[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 28 (Friday, February 10, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8156-8162]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-3426]




[[Page 8155]]

_______________________________________________________________________

Part XI





Department of Commerce





_______________________________________________________________________



National Telecommunications and Information Administration



_______________________________________________________________________



Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance Program 
(TIIAP); Notice

Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 28 / Friday, February 10, 1995 / 
Notices 
[[Page 8156]] 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

[Docket Number: 950124024-5024-01]
RIN 0660-AA04
National Telecommunications and Information Administration


Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance 
Program (TIIAP)

CFDA: 11.552.

AGENCY: National Telecommunications and Information Administration, 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of availability of funds.

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SUMMARY: The National Telecommunications and Information Administration 
(NTIA) announces the availability of funds to promote the widespread 
use of advanced telecommunications and information technologies in the 
public and non-profit sectors. By providing targeted, matching 
demonstration and planning grants, this program will help to develop a 
nationwide, interactive, multimedia information infrastructure that is 
accessible to all citizens, in rural as well as urban areas.

DATES: In order to facilitate planning for and scheduling of the review 
process, all applicants are required to send NTIA a non-binding letter 
of intent to submit an application. All letters of intent should be 
received by 5 p.m. est on March 23, 1995. Any exceptions to this policy 
will be determined on a case-by-case basis for good cause shown.
    The 1995 TIIAP grant cycle will include three primary application 
categories. Program deadlines vary, depending on the category in which 
a proposal is being submitted.
    For Category One applications requesting less than $1 million, and 
for all other categories, complete applications must be mailed or hand 
carried to the address indicated below and received by NTIA by 5 p.m. 
edt on April 20, 1995. NTIA anticipates that it will take between 4 and 
6 months to process each application and make final funding 
determinations.
    For Category One applications requesting $1 million or more from 
the TIIAP, applicants are required to submit abbreviated preliminary 
proposals. Preliminary proposals must be received by NTIA by 5 p.m. edt 
on April 6, 1995. The purpose of requiring preliminary proposals is to 
reduce the burden on the applicant by providing the applicant with 
feedback on the proposed project without requiring the applicant to 
submit a complete application.
    Each preliminary proposal will be reviewed based on the criteria in 
this Notice by an expert panel, which will advise the TIIAP staff about 
whether or not to recommend that the applicant submit a full proposal. 
Note that the TIIAP's recommendation on submission of a full proposal 
is not binding; applicants whose preliminary proposals are not 
recommended may choose to submit full applications at their discretion. 
Furthermore, the review of a preliminary proposal will not prejudice 
the review of the subsequent full proposal. Full proposals for Category 
One applicants requesting $1 million or more from the TIIAP must be 
received at NTIA by 5 p.m. edt on June 22, 1995. No full proposals for 
Category One projects requesting $1 million or more will be accepted by 
the TIIAP unless a corresponding preliminary proposal was submitted by 
the April 6 deadline.

February-March--Regional workshops for prospective applicants (contact 
TIIAP for additional information about dates and locations)
March 23--Deadline for receipt of letters of intent (by 5 p.m. est)
April 6--Deadline for receipt of preliminary proposals in Category One 
(applies only to proposals requesting $1 million or more) (by 5 p.m. 
edt)
April 20--Deadline for receipt of proposals in Category One (proposals 
requesting less than $1 million), Category Two, and Category Three (by 
5 p.m. edt)
June 22--Deadline for receipt of final proposals in Category One 
(proposals requesting $1 million or more) (by 5 p.m. edt)

ADDRESSES: Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance 
Program, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, 
United States Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution 
Avenue NW., Room 6043 HCHB, Washington, D.C. 20230. Fax: 202/501-5136. 
Internet: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#96e2fffff7e6d6f8e2fff7b8f2f9f5b8f1f9e0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="98ecf1f1f9e8d8f6ecf1f9b6fcf7fbb6fff7ee">[email protected]</span></a>.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Laura Breeden, Director of the 
Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance Program, 
Telephone: 202/482-2048; fax: 202/501-5136; e-mail: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0e7a67676f7e4e607a676f206a616d20696178"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d6a2bfbfb7a696b8a2bfb7f8b2b9b5f8b1b9a0">[email protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Program Description

    NTIA announces the second annual round of a competitive matching 
grant program, the TIIAP, created to promote the development and 
widespread availability of advanced telecommunications and information 
technologies to serve the public interest.
    The TIIAP will provide matching grants to state and local 
governments, non-profit health care and public health providers, school 
districts, libraries, universities, public safety providers, community-
based organizations, and other non-profit entities. Grants will be 
awarded after a competitive merit review process and will be used to 
fund projects that improve the quality of, and the public's access to, 
education and lifelong learning; reduce the cost, improve the quality, 
and/or increase the accessibility of health care and other social 
services; promote the accessibility and responsiveness of state and 
local governments to their citizens and encourage citizen participation 
in government; improve the efficiency and efficacy of government 
services; enhance public safety; and promote economic development in 
rural and urban areas.
    NTIA expects that the level of competition will be extremely 
strong, as it was in fiscal year 1994, when NTIA received 1,088 
applications, collectively requesting more than $550 million in grant 
funds. On October 12, 1994, the Department of Commerce announced 92 
TIIAP awards amounting to a total of $24.4 million in Federal funds.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible Organizations

    The fiscal year 1995 TIIAP grant cycle is divided into three 
categories. State and local governments and non-profit entities are 
eligible to apply in all categories. Individuals and for-profit 
organizations are not eligible.

Interactive Services

    All services and networks proposed under the TIIAP must be 
interactive; the program does not support the construction or 
augmentation of one-way networks.

Matching Funds Requirements

    Grant recipients under this program will be required to provide 
matching funds toward the total project cost. A project will not be 
considered eligible for funding unless the applicant can document the 
capacity to supply matching funds. Matching funds may be in the form of 
cash or in-kind contributions (see OMB Circular A-110). Grant funds 
under this program will be released in direct proportion to local 
matching funds raised and/or documented. Except as noted below in the 
case of demonstration projects for which the request is $1 million or 
more in NTIA funding, NTIA will supply up to 50% of the total project 
cost, unless extraordinary circumstances warrant a [[Page 8157]] grant 
to up to 75%. Federal funds generally may not be used as matching 
monies. However, when authorized by Federal statute, other Federal 
funds may be used for cost sharing or matching. Please contact the 
TIIAP for more information, if you have questions about matching funds 
requirements.
    For demonstration projects for which the request is $1 million or 
more, the following conditions apply. NTIA will supply up to 25% of the 
``total NTIA-supported project cost'' (the total NTIA-supported project 
cost refers to the NTIA grant funds plus matching funds). However, if a 
proposed NTIA-supported project is a component of a more comprehensive 
initiative, for which the applicant has obtained or is seeking funding 
from another Federal agency or agencies, then NTIA will consider 
supplying up to one-third of the total NTIA-supported project cost. The 
proposal must clearly describe the scope of work supported by NTIA and 
be supported by a budget and a budget narrative indicating the 
expenditure of both NTIA and matching funds. The success of a proposal 
and the level of funding from NTIA may depend on the applicant's 
ability to have components funded through other Federal sources.

Past Performance

    Unsatisfactory performance under prior Federal financial assistance 
awards may result in an application not being considered for funding.

Delinquent Federal Debts

    No award of Federal funds shall be made to an applicant who has an 
outstanding delinquent Federal debt until either:
    1. The delinquent account is paid in full;
    2. A negotiated repayment schedule is established and at least one 
payment is received; or
    3. Other arrangements satisfactory to the Department of Commerce 
are made.

No Funding for Sectarian Purposes

    The Department of Commerce has a long standing policy of not 
funding projects for purposes the essential thrust of which is 
sectarian. Consistent with this policy. TIIAP will not fund projects 
the essential thrust of which is sectarian. Sectarian organizations, 
however, are eligible applicants and may request funds for non-
sectarian purposes. [Cf. NTIA Public Telecommunications Facilities 
Program (PTFP) regulations at 15 C.F.R. Secs. 2301.1 and 2301.22(d); 
Fordham University v. Brown, No. 93-2120 (CRR) (D.D.C. June 29, 1994), 
appeal docketed, No. 94-5229 (D.C. Cir. Aug. 22, 1994)]

Program Categories

Introduction

    The 1995 TIIAP grant cycle is divided into three separate 
categories. Category One is comprised of Demonstration projects. 
Category Two is comprised of Access projects. Category Three is 
comprised of Planning projects. Categories One and Three are further 
divided into two sub-categories each.
    NTIA will award approximately 60% of the funds in this program to 
support demonstration projects (Category One), with approximately 25% 
of the funds to support access projects (Category Two) and 
approximately 15% to support planning projects (Category Three), unless 
the quality and/or submissions in any category does not, in NTIA's 
judgment, merit the proposed allocation of funds.
    All TIIAP proposals will be evaluated using the same criteria, as 
explained below, but the relative weights of the criteria vary from 
category to category. Please keep this in mind as you read the 
following section.
    Note that while there is no upper limit on the amount of funds that 
any organization may request in Category One or in Category Three, the 
overall level of funding will place obvious limits on the amount of 
funding available for individual grants. The largest award made in 
fiscal year 1994 was $733,424.

Category One (Demonstration Projects)

    Category One is for exemplary projects that involve the deployment, 
use, and attendant evaluation of the national information 
infrastructure to solve a particular problem or set of problems, and 
that have high potential to serve as models for other communities to 
follow. Category One is divided into two subcategories based on the 
amount of NTIA funds requested by the applicant. Proposals requesting 
$1 million or more from NTIA are subject to a different application 
process and to different matching funds requirements than proposals 
requesting less than $1 million. Applicants who choose to apply in 
Category One should read carefully the sections on Dates, Matching 
Funds Requirements, Application Forms, and Selection Process.
    NTIA's priority in Category One is to leverage the Federal 
Government's investments by supporting demonstration projects that can 
serve as national models. Demonstration projects must involve the 
delivery of useful, practical services in real-world environments 
within the grant award period. Therefore, while some software 
development may be required to integrate existing systems or 
components, it may not be a major emphasis of any demonstration 
project. Similarly, the TIIAP will not support projects whose primary 
focus is the development of information content rather than the 
practical application of information infrastructure.
    Projects proposed under this category must address important 
problems and must demonstrate high-impact, useful applications of 
information infrastructure. These projects should hold significant 
potential for replication in other communities. Applicants in this 
category must explain how their project will add to what is already 
known about the problems that the project addresses. Applicants must 
keep in mind that it is the application of the technology to specific 
needs or problems that is to be demonstrated, not the technology 
itself. Furthermore, the emphasis in this category is not on showing 
that an approach is technically feasible, but that the approach is cost 
effective and appropriate. Demonstration projects should be innovative 
to the extent that they represent promising approaches whose benefits 
and costs may not be fully understood.
    By supporting demonstration projects, NTIA intends to stimulate the 
effective and efficient use of the NII. However, without a rigorous 
evaluation and active dissemination of results, the potential of any 
project to play such a catalyzing role is severely limited. Therefore, 
the TIIAP will use high standards in reviewing the evaluation and 
dissemination plans presented by proposals in this category.

Category Two (Access Projects)

    In this category the TIIAP will support projects whose principal 
aim is to provide greater access to a national information 
infrastructure for underserved communities, populations, and/or 
geographic areas. The emphasis is on basic connectivity, rather than 
uniqueness or innovation. An access project may build on or emulate a 
successful model project, either one previously supported by the TIIAP 
or a model that has gained widespread acceptance in the field.
    The primary goals of Category Two projects will be: (1) To reduce 
disparities in access to and use of the national information 
infrastructure; (2) to promote high levels of support from diverse 
members of the community; and (3) to support projects that are guided 
by the needs of end users. Applicants are strongly urged to provide the 
TIIAP with a thorough breakdown of the [[Page 8158]] various end user 
groups to be brought on-line; the services to be provided; the 
information resources to be made available; the public and private 
organizations and agencies that will participate in the project; and 
the mechanisms to be employed for informing end users about the 
existence of the system, ensuring that prospective end users possess 
adequate skills to use the system, and providing ongoing training for 
end users.
    As in the case of demonstration projects, the emphasis is on the 
application of technology, rather than the technology itself. Proposals 
must include compelling evidence that the technology to be employed is 
both appropriate to the proposed task and cost-effective. Examples of 
applications in this category would include the establishment of 
community information networks; creation of wide-area networks within 
school systems or districts; and provision of Internet access to an 
isolated group or population. Projects that include extensive software 
or hardware development will not be considered.

    Note: No award in Category Two will exceed $250,000.

Category Three (Planning Projects)

    In this category the TIIAP will support planning processes in which 
organizations, or groups of organizations, develop strategies and plans 
for the enhanced application of information infrastructure. Planning 
projects are encouraged for rural or underserved populations where 
telecommunications could provide enhanced economic opportunity or where 
business development is insufficient to sustain growth.
    Proposals in this category must include clear descriptions both of 
the planning process (or methodology) to be employed and of the 
expected outcomes of the process. Each planning project should address 
how end users will have access to information and will be connected to 
one another. Applicants should identify the anticipated end users of 
the information infrastructure and describe the number and diversity of 
end users, as well as the social and economic benefits expected from 
implementation.
    In addition, NTIA encourages applications that demonstrate 
partnerships among groups, communities, and entities for the purpose of 
sharing or leveraging resources. These partnerships or coalitions 
should demonstrate that, if appropriate, they will continue to operate 
effectively once TIIAP support is concluded and/or the project plans 
are implemented. Applicants should also clearly document the 
administrative or institutional support that has been generated for any 
planning grant.
    Planning grants are divided into two sub-categories:
1. Statewide or Local
    This sub-category includes planning proposals that illustrate that 
the economic and social benefits from an advanced information 
infrastructure are many and can encompass many sectors, including 
business, education and training, public and social services, and 
environmental goals. Planning grants in this sub-category should be 
multidisciplinary in scope and should focus on the needs of several 
sectors (e.g., education, health, public information, etc.). For 
example, the TIIAP awarded grants in fiscal year 1994 to state 
governments and universities to develop comprehensive statewide 
information infrastructure plans.
2. Regional or National
    Planning activities in this subcategory may focus on a single 
sector or topic, as long as the project is regional (i.e., involving 
multiple states) or national in scope. For example, the TIIAP awarded a 
grant in fiscal year 1994 to the Western Interstate Commission for 
Higher Education to develop a plan to build an ongoing capacity to 
``broker'' the educational resources of western colleges and 
universities by using existing telecommunications networks to make 
higher education more widely available in rural areas of 15 states in 
the West.

Evaluation Criteria

    Proposals will be reviewed according to the following evaluation 
criteria. The weight of each criterion will vary according to the 
category of the proposal, as explained below.

(1) Problem Definition

    Applicants must clearly explain why the proposed project is needed, 
and how the project will meet the needs identified. This may seem 
obvious; however, a proposal will often fail to survive the competition 
because the applicant has spent too much effort on unnecessary 
rhetoric, and too little effort on clearly defining the actual problem 
to be solved or the need to be addressed by the project. It is 
essential that the problem definition present a convincing case as to 
why and how a particular problem, task, or social need can best be 
addressed through the application of information infrastructure.

(2) Applicant Qualifications

    Every applicant must present evidence that it has both the 
experience and the expertise to bring the project to a successful 
conclusion. Applicants should take care to describe the qualifications 
of the participating organizations, the key personnel associated with 
the project, their relationship to the applicant organization, and the 
applicant's experience in addressing information-related issues. 
Experience may be demonstrated in a variety of ways, including projects 
successfully completed and participation in comprehensive planning 
activities. In addition, each applicant should present evidence that it 
is not only a capable organization but also an appropriate and credible 
organization to undertake the project it proposes.

(3) Support for End Users

    Since the success of the NII will depend on both its accessibility 
and the value it offers to end users, projects supported by the TIIAP 
must demonstrate a high degree of attention to the needs, skills, and 
working conditions of the targeted end users. The program will look 
carefully at the degree of end user involvement in the design of 
proposed projects and at the plans for training users and/or upgrading 
their skills. Applicants should explain clearly how targeted end users 
will benefit from the services offered, or how the project will provide 
the public with easily accessible, useful and useable information. NTIA 
expects applicants to consider carefully safeguards to protect the 
privacy of the end users of the information infrastructure funded 
through this grant program. In addition, applicants proposing projects 
dealing with individually identifiable information (student grades, 
medical records, etc.) will be required to prescribe mechanisms for 
protecting the confidentiality of such information and the privacy of 
any individuals involved.

(4) Partnerships and Community Support

    Broad community support is essential to the viability of TIIAP 
projects. Partnerships will diverse sectors of the community will be 
considered an integral part of the proposal. The most successful 
partnerships are those that create ``win-win'' situations for all 
parties involved; every partner both contributes to and benefits from 
the partnership. Partners must also demonstrate the ability to work 
together. Evidence of strong community support [[Page 8159]] also 
includes a solid commitment of a high-quality, non-Federal match. 
Beyond the mandatory commitment of a non-Federal match, TIIAP is 
concerned with the long term sustainability of a project. Applicants 
should discuss how they plan to sustain the project after the period of 
Federal funding is over. Finally, a representative sample of thoughtful 
letters of support from diverse elements of the community may provide 
evidence of solid support that will help assure the project's success.

(5) Reducing Disparities in Access to and Use of the Natural 
Information Infrastructure

    One of the Administration's primary NII goals is reducing gaps 
between information ``haves'' and ``have-nots.'' Therefore, TIIAP will 
support projects that increase an underserved population's access to 
social services and information made available via information 
infrastructure. Of primary importance is the applicant's plan to 
redress disparities of access. For example, difficulties in access to 
information infrastructure may arise from living in a remote rural area 
or from economic hardship in the inner city. Redressing these 
disparities in access may involve unique sharing arrangements, 
innovative outreach strategies, or sensitivity to local conditions of 
populations that are traditionally underserved. Whatever a particular 
situation, the applicant must demonstrate that the project will reduce 
disparities of access and use.

(6) Technical Quality

    Technical quality in the TIIAP focuses not on innovation for its 
own sake, but on consistency with the vision of a nationwide, seamless, 
interactive network of networks. Therefore, projects proposed to the 
TIIAP must demonstrate an awareness of, and a realistic approach to, 
questions of interoperability and scalability. The TIIAP will not 
support standalone small- or large-scale systems that cannot 
communicate effectively with other systems. Similarly, the program will 
not consider proposals for systems that are likely to limit rather than 
permit growth in the number of sites served, the number of end users 
accommodated, the number of institutions connected, or the range of 
information and communication services provided. Where feasible, 
applicants should seek to build upon existing information 
infrastructure. Applicants must demonstrate knowledge of existing 
information infrastructure in the area to be served by the project. 
Applicants must also address how they intend to deal with the issue of 
rapid obsolescence by describing their plans to accommodate advances in 
information and telecommunications technologies. In addition to 
demonstrating technological soundness, applicants must show that the 
approach proposed is both cost-effective and appropriate to the need or 
problem that is to be addressed. Proposals in Category Three (Planning 
Projects) will also be rated on the soundness of the planning 
methodology that is presented in the application.

(7) Evaluation and Dissemination

    An evaluation of each project is critical in order to answer the 
essential question of whether or not the project has achieved its 
goals. Evaluation summaries will be particularly important as projects 
progress and comparisons can be made and conclusions drawn. For these 
reasons, every project proposed to the TIIAP must present a clearly 
defined evaluation strategy that offers rational criteria for measuring 
the effectiveness of the project in reaching its goals during the grant 
award period and identifies specific evaluation instruments to be 
employed. The applicant should also demonstrate adequate experience in 
arranging and conducting a project evaluation, with the attendant 
budget for a thorough and useful evaluation. In conjunction with the 
evaluation strategy, the TIIAP will review the applicant's plan to 
disseminate the knowledge gained as a result of implementing the 
project.

(8) Ability to Serve as a Model

    In Category One, the TIIAP is interested in supporting projects 
whose ultimate impact will extend far beyond the scope of the 
activities funded. Therefore, the program will examine closely the 
degree to which a proposed project has the potential to serve as a 
model for others to follow. A focus of this criterion will be the 
extent to which a project is innovative, not necessarily in terms of 
the technology to be used, but rather in the application of the 
technology in a particular setting, in the service of a particular 
population, or in the solution of a particular problem. Projects will 
also be judged on whether they can be replicated in other communities 
and can serve as a catalyst or blueprint for other sectors of society 
or other providers of services. In addition, the program will examine 
whether a subsequent evaluation of the project can contribute 
significantly to our understanding of how the national information 
infrastructure can be used to improve the delivery of a wide range of 
social services and promote economic development. Implicit in this 
concept of a model project is financial viability. Therefore, 
applicants who intend for their projects to be considered as models 
must address the issue of the sustainability of the project beyond the 
grant period.
    The above evaluation criteria are weighted as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          Category   Category   Category
                Criteria                    one        two       three  
                                         (percent)  (percent)  (percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Problem Definition.................         10         10         10
(2) Applicant Qualifications...........         10         10         10
(3) Support for End Users..............         10         15         15
(4) Partnerships and Community Support.         10         15         20
(5) Reducing Disparities...............         10         25         15
(6) Technical Quality..................         15         10         10
(7) Evaluation and Dissemination.......         15         10         10
(8) Ability to Serve as a Model........         20          5         10
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Selection Process

    TIIAP grants are awarded on the basis of a competitive review 
process. Each application will be thoroughly reviewed by a panel of 
outside readers, who have demonstrated expertise in both the 
programmatic and technological aspects of the application. The review 
panels will evaluate applications according to the criteria listed in 
this Notice and make non-binding recommendations to the program staff. 
Under the guidance of the TIIAP Director, staff will prepare proposed 
slates of the highest rated projects to be funded for consideration by 
the NTIA Administrator, who is the selecting official.
    The TIIAP Director will propose the slates to the NTIA 
Administrator in two stages: a slate of Category Two applications, and 
a slate of applications in Categories One and Three. Acting on these 
recommendations, the Administrator will select the applications to be 
negotiated for possible grant award.
    In making their decisions, the Program Director and the 
Administrator will consider the following:
    1. The evaluations of the outside reviewers; [[Page 8160]] 
    2. The degree to which each slate of applications, taken as a 
whole, satisfies the program's stated purposes for the applicable 
program categories;
    3. The geographic distribution of the proposed grant awards;
    4. The diversity of the technologies employed by the proposed grant 
awards;
    5. The diversity of projects represented by the proposed grant 
awards;
    6. The promotion of equitable access to and use of the information 
infrastructure for traditionally disadvantaged or under-served groups;
    7. Avoidance of redundancy and conflicts with the initiatives of 
other Federal agencies; and
    8. The availability of funds.
    After applications have been selected in this manner, negotiations 
will take place between TIIAP staff and the applicant. These 
negotiations are intended to resolve any differences that exist between 
the applicant's original request and what TIIAP proposes to fund. Not 
all applicants who are contacted for negotiation will necessarily 
receive a TIIAP award.
    When the negotiations are completed for Category Two, the TIIAP 
Director will recommend final award actions to the NTIA Administrator. 
Applying the same factors listed above, the Administrator will then 
make the final selection of grant recipients from the pool of 
negotiated applications in Category Two. This process is repeated for 
the set of projects approved for negotiation in Categories One and 
Three.

Eligible Costs

Eligible Costs

    Allowable costs incurred under approved projects shall be 
determined in accordance with applicable Federal costs principles, 
i.e., OMB Circular A-21, A-87, or A-122. If included in the approved 
project budget, the TIIAP will allow costs for personnel, fringe 
benefits, computer hardware and software, other end-user equipment, 
telecommunication services and related equipment, consultants and other 
contractual services, travel, rental of office equipment, furniture and 
space, supplies, etc. that are reasonable and directly related to the 
project. Construction costs are not eligible.
    Note that costs that are ineligible for TIIAP support may not be 
included as part of the applicant's matching fund contribution.

Indirect Costs

    The total dollar amount of the indirect costs proposed in an 
application under TIIAP must not exceed the indirect cost rate 
negotiated and approved by a cognizant Federal agency prior to the 
proposed effective date of the award, or 100% of the total proposed 
direct costs dollar amount in the application, whichever is less.

Award Period

    Successful applicants in Category One will have between 12 and 24 
months to complete their projects. Successful applicants in Categories 
Two and Three will have between 12 and 18 months to complete their 
projects. The actual time will vary depending on the complexity of the 
project.

Other Information

Electronic Information

    Information about NTIA and the TIIAP, including this document and 
the Guidelines for Preparing Applications, can be retrieved 
electronically via the Internet through ftp, gopher and the World Wide 
Web.
    To reach the ftp server, ftp to ftp.ntia.doc.gov. Use the login 
name of `anonymous' and use your email address as the password. Change 
to the /grantinfo directory to find TIIAP files.
    To reach the gopher server, point your gopher client at 
gopher.ntia.doc.gov and login as `gopher'.
    To reach the www server, use http://www.ntia.doc.gov to reach the 
NTIA Home Page. Follow the link entitled `What's New' to reach TIIAP 
information.
    TIIAP can also be reached via electronic mail at 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#66120f0f07162608120f074802090548010910"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9aeef3f3fbeadaf4eef3fbb4fef5f9b4fdf5ec">[email protected]</span></a>.

Technical Assistance

    TIIAP program staff are available to provide technical assistance 
to applicants on a first-come, first-served basis until the time that a 
proposal has been submitted to NTIA. All applicants are asked to read 
carefully both this Notice and the Guidelines for Preparing 
Applications before contacting staff for technical assistance. In 
addition to outreach through professional conferences and meetings, 
NTIA will be conducting a series of regional workshops to provide 
potential applicants with information on the program and application 
procedures. Information on these workshops is provided in the Dates 
section.

Application Forms

    Standard Forms 424, Application for Federal Assistance; 424A, 
Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs; and 424B, Assurances--
Non-Construction Programs, (Rev. 4-92), and other Department of 
Commerce forms shall be used in applying for financial assistance. 
These forms are included in the Guidelines for Preparing Applications, 
which can be obtained by contacting NTIA by telephone, fax, or 
electronic mail, as described in the Address section above. The TIIAP 
requires one original and five copies of the application. Applicants 
for whom the submission of five copies presents financial hardship may 
submit one original and two copies of the application.
    Because of the high level of public interest in projects supported 
by the TIIAP, the program anticipates receiving requests for copies of 
applications. Applicants are hereby notified that the applications they 
submit are subject to the Freedom of Information Act. Applicants may 
identify sensitive information and label it ``confidential'' to assist 
NTIA in making disclosure determinations.
    Abbreviated proposals under Category One do not need to include the 
above standard forms. Instructions for preparing an abbreviated 
proposal are included in the Guidelines for Preparing Applications.
    As noted above, all applicants are required to submit a non-binding 
letter of intent in advance of submitting a full proposal. The letter 
of intent shall contain information on how to contact the applicant, 
the category in which the applicant intends to apply, the subject area 
of the intended proposal, and a brief description of the project that 
is to be proposed. Detailed instructions for preparing a letter of 
intent are included in the Guidelines for Preparing Applications.

Type of Funding Instrument

    The funding instrument for awards under this program shall be a 
grant.

Authority and Funding Availability

    The National Telecommunications and Information Administration 
(NTIA), Department of Commerce, serves as the President's principal 
adviser on telecommunications and information policy. NTIA's functions 
were codified as part of the Telecommunications Authorization Act of 
1992, Pub. L. No. 102-538, 106 Stat. 3533, 47 U.S.C. Secs. 901-04 
(1993).
    As specified in the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, 
the Judiciary and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 1994, Pub. L. 
No. 103-317, 108 Stat. 1724, 1747 (1994), Congress has provided the 
Department of Commerce $64 million for the TIIAP for fiscal year 1995. 
The grant funds may be used for the planning and construction of 
telecommunications networks for the provision of 
[[Page 8161]] educational, cultural, health care, public information, 
public safety, or other social services (notwithstanding the 
requirements of 47 U.S.C. 392 (a) and (c)).

Federal Policies and Procedures

    Recipients and subrecipients are subject to all applicable Federal 
laws and Federal and Department of Commerce policies, regulations, and 
procedures applicable to Federal financial assistance awards.

Purchase of American-Made Equipment and Products

    Applicants are hereby notified that they will be encouraged, to the 
greatest extent practicable, to purchase American-made equipment and 
products with funding provided under this program in accordance with 
Congressional intent as set forth in the resolution contained in Public 
Law 103-317, Sections 607 (a) and (b).

Pre-Award Activities

    If applicants incur any costs prior to an award being made, they do 
so solely at their own risk of not being reimbursed by the government. 
Applicants are hereby notified that, notwithstanding any oral or 
written assurance that they may have received, there is no obligation 
on the part of the Department of Commerce or NTIA to cover pre-award 
costs.

No Obligation for Future Funding

    If an application is selected for funding, the Department of 
Commerce has no obligation to provide any additional future funding in 
connection with that award. Renewal of an award to increase funding or 
extend the period of performance is at the total discretion of the 
Department of Commerce. Receipt of a TIIAP grant, however, will not 
eliminate the recipient from consideration for future funding.

Name Check Review

    All non-profit and for-profit applicants are subject to a name 
check review process. Name checks are intended to reveal if any key 
individuals associated with the applicant have been convicted of or 
presently facing criminal charges such as fraud, theft, perjury, or 
other matters that significantly reflect on the applicant's management, 
honesty, or financial integrity.

Primary Applicant Certifications

    All primary applicants must submit a completed Form CD-511, 
``Certifications Regarding Debarment, Suspension and Other 
Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free Workplace Requirements and 
Lobbying,'' and the following explanations are hereby provided:
    1. Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension--Prospective 
participants (as defined at 15 CFR Part 26, Section 105) are subject to 
15 CFR Part 26, ``Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension'' and the 
related section of the certification from prescribed above applies;
    2. Drug-Free Workplace--Grantees (as defined at 15 CFR Part 26, 
Section 605) are subject to 15 CFR Part 26, Subpart F, ``Governmentwide 
Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Grants)'' and the related section 
of the certification form prescribed above applies;
    3. Anti-Lobbying--Persons (as defined at 15 CFR Part 28, Section 
105) are subject to the lobbying provisions of 31 U.S.C. 1352, 
``Limitation on use of appropriated funds to influence certain Federal 
contracting and financial transactions,'' and the lobbying section of 
the certification form prescribed above applies to applications/bids 
for grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts for more than 
$100,000, and loans and loan guarantees for more than $150,000, or the 
single family maximum mortgage limit for affected programs, whichever 
is greater; and
    4. Anti-Lobbying Disclosure--Any applicant that has paid or will 
pay for lobbying in connection with a covered Federal action, such as 
the awarding of any Federal contract, the making of any Federal grant, 
the making of any Federal loan, the entering into of any cooperative 
agreement, or the extension, continuation, renewal, amendment, or 
modification of any Federal contract, grant, loan, or cooperative 
agreement using any funds must submit an SF-LLL, ``Disclosure of 
Lobbying Activities,'' as required under 15 CFR part 28, Appendix B.

Lower Tier Certifications

    Recipients shall require applicants/bidders for subgrants, 
contracts, subcontracts, or other lower tier covered transactions at 
any tier under the award to submit, if applicable, a completed Form CD-
512, ``Certifications Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility 
and Voluntary Exclusion-Lower Tier Covered Transactions and Lobbying'' 
and disclosure from SF-LLL, ``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities.'' Form 
CD-512 is intended for the use of recipients and should not be 
transmitted to DOC. SF-LLL submitted by any tier recipient or 
subrecipient should be submitted to DOC in accordance with the 
instructions contained in the award document.

False Statements

    A false statement on an application is grounds for denial or 
termination of funds and grounds for possible punishment by a fine or 
imprisonment as provided in 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1001.

Intergovernmental Review

    Applications under this program are subject to Executive Order 
12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.'' This Notice 
was reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget under Executive 
Order 12866.

Definitions

Connectivity

    The capacity of one system or device to link to a second system or 
device to complete a connection and provide continuing service. 
Connectivity is established among systems when it is possible for an 
end-user on one system to gain access to another system.

Content Development

    The creation of information resources for the purpose of 
dissemination through one or more on-line services. Typically, content 
development involves the collection and organization of data, the 
design of an appropriate user interface, and the creation of software 
to allow information retrieval.

Demonstration Project

    The deployment, use, and attendant evaluation of information 
infrastructure in the solution of a particular problem or set of 
problems.

End User

    A person who customarily employs or seeks access to, rather than 
provides, information infrastructure. An end-user may be a consumer of 
information (e.g., a member of the public employing a touch-screen 
public access terminal); may be involved in an interactive 
communication with other end users; or may use information 
infrastructure to provide services to the public.

Information Infrastructure

    The telecommunication networks, computers, other end-user devices, 
software, standards, and skills that collectively enable people to 
connect to each other and to a vast array of services and information 
resources.

Interactivity

    The capacity of a communications system to allow end users to 
communicate directly with other users, either in real time (as in a 
video teleconference) or on a store-and-forward basis (as with 
electronic mail), [[Page 8162]] or to seek and gain access to 
information on an on-demand basis, as opposed to a broadcast basis.

Interoperability

    The condition achieved among information and communication systems 
when information (i.e., data, voice, image, audio, or video) can be 
easily and cost-effectively shared across acquisition, transmission, 
and presentation technologies, equipment, and services.

Grant

    Financial assistance award authorized by law to support autonomous 
projects or activities of state or local governments, or non-profit 
groups. This term does not include direct United States government cash 
assistance to an individual, a subsidy, a loan, a loan guarantee, or 
insurance.

Model

    A project that employs a novel, innovative, and replicable 
approach. The ultimate impact of a model project should extend far 
beyond the community or communities to be served by the project itself.

National Information Infrastructure (NII) Initiative

    A Federal policy initiative to facilitate and accelerate the 
development and utilization of the nation's information infrastructure. 
The Administration's vision for the NII is of a seamless web of 
communications networks, computers, databases, and consumer electronics 
that will put vast amounts of information at users' fingertips. For 
more detailed information on various aspects of the NII initiative, see 
e.g., The National Information Infrastructure: Agenda for Action, 58 FR 
49,025 (September 21, 1993).

Planning Project

    A deliberative process in which an organization, or group of 
organizations, develops plans and strategies for the enhanced 
application of information infrastructure. The outcome of a planning 
project should be a plan for improved delivery of social services, 
economic development, or increased citizen access to information 
resources.

Scalability

    The ability of a system to accommodate a significant growth in the 
size of the system (i.e., services provided, end users served) without 
the need for substantial redesign. A scalable approach that is 
demonstrated on a small scale can also be applied on a larger scale.

Social Services

    Activities performed by public or private entities to meet basic 
community needs. Examples include education, health care and public 
health, public information, public safety, and economic development.

Underserved

    End users who are subject to barriers that limit or prevent their 
access to either social services or information infrastructure. In 
terms of information infrastructure, these barriers may be linguistic, 
geographic, economic, or cultural. A rural community may be physically 
isolated from circuits adequate to allow for data access; inner city 
neighborhoods may contain large numbers of potential end users for whom 
ownership of computer hardware is unlikely; residents of isolated 
ethnic communities may lack the requisite language skills to permit 
ease of access to on-line information resources.
Larry Irving,
Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information.
[FR Doc. 95-3426 Filed 2-9-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-60-M

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