fy 2012 uc ffo-final.pdf

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ANNOUNCEMENT OF FEDERAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Federal Agency Name: Economic Development Administration (EDA), Department of

Commerce

Funding Opportunity Title: FY 2012 University Center Economic Development

Program Competition

Announcement Type and Date: Initial announcement of Federal funding opportunity

(FFO) dated February 8, 2012

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 11.303, Economic

Development – Technical Assistance

Dates: The deadline for receipt of applications is March 30, 2012.

Please see section IV.B. for more information on deadlines under this announcement.

Funding Opportunity Description: This FFO announces the availability of funding for

EDA’s FY 2012 University Center Economic Development Program Competition. This program supports initiatives that are focused on advancing: regional commercialization efforts; entrepreneurship; and a high-skilled regional workforce. EDA solicits competitive applications from accredited institutions of higher education and from consortia of accredited institutions of higher education that are located in, and have programs targeting, only the following geographic areas served by EDA’s Atlanta and

Seattle Regional Offices:

Atlanta Regional Office

Serves: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

Seattle Regional Office

Serves: Alaska, Arizona, American

Samoa, California, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Republic of Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nevada, Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon, Republic of Palau, and Washington.

Informational Teleconferences: For prospective applicants, the Atlanta Regional Office will hold an informational teleconference on February 23, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. ET. The

Seattle Regional Office will hold an informational teleconference on March 1, 2012 at

1:30 p.m. PT. Please refer to section IV.C. of this FFO for the teleconference registration requirements and protocols.

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Addresses and Designated Points of Contact:

1. Atlanta Regional Office

FY 2012 University Center Program Competition

Economic Development Administration

Atlanta Regional Office

401 West Peachtree Street NW, Suite 1820

Atlanta, GA 30308-3510

Designated Contact:

Gloria Huang

Program Analyst

404.730.2827

404.730.3025 (fax)

2. Seattle Regional Office

Economic Development Administration

Seattle Regional Office

915 Second Avenue

Room 1890

Seattle, WA 98174

Frances Sakaguchi

Economic Development Specialist

206.220.7693

206.220.7669 (fax)

Award Notification: Subject to the availability of funding, successful applicants should expect to receive grant awards within approximately 75 days from the application closing date and times set out in this FFO. The anticipated award will have an initial funding period of twelve months (as part of a five-year project period) with an estimated start date on or about July 1, 2012. See section VI.A. of this FFO for award notification information.

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FULL ANNOUNCEMENT TEXT

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

I. Funding Opportunity Description

II. Award Information

III. Eligibility Information

IV. Application Requirements

V. Application Review and Award Selection Information

VI. Award Administration Information

VII. Additional Information and Requirements

I. Funding Opportunity Description

A. What is the purpose and objective of the University Center Economic

Development Program Competition?

EDA’s mission is to lead the Federal economic development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing American regions for economic growth and success in the worldwide economy. EDA fulfills this mission through strategic investments and partnerships that create the regional economic ecosystems required to foster globally competitive regions throughout the United States. The economic ecosystem is a multifaceted concept which links together a highly networked regional talent pool; innovation infrastructure

(including tangible and non-tangible infrastructure); and research and science support systems to cultivate innovation and regional collaboration. Innovation is the key to global competitiveness, the creation of new and better jobs, a resilient economy, and the attainment of national economic goals. Regional collaboration is essential for economic recovery and advancement because regions encompass the centers of growth and competition in the new global economy. Quite simply, regions that work together will fare better than those that do not. Infusing both innovation and collaboration into America’s regions has the potential to help communities create and retain higher-wage and sustainable jobs, leverage the flow of private capital, and strengthen America’s ability to compete in the global marketplace.

EDA recognizes that institutions of higher education are critical players in the development of vibrant economic ecosystems. Universities contain significant economic development assets—such as faculty, staff, students, research and proof of concept centers, laboratories, and high speed broadband networks—to support regional economic growth.

Potential university-based support for economic growth includes the commercialization of research, the conversion of intellectual property and ideas into products and services, and the support of regionally-owned strategies that support business expansion and job creation.

Additionally, universities facilitate environments conducive to trade and global exports by providing services for businesses to connect to international markets.

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The purpose of EDA’s University Center Economic Development Program (also referred to in this announcement as the University Center program) is to assist institutions of higher education and consortia of institutions of higher education in establishing and operating

University Centers specifically focused on leveraging university assets to build regional economic ecosystems that support high-growth entrepreneurship. University Centers collaborate with other EDA partners by providing resources to develop, implement and support regional strategies that promote job creation, the development of high-skilled regional talent pools, and business expansion in a region’s innovation clusters . These resources may include technology commercialization, feasibility studies, market research, economic impact analyses, training, and other technical assistance to help communities foster vibrant economic ecosystems.

Since FY 2004, EDA has administered the University Center program as a competitive multi-year program. As presented in the table below, EDA holds University

Center program competitions in two of its six regional offices each of the following fiscal years. In FY 2012, EDA is holding the competition in its Atlanta and Seattle Regional

Offices.

FY 2012 (this competition)

Serves: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and

Tennessee.

Serves: Alaska, Arizona, American Samoa, California, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Republic of Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nevada, Northern

Mariana Islands, Oregon, Republic of Palau, and

Washington.

FY 2013

(next competition)

Austin Regional Office

Denver Regional Office

Serves: Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Serves: Colorado, Iowa (excluding Muscatine and Scott counties), Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North

Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming.

FY 2016

Philadelphia Regional

Office

Chicago Regional Office

Serves: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New

Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode

Island, Vermont, Virginia, U.S. Virgin Islands, and West

Virginia.

Serves: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Muscatine and Scott counties in Iowa.

Regional innovation clusters are geographically-bounded, active networks of similar, synergistic, or complementary organizations which leverage a region’s unique competitive strengths to create jobs.

The Philadelphia and Chicago Regional Offices will hold their next University Center competitions in

FY 2016. EDA transitioned from three-year to five-year grant cycles for its University Center investments in

FY 2011; and as a result, there will not be University Center competitions in FY 2014 or FY 2015.

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EDA does not anticipate creating or funding any additional University Centers outside of this competitive solicitation, unless a University Center grantee withdraws from the program or does not perform to EDA’s satisfaction. In such cases, the appropriate EDA regional office may choose to hold an intervening competition.

EDA encourages the submission of applications that will create and nurture regional economic ecosystems through applied research and development, technology commercialization, and targeted activities that cultivate entrepreneurship. A regional economic ecosystem supports industry clusters through three main components:

1. A highly networked regional talent pool, with specialized expertise relevant to the region’s innovation clusters (with connections along the supply chain and across disciplines, so that researchers, academics, investors, suppliers, and entrepreneurs can efficiently share ideas and best practices);

2. A support system for researchers and scientists seeking to turn their discoveries into marketable goods and services, including business counseling, incubation programs, and proof-of-concept centers; and

3. Innovation infrastructure (which includes both tangible and non-tangible types of infrastructure) necessary to support innovation such as education, workforce development, and financial infrastructure.

In addition, EDA seeks University Center program applications that:

Benefit distressed communities by linking these communities to larger, more vibrant regional economies;

Present a clear plan for collaborating with and assisting other EDA investment partners, recipients, and stakeholders, including EDA-funded

Economic Development Districts (EDDs) and tribes;

Encompass regional, Statewide and multi-State programs; and create synergies within EDA’s Public Works, Economic Adjustment Assistance, and

Partnership Planning programs;

Offer the widest possible geographic coverage in the States and territories covered by the Atlanta and Seattle Regional Offices, and offer a full range of economic development research and technical assistance services to EDA regional partners; and

Distress, as delineated in the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965, as amended, (42 U.S.C.

§ 3121 et seq.) may exist in a variety of forms, including high levels of unemployment, low income levels, large concentrations of low-income families, and significant declines in per capita income because of large numbers

(or high rates) of business failures, sudden major layoffs or plant closures, military base closures, natural or other major disasters, depletion of natural resources or reduced tax bases, or substantial loss of population because of the lack of employment opportunities.

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Tailor services to the region’s needs and each sponsoring institution’s (or consortium’s) strengths.

EDA will strive to avoid funding duplicative services among selected University

Centers.

University Center applicants should integrate their programs across their institutions in order to leverage multiple programs that support economic development. Applicants should also demonstrate a record of success in fostering higher-skill, higher-wage job creation, as well as the ability to engage the private sector and leverage other sources of financial support.

B. Program authority

EDA’s authorizing statute is the Public Works and Economic Development Act of

1965, as amended (42 U.S.C. § 3121 et seq.) (PWEDA). The specific authority for the

University Center Economic Development Program is section 207 of PWEDA (42 U.S.C.

§ 3147), which authorizes EDA to make grants for the establishment of University Centers.

EDA’s regulations at 13 C.F.R. parts 300–302 and subpart B of 13 C.F.R. part 306 set forth the general and specific regulatory requirements applicable to the University Center Program.

EDA’s regulations are codified at 13 C.F.R. chapter III. The regulations and

PWEDA are accessible on the U.S. Government Printing Office’s website at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2011-title13-vol1/pdf/CFR-2011-title13-vol1-chapIII.pdf.

II. Award Information

A. How much funding is available?

In FY 2012, funding appropriated under the Consolidated and Further Continuing

Appropriations Act, 2012 (Pub. L. No. 112-55, 125 Stat. 552 (November 18, 2011)) made

$220,000,000 available for the following economic development assistance programs authorized under PWEDA and the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. § 2341 et seq.):

(1) Public Works and Economic Development Facilities Program; (2) Economic Adjustment

Assistance; (3) Planning; (4) Local Technical Assistance; (5) University Center Economic

Development Program; (6) Research and Evaluation; (7) National Technical Assistance; and

(8) Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms.

The funding periods and funding amounts referenced in this FFO are subject to the availability of funds at the time of award, as well as to Department of Commerce and EDA priorities at the time of award. The Department of Commerce and EDA will not be held responsible for application preparation costs. Publication of this FFO does not obligate the

Department of Commerce or EDA to award any specific grant or cooperative agreement or to obligate all or any part of available funds.

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2011-title13-vol1/pdf/CFR-2011-title13-vol1-chapIII.pdf http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2011-title13-vol1/pdf/CFR-2011-title13-vol1-chapIII.pdf

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For FY 2012, EDA expects to allocate approximately $8.4 million to the University

Center program. The amount of University Center program funding available for FY 2012 is expected to be approximately $1.3 million for the Atlanta Regional Office and approximately

$1.1 million for the Seattle Regional Office. The remaining FY 2012 University Center program funds will be used to continue to support current University Centers selected during the FY 2010 and FY 2011 competitions in EDA’s other four regional offices.

Annual awards for the University Centers selected in past years generally have been in the range of $80,000 to $200,000 each, and 8 to 10 awards generally have been made per participating region. The Atlanta Regional Office and the Seattle Regional Office may choose to fund awards under this competition outside of these ranges. Subject to the availability of funding at the time of award, the funds allocated to the University Center program are anticipated to be available until expended.

B. What is the project period and the type of funding instrument used to make awards?

Under this competitive solicitation, EDA may, subject to the availability of funds, award grants to selected University Centers. The Atlanta and Seattle Regional Offices will provide a five-year project period for each applicant selected for funding, with an initial funding period of one year. The selected University Centers will not have to compete for the second, third, fourth, and fifth years of funding. Funding beyond the initial year will be dependent upon the availability of funds, and upon the satisfactory performance and satisfactory progress in achieving annual milestones and program goals as determined by

EDA and expressed in written notice.

In FY 2011, EDA converted the University Center program from a three-year project period to a five-year project period for the Chicago and Philadelphia Regional Offices.

Similarly, in FY 2012, EDA is converting the project period for University Center participants to five years for the Atlanta and Seattle Regional Offices’ competition. The

Denver and Austin Regional Offices’ competition to be held in FY 2013 also will include five-year project periods. Current grantees in the Denver and Austin Regional Offices remain subject to the three-year project period established in their current awards.

Accordingly, current University Center grantees in the service areas of EDA’s Austin, Chicago, Denver, and Philadelphia Regional Offices will not have to compete for continuation funding in FY 2012, subject to the availability of funds, satisfactory performance, and satisfactory progress in achieving milestones and program goals set forth in their respective scopes of work, as determined by EDA and expressed in a written notice.

The Austin, Chicago, Denver, and Philadelphia Regional Offices will contact current

University Center grantees regarding the procedures for securing FY 2012 continuation funding.

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C. Upon acceptance of an EDA award, what are the post-approval requirements?

Recipients under this announcement shall make themselves available for up to two presentations per year, at a time and place designated by EDA, and shall be required to provide EDA with an electronic copy of their presentations suitable for posting on EDA’s website. Recipients also shall be required to participate in periodic University Center conference calls or webinars to share best practices and discuss the program’s challenges and opportunities.

In addition to the annual performance evaluation by EDA, recipients’ performance will be subject to a peer review at the end of years two and four of the project period. Two weeks before the recipient’s scheduled peer review, the University Center must provide EDA with an abstract of its original proposal, a copy of its presentation on the University Center’s performance, and any relevant papers or work product for dissemination to the peer review panelists. The recipient should be prepared to participate in a moderated discussion with these reviewers at the conclusion of its presentation.

As part of the required progress reports (see section VI.D. of this FFO), grantees will be required to provide an overview of how activities of the University Centers are fulfilling the needs of their target regions. For example, University Centers could identify how their activities result in a change in per capita income, help assist businesses, or supply a summary of their technology commercialization activities. Grantees are required to comply with all terms and conditions of the award, including special award conditions agreed to between

EDA and the University Center.

III. Eligibility Information

A. Who is eligible to apply under this announcement?

An accredited institution of higher education, including a community college, or a consortium of accredited institutions of higher education is eligible to apply for and to receive funding under the University Center Economic Development Program. See section

3(12) of PWEDA (42 U.S.C. § 3122(12)) and 13 C.F.R. § 300.3. A university-affiliated research foundation also is eligible to apply for and to receive funding under this FFO, provided it demonstrates (e.g., a letter or other documentation from a university President or

Chancellor) that it maintains the full and integral support of the university with respect to its economic development activities. For applicants applying as a consortium, one accredited institution must be identified as the lead agent that would have primary responsibility to EDA and to the other members of the consortium for implementing an award. A non-profit organization, in good standing and participating in the institution’s proposed project in connection with an application under this FFO, may partner with a consortium; provided that, the organization itself is affiliated with and directed by an accredited institution of higher education.

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Pursuant to this FFO, EDA is soliciting applications from accredited institutions of higher education and from consortia of accredited institutions of higher education to operate

University Centers in (and have programs targeting) only the following geographic areas served by the Atlanta and Seattle Regional Offices:

Serves: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

Serves: Alaska, Arizona, American

Samoa, California, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Republic of Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nevada, Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon, Republic of Palau, and Washington.

B. What is the cost sharing or matching share requirement?

Generally, the amount of the EDA award may not exceed 50 percent of the total cost of the project. Projects may receive an additional amount that shall not exceed 30 percent, based on the relative needs of the region in which the project will be located, as determined by EDA. See section 204(a) of PWEDA (42 U.S.C. § 3144) and 13 C.F.R. § 301.4(b)(1).

The Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development has the discretion to establish a maximum EDA investment rate of up to 100 percent where the project (i) merits and is not otherwise feasible without an increase to the EDA investment rate; or (ii) will be of no or only incidental benefit to the recipient. See section 204(c)(3) of PWEDA (42 U.S.C.

§ 3144) and 13 C.F.R. § 301.4(b)(4).

In the application review process, EDA will consider the nature of the contribution

(cash or in-kind) and the amount of the matching share funds. In-kind contributions with proper documentation, fairly evaluated by EDA, may provide the non-Federal share of the total project cost. See section 204(b) of PWEDA (42 U.S.C. § 3144) and section IV.A.8. of this FFO. In-kind contributions, which may include contributions of space, equipment, and services, are eligible to be included as part of the non-Federal share of eligible project costs if they meet applicable Federal cost principles and uniform administrative requirements. Funds from other Federal agencies may be used as matching share funds only if authorized by statute that allows such use, which may be determined by EDA’s reasonable interpretation of the statute. See the definition of ―Local Share‖ in 13 C.F.R. § 300.3. The applicant must show that the matching share is committed to the project for the entire project period, will be available as needed, and is not conditioned or encumbered in any way that precludes its use consistent with the requirements of EDA assistance. See 13 C.F.R. § 301.5.

In making this determination, EDA will take into consideration the severity of the unemployment rate and the duration of the unemployment in the Region, the per capita income levels and the extent of underemployment in the Region, the outmigration of population and the extent to which such outmigration is causing economic injury in the Region, and such other factors as the EDA and the Assistant Secretary deem relevant.

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IV. Application Requirements

A. Content and form of application submissions

Applicants must complete and submit the following components of an application package:

1. Form SF-424 - Application for Federal Assistance.

2. Form SF-424A - Budget Information—Non-Construction Programs.

3. Form SF-424B - Assurances—Non-Construction Programs.

4. Form CD-511 - Certification Regarding Lobbying.

5. Form SF-LLL - Disclosure of Lobbying Activities, if applicable.

6. Form ED-900 - Application for Investment Assistance.

a. The first page of section A of Form ED-900 contains a list of all EDA programs along with the relevant sections that must be completed to apply under each.

b. To apply under this competitive solicitation, the applicant first must select the box next to ―University Center,‖ which will automatically populate the

Form ED-900 with the required sections.

c. The next step is to indicate whether the applicant is governmental or non-governmental. This determination will depend on the organizational form of the applicant.

(i) Please note that despite the instructions on Form ED-900, an applicant that is an accredited university, whether public or private, must select the box next to ―Governmental.‖

(ii) Applicants that are non-profit organizations (including university-affiliated research foundations) must select the box next to ―Non-governmental.‖

(iii)Notwithstanding the applicant’s self-designation, EDA may determine that public universities in certain states should be treated as

―Governmental‖ even if the universities utilize non-profit organizations to structure their relationship with Federal grant agencies.

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(iv) Non-governmental applicants must complete section D of Form ED-

900 and include all documentation required in that section except as provided below.

d. Once the accurate determination is made, the applicant must complete sections A, C, E, and J and Exhibit C, as directed, and, if required, section D.

e. In addition, the following modifications to the general application instructions for Form ED-900 apply and should be observed. Applicants are advised to read carefully as the following elements have been waived.

(i) In general. Certain sections of Form ED-900 require general project information that may be included in the applicant’s Project Narrative

(described below). To avoid redundancy, the applicant may make the following notation ―See Project Narrative‖ (a cross-reference to the corresponding Project Narrative section is strongly encouraged) in the response boxes corresponding to these sections.

(ii) Section A.3 of Form ED-900. Applicants under this FFO are not required to submit a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy

(CEDS) referenced in section A.3 of Form ED-900. Applicants should type ―Not required for a UC‖ in the box following the ―If No‖ statement.

(iii)Section D.4 of Form ED-900. If the applicant is a non-governmental entity, and therefore required to complete section D, the applicant is not required to submit a resolution (or letter signed by) an authorized representative of a general purpose political subdivision of a State acknowledging that it is acting in cooperation with officials of such political division. If the applicant is required to complete section D, the applicant should select ―No‖ for question 4 of section D and type or print ―EDA waiver of this requirement per FFO‖ in the ―explain below‖ box.

7. Project Narrative. As outlined in section IV.A.6. of this FFO, all applicants must complete the Application for Investment Assistance (Form ED-900) as part of the application package to be considered for funding. Section A of

Form ED-900 provides structured questions designed to assess the need and impact of a proposed project. While Form ED-900 provides space within the form for responses, the applicant may substitute an expanded narrative in a separate attachment that references the questions in the ED-900, to ensure that its application includes a clear and compelling justification for the project. It must be no more than 15 pages of double-spaced text (approximately 200 to

300 words per page), including any attachments but not including the cover page. The Project Narrative must provide for a five-year scope of work and

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Project Narrative must include the following items, which should be presented in the following format:

a. Cover Page.

b. Section 1. Program Focus. Identify the program focus of the University

Center grantee. Applicants should indicate whether the University Center will focus on supporting regional commercialization efforts, advancing high-growth entrepreneurship, cultivating innovation, business expansion in a region’s innovation cluster, or developing a high-skilled regional workforce. If the University Center will have more than one program focus, applicants should clearly indicate the anticipated percentage of time devoted to each focus.

c. Section 2. Service Region, Needs of Service Region, and Target Audience.

(i) Define the geographic service region of the University Center. For purposes of this competition, a region is defined as ―an economic unit of human, natural, technological, capital or other resources, defined geographically.‖ Geographic areas comprising a region need not be contiguous or defined by political boundaries, but should constitute a cohesive area capable of undertaking successful economic development. See the definition of ―region‖ in 13 C.F.R. § 300.3.

(ii) Describe the service region’s industries and existing regional economic development strategy(ies). Applicants should identify linkages between the regional strategies and the proposed University

Center’s activities. Applicants are strongly encouraged to support any claims with independent, third-party data, regional strategy plans, and existing impact studies.

(iii)Describe the current state of the geographic service region’s economic ecosystem, including the regional talent pool, innovation infrastructure, and support systems to facilitate commercialization of research and technology transfer, as well as the connections between economic ecosystem components and regional economic development strategies. Identify the proposed University Center’s measurable activities that will assist the proposed service area in filling economic ecosystem gaps and achieving regional economic development goals that are part of the regional strategy(ies).

(iv) List existing and potential partnerships with regional economic development stakeholders (e.g., regional planning organizations) and trade/export related entities (e.g., U.S. export assistance centers); and describe ongoing activities.

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(v) Identify the targeted beneficiaries of the proposed University Center and desired outcomes throughout the proposed geographic service region.

d. Section 3. Scope of Work and Anticipated Impacts and Results.

(i) Present an overview of the scope of work, explaining how the proposed scope of work will address the specific economic ecosystem gaps identified in paragraph (c)(iii) above.

(ii) Describe the specific activities to be undertaken by the University

Center grantee during the project period, including but not limited to providing technical assistance, conducting applied research, and disseminating information about and the results of University Center’s economic development activities. For purposes of the University

Center program, providing ―technical assistance‖ includes all economic development activities whether undertaken at the request of an entity outside of the sponsoring institution (or consortium) or directly by the applicant or co-applicants. Conducting applied research means the direct use of research to address a specific challenge, meet a specific need, or solve a specific problem experienced by innovators, entrepreneurs, economic planners, and cluster-based industries.

Disseminating information about the activities of the University Center includes: (1) efforts taken to inform the University Center’s target audience of available assistance; (2) publicizing research findings and best practices; and (3) demonstrating to EDA how measurable economic development outcomes will be realized during the project period.

EDA-sponsored University Centers engage in various activities to support the economic ecosystem of a region, including targeted commercialization of research, workforce development, and business counseling services. Examples of such activities include, but are not limited to:

Assisting communities in identifying and defining their workforce talent pool and entrepreneurial capacity related to growing industrial clusters and growth strategies through strategic and sustainable economic development planning efforts;

Supporting or accelerating technology commercialization and entrepreneurship by assisting in licensing and patenting activities;

Supporting new product development by using student and faculty expertise and university laboratories and equipment to develop prototypes;

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Assisting entrepreneurs in the establishment of companies to commercialize technology or innovative products and services;

Assisting existing businesses in increasing productivity and quality, streamlining operations, and cutting costs through the introduction or extension of advanced manufacturing, quality management, and other processes and techniques;

Assisting entrepreneurs, tribal entities, local governments, District

Organizations, and other private and public sector organizations with cutting energy costs, reducing their carbon footprint, and incorporating green building techniques or green manufacturing processes, as appropriate;

Supporting business development strategies and enhancing profitability through marketing and sales techniques, new product development analysis, and identifying new markets (including international markets);

Supporting the regional talent pool through workforce development, professional and leadership development, and core business training; and

Assisting communities in addressing financial challenges through innovative financing techniques.

(iii)Identify the anticipated economic impacts and benefits to the

University Center’s service region, and in particular the previously identified economically distressed regions and the target audience.

Anticipated benefits may include, but are not limited to:

Economic impacts of projects assisted as measured by at least direct, indirect and induced output, jobs and income;

Longitudinal economic impacts over a defined period at least three years after the University Center assistance is provided to the service region, including identified economically distressed regions;

Investments of private sector capital;

The percentage of University Center clients initiating action as a result of the technical assistance provided by the University

Center;

The percentage of University Center clients that achieve the anticipated results;

Any activities that result in measureable outcomes leading to increased innovation, entrepreneurship, emerging and growing clusters, and sustainable economic development practices; and

Activities that create or enhance networks supporting innovation, transfer of knowledge, and entrepreneurship.

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e. Section 4. Supporting Information.

(i) Discuss the sponsoring institution’s (or consortium’s) capacity and experience in successfully operating economic development technical assistance programs, especially those focused on regional commercialization, entrepreneurship, and regional innovation cluster and infrastructure development. Applicants are encouraged to document specific results of past economic development activities and programs.

(ii) Identify other organizations in the proposed service area that provide potentially complementary or duplicative services.

(iii)Outline the process(es) or strategy(ies) the proposed University Center will follow to maximize coordination and interaction with relevant entities, such as District Organizations, Indian Tribes, Councils of

Governments, Regional Planning Commissions, and other University

Centers, to minimize duplication of services and provide services not currently available.

(iv) Outline the process(es) or strategy(ies) for coordinating economic development efforts among private and public institutions in the proposed service area.

(v) Outline the process(es) or strategy(ies) for coordinating and accessing key resources of the sponsoring institution (or consortium) to support economic development efforts.

(vi) For existing University Center grantees, discuss past performance in administering economic development technical assistance projects

f. Section 5. Project Fit with EDA’s Priorities.

Applicants must address the: (i) expected benefits of the proposed scope of work in light of EDA’s support for the development and growth of regional innovation clusters and technology commercialization based on existing regional competitive strengths; (ii) expected impacts and benefits of efforts in distressed communities; (iii) use of both public and private sector resources and leveraging of complementary investments by other governmental or public entities or non-profit organizations; and (iv) extent to which the proposed project will engage EDA stakeholders, facilitate collaboration among urban, suburban, and rural (including Tribal) areas, provide stability for economic development through long-term intergovernmental and public/private collaboration, and support the growth of existing and emerging industry clusters.

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g. Section 6. Project Timeline.

Applicants must submit a detailed five-year timeline for project implementation that includes significant project milestones and accomplishments.

8. Budget, Budget Narrative, and Staffing Plan.

Applicants must submit Form SF-424A for the entire five-year award period.

In addition, applicants must attach five separate itemized budgets—including columns reflecting the Federal, non-Federal cash, non-Federal in-kind, and total amounts allocated to each budget line-item—for each of the five years in the project period. Applicants should use the budget categories identified in

―Section B – Budget Categories‖ of Form SF-424A, with sub-categories and explanations as necessary. The allowability of costs under a Federal award is determined in accordance with the provisions of 2 C.F.R. part 220, ―Cost

Principles for Educational Institutions (OMB Circular A–21)‖ or 2 C.F.R. part

230, ―Cost Principles for Non-Profit Organizations (OMB Circular A–122),‖ as applicable. Generally, allowable costs include salaries, supplies and other expenses that are reasonable, allocable, and necessary for successful completion of the scope of work.

a. Budget Narrative. The budget narrative must describe and discuss each budget line-item over the entire five-year project period explaining any variations across the five years.

b. Staffing Plan. In addition to the budget and budget narrative, applicants also must submit a staffing plan listing all positions that will be charged to the Federal and non-Federal portion of the budget for each year of the five-year project period. The staffing plan must include position titles, maximum annual salaries, 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 SF424A for each project year.

c. Facilities and Administrative Costs. If facilities and administrative costs

(sometimes referred to as indirect costs) are included in the budget, the applicant must include a copy of its current Facilities and Administrative

Cost Rate Agreement or documentation establishing that it has a pending application. An applicant that does not have a current Facilities and

Administrative Cost Rate Agreement negotiated and approved by the

Department of Commerce (or by the applicable cognizant Federal agency) may propose facilities and administrative costs in its budget. However, the applicant must prepare and submit a facilities and administrative cost allocation plan and rate proposal or a negotiated indirect cost rate as

– 17 – required by 2 C.F.R. part 220, ―Cost Principles for Educational Institutions

(OMB Circular A–21)‖ or 2 C.F.R. part 230, ―Cost Principles for Non-

Profit Organizations (OMB Circular A–122),‖ as applicable. The allocation plan and the rate proposal must be submitted to the Department of Commerce’s Office of Acquisition Management (or applicable cognizant Federal agency) within ninety days from the award start date.

Subject to the limitation on facilities and administrative costs (sometimes referred to as indirect costs) set out in the paragraph below, the maximum dollar amount of allocable facilities and administrative costs for which

EDA will reimburse a recipient shall be the lesser of the: (i) line-item amount for the Federal share of facilities and administrative costs contained in the EDA-approved budget for the award, or (ii) Federal share of the total allocable facilities and administrative costs of the award based on the cost rate approved by the Department of Commerce (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. See Paragraph 5 (Indirect Costs) of the Department of

Commerce Pre-Award Notification Requirements for Grants and

Cooperative Agreements (73 FR 7696, February 11, 2008). The applicant should include a statement in its budget narrative if the applicant does not have, or has not applied for, a Facilities and Administrative Cost Rate

Agreement.

(i) Funding Restrictions. As required under 13 C.F.R. § 306.6(d), at least

80 percent of EDA funding under a University Center program award must be allocated to direct costs of program delivery. Pursuant to

15 C.F.R. § 14.23(b), unrecovered indirect costs may be included as part of cost sharing or matching only with the prior approval of the

Grants Officer. . Applicants should be aware that EDA will consider the cost to the Federal government in its project feasibility analysis by examining the amounts allocated in the proposed budget used to deliver direct program activities (as opposed to the total budget which includes indirect costs). See section V. of this FFO for application review and selection information.

(ii) Program Income. If the operation of the University Center is expected to generate ―program income,‖ such amounts must be accounted for in the project budget and must be added to those budget line-items pertaining to direct program delivery. Program income must be added to funds committed to the project, and must be used to further eligible program activities before expiration of the five-year project period or otherwise used as permitted under 15 C.F.R. § 14.24.

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9. Organizational Summary and Résumés of Key Project Staff.

Applicants must attach the résumés of key project staff, which generally should not exceed two pages in length (per résumé). Applicants also should provide a two-page summary description of all personnel (performing for the applicant) and contractors named in the application. Subject to the availability of funding, successful applicants under this FFO must follow the applicable

Federal procurement rules prior to selecting or entering into vendor contracts.

Please note that if the applicant is a consortium, each member institution of the consortium must submit the following: Forms SF-424, SF-424B, CD-511, and SF-LLL, if applicable. For example, if a consortium of three institutions of higher education submitted an application package, a complete application package would consist of:

a. Three Forms SF-424 (one for each consortium member);

b. One Form SF-424A;

c. Three Forms SF-424B (one for each consortium member);

d. Three Forms CD-511 (one for each consortium member);

e. Three Forms SF-LLL, if applicable (one for each consortium member that has or plans to use non-Federal funds for lobbying in connection with this competitive solicitation);

f. One Form ED-900; and

g. One Project Narrative and other required attachments.

B. Deadline for submissions

The closing date for receipt of applications for funding under the FY 2012 University

Center Economic Development Program competition is March 30, 2012. The closing time for paper applications is 5:00 p.m. ET for applications submitted to the Atlanta Regional

Office, and 5:00 p.m. PT for applications submitted to the Seattle Regional Office.

Applicants must ensure that complete paper applications are physically received in the

Atlanta Regional Office by 5:00 p.m. ET or Seattle Regional Office by 5:00 p.m. PT, as applicable, on March 30, 2012. The closing time for applications submitted electronically via www.grants.gov (Grants.gov), for the Atlanta Regional Office and the Seattle Regional

Office, is 11:59 p.m. ET on March 30, 2012. 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 for this FFO. See section IV.E.1. of this FFO for detailed information regarding electronic submissions. Applications received after the applicable closing date and time 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.

http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/

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Throughout the review and selection process, EDA reserves the right to seek clarification in writing 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 necessary to comply with Federal requirements and provide supplemental information required by the agency before award. The

Atlanta or Seattle Regional Office may contact an applicant after technical review of all applications for the purpose of determining whether a proposed project can be completed with a modified scope of work acceptable to EDA or for a smaller budget than that proposed if EDA is unable to fund the full amount requested.

See section V. of this FFO for application review and selection information.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to start early and not to wait until the approaching due date before logging on and reviewing the instructions for submitting an application through Grants.gov. Applicants should save and print written proof of an electronic submission made at Grants.gov. If problems occur while using Grants.gov, the applicant is advised to (i) print any error message received; and (ii) call Grants.gov at 1-800-518-4726 for immediate assistance. EDA may allow more time for application submission due to system problems at Grants.gov that are beyond the control of the applicant. See section

IV.E.1. of this FFO for more information on electronic submissions.

C. Informational teleconferences

The Atlanta Regional Office will hold an informational teleconference on

February 23, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. ET. The Seattle Regional Office will hold an informational teleconference on March 1, 2012, at 1:30 p.m. PT. These teleconferences will provide general program information and information regarding the preparation of applications for funding under this competitive solicitation. To ensure the integrity of this competition, EDA will not provide substantive information regarding the competition to prospective applicants outside of these scheduled teleconferences.

To ensure that enough incoming lines are available for each caller, the Atlanta

Regional Office requires interested parties planning to participate on the teleconference to register no later than 12:00 pm ET on February 21, 2012; the Seattle Regional Office requires interested parties planning to participate on the teleconference to register no later than

12:00 pm PT on February 28, 2012. To register, please send a fax with ―FY 2012 UC

Teleconference Registration‖ in the subject line to the designated contact listed in section

IV.E.2. of this FFO. The telephone number and pass code for each teleconference will be provided upon registration.

Please be advised that the informational teleconferences may be audio-taped and the actual recordings or a transcript of the actual recording may be made available online or otherwise for the benefit of prospective applicants unable to participate. Prospective applicants who participate on the teleconferences are deemed to consent to the taping.

http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/

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D. Obtaining an application package

An applicant may obtain the appropriate application package electronically at

Grants.gov. All components of the appropriate application package may be accessed and downloaded (in a screen-fillable format) at http://www.grants.gov/applicants/apply_for_grants.jsp. The preferred electronic file format for attachments is portable document format (PDF), however, EDA will accept electronic files in Microsoft Word, WordPerfect, or Microsoft Excel. The applicant must complete the

Grants.gov registration process to submit applications through Grants.gov, however, please note that registration is not required for an applicant to access, view, or download the application packages. Alternatively, an applicant eligible for assistance under this announcement may request a paper (hard copy) application package by contacting the applicable EDA regional office listed under section IV.E.2. of this FFO.

E. How to submit an application

Applications may be submitted electronically in accordance with the procedures provided at Grants.gov, or in paper format through the procedures provided in section IV.E.2 of this FFO. The content of the application is the same for paper submissions as it is for electronic submissions. EDA will not accept transmissions of applications sent by facsimile or e-mail.

1. Electronic Submissions

EDA strongly encourages electronic submissions of applications through Grants.gov.

Applicants should not wait until the application closing date to begin the registration and submission process. In order to submit an application through Grants.gov, applicants first must register for a Grants.gov user id and password. Note that this registration process can take between three to five business days or as long as two weeks if all steps are not completed in a timely manner (see http://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp).

Applicants should register as organizations, not as individuals. Please note that organizations already registered with Grants.gov do not need to re-register; however, all registered organizations must keep their Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database registration up-to-date and must designate the person submitting the application on behalf of the organization as an Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR). See section IV.E.1.

below and section VII.E.1. of this FFO.

An application that is not validated and time-stamped by Grants.gov by the applicable deadline will not be processed.

Applicants need to be aware that once an application is submitted, it undergoes a validation process through Grants.gov in which the application may be accepted or rejected by the system.