

will serve as the project’s fiscal agent, 

and the sub-recipient with 

responsibility for administering the 

project on the Governors’ behalf. 

Regional economies are typically 

defined as geographically contiguous 

areas. However, a proposal that makes 

an innovative case for a non-contiguous 

regional economy will be considered. 

Non-contiguous areas that only share 

similar circumstances will not be 

considered. 

Each Governor is permitted to submit 

up to two applications. Governors may 

not submit applications for any of the 26 

first and second generation regions that 

have already received a WIRED grant, as 

specified in Attachment A. However, a 

small overlap between the existing 

WIRED regions and an applying region 

will be permitted. 

Applicants are not allowed to receive 

assistance in developing their 

applications from organizations and 

individuals under contract or 

subcontract with ETA for activities 

related to the WIRED Initiative, 

including M.H. West & Co., Inc; The 

Council for Adult & Experiential 

Learning; The Council on 

Competitiveness; and New Economy 

Strategies. 

B. Leveraged Resources 

Cost sharing or matching is not 

required for eligibility. However, 

aligning resources and leveraging 

funding is a key component of success 

in the WIRED Initiative. Therefore, 

applicants are expected to leverage 

significant resources at the Federal, state 

and regional levels to advance their 

proposed transformational strategies. 

While the failure to offer leveraged 

resources as a part of an application will 

not preclude consideration of the 

application, it will place the applicant 

at a significant competitive 

disadvantage since one of the evaluation 

criteria, worth 10 points, evaluates the 

quality of the leveraged resources. 

Leveraged resources are cash or in-kind 

contributions devoted to advancing the 

strategies described in the applicant’s 

proposal. The identification of existing 

or planned initiatives within the region 

that can be aligned and integrated into 

the WIRED efforts to transform the 

regional economy are also considered to 

be leveraged resources. 

Leveraged resources could come from 

a variety of sources including: public 

sector (e.g., Federal, state or local 

governments); non-profit sector (e.g., 

community organizations, faith-based 

organizations, or education and training 

institutions); private sector (e.g., 

businesses or industry associations); 

investor community (e.g., angel 

networks); philanthropic community; 

and the economic development 

community. Leveraged resources should 

not be included on the Standard Form 

424-A budget form. These resources 

should be discussed in the technical 

proposal and the budget narrative. 


rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 35 / Thursday, February 22, 2007 / Notices 8023 

C. Other Eligibility Requirements 

1. Administrative Costs The 

administrative cost limit for each project 

will be negotiated at the time of award. 

2. Distribution Rights By accepting the 

grant, selected applicants agree to give 

ETA the right to use and distribute all 

materials developed with grant funds 

such as training models, curriculum and 

technical assistance products. Materials 

developed with grant resources are in 

the public domain; therefore, ETA has 

the right to use, reuse, modify, and 

distribute all grant-funded materials and 

products to any interested party, 

including broad distribution to the 

public workforce investment system via 

the Internet or other means. 

3. Legal Rules Pertaining to Inherently 

Religious Activities by Organizations 

that Receive Federal Financial 

Assistance The government is generally 

prohibited from providing direct 

Federal financial assistance for 

inherently religious activities. See 29 

CFR part 2, subpart D. Grants under this 

solicitation may not be used for 

religious instruction, worship, prayer, 

proselytizing, or other inherently 

religious activities. Neutral, nonreligious criteria that neither favor nor 

disfavor religion will be employed in 

the selection of grant recipients and 

must be employed by grantees in the 

selection of sub-recipients. 

4. Orientation Grant recipients and 

sub-recipients designated by Governors 

to either administer the project or serve 

as the fiscal agent will be required to 

participate in an orientation session 

covering grant management issues. 

IV. Application and Submission 

Information 

A. Address to Request Application 

Package 

This announcement includes all 

information and forms needed to apply 

for this funding opportunity. 

B. Content and Form of Application 

Submission 

The proposal must consist of two 

separate and distinct parts, Parts I and 

II. Applications that fail to adhere to the 

instructions in this section will be 

considered non-responsive and may not 

be given further consideration. 

Part I of the proposal is the Cost 

Proposal and must include the 

following three items: 

• The Standard Form (SF) 424, 

‘‘Application for Federal Assistance’’

(available at http:// 

www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/ 

sf424.pdf). The SF–424 must clearly 

identify the state applicant and be 

signed by an individual with authority 

to enter into a grant agreement. Upon 

confirmation of an award, the 

individual signing the SF 424 on behalf 

of the applicant shall be considered the 

representative of the applicant. 

• Dun and Bradstreet (DUNS) 

number. All applicants for Federal grant 

and funding opportunities are required 

to have a DUNS number. See OMB 

Notice of Final Policy Issuance, 68 FR 

38402 (June 27, 2003). Applicants must 

supply their DUNS number on the SF–

424. The DUNS number is a nine-digit 

identification number that uniquely 

identifies business entities. Obtaining a 

DUNS number is easy and there is no 

charge. To obtain a DUNS number, 

access this Web site: www.dnb.com/us/ 

or call 1–866–705–5711. 

• The SF–424–A Budget Information 

Form (available at http:// 

www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/ 

sf424a.pdf). In preparing the Budget 

Information Form, the applicant must 

provide a concise narrative explanation 

to support the request. The budget 

narrative should break down the budget 

and leveraged resources by the activities 

specified in the technical proposal. 

Applicants may choose to identify the 

organizations that would receive 

funding for these activities, but this is 

not required. The narrative should also 

discuss precisely how the 

administrative costs support the project 

goals. 

Please note that applicants that fail to 

provide a SF–424, SF–424–A and/or a 

budget narrative will be removed from 

consideration prior to the technical 

review process. Leveraged resources 

should not be listed on the SF–424 or 

SF–424–A Budget Information Form, 

but must be described in the budget 

narrative and in Part II of the proposal. 

The amount of Federal funding 

requested for the entire period of 

performance must be shown together on 

the SF–424 and SF–424–A Budget 

Information Form. Applicants are also 

encouraged, but not required, to submit 

OMB control number 1890–0014: 

Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity 

for Applicants, which can be found at 

http://www.doleta.gov/sga/forms.cfm. 

Part II of the application is the 

technical proposal. The technical 

proposal must demonstrate the 

applicant’s capabilities to plan and 

implement a demonstration project 

under the WIRED Initiative in 

accordance with the selection criteria. 

The Technical Proposal is limited to 25 

double-spaced, single-sided, 8.5-inchby-11-inch pages with 12-point font and 

1-inch margins. Any pages over the 25- 

page limit will not be reviewed. In 

addition, the applicant may provide 

resumes, a staffing pattern, statistical 

information, and related materials in 

attachments which may not exceed 10 

pages. Letters of commitment from 

partners may be submitted as 

attachments and will not count against 

the allowable maximum page totals. The 

applicant must reference any 

participating entities in the text of the 

Technical Proposal. 

Except for the discussion of leveraged 

resources in response to the evaluation 

criteria, no cost data or reference to 

prices should be included in the 

technical proposal. The following 

information is required as part of the 

technical proposal: 

• A table of contents listing the 

application sections. 

• A 2–3 page abstract summarizing 

the proposed project and applicant 

profile information including: (1) 

applicant name; (2) project title; (3) 

identification of region; (4) overview of 

strategies; (5) regional partnership 

members; and (6) requested funding 

level. 

• A timeline outlining project 

activities. 

Please note that the table of contents, 

the abstract, and the timeline are not 

included in the 25-page limit. 

Applications that do not meet these 

requirements will not be considered. 

Applications may be submitted 

electronically on www.grants.gov or in 

hard-copy via U.S. mail, professional 

delivery service, or hand delivery. 

These processes are described in further 

detail in Section IV(3). Applicants 

submitting proposals in hard-copy must 

submit an original signed application 

(including the SF 424) and one (1) 

‘‘copy-ready’’ version free of bindings, 

staples or protruding tabs to ease in the 

reproduction of the proposal by DOL. 

Applicants submitting proposals in 

hard-copy are also requested, though 

not required, to provide an electronic 

copy of the proposal on CD–ROM. 

C. Submission Dates and Times 

The closing date for receipt of 

electronic and mailed applications 

under this announcement is April 13, 

2007. Mailed applications must be 

received at the address below no later 

than 4:30 p.m. (Eastern Time) on that 

date, except as identified in the ‘‘Late 

Applications’’ paragraph below. 

Applications sent by e-mail, telegram, or 

facsimile (fax) will not be honored. No 

exceptions to the mailing and delivery 

requirements set forth in this notice will 

be granted. 

Applicants may apply online at 

http://www.grants.gov by the date and 

time specified above. Any application 

received after the deadline will not be 

accepted. Please note that it may take 


rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES
8024 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 35 / Thursday, February 22, 2007 / Notices 

several days to complete the ‘‘Get 

Started’’ step to register with Grants.gov. 

It is strongly recommended that those 

submitting applications through 

Grants.gov immediately initiate this step 

in order to avoid unexpected delays that 

could result in the disqualification of 

their application. If submitted 

electronically through http:// 

www.grants.gov, applicants should save 

the application document as a .doc or 

.pdf file. 

A Webinar for prospective applicants 

will be held for this grant competition 

in February 2007. The date and access 

information for the Webinar will be 

posted on ETA’s Web site at http:// 

www.doleta.gov. 

D. Addresses 

Mailed applications must be 

addressed to the U.S. Department of 

Labor, Employment and Training 

Administration, Division of Federal 

Assistance, Attention: Ms. Laura Patton 

Watson, Reference SGA/DFA PY 06–09, 

200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room 

N–4716, Washington, DC 20210. 

Applicants are advised that mail 

delivery in the Washington area may be 

delayed due to mail decontamination 

procedures. Hand-delivered proposals 

will be received at the above address. 

E. Late Applications 

Any application received after the 

exact date and time specified for receipt 

at the office designated in this notice 

will not be considered, unless it is 

received before awards are made, was 

properly addressed, and: (a) was sent by 

U.S. Postal Service registered or 

certified mail not later than the fifth 

calendar day before the date specified 

for receipt of applications (e.g., an 

application required to be received by 

the 20th of the month must be 

postmarked by the 15th of that month) 

or (b) was sent by overnight delivery 

service or submitted on Grants.gov to 

the addressee not later than one working 

day prior to the date specified for 

receipt of applications. It is highly 

recommended that online submissions 

be completed one working day prior to 

the date specified for receipt of 

applications to ensure that the applicant 

still has the option to submit by 

overnight delivery service in the event 

of any electronic submission problems. 

‘‘Postmarked’’ means a printed, stamped 

or otherwise placed impression 

(exclusive of a postage meter machine 

impression) that is readily identifiable, 

without further action, as having been 

supplied or affixed on the date of 

mailing by an employee of the U.S. 

Postal Service. Therefore, applicants 

should request the postal clerk to place 

a legible hand cancellation ‘‘bull’s eye’’

postmark on both the receipt and the 

package. Evidence of timely submission 

to an overnight delivery service must be 

demonstrated by equally reliable 

evidence created by an overnight 

delivery service indicating the time and 

place of receipt by the overnight 

delivery service. Failure to adhere to the 

above instructions will be a basis for a 

determination of non-responsiveness. 

F. Intergovernmental Review 

This funding opportunity is not 

subject to Executive Order (EO) 12372, 

‘‘Intergovernmental Review of Federal 

Programs.’’

G. Funding Restrictions 

Determinations of allowable costs will 

be made in accordance with the 

applicable Federal cost principles as 

indicated in Part VI(2). Disallowed costs 

are those charges to a grant that the 

grantor agency or its representative 

determines not to be allowed in 

accordance with the applicable Federal 

cost principles or other conditions 

contained in the grant. 

H. Other Submission Requirements 

Applications may be withdrawn by 

written notice or telegram (including 

Mailgram) received at any time before 

an award is made. Applications may be 

withdrawn in person by the applicant or 

by an authorized representative thereof, 

if the representative signs a receipt for 

the proposal. 

V. Application Review Information 

A. Rating Criteria 

This section identifies and describes 

the criteria that will be used to evaluate 

the proposals for the WIRED Initiative: 

(1) Identification of Region (15 points) 

(2) Regional Labor Market and 

Economic Landscape (10 points) 

(3) Strength of Partnership (30 points) 

(4) Strategies for Transformation (35 

points) 

(5) Leveraged Resources (10 points) 

1. Identification of Region (15 points) 

Applicants must define the region of 

focus in the proposal and demonstrate 

why the selection comprises a regional 

economy. Regional economies are 

typically defined as geographically 

contiguous areas. However, a proposal 

that makes an innovative case for a noncontiguous regional economy will be 

considered. Non-contiguous areas that 

only share similar circumstances will 

not be considered. 

This discussion should include, but is 

not limited to, how the following factors 

contribute to the formation of the 

region: 

• Economic interdependence (e.g., 

common industry or economic sectors). 

• Assets (e.g., human capital, 

financial capital, research and 

development institutions, educational 

institutions, and infrastructure). 

• Networks (e.g., leadership and 

investor networks). Applicants must 

also include a map of the region and a 

list of the counties and major cities in 

the region. 

Assessment of this criterion will be 

based on the quality of the information 

presented and the extent to which the 

defined area represents a regional 

economy, as demonstrated by the 

applicant. 

2. Regional Labor Market and Economic 

Landscape (10 points) 

Through narrative discussion and 

data displays, the applicant must 

provide an overview of the labor market 

and economic landscape of the region 

that describes the conditions that are 

driving the need for transformation in 

the region. Discussion should include, 

but is not limited to, the following: 

• Industries or economic sectors that 

are declining in the region, as well as 

those that are emerging or growing. 

• Characteristics related to the 

regional labor force, such as skill and 

education levels, income levels, and 

commuting patterns. 

• Indicators of impacted economic 

elements in the region, such as high 

unemployment rate, low average wages, 

and low levels of new job creation. 

• Worker dislocations stemming from 

mass layoffs and/or natural disasters. 

• The extent to which foreign trade 

has impacted the regional economy. 

• Indicators of innovation such as 

entrepreneurial activity and small 

business development, investment 

capital, and patent data. 

Assessment of this criterion will be 

based on the quality of the information 

presented and the extent of 

demonstrated need for regional 

economic transformation. 

3. Strength of Partnership (30 points) 

The applicant must demonstrate that 

the strategic partnership is a strong team 

of regional leaders. The partnership 

must be representative of the entire 

region and have the authority to drive 

a transformation strategy within the 

region. The partnership must include a 

senior representative of the workforce 

investment system within the region as 

the lead, or co-lead with at least one 

other regional partner, for the region’s 

WIRED grant activities. Examples of 

senior workforce system representatives 

include the chair or the executive 

director of a local workforce investment 


rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 35 / Thursday, February 22, 2007 / Notices 8025 

board or a senior representative of a 

regional workforce consortium. 

In addition to workforce investment 

system partners, other mandatory 

partners of a regional partnership team 

must include senior leaders from the 

following entities: 

• Education, including K–12, 

community colleges, and four year 

institutions within the region; 

• Regional business leadership; and 

• Economic development at the 

regional/local level. 

Additional recommended partners 

include: local elected officials; the 

philanthropic community; other 

education and training providers; 

business organizations such as 

chambers of commerce; seed and 

venture capital organizations or 

individuals; investor networks; 

entrepreneurs; and faith and 

community-based organizations. 

The discussion must: 

• Include a comprehensive list of the 

strategic partners that will be included 

in the WIRED Initiative and articulate 

each partner’s role. 

• Include the positions and/or titles 

of the individuals from each of the 

organizations that will be involved in 

the regional partnership. 

• Demonstrate that integration or a 

high level of coordination already exists 

between partners. If a high level of 

integration or coordination does not 

exist, then the applicant must 

demonstrate that it has the capacity to 

quickly establish these links and discuss 

strategies for strengthening the 

partnership. 

• Demonstrate that the administrative 

entity has the capacity to lead the 

regional partnership in implementing 

the WIRED Initiative. Discussion should 

include, but is not limited to, the 

administrative entity’s leadership and 

staff capacity and experience 

implementing initiatives of this caliber. 

Assessment of this criterion will be 

based on the comprehensiveness of the 

partnership, the degree to which each 

partner plays a committed role, and the 

capacity of the administrative entity to 

lead the regional partnership. 

4. Strategies for Transformation (35 

points) 

The applicant must describe the 

strategies that will be undertaken by the 

regional partnership and explain how 

these strategies will transform the 

regional economy and how they will 

support the region’s overall economic 

vision and goals. In addition, the 

applicant must describe how the 

strategies will transform the workforce 

development, economic development, 

and education systems in the region and 

result in more effective ways of 

collaboration and networking of assets 

and resources. Assessment of this 

criterion will be based on three areas: 1) 

strength of the strategies; 2) 

identification of targeted industries and 

economic sectors; and 3) discussion of 

goals. 

Strategies. Applicants must describe 

how the strategies will be 

operationalized and how they will 

create a lasting impact on the region and 

build on and transform existing 

initiatives. Applicants must explain 

how the strategies will be aligned and 

integrated in order to unite the region 

around an economic growth agenda. In 

addition, in describing the strategies 

that would be undertaken with the 

requested funds, the applicant must 

demonstrate how the strategies will: 

• Address the identified workforce 

and economic development challenges 

in the region. 

• Increase integration and synergy 

among the workforce development, 

economic development and education 

systems. 

• Increase opportunities for 

entrepreneurship and small business 

development and the capacity for 

innovation within both new and 

existing businesses. 

• Create connections between 

research and business development. 

• Build upon and align with current 

state and local strategic plans currently 

in place under the Workforce 

Investment Act, the Department of 

Commerce’s economic development 

programs, the Department of Housing 

and Urban Development’s community 

development programs, and other 

applicable federal programs. 

Targeted High Growth Industries and 

Economic Sectors. Applicant must 

describe the high growth industries and 

economic sectors that will be the focus 

of the strategies. Applicant must explain 

why these industries and economic 

sectors have been chosen, how the 

strategies will support the continued 

growth of these industries, and how 

supporting these industries will 

contribute to the growth of the regional 

economy. 

Goals. Applicants should demonstrate 

a results-oriented approach to managing 

and operating their grant. Therefore, 

applicants must describe the goals for 

each strategy and describe how WIRED 

grant resources will enable the 

partnership to accomplish its goals. 

Applicants should articulate clear 

outcomes for each strategy. 

5. Leveraged Resources (10 points) 

Applicants must clearly describe any 

funds and resources leveraged in 

support of the proposed strategies and 

demonstrate how these funds will be 

used to contribute to the goals of the 

WIRED Initiative. Leveraged resources 

are cash or in-kind contributions 

devoted to advancing the strategies 

described in the applicant’s proposal. 

Existing or planned efforts within the 

region that can be aligned and 

integrated into the WIRED Initiative to 

transform the regional economy may 

also be considered to be leveraged 

resources. Important elements of the 

explanation include: 

• Which partners have contributed 

leveraged resources and the amount of 

each contribution, including an 

itemized description of each cash or inkind contribution. 

• The quality of the leveraged 

resources, including the purpose of the 

funds and the extent to which each 

contribution will be used to further the 

goals of the initiative. 

• Evidence, such as letters of 

commitment, that key partners have 

expressed a clear commitment to 

provide the contribution. 

Leveraged resources could come from 

a variety of sources including: public 

sector (e.g., Federal, state or local 

governments); non-profit sector (e.g., 

community organizations, faith-based 

organizations, or education and training 

institutions); private sector (e.g., 

businesses or industry associations); 

investor community (e.g., angel 

networks); philanthropic community; 

and the economic development 

community. 

Assessment of this criterion will be 

based on the extent to which the 

application fully describes the amount, 

commitment, nature, and quality of 

leveraged resources. Applications will 

be scored based on the degree to which 

the source and use of funds is clearly 

explained and the extent to which 

leveraged resources are fully integrated 

into the initiative to support grant 

outcomes. 

B. Review and Selection Process 

Applications for the WIRED Initiative 

will be accepted commencing on the 

date of publication of this 

announcement until the closing date 

and time. A technical review panel will 

carefully evaluate applications against 

the rating criteria described in Part V(1), 

which are based on the policy goals, 

priorities, and emphases set forth in this 

SGA. Up to 100 points may be awarded 

to an application, based on the Rating 

Criteria described in Part V(1). The 

panel results are advisory in nature and 

not binding on the Grant Officer. The 

Grant Officer may consider any 


rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES
8026 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 35 / Thursday, February 22, 2007 / Notices 

information that comes to his or her 

attention. 

The ranked scores will serve as the 

primary basis for selection of 

applications for funding, in conjunction 

with other factors such as urban, rural, 

and geographic balance; uniqueness and 

innovative aspects of the proposal; the 

availability of funds; and proposals that 

are most advantageous to the 

government. The government reserves 

the right to award grants with or 

without discussions or negotiations 

with applicants. Should a grant be 

awarded without negotiations, the 

award will be based on the applicant’s 

signature on the SF–424, which 

constitutes a binding offer. 

VI. Award Administrative Information 

A. Award Notices 

All award notifications will be posted 

on the ETA Web site at http:// 

www.doleta.gov. 

B. Administrative and National Policy 

Requirements—Administrative Program 

Requirements 

All grantees will be subject to all 

applicable Federal laws (including 

provisions in appropriations law), 

regulations, and the applicable Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) 

Circulars. The applicants selected under 

the SGA will be subject to the following 

administrative standards and 

provisions, if applicable: 

• Workforce Investment Act—20 

Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 

667.200 (General Fiscal and 

Administrative Rules). 

• Non-Profit Organizations—2 CFR 

part 230 (Cost Principles, formerly 

Office of Management and Budget 

(OMB) Circular A–122) and 29 CFR part 

95 (Administrative Requirements). 

• Educational Institutions—2 CFR 

part 220 (Cost Principles, formerly OMB 

Circular A–21) and 29 CFR part 95 

(Administrative Requirements). 

• State and Local Governments—2 

CFR par 225 (Cost Principles, formerly 

OMB circular A–87) and 29 CFR part 97 

(Administrative Requirements). 

• All entities must comply with 29 

CFR parts 93 and 98, and where 

applicable, 29 CFR parts 96 and 99. 

• In accordance with Section 18 of 

the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, 

Public Law 104–65 (2 U.S.C. 1611), nonprofit entities incorporated under 

Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(4) 

that engage in lobbying activities will 

not be eligible for the receipt of Federal 

funds and grants. 

• 29 CFR part 2, subpart D—Equal 

Treatment in Department of Labor 

Programs for Religious Organizations; 

Protection of Religious Liberty of 

Department of Labor Social Service 

Providers and Beneficiaries. 

• 29 CFR part 30—Equal Employment 

Opportunity in Apprenticeship and 

Training. 

• 29 CFR part 31—Nondiscrimination 

in Federally Assisted Programs of the 

Department of Labor—Effectuation of 

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. 

• 29 CFR part 32—Nondiscrimination 

on the Basis of Handicap in Programs 

and Activities Receiving or Benefiting 

from Federal Financial Assistance. 

• 29 CFR part 33—Enforcement of 

Nondiscrimination on the Basis of 

Handicap in Programs or Activities 

Conducted by the Department of Labor. 

• 29 CFR part 35—Nondiscrimination 

on the Basis of Age in Programs or 

Activities Receiving Federal Financial 

Assistance from the Department of 

Labor. 

• 29 CFR part 36—Nondiscrimination 

on the Basis of Sex in Education 

Programs or Activities Receiving 

Federal Financial Assistance. 

• 29 CFR part 37—Implementation of 

the Nondiscrimination and Equal 

Opportunity Provisions of the 

Workforce Investment Act of 1998 

(WIA). 

(Note: Except as specifically provided in 

this notice, ETA’s acceptance of a proposal 

and award of Federal funds to sponsor any 

program(s) does not provide a waiver of any 

grant requirements and/or procedures. For 

example, the OMB Circulars require that an 

entity’s procurement procedures must ensure 

that all procurement transactions are 

conducted, as much as practical, to provide 

open and free competition. If a proposal 

identifies a specific entity to provide 

services, then ETA’s award does not provide 

the justification or basis to sole-source the 

procurement, i.e., avoid competition, unless 

the activity is regarded as the primary work 

of an official partner to the application.) 

C. Reporting and Evaluation 

Requirements 

1. Evaluation 

ETA has undertaken a comprehensive 

evaluation of the WIRED Initiative. The 

evaluation is intended to: provide a 

thorough understanding of the 

implementation of WIRED strategies in 

the regions; learn about changes that 

occur in economic indicators such as 

job growth, average wage, tax base, 

reliance on public sector subsidies, and 

the unemployment rate; and ascertain to 

what extent these changes and other 

indicators of regional progress were 

influenced by WIRED activities. ETA 

will require that selected applicants 

participate in the evaluation of WIRED. 

Therefore, in applying for these grants, 

applicants agree to cooperate in this 

evaluation. 

2. Performance Requirements 

WIRED grantees are required to report 

outcomes for the Common Performance 

Measures, which measure entry into 

employment, retention in employment, 

and earnings. Additional information on 

ETA’s Common Measures policy can be 

found in Training Employment 

Guidance Letter No. 17–05, Common 

Measures Policy for the Employment 

and Training Administration’s (ETA) 

Performance Accountability System and 

Related Performance Issues (February 

17, 2006), located on the ETA Web site 

at http://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/. 

3. Quarterly Financial Reports 

A Quarterly Financial Status Report 

(SF 269) is required until such time as 

all funds have been expended or the 

grant period has expired. Quarterly 

financial reports are due 30 days after 

the end of each calendar year quarter. 

Grantees must use ETA’s Online 

Electronic Reporting System. 

4. Quarterly Progress Reports 

The grantee must submit a quarterly 

progress report to the designated 

Federal Project Officer within 30 days 

after the end of each calendar year 

quarter that provides a detailed account 

of activities undertaken during that 

quarter. The Department may require 

additional data elements to be collected 

and reported on either a regular basis or 

special request basis. Grantees must 

agree to meet the Department’s reporting 

requirements. 

The quarterly progress report must be 

in narrative form and must include: 

(1) In-depth information on 

accomplishments including success 

stories, upcoming grant activities, and 

promising approaches and processes. 

(2) Progress toward performance 

outcomes included in the grantee’s 

statement of work, including updates on 

product, curricula, and training 

development. 

(3) Challenges, barriers, or concerns 

regarding progress. 

(4) Lessons learned in the areas of 

administration and management, 

implementation, partnership 

relationships, and other related areas. 

Final Report. A draft final report must 

be submitted no later than 60 days prior 

to the expiration date of the grant. This 

report must summarize activities, 

employment outcomes, and related 

results, and should thoroughly 

document the solution approach. After 

responding to ETA’s questions and 


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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 35 / Thursday, February 22, 2007 / Notices 8027 

comments on the draft report, three 

copies of the final report must be 

submitted no later than the grant 

expiration date. Grantees must agree to 

use a designated format specified by the 

Department to prepare the final report. 

VII. Agency Contacts 

Any technical questions regarding 

this SGA should be faxed to Ms. Laura 

Patton Watson, Chief of the Division of 

Federal Assistance, Fax number (202) 

693–2705 (not a toll-free number). You 

must specifically address your fax to the 

attention of Ms. Laura Patton Watson 

and should include the following 

information: SGA/DFA PY 06–09, a 

contact name, fax, and telephone 

number. Answers to questions will be 

posted on ETA’s Web site at http:// 

www.doleta.gov during the SGA period. 

For further information contact Ms. 

Laura Patton Watson, Chief of the 

Division of Federal Assistance, at (202) 

693–3961 (not a toll-free number). This 

announcement is also being made 

available on http://www.grants.gov. 

VIII. Other Information 

OMB Information Collection No. 

1205–0458. Expires September 30, 2009. 

According to the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are 

required to respond to a collection of 

information unless such collection 

displays a valid OMB control number. 

Public reporting burden for this 

collection of information is estimated to 

average 20 hours per response, 

including time for reviewing 

instructions, searching existing data 

sources, gathering and maintaining the 

data needed, and completing and 

reviewing the collection of information. 

Send comments regarding the burden 

estimated or any other aspect of this 

collection of information, including 

suggestions for reducing this burden, to 

the U.S. Department of Labor, the OMB 

Desk Officer for ETA, Office of 

Management and Budget, Room 10235, 

Washington, DC 20503. PLEASE DO 

NOT RETURN YOUR COMPLETED 

APPLICATION TO THE OMB. SEND IT 

TO THE ADDRESS PROVIDED BY THE 

SPONSORING AGENCY. 

This information is being collected for 

the purpose of awarding a grant. The 

information collected through this 

‘‘Solicitation for Grant Applications’’

will be used by the Department of Labor 

to ensure that grants are awarded to the 

applicant best suited to perform the 

functions of the grant. Submission of 

this information is required in order for 

the applicant to be considered for award 

of this grant. Unless otherwise 

specifically noted in this 

announcement, information submitted 

in the respondent’s application is not 

considered to be confidential. 

Signed at Washington, DC, this twelfth day 

of February, 2007. 

Laura Patton Watson, 

Grant Officer, Employment and Training 

Administration. 

Attachment A: List of Regions Currently 

Receiving WIRED Grants 

First Generation WIRED Regions 

• Coastal Maine 

• Northeast Pennsylvania 

• Upstate New York 

• Piedmont Triad North Carolina 

• Mid-Michigan 

• West Michigan 

• Florida’s Great Northwest 

• Western Alabama and Eastern 

Mississippi 

• North Central Indiana 

• Greater Kansas City 

• Denver Metro Region 

• Central and Eastern Montana 

• California Innovation Corridor 

Second Generation WIRED Regions 

• Central-Eastern Puerto Rico 

• Southwestern Connecticut 

• Northern New Jersey 

• Delaware Valley 

• Appalachian Ohio 

• Southeastern Michigan 

• Tennessee Valley 

• Southwestern Indiana 

• Southeastern Wisconsin 

• Arkansas Delta 

• Rio Grande Valley 

• Wasatch Range 

• Northern California 

[FR Doc. E7–2996 Filed 2–21–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4510–FN–P 

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND 

SPACE ADMINISTRATION 

[Notice (07–015)] 

Government-Owned Inventions, 

Available for Licensing 

AGENCY: National Aeronautics and 

Space Administration. 

ACTION: Notice of availability of 

inventions for licensing. 

SUMMARY: The inventions listed below 

assigned to the National Aeronautics 

and Space Administration, have been 

filed in the United States Patent and 

Trademark Office, and are available for 

licensing. 

DATES: February 22, 2007. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Linda B. Blackburn, Patent Counsel, 

Langley Research Center, Mail Code 

141, Hampton, VA 23681–2199; 

telephone (757) 864–9260; fax (757) 

864–9190. 

NASA Case No. LAR–17165–1: Resin 

Infusion of Layered Metal/Composite 

Hybrid and Resulting Metal/Composite 

Hybrid Laminate; 

NASA Case No. LAR–17235–1: 

Interferometric Rayleigh Scattering 

Measurement System; 

NASA Case No. LAR–17168–1: 

Cylindrical Piezoelectric Fiber 

Composite Actuator Assemblies; 

NASA Case No. LAR–17346–1: 

Flexible Thin Metal Film Thermal 

Sensing System; 

NASA Case No. LAR–17307–1: Open 

Loop Heat Pipe Radiator Having a FreePiston for Wiping Condensed Working 

Fluid; 

NASA Case No. LAR–17082–1: 

Composite Material Having a 

Thermally-Reactive-Endcapped Imide 

Oligomer and Carbon Nanofillers; 

NASA Case No. LAR–16950–1: 

Ferroelectric Light Control Device; 

NASA Case No. LAR–17257–1: 

Systems and Methods for Detecting a 

Failure Event in a Field Programmable 

Gate Array; 

NASA Case No. LAR–16858–1: 

Photogrammetric System and Method 

Used in the Characterization of a 

Structure; 

NASA Case No. LAR–17268–1: 

Reprogrammable Field Programmable 

Gate Array With Integrated System for 

Mitigating Effects of Single Event 

Upsets; 

NASA Case No. LAR–16886–1: 

Method and System for Sensing and 

Identifying Foreign Particles in a 

Gaseous Environment; 

NASA Case No. LAR–16083–1: 

Physiological Using Interface for a 

Multi-User Virtual Environment; 

NASA Case No. LAR–16409–1: Wet 

Active Chevron Nozzle for Controllable 

Jet Noise Reduction. 

Dated: February 7, 2007. 

Keith T. Sefton, 

Deputy General Counsel, Administration and 

Management. 

[FR Doc. E7–2907 Filed 2–21–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 7510–13–P 

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND 

SPACE ADMINISTRATION 

[Notice (07–016)] 

Government-Owned Inventions, 

Available for Licensing 

AGENCY: National Aeronautics and 

Space Administration. 

ACTION: Notice of availability of 

inventions for licensing. 

SUMMARY: The inventions listed below 

assigned to the National Aeronautics 

and Space Administration, have been 

filed in the United States Patent and 


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