Section 28 STEM Talent Challenge NOFO.pdf

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STEM TALENT CHALLENGE

PROGRAM

N o t i ce o f Fu nd i n g Op p o rt u n i t y

Office of INNOVATION and

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

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Executive Summary

Federal Awarding Agency Name

U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), U.S. Department of Commerce

Funding Opportunity Title

FY 2020 STEM Talent Challenge Program Notice of Funding Opportunity

(NOFO)

Announcement Type

This NOFO publishes EDA’s application submission requirements and review procedures for applications received for the STEM Talent Challenge, authorized by Section 28 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980, as amended, 15 U.S.C. § 3723.

Effective date: 8/27/2020

Funding Opportunity Number

EDA-HDQ-OIE-2020-STEMTALENT

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s)

11.023 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Talent Challenge Program

Key Dates

The deadline for receipt of applications is 11:59 P.M. EASTERN TIME ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2020. Applications received after this deadline will not be reviewed or considered. Applications will only be accepted electronically through www.grants.gov (Grants.gov). Applicants are advised to read carefully the application and submission information provided in Section D (p. 6) of this NOFO.

Funding Opportunity Description

EDA is seeking applications from eligible applicants to create and implement innovative science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) apprenticeship models that complement their respective region’s innovation economy. The STEM Talent Challenge seeks to develop or expand regional workforce capacity to support high-growth, high-wage entrepreneurial ventures, industries of the future (which usually includes industries that leverage emerging technologies), and other innovation-driven businesses that have a high likelihood of accelerating economic competitiveness and job creation in their respective regions and in the United States.

Cost Sharing and Matching

Applicants must provide matching non-Federal Share equal to at least 50 percent of the total project cost; i.e., applicants must match each dollar requested with at least one dollar of applicant match. See Section C.2 (p.5) of this NOFO

Eligible Applicants Eligible applicants for EDA financial assistance under this NOFO include:

• A State;

• An Indian tribe;

• A city or other political subdivision of a State;

• An entity that is— a nonprofit organization, an institution of higher education, iii a public-private partnership, a science or research park, a Federal laboratory, an economic development organization or similar entity;

and has an application that is supported by a State, a political subdivision of a State, or a native organization; or

• A consortium of any of the eligible applicants listed above.

EDA is not authorized to provide assistance to individuals under this Program. Applications from individuals will not be considered for funding.

Informational Webinar EDA plans to conduct an informational webinar for STEM Talent Challenge and expects to make available scheduling information and a link to a recording at http://www.eda.gov/oie/.

Award Notification Subject to the availability of funding, successful applicants should expect to receive award notification approximately 90 - 120 days from the application deadline set forth in this NOFO.

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Full Announcement Text 2020 STEM Talent Challenge Program

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

1. Overview and Background

2. Program Information

3. Statutory Authority for the STEM Talent Challenge

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

1. Available Funding Under this Announcement

2. Type of Funding Instrument Used; Period of Performance

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

1. Eligible Applicants

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. Address to Request Application

2. Content and Form of Submission

3. Environmental and Historic Preservation Requirements

4. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)

5. Submission Dates and Times

6. Intergovernmental Review

7. Funding Restrictions

8. Other Submission Requirements

E. Application Review Information

1. Evaluation Criteria

2. Review and Selection Process

3. Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity System (FAPIIS) Review

F. Federal Award Administration Information

1. Federal Award Notices

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

3. Reporting

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s)

H. Other Information

1. Right to Use Information

2. Freedom of Information Act Disclosure

3. Notice of Government-Wide Procurement Restriction

4. Past Performance and Non-Compliance with Award Provisions

5. Restrictions Governing Making Grants to Corporations Convicted of Felony Criminal Violations and/or Unpaid Federal Tax Liabilities

6. EDA’s Non-Relocation Policy

7. Audit Requirements

8. Instructions for Application Submission via Grants.gov

APPENDIX A: Representation by Corporations Regarding an Unpaid Delinquent Tax Liability or a Felony Conviction Under Any Federal Law

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

1. Overview and Background

EDA’s Office of Innovation & Entrepreneurship is committed to furthering technology-based economic development initiatives that accelerate high-quality job growth, create more economic opportunities, and support the future of the next generation of industry-leading companies. To advance these goals, EDA awards grants through the Build to Scale Program to develop and support regional innovation initiatives that help to build regional economies through scalable, technology-driven startups as described in the

EDA-administered portions of Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980

(15 U.S.C. § 3720-3723) (Stevenson-Wydler).

As these regional innovation initiatives scale across the country, America has benefited from growth in jobs requiring sophisticated science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills. High-skilled human capital is proving essential to the growth and expansion of these regional technological ecosystems;

however, U.S. employers have struggled to fill jobs in these fields, and younger or leaner firms, like many innovative startups, are especially hard hit by this challenge. An increasing number of jobs that require

STEM skills do not require a bachelor’s degree, and other education and training pathways – such as apprenticeships, fellowships, and other work-based learning models – are becoming instrumental in meeting the urgent demand for a STEM-capable workforce.

To meet these demands, Section 28 of Stevenson-Wydler (15 U.S.C. § 3723), authorizes EDA to carry out a grant program to identify and develop strategies that support the growth of STEM talent development programs, and to implement those programs where plans and strategies exist.

2. Program Information

STEM Talent Challenge

The STEM Talent Challenge aims to increase STEM talent and workforce readiness to strengthen regional innovation economies. This competition seeks applications from eligible applicants that are creating and implementing STEM talent development strategies that complement their respective region’s innovation economy, particularly as they relate to emerging, transformative sectors and future industries such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, advanced manufacturing and robotics, space exploration and commerce, bioscience, quantum information science, and aqua- and agricultural technologies.

The STEM Talent Challenge is designed to help communities with two activities – planning and development, and program implementation. A total of $2 million has been appropriated for this program and

EDA invites applications that maximize impacts across both activities within this program, though planning and development activities are optional. Applicants may not request in excess of $300,000 over an

18 to 24-month period of performance, of which no more than $50,000 may support planning and development activities if such support is needed.

If applicable, for Planning and Development activities:

● Applicants should plan and develop an implementation strategy to address the unmet needs and existing barriers for regional STEM-capable workforces, through competency-based work-and-learn models across the continuum ranging from externships, to fellowships, internships, cooperative education, and apprenticeships. Applicants are encouraged to experiment and innovate. In general, planning and development should be complete within the first 6 months of award.

● Strategies should be tied to a regional economy’s unique, competitive strengths and shared infrastructure as well as to clearly articulated labor market challenges demonstrated through a rigorous needs analysis

● As noted above, planning and development activities are encouraged if no such plans currently exist, but are an optional component of the proposed project.

For Program Implementation activities:

● Applicants should implement a new or expand an existing STEM competency-based work-and-learn education and training models that may result in nationally-recognized, portable and/or stackable credentials. Experimentation and innovation are encouraged.

● Training should prioritize STEM skills tied to the use of emerging, transformative sectors and the needs of future industries as described on p.1 of the STEM Talent Challenge Program Information.

● Training models should include on-the-job training at an employer in addition to classroom, remote, online, or blended learning, but can follow any existing or newly developed work-and-learn model;

experimentation is encouraged.

● Applicants should leverage partnerships with local and regional innovation leaders, including technology centers, business accelerators, community colleges, and STEM industry leaders such as technology startups, advanced manufacturers, life science businesses, and other similar entities.

Example Activities

The STEM Talent Challenge will provide funding to develop, implement, and expand new work-and-learn models to increase the STEM-capable workforce across the nation’s growing regional innovation economies. Competitive applications will clearly communicate how they will develop or expand regional

STEM workforce capacity to support high-growth, high-wage entrepreneurial ventures, industries of the future, and other innovation-driven businesses, and how they will accelerate economic competitiveness and job creation in their respective regions and in the United States.

Projects should aim to identify opportunities in high-growth potential sectors, and to expand and empower the innovation economy workforce, including by:

• Engaging regional entrepreneurs, innovators, and the organizations that support them to assess and forecast current and future talent needs and to develop collaborative solutions with work-based programs;

• Connecting highly skilled talent to highly technical opportunities that foster professional development and provide continuing advanced skills training to develop the technical and scientific workforce that entrepreneurs need; and

• Strengthening collaboration among entrepreneurs, industry leaders and employers, educational organizations, established corporations, and the public sector to enable better access to skilled workers and to develop demand-driven workforce pipelines for the innovation economy.

Applicants should demonstrate how they will leverage regional strengths, capabilities, and competitive advantages and should avoid the duplication of already existing initiatives within the applicant’s organization or by other organizations or consortia in the relevant region.

Desired Outputs and Outcomes

Proposed projects may aim for some or all of the following outputs and outcomes or others, as appropriate, considering each proposed project’s regional, sectoral, and economic contexts.

A. STEM Work-Based Learning and Training

Projects should focus on an interdisciplinary approach and utilize training models that provide workers with the experiences and skills they will need to succeed on-the-job and in real-world applications. These may include, but are not limited to, innovative industry-driven apprenticeships, fellowships, internships, and other cooperative employer-educator partnerships, and are not limited to existing industry definitions – experimentation and innovation is encouraged. While important to the development of a future workforce, general education programs such as those found in K-12 curriculums are not encouraged, unless part of a broader strategy in a STEM readiness program.

B. Increase Regional Innovation Capacity

Projects should focus on connecting regional innovation stakeholders and employers with the workforce and talent development leaders of the region, or training providers who are readying tomorrow’s workforce.

Programs should emphasize enabling the region’s fast-paced technology startups and innovative companies to hire locally and decrease their costs and lead time to filling positions, allowing them to grow their teams and scale their businesses faster. Traditional workforce development programs may not have the expertise or networks to accomplish this – organizations that normally do not identify as workforce development organizations, but are driving regional innovation through worker training are encouraged to apply. These may include, but are not limited to eligible applicants that are business accelerators and incubators, digital economy training organizations, and venture development organizations. Please see

Section C (p. 5) of this NOFO for eligibility information regarding the STEM Talent Challenge.

C. Increase Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity in STEM

Projects should focus on enabling all members of a community to have equitable access to and participate in the innovation economy. Talent development programs should prioritize forging new and reinforcing existing relationships among an inclusive group of regional stakeholders, especially those who are underrepresented or historically underserved, including across socioeconomic and geographic categories.

D. Build Computational Expertise for the Digital Economy

Digital tools and the internet have profoundly transformed the economy and our approach to learning. The

COVID-19 global pandemic has accelerated these trends, and as such, a talent pool with computational literacy is imperative to remain globally competitive. In an increasingly virtual and remote world, these skills are essential to diversify economies and to adapt to rapidly transforming places of work and education.

Examples of this could involve digital and cloud platforms to increase collaboration, teaching and training, customizable individual instruction in computer science or adjacent fields, as well as virtual reality or simulation-based training activities.

3. Statutory Authority for the STEM Talent Challenge

The statutory authority for the STEM Talent Challenge is Section 28 of Stevenson-Wydler

(15 U.S.C. § 3723).

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

1. Available Funding Under this Announcement

Funding in the amount of $2,000,000 has been appropriated for grants made under the STEM Talent

Challenge pursuant to the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020.1 The funding periods and funding amounts referenced in this notice are subject to the availability of funds at the time of award as well as to

U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) and EDA priorities at the time of award. DOC and EDA will not be held responsible for application preparation costs. Publication of this announcement does not obligate DOC or EDA to make any specific grant award or to obligate all or any part of available funds.

The maximum Federal Share of each STEM Talent Challenge award is $300,000, of which no more than

$50,000 may be allocated to planning and development activities if needed. All other funds requested must be dedicated to program implementation. If not conducting planning and development activities, applicants may request the full $300,000 for program implementation.

2. Type of Funding Instrument Used; Period of Performance

Under this NOFO, EDA may award grants to eligible applicants to support project activities. Periods of performance are dependent on the type of project and the scope of work of the grant award. See Section F

(p. 18) of this NOFO for award notification information. Anticipated awards typically will have a period of performance of approximately 18 to 24 months with an estimated start date about 45 days after the date on which EDA makes the award.

EDA expects all projects to proceed efficiently and expeditiously, and EDA expects applicants to document clearly in their applications a reasonable and appropriate timeline that includes the start and completion dates of the proposed scope of work. As a condition of their respective award, recipients will be required to provide timely periodic progress reports and performance data as set forth in Section F (p. 19).

1 Pub. L. No. 116-93, Title 1 of Division B, 133 Stat. 2317 at 2387 (December 20, 2019).

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

1. Eligible Applicants

Eligible applications for and eligible recipients of EDA investment assistance under this NOFO include:

• a State;

• an Indian tribe;

• a city or other political subdivision of a State;

• an entity that is— o a nonprofit organization;

o an institution of higher education;

o a public-private partnership;2 o a science or research park;

o a Federal laboratory;

o an economic development organization or similar entity;3 and that has an application supported by a State, a political subdivision of a State, or a native organization; or

• a consortium of any of the above-mentioned eligible applicants.

EDA is not authorized to provide assistance to individuals under this NOFO, and such requests will not be considered for funding.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

The minimum required match for the STEM Talent Challenge is 1:1. Applicants must demonstrate AT THE

TIME OF APPLICATION a matching non-Federal Share of at least 50 percent of the total project cost i.e., for every dollar of Federal funds requested, applicants must demonstrate a commitment of at least one dollar of matching share.

2 For purposes of the STEM Talent Challenge, EDA defines a public-private partnership as a relationship formalized by contractual agreement between a public agency and a private-sector entity that reasonably defines the terms of collaboration in the delivery and financing of a public project. EDA will typically review agreements for items such as the purpose and objectives of the partnership, the binding/contractual nature of the relationship, the duties and responsibilities of each party, and the duration of the agreement. The scope of the relationship documented in the agreement may be limited to the proposal set forth in a given partnership’s grant application or may encompass a broader program, initiative, or other set of activities or goals. A letter of support from a public entity alone, without additional documentation demonstrating a formal, binding relationship between the parties, will be found insufficient to establish eligibility under this entity category. EDA reserves the right to request additional information from applicants to establish eligibility, as necessary. Applicants that have further questions concerning these documentation requirements should contact the representative listed in Section G (p. 20) of the NOFO.

3 For purposes of the STEM Talent Challenge, EDA defines an economic development organization as an organization whose primary purpose is to support the economic development of a community or region. In order to demonstrate eligibility status under this category, EDA will look to the organization’s Articles of Incorporation, Charter, Resolutions, Bylaws, and/or other documents that may be relevant to establish the primary purpose of the organization. Applicants are encouraged to submit all relevant documentation to EDA for evaluation. EDA reserves the right to request additional information from applicants to establish eligibility, as necessary. If applicants have further questions concerning these documentation requirements, they should contact the representative listed in Section G (p. 20) of the NOFO.

Applications must show, by submitting from each source organization providing matching non-Federal Share, a commitment letter or equivalent document signed by an authorized representative of that organization, that matching share will, at the time of award:

• be committed to the project for the period of performance,

• be available as needed, and

• not be conditioned or encumbered in any way that may preclude its use consistent with the requirements of EDA investment assistance.

a. In-Kind Matching Share

In-kind contributions may be used for the required matching non-Federal Share and must consist of contributions directly related to the proposed project, such as services, equipment,4 or space. EDA will evaluate all in-kind contributions, which must be eligible project costs and meet applicable Federal cost principles and uniform administrative requirements.5 Applicants are strongly encouraged to work with the appropriate EDA representative listed in Section G of this NOFO to determine how in-kind contributions may be utilized to satisfy the matching non-Federal Share requirement based upon the project concept and how those in-kind contributions may be valued.

b. Certain Specific Matching Non-Federal Share Restrictions

Please note that all project funds—both Federal funds and matching funds—are subject to certain restrictions. NEITHER FEDERAL NOR MATCHING SHARE FUNDS CAN INCLUDE FUNDS TO BE

INVESTED IN STARTUPS OR OTHER COMPANIES, whether through equity, debt, or hybrid mechanisms.

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. Address to Request Application

An applicant may obtain the appropriate application electronically at https://www.grants.gov/ (Grants.gov).

Applicants may search for this funding opportunity on Grants.gov using Funding Opportunity Number

“EDA-HDQ-OIE-2020-STEMTALENT.” All components of the appropriate application may be accessed and downloaded via https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/search-grants.html. The preferred electronic file format for attachments is Adobe portable document format (PDF) and, where appropriate, Microsoft Excel;

however, EDA will also accept Microsoft Word-formatted electronic files.

Applicants are advised that they must complete the registration process prior to submitting an application through Grants.gov. Even though an applicant may be able to view and download an application, if the applicant has not correctly completed the Grants.gov registration process, the applicant will not be able to submit the application electronically for EDA’s review. See Section D.8.a (p.14) and H.8 (p. 22) for details of the Grants.gov registration process.

4 The purchase of equipment and equipment-related modifications or renovations of a facility may be eligible, but only to the extent that such equipment and any related modifications or renovations are used to support another eligible activity.

5 See 2 CFR § 200.306.

https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/search-grants.html

2. Content and Form of Submission

In order to be considered for funding, applicants must submit a complete application package by the applicable deadline. A complete application includes all required documents as set forth below. All documentation and data submitted as part of the application should be current as of the date of application submission. Throughout the review and selection process, EDA, at its sole discretion, may request from applicants written clarification or corrected or missing documents and require that applicants provide such clarifications or corrections in order to continue to be considered for an award under this NOFO. EDA will provide applicants a reasonable amount of time to provide any additional documentation. Failure to provide complete and accurate supporting documentation in a timely manner when requested by EDA may result in the rejection of your application. Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov. All application forms submitted through Grants.gov must be signed electronically by an Authorized Organizational

Representative (AOR); see Section D.8.b (p. 15) of this NOFO for information on AOR requirements.

To be considered complete, an application must consist of:

• All required forms as listed in Section D.2.a (p. 7).;

• Proposal materials, which include the Project Narrative, Budget Narrative and Staffing Plan, Matching Non-Federal Share Commitment Letters, and State/Local Government Support6 as outlined in Section D.2.b. (p. 8); and

• Addenda to the Proposal materials as listed in Section D.2.c (p. 10).

Applications that do not contain all required forms listed in each part or that fail to adhere to the instructions in this NOFO, may be considered incomplete and may not be considered for funding. Additional application materials not requested under this NOFO will not be reviewed or evaluated.

Applicants are advised to carefully read the instructions contained in this NOFO and in all forms contained in the application. It is the sole responsibility of each applicant to ensure that a complete application is received by EDA.

a. Required Forms

All applicants must include the following documents at the time of application submission. The documents should be uploaded as separate Adobe PDF files. All application forms listed in this section will be available in the Grants.gov application.

• One Form SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance) from each applicant or co-applicant, as applicable.

• One Form SF-424A (Budget Information – Non-Construction Programs) per project.

• One Form SF-424B (Assurances – Non-Construction Programs) from each applicant or co-applicant, as applicable.7

6 Only certain types of eligible entities are required to provide documentation of support from relevant States or political subdivisions thereof. See Section D.2.b.iv (p. 10).

7 Submission of Form SF-424B is not required if the applicant has already completed the assurances for non-construction programs as part of the registration process for SAM.gov.

• One Form CD-511 (Certification Regarding Lobbying) from each applicant or co-applicant, as applicable.

• One Form SF-LLL (Disclosure of Lobbying Activities) from each applicant or co-applicant, if the applicant or co-applicant, as applicable, has lobbying activities to disclose. If there are no lobbying activities to disclose, submission of Form SF-LLL is not required.

b. Proposal

The proposal must clearly articulate the overall goals of the project, the specific and distinct Scopes of

Work and concrete activities that will be accomplished under it, specifically delineating between planning and development activities (if applicable), and program implementation activities. The proposal must also demonstrate each applicant’s capability to implement the proposed activities in accordance with the requirements of this NOFO. Applications will be evaluated based on the Evaluation Criteria outlined in

Section E.1 (p. 15). Applicants should carefully adhere to the page limits specified for each section of the proposal. Pages beyond the specified page limit for each section may not be read or considered.

i. Project Narrative

The Project Narrative should address all activities that will be undertaken using the funds requested under this NOFO and a summary of how these activities support the overall project’s goals. The Project Narrative may not exceed 10-single sided, 8.5x11-inch pages, with a minimum 12-point font and 1-inch margins. Applicants are strongly encouraged to provide a clear and concise narrative that includes a compelling justification for the project and articulates a clearly defined regional STEM talent gap, how the proposed project will uniquely meet this need, and the expected outcome(s) that will result from the proposed project. A competitive application will contain the following elements in the Project Narrative:

• An executive summary that includes the project title, identifies the name of the applicant as well as the type of eligible applicant listed in Section C.1 (p. 5) of this NOFO (including if the applicant is a public-private partnership), and provides a project summary of no more than 250 words (note: the executive summary may be published on EDA’s website and via press release if your application is selected for funding);

• A description of the project’s location and region including its primary service area, a description of the communities or regions served (e.g., assets, financial and business resources, workforce, and infrastructure), and the community’s or region’s needs and opportunities. The location and region should directly correspond to Questions 14 and 16 on Form SF-424. If the applicant expects impacts beyond the noted region, the applicant should note the region of expected impact.

Additionally, applicants must identify their proposed primary service area(s) by county or counties.

Counties should be identified by both name and 5-digit FIPS code. See https://www.census.gov/library/reference/code-lists/ansi.html. This description should not exceed two pages;

• A description of the proposed project, including a clear statement of its purpose, the roles of each applicant’s key personnel, the project’s essential partners, and an outreach and engagement plan;

• A scope of work of no more than one page linked to the project’s purpose and key milestones, including deliverables;

https://www.census.gov/library/reference/code-lists/ansi.html

• A project timeline including an estimated project start date, key milestones with expected completion dates, and an estimated project completion date;

• Evidence-and-data-based anticipated impacts, including outputs and outcomes, metrics, and tracking mechanisms; and

• A sustainability plan, including anticipated challenges, potential barriers, and a forecast of post-award period operations.

ii. Budget Narrative and Staffing Plan

All applicants must provide a Budget Narrative that may not exceed 4-single sided, 8.5x11-inch pages, with a minimum 12-point font and 1-inch margins. Applicants must provide a clear Budget Narrative that identifies and justifies how funds in each line item of the budget will be used to support the proposed project and that links each line item to its relevant matching non-Federal Share commitment letter. The Budget Narrative should specifically address each budget line item (including both the Federal Share and matching non-Federal Share) and the narrative total should match the total project costs listed in both Form SF-424, Question 18, Line g (“TOTAL”) and the appropriate totals fields of Form SF-424A. The Budget Narrative should include itemized valuations of any in-kind matching funds (which, for personnel costs, should be supported by the Staffing Plan). Each line item in the budget narrative should clearly indicate:

• A description of the intended use of funds for each line item;

• The budget category (using the categories from Form SF-424A) to which the line item corresponds;

• The Federal Share allocated to the line item;

• The matching non-Federal Share allocated to the line item; and

• If any in-kind matching non-Federal Share is allocated to a given line item, a citation to the one or more commitment letters that documents the commitment of resources.

The matching non-Federal Share, whether in cash or in-kind, is expected to be paid out at the same general rate as the Federal Share; however, if the applicant’s Budget Narrative proposes otherwise, applicants must also include information that clearly indicates what project elements the matching non-Federal Share funds will support and explain why deviation from paying out at the same general rate is required for the project to be implemented.

As part of the Budget Narrative, applicants must also submit a Staffing Plan that lists all positions that would be charged to the Federal and matching non-Federal portions of the budget for each year of the period of performance. The Staffing Plan must include position titles, maximum annual salaries, percentage of time dedicated to the project, and the total amount of annual salaries that would be charged to the project. The total amount of annual salaries that would be charged to the project must be consistent with the amount reflected on the “Personnel” budget line item on the Form SF-424A for each project year.

iii. Matching Non-Federal Share Commitment Letters

Applicants must submit commitment letters or equivalent documents that demonstrate that all matching non-Federal funds (whether cash or in-kind) from all sources (i.e., any applicant, any co-applicants, and any other sources of matching funds) referenced in this application will be unencumbered, unrestricted, and committed at the time of award and that are signed by authorized representatives8 of the sources of the matching funds.

iv. State/Local Government, Native Organization Support

If the applicant is a nonprofit organization, an institution of higher education, a public-private partnership, a science or research park, a Federal laboratory, or an economic development organization or similar entity, the applicant must submit one or more resolutions or letters that demonstrate that the application is supported by one or more States, political subdivisions of States (e.g., counties, municipalities), or native organizations that encompass all or a substantial portion of the region served by this project.

Support from Federal officials, including but not limited to members of the United States Congress, does not meet this requirement. Examples of authorities that may indicate such support include State and local executive branch officials (e.g., State governors, State cabinet members, mayors or other municipal executives), State and local legislators (e.g., State legislators, city councilpersons), or Regional Tribal Organizations. If, however, the applicant or co-applicant is a State, an Indian tribe, or a city or other political subdivision of a State, this requirement does not apply.

c. Addenda to the Proposal

Applicants must also submit the following Addenda to the proposal in PDF format. Applications that do not include the required Addenda may be considered incomplete and/or non-responsive and may not be reviewed.

i. Additional Requirements for Non-Profit and For-Profit Organizations

In addition to all applicable items listed above, eligible applicants that are non-profit or for-profit organizations must submit the following:

• A certificate of good standing from the State of its incorporation that is less than twelve months old;

• A copy of the organization’s Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws; and

• For non-profit organizations, a copy of the most recent (not older than 18 months) IRS Form 990 (Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax) (without attachments or schedules).

ii. Indirect Cost Rate Documentation

If indirect costs are included in the budget, the applicant must include documentation to support the indirect cost rate they are using. The applicant must submit a copy of their current, approved, and negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA). The maximum dollar amount of allocable indirect costs for which

EDA will reimburse a recipient shall be the lesser of the (i) line-item amount for the Federal share of indirect costs contained in the EDA approved budget for the award, or (ii) Federal share of the total allocable indirect costs of the award based on either (a) the indirect cost rate approved by EDA (or applicable cognizant Federal agency), provided that the cost rate is current at the time the costs were incurred and provided that the rate is approved on or before the award end date, or (b) other acceptable documentation as indicated below.

8 Authorized representatives must have the authority to execute documents and to obligate and expend funds on behalf of their respective organizations.

If the applicant does not have a current or pending NICRA, it may propose indirect costs in its budget;

however, the applicant must prepare and submit an allocation plan and rate proposal for approval within ninety days from the award start date. See 2 CFR part 200 Apps. III, IV, V, VI, VII for guidance. The allocation plan and the rate proposal shall be submitted to EDA’s Office of Regional Affairs (or applicable cognizant Federal agency). The applicant should include a statement in its Budget Narrative that it does not have a current or pending NICRA and will submit an allocation plan and rate proposal to EDA or the applicant’s cognizant Federal agency for approval.

If the applicant (1) does not have a current NICRA and (2) has never received a negotiated indirect cost rate, the applicant may elect to charge a de minimis rate of 10 percent of modified total direct costs subject to the exceptions of 2 CFR § 200.414(f). The applicant should include a statement in its Budget Narrative that it does not have a NICRA; it has never received an ICR; and it is electing to charge the de minimis rate.

Note that if the applicant is a state or local unit of government (or an Indian tribe) that receives less than

$35 million in direct Federal funding per year it may submit any of the following:

• A Certificate of Indirect Costs from the Department of the Interior (DOI) or EDA;

• Acknowledgment received from EDA and Certificate of Indirect Costs;

• Cost Allocation Plan approved by a Federal agency; or

• NICRA.

d. Application Checklist

Before you submit your application to EDA, please ensure that the following documents are included in your submission.

☐ All required forms (Forms SF424, SF424A, SF424B, CD511, and SFLLL, as applicable)9

☐ Project Narrative (may not exceed 10-single sided, 8.5x11-inch pages, with a minimum 12-point font and 1-inch margins)

☐ Budget Narrative and Staffing Plan (may not exceed 4-single sided, 8.5x11-inch pages, with a minimum 12-point font and 1-inch margins)

☐ Matching Share Commitment Letters

☐ State/Local Government Support

☐ Addenda (including non-profit or for-profit requirements, if applicable; and a copy of a current, approved indirect cost rate agreement, if applicable)

9 This includes separate copies of each of these forms, as applicable, for co-applicants. Form SF-LLL is only required if the applicant has retained a lobbyist in conjunction with seeking federal assistance under this funding opportunity.

3. Environmental and Historic Preservation Requirements

Applications will be reviewed by EDA in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), depending on the nature and specific elements of each given application. During the

NEPA review process, applicants may be instructed to contact the designated State and/or Tribal Historic

Preservation Officer (SHPO/THPO), provide approvals from other governmental agencies, or provide more detailed environmental information. EDA, after compliance with requirements for consultation with

Federally-recognized Tribes, may require applicants to participate in Tribal consultation, as necessary. The implementing regulations of NEPA require EDA to provide public notice of the availability of project-specific environmental documents, such as environmental impact statements, environmental assessments, findings of no significant impact, and records of decision, to the affected public.10

4. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)

To enable the use of a universal identifier and to enhance the quality of information available to the public as required by the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006, to the extent applicable, applicants are required to: (i) be registered in SAM before submitting its application; (ii) provide a valid unique entity identifier in its application; and (iii) continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which they have an active Federal award or an application or plan under consideration by a Federal awarding agency. EDA may not make a Federal award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable unique entity identifier and SAM requirements and, if an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time the EDA is ready to make an award, EDA may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive an award and use that determination as a basis for making an award to another applicant. Recipients will be subject to reporting requirements, as identified in OMB guidance published at 2 CFR parts 25 and 170. The guidance set out at 2 CFR part 25 may be located at https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2019-title2-vol1/pdf/CFR-2019-title2-vol1-part25.pdf, and the guidance set out at 2 CFR part 170 may be located at https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR- 2019-title2-vol1/pdf/CFR-2019-title2-vol1-part170.pdf. Note that SAM now encompasses the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) and that the unique entity identifier is commonly referred to as the Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number.

5. Submission Dates and Times

The closing date and time for receipt of applications for funding under this NOFO is 11:59 P.M.

EASTERN TIME on WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2020 (the “Application Deadline”).

Applications submitted electronically via https://www.grants.gov/ (Grants.gov) must be received by the

Application Deadline. The date and time that an application will be deemed to be electronically received will be determined in accordance with the electronic submission instructions provided at Grants.gov.

See Section D.8 (p 14) and H (p. 20) of this NOFO for information regarding electronic submissions.

Applications received after the Application Deadline will not be considered for funding.

In addition, please note the following:

• EDA will not accept any unsolicited changes, additions, revisions, or deletions to applications after the submission deadline.

10 As specified in 40 CFR § 1506.6(b).

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2019-title2-vol1/pdf/CFR-2019-title2-vol1-part25.pdf https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2019-title2-vol1/pdf/CFR-2019-title2-vol1-part170.pdf https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2019-title2-vol1/pdf/CFR-2019-title2-vol1-part170.pdf

• Throughout the review and selection process, EDA reserves the right to seek clarification from applicants whose applications are being reviewed and considered.

• Applicants may be asked to clarify objectives and work plans and modify budgets or other specifics as necessary to comply with Federal requirements and provide supplemental information required by the agency before award.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to start early and not to wait until near the application deadline before logging on and reviewing the instructions for submitting an application through Grants.gov.

a. How to Submit an Application

Applicants are required to submit applications electronically in accordance with the instructions provided at www.grants.gov. EDA will not accept paper (hard copy), facsimile or email transmissions of applications.

Applicants should save and print written proof of an electronic submission made at www.grants.gov. If problems occur, the applicant is advised to (a) print any error message received; and (b) call the www.grants.gov Contact Center at 1-800-518-4726 for assistance. The Contact Center is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (except for Federal holidays). Applicants can also contact Grants.gov via email at support@grants.gov.

EDA, in its sole discretion, may pre-approve in writing submission via an alternate method (e.g., email) due to a systems issue at Grants.gov only insofar as any such systems issue is beyond the control of the applicant. However, any submission via this alternate method must be received before the deadline. Late applications will not be accepted for any reason, including but not limited to late submissions caused by issues with Grants.gov, SAM, or AOR registration.

In situations described in this subsection, applications must have email receipt timestamps no later than the

Application Deadline or must be postmarked or the equivalent on or before the Application Deadline. An application that is not timestamped by the Application Deadline will not be reviewed.

6. Intergovernmental Review

Applications submitted under this NOFO are subject to the requirements of Executive Order 12372, “Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs,” if a State has adopted a process under

Executive Order 12372 to review and coordinate proposed Federal financial assistance and direct Federal development (commonly referred to as the “single point of contact review process”). All applicants that are primarily located in a participating State must give State and local governments a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on the proposed project. To find out more about a State’s process under Executive

Order 12372, applicants may contact their State’s Single Point of Contact (SPOC). Names and addresses of some States’ SPOCs are listed at https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/spoc_1_16_2020.pdf. Question 19 of Form SF-424 allows applicants to indicate compliance with Executive Order 12372; however, note that applicants must supply as part of their complete application documentation demonstrates compliance.

http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ mailto:support@grants.gov https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/spoc_1_16_2020.pdf https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/spoc_1_16_2020.pdf

7. Funding Restrictions

Construction activities are not allowable costs under the STEM Talent Challenge and may not be charged to the Federal funds of the project or provided as matching share. Additionally, the use of project funds to make equity investments is not allowable; neither Federal funds nor matching share may be used for such purposes.

8. Other Submission Requirements

a. Means of Submission

APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED THROUGH GRANTS.GOV. EDA will not accept paper, facsimile, or email transmissions of applications for the program except in cases of documented systems issues as described in Sections D.5 (p. 12) and H.8.e (p. 24) of this NOFO. The preferred electronic file format for attachments is Adobe portable document format (PDF) and, where appropriate, Microsoft Excel; however, EDA will also accept Microsoft Word-formatted electronic files. Note that the Grants.gov registration is a multi-stage process that involves a number of steps, including validation, verification, and registration through other websites such as SAM.gov. Please visit https://www.grants.gov/applicants/applicant-training.html for resources and guides on the Grants.gov registration process.

Once an application is submitted, it undergoes a validation process through Grants.gov during which the application may be accepted or rejected by the system. Please be advised that the validation process may take 24 to 48 hours to complete. Applications that contain errors will be rejected by Grants.gov and will not be forwarded to EDA for review. The applicant must correct the error before Grants.gov will accept and validate the application.

Please see Section H.8 (p. 24) of this NOFO for more detailed instructions and information on the requirements for submitting the applications electronically via Grants.gov.

https://www.grants.gov/applicants/applicant-training.html https://www.grants.gov/applicants/applicant-training.html

b. Pre-Submission Registration

Before applying to a competition under this NOFO, each applicant must both register with Grants.gov and register its Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) with Grants.gov. Applicants should note that this process can be lengthy, requires interaction with multiple organizations outside of EDA, and requires confirmation at each step.

Applicants may have already completed one or more of the steps set forth in the above flowchart, which depicts an example of how the pre-submission registration process generally flows (e.g., applicants may have already registered with Grants.gov, in which case they do not need to re-register). However, note that applicants that have not completed any of the above steps may require 23 or more business days to complete the required steps serially. Grants.gov is a centrally-managed Federal grants portal, and changes or updates to the process outlined above may occur after the publication of this NOFO. Prospective applicants should visit http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html to ensure that they follow the most up-to-date instructions.

E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

1. Evaluation Criteria

To apply for an award under this announcement, an eligible applicant must submit a complete application to EDA in accordance with Section D. of this NOFO. Applications that do not meet all of the requirements or that exceed the page limitations set forth in Section D.2.b (p. 8) of this announcement may be considered non-responsive and may not be considered for review.

Applications will be evaluated against the following six equally-weighted criteria by awarding between 0 and 10 points under each criterion.

• Project Support and Connectivity: The extent to which the project is supported by and connected to regional innovation leaders such as technology centers, business accelerators, community colleges, as well as STEM industry leaders such as technology startups, advanced manufacturers, and life science businesses, and other similar entities; as well as local leadership

Obtain a DUNS Number

• 1-2 Business Days

• http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform

Obtain an EIN

• From immediately (online) to up to five weeks

Register with SAM

• Up to 10 Business Days

• https://www.sam.gov/

Create a Grants.gov Username and Password

• Same Day

Authorize the AOR

• Same Day (depending on your organization's EBiz POC)

Track AOR Status

• Same Day http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html and institutions, such as relevant governmental departments, councils of governments, planning entities, or other similar entities.

• Engagement and Diversity: The extent…