Distressed Area Recompete Pilot Program – Phase 2 Commitments Guidance

Recompete Phase 2 Community Commitments Guidance

As part of the Phase 2 No�ce of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Recompete Pilot Program, 

applicants are required to submit Leters of Commitment to substan�ate investment, policy, or other 

concrete commitments. As a reminder, commitments should be new, �mely, targeted, measurable, and 

meaningful. Please see page 8 of the NOFO and EDA’s “Menu of Community Commitments” guide from 

Phase 1 for more guidance on best prac�ces.

The Lead Applicant for each Implementa�on Grant is encouraged to use the op�onal template to 

structure their Leters of Commitment in Phase 2. Applicants may submit, in a single PDF: (1) a single 

Commitments Index lis�ng summarizing all commitments, and (2) for each commitment, a signed Leter 

of Commitment.

Note: If the PDF is larger than 3 MB, please email the PDF to Recompete@eda.gov before the Phase 2 

applica�on deadline: 4:59 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 25, 2024.

Commitments Index

With each Implementa�on Grant Applica�on, the Lead Applicant is encouraged to include the op�onal

Commitments Index template that includes the following informa�on for the organiza�ons providing 

leters of commitment:

1. Name of the en�ty

2. En�ty type:

a. ins�tute of higher educa�on

b. workforce training provider (other than IHE)

c. public sector - city, county government, etc.

d. private sector

e. labor (e.g., unions, workers organiza�ons, etc.)

f. Tribal government

g. other Tribal organiza�on

h. economic development district

i. other economic development organiza�on

j. community-based organiza�on

k. other

3. Whether the en�ty making the commitment is:

a. the lead applicant

b. a project lead

c. a proposed subawardee

d. a suppor�ng partner of the Recompete effort (i.e., none of the above)

4. Whether the commitment applies to all component projects, or specific component projects (if 

specific, please list which ones);

5. Es�mated Value ($ or “Not Applicable”)

6. A one-sentence descrip�on of the commitment, using the following format – “[X organiza�on] 

commits to [Y co-investment/policy changes/ac�vi�es/etc.] that will achieve [Z outcomes] by [Q 

�me]”; and

7. The expected or actual date of delivering the commitment.
Distressed Area Recompete Pilot Program – Phase 2 Commitments Guidance

Leters of Commitment

Following the Commitments Index, Finalists are encouraged to include a signed Leter of Commitment 

for each commitment which includes the following:

1. Answers to these 5 ques�ons:

a. What are the specific ac�ons or ac�vi�es that will be taken as part of this specific 

commitment?

b. Who is responsible for ensuring the commitment is met? Please include their name (if 

staffed) and job �tle. 

c. What are the specific metrics of success for this commitment? Note not all commitments 

will have a quan�fiable number, but all should have a clearly ar�culated goal.

d. When will the commitment be completed? What immediate steps were taken during the 

Phase 2 applica�on period to begin to make progress towards this �meline?

e. Is this commitment a new ac�vity or a con�nua�on of a previous effort? If a con�nua�on, 

how does this work differ from the status quo?

2. The signature and contact informa�on of an individual authorized to make the commitment.

3. If applying as a coali�on: Applicants are encouraged to include evidence – for example, via language 

in each Leter of Commitment – that each coali�on member has read the applica�on and is 

commited to execu�ng its roles, responsibili�es, and/or commitments related to the Recompete 

effort.

EDA prefers specific leters of commitment from each Recompete partner over form leters of support. 

However, applicants may include form leters, in which case EDA encourages one general leter signed by 

and demonstra�ng general support from all relevant suppor�ng en��es that are not otherwise making a 

commitment. 

Finally, while all applicants should think about the support local, state, and na�onal partners can bring, 

some places have greater resources than others. When reviewing leters of commitment, EDA will take 

into considera�on the assets and resources of a community. Over the course of the Phase 2 applica�on 

period, EDA will provide addi�onal coaching and other Technical Assistance to help Recompete Finalists 

with their approach to securing commitments.