FY 23 STEM Talent Challenge NOFO.pdf

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2023 STEM TALENT CHALLENGE

N o t i ce o f F u 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 (DOC)

Funding Opportunity Title

2023 STEM Talent Challenge

Announcement Type

2023 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) publishing EDA’s application submission requirements and application review procedures for the STEM Talent Challenge, as authorized by section 30 of the Stevenson- Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980, as amended (15 U.S.C. § 3723)

Funding Opportunity Number EDA-STEMTALENT-2023

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

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

Key Dates

The application deadline is 11:59 P.M. EASTERN TIME ON JUNE 12, 2023. Applications received after this deadline will not be reviewed or considered. Applications will only be accepted electronically through sfgrants.eda.gov (EDGE). Please carefully read the application and submission information provided in section D.2. (p.13) of this NOFO for full details.

Funding Opportunity Description

EDA’s Office of Innovation & Entrepreneurship is seeking applications from eligible applicants to create and implement innovative science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) work-based learning models (such as Registered Apprenticeships) 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 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.3. (p. 12) 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 whose application is supported by a State, a political subdivision of a State, or a native organization and that is— o a nonprofit organization, https://sfgrants.eda.gov/s/ iii o an institution of higher education, o a public-private partnership, o a science or research park, o a Federal laboratory, or o an economic development organization or similar entity; or

• A consortium of any of the aforementioned entities.

EDA is not authorized to provide grants or cooperative agreements to individuals under this Program. Applications from individuals will not be considered for funding.

Informational Webinar EDA plans to conduct an informational webinar for this NOFO and expects to make available scheduling information and a link to a recording at https://www.eda.gov/funding/programs/stem-challenge.

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.

https://www.eda.gov/funding/programs/stem-challenge

FULL ANNOUNCEMENT TEXT

2023 STEM Talent Challenge Program

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

1. Overview

2. Program Information

3. Desired Outputs and Outcomes

4. Equity Investment Priority

5. Statutory Authority

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

1. Available Funding Under this Announcement

2. Type of Funding Instrument Used; Period of Performance

C. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

1. Eligible Applicants

2. Definitions

3. Cost Sharing or Matching

4. Certain Prohibitions on Use of Award Funds

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. Address to Request Application Package

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

3. Forms and Supporting Documentation

4. Environmental and Historic Preservation Requirements

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

6. Submission Dates and Times

7. Intergovernmental Review

8. Funding Restrictions

9. Other Submission Requirements

10. EDGE Systems Issues

E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

1. Evaluation Criteria

2. Review and Selection Process

3. Awards in Excess of the Simplified Acquisition Threshold

F. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

1. Federal Award Notices

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

3. Reporting

4. Requirements for Recipients with more than $10 million in Federal-wide Funding

G. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACT(S)

H. OTHER INFORMATION

1. Right to Use Information

2. Disclosure of Information

3. Freedom of Information Act

4. Notice of Government-Wide Procurement Restriction

5. Past Performance and Non-Compliance with Award Provisions

6. EDA’s Non-Relocation Policy

7. NOFO Changes Communicated on Grants.gov

8. Audit Requirements

9. Office of Inspector General Rights and Responsibilities

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

Appendix A EXAMPLE OUTPUT AND OUTCOME MEASURES Appendix B OPTIONAL CHECKLIST—STYLE GUIDE FOR REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FOR

APPLICATION

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

1. Overview

Entrepreneurs, especially technology entrepreneurs, flourish in healthy ecosystems. Technology-based economic development (TBED) grows these ecosystems in which entrepreneurs can start and scale technology-driven businesses, which in turn create high-skill and high-wage jobs, economic opportunity, and the industries of the future. EDA’s Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (OIE) awards grants through the STEM Talent Challenge to foster science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) talent pipelines within these ecosystems, ultimately advancing the growth of connected, innovation-centric economies that enable innovation and accelerate technology commercialization to increase global competitiveness.1

As these regional innovation economies scale across the country, America has benefited from growth in jobs requiring sophisticated STEM skills. High-skilled human capital is proving essential to the growth and expansion of these regional technological ecosystems; however, U.S. employers—especially younger, leaner firms, which include many innovative and technology-focused startups—have struggled to fill jobs in these fields. An increasing number of jobs that require STEM skills do not require a bachelor’s degree, and other education and training pathways—such as Registered Apprenticeships, fellowships, and other work-based learning models—are increasingly instrumental in meeting the urgent demand for a STEM-capable workforce.

To meet these demands, section 30 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. § 3723), authorizes EDA to carry out a grant program to implement and scale STEM talent development programs that meet the needs of regional innovation economies, informed by committed employers seeking to fill quality jobs to enable regions to establish and strengthen U.S. leadership in the industries of the future.

2. Program Information

The STEM Talent Challenge aims to build STEM talent training systems to strengthen regional innovation economies. This competition seeks applications from eligible applicants that are creating and implementing STEM talent development strategies that complement their region’s innovation economy, particularly as such strategies relate to critical, emerging technologies and transformative industries such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, semiconductor fabrication, advanced manufacturing and robotics, space exploration and commerce, broadband expansion, bioscience, quantum information science, climate technologies, the built environment, and aqua- and agricultural technologies.

The STEM Talent Challenge is designed to help communities with implementing programs that align with the assessed needs of the region and its innovative businesses. Projects should implement or scale STEM competency-based, work-and-learn education and training models that are directly connected with the needs of employers in a regional economy. These needs should be evaluated, through a formal or informal

1 See 15 U.S.C. §3723.

needs assessment, meant to determine the types of skills needed by the drivers of regional innovation, including innovative businesses that employ STEM talent. Projects should be responsive to these assessed needs and should clearly indicate how workers will be prepared for employment.

Training should prioritize STEM skills tied to the use, production, and deployment of critical, emerging technologies and the needs of transformative industries and should include an on-the-job component.

Training models are not tied to existing industry definitions and can include any combination of work-based and classroom learning. EDA encourages experimentation with training models that aim to increase placements into good jobs—especially experimentation that builds evidence for models that not only aim for but also result in job placements.

Applicants should leverage partnerships with local and regional innovation leaders, including technology centers, business incubators and accelerators, community colleges, and STEM industry leaders such as technology startups, advanced manufacturers, life science businesses, and other similar or analogous entities, based on the specific context of the applicants’ respective regional innovation economy. Projects should be closely tied to the needs of the regional innovation economy and its employers and should aim to build a talent pipeline for entrepreneurs, startups, and other innovation leaders, as well as place new employees into immediate job openings.

Applicants should have, or have a plan to build, community-based partnerships that connect training and employment with those from underserved populations, with the goal of increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM fields, and applicants should plan to collect and measure demographic information about trainees as well as its own staff and leadership. Applicants should include in their proposed outcomes projected placement of program participants into quality jobs in STEM fields2.

i. Example Activities

The STEM Talent Challenge will provide funding to 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 industries with potential for new, STEM-centric, quality jobs and to expand and empower the innovation economy workforce with a focus on employer engagement.

Examples include:

2 A “quality job” is defined as a job that exceeds the local prevailing wage for an industry in the region, includes basic benefits (e.g., paid leave, health insurance, retirement/savings plan),and/or is unionized, and helps the employee develop the skills and experiences necessary to advance along a career path. “Prevailing wage” is defined by the Department of Labor as “the average wage paid to similarly employed workers in a specific occupation in the area of intended employment.”

• assessing and forecasting current and future talent needs and developing collaborative, work-based programs with regional employers, entrepreneurs, innovators, and the organizations that support them;

• building a highly skilled STEM workforce and connecting it to technical opportunities that foster professional development and provide continuing advanced skills training to meet employer demand;

• securing and offering wrap-around services for workers to participate in skills training programs (e.g., transportation, childcare, and career coaching/navigation services);

• establishing durable collaborations among entrepreneurs, industry leaders and employers, educational organizations, established corporations, economic or workforce development organizations, labor unions, and the public sector to develop access to skilled workers and demand-driven workforce pipelines for the innovation economy;

• partnering with innovative employers, training providers, and/or workforce organizations to develop a strategy to develop or otherwise lead to a Registered Apprenticeship program that meets the standards set by Department of Labor; and

• placing job seekers, including those from underserved populations, into immediate quality job openings with regional employers in need of STEM talent, increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM fields.

EDA encourages efforts to reach historically underserved populations and areas, communities of color, women, and other groups facing labor market barriers such as persons with disabilities, disconnected youth, individuals in recovery, individuals with past criminal records, including justice-impacted and reentry participants, serving trainees participating in the SNAP, TANF, and WIC, and veterans and military spouses. 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.

3. Desired Outputs and Outcomes

Proposed projects should aim for all the following outputs and outcomes:

i. STEM Work-Based Learning and Training

Projects should focus on an interdisciplinary approach and utilize training models that provide workers with the experience 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 Registered Apprenticeships, fellowships, internships, and other cooperative employer-educator partnerships and are not limited to existing industry definitions—experimentation and innovation is encouraged. Programs, wherever possible, should contain some or all components of the Registered Apprenticeship model (business involvement, structured on-the-job training, related instruction, rewards for skill gains, and culmination in a national occupational credential). Training should clearly align with the talent needs of those driving innovation in the region and should result in job placement for the participants in high-wage employment in high-growth industries.

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.

EDA will prioritize programs that aim to place workers into quality jobs during the period of performance of the award.

ii. Increase Regional Capacity to Hire in Innovative Industries

Projects should increase the capacity of those driving innovation in the region by connecting regional innovation stakeholders and employers with workforce and talent development leaders or training providers. Programs should emphasize enabling the region’s technology startups and innovative companies with high growth potential to hire locally and to decrease the costs and lead time of 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 incubators and accelerators, digital economy training organizations, and venture development organizations. Please see section C.1 (p. 10) of this NOFO for eligibility information regarding the STEM Talent Challenge.

iii. Increase Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility in STEM

Projects should focus on enabling all members of a community to have equitable access to and participate in the innovation economy. Projects should seek to provide historically underserved and underrepresented communities with access to training and other tools to succeed. Project outcomes should include placement of program participants in well-paying, quality jobs in the STEM-related industry in which they receive training. Applicants should have relevant employer partners who are willing to demonstrate commitments to hiring program participants and to promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in their workplace. See section A.4. (p. 9) for more information about EDA’s Equity Investment Priority.

4. Equity Investment Priority

Consistent with Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities through the Federal Government, and EDA’s Equity Investment Priority, EDA expects projects to advance equity to underserved populations to the extent practicable. In this context, EDA is seeking projects that directly benefit: (1) one or more traditionally underserved populations, including but not limited to women, Black, Latino, and Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders or (2) underserved communities within geographies that have been systemically and/or systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic prosperity such as Tribal Lands, Persistent Poverty Counties, and rural areas with demonstrated, historical underservice.

A successful project will articulate which populations or communities will benefit (as noted above and at https://www.eda.gov/funding/investment-priorities) and include a plan for inclusive community engagement in the project and ensuring that economic benefits of the project will be shared by all communities in the project region, including any underserved communities. Your explanation should address the communities affected, barriers those communities may face in accessing benefits of the project, contemplated outreach efforts, and other planned steps to address identified barriers, as appropriate.

https://www.eda.gov/sites/default/files/2022-06/EDA-FY21-Investment-Priorities-Definitions.pdf#Underserved-Populations https://www.eda.gov/sites/default/files/2022-06/EDA-FY21-Investment-Priorities-Definitions.pdf#Geographies https://www.eda.gov/sites/default/files/2022-02/FY2022_PPCs.xlsx https://www.eda.gov/funding/investment-priorities

5. Statutory Authority

The statutory authority for the STEM Talent Challenge is section 30 of Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. § 3723).

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

1. Available Funding Under this Announcement

Funding in the total amount of $4,500,000 has been appropriated for grants authorized by section 30 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980, consisting of $2,000,000 pursuant to the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 20223 and $2,500,000 pursuant to the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023.4

The funding periods and funding amounts referenced in this NOFO are subject to the availability of funds at the time of award as well as to 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 $500,000. This funding must be used for program implementation during the period of performance.

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. 32) of this NOFO for award notification information. EDA anticipates awards will typically have a period of performance of 24 months with an estimated start date of November 1, 2023.

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. 32).

C. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

1. Eligible Applicants

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

• a State;

• an Indian tribe;

3 Pub. L. 117-103, division B, title 1, 136 Stat. 49 (March 15, 2022).

4 Pub. L. 117-328, division B, title 1 (December 29, 2022).

• a city or other political subdivision of a State;5

• an entity whose application is supported by a State, a political subdivision of a State, or a native organization and that is— o a nonprofit organization, o a public-private partnership,6 o an institution of higher education o a science or research park, o a Federal laboratory, or o an economic development organization or similar entity;7 or

• a consortium of any of the aforementioned entities.8

EDA is not authorized to provide assistance to individuals or other entity types that are not eligible under this NOFO, and such requests will not be considered for funding.

If an organization is currently implementing a prior-year EDA STEM Talent Challenge award and submitting an application to the 2023 STEM Talent Challenge under this NOFO, EDA will not consider that application for award unless all activities under the existing award, including but not limited to final reporting requirements, are completed and submitted to EDA prior to November 1, 2023.

2. Definitions

Under the STEM Talent Challenge, lead applicants may choose to partner with co-applicants, subrecipients, or contractors, which can all potentially serve as federally funded partners under the grant (meaning part of the federal budget requested in the application would go to these partner entities).

5 A “political subdivision of a State” is a unit of government created by and under the authority of a higher level of government.

For example, counties, cities, etc.

6 For purposes of the STEM Talent Challenge, EDA defines a public-private partnership (PPP) 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.

Organizations that plan to apply to this NOFO as a PPP may structure their applications in one of four ways: (1) The private entity that is party to the PPP applies on behalf of the PPP that includes the contractual agreement establishing the PPP, and that clearly documents the roles and responsibilities of each member of the PPP; (2) The public entity that is party to the PPP applies on behalf of the PPP that includes the contractual agreement establishing the PPP and that clearly documents the roles and responsibilities of each member of the PPP; (3) The PPP applies as a single entity if the PPP is an established entity, independent of the parties to the PPP and with its own organizational structure and clearly defined management team; and the application includes the contractual agreement establishing the PPP, and clearly documents the roles and responsibilities of each member of the PPP; or (4) If the public and private partners are equally involved in the management and/or carrying out of the grant, then the entities of the PPP should submit as co-applicants. The application should include the contractual agreement establishing the PPP and clearly document the roles and responsibilities of each member of the PPP.

7 For purposes of the STEM Talent Challenge, EDA defines an economic development organization as an organization with a primary purpose to support the economic development of a community or region. To evaluate an organization’s eligibility as an economic development organization or similar entity, EDA will look to the organization’s Articles of Incorporation, Charter, Resolutions, Bylaws, and 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.

8 A consortium is two or more eligible entities jointly applying for an award as co-applicants.

Applications may also include unfunded project partners (meaning they would not receive federal funds from this grant); please note the following definitions for help determining a partner’s legal classification under this grant. Before disbursing any program funds, a case-by-case determination must be made as to whether the partner or party receiving the funds has the role of subrecipient or contractor, pursuant to factors listed in 2 CFR § 200.331, (“Subrecipient and contractor determinations”).

i. Subrecipients

To be considered a subrecipient, an organization must be an eligible entity under this NOFO (see section C (p.10)). A subrecipient is an entity that receives a subaward from a pass-through entity (i.e., the lead applicant) to carry out part of a Federal award, but does not include an individual that is a beneficiary of such award. Subrecipients generally carry out a portion of project activities on behalf of the applicant or co-applicant(s). Additional documentation may be required for each potential subrecipient. Please note: When deciding between applying as a co-applicant or relying on subrecipients to perform part of the scope of work, EDA prefers subrecipients.

ii. Co-applicants

Each co-applicant must be an eligible entity under this NOFO (see section C (p. 10)); generally, co-applicants jointly manage and implement the scope of work of an award. Co-applicants have a significant role in the project scope of work. Co-applicants are generally required to submit the same forms that the primary applicant must submit. See section D (p. 13) and Appendix B for specific application requirements and a comprehensive checklist of the documents required for all co-applicants. Co-applicants of an application that is awarded funding will be considered “co-recipients.”

iii. Contractors

Contractors are entities that receive a contract, defined as a legal instrument by which a recipient or subrecipient purchases property or services needed to carry out a project or program under a Federal award (for definition of “contractor” see 2 CFR § 200.1). Contractors do not have to meet eligibility requirements under this NOFO; however, all contracts (including with contractors listed in application materials) must be procured in accordance with the procurement standards at 2 CFR §§ 200.317-327.

Please note: contractors that receive federal funds under a STEM Talent Challenge award cannot provide match or cost share for the same award.

3. Cost Sharing or Matching

A minimum one-to-one (1:1) match is required for STEM Talent Challenge awards. 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. Matching share greater than the 1:1 requirement will be accepted but is not necessary to qualify for funding and WILL NOT MAKE AN APPLICATION MORE COMPETITIVE. EDA in its sole discretion may agree to reduce the matching share prior to, at, or during an award to no lower than 1:1.

Applicants must provide documentation (e.g., a signed letter, resolution, MOU, etc.) to show that all matching share is committed, whether provided by the applicant or a third party. For full details on what is included and allowed to meet match requirements, see section D.2. iii.c) (p. 18).

4. Certain Prohibitions on Use of Award Funds

Construction activities are not allowable costs under the STEM Talent Challenge and may not be charged to the EDA funds of the project or provided as matching share, except in limited circumstances. See section D.8. (p. 24). For the purposes of an award made pursuant to this NOFO, construction includes any activity, including the installation of equipment, that disturbs the ground or modifies a structure. Next, the use of project funds to make equity, debt, or hybrid investments in businesses is not an allowable cost; neither EDA funds nor matching share may be used for such purposes.

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. Address to Request Application Package

An applicant must submit a complete application, as detailed in section D.2. ii (p. 14) of this NOFO, to be considered for funding. EDA intends to review each application within 60 days after receiving the complete application. EDA may request additional documentation or information from the applicant to make an eligibility determination. EDA will reject any documentation that the agency determines is inaccurate or incomplete, which may cause the application to be rejected.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

An applicant must obtain, complete, and submit an application electronically through the Economic Development Grants Experience (EDGE) at sfgrants.eda.gov. EDA will not accept paper, facsimile, or email transmissions of applications except as provided below. In order to obtain and submit an application through EDGE, an applicant must register for an EDGE account at sfgrants.eda.gov. As part of the registration process, you will register one Authorized Representative for your organization, however, multiple points of contact may be registered or added by the lead applicant to the application workspace to view or work on completing the application. The Authorized Representative will be the only official with the authority to submit applications. The required electronic file format for attachments is text-searchable Portable Document Format (PDF) and, where appropriate, Microsoft Excel.

i. Verify that your Submission was Successful

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

Applicants, specifically the Authorized Representative submitting the application and materials, will receive a time and date-stamped email from EDGE confirming the submission and receipt of the application and other required documents.

Applicants should save and print both the confirmation screen provided on EDGE after the applicant has submitted an application and the confirmation email sent when the application has been successfully submitted.

It is the Applicant's responsibility to verify that its submission was timely received and submitted successfully through EDGE.

a) Alternatives to Submission through EDGE

To accommodate applicants’ accessibility requirements, a paper version of the application may be obtained by contacting EDA’s Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (OIE) via email at oie@eda.gov or via phone at (202) 482-8001.

ii. List of Required Documents

All STEM Talent Challenge applications must include the following documents to be considered for funding (also, see Appendix B for application checklist):

Project Design and Substance Project Narrative Budget Narrative and Staffing Plan Matching Share Commitment Letters State/Local Government Support (if applicable, depending on your organization type) Letters from Employers (optional) Letters from Project Partners (optional)

Forms and Supporting Documentation SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance) SF-424A (Budget Information Non-Construction Programs) CD-511 (Certification Regarding Lobbying) SF-LLL (Disclosure of Lobbying Activities) (if applicable) State Single-Point-of-Contact (SPOC)/Executive Order 12372 Compliance Documentation (if applicable)9 Organizational Documentation (if applicable, depending on your organization type)10 Indirect Cost Rate (ICR) Documentation (if applicable) Project Service Area and FIPS Codes

iii. Project Design and Substance

Document Number Project Narrative One per application Budget Narrative and Staffing Plan One per application Matching Share Commitment Letters One per match source State/Local Government Support (if applicable, depending on your organization type)

One per application

Letters from Employers Optional Letters from Project Partners Optional

9 Only certain States participate in the SPOC compliance process. See section D.3. ii.a) (p. 20).

10 Only certain types of non-public eligible entities are required to submit organization documents, and the documentation required varies by eligible entity type. See Appendix B.

mailto:oie@eda.gov

a) Project Narrative

All applicants must provide a Project Narrative of no more than ten (10) total pages with margins no less than one-half inch (0.5”) using Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman, or a similar font of size no less than eleven (11) points to be considered for funding. MATERIAL BEYOND THE TENTH PAGE WILL NOT BE READ OR CONSIDERED. Any appendices will not be considered in scoring. 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 based on business and industry demand for certain skills or knowledge, the proposed project’s approach to meeting this need, and the expected outcomes that will result from the proposed project. Lengthy applications will not receive greater consideration.

Project Narratives must address the following areas:

1) Section 1: Project Description and Overview

a. Section 1a: Executive Summary

Provide an executive summary of no more than 250 words that includes a project title and that identifies the applicant’s name and the type of eligible applicant listed in Section C (p. 10) of this NOFO (including if the applicant is a public-private partnership). EDA may publish this executive summary, including but not limited to on its or other websites and via social media.

b. Section 1b: Vision, Mission, Goals, Roles

What are your organization’s vision and mission for this project? What are its program goals? Describe the roles you currently play in the innovation ecosystem, and how those roles enable you to achieve those goals. How are you positioned to support a technology entrepreneurship ecosystem by strengthening its STEM talent pipeline? Will other organizations be involved in this work and if so, what roles and responsibilities will they have? Please include any funded partners’ organizational type, formal relationship, and unique entity identifier (UEI) number (e.g., 501(c)(3) non-profit, subrecipient, UEI: ABC12345).

2) Section 2: Regional Innovation Resources and Talent Needs

a. Section 2a: Project Service Area

Describe the project’s location and region, including its primary service area, the communities or regions served (e.g., assets, financial and business resources, workforce, and infrastructure), the target participants served and stakeholders leveraged, and the communities’ or region’s assets and opportunities. The location and region should directly correspond to Questions 14 and 16 of the SF-424. If the applicant expects impacts beyond the noted region the applicant should note the region of expected impact.

b. Section 2b: Needs Assessment

What are the unmet skilled STEM worker needs of your service area’s employer base? You may substantiate your region’s need through formal or informal assessments. A formal needs assessment may be completely or partially contained in your respective regional Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), while an oral survey of the region’s employers may be an informal needs assessment.

Describe the approach and methodology used to assess these unmet STEM worker needs and to determine the need for this particular project.

3) Section 3: Proposed Solution and Scope of Work

a. Section 3a: Problems and Solutions What problems are you trying to solve? What are your proposed solutions? To what extent do your solutions align with any of EDA’s investment priorities?11 Describe in detail how the solutions align with specific regional opportunities or tackle structural challenges.

b. Section 3b: Achievability

Explain how achievable the solution is. For example, has the idea already been piloted in the area? Do you have examples of where this or similar solutions have been implemented before? If the solution is completely new, what research has been done that leads you to believe the outcomes are achievable?

How will the project prepare participants for employment in the industries or businesses driving innovation in the project’s region? To what extent have those businesses committed to hiring your project’s clients?

c. Section 3c: Impacted Groups

What specific stakeholder groups will the solution serve and impact? How will you target participants?

Provide an estimate of how many people, organizations, and communities will be impacted by the project either directly or indirectly, and indicate to what extent, if any, you expect the solution to serve and benefit historically underserved your populations and increase the diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility of regional innovation economy.

d. Section 3d: Scope of Work (1 page)

Applicants must submit no more than 1 page as the scope of work for the project. What activities will you undertake? What milestones and deliverables indicate positive progress, i.e., substantiate your performance? The scope of work should include work performed by the applicant, any subrecipient(s), any co-applicant(s), and any unfunded project partner(s), and should outline roles and responsibilities. The scope of work should align with and support claims made in the project narrative and the budget narrative.

If EDA selects your project, EDA may incorporate this section into the award.

11 U.S. Econ. Dev. Admin., Investment Priorities, https://www.eda.gov/funding/investment-priorities.

https://www.eda.gov/ceds/ https://www.eda.gov/ceds/ https://www.eda.gov/funding/investment-priorities

4) Section 4: Collaboration

a. Section 4a: Partnerships

What is your current partner network? Include former, current, or future partnerships or working relationships with public and private entities at the national, State, regional, and local level that will be working on this project. Briefly describe each entity and their specific roles and responsibilities. How effective were past collaboration efforts? Partners should include regional innovators and employers who are looking for STEM-capable talent to fill quality jobs.

b. Section 4b: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA)

How will you reach out to new and diverse stakeholders and program participants? How will you aim to reach historically underserved populations and areas, such as those listed in section A.4. (p. 9). How will this project promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in STEM fields and in the region? How will you engage stakeholders from target populations, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, or Minority-Serving Institutions?

5) Section 5: Measurable Goals and Impacts

Outline evidence- and data-based anticipated goals, including outputs and outcomes. Anticipated goals should be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and timebound (SMART), and the application should indicate why and how these goals were selected. Example goals and impacts could include number of partnerships, number of businesses served, new hires placed, incumbent workers upskilled, business owners and entrepreneurs served, new hire training activities, incumbent worker training activities, talent pipeline development activities, number of job seekers enrolling in Registered Apprenticeships, STEM skills trained, etc. Job placement of program participants into quality jobs in the STEM-related fields of study should be included as a goal for all projects. Include benchmarks to communicate both base-level goals that adhere to the SMART framework, as well as stretch goals.

a. Section 5a: Data Infrastructure

Applicants selected for funding must employ a data and client management system to track their metrics in a machine-readable format; applicants should include a description of their respective systems and, if no such system exists, should include their acquisition and implementation in the project narrative and budget.

6) Section 6: Sustainability Plan

Provide a sustainability plan for post-federal award, including anticipated challenges, potential barriers, a forecast of post-award period operations, and a specific plan to become self-sustaining once grant funds have been expended.

b) Budget Narrative and Staffing Plan

Applicants must provide a clear budget narrative that identifies and justifies each budget line item (including both the federal share and matching non-federal share). The narrative total should match the total project costs listed in both the SF-424, Question 18, Line g (“TOTAL”) and the appropriate totals fields of the SF-

424A. The budget narrative should include an itemized list of the matching share sources, the total match contribution per each matching share source, and whether the match is cash or in-kind. The budget narrative should include itemized valuations of any in-kind matching funds (which, for personnel costs, should be supported by the staffing plan). Applicants may use the optional budget and staffing plan template available at https://www.eda.gov/funding/programs/stem-challenge to supplement the budget narrative. Each line item in the budget narrative should clearly indicate:

a. the budget category (from the SF-424A) to which the line item corresponds;

b. a description of the intended use of funds for each line item; and

c. if any matching share is allocated to a given line item, a citation to the one or more commitment letters that documents each relevant matching organization’s commitment to provide the matching share of the given line item.

Recipients generally must expend non-federal share, whether in cash or in-kind, at the same general rate as the federal share. However, if the applicant’s budget narrative proposes otherwise (e.g., if the project’s implementation depends on a higher proportion of federal share expenditure upfront), the applicant must clearly explain why project implementation requires different expenditure rates.

As part of the budget narrative, applicants also must submit a staffing plan that lists all positions that would be charged to the federal and 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.

c) Matching Share Commitment Letters

Applicants must submit commitment letters or equivalent documents for all matching funds (whether cash or in-kind) from all sources (i.e., applicant, co-applicants, subrecipients, and any third-party sources of matching funds) that are SIGNED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE of the contributing organization.

(Authorized Representatives must have the authority to execute documents and to obligate and expend funds on behalf of their respective organizations.)

Each matching share commitment letter (whether from the applicant or a third party) must:

1. state whether the contribution is cash or in-kind;

2. if in-kind, provide a valuation and description for in-kind contributions;

3. state whether the contribution is from a non-federal source or from a federal source that is explicitly authorized by statute to be used as matching share; and

4. state that, at the time of award, the matching share:

a. is committed to the project,

b. will be available as needed, and

c. is neither conditioned nor encumbered in any way that would preclude its use consistent with the requirements of EDA investment assistance.

A provider of matching share, whether cash or in-kind contributions, may not serve as a contractor under the award for which it provides matching share. Match documentation should include a quantitative valuation and note whether the contribution is cash or in-kind. Funds from other federal financial assistance awards can serve as matching share funds only if authorized by statute, which may be determined by EDA’s reasonable interpretation of the statute.

In-kind contributions may be used for the required matching share and must consist of contributions directly related to the proposed project, such as services, equipment, or space. An in-kind contribution is a non-monetary contribution. Goods or services offered free or at less than (discounted) the usual charge can be considered an in-kind contribution and still require a signed letter of commitment. EDA will fairly evaluate all in-kind contributions, which must be eligible project costs and which must meet applicable federal cost principles and uniform administrative requirements. As with other match sources, a commitment letter is required for both applicant-provided and third-party sources of in-kind match, as provided in section C.3. (p.

12). This letter should include details on what the in-kind contribution will consist of and a valuation (e.g., 40 hours of consulting time at $100 hourly rate for a total in-kind contribution of $4,000 across the period of performance). As noted above, contractors receiving EDA funding under this grant cannot provide in-kind (or cash) match.

Please note that all project funds—both federal funds and matching funds—are subject to the funding restrictions set forth in section D.8. (p. 24). Additionally, recipients generally must expend non-federal share, whether in cash or in-kind, at the same general rate as the federal share. However, if the applicant’s budget narrative proposes otherwise (e.g., if the project’s implementation depends on a higher proportion of federal share expenditure upfront), the applicant must clearly explain in the budget narrative why project implementation requires different expenditure rates.

d) State/Local Government or Native Organization Support

Applicants who are a non-public entity (e.g., non-profits, private institutions of higher education) must submit one or more resolutions or letters that demonstrate that the application is supported by one or more States, political subdivisions of a State (e.g., counties, municipalities), or native organizations that encompass all or a substantial portion of the communities served by this project. Letters should be signed by executives from the State, political subdivision of the State, or the native organization. Examples of authorities who may indicate such support include State and local executive branch officials (e.g., State governors, State cabinet members, mayors, city managers, city finance directors, county executives, or other municipal executives), State and local legislators (e.g., State legislators, city councilpersons), or native organizations.

Support from federal officials, including but not limited to members of the United States Congress, does not meet this requirement. Other examples of organizations that do NOT meet this requirement include letters from non-profits, chambers of commerce, public universities, etc.

If an applicant or co-applicant is a State, an Indian tribe, a city or other political subdivision of a State, or an institution of higher education that is 100% publicly controlled, this requirement does not apply.

e) Optional Letters from Employers

Applicants can include letters from employer partners to further show that their project is likely to be successful and to result in quality jobs for program participants. These letters could reflect an employer’s commitment to serving as a work-and-learn partner and/or to hiring program completers and should be specific about the employer partner’s role in the project. While not required, the inclusion of these documents shows that a project is needed by regional employers and could help applicants score more favorably in merit review.

f) Optional Letters from Additional Project Partners

Applicants may include letters from unfunded project partners to show that the project is supported by key organizations who will inform the development of or otherwise support the project. Such partners might include community workforce organizations, Registered Apprenticeships, labor unions, wraparound service providers, and others. While not required, these documents may show that a project has strong support and a relevant network and is likely to result in positive outcomes for program participants.

3. Forms and Supporting Documentation

i. Forms

Applications must include the following documents, either per applicant, per co-applicant, or per application, as noted:

Form Description Number SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance One per applicant SF-424A Budget Information—Non-Construction Programs One per application CD-511…