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

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.

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 nonprofit 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-bycase 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:

tiiap@ntia.doc.gov.

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: tiiap@ntia.doc.gov.

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 oneway 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
Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 28 / Friday, February 10, 1995 / Notices 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 NTIAsupported project cost’’ (the total NTIAsupported 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.

§§ 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
8158 Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 28 / Friday, February 10, 1995 / Notices

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 widearea 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 informationrelated 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
Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 28 / Friday, February 10, 1995 / Notices 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:

Criteria

Category

one

(percent)

Category

two

(percent)

Category

three

(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;
8160 Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 28 / Friday, February 10, 1995 / Notices

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 tiiap@ntia.doc.gov.

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—NonConstruction 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.

§§ 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
Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 28 / Friday, February 10, 1995 / Notices 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. § 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-andforward basis (as with electronic mail),
8162 Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 28 / Friday, February 10, 1995 / Notices

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