FY2021 STEM Talent Challenge NOFO_FINAL.pdf

i

STEM TALENT CHALLENGE

PROGRAM

N o t i c e o f F u n d i n g O p p o r t u n i t y

Office of INNOVATION and

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

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Executive Summary

Federal Awarding Agency Name

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

Funding Opportunity Title

FY 2021 STEM Talent Challenge Program Notice of Funding Opportunity

(NOFO)

Announcement Type

This NOFO publishes EDA’s application submission requirements and application review procedures for the STEM Talent Challenge, authorized by section 28 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980, as amended (15 U.S.C. § 3723). Effective date: August 12, 2021

Funding Opportunity Number

EDA-HDQ-OIE-2021-2007015

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

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

Key Dates

The deadline for receipt of applications is 11:59 P.M. EASTERN TIME ON OCTOBER 12, 2021. Applications received after this deadline will not be reviewed or considered. Applications will only be accepted electronically through www.grants.gov (Grants.gov). Applicants are advised to carefully read the application and submission information provided in section D (p. 6) of this NOFO.

Funding Opportunity Description

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

Cost Sharing and Matching

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

NOFO.

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

• A State;

• An Indian tribe;

• A city or other political subdivision of a State;

• An entity that is—

⋅ a nonprofit organization, ⋅ an institution of higher education, ⋅ a public-private partnership, iii

⋅ a science or research park, ⋅ a Federal laboratory, or ⋅ an economic development organization or similar entity;

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

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

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

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

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

http://www.eda.gov/oie/ iv

Full Announcement Text 2021 STEM Talent Challenge Program

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

1. Overview and Background

2. Program Information

3. Statutory Authority for the STEM Talent Challenge

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

1. Available Funding Under this Announcement

2. Type of Funding Instrument Used; Period of Performance

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

1. Eligible Applicants

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

3. Certain Prohibitions on Use of Award Funds

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. Address to Request Application

2. Content and Form of Submission

3. Environmental and Historic Preservation Requirements

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

5. Submission Dates and Times

6. Intergovernmental Review

7. Funding Restrictions

8. Other Submission Requirements

E. Application Review Information

1. Evaluation Criteria

2. Review and Selection Process

3. 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

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s) H. Other Information

1. Right to Use Information

2. Freedom of Information Act Disclosure

3. Notice of Government-Wide Procurement Restriction

4. Past Performance and Non-Compliance with Award Provisions

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

6. EDA’s Non-Relocation Policy

7. Audit Requirements

I. Instructions for Application Submission via Grants.gov

1. Register Early and Submit Early

2. AOR Requirement v

3. Field Limitations and Special Characters

4. Verify That Your Submission Was Successful

5. Grants.gov Systems Issues

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

APPLICATION

1. For States, Indian Tribes, Cities, and Other Political Subdivisions of States

2. For Nonprofit Organizations, Institutions of Higher Education, Public-Private Partnerships, Science or Research Parks, Federal Laboratories, Economic Development or Similar Organizations

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

1. Overview and Background

EDA’s Office of Innovation & Entrepreneurship is committed to furthering technology-based economic development initiatives that accelerate high-quality job growth, create more economic opportunities, and support the future of the next generation of industry-leading companies. To advance these goals, EDA awards grants through the Build to Scale Program to develop and support regional innovation initiatives that help to build regional economies through scalable, technology-driven startups as described in the EDA-administered portions of Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. § 3720-3723) (Stevenson-Wydler).

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

however, U.S. employers have struggled to fill jobs in these fields, and younger or leaner firms, like many innovative startups, are especially hard hit by this challenge. An increasing number of jobs that require STEM skills do not require a bachelor’s degree, and other education and training pathways—such as Registered Apprenticeships, fellowships, and other work-based learning models—are becoming instrumental in meeting the urgent demand for a STEM-capable workforce.

To meet these demands, section 28 of Stevenson-Wydler (15 U.S.C. § 3723), authorizes EDA to carry out a grant program to implement and scale STEM Talent development programs that meet the needs of regional innovation economies, employers, and industries of the future.

2. Program Information

STEM Talent Challenge

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 emerging, transformative sectors and future industries such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, advanced manufacturing and robotics, space exploration and commerce, bioscience, quantum information science, green products, processes and buildings, 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 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 of emerging, transformative sectors and the needs of future industries and should include an on-the-job training component. Training models are not tied to existing industry definitions and can include any combination of work-based and classroom learning;

experimentation and innovation are encouraged.

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 entities. Projects should be closely tied to the needs of the regional innovation economy 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 ultimate goal of increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM fields.

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 high-growth potential sectors, and to expand and empower the innovation economy workforce, including by:

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

• Building highly skilled talent and connecting it to highly technical opportunities that foster professional development and provide continuing advanced skills training to develop the technical and scientific workforce that regional innovation initiatives need;

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

• Placing new employees into immediate job openings with regional employers in need of STEM talent.

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

Desired Outputs and Outcomes

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

A. STEM Work-Based Learning and Training

Projects should focus on an interdisciplinary approach and utilize training models that provide workers with the 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. 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.

B. Increase Regional Innovation Capacity

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 fast-paced technology startups and innovative companies to hire locally and decrease their costs and lead time to filling positions, allowing them to grow their teams and scale their businesses faster. Traditional workforce development programs may not have the expertise or networks to accomplish this – organizations that normally do not identify as workforce development organizations, but are driving regional innovation through worker training are encouraged to apply. These may include, but are not limited to eligible applicants that are business incubators and accelerators, digital economy training organizations, and venture development organizations. Please see section C (p. 4) of this NOFO for eligibility information regarding the STEM Talent Challenge.

C. Increase Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 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 committed to hiring program participants and to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in their workplace.

3. Statutory Authority for the STEM Talent Challenge

The statutory authority for the STEM Talent Challenge is section 28 of Stevenson-Wydler (15 U.S.C. § 3723).

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

1. Available Funding Under this Announcement

Funding in the amount of $2,000,000 has been appropriated for grants made under the STEM Talent Challenge pursuant to the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021.1 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 U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) and EDA priorities at the time of award. DOC and EDA will not be held responsible for application preparation costs. Publication of this announcement does not obligate DOC or EDA to make any specific grant award or to obligate all or any part of available funds.

The maximum federal share of each STEM Talent Challenge award is $250,000. This funding should 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. 23) of this NOFO for award notification information. Anticipated awards typically will have a period of performance of 24 months with an estimated start date of February 1, 2022.

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. 23).

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

1. Eligible Applicants

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

• a State;

• an Indian tribe;

• a city or other political subdivision of a State;

• an entity that is— o a nonprofit organization, o an institution of higher education, o a public-private partnership,2

1 Public Law 116-260, Title 1 of Division B, 134 Stat. 1182 (December 27, 2020).

2 For purposes of the STEM Talent Challenge, EDA defines a public-private partnership as a relationship formalized by contractual agreement between a public agency and a private-sector entity that reasonably defines the terms of collaboration in the delivery and financing of a public project. EDA will typically review agreements for items such as the purpose and objectives of the partnership, the binding/contractual nature of the relationship, the duties and responsibilities of each party, and the duration of the agreement. The scope of the relationship documented in the agreement may be limited to the proposal set forth in a given partnership’s grant application or may encompass a broader program, initiative, or other set of activities or goals. A letter of support from a public entity alone, without additional documentation demonstrating a formal, binding relationship between the o a science or research park, o a Federal laboratory, or o an economic development organization or similar entity,3 and that has an application supported by a State, a political subdivision of a State, or a native organization; or

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

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

Organizations that are or plan to be operating within the period of performance of a previously-awarded STEM Talent Challenge grant as of February 1, 2022 are not eligible for award under this NOFO.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

a. General Requirement

The minimum required match for the STEM Talent Challenge is 1:1. Applicants must demonstrate AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION a matching non-federal share of at least 50 percent of the total project cost; i.e., for every dollar of federal funds requested, applicants must demonstrate a commitment of at least one dollar of matching share.

Applicants must demonstrate, by submitting from each source of matching share a commitment letter or equivalent document signed by an authorized representative of that organization, that matching share will, at the time of award:

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

• be available as needed, and

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

b. In-Kind Matching Share

In-kind contributions may be used for the required matching share. In-kind contributions must consist of contributions directly related to the proposed project, such as personnel costs, services, equipment,4 or parties, will be found insufficient to establish eligibility under this entity category. EDA reserves the right to request additional information from applicants to establish eligibility, as necessary. Applicants that have further questions concerning these documentation requirements should contact the representative listed in section G (p. 25) of the NOFO.

3 For purposes of the STEM Talent Challenge, EDA defines an economic development organization as an organization whose primary purpose is to support the economic development of a community or region. In order to demonstrate eligibility status under this category, EDA will look to the organization’s Articles of Incorporation, Charter, Resolutions, Bylaws, and/or other documents that may be relevant to establish the primary purpose of the organization. Applicants are encouraged to submit all relevant documentation to EDA for evaluation. EDA reserves the right to request additional information from applicants to establish eligibility, as necessary. If applicants have further questions concerning these documentation requirements, they should contact the representative listed in section G (p. 25) of the NOFO.

4 The purchase of equipment and certain equipment installation may be eligible, but only to the extent that such costs support another eligible activity. Note, however, that as provided in section C.3 (p. 6), construction costs, including the installation of equipment that disturbs the ground or modifies a structure, are not allowable cost under the STEM Talent Challenge.

space. EDA will evaluate all in-kind contributions to ensure they are eligible project costs and meet applicable federal cost principles and uniform administrative requirements.5 Applicants are strongly encouraged to work with the appropriate EDA representative listed in section G (p. 25) of this NOFO to determine how in-kind contributions may be utilized to satisfy the matching non-federal share requirement based upon the project concept and how in-kind contributions may be valued.

c. Prohibition on Matching Share Providers Serving as Contractors

A provider of matching share, including an entity providing cash or in-kind contributions, may not serve as a contractor under an award for which it provides matching share. Thus, an entity providing matching share may not be paid with award funds to provide goods or services to the award recipient. In contrast, a provider of matching share may serve as a subrecipient under an award for which it provides matching share.

3. 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. 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. Additionally, 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

An electronic version of the application may be obtained at https://www.grants.gov/ (Grants.gov). 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.

2. Content and Form of Submission

An applicant may obtain the appropriate application package electronically at https://www.grants.gov/ (Grants.gov). Applicants may search for this funding opportunity on Grants.gov using Funding Opportunity Number “EDA-HDQ-OIE-2021-2007015.” All components of the application package may be accessed and downloaded via https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/search-grants.html. Applicants are advised that they must complete a registration process prior to submitting an application through Grants.gov. Even though an applicant may be able to view and download an application, if the applicant has not correctly completed the Grants.gov registration process, the applicant will not be able to submit the application electronically for EDA’s review. See section I (p. 28) for details of the Grants.gov registration process.

5 See 2 CFR § 200.306 (Cost sharing or matching).

Applications must include the following documents:

Project Design and Substance Project Narrative Budget Narrative and Staffing Plan Matching Share Commitment Letters State/Local Government Support (if applicable)

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)6 Organizational Documentation (if applicable)7 Indirect Cost Rate (ICR) Documentation (if applicable)8

a. Project Design and Substance/Proposal

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) One per application

The proposal must clearly articulate the overall goals of the project, the specific and distinct Scopes of Work, and concrete activities that will be accomplished under it. The proposal must also demonstrate each applicant’s capability to implement the proposed activities in accordance with the requirements of this NOFO. Applications will be evaluated based on the Evaluation Criteria outlined in section E.1 (p. 17).

Applicants should carefully adhere to the page limits specified for each section of the proposal.

Pages beyond the specified page limit for each section may not be read or considered.

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

6 Only certain States participate in the SPOC compliance process. See section D.2.b.ii.1 (p. 11).

7 Only certain types of eligible entities are required to submit organization documents, and the documentation required varies by eligible entity type. See section D.2.b.ii.2 (p. 11).

8 Applicants that currently do not have an ICR agreement with a Federal agency are not required to submit this documentation and may elect to adopt a de minimis ICR. See section D.2.b.ii.3 (p. 12).

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

i. Project Narrative

The Project Narrative should address all activities that will be undertaken using funds requested under this NOFO and summarize how these activities support the overall project’s goals. The Project Narrative may not exceed 10-single sided, 8.5x11-inch pages, with a minimum 12-point font and 1-inch margins.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to provide a clear and concise narrative that includes a compelling justification for the project and articulates a clearly defined regional STEM talent gap, based on business and industry demand for certain skills and/or knowledge, how the proposed project will uniquely meet this need, and the expected outcome(s) that will result from the proposed project. A competitive application will contain the following elements in the Project Narrative:

Section 1: Program Description and Scope of Work

Section 1a: An executive summary that includes the project title, identifies the name of the applicant as well as the type of eligible applicant listed in Section C.1 (p. 4) of this NOFO (including if the applicant is a public-private partnership), and provides a project summary of no more than 250 words (note: the executive summary may be published on EDA’s website and via press release if the application is selected for funding).

Section 1b: A scope of work of no more than one page linked to the project’s purpose and key milestones, including deliverables.

Section 2: Regional Innovation Resources and Talent Needs

Section 2a: Provide a description of the project’s location and region, including its primary service area, a description of the communities or regions served (e.g., assets, financial and business resources, workforce, and infrastructure), a description of 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. Additionally, applicants must identify their proposed primary service area(s) by county or counties. Counties should be identified by both name and 5-digit FIPS codes.

See https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files.2019.html.

Section 2b: Describe the industry or industries at the forefront of innovation in the region and the need for STEM-capable talent for these industries. This description should include a well-documented need for the project, as determined from a formal or informal needs analysis, which is directly tied to the needs of employers in the region. An example of a formal needs analysis could include reviewing the regional Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). An example of an informal needs analysis could include a verbal survey conducted of the region’s employers. The methods of this needs analysis, and how the need for this project was determined, should also be briefly addressed in this section.

https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files.2019.html https://www.eda.gov/ceds/

Section 3: Proposed Solution

Describe how the solution will fulfill the talent needs described in Section 2 of the Project Narrative.

Describe the solution in detail. Explain how feasible the solution is. Explain how the project will prepare participants for employment in the industries or businesses driving innovation in the project’s region and how the development of this talent will allow these businesses to grow. Describe how the solution aligns with EDA investment priorities at https://www.eda.gov/about/investment-priorities.htm.

Section 4: Partners and Program Outreach

Section 4a: Describe any former, current, or future partnerships/working relationships with public and/or private entities at the national, state, regional, and/or local level that will be working on this project. Provide a brief description of each entity and specific detail on the roles and responsibilities of these collaborators including effectiveness of past collaboration efforts.

Section 4b: Outline how outreach will be conducted for new and diverse stakeholders and program participants. How will this project promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM fields and in the region?

Section 5: Measurable Goals and Impacts

Outline evidence- and data-based anticipated goals, including outputs and outcomes. Anticipated goals should be discussed in terms of the SMART framework—specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and timebound—and the application should speak to 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, STEM skills trained, etc. Include benchmarks to communicate both base-level goals that adhere to the SMART framework, as well as stretch goals. Of note: 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.

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.

ii. Budget Narrative and Staffing Plan

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

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

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

• The federal share allocated to the line item;

• The matching share allocated to the line item; and

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

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

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

iii. Matching Share Commitment Letters

Applications must include commitment letters or equivalent documents that demonstrate that all matching share funds (whether cash or in-kind) from all sources (i.e., any applicant, any co-applicants, and any other sources of matching funds) referenced in the application will be unencumbered, unrestricted, and committed at the time of award and that are signed by authorized representatives9 of the sources of the matching funds.

iv. State/Local Government, Native Organization Support

If the applicant is a nonprofit organization, an institution of higher education, a public-private partnership, a science or research park, a Federal laboratory, or an economic development organization or similar entity, the application must include 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 region that would be served under the proposed project. Support from Federal officials, including but not limited to members of the United States Congress, does not meet this requirement. Examples of authorities that may indicate such support include State and local executive branch officials (e.g., State governors, State cabinet members, mayors or other municipal executives), State and local legislators (e.g., State legislators, city councilpersons), or native organizations. If, however, the applicant or co-applicant is a State, an Indian tribe, or a city or other political subdivision of a State, this requirement does not apply.

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

b. Forms and Supporting Documentation

i. Forms

Applications must include the following documents, either per 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 Certification Regarding Lobbying One per applicant SF-LLL Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (if applicable) One per applicant

ii. Supporting Documentation

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

1) SPOC Compliance

For projects with primary service areas located within one or more States that participate in the intergovernmental review process established by Executive Order 12372, “Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs,” applications must include documentation demonstrating compliance with that State’s or those States’ processes. See section D.6 (p. 14) “Intergovernmental Review” of this NOFO. The current list of participating States and their Single Points of Contact (SPOC) can be found at https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/SPOC-4-13-20.pdf. Each State may participate for all or a subset of federal grant programs. EDA strongly encourages applicants to contact SPOCs early in the application period in order to determine the relevant State’s or States’ processes. If an application’s primary service area encompasses one or more participating States but that application does not include documentation of compliance with each participating State’s process, that application will be rejected without further review. Based on the applicant’s State, EDA requires the following documentation:

State does not participate No documentation required State participates; this grant program not subject to review

Documentation (e.g., a State executive order, a signed letter from the SPOC) showing that this grant program is not subject to review

State participates; this grant program subject to review

Documentation (e.g., a signed letter from the SPOC) with comments or indicating that this project was not selected for review, or, if the comment period has expired or comments were not received, a copy of the applicant’s request for comments

2) Organizational Documentation

Each applicant and co-applicant must provide documentation that supports each applicant’s or co-applicants’ organizational status as an eligible entity where applicable (see section C.1 (p. 4) of this NOFO). Regardless of entity type, EDA reserves the right to request documentation or additional proof of organizational status.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/SPOC-4-13-20.pdf

• States, Indian tribes, cities or other political subdivisions of States, and institutions of higher education that are 100% publicly-controlled are not required to submit organizational documentation.

• Nonprofit organizations must submit documentation that demonstrates their status as nonprofit organizations, including articles of incorporation, certificates of good standing, bylaws, and, if applicable, proof of tax-exempt status.

• Applicants applying as (a) institutions of higher education that are not 100% publicly-controlled,

(b) science or research parks, (c) Federal laboratories, or (d) economic development organizations10 or similar entities must provide documentation that demonstrates their organization’s status as the relevant entity type.

• Entities applying as public-private partnerships must submit documentation of their contractual relationship. See the discussion of documentation for public-private partnerships in footnote 2 to section C.1. (p. 4).

3) Indirect Cost Rate Documentation

If indirect costs are included in the budget, the applicant must include documentation to support the indirect cost rate they are using (unless claiming the 10 percent de minimis indirect cost rate, discussed below).

The applicant must submit a copy of its current, approved, and negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA). The maximum dollar amount of allocable indirect costs for which EDA will reimburse a recipient shall be the lesser of the (i) line-item amount for the federal share of indirect costs contained in the EDA approved budget for the award, or (ii) federal share of the total allocable indirect costs of the award based on either (i) the indirect cost rate approved by EDA (or applicable cognizant federal agency), provided that the cost rate is current at the time the costs were incurred and provided that the rate is approved on or before the award end date, or (ii) other acceptable documentation as indicated below.

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

however, the applicant must prepare and submit an allocation plan and rate proposal for approval within ninety days from the award start date (unless claiming the 10 percent de minimis indirect cost rate, discussed below). See 2 CFR part 200 Apps. III, IV, V, VI, VII for guidance. The allocation plan and the rate proposal shall be submitted to EDA’s Office of Regional Affairs (or applicable cognizant federal agency).

The applicant should include a statement in its Budget Narrative that it does not have a current or pending NICRA and will submit an allocation plan and rate proposal to EDA or the applicant’s cognizant federal agency for approval.

In accordance with 2 CFR § 200.414(f), an applicant that does not have a current negotiated (including provisional) rate, may elect to charge a de minimis rate of 10 percent of modified total direct costs (unless the applicant is a state or local unit of government (or an Indian tribe) that receives less than $35 million in direct federal funding per year, discussed below). No documentation is required to justify the 10 percent de minimis indirect cost rate; however, an applicant electing to charge a de minimis rate of 10 percent must

10 EDA strongly encourages applicants that may be eligible under this entity category to contact the representative listed in section G of this NOFO (p. 25) with any questions regarding eligibility.

include a statement in its Budget Narrative that it does not have a current negotiated (including provisional) rate and is electing to charge the de minimis rate.

If the applicant is a state or local unit of government (or an Indian tribe) that receives less than $35 million in direct federal funding per year it may submit any of the following:

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

• Acknowledgment received from EDA and Certificate of Indirect Costs in the form prescribed at

2 CFR pt. 200, app. VII;

• Cost Allocation Plan approved by a Federal agency (note that cost allocation plans or indirect cost rates approved by state agencies are not acceptable); or

• NICRA.

c. Application Checklist

Before submitting an application, please ensure that the following documents are included in your submission.

☐ All required forms (Forms SF424, SF424A, CD511, and SFLLL, as applicable)11

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

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

☐ Matching Share Commitment Letters

☐ State/Local Government Support, if applicable

☐ Supporting Documentation (including SPOC compliance, organizational documentation, and indirect cost rate documentation, if applicable)

3. Environmental and Historic Preservation Requirements

Applications will be reviewed by EDA in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), depending on the nature and specific elements of each given application. During the NEPA review process, applicants may be instructed to contact the designated State and/or Tribal Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO/THPO), provide approvals from other governmental agencies, or provide more detailed environmental information. EDA, after compliance with requirements for consultation with federally-recognized Tribes, may require applicants to participate in Tribal consultation, as necessary. The implementing regulations of NEPA require EDA to provide public notice of the availability of project-specific

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

environmental documents, such as environmental impact statements, environmental assessments, findings of no significant impact, and records of decision, to the affected public.12

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

To enable the use of a universal identifier and to enhance the quality of information available to the public as required by the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006, applicants are required to: (i) be registered in SAM before submitting an application; (ii) provide a valid unique entity identifier in the application; and (iii) continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which they have an active federal award or an application or plan under consideration by a federal awarding agency. EDA may not make a federal award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable unique entity identifier and SAM requirements, and, if an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time the EDA is ready to make an award, EDA may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive an award and use that determination as a basis for making an award to another applicant. Recipients will be subject to reporting requirements, as identified in OMB guidance published at 2 CFR parts 25 and 170.

5. Submission Dates and Times

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

EASTERN TIME on October 12, 2021 (the “Application Deadline”).

Applications submitted electronically via https://www.grants.gov/ (Grants.gov) must be received by the Application Deadline. The date and time that an application will be deemed to be electronically received will be determined in accordance with the electronic submission instructions provided at Grants.gov.

See section I (p. 28) of this NOFO for information regarding electronic submissions. Applications received after the Application Deadline will not be considered for funding.

In addition, please note the following:

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

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

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

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

6. Intergovernmental Review

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

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

https://www.grants.gov/

Executive Order 12372 to review and coordinate proposed federal financial assistance and direct federal development (commonly referred to as the “single point of contact review process”). All applicants that are primarily located in a participating State must give State and local governments a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on the proposed project. To find out more about a State’s process under Executive Order 12372, applicants may contact their State’s Single Point of Contact (SPOC). Names and addresses of some States’ SPOCs are listed at https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/SPOC-4-13- 20.pdf. Question 19 of Form SF-424 allows applicants to indicate compliance with Executive Order 12372;

however, note that applicants must supply as part of their complete application documentation demonstrates compliance.

7. Funding Restrictions

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. 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. Additionally, 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.

8. Other Submission Requirements

a. Means of Submission

APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED THROUGH GRANTS.GOV. EDA will not accept paper, facsimile, or email transmissions of applications for the program except as described in section I.5 (p. 30) of this NOFO. The preferred electronic file format for attachments is Adobe portable document format (PDF) and, where appropriate, Microsoft Excel; however, EDA will also accept Microsoft Word-formatted electronic files. Note that the Grants.gov registration is a multi-stage process that involves a number of steps, including validation, verification, and registration through other websites such as SAM.gov. Please visit https://www.grants.gov/applicants/applicant-training.html for resources and guides on the Grants.gov registration process.

Applicants should save and print written proof of an electronic submission made at www.grants.gov.