Page 1 of 45

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

• Federal Agency Name: Economic Development Administration (EDA or the Agency), 

U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC).

• Federal Funding Opportunity Title: FY 2023 Regional Technology and Innovation Hub Program 

Phase 2 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) (Tech Hubs Phase 2 NOFO).

• Announcement Type and Date: Tech Hubs Phase 2 NOFO publishing EDA’s application submission 

requirements and application review procedures under the Regional Technology and Innovation 

Hub Program, as authorized by section 28 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 

1980, as amended (15 U.S.C. § 3722a). Effective date: October 23, 2023.

• Funding Opportunity Number: EDA-TECHHUBSPHASE2-2023

• Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 11.039, Regional Technology and 

Innovation Hub

• Dates: This is Phase 2 of a two-phase competition. The deadline for Phase 2 applications is 4:59 p.m. 

Eastern Time on February 29, 2024. Applications received after this deadline will not be reviewed or 

considered. Only applicants that EDA Designated as Tech Hubs in Phase 1 will be permitted to 

apply to Phase 2.

EDA may amend, cancel, or withdraw the Tech Hubs Phase 2 NOFO at any time. All changes will be 

communicated via Grants.gov.

• Eligible Applicants: Pursuant to section 28(c) of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 

1980 (15 U.S.C. § 3722a(c)), consortia that EDA Designated as Tech Hubs under the Phase 1 NOFO

are eligible applicants under this NOFO. An eligible consortium must include one or more of each of 

the following: (i) institutions of higher education, which may include Historically Black Colleges and 

Universities, Tribal Colleges or Universities, and Minority-Serving Institutions; (ii) State, territorial, 

local, or Tribal governments or other political subdivisions of a State, or a consortium thereof; (iii) 

industry groups or firms in relevant technology, innovation or manufacturing sectors; (iv) economic 

development organizations or similar entities focused primarily on improving science, technology, 

innovation, entrepreneurship, or access to capital; and (v) labor organizations or workforce training 

organizations. See section A.1.b.iii. for additional requirements related to consortia. See section C.1. 

of this NOFO for a list of other entities that may also be part of a consortium. 

Under this NOFO, EDA is not authorized to provide grants or cooperative agreements to individuals. 

Requests from individuals will not be considered for funding.

• Funding Opportunity Description: Subject to the availability of funds, awards made under this 

NOFO will seek to strengthen U.S. economic and national security through place-based investments 

in regions with the assets, resources, capacity, and potential to become globally competitive Tech 

Hubs, within approximately ten years, in the technologies and industries of the future, and for those 

industries, companies, and the good jobs they create to start, grow, and remain in the United States. 

Through this NOFO, EDA will award approximately $50-75 million in implementation grants to each 

of approximately 5-10 Designated Tech Hubs.
Page 2 of 45

FULL ANNOUNCEMENT TEXT

FY 2023 EDA Regional Technology and Innovation Hub Phase 2

Notice of Funding Opportunity

A. Program Description................................................................................................................................4

1. Competition Structure and Program Information................................................................................ 4

a. Competition Structure .........................................................................................................................4

b. General Requirements .........................................................................................................................5

c. Implementation Grants ......................................................................................................................11

2. Statutory Authorities for EDA’s Tech Hubs Program .........................................................................20

B. Federal Award Information ...................................................................................................................20

1. What Funding Is Available Under this Announcement? ....................................................................20

2. What Type of Funding Instrument Will Be Used to Make Awards? How Long Will a Project’s Period 

of Performance Be?...........................................................................................................................20

C. Eligibility Information ............................................................................................................................21

1. Eligible Applicants...............................................................................................................................21

2. Cost Sharing or Matching ...................................................................................................................22

D. Application and Submission Information..............................................................................................23

1. Obtaining an Application and Electronic Submission through EDGE.................................................23

2. Content and Form of Application Submission....................................................................................24

3. Submission Dates and Times..............................................................................................................31

4. Intergovernmental Review.................................................................................................................31

5. Funding Restrictions...........................................................................................................................32

6. Other Submission Requirements........................................................................................................32

7. EDGE Systems Issues..........................................................................................................................32

E. Application Review Information............................................................................................................32

1. Criteria, Review, and Selection Process .............................................................................................33

2. Selection Official’s Decision................................................................................................................39

3. Review of Responsibility/Qualification Information in SAM.gov.......................................................40

F. Federal Award Administration Information..........................................................................................40

1. Federal Award Notice.........................................................................................................................40

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements ............................................................................40

3. Reporting ............................................................................................................................................41
Page 3 of 45

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact ........................................................................................................42

H. Other Information .................................................................................................................................42

1. Right to Use Information ....................................................................................................................42

2. Freedom of Information Act Disclosure .............................................................................................42

3. Notice of Government-Wide Procurement Restriction .....................................................................42

4. Past Performance and Non-Compliance with Award Provisions.......................................................43

5. Certifications Required by Annual Appropriations Acts for Corporations and for Awards over $5 

Million................................................................................................................................................43

6. EDA’s Non-Relocation Policy ..............................................................................................................44

7. NOFO Changes Communicated on Grants.gov ..................................................................................44

8. Disclosure of Information...................................................................................................................44

9. Audit Requirements............................................................................................................................44

10. Fraud Awareness Training ..................................................................................................................44

11. Office of Inspector General Rights and Responsibilities....................................................................45
Section A: Program Description

Page 4 of 45

A. Program Description 

1. Competition Structure and Program Information

a. Competition Structure

Through the Regional Technology and Innovation Hub Program (Tech Hubs Program), and in line with 15 

U.S.C. § 3722a(b)(1), EDA seeks to strengthen U.S. economic and national security through place-based 

investments in regions with the assets, resources, capacity, and potential to become globally 

competitive, within approximately ten years, in the technologies and industries of the future. These 

investments aim to enable those industries, companies, and the good jobs they create to start, grow, 

and remain in the U. S. The Tech Hubs Program will support the growth and modernization of U.S. 

manufacturing and improve commercialization and domestic production of innovative research. 

The Tech Hubs Program aims to identify and invest in regions where an EDA investment can catalyze 

self-sustaining growth that centers on a selected core technology area and that leads to global 

competitiveness over the next decade. To achieve this goal and fulfill statutory direction, EDA has and 

will continue to run this two-phase competition with a focus on geographic diversity and equity.

Through the Phase 1 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), EDA funded Strategy Development Grants 

and Designated certain regions as Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs (Tech Hubs). Under this

Phase 2 NOFO, consortia that EDA Designated as Tech Hubs will compete for funding for 

Implementation projects to help propel the Hub’s chosen geography into self-sustaining global 

competitiveness. 

Implementation Grants can fund a wide range of non-construction and construction activities that aim 

to increase regional capacity to demonstrate, deploy, and commercialize innovative technology 

products and services across four broad categories: workforce development, business and entrepreneur 

development, technology maturation, and infrastructure.1 This large suite of eligible activities is 

designed to meet the individual needs of a particular region and what it specifically needs to catalyze it 

becoming a sustainable, globally competitive Tech Hub in its consortium’s selected core technology 

area. Implementation Grant activities should not only complement but be aligned with other relevant

Federal investments, including those in relevant innovation, technologies, industries, and places;

2

applicants must make a strong case for complementarity of other relevant Federal investments in or 

connected to their Hub, demonstrate that Implementation Grant-funded activities are most aligned with 

the purpose of the Tech Hubs program, indicate the but-for impacts of Tech Hubs funding, and ensure 

there is no overlap in funding for specific activities.

3

Within each Tech Hub selected for Implementation Grants, EDA expects to fund approximately 3-8 

tightly aligned projects that aim to collectively address the region’s key inhibitors of global 

1 See 15 U.S.C. § 3722a(f)(2) and section A.1.c.i.(3) and (4) below for a more comprehensive list of allowable 

activities within these four broad categories.

2 E.g., the Regional Innovation Engines, Industry–University Cooperative Research Centers (IUCRC), and 

Engineering Research Centers (ERC) programs of the National Science Foundation (NSF), funding opportunities 

administered by CHIPS for America at the National Institutes of Standards and Technology (NIST), the Regional 

Clean Hydrogen Hub (H2Hubs) program of the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) within the 

Department of Energy (DOE), and Inflation Reduction Act clean energy manufacturing and deployment tax credits.

3 Federal funding can only be used as match where explicitly authorized by statute. See 2 C.F.R. § 200.306(b)(5).
Section A: Program Description

Page 5 of 45

competitiveness.

4 EDA’s aggregate investment into each selected Hub’s projects will likely total 

approximately $50-75 million.

b. General Requirements

As was expected in Phase 1 of the Tech Hubs competition, there are several general requirements that 

EDA similarly expects will be addressed in the application materials for Phase 2 (see sections A.1.c. and 

D.2. below).

i. What constitutes a region for purposes of the Tech Hubs Competition?

EDA defines a Hub’s geography as a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) or a similar area (including 

Micropolitan Statistical Areas (μSAs) or tightly interconnected combinations of MSAs and/or μSAs)5 with 

a concentration of assets, capital, R&D, labor market, and infrastructure strongly relevant to the Hub’s 

selected core technology area, the Hub’s identified market opportunity, and its potential to become 

globally competitive in that area within a decade. Applicants identified their chosen geography in Phase 

1 and must retain it in their Phase 2 application. Applicants should consider their chosen geography as 

the nexus of the Tech Hub but may include partnerships outside that geography as part of the hub. 

Consortia may include assets or members outside the chosen geography—e.g., in nonmetro rural areas 

or partnerships with geographically distant but tightly mission-aligned organizations—that support the 

consortia’s strategy and benefit the Hub. A substantial majority of the benefits (e.g., job creation and 

retention, worker placements, capital formation and deployment, firm creation and growth) expected to 

result from EDA funding should accrue within the Tech Hub. 

ii. What technologies are considered key focus areas?

Consortia that EDA Designated as Tech Hubs in Phase 1 identified respective selected core technology 

areas within or at the intersection of one or more of the key technology focus areas (KTFAs) listed 

below. 

Key technology focus areas under this NOFO are:

(1) Artificial intelligence, machine learning, autonomy, and related advances;

(2) High performance computing, semiconductors, and advanced computer hardware and software;

(3) Quantum information science and technology;

(4) Robotics, automation, and advanced manufacturing;

(5) Natural and anthropogenic disaster prevention or mitigation;

(6) Advanced communications technology and immersive technology;

(7) Biotechnology, medical technology, genomics, and synthetic biology;

(8) Data storage, data management, distributed ledger technologies, and cybersecurity, including 

biometrics;

(9) Advanced energy and industrial efficiency technologies, such as batteries and advanced nuclear 

technologies, including but not limited to for the purposes of electric generation (consistent 

with 42 U.S.C. § 1874); and

4 The statutory authority envisions possible future investments for consortia that receive Implementation funding. 

This may be possible in the future depending on future-year Congressional appropriations. 

5 See https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/OMB-Bulletin-23-01.pdf

https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-maps/2020/demo/state-maps.html for current list of MSAs and 

μSAs. 
Section A: Program Description

Page 6 of 45

(10) Advanced materials science, including composites 2D materials, other next-generation 

materials, and related manufacturing technologies.

This list is drawn from 42 U.S.C. § 19107, as directed by the Tech Hubs statute.

6 Consortia that EDA 

Designated as Tech Hubs in Phase 1 must retain the respective selected core technology areas that were 

identified in their Phase 1 applications, which map to the above list. Phase 2 applicants may refine or 

elaborate on their approach to their respective selected core technology area and should include in their 

application materials their rationale and supporting evidence or analysis for their approach. Consortia 

that EDA Designated as Tech Hubs in Phase 1 should represent chosen geographies that have the 

potential to become, within a reasonable time, self-sustaining and globally competitive in the industries 

that are related to their respective selected core technology areas and that are critical to economic and 

national security. 

Note that the Tech Hubs program is not intended to fund basic and fundamental research nor activities 

intended to increase capacity to conduct such research; the National Science Foundation, the 

Department of Energy, and several other agencies fund such activities. Instead, the Tech Hubs program 

is intended to advance the capacities of places to commercialize, deploy, and domestically manufacture

and deliver these technologies. All projects funded under both phases of the Tech Hubs Program should 

increase the speed and effectiveness with which industry and other organizations transition 

technologies upward from Technology Readiness Levels six through nine.

7

iii. What entities are eligible to apply for Implementation Grants?

Only consortia that EDA Designated as Tech Hubs in Phase 1 of the Tech Hubs Program are eligible to 

apply for grants under Phase 2 of the Tech Hubs Program. However, the membership of the consortia 

may evolve between Phase 1 and Phase 2.

For purposes of this program, each consortium must include at least one of each of the following entity 

types:

(1) Institutions of higher education, which may include Historically Black Colleges and 

Universities, Tribal Colleges or Universities, and Minority-Serving Institutions;

(2) State, territorial, local, or Tribal governments or other political subdivisions of a State, 

including State and local agencies, or a consortium thereof;

(3) Industry groups or firms in relevant technology, innovation, or manufacturing sectors;

(4) Economic development organizations or similar entities that are focused primarily on 

improving science, technology, innovation, entrepreneurship, or access to capital; and

(5) Labor organizations or workforce training organizations, which may include State and local 

workforce development boards.

EDA encourages two or more firms directly relevant to the consortium’s selected core technology area 

to participate as members of the consortium. EDA will be evaluating the quality of the firms’ proposed 

6 The National Science Foundation is required to review and update this list annually. For the purposes of both 

phases of the Tech Hubs Competition, EDA is relying on the initial list enacted by Congress at 42 U.S.C. § 19107(c).

7 Different objectives and technology domains require different TRL definitions, but most TRL scales have nine 

levels. See, e.g., U.S. Gov’t Accountability Off., Technology Readiness Assessment Guide, GAO-20-48G, App. IV at 

115-21 (Jan. 2020), available at https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-20-48g.pdf. Because this program seeks to 

advance technologies across a broad array of domains, EDA is not selecting specific TRL definitions but is adopting 

the common nine-level structure.
Section A: Program Description

Page 7 of 45

participation in the consortium, rather than the quantity of firms participating in it. EDA also encourages 

the participation of labor organizations, including state labor federations, or other organizations 

representing workers as direct members of the consortium. EDA expects that all members, including 

labor unions and federations, will be given equal opportunity to participate in their respective 

consortia’s efforts. 

Consortia may also include one or more of:

(1) Economic development entities with relevant expertise, including a district organization;

(2) Organizations that contribute to increasing the participation of underserved populations in 

science, technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship;

(3) Venture development organizations;

(4) Organizations that promote local economic stability, high-wage domestic jobs, and broadbased economic opportunities, such as employee ownership membership associations and 

State or local employee ownerships and cooperative development centers, financial 

institutions and investment funds, including community development financial institutions 

and minority depository institutions;

(5) Elementary schools and secondary schools, including area career and technical education 

schools;

(6) National Laboratories;

(7) Federal laboratories;

(8) Manufacturing extension centers;

(9) Manufacturing USA Institutes;

(10) Transportation planning organizations;

(11) A cooperative extension services;

(12) Organizations that represent the perspectives of underserved communities in economic 

development initiatives; and

(13) Institutions receiving an award under the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Regional 

Innovation Engines program.

EDA again will evaluate the consortium based on the quality of the partnerships and the relevance of the 

members to the consortium’s strategy. A more complete description of the above entities may be found 

in section C.1. of this NOFO.

Consortia may change their membership between Phase 1 and Phase 2, and EDA expects that the exact 

membership of the consortium may change over time. EDA will view such changes as positive if more 

meaningfully contributing members join or if the membership is refined to align with the Phase 2 

Implementation plan or otherwise increase the likelihood or magnitude of inclusive economic impacts 

and stronger national and economic security. Applicants should describe how new members or other 

membership changes improve the likelihood or magnitude of success. However, at minimum the 

consortium must contain the five required member types, even if one or more of the consortium’s 

required members change.

iv. Are there any special considerations on how we organize the consortia?

EDA does not require that the consortium have a formal legal structure (i.e., a contractual arrangement 

or public-private partnership). EDA, however, does expect that consortium members are actively 

collaborating and aligned behind the content of their Phase 2 application. 

EDA requires that each consortium identify a lead member, which commits to:
Section A: Program Description

Page 8 of 45

• be the principal applicant for the Phase 2 implementation Grant and provide the overarching 

project narrative;

• serve as EDA’s main point of contact during the competition and implementation;

• be the employer of the Regional Innovation Officer (RIO) or otherwise be the organization, 

institution, or other entity to which the RIO is primarily accountable ;

• serve as the central coordinator of the consortium by leading or otherwise having a significant 

role in the consortium’s governance;

• convene public, private, academic, labor, and civic leaders to facilitate regional cohesiveness in 

maximizing the Hub’s competitiveness;

• establish and maintain communication between the consortium and EDA to enable and 

accelerate collaboration and support; 

• ensure funding and other assistance provided by EDA and any other partners are absorbed 

effectively within communities;

• ensure that the consortium is communicating and coordinating activities and outcomes; and

• timely and proactively identify challenges and barriers to execution and impact of individual 

projects or across projects, communicate those challenges to EDA, and independently or in 

collaboration with EDA identify solutions, alternative approaches, and necessary resources.

The lead member also may receive funding for specific implementation project(s) in Phase 2. The lead 

member may change from Phase 1 to Phase 2, but the consortium should explain the rationale for the 

change in its application materials. 

Letters of commitment should reconfirm and further detail Phase 1 application commitments, and 

applicants should demonstrate new commitments with additional letters of commitment. Such 

commitments may include but are not limited to hiring, match funding and other capital, or policy 

change commitments aligned with increasing the competitiveness of the Tech Hub. In lieu of a separate 

commitment letter, consortium member commitments may also be evidenced through individual 

applications for Component Projects. Commitments from entities outside the consortium or from 

consortium members that are not applying for a Component Project related to their commitments must 

be documented in a letter of commitment paired with a completed Commitment Form (see section 

D.2.a).

v. What is the purpose of the Regional Innovation Officer (RIO)?

A common problem within regional innovation ecosystems is the lack of cross-institutional leadership. 

While chambers of commerce and other civic institutions represent the regional economy, the rules, 

processes, and programs that drive innovation can be locked within firms and research institutions. This 

fragmentation of practices can hurt a region’s ability to increase its scale and make it difficult for 

external firms, investors, entrepreneurs, and workers to collaborate and succeed in the region. The RIO

will lead the Hub’s overall innovation agenda and strategy. EDA requires that in Phase 2 each applicant 

identify the RIO and their responsibilities. Additionally, the RIO will be accountable for ensuring clear 

and effective governance and leadership of the consortium. Further, EDA requires applicants to provide 

the RIO’s resume. 

vi. How should applicants consider climate and environmental responsibility?

Industries can both reduce their environmental impact and further their competitive advantage by 

pursuing net-zero goals and accounting for current and future weather- and climate-related risks. 

Applicants are expected to design their projects to minimize the potential for adverse impacts on the 

environment and the local community, including communities with environmental justice concerns. 

Applicants should also account for or have a plan to account for current and future weather- and 
Section A: Program Description

Page 9 of 45

climate-related risks, such as wildfires, droughts, extreme heat and cold, inland and coastal flooding, 

and the extreme winds produced by tornadoes, hurricanes, and other weather events. EDA encourages 

applicants to use the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST) when accounting for

environmental and climate-related impacts and risks.

8

vii. How should applicants consider equity?

Consistent with Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved 

Communities through the Federal Government and Executive Order 14091, Further Advancing Racial 

Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government, and EDA’s Equity 

Investment Priority, EDA expects projects to advance equity to underserved and underrepresented 

populations.

9

Specifically, applicants are expected to explain how the project will benefit underserved populations and 

communities and how the project will provide for inclusive community engagement, including 

descriptions of the populations applicants will serve and how applicants will measure whom projects 

serve and how. See section A.1.c.i. for more detail on how equity should be addressed in the required 

application materials. 

viii.Are there any restrictions related to the ownership or participation of certain 

consortia members?

The Tech Hubs program seeks to strengthen economic and national security. Consistent with these 

goals, the statute directs the Secretary to consider thirteen factors in selecting eligible consortia for 

implementation awards, many of which relate to the consortium’s ability to contribute to “technology 

or innovation sector[s] critical to national security and economic competitiveness.” 15 U.S.C. § 

3722a(h)(1), (4), (5), (6), (7). The Secretary must also consider whether an eligible consortium will 

“enhance the economic, environmental, and energy security of the United States by promoting 

domestic development, manufacture, and deployment of innovative clean technologies and advanced 

manufacturing practices.” Id. § 3722a(h)(13)(A). The Secretary “may specify” the “information” that an 

applicant consortium must provide to enable such consideration. Id. § 3722a(g).

To effectuate these goals and considerations, EDA prohibits all participation, including but not limited to 

membership, of foreign entities of concern (FEOCs) in Tech Hubs consortia. FEOCs are entities that are 

owned by, controlled by, or subject to the jurisdiction or direction of a foreign country of concern as 

defined in 10 U.S.C. § 4872(d)(2). See 15 C.F.R. Part 231. Foreign entities outside this category may be 

members of Tech Hubs consortia. Moreover, EDA will not approve any applications where an FEOC—

8 The CEJST is a geospatial mapping tool that identifies areas across the nation where communities are faced with 

significant burdens. It was developed and deployed pursuant to Executive Order 14008, Tackling the Climate Crisis 

at Home and Abroad § 222(a), 86 F.R. 7619, 7631 (Jan. 27, 2021); see also Exec. Off. Pres., Climate and Economic 

Justice Screening Tool: Frequently Asked Questions, available at https://www.whitehouse.gov/wpcontent/uploads/2022/02/CEQ-CEJST-QandA.pdf.

9 Underserved and underrepresented populations and communities include but are not limited to persons who 

rent their home; racial and ethnic minorities; members of religious minorities; women; lesbian, gay, bisexual, 

transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) populations; limited English proficiency (LEP) populations; persons with 

disabilities; and racially and ethnically concentrated areas of poverty, among other communities. See, e.g., Econ. 

Dev. Admin., Investment Priorities Definitions (Jun. 13, 2023), available at

https://www.eda.gov/sites/default/files/2022-06/EDA-FY21-Investment-Priorities-Definitions.pdf#UnderservedPopulations.
Section A: Program Description

Page 10 of 45

whether or not a member of the applicant Tech Hub—poses an undue risk to a project or U.S. national 

security interests, through access to information, likelihood of transfer of expertise or knowledge, or 

other mechanisms involving the applicant. EDA will make this determination in coordination with other 

Federal Departments and agencies and other relevant entities. Additionally, EDA requires consortia and 

their members to mitigate national security risks related to technology and innovation, including but not 

limited to those that arise from development, ownership, control, and use. 

To enable these evaluations, and pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 3722a(g), EDA directs consortia members to 

provide information via the SF-328 form at the time of application. Consortia members must report any 

existing investment from an FEOC and must report any new investments from FEOCs throughout the 

performance and reporting periods of the award. EDA may also require subrecipients or other entities 

(including entities making policy or investment commitments) to submit an SF-328 as part of due 

diligence, negotiations, or at any time prior to or after award. Additional information, beyond the scope 

of the SF-328, may be required in due diligence to further identify and, if necessary, mitigate potential 

risks to national security. These requirements, restrictions, and constraints do not supersede or replace 

any other obligations, including transaction reviews by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the 

United States (CFIUS).

EDA recognizes the importance of foreign firm participation and of secure international collaboration. 

Foreign direct investment in a project, either as match or through a commitment, is welcome from 

foreign entities that are not FEOCs.

ix. What are characteristics of a strong workforce development project?

Strong workforce development projects should be employer-led to ensure that workers gain the skills 

necessary to perform needed jobs and are connected to quality job opportunities, in line with DOC’s 

workforce best practices10 and the Commerce and Labor Departments’ Good Jobs Principles.11 Projects 

should explicitly aim to place workers in good jobs and should have concrete, quantitative targets for job 

placements and retention. Projects should leverage or establish relevant sector partnerships with

employers as well as with entities such as training providers, educational institutions, labor, and 

community organizations. In addition, EDA encourages consortia to (1) secure commitments from 

employers to hire individuals who successfully complete workforce training programs; (2) provide 

wraparound services (e.g., childcare, transportation) to training participants; and (3) structure projects 

to focus on equitable access to training through recruitment of training participants, including from

underserved and disadvantaged communities. The specific training model should align with the sectors, 

occupations, and skills that the Tech Hub and relevant employers seek to address; example models 

include skills training programs (including those delivered by community colleges), Registered 

Apprenticeships and other quality work-and-learn programs, career and technical education programs,

and other programs that result in stackable, industry-recognized credentials. Applications should also 

describe how workforce development organizations and organizations representing workers, including 

labor organizations and federations, will collaborate within the tech hub to increase job quality and the 

quantity of good jobs in the selected core technology areas.

10 See https://www.commerce.gov/issues/workforce-development; U.S. Dept. Comm., Strategic Plan 2022 – 2026: 

Innovation, Equity, and Resilience, Strengthening American Competitiveness in the 21st Century, Strategic 

Objective 2.2 at 33-34 (Mar. 2022).

11 For more information on what constitutes a good job, see https://www.dol.gov/general/good-jobs/principles.
Section A: Program Description

Page 11 of 45

c. Implementation Grants

As provided above in section A.1.a, Implementation Grants can fund a wide range of non-construction 

and construction activities that aim to increase regional capacity.

12 Within each Tech Hub selected for 

Implementation Grants, EDA expects to fund approximately 3-8 tightly aligned projects that aim to 

collectively address the Hub’s key inhibitors of global competitiveness at a total funding level of 

approximately $50-75 million.

13

i. Component Projects

As noted above, consortia that EDA Designated as Tech Hubs in Phase 1 may submit applications for 

Tech Hub Implementation Grants under Phase 2. Each consortium’s application under this NOFO should 

include (a) an Overarching Narrative and (b) applications for approximately 3-8 tightly aligned

component projects. The lead member may submit just the Overarching Narrative application materials. 

The lead member may also submit component project applications if the lead plans to administer those 

component projects (including, e.g., an administrative, management, and governance project that 

includes costs for the RIO among other costs associated with being the lead). Otherwise, the consortium 

member that plans to administer the component project should submit application materials relevant to 

the component project.

Applicants may propose a set of projects that include all or a subset of the four broad categories of 

eligible activities (workforce development, business and entrepreneur development, technology 

development and maturation, and related infrastructure activities). Applicants should determine and 

justify their project mix and should describe in the Overarching Narrative how the proposed projects are 

strongly linked to the Hub’s success and how that success could not be realized but for these projects.

Further, EDA expects that each component project will have a separate application unless they share

leadership and geographic location (i.e., it is on the same campus and will be administered by the owner 

of the campus). In general, for projects with a physical location, EDA expects the consortium member 

that is the owner of the location to be an applicant or co-applicant on a component project (e.g., EDA 

needs to have a grant relationship with the entity that will be encumbering any property with EDA 

funds). See section D.2 of this NOFO for information on the requirements for a full application; 

applications will be evaluated using the criteria in section E.1. EDA expects to select approximately 5-10

consortia for Implementation funding, which will include selecting approximately 3-8 component 

projects per consortium. Consortia’s component projects not selected for funding in Phase 2 may be 

eligible for funding from other EDA programs or other federal agencies.

(1) Overarching Narrative

Each eligible consortium should focus on developing a long-term, transformational vision and execution 

plan for their Hub’s selected core technology area that builds on the consortium’s Phase 1 application. 

The plan, to be captured in the Overarching Narrative, should demonstrate how EDA funding for 

component projects, alongside other capital commitments and support, will catalyze the Hub’s 

12 See 15 U.S.C. § 3722a(f)(2) for a more comprehensive list of allowable activities within these four broad 

categories.

13 The statutory authority envisions possible future investments for consortia that receive Implementation funding. 

This may be possible in the future depending on future Congressional appropriations. 
Section A: Program Description

Page 12 of 45

emergence over the next decade as a self-sustainable, globally competitive region in their respective 

selected core technology area. 

The plan should include both near-term actions that can be accomplished in the first year and a longerterm strategy to maintain, grow, and evolve capacity to translate innovation into equitable regional 

economic growth and to strengthen overall national security.

Specifically, the Overarching Narrative must include the following sections:

• An executive summary of no more than 250 words that includes the Tech Hub’s name, selected 

core technology area, and description of the Hub’s chosen geography.

• A succinct synopsis of the consortium’s vision for regional economic development, the initiatives 

and partners needed to achieve that vision, and the outcomes expected from achieving that 

vision. The synopsis should include:

o The consortium members and additional partners (including those making investment and 

policy commitments);

o A list including short descriptions of component projects, how those component projects 

contribute to the overall success of the regional Tech Hub, and how they complement and 

reinforce each other;

o A list including short descriptions of other investment, policy, or other relevant 

commitments (i.e., any additional, complementary initiatives planned by the consortium, 

outside of the component projects for which they are requesting EDA funding, such as 

philanthropic commitments and legislative or regulatory changes) (see section E.1.a.3 

(detailing the evaluation criterion related to commitments) and subsections A.1.c.i.4-5 

(describing example projects that may be supported by investment commitments and 

example policy commitments));

o A concise description of how the collection of proposed component projects and related 

commitments will complementarily lead to the Hub’s global competitiveness in 

approximately a decade, including the constraints (e.g., infrastructure, workforce, and 

capital) that the projects and commitments will enable the Hub to overcome;

o A concise description of how the consortium, including via proposed projects and 

commitments, will consider climate and environmental responsibility, including by 

addressing climate-related and environmental impacts and risks;

o A concise description of how the consortium, including via proposed projects and 

commitments, will embed equity in its approach, including by addressing equitable 

economic growth and inclusive innovation economies;

o Specific outcomes (tied to metrics, measures, and qualitative means to determine progress 

and success detailed later in the Overarching Narrative) expected from implementing the 

proposed projects and commitments (e.g., firm density, production capabilities, investment, 

reduction in unemployment, anticipated job creation and/or wage growth with associated 

demographics, anticipated regional GDP growth); and

o A general timeline for implementation, including completion of any construction.

• A clearly articulated statement of the technological or other problems preventing or slowing 

technology advancement and commercialization the consortium seeks to solve within a ten-year 

time horizon and why an individual consortium member cannot solve that alone.

• A description of the nexus among the selected core technology area, the Hub’s chosen 

geography and assets, and national and economic security, including the explicit connection 
Section A: Program Description

Page 13 of 45

between technology advancement in that area and national security and economic 

competitiveness goals and the Hub’s competitive advantage.

14

• A detailed overview that describes specific expected participation from private sector entities, 

including any commitments (e.g., investment and hiring commitments) and expected private 

sector economic activity (e.g., identifying customers of companies in the Hub that produce and 

deliver technology goods and services and that are parts of relevant supply chains).

• A description of any commitments or investments from state, local, or other government 

sources, philanthropy or other nonprofits, and any other source and of any pending or potential 

Federal investments. 

• A detailed plan on how the consortium will ensure the Tech Hub will become self-sustainable 

after the period of the funded awards.

• A detailed plan on how the consortium will engage labor unions, how the project will 

incorporate strong labor standards, and/or how the consortium will otherwise pursue economic 

benefits for local residents, including through project labor agreements and community benefit 

agreements that offer wages at or above the prevailing rate and include local hire provisions. 

• A detailed plan on how the consortium will ensure the benefits of the Tech Hub are equitably 

shared across relevant regional communities, including efforts to reach historically 

underrepresented populations.

• A detailed overview of the outcomes expected from the joint impact of the component projects 

and any complementary work planned by the consortium. Include specific, measurable, 

achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals as well as longer-term and stretch goals, 

(including outputs and outcomes) and identify necessary data and information. Applicants 

should include interim goals or milestones against which the Hub and EDA can monitor progress 

as well as ultimate desired outcomes. Goals will serve not only as the basis for determining the 

success of the consortium but also as a basis for building evidence to support which strategies 

and approaches work. This section should link to one or more sets of evaluation activities in at 

least one Component Project and be reflected in the associated budget.

• A detailed overview of the consortium’s plans to accommodate the growth in housing demand 

that may result from the success of the investment in this technology hub, including steps to 

prevent displacement, and to ensure access to jobs created for existing low-income residents 

and residents of assisted housing.

• An overview of the consortium’s relevant activities between Phase 1 Designation and the Phase 

2 application submission, including any new information or risks mitigated. Include a detailed list 

of any changes to the vision of the Tech Hub since the Phase 1 Designation was made, including 

any new commitments or investments secured (even if referenced in other parts of the 

application), any changes to consortium membership, and any refinements in the approach to 

the selected core technology area. EDA expects proposals may have evolved in the months 

between Phase 1 Designation application submission and Phase 2 Full Application submission, 

14 The following strategies are helpful in identifying the technology’s impact on economic competitiveness and 

national security considerations: the 100-day supply chain reviews produced pursuant to Executive Order 14017, 

Building Resilient Supply Chains, Revitalizing American Manufacturing, and Fostering Broad-Based Growth; the 

National Security Strategy’s (Oct. 2022) discussion of investing in our national power; Executive Order 14008, 

Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad; and CHIPS for America, A Strategy for the CHIPS for America Fund; 

Remarks by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan at the Special Competitive Studies Project Global Emerging 

Technologies Summit.
Section A: Program Description

Page 14 of 45

and this section gives the applicant an opportunity to highlight those changes and share the 

lessons learned that informed the changes.

• Updated documentation evidencing that each consortium member has read the Overarching 

Narrative and is committed to executing the component(s) of the Tech Hub for which that 

consortium member is responsible.

• Updated letters of support from key partners, if applicable. Partners who submit additional 

information in Phase 2 letters of support (e.g., highlighting the benefits from the consortiumbuilding they participated in since providing their Phase 1 letters, identifying any new 

commitments they are making) may make a Complete Application more compelling.

• In the event that the lead member has changed, a new letter from the lead member describing 

their commitment to leading the consortium and administering the functions described in sec. 

A.1.b.iv.

While the Overarching Narrative should be submitted by the lead applicant, EDA expects that the 

Overarching Narrative will represent the joint vision of the consortium.

(2) Component Project Applications

All component projects included as part of a Phase 2 application should be coordinated such that the 

result is more than the sum of their parts and the projects together catalyze private sector investment 

and tangible outcomes for the Hub’s growth and sustainability. A substantial majority of each 

Component Project’s intended and expected benefits should accrue within the Tech Hub. 

EDA, at its discretion, may award individual grants or cooperative agreements for component projects to 

various eligible applicants identified as consortium members. EDA at its discretion may fund all or only 

some of the originally proposed component projects, or parts or modified versions thereof, depending 

on the viability and feasibility of those components and the availability of funds.

In addition to all required forms as detailed in section D.2. of this NOFO, each component application 

must submit a Project Narrative that addresses all activities that will be undertaken to complete the 

individual component project within the Tech Hub and briefly summarizes how the component supports 

the overall Tech Hub’s goals, referring back to the Overarching Narrative. 

Applicants are strongly encouraged to provide a clear and concise narrative that includes a compelling 

justification for the component project, articulates the connection to the consortium’s selected core 

technology area, and the expected outcome(s) that will result from the proposed component project. A 

competitive application will contain the following elements in the Project Narrative:

• Section 1: Project Description and Scope of Work

Section 1a: An executive summary of no more than 250 words that includes the project component 

title, identifies the name of the lead organization for the project and, if applicable, the applicant 

implementing the component project, and provides a project overview.

Section 1b: A scope of work of no more than one page linked to the project’s purpose and key 

milestones, including deliverables. The scope of work should align with and support claims made 

elsewhere in the project narrative and in the budget narrative. EDA may incorporate this section 

into the award if selected for funding.

• Section 2: Regional Industry Assets and Needs 

Section 2a: A description of the component project’s location or region. The location or region 

should directly correspond to Questions 14 and 16 of Form SF-424 and align with or be a subset of 
Section A: Program Description

Page 15 of 45

the chosen geography defined in the Overarching Narrative or should indicate how the project is 

otherwise deeply interconnected with existing assets in the Hub. 

Section 2b: A brief description of how the proposed project supports the Hub’s economy related to 

the selected core technology area described in the Overarching Narrative. Identify and describe 

assets that the project will leverage (e.g., sources of innovation, capital, workforce, infrastructure),

partners (whether or not those partners are consortium members), and constraints (e.g., 

infrastructure, workforce, and capital) that the projects and commitments will enable the Hub to 

overcome.

• Section 3: Challenges, Opportunities, and the Solution

What problems is your project trying to solve or what challenges is it trying to address? Describe the 

opportunity and the specific solutions. What existing evidence suggests that this project will 

address the problems you are trying to solve? Describe in detail how the solutions align with specific 

opportunities or tackle structural challenges. Explain how achievable the solution is (e.g., have you 

piloted this project or are you adapting a solution that succeeded in another context?). If the 

solution is completely new, what research has been done that leads you to believe the outcomes 

are achievable? Why is this opportunity ripe for your chosen geography, and why now? Identify and 

describe your Hub’s assets, resources, and capacity related to this project and how this project will 

leverage and strengthen them in pursuit of the Tech Hub’s goals.

• Section 4: Partners and Program Outreach

Section 4a: Describe any former, current, or future partnerships/working relationships with public 

and/or private entities at the national, state, regional, and/or local level that will be working on this 

project. Provide a brief description of each entity and specific detail on the roles and responsibilities 

of these collaborators including effectiveness of past collaboration efforts. 

Section 4b: Describe the specific communities and populations that the project will serve and affect, 

and explain the rationale for how participants and beneficiaries are targeted. Provide an estimate of 

how many people, organizations, and communities will be affected by the project either directly or 

indirectly, and indicate how the project will serve and benefit historically underserved, 

underrepresented, and vulnerable populations in your Hub’s economy.

• Section 5: Measurable Goals and Impacts

What are the anticipated goals you hope to achieve (i.e., outcomes) and what outputs do you plan 

to measure to assess and demonstrate progress towards those outcomes? Anticipated outcomes 

should be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and timebound (SMART), and the application 

should indicate why and how these outcomes were selected, including existing evidence that 

suggests these outcomes are appropriate. Applicants should include interim goals or milestones 

against which the Hub and EDA can monitor progress as well as ultimate desired outcomes. 

Applicants should include baseline measures that describe the current state from which to assess 

any potential changes and should describe how the organization (in collaboration with other 

consortium members as applicable) will achieve those outcomes. Applicants must describe and 

budget for overarching Hub-level evaluation activities in one Component Project, and Component 

Project-level evaluation activities either in each Component Project application or in the single 

Component Project that encompasses overarching Hub-level evaluation. Applicants selected for 

funding must use a platform system to track their metrics in a machine-readable format; applicants 

should include a description of their respective platforms or systems and, if no such system exists, 
Section A: Program Description

Page 16 of 45

should include their acquisition and implementation in the project narrative and budget. Applicants 

should also be prepared to participate in program evaluation activities required by EDA.

• Section 6: Sustainability and Evolution or Sunsetting Plan

Provide a sustainability plan that addresses anticipated challenges, potential barriers, and a forecast 

of post-award period operations. If the project should continue in perpetuity or for the foreseeable 

future, describe how it will evolve and sustain after federal funds have been spent. If the project’s 

activities will end after achieving a certain goal, describe the ramp-down and sunsetting and what if 

any new follow-on activities are expected or necessary. Include a description of how this project will 

contribute to the Hub becoming self-sustaining and globally competitive once grant funds have been 

expended.

(3) Eligible Activities

Through this program, EDA can provide funding to support a wide range of non-construction and 

construction activities, broadly organized into workforce development, business and entrepreneur 

development, technology development and maturation, and infrastructure-related activities.

15

 

Consortia should seek to propose and submit applications for a coherent, interconnected portfolio of 

projects across these (or a subset of these) four categories that complement and reinforce each other 

and other capital and policy commitments. EDA encourages recipients to ensure that projects use 

strong labor standards in line with the Commerce and Labor Departments’ Good Jobs Principles.16

Eligible workforce development activities broadly include projects that design, implement, develop, 

update, or expand programs that train and place workers (including but not limited to Registered 

Apprenticeships and other quality work-and-learn models) as well as other educational programs. 

Strong workforce development proposals will match the training to current and future employer needs 

and place training participants into good jobs.17 EDA expects workforce development activities to be in 

line with DOC’s workforce best practices,

18 support placement into and retention in good jobs, including 

union jobs, and incorporate worker input into their design and delivery.19 EDA encourages workforce 

development activities to involve employers directly to better align labor supply and demand; ensure 

that training participants are placed into good jobs, including through employer hiring commitments;

include outreach to underserved populations and recruitment and retention incentives like wraparound 

services (e.g., childcare, transportation); and adopt recruitment and hiring practices such as skills-based 

hiring that tap into the talents of existing workers and remove barriers to good jobs applicants from 

underserved communities, including those without four-year degrees. See Section A.1.b.ix for more 

details on what makes a strong workforce development project.

Eligible business and entrepreneur development activities include projects that train entrepreneurs, 

enable technology commercialization, increase the formation and deployment of and access to capital 

for new or growing businesses, and build mentorship networks.20 Business and entrepreneur activities 

15 15 U.S.C. § 3722a(f)(2).

16 https://www.dol.gov/general/good-jobs/principles.

17 15 U.S.C. § 3722a(f)(2)(A).

18 See https://www.commerce.gov/issues/workforce-development.

19 U.S. Department pf Commerce and U.S. Department of Labor, Good Jobs Principles,

https://www.dol.gov/general/good-jobs/principles.

20 15 U.S.C. § 3722a(f)(2)(B).
Section A: Program Description

Page 17 of 45

should consider the needs of companies at all ages, sizes, and levels of maturity and should enable new 

companies to form and established companies to evolve and grow.

Eligible technology development and maturation activities include projects that deploy technologies, 

facilitate technology and knowledge transfer, provision facilities to test and mature technologies, and 

create new sources of capital for businesses to start and grow through technology development, 

adoption, or deployment.21 Activities should involve actual and potential customers where relevant and 

should seek to develop and strengthen customer-supplier relationships to develop the markets for 

relevant technology products and services (and within their supply chains) and to facilitate customer 

input into supplier technology development and maturation goals.

Eligible infrastructure activities include projects for the construction of buildings, such as a testbed or 

demonstration facility, and infrastructure necessary for projects in the three categories described above 

(e.g., connectivity or supporting infrastructure).

22 It is important that investments in infrastructure and 

construction projects be carried out in ways that produce high-quality infrastructure, avert disruptive 

and costly delays, are environmentally responsible, and promote efficiency. Moreover, EDA encourages 

recipients to ensure that construction projects use strong labor standards, including project labor 

agreements and community benefit agreements that offer wages at or above the prevailing rate and 

include local hire provisions to promote effective and efficient delivery of high-quality infrastructure 

projects.23 Using these practices in construction projects may help to ensure a reliable supply of skilled 

labor that would minimize disruptions, such as those associated with labor disputes or workplace 

injuries.

(4) Investment Examples within the Regional Tech Hubs Program

Like a previous EDA competition, the Build Back Better Regional Challenge (see 

https://www.eda.gov/funding/programs/american-rescue-plan/build-back-better), the Tech Hubs 

Program seeks to invest in multiple, simultaneous, interconnected projects that accelerate regional 

economic development. The Tech Hubs Program is aggressively focused on investing in activities that 

will enable a region that already has R&D assets in a manner that catalyzes their emergence over the 

next decade as self-sustainably, globally economically competitive in its selected core technology area.

Illustrative, example component projects include (but are not limited to):

• a “first of its kind”, world-class demonstration facility or testbed that provides startups access to 

shared facilities to bring products and services in a consortium’s selected core technology area to 

market faster;

• a strategy to bring entrepreneurship- and industry-focused faculty researchers and innovators to the 

university and national lab that have a proven track record of creating new startups in a 

consortium’s selected core technology area (researchers would have joint appointments at the lab, 

university, and private sector companies);

• a program that ensures workers collaborate directly in the demonstration of new technologies to 

inform the design of those technologies—as well as their deployment, production, and delivery—

with the perspective, experience, and input of workers; 

21 15 U.S.C. § 3722a(f)(2)(C).

22 15 U.S.C. § 3722a(f)(2)(D).

23 See section D.2.d. of this NOFO for requirements related to the Build America, Buy America (BABA) Act as set 

forth in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
Section A: Program Description

Page 18 of 45

• the re-purposing of an existing site or facility (such as a former auto or coal plant or other 

brownfield), including helping an ongoing business to transition to new products or processes to 

promote the advance of the core technology; 

• one or more workforce training programs, jointly designed with employers and other sector 

partners, through which workers would be trained on critical skills (e.g., operating cutting-edge 

technologies) on the job or at the demonstration facility before being placed into jobs with 

employers that made hiring commitments; 

• an industry-led workforce training partnership to implement innovative approaches to workforce 

development, including wraparound services (e.g., childcare, transportation), relevant to employer 

demand in the relevant core technology area;

• partnerships with organizations that support employer adoption of hiring and employment practices 

that tap into the talents of existing workers and remove barriers to good jobs, such as skills-based 

recruitment and hiring practices;

• a technology supply chain program that helps existing small manufacturers throughout the Hub 

purchase the necessary equipment and hire workers that allow it to transition into domestic 

manufacturing in the supply chains of the consortium’s selected core technology area (small 

businesses would have access to the demonstration facility to try out new machinery);

• convening supply chains, ranging from lead firms to small suppliers, to provide clear demand signals 

and technical assistance to support investment in the core technology area; 

• an “Office of Regional Innovation” led by the new RIO to spearhead the entire industry transition 

strategy, ensure common industry engagement between the labs and universities and oversee 

industry partnerships at the new demonstration facility and ensure they are well-staffed with 

industry-focused economic development and technology practitioners; 

• a hub-wide strategy, specific to the consortium-selected core technology area, to blend and braid 

multiple funding sources and programs around industry’s needs related to the consortium’s selected 

core technology area; and

• a capital networks strategy that crowds in and syndicates significant follow-on funding.

(5) Policy Examples within the Regional Tech Hubs Program 

EDA recognizes Hubs will need to undertake significant new commercialization policies and 

programming to accelerate their growth and achieve global competitiveness. EDA will fund 

implementation strategies in Phase 2 that are paired with commitments to institute creative and 

impactful commercialization policy changes that may not require EDA funding to implement. The Tech 

Hubs Program offers maximum flexibility to fund or otherwise support new public and regional policies, 

and Hubs are encouraged to describe in applications for this NOFO the types of policy changes they are 

considering, such as:

• hub-wide standardization of licensing and technology transfer practices, including frameworks 

to pursue intellectual property protection, among research institutions;

• innovation voucher programs that enable researchers to provide technical (including but not 

limited to legal, engineering, capital, etc.) support to small-and-medium sized manufacturers;

• tenure and other academic promotion rules that reward patenting, faculty-created startups, and 

other economic development outcomes (in lieu of only publications);

• investments “outside the fence” at national labs, including micro-labs and other pre-competitive 

environments that connect labs to industry;

• private sector R&D facilities that provide access to researchers to accelerate commercial 

outcomes;
Section A: Program Description

Page 19 of 45

• strategies to build local talent pipelines to increase the number of high-skilled—including both 

U.S. and foreign-born—students retained in the Hub as entrepreneurs and workers;

• commitments of endowments and other sources of regional capital to invest in regional startups 

that are committed to domestic manufacturing;

• commitments to funding and implementing programs that expand the labor supply in critical 

industries by providing enabling services like childcare and transportation;

• commitments to adopt hiring practices that identify and seek out the existing skills and talents 

of workers and remove barriers to good jobs, regardless of credentials or degrees;

• coordination between regional entrepreneurship ecosystem organizations, including 

standardized outcome reporting; 

• commitments, such as plans to remove regulatory barriers to multifamily housing, to better 

ensure affordable housing availability, especially as the Hub accelerates its growth; 

• a supplier diversity program, including proactive commitments to supplier diversity and working 

with supplier diversity organizations across a range of services including professional services in 

order to grow a pool of diverse domestic suppliers; 

• partnerships between research institutions and labor unions or organizations representing 

workers that incorporate diverse groups of workers earlier and more intensively in the R&D and 

commercialization processes; 

• expanding innovative asset repurposing and workforce retention for fossil fuel (coal, oil, and 

natural gas), power plant, auto manufacturing, and other communities impacted by the

transition to a net-zero greenhouse gas economy; and

• public, private, and university sector institutions that create new leadership positions meant to 

accelerate technology-based global competitiveness.

EDA aims to provide maximum flexibility both in terms of what the Tech Hubs Program can fund (but see 

ineligible projects in section A.1.c.i.7. below) as well as what constitutes a meaningful policy 

commitment. The above examples are not meant to be an exhaustive list but are examples of 

investments and policy changes consortia might consider. EDA encourages other creative ideas to shift a 

Hub’s academic, research, and innovation incentives to those that promote global competitiveness.

(6) Investment and policy commitments

EDA will evaluate Phase 2 Full Applications in part based on the policy and investment commitments the 

Tech Hub is able to attract and demonstrate. See section E.1.a.3. Investment and policy commitments 

may range widely, including, e.g., substantial infrastructure investment that leverages Tech Hubs 

funding, agreements to hire workers who complete Tech Hubs-funded training, subsidized access to

demonstration facilities, depending on the Hub’s chosen geography, selected core technology area, and 

existing assets. Investment and policy examples set forth in subsections A.1.c.i.4-.5 may be partially or 

fully supported by commitments. Additionally, EDA will publish a companion Policy and Investment 

Commitment Menu that includes additional examples and a Commitment Form that applicants should 

use to document each commitment.

(7) Ineligible Projects under this NOFO

Some projects are generally ineligible for EDA funding under this NOFO, including projects that do not 

have a clear and direct nexus with any of the four broad categories of eligible activities (e.g., 

construction of a recreation facility or of general housing). Projects that are ineligible for funding, 

however, may be part of the overall concept of the Tech Hub and communicated through a capital or 

policy commitment. Applicants who are unsure whether their proposed project is eligible under this 

NOFO should consult the EDA Point of Contact (POC) listed in section G.
Section B: Federal Award Information

Page 20 of 45

Funds may not be used, directly or indirectly as an offset for other funds, to support or oppose collective 

bargaining.

2. Statutory Authorities for EDA’s Tech Hubs Program

The statutory authority for this program is section 28 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation 

Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. § 3722a). 

B. Federal Award Information

1. What Funding Is Available Under this Announcement?

Across the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 and the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations 

Act, 2023 (both enacted in Public Law 117-328), Congress appropriated EDA $500,000,000 to remain 

available until expended to implement the Tech Hubs program.24

If an applicant is awarded funding, neither DOC nor EDA is under any obligation to provide any future 

funding in connection with that award or to make any future award(s). Amendments or renewals of an 

award to increase funding or to extend the period of performance are at the sole discretion of DOC and 

EDA.

Publication of this announcement does not obligate DOC or EDA to award any specific grant or 

cooperative agreement or to obligate all or any part of available funds. The granting of any award is 

subject to the availability of funds at the time of award as well as to DOC priorities at the time of award.

Neither DOC nor EDA will be held responsible for application preparation costs.

Under Tech Hubs Phase 2, EDA anticipates funding Component Projects with an approximate combined 

total of $50-75 million in Federal funds in each of approximately 5-10 Hubs. Total Federal funding 

amounts per Hub and per Component Project, however, will vary depending on the nature of the 

projects, the location of the Hub, and the selected core technology area. The individual award amount 

will vary by Tech Hub cluster and will depend on the nature and cost of the proposed component 

projects. 

Depending on demand under this NOFO, EDA may exercise its discretion to adjust the total amount 

available under this NOFO to ensure funds are used to maximum effect.

2. What Type of Funding Instrument Will Be Used to Make Awards? How Long Will a Project’s 

Period of Performance Be?

Funding Instrument: Subject to the availability of funds, EDA may award grants or cooperative 

agreements to eligible applicants for Implementation awards. EDA will award a cooperative agreement 

on a case-by-case basis if substantial agency involvement is required. For a cooperative agreement, the 

nature of EDA’s “substantial involvement” (to be included in the terms and conditions of the award) will 

generally be collaboration between EDA and the recipient on the scope of work, including administering 

subawards to other consortium members. However, other possible examples of EDA’s “substantial 

involvement” may include but is not limited to: (i) authority to halt immediately an activity if detailed 

performance specifications are not met; (ii) stipulation that the recipient must meet or adhere to 

specific procedural requirements before subsequent stages of a project may continue; and (iii) 

24 In the event that Congress appropriates additional funds to the program in FY 2024, EDA may allocate additional 

funding to this competition. 
Section C: Eligibility Information

Page 21 of 45

operational involvement and monitoring during the project to ensure compliance with statutory 

requirements.

Period of Performance: The period of performance for a Phase 2 Implementation project may vary 

depending on the scope of work. EDA expects that most projects will range from 24 to 60 months and

that all projects will proceed efficiently and expeditiously.

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

Only consortia that EDA Designated as Tech Hubs in Phase 1 are eligible to apply for grants under 

Phase 2 of this competition. However, the membership of the consortia may evolve between Phase 1 

and Phase 2.

Each consortium must include at least one each of the following as a member, one of whom should 

serve as the lead institution to receive an award under this NOFO:

(1) Institutions of higher education, which may include Historically Black Colleges and 

Universities, Tribal Colleges or Universities, and Minority-Serving Institutions;

(2) State, territorial, local, or Tribal governments or other political subdivisions of a State, 

including State and local agencies, or a consortium thereof;

(3) Industry or firms in relevant technology, innovation, or manufacturing sectors;

(4) Economic development organizations or similar entities that are focused primarily on 

improving science, technology, innovation, entrepreneurship, or access to capital; and

(5) Labor organizations or workforce training organizations, which may include State and local 

workforce development boards as established under 29 U.S.C. §§ 3111 and 3122.

Consortia may also include one or more of:

(1) Economic development entities with relevant expertise, including a district organization (as 

defined in section 300.3 of title 13, Code of Federal Regulations, or successor regulation);

(2) Organizations that contribute to increasing the participation of underserved populations in 

science, technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship;

(3) Venture development organizations (as defined in 15 U.S.C. § 3722(a));

(4) Organizations that promote local economic stability, high-wage domestic jobs, and broadbased economic opportunities, such as employee ownership membership associations and 

State or local employee ownerships and cooperative development centers, financial 

institutions and investment funds, including community development financial institutions 

(see 12 U.S.C. § 4702(5)) and minority depository institutions (see 12 U.S.C. § 1463 note or 

considered a minority depository institution by the appropriate Federal banking agency or the 

National Credit Union Administration);

(5) Elementary schools and secondary schools, including area career and technical education 

schools (as defined in section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 

2006 (20 U.S.C. § 2302));

(6) National Laboratories (as defined in 42 U.S.C. § 15801);

(7) Federal laboratories;

(8) Manufacturing extension centers;

(9) Manufacturing USA Institutes;

(10) Transportation planning organizations;

(11) A cooperative extension services (as defined in 7 U.S.C. § 3103(6));
Section C: Eligibility Information

Page 22 of 45

(12) Organizations that represent the perspectives of underserved communities in economic 

development initiatives; and

(13) Institutions receiving an award under the National Science Foundation’s Regional Innovation 

Engines program (42 U.S.C. § 19108).

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

a. EDA Investment Rate

Because all Phase 2 Implementation Grants made under this NOFO will be for the Hubs’ initial 

performance period, such grants may be awarded with a maximum 90% federal grant rate. With 

$50,000,000 in total funding this means the federal amount is $45,000,000 and the local match 

requirement is $5,000,000. If the eligible consortium is led by a Tribal government, the federal share 

may be awarded at a maximum 100% rate. Applicants will be expected to discuss and justify their 

maximum federal grant rate and demonstrate the sources of local match (see section C.2.b. below) in 

the application materials. See 15 U.S.C. § 3722a(f)(5).

b. Documentation of Cost Sharing or Matching

Applications must include commitment letters or equivalent documents that demonstrate, to the 

satisfaction of EDA, that all matching funds (regardless of kind, e.g., cash, loans, bonds, in-kind) from all 

sources (e.g., any applicant, any co-applicants, and any other sources of matching funds) referenced in 

the application will be unencumbered, unrestricted, and committed at the time of award and that are 

signed by authorized representatives of the sources of the matching funds. Authorized representatives 

must have the authority to execute documents and to obligate and expend funds on behalf of their 

respective organizations.

Each matching share commitment letter must state whether the contribution is cash, loans, bonds, or 

in-kind; if in-kind, provide a valuation for in-kind contributions. In-kind match must consist of 

contributions directly related to the proposed project, such as services, equipment, or space. EDA will 

fairly evaluate all in-kind contributions, which must be eligible project costs and which must meet 

applicable federal cost principles and uniform administrative requirements. 

Additional documentation may be requested by EDA to substantiate the availability of the matching 

funds. For example, if bonds are contemplated as match, counsel opinion of the applicant’s bonding 

authority and eligibility of the bonds for use as match, along with full disclosure of the type of bonds and 

the schedule of the applicant’s intended bond issue, are required. 

A provider of matching share, including an entity providing cash or in-kind contributions, may not serve 

as a contractor under the same award, and may not be paid with award funds to provide goods or 

services to the award recipient. 

In addition, applicants should indicate if other Federal funds have been secured for, or have been 

requested to support, any portion of the project for which an EDA investment is proposed. Applicants 

should describe how the EDA investment will complement, leverage, or otherwise align with other 

public and private investments to implement the project. Where other Federal funding may be involved 

in the project, the applicant should provide the Federal program name and contact information with 

their application to facilitate interagency coordination and avoid duplication of resources. Note that 

consistent with 2 CFR § 200.306, not all sources of Federal funding may be allowed as match and 

applicants shall raise any concerns as early as possible with the POC listed in section G.
Section D: Application and Submission Information

Page 23 of 45

D. Application and Submission Information

An applicant must submit a complete application, as detailed in Sections A and D.2. of this NOFO to be 

considered for funding. EDA intends to review each application expeditiously upon receipt of the 

complete application. EDA may request additional documentation or information from the applicant to 

make an eligibility determination. EDA also may, in its sole discretion, continue review of any application 

with minor defects or errors, while the applicant supplies the missing information. EDA will reject any 

documentation of eligibility that the agency determines is inaccurate or incomplete, which may cause 

the application to be rejected. Please see Section E of this NOFO for more information on award criteria 

and the review and selection process.

1. Obtaining an Application and Electronic Submission through EDGE

An applicant must obtain, complete, and submit an application electronically through the Economic 

Development Grants Experience (EDGE) at sfgrants.eda.gov. EDA will not accept paper, facsimile, or 

email transmissions of applications except as provided below. In order to obtain and submit an 

application through EDGE, an applicant must register for an EDGE account at sfgrants.eda.gov. As part of 

the registration process, you will register one Authorized Representative for your organization, however, 

multiple points of contact may be registered or added by the applicant to the application workspace to 

view or work on completing the application. The Authorized Representative will be the only official with 

the authority to submit applications.

a. Verification of Submission

Applicants should save and print written proof of an electronic submission made through EDGE. 

Applicants, specifically the Authorized Representative submitting the application and materials, will 

receive a time and date stamped email from EDGE confirming the submission and receipt of the 

application and other required documents.

Applicants should save and print both the confirmation screen provided on EDGE after the applicant has 

submitted an application and the confirmation email sent when the application has been successfully 

submitted.

It is the applicant’s responsibility to verify that its submission was timely received and submitted 

successfully through EDGE. To see the date your application was submitted, log on to EDGE and click on 

the Submitted Application section from the Home Page.

If you experience a systems issue with EDGE, see Section D.7. below for instructions.

b. Alternatives to Electronic Submission

To accommodate an applicant’s accessibility requirements, a paper version of this application may be 

obtained by contacting the appropriate POC listed in section G of this NOFO. Or if an applicant is 

otherwise unable to submit an application through EDGE for reasons beyond the control of the 

applicant, EDA, in its sole discretion, may pre-approve in writing submission via an alternate method 

(e.g., email).
Section D: Application and Submission Information

Page 24 of 45

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

a. What is required for a complete Implementation Grant application?

25

A phase 2 application will include (1) an Overarching Narrative, (2) Component Applications, (3) Letter(s) 

of Consortium Commitment, and (4) all EDA-required forms as described below. 

The following table provides a complete list of documents required for a complete application for an 

Implementation Grant. For Component Application requirements, see section b. below.

(1) One Form SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance) from the lead member.

(2) Letter or letters of Consortium Commitment As required in section A.1.b.iv. of this NOFO, 

a letter or letters identifying the lead member as well as evidencing that each consortium 

member has read the application and is committed to executing its roles, responsibilities, 

or commitments related of the Tech Hub. EDA discourages form letters of support and 

encourages letters describing concrete engagement and commitments from consortia 

members. In the letter identifying the lead member, the lead entity should self-identify 

which entity type it is consistent with types of entities eligible for membership in a 

consortium as delineated in section C.1. of this NOFO. 

(3) One Overarching Narrative (not to exceed 10 single-sided 8.5x11-inch pages, with a 

minimum 12-point font and 1-inch margins) that discusses in detail all the requirements 

outlined in sections A.1.b and A.1.c of this NOFO. If more than 10 pages of Project 

Narrative is submitted, only the first 10 pages will be reviewed.

(4) One Overarching Risk Mitigation Plan (not to exceed 10 single-sided 8.5x11-inch pages, 

with a minimum 12-point font and 1-inch margins) that includes the Hub’s cybersecurity 

plan (including how they are acquiring, funding, and coordinating the services of a 

cybersecurity and threat intelligence firm), critical infrastructure security plan (i.e., how 

they plan to physically protect Tech Hubs-funded projects and related critical 

infrastructure), intellectual property (IP) protection and technology control plan (including 

but not limited to an agreement governing IP management among consortium members), 

a personnel security plan, and investment security plan (i.e., how they plan to prevent 

potential adversaries from exploiting investment to undermine U.S. national security and 

economic competitiveness). If more than 10 pages of Overarching Risk Mitigation Plan is 

submitted, only the first 10 pages will be reviewed.

(5) One Form CD-511 (Certification Regarding Lobbying) from the lead member.

(6) One Form SF-LLL (Disclosure of Lobbying Activities) from the lead member, if applicable. 

Form SF-LLL is only required if the applicant has reportable lobbying activities.

(7) One Form SF-328 (Certificate Pertaining to Foreign Interests) from the lead member.

(8) 3-8 Component Project Applications See Section b. below.

25 In the event of discrepancies between instructions provided in any of the forms and this NOFO, the 

requirements for complete applications as stated in this NOFO will control.
Section D: Application and Submission Information

Page 25 of 45

b. Component Applications

In addition to the Overarching Narrative, the lead applicant and/or other members of the applicant’s 

consortium should submit a total of approximately 3-8 component applications. Consortia may consult 

with EDA via the POC listed in section G of this NOFO to determine the best lead applicant for each 

Component Application. 

The narrative (see requirements in sections A.1.b and A.1.c of this NOFO) and tables in section D.2.b 

describe the EDA and Federal grant assistance forms and other documentation required for a Phase 2 

Component Project Application. EDA will require a complete set of forms and documents for each 

component project within the Full Application. For example, if the proposed regional Tech Hub is 

proposing three component projects—e.g., 1. a strategic plan, 2. a workforce development project, and 

3. a new building to house a demonstration facility—EDA would in general expect three sets of 

application forms, each appropriate to an application for the given component project. The tables may 

serve as a checklist for applicants in preparing their submissions and are organized by the various 

construction and non-construction project types that might comprise a Tech Hub.

While the Overarching Narrative is not a component project and is not funded separately, all 

Component Project Applications will be considered holistically in the context of the Overarching 

Narrative. For more details on competition criteria, please see section E.1.

EDA staff members are available to provide applicants with technical assistance regarding application 

requirements. Additionally, EDA may contact the applicant to clarify application materials received.

Finally, EDA may request a particular component project not be included in the Full Application or be rescoped to fit within budget and timing constraints. Note that all component projects are expected to be 

completed within five years.

Each component project that is part of the Full Application must include the following materials:

(1) One Form SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance).

(2) Component Project Narrative (not to exceed 6 single-sided 8.5x11-inch pages, with a 

minimum 12-point font and 1-inch margins) that discusses in detail all the requirements 

outlined in sections A.1.b and A.1.c of this NOFO. If more than 6 pages of a Project 

Narrative are submitted, only the first 6 pages will be reviewed.

(3) One Form CD-511 (Certification Regarding Lobbying) from the consortium member 

submitting the component project application.

(4) One Form SF-LLL (Disclosure of Lobbying Activities) from the consortium member 

submitting the component project application, if applicable. Form SF-LLL is only required 

if the consortium member applying has reportable lobbying activities.

(5) Non-Profit Documentation, if applicable: If the consortium member submitting the 

component project application is a non-profit organization that is not an institution of 

higher education, a copy of the applicant’s articles of incorporation, bylaws, and a current 

certificate of good standing.

(6) One Form SF-328 (Certificate Pertaining to Foreign Interests) from the consortium 

member submitting the component project application.
Section D: Application and Submission Information

Page 26 of 45

(7) One Component Project Risk Mitigation Plan, if applicable (not to exceed 4 single-sided 

8.5x11-inch pages, with a minimum 12-point font and 1-inch margins) that describes the 

specific cybersecurity, critical infrastructure security, intellectual property security, 

personnel security, and investment security activities relevant to the Component Project 

and aligned with the Overarching Risk Mitigation Plan.

(8) *Project-Specific Budget and Supplementary Materials, see charts below.

Applications for construction assistance components (including applications for design and 

engineering with construction activities) must include the following additional documents:

1. One Form SF-424C (Budget Information—Construction Programs) per project.

2. One Budget Narrative per project that clearly identifies and justifies how funds in each line 

item of the budget (Form SF-424C) will be used to support the proposed project. The 

Budget Narrative should specifically address each budget line item (including both the 

Federal Share and matching non-Federal Share), and the narrative total should match the 

total project costs listed in both the SF-424 question 18 line g and SF-424C (“Total Project 

Costs”). This includes describing any other Federal funds that have been secured or 

requested to support the project (see section A.1). The Budget Narrative should include 

itemized valuations of any in-kind matching funds. The non-Federal Share, whether in cash 

or in-kind, is expected to be paid out at the same general rate as the Federal Share; 

however, if the applicant’s Budget Narrative proposes otherwise, applicants must also 

include information that clearly indicates what project elements the matching share funds 

will support and explain why deviation from paying out at the same general rate is 

required for the project to be implemented. *Please note: In lieu of a separate Budget 

Narrative, this information may be included in the Preliminary Engineering Report as 

required by section C of the ED-900C.

3. One Form SF-424D (Assurances—Construction Programs) from each co-applicant, as 

applicable.

4. One Form ED-900B (Beneficiary Information Form) from each beneficiary of the proposed 

project, as applicable.

5. One Form ED-900C (EDA Application Supplement for Construction Programs) and 

accompanying supporting documentation, e.g., Preliminary Engineering Report.

6. One Form ED-900E (Calculation of Estimated Relocation and Land Acquisition Expenses).

7. Documentation of Matching Share for each matching share source, such as a commitment 

letter, board resolution, proof of bonding authority, or similar document, as applicable. 

8. Environmental Documentation that will enable EDA to comply with its NEPA 

responsibilities. A narrative outline that details required components may be accessed in 

EDA’s website at: https://www.eda.gov/sites/default/files/2023-01/07_EnvironmentalNarrative-Template-and-Application-Certification-Clause.docx. The documentation should 

reflect whether the component project is categorically excludable or should be a draft 

environmental assessment or environmental impact statement, as funded by the technical 

assistance award. Applicants should consult with the POC in section G of this NOFO to 

ensure the appropriate documentation is prepared.
Section D: Application and Submission Information

Page 27 of 45

9. One Applicant’s Certification Clause (see Appendix A to the environmental narrative 

noted above) completed separately and signed by each co-applicant, as applicable. 

10. Map of project site.

Applications for non-construction assistance must include the following additional documents:

1. One Form SF-424A (Budget Information—Non-Construction Programs).

2. One Budget Narrative that clearly identifies and justifies how funds in each line item of the 

budget (Form SF-424A) will be used to support the proposed project. The Budget Narrative 

should specifically address each budget line item (including both the Federal Share and 

matching non-Federal Share), and the narrative total should match the total project costs 

listed in both the SF-424 question 18 line g and SF-424A (“Totals”). This includes describing 

any other Federal funds that have been secured or requested to support the project (see 

section A.1). The Budget Narrative should include itemized valuations of any in-kind 

matching funds. The non-Federal Share, whether in cash or in-kind, is expected to be paid 

out at the same general rate as the Federal Share; however, if the applicant’s Budget 

Narrative proposes otherwise, applicants must also include information that clearly 

indicates what project elements the matching share funds will support and explain why 

deviation from paying out at the same general rate is required for the project to be 

implemented.

3. Documentation of Matching Share for each matching share source, such as a commitment 

letter, board resolution, proof of bonding authority, or similar document, as applicable.

The following table provides a complete list of documents required for a complete component project 

application: construction, design and engineering (without a construction component), and nonconstruction. 

Table: Summary of Required Documentation for Each Component Project

Documentation Construction Design & 

Engineering

NonConstruction

Component Project Narrative X X X

SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance) X X X

Matching Share Documentation X X X

CD-511 (Certification Regarding Lobbying) X X X

SF-LLL (If Applicable) X X X

SPOC Documentation (If Applicable) X X X

Indirect Cost Rate Documentation (If 

Applicable) X X
Section D: Application and Submission Information

Page 28 of 45

Organizational/Non-Profit Documentation (If 

Applicable) X X X

SF-328 (if applicable) X X X

Component Project Risk Mitigation Plan (if 

applicable) X X X

SF-424A (Budget Information—NonConstruction Programs)

X

SF-424C (Budget Information—Construction 

Programs) X X

SF-424D (Assurances—Construction 

Programs) X X

ED-900B (Beneficiary Information Form) from 

each beneficiary, as applicable X

ED-900C (EDA Application Supplement for 

Construction Programs) and supporting 

documentation, e.g., Preliminary Engineering 

Report (PER). 

X

ED-900D (Requirements for Design and 

Engineering Assistance) X

ED-900E (Calculation of Estimated Relocation 

and Land Acquisition Expenses) X

Environmental Narrative X X

Certification Clause (with environmental 

narrative) X X

Map X X

Budget Narrative X X X

All documentation and data submitted should be current and applicable as of the date submitted. 

Applicants are encouraged to contact the appropriate POC for technical assistance before submitting an 

application. EDA staff members are available to provide applicants with technical assistance regarding 

application requirements. Additionally, EDA may contact the applicant to clarify application materials 

received.
Section D: Application and Submission Information

Page 29 of 45

c. Environmental and Historic Preservation Requirements

All applicants for EDA construction assistance (including design and engineering assistance) are required 

to provide adequate environmental information. Each application will be reviewed by EDA for 

compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended. During the NEPA 

review process, applicants may be instructed to contact the designated State and/or Tribal Historic 

Preservation Officer (SHPO/THPO), provide approvals from other governmental agencies, or provide 

more detailed environmental information. EDA, after compliance with requirements for consultation 

with Federally-recognized Indian Tribes, may require applicants to participate in Tribal consultation, as 

necessary. The implementing regulations of NEPA require EDA to provide public notice of the availability 

of project-specific environmental documents, such as environmental impact statements, environmental 

assessments, findings of no significant impact, and records of decision, to the affected public. For further 

guidance and information, please refer to section G for a contact. Applicants will be notified of any 

changes to these requirements via Grants.gov.

d. Required Use of American Iron, Steel, Manufactured Products, and Construction Materials

and Compliance with Davis-Bacon

All applicants for EDA infrastructure construction under this NOFO are required to comply with the Build 

America, Buy America (BABA) Act as set forth in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. As required 

under BABA, none of the funds provided under any award in this program may be used for a project for 

infrastructure unless: 

1. all iron and steel used in the project are produced in the United States–this means all 

manufacturing processes, from the initial melting stage through the application of coatings, 

occurred in the United States; 

2. all manufactured products used in the project are produced in the United States—this means the 

manufactured product was manufactured in the United States; and the cost of the components of 

the manufactured product that are mined, produced, or manufactured in the United States is 

greater than 55 percent of the total cost of all components of the manufactured product, unless 

another standard for determining the minimum amount of domestic content of the manufactured 

product has been established under applicable law or regulation; and 

3. all construction materials are manufactured in the United States—this means that all 

manufacturing processes for the construction material occurred in the United States. BABA only 

applies to articles, materials, and supplies that are consumed in, incorporated into, or affixed to an 

infrastructure project. As such, these BABA requirements do not apply to tools, equipment, and 

supplies, such as temporary scaffolding, brought to the construction site and removed at or before 

the completion of the infrastructure project. Nor does BABA apply to equipment and furnishings, 

such as movable chairs, desks, and portable computer equipment, that are used at or within the 

finished infrastructure project but are not an integral part of the structure or permanently affixed to 

the infrastructure project. 

When necessary, recipients may apply for, and EDA may grant, a waiver from these requirements. EDA 

will notify the recipient of the process for requesting a waiver from these requirements upon request. A 

request to waive the application of BABA must be in writing. Waiver requests are subject to public 

comment periods of no less than 15 days and must be reviewed by the Office of Management and 

Budget’s Made in America Office. Further detail on BABA and the waiver process is described at 

https://www.madeinamerica.gov. 
Section D: Application and Submission Information

Page 30 of 45

In addition, the Recipient and any subrecipients, must, comply and require each of its contractors and 

subcontractors employed in the completion of the Project to comply with the Davis-Bacon Act, as 

amended (40 U.S.C. §§ 3141–3144, 3146, 3147; 42 U.S.C. § 3212). The Davis-Bacon Act requires

minimum wages for mechanics and laborers employed on Federal Government public works projects to

be based on the wages that the Secretary of Labor determines to be prevailing for the corresponding

classes of laborers and mechanics employed on projects of a character similar to the contract work in 

the civil subdivision of the State in which the Project is to be performed, or in the District of Columbia if

the Project is to be performed there.

e. Copy of Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable)

As noted in EDA’s Standard Terms and Conditions for Construction Projects (Construction ST&Cs) (see 

section F.2.b., below), indirect costs are generally not applicable to construction awards.

If indirect costs are included in the budget for non-construction projects, the applicant must include 

documentation to support the indirect cost rate they are using (unless claiming the 10 percent de 

minimis indirect cost rate, discussed below). The applicant must submit a copy of its current, approved, 

and negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA). The maximum dollar amount of allocable indirect 

costs for which EDA will reimburse a recipient will be the lesser of the (i) line-item amount for the 

federal share of indirect costs contained in the EDA-approved budget for the award, or (ii) federal share 

of the total allocable indirect costs of the award based on either (a) the indirect cost rate approved by 

EDA (or applicable cognizant federal agency), provided that the cost rate is current at the time the costs 

were incurred and provided that the rate is approved on or before the award end date, or (b) other 

acceptable documentation as indicated below.

If the applicant does not have a current or pending NICRA, it may propose indirect costs in its budget; 

however, the applicant must prepare and submit an allocation plan and rate proposal for approval 

within ninety calendar days from the award start date (unless claiming the 10 percent de minimis 

indirect cost rate, discussed below). See 2 C.F.R. part 200 Apps. III, IV, V, VI, VII for guidance. The 

allocation plan and the rate proposal shall be submitted to EDA’s Office of Regional Affairs (or the 

applicable cognizant federal agency). The applicant should include a statement in its Budget Narrative 

that it does not have a current or pending NICRA and will submit an allocation plan and rate proposal to 

EDA or the applicant’s cognizant federal agency for approval.

In accordance with 2 CFR § 200.414(f), an applicant that does not have a current negotiated or 

provisional NICRA, may elect to charge a de minimis rate of 10 percent of modified total direct costs 

(subject to the exceptions of § 200.414(f)). No documentation is required to justify the 10 percent de 

minimis indirect cost rate; however, an applicant electing to charge a de minimis rate of 10 percent 

must include a statement in its Budget Narrative that it does not have a current negotiated (including 

provisional) rate and is electing to charge the de minimis rate.

If the applicant is a state or local unit of government that receives less than $35 million in direct federal 

funding per year it may submit any of the following:

• a NICRA; 

• a Certificate of Indirect Costs from the Department of the Interior (DOI) or EDA (See: 

https://www.eda.gov/sites/default/files/filebase/archives/2021/files/tools/granteeforms/Certificate-of-Indirect-Costs-template.pdf);

• an acknowledgment received from EDA and a Certificate of Indirect Costs in the form prescribed 

at 2 C.F.R. pt. 200, app. VII; or
Section D: Application and Submission Information

Page 31 of 45

• a Cost Allocation Plan approved by a federal agency (note that cost allocation plans or indirect 

cost rates approved by state agencies are not acceptable).

f. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM)

Applicants are required to: (i) be registered in SAM; (ii) provide a valid unique entity identifier (UEI) in 

the application; (iii) make certain certifications (see also section H.5 of this NOFO); and (iv) continue to 

maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which they have an 

active federal award, or an application or plan under consideration by a federal awarding agency. EDA 

may not make a federal award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable UEI 

and SAM requirements and, if an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time the 

EDA is ready to make an award, EDA may determine that the applicant is not qualified. Recipients will be 

subject to reporting requirements, as identified in OMB guidance published at 2 C.F.R. parts 25 and 170. 

All subawardees must have a UEI before any subawards are made.

3. Submission Dates and Times

The deadline for Phase 2 Applications is 4:59 p.m. Eastern Time on February 29, 2024. Applications 

received after this deadline will not be reviewed or considered. Only applicants that were Designated as 

Technology Hubs in Phase 1 are permitted to apply to Phase 2. 

EDA may amend, cancel, or withdraw the Tech Hubs Phase 2 NOFO at any time.

4. Intergovernmental Review

Applications are subject to the requirements of Executive Order (EO) 12372, “Intergovernmental Review 

of Federal Programs,” if a State has adopted a process under EO 12372 to review and coordinate 

proposed Federal financial assistance and direct Federal development (commonly referred to as the 

“single point of contact review process”). All applicants must give States and local governments a 

reasonable opportunity to review and comment on the proposed Project, including review and 

comment from area-wide planning organizations in metropolitan areas. To find out more about a State’s 

process under EO 12372, applicants may contact their State’s Single Point of Contact (SPOC). Names and 

addresses of some States’ SPOCs are listed on OMB’s website at https://www.whitehouse.gov/wpcontent/uploads/2023/06/SPOC-list-as-of-2023.pdf. 

Based on the applicant’s State, EDA requires the following documentation:

State does not 

participate No documentation required—check SF-424 box 19(c).

State participates; this 

grant program not 

subject to review

Documentation (e.g., a State executive order, a letter from the 

SPOC) showing that this grant program is not subject to review—

provide the documentation as an attachment to the application

and check SF-424 box 19(b).

State participates; this 

grant program subject 

to review

Documentation (e.g., a letter from the SPOC) with comments or 

indicating that this project was not selected for review, or, if the 

comment period has expired or comments were not received, a 

copy of the applicant’s request for comments (e.g., email)—

provide the documentation as an attachment to the application

and check SF-424 box 19(a).
Section E: Application Review Information

Page 32 of 45

5. Funding Restrictions

EDA will not reimburse pre-award project costs under this NOFO. Under no circumstances will EDA or 

DOC be held responsible for application preparation expenditures, which are distinguished from preaward project costs.

It is DOC policy that funds may not be used to pay for management fees in excess of costs or profits, 

unless statutorily authorized. Additionally, the use of project funds to make equity or hybrid 

investments in businesses is not an allowable cost. 

Funds may not be used, directly or indirectly as an offset for other funds, to support or oppose collective 

bargaining.

6. Other Submission Requirements

After EDA reviews an application, EDA may contact the applicant to request additional documentation 

to clarify or substantiate submitted application materials, depending on the type of project proposed. 

Examples of additional documentation may include, but are not limited to, title verification, 

documentation of the value of in-kind contributions, evidence all funding is available and committed to 

the project, proof of eligibility (e.g., organizational documentation such as articles of incorporation, 

bylaws, and a current certificate of good standing), or documentation required for environmental or 

legal compliance. This additional documentation will be required to ensure that the proposed project 

complies with all applicable rules and regulations prior to EDA’s issuance of an award. EDA will provide 

applicants a reasonable amount of time to provide any additional documentation. Failure to provide 

complete and accurate supporting documentation in a timely manner when requested by EDA may 

result in the denial of an application.

7. EDGE Systems Issues

If you experience a systems issue with EDGE (i.e., a technical problem or glitch with the platform) that 

you believe threatens your ability to complete a submission, please (i) print any error message 

received; (ii) email the help desk at GrantHDSupport@eda.gov; and (iii) contact EDA using the contact 

information in Section G. of this NOFO. Please be sure to track your issue using a case number given to 

you by the help desk. Please note that problems with an applicant’s computer system or equipment 

are not considered systems issues. Similarly, an applicant’s failure to, e.g., (i) complete the required 

registration, (ii) ensure that a registered Authorized Representative submits the application, or (iii) 

notice receipt of an email message from EDGE are not considered systems issues. An EDGE issue is an 

issue occurring in connection with the operations of the website itself, such as the temporary loss of 

service due to unexpected volume of traffic or failure of information technology systems, both of 

which are highly unlikely. In the event of a confirmed systems issue, EDA reserves the right to accept 

an application in an alternate format.

Applicants should go to sfgrants.eda.gov and click on the Resources page for assistance in navigating 

EDGE and for a list of useful resources.

E. Application Review Information

Throughout the review and selection process, EDA reserves the right to seek clarification in writing from 

applicants whose application packages are being reviewed. EDA may additionally ask applicants to clarify 

application materials, objectives, and work plans, or modify budgets or other specifics necessary to 

comply with Federal requirements. EDA may also use statistical methods to normalize the scoring. EDA 

will screen submitted materials to verify that all required forms are complete, and all required 

documentation is included. Applications that do not contain all elements listed in section Error! R
Section E: Application Review Information

Page 33 of 45

eference source not found. will not be reviewed, with limited exceptions where non-substantive missing 

information or forms can be supplied after original submission. EDA, in its sole discretion, may continue 

the review process for applications with non-substantive issues that may be easily rectified or cured.

1. Criteria, Review, and Selection Process

a. Implementation Grants Review

For all consortia that submit a Full Application for Implementation Grants, the entire application, 

including the Overarching Narrative and all Component Projects, will be evaluated by at least three 

individuals and scored against the below criteria. While EDA will evaluate the portfolio of component 

projects within a Tech Hub application holistically, individual component projects within a proposed 

application may not get funded, and EDA expects in some cases to negotiate the scope and nature of 

certain component projects or the overall mix of projects.

26

 

EDA expects any region capable of becoming a globally competitive technology hub must be able to 

address the listed criteria, which serve as a strategic planning framework for any region pursuing this 

goal and which form the basis of a useful exercise even for those that do not receive implementation 

funding in this first Tech Hubs implementation funding competition.

The criteria and their respective point values follow; applications can earn a maximum of 80 points:

1. Project quality, ability to execute, and private sector integration. (16 points) Under this criterion, 

EDA will assess the evidence and analyses that underlie the projects’ design, the Hub’s ability to 

execute in light of the projects’ plans (e.g., are staffing plans, timelines, and goals unrealistic, 

subawards overly complicated, are benchmarks realistic), the interconnections and interfaces 

among the component projects, and the role of the private sector, including how the Hub leverages 

private capital. In evaluating proposals against this criterion, EDA will consider questions such as—

• How likely is it that the Hub can successfully execute the proposed work to completion?

• How strongly do the Component Projects align with and complement each other, the overarching 

approach, and other relevant Federally funded work?

• How will you leverage and build on the existing innovation assets in the Hub?

• To what extent do the component projects accelerate technology innovation, development, and 

maturation, and how does collaboration among the Hub’s consortium members and other regional 

actors increase the likelihood, magnitude, and speed of innovation, production, and delivery of new 

technologies?

• How strongly is the private sector engaged, how many quality firms are strong participating 

consortium members, and is their engagement and participation aligned with and key to the Hub’s 

strategy?

• What makes the firms—and their engagement and participation—high quality and relevant?

• Has the Hub identified customers for its technology products and services (and for relevant 

companies in the supply chain)?

• What new good jobs will the private sector create to satisfy new or increased demand for these 

products and services? 

This criterion includes the statutory considerations found at 15 U.S.C. § 3722a(h)(1) (potential to 

advance development, deployment, and domestic manufacturing KTFA), (4) (how the consortium will 

26 Individual component projects not funded as part of a Tech Hub may be funded under another EDA NOFO.
Section E: Application Review Information

Page 34 of 45

engage with the private sector), (8) (organization of activities of regional partners), (11) (alignment of 

education institutions’ activities with selected core technology area), and (12) (sustainability of the 

consortium).

2. Impact on economic and national security. (16 points) Under this criterion, EDA will assess the 

extent to which the Tech Hub’s strategy will likely lead to inclusive growth and long-term stability in 

the chosen geography and to a globally competitive industry cluster in a selected core technology 

area aligned with United States economic and national security goals within a decade. In evaluating 

proposals against this criterion, EDA will consider questions such as—

• How does the Hub’s increased competitiveness in the selected core technology area increase 

economic resilience and stability of the chosen geography?

• How does it inclusively increase the economic prosperity of individuals within the Hub across 

communities and populations?

• What is the selected core technology area’s forecasted relevance and importance in the future of 

the global economy?

• How will the Hub’s leadership in this technology area support a more secure United States?

• How likely is it that both the innovation and manufacturing of these technologies will remain in the 

United States?

• How robust is the Hub’s plan to protect U.S. national and economic security and mitigate risk?

• To what extent does the plan address national priorities ranging among climate change, supply 

chain resiliency, accelerating the pace of innovation in critical technologies27, and beyond?

• How will entities and individuals protect access to and use, production, delivery, and deployment of 

these technologies, including relevant intellectual property and know-how? 

This criterion includes the statutory considerations found at 15 U.S.C. § 3722a(h)(1) (potential to 

advance development, deployment, and domestic manufacturing of technologies critical to national 

security and economic competitiveness), (2) (likelihood of positive regional economic effect), and (13) 

(enhance economic, environmental, and energy security of the U.S. by promoting domestic innovative 

clean technologies and advanced manufacturing practices).

3. Investment and policy commitments. (16 points) Under this criterion, EDA will assess the 

commitments’ relevance to and alignment with the Hub’s strategy and component projects, the 

magnitude or significance of the commitments, and their expected and likely impacts. In evaluating 

proposals against this criterion, EDA will consider questions such as—

• How specific, timely, and relevant are the commitments that the Hub’s consortium members and 

partners across organizational types and sectors (e.g., public, private, nonprofit, etc.) have made?

• How much additional investment will the Hub’s projects attract and crowd in?

• What are the nature (for-profit, patient, first-loss, philanthropic, etc.) and magnitude of the 

intended impacts of the commitments, and how likely are the commitments to result in those 

impacts? 

27 See, e.g., National Science and Technology Council, Critical and Emerging Technologies List Update (Feb. 2022); 

Department of Defense, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, USD(R&E) 

Technology Vision for an Era of Competition (Feb. 2022); Office of the Director of National Intelligence, FY2022-

2026 ODNI S&T Investment Landscape.
Section E: Application Review Information

Page 35 of 45

As a companion to this NOFO, EDA will publish a commitment guide, and we expect applicants and 

partners to use the included template to demonstrate and submit investment and policy commitments.

This criterion includes the statutory considerations found at 15 U.S.C. § 3722a(h)(3) (leverage the 

resources of federally funded research and development), (9) (support local and regional businesses 

through procurement), and (11) (alignment of education institutions’ activities).

4. Developing, recruiting, and retaining talent and workforce. (8 points) Under this criterion, EDA will 

assess the Hub’s current talent pool alongside the nature and feasibility of its strategy to maintain, 

strengthen, and grow that pool, as well as the extent to which the Hub’s strategy is centered on and 

considers the needs and potential of the region’s workers and their access to good jobs. In 

evaluating proposals against this criterion, EDA will consider questions such as—

• What is the Hub’s current market of researchers, entrepreneurs, financiers, inventors, and workers?

• Where are the largest skill needs?

• How will the Hub address those skill needs, and how can EDA be confident these approaches are 

likely to succeed?

• How will the Hub continuously and iteratively evolve talent development, recruitment, and 

retention strategies alongside evolving demand for talent and while improving job quality?

• To what extent are workforce development projects employer-led, and have employers made 

concrete commitments to hire?

• How will employers support the retention of workers?

• How will the Hub ensure equitable access to workforce training programs and good jobs, including 

through recruitment for training programs and wraparound services?

• Is there adequate housing to support the influx of workers? If not, what are the plans to permit and 

develop the necessary housing?

• How effectively are labor organizations or labor federations and other organizations representing 

workers integrated into the Hub, its proposed projects, and target outcomes? 

This criterion includes the statutory considerations found at 15 U.S.C. § 3722a(h)(2) (likelihood of 

increasing the number of high wage domestic jobs), (5) (workforce development and skills acquisition 

programming), (6) (STEM opportunities), and (10) (ensure that growth produces opportunity across the 

identified region and for economically disadvantaged, minority, underrepresented and rural 

populations).

5. Capital formation, deployment, and access. (8 points) Under this criterion, EDA will assess the 

Hub’s current capital ecosystem, how the Hub proposes to address gaps in that ecosystem that 

affect companies in the Hub’s selected core technology area, and the feasibility that component 

projects and commitments will materially improve access to capital. In evaluating proposals against 

this criterion, EDA will consider questions such as—

• How much and what types of capital can entrepreneurs and growing companies—new or 

established—access in the Hub?

• What magnitudes or types of capital are easily accessible, and which are difficult to access or 

nonexistent?

• Do entrepreneurs and businesses have access to enough capital to start and grow? How will the 

Hub overcome the identified gaps? 

This criterion includes the statutory considerations found at 15 U.S.C. § 3722a(h)(7) (how the eligible 

consortium plans to develop partnerships with community development financial institutions, minority 

depository institutions, and other sources of private investment in support of private sector activity).
Section E: Application Review Information

Page 36 of 45

6. Equity and diversity. (8 points). Under this criterion, EDA will assess proposed strategies, 

approaches, key metrics, and projects that increase equitable economic growth and ensure that 

underserved communities are represented in and benefit from the Hub. In evaluating proposals 

against this criterion, EDA will consider questions such as—

• Who benefits from the Hub’s activities and the desired economic growth?

• How meaningfully does the Hub engage underserved communities (including but not limited to 

women, Black, Latino, and Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans, and Pacific 

Islanders) in planning, and how will benefits of the Hub’s growth be shared equitably (including but 

not limited to the extent to which the Hub’s activities will increase the number of high-wage, highquality domestic jobs—including union jobs—available to residents)?

• Will the Hub create new opportunities for economically disadvantaged and underrepresented 

populations (including rural populations), whether through new career paths or through increased 

participation of underserved businesses or communities?

• What approaches are being used to build and retain wealth for underserved and disadvantaged 

populations to support equitable and inclusive and development?

• Did the applicant propose meaningful plans that are highly likely to ensure that economic 

opportunities are increased for all underserved populations? 

This criterion includes the statutory considerations found at 15 U.S.C. § 3722a(h)(2) (creating new 

economic opportunities for economically disadvantaged and underrepresented populations), (5) 

(partnerships with community colleges, HBCUs, MSIs, Tribal Colleges and Universities), (9) (support of 

local and regional businesses through procurement), and (10) (ensure that growth produces 

opportunities across the region and for economically disadvantaged, minority, underrepresented and 

rural populations; consider affordable housing availability and primary and secondary education).

7. Governance, leadership, and evaluation. (8 points) Under this criterion, EDA will assess the strength 

of the consortium’s leadership team and RIO (or its plan to identify and hire one) and the framework 

and mechanisms the consortium will use to govern its activities, measure progress, build evidence, 

and continuously improve. In evaluating proposals against this criterion, EDA will consider questions 

such as—

• How will the Hub coordinate and govern its consortium?

• How will the Hub strengthen the culture and concentration of innovation in its chosen geography?

• How are the Hub’s innovation and other critical assets closely and durably interconnected?

• Where relevant to the Hub and its vision, to what extent has the consortium secured or is it trying to 

secure other sources of capital, and how are those funds complementary to and aligned with each 

other and the proposed funding for EDA?

• What is the makeup of the Hub’s leadership team, including the Regional Innovation Officer (RIO),

28

and how does the Hub plan to maintain the strength and effectiveness of that team for a decade or 

more (including as the membership of that team evolves)?

• To what extent are Hub leadership involved in existing technology- and innovation-centric economic 

initiatives?

28 Salaries for the RIO and other key leadership roles must be funded for five years. Consortia will not be 

negatively evaluated if they cannot find independent funding for these expenses, but they must include those 

costs in one or more component applications.
Section E: Application Review Information

Page 37 of 45

• How will the consortium, its leadership, and its members measure and evaluate success?

• How will the consortium approach challenges as an opportunity to learn and improve? 

This criterion includes the statutory considerations found at 15 U.S.C. § 3722a(h)(8) (organization of 

activities of regional partners) and (11) (alignment of education institutions activities with selected core 

technology area).

EDA will sort the resultant scores into tiers of similarly scored applications, and some or all applications 

will advance to a second level review by an Investment Review Committee (IRC) of at least three 

reviewers. The IRC will review the applications collectively using the same criteria listed above and 

relevant selection factors. EDA may, in its discretion and including at the IRC’s request, consult experts 

outside of EDA on the merits of proposed component projects to assist the IRC in its evaluation. The IRC 

will present the Selection Official with a recommended portfolio of applications and how to apply the 

selection factors discussed in section E.2. below.

EDA’s final decision on whether to fund a project in Phase 2 is dependent upon the ability of the 

applicant to provide sufficient documentation of the project’s compliance with applicable rules and 

regulations. 

EDA at its discretion may fund all or only some of the originally proposed component projects and may 

negotiate with applicants on the scope and nature of certain component project applications of the 

overall mix of applications depending on the viability and feasibility of those components and the 

availability of funds.

b. Due Diligence

If application is recommended for funding, the applicant still may have to complete certain due diligence 

requirements. After an application has been reviewed and evaluated, EDA may request that the 

applicant submit additional documents and information to allow EDA to fully evaluate compliance with 

applicable rules and regulations, including organizational documentation such as articles of 

incorporation, bylaws, and a current certificate of good standing. 

In the case of construction projects, such additional due diligence may include:

i. Title verification (e.g., proof of project ownership); 

ii. Documentation of matching funds; and

iii. Documentation required for environmental or legal compliance. This may include, but is 

not limited to: 404 Clean Water Act permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and 

accompanying environmental documentation (environmental assessment or 

environmental impact statement), Phase I and Phase II environmental assessments, 

state environmental assessment documentation (for compliance with state 

environmental statutes such as the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) or 

the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)), archeological and biological surveys, 

and proof of coordination with resource agencies.

If the applicant provides the requested information and supporting documentation in a timely fashion 

and EDA determines the project is fully compliant with applicable rules and regulations, the application 

will be forwarded to the Grants Officer for a final decision. Applicants that do not provide the additional 

information and supporting documentation in a timely fashion or who are deemed not to be in 

compliance with applicable rules and regulations will receive notification their application was not 

successful.
Section E: Application Review Information

Page 38 of 45

c. Security, Resilience, and Cybersecurity

It is the policy of the United States to strengthen the security and resilience of its critical infrastructure 

against all hazards, including physical and cyber risks, consistent with Presidential Policy Directive 21 -

Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience29 and the National Security Memorandum on Improving 

Cybersecurity for Critical Infrastructure Control Systems.30 Each applicant selected for Federal funding 

under this notice must demonstrate, prior to the signing of the grant agreement, effort to consider and 

address physical and cyber security and privacy risks relevant to the type and scale of the project. 

Projects that have not appropriately considered and addressed physical and cyber security and 

resilience in their planning, design, and project oversight, as determined by the Department of 

Commerce and the Department of Homeland Security, will be required to do so before receiving funds.

Regarding Cybersecurity, applicants must describe in their Risk Mitigation Plan measures taken to 

ensure that practices are consistent with current industry best practices for cybersecurity, such as the 

NIST Cybersecurity Framework31 and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) 

Cybersecurity Performance Goals (CPGs)32 and relevant privacy regulations. These performance goals 

provide a baseline set of cybersecurity practices broadly applicable across critical infrastructure with 

known risk-reduction value, a benchmark for critical infrastructure operators to measure and improve 

their cybersecurity maturity, and a combination of recommended practices for information technology 

(IT) and operational technology (OT) owners, including a prioritized set of security practices.

d. Intellectual Property Protection

Innovation and technology advancement are critical to maintaining and strengthening economic and 

national security positions. Strategic competitors target intellectual property, know-how, and related 

information and data to challenge U.S. leadership in emerging technologies.33 The evolving threat 

landscape, coupled with today’s digitized world, provides a large attack surface for adversaries to steal, 

compromise, alter, or destroy sensitive information that is critical to economic and national security. 

The Department seeks applicants that have made themselves resilient to these attacks, and applicants 

must describe in their Risk Mitigation Plan how they will protect intellectual property and control access 

to and use of technologies. The Department will evaluate projects based on their ability to mitigate risks

related to intellectual property theft and transfers of knowledge and know-how (see, e.g., the criterion 

set forth in section E.1.a.2) to adverse or malign actors, including those posed by insider threats;

external influence from foreign entities of concern; dependence on foreign-owned, -sourced, or -

directed inputs, equipment, or expertise; and espionage. 

2. Selection Official’s Decision

Implementation Grant applications recommended for funding and also deemed fully compliant with 

applicable rules and regulations, will be forwarded for final selection review and approval by the 

29 Presidential Policy Directive/PPD-21, Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience (Feb. 12, 2013).

30 National Security Memorandum on Improving Cybersecurity for Critical Infrastructure Control Systems (Jul. 28, 

2021).

31 National Institute of Standards and Technology, Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity 

Version 1.1 (Apr. 16, 2018).

32 Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency, Cross-Sector Cybersecurity Performance Goals, 

https://www.cisa.gov/cross-sector-cybersecurity-performance-goals.

33 National Counterintelligence and Security Center, Protecting Critical and Emerging U.S. Technologies from 

Foreign Threats (Oct. 2021).
Section E: Application Review Information

Page 39 of 45

Selection Official. The Selection Official will select a portfolio of Implementation Grants to fund based on 

the recommendations of the IRC and the selection factors listed below. The final portfolio may differ 

from the recommendations of the IRC to ensure the selection factors below are adequately met:

i. The extent to which the application meets the overall objectives of section 28 of StevensonWydler (15 U.S.C. § 3722a); 

ii. The applicant’s performance under previous Federal financial assistance awards, including 

whether the grantee submitted required performance reports and data; 

iii. The availability of program funding; 

iv. The extent to which the application includes a feasible plan that accounts for the specific 

needs of historically underserved areas and populations with a high likelihood that those 

populations will realize an equitable share of the project’s benefits; 

v. To achieve balance in the portfolio across geographies, populations, and technologies, 

including but not limited to the maturity of those technologies;

vi. The feasibility of the applicant’s overall strategy and of its Component Projects, individually 

and in combination;

vii. The extent to which the application will significantly benefit a small and rural community;

viii. The extent to which the application’s consortium includes a member that is a State or 

territory that is eligible to receive funding from NSF’s Established Program to Stimulate 

Competitive Research (EPSCoR);

ix. The extent to which the consortium is headquartered in a low population State that is 

eligible to receive funding from NSF’s EPSCoR;

x. The extent to which the application significantly engages and benefits underserved 

communities in and near metropolitan areas; 

xi. The extent to which the application leverages institutions of higher education serving 

populations historically underrepresented in STEM, including Historically Black Colleges and 

Universities, Tribal Colleges or Universities, and Minority-Serving Institutions; and

xii. The extent to which the application would significantly benefit a region whose economy 

significantly relies on or has recently relied on coal, oil, or natural gas production or 

development. 

The Selection Official will prepare a final list of recommendations for funding and document the 

rationale for its selections.

3. Review of Responsibility/Qualification Information in SAM.gov

EDA, prior to making a Federal award with a total amount of Federal Share greater than the simplified 

acquisition threshold, is required to review and consider any information about the applicant that is in 

the designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM (formerly FAPIIS). See 41 

U.S.C. § 2313.

Each applicant, at its option, may review information in the designated integrity and performance 

system accessible through SAM and comment on any information about itself that a Federal awarding 

agency previously entered and is currently in the designated integrity and performance system 

accessible through SAM. EDA will consider any comments by the applicant, in addition to the other 

information in the designated integrity and performance system, in making a judgment about the 
Section F: Federal Award Administration Information

Page 40 of 45

applicant's integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under Federal awards when completing 

the review of risk posed by applicants as described in 2 C.F.R. § 200.206.

F. Federal Award Administration Information

1. Federal Award Notice

If an applicant successfully and timely completes all due diligence requirements and the application is 

selected for funding, EDA will notify the successful applicant in writing. This notice is not an 

authorization to begin work, however; work should not be undertaken until the award is signed by EDA 

and the applicant’s authorized representative, as discussed below. 

The EDA Grants Officer will issue the award (Notice of Award), which is the authorizing financial 

assistance award document and includes Specific Award Conditions and the DOC Financial Assistance 

Standard Terms and Conditions (DOC ST&Cs), as described in section F.2.b., below.

By accepting the Notice of Award, the applicant agrees to comply with all award provisions. EDA will 

provide the Notice of Award to the applicant’s authorized representative through EDGE. The applicant’s 

authorized representative must review and accept the Notice of Award without modification within 30 

calendar days of the date of receipt.

If an applicant is awarded funding, neither DOC nor EDA is under any obligation to provide any 

additional future funding in connection with that award or to make any future award(s). Amendment or 

renewal of an award to increase funding or to extend the period of performance is at the discretion of 

DOC and EDA. 

EDA will notify unsuccessful applicants in writing to the applicant’s authorized representative. EDA will 

retain unsuccessful applications in accordance with EDA’s record retention schedule. 

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

a. Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements

Recipients of an EDA award will be bound by the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, 

and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance) as set forth in 2 C.F.R. part 200.

b. DOC Financial Assistance Standard Terms and Conditions 

Recipients of all non-construction EDA awards will be bound by the DOC ST&Cs applicable on the date of 

the award. The DOC ST&Cs may be accessed at the following website: 

http://www.osec.doc.gov/oam/grants_management/policy/default.htm.

Recipients of an EDA construction award will be bound by EDA’s Construction ST&Cs. The Construction 

ST&Cs may be accessed at https://www.eda.gov/grant-resources/find-grant-resources/granteeguidance/construction-awards under the header “Standard Terms and Conditions for RLF and 

Construction Projects.”

Recipients of DOC financial assistance are obligated to comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 

1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin, and Section 504 of the 

Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities, in Federally 

assisted programs or activities. Recipients of Federal financial assistance are obligated to comply with 

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in their 

Federally assisted education or training programs or activities. 
Section G: Federal Awarding Agency Contact

Page 41 of 45

c. DOC Pre- Award Notification Requirements

DOC will apply the Pre-Award Notification Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements 

effective December 26, 2014, 79 Fed. Reg. 78,390. The Pre-Award Notice may be accessed at the 

Government Printing Office (GPO) website at https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2014-12-

30/pdf/2014-30297.pdf. 

3. Reporting 

a. Reporting Frequency and Format

All recipients are required to submit financial, performance, and impact reports in accordance with the 

terms and conditions of the grant award, generally no less than semi-annually. All project progress and 

financial reports must be submitted to the applicable EDA program officer in an electronic format to be 

determined at the time of award.

b. Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006

The Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 includes a requirement for awardees 

of applicable Federal grants to report information about first-tier subawards and executive 

compensation under Federal assistance awards issued in FY 2011 or later. All awardees of applicable 

grants and cooperative agreements are required to report to the Federal Subaward Reporting System 

(FSRS) available at www.FSRS.gov on all subawards over $30,000. See 2 C.F.R. part 170.

c. Performance Reporting and Evaluation

EDA will require additional data on activities, outputs, and outcomes of the funded investment, in part 

to fulfill the requirements of the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA). EDA anticipates that 

recipients will be expected to track their engagement activities within the scope of work, with project 

beneficiaries, and other project stakeholders. EDA further anticipates recipients will be expected to 

collect data, using surveys of beneficiaries or clients if necessary, on the outputs and outcomes of 

project activities, such as jobs created/retained, private investment attracted, the number of strategic 

plans or economic development tools developed, the number of new business partnerships formed, or 

the range of new capabilities acquired. EDA plans to collect this information using Forms ED-915 (Public 

Works, Economic Adjustment Infrastructure and Revolving Loan Fund Investments), ED-916 (Semiannual Program Outputs Questionnaire for EDA grantees), ED-917 (Annual Capacity Outcomes 

Questionnaire for EDA Grantees serving clients), and ED-918 (Annual Capacity Outcomes Questionnaire 

for EDA Grantees). For more information, please refer to https://www.eda.gov/performance/gpra. EDA 

may also engage with external entities to perform third-party program evaluations, which will require 

cooperation between the grantee, organizations within their service area, and the evaluating 

institution(s).

d. Requirements for Recipients with More than $10 Million in Federal-wide Funding

As required by appendix XII to 2 C.F.R. part 200, a recipient with more than $10 million in federal-wide 

funding must maintain the currency of information reported to SAM that is made available in the 

designated integrity and performance system (formerly FAPIIS) about civil criminal, or administrative 

proceedings.

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact

For questions concerning this Tech Hubs Phase 2 NOFO or for more information about EDA

programs, you may contact techhubs@eda.gov. EDA’s website at http://www.eda.gov provides 

additional information on EDA and its programs.
Section H: Other Information

Page 42 of 45

H. Other Information

1. Right to Use Information

The applicant acknowledges and understands that information and data contained in applications for 

financial assistance, as well as information and data contained in financial, performance and other 

reports submitted by applicants, may be used by the Department of Commerce in conducting reviews 

and evaluations of its financial assistance programs. For this purpose, applicant information and data 

may be accessed, reviewed, and evaluated by Department of Commerce employees, other Federal 

employees, and also by Federal agents and contractors, and/or by non-Federal personnel, all of whom 

enter into appropriate conflict of interest and confidentiality agreements covering the use of such 

information. As may be provided in the terms and conditions of a specific financial assistance award, 

applicants are expected to support program reviews and evaluations by submitting required financial 

and performance information and data in an accurate and timely manner, and by cooperating with 

Department of Commerce and external program evaluators. In accordance with 2 C.F.R. § 200.303(e), 

applicants are reminded that they must take reasonable measures to safeguard protected personally 

identifiable information and other confidential or sensitive personal or business information created or 

obtained in connection with a Department of Commerce financial assistance award.

2. Freedom of Information Act Disclosure

EDA may publish any applications it receives, including any supporting documentation, on its website or 

through other means. 

In addition, Department of Commerce regulations implementing the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 

5 U.S.C. § 552, are found at 15 C.F.R. part 4, Public Information. These regulations set forth rules for the 

Department of Commerce regarding making requested materials, information, and records publicly 

available under the FOIA. Applications submitted in response to this Notice of Funding Opportunity may 

be subject to requests for release under the Act. In the event that an application contains information or 

data that the applicant deems to be confidential commercial information that should be exempt from 

disclosure under FOIA, that information should be identified, bracketed, and marked as Privileged, 

Confidential, Commercial or Financial Information. In accordance with 15 C.F.R. § 4.9, the Department of 

Commerce will protect from disclosure confidential business information contained in financial 

assistance applications and other documentation provided by applicants to the extent permitted by law.

3. Notice of Government-Wide Procurement Restriction

The general rule for Federal financial assistance is that contractors that develop draft specifications, 

requirements, statements of work, invitations for bids or requests for proposals are prohibited from 

competing for the final procurement. For instance, a professional engineer or architect who prepared 

the Preliminary Engineering Report for an EDA application would be excluded from bidding on the same 

work under the award under 2 C.F.R § 200.319. Under 2 C.F.R. 200.317, only State recipients are 

expressly exempt from this prohibition. Local governments and Indian Tribes may also take advantage of 

the exemption in two narrow circumstances: (i) if they are required (by statute, for example) to follow 

the State’s procurement rules in full and without exception; or (ii) if they are required to follow a 

specific State procurement rule that creates an explicit conflict with the prohibition in 2 C.F.R. § 

200.319(a) (i.e., there is a statute that requires or permits the local government or Indian Tribe to award 

the final procurement to the same contractor that developed the draft specifications). Absent one of 

these two scenarios, the local government or Indian Tribe must comply with the prohibition. Applicants 

are encouraged to contact EDA using the contact information in Section G. of this Phase 2 NOFO with 

any questions regarding application of this regulation.
Section H: Other Information

Page 43 of 45

4. Past Performance and Non-Compliance with Award Provisions

Unsatisfactory performance under prior Federal awards may result in an application not being 

considered for funding. Failure to comply with any or all of the provisions of an award may have a 

negative impact on future funding by the DOC (or any of its operating units) may be considered grounds 

for any or all of the following actions: (1) establishing an account receivable; (2) withholding payments 

to the recipient under any DOC award(s); (3) changing the method of payment from advance to 

reimbursement only; (4) imposing other specific award conditions; (5) suspending any active DOC 

award(s); and (6) terminating any active DOC award(s).

5. Certifications Required by Annual Appropriations Acts for Corporations and for Awards over 

$5 Million

As discussed in section D.2.f., all applicants are required to be registered in SAM before applying under 

this NOFO. SAM requires registering entities to certify compliance with all limitations imposed by annual 

appropriation acts. For corporations, this certification includes that the corporation: 

(a) Was not convicted of a felony criminal violation under a Federal law within the preceding 24 

months, unless a Federal agency has considered suspension or debarment of the corporation 

and made a determination that this further action is not necessary to protect the interests of 

the Government; and/or 

(b) Does not have any unpaid Federal tax liability that has been assessed, for which all judicial 

and administrative remedies have been exhausted or have lapsed, and that is not being paid in a 

timely manner pursuant to an agreement with the authority responsible for collecting the tax 

liability, unless a Federal agency has considered suspension or debarment of the corporation 

and made a determination that this further action is not necessary to protect the interests of 

the Government.

For financial assistance awards in excess of $5 million, this certification includes that the entity: 

(a) To the best of its knowledge and belief, has filed all Federal tax returns required during the 

three years preceding the certification; 

(b) Has not been convicted of a criminal offense under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; 

and/or 

(c) Has not been notified, more than 90 days prior to certification, of any unpaid Federal tax 

assessment for which the liability remains unsatisfied, unless the assessment is the subject of an 

installment agreement or offer in compromise that has been approved by the Internal Revenue 

Service and is not in default, or the assessment is the subject of a non-frivolous administrative 

or judicial process.

6. EDA’s Non-Relocation Policy

If an application is selected for award, the recipient will be required to adhere to a specific award 

condition relating to EDA’s non-relocation policy as follows:

In signing this award of financial assistance, Recipient(s) attests that EDA funding is not intended by the 

Recipient to assist its efforts to induce the relocation of existing jobs within the U.S. that are located 

outside of its jurisdiction to within its jurisdiction in competition with other U.S. jurisdictions for those 

same jobs. In the event that EDA determines that its assistance was used for those purposes, EDA 

retains the right to pursue appropriate enforcement action in accord with the Standard Terms and 

Conditions of the Award, including suspension of disbursements and termination of the award for 
Section H: Other Information

Page 44 of 45

convenience or material noncompliance, which may include the establishment of a debt requiring the 

Recipient to reimburse EDA.

For purposes of ensuring that EDA assistance will not be used to merely transfer jobs from one location 

in the United States to another, each applicant must inform EDA of all employers that constitute primary 

beneficiaries of the project assisted by EDA. EDA will consider an employer to be a “primary beneficiary” 

if: (i) the employer is specifically named in the application as benefitting from the project, and the 

applicant estimates that the employer will create or save 100 or more permanent jobs as a result of the 

investment assistance (if the jobs in question were originally located in a smaller community, EDA may 

extend this policy to the relocation of 50 or more jobs); or (ii) the employer is or will be located in an 

EDA-assisted building, port, facility, or industrial, commercial, or business park constructed or improved 

in whole or in part with investment assistance prior to EDA’s final disbursement of funds.

7. NOFO Changes Communicated on Grants.gov 

EDA may make changes or additions to this NOFO. All changes will be communicated on Grants.gov. It is 

recommended that applicants set up a Grants.gov account and subscribe to this funding opportunity in 

order to be notified of any updates or changes. DOC or EDA may cancel, modify, or withdraw this NOFO 

at any time. EDA is not obligated to make any federal award or commitment as a result of this 

announcement.

8. Disclosure of Information

For the purpose of achieving rigorous program evaluations, all applications (including those not selected 

for funding) may be shared with EDA staff, outside parties contracted by EDA for the purposes of 

evaluation, and other federal agencies.

9. Audit Requirements

Single or program-specific audits shall be performed in accordance with the requirements contained in 

the Uniform Guidance (see 2 C.F.R. part 200, Subpart F, “Audit Requirements”).

The Uniform Guidance requires any non-Federal entity (i.e., non-profit organizations, including nonprofit institutions of higher education and hospitals, States, local governments, and Indian Tribes) that 

expends Federal awards of $750,000 or more in the recipient’s fiscal year to conduct a single or 

program-specific audit in accordance with the requirements set out in the OMB Uniform Guidance.

10. Fraud Awareness Training

Consistent with 2 CFR part 200, in signing a financial assistance award, Recipient personnel responsible 

for managing the Recipient’s finances and overseeing any contractors, sub-contractors or sub-grantees, 

will be required to complete the training PowerPoint entitled “Compliance with EDA Program 

Requirements” and return the signed Certificate of Training Completion to EDA as instructed by the 

Agency. Further, Recipient will be required to monitor award activities for common fraud schemes and 

report suspicious activity to EDA and the Office of Inspector General.

11. Office of Inspector General Rights and Responsibilities

The DOC Office of Inspector General (OIG) seeks to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the 

Department’s programs, including deterring and detecting fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement. 

The OIG accomplishes this mission primarily through investigations, audits, and inspections of 

Department activities, including grants, cooperative agreements, loans, and contracts.
Section H: Other Information

Page 45 of 45

a. Disclosures

Recipients of financial assistance originating from the U.S. Department of Commerce, including EDA, 

shall timely disclose, in writing, to the OIG and awarding agency, whenever, in connection with the 

award, performance, or closeout of this grant or subaward thereunder, the recipient has credible 

evidence that a principal, employee, agent, or sub-recipient has committed:

(i) A violation of federal criminal law involving fraud, conflict of interest, bribery, or gratuity 

violations found in Title 18 of the United States Code; or

(ii) A violation of the civil False Claims Act (31 U.S.C. §§ 3729-3733).

b. Reporting

The OIG maintains a hotline to receive allegations of fraud, waste, or abuse. To report such allegations, 

please visit https://www.oig.doc.gov/Pages/Hotline.aspx. Upon request, the OIG will take appropriate 

measures to protect the identity of any individual who reports misconduct, as authorized by the 

Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended. Reports to the OIG may also be made anonymously.

c. Whistleblower Protection

Recipients, sub-recipients, and employees working on this grant award will be subject to the 

whistleblower rights and remedies established under 41 U.S.C. § 4712.

An employee of a recipient or sub-recipient may not be discharged, demoted, or otherwise 

discriminated against as a reprisal for disclosing information that the employee reasonably believes is 

evidence of: gross mismanagement of a federal contract or award; a gross waste of federal funds; an 

abuse of authority (i.e., an arbitrary and capricious exercise of authority that is inconsistent with the 

mission of EDA or the U.S. Department of Commerce or the successful performance of a contract or 

grant awarded by EDA or the U.S. Department of Commerce) relating to a federal contract or award; a 

substantial and specific danger to public health or safety; or a violation of a law, rule, or regulation 

related to a federal contract (including the competition for or negotiation of a contract) or grant. 

The recipient or sub-recipient shall inform its employees and contractors, in writing, in the predominant 

language of the workforce or organization, of employee whistleblower rights and protections under 41 

U.S.C. § 4712, as described above and at https://www.oig.doc.gov/Pages/Whistleblower-ProtectionProgram.aspx.