FY21-23 RNTA NOFO - Updated for EDGE - March 2023.pdf

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

• Federal Agency Name: Economic Development Administration (EDA or the Agency), U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC).

• Notice of Funding Opportunity Title: FY 2021-2023 Economic Development Research and Evaluation (R&E) and National Technical Assistance (NTA) programs, jointly known as RNTA.

• Announcement Type and Date: FY 2021-2023 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) announcement publishing EDA’s application submission requirements and review procedures for applications received under EDA’s R&E and NTA programs, authorized under the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965, as amended (42 U.S.C.

§ 3121 et seq.) (PWEDA). Effective date: 04/02/2021.

• Funding Opportunity Number: EDA-HDQ-RNTA-2021-2006892

• Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 11.312, Economic Development – Research and Evaluation and 11.303, Economic Development – National Technical Assistance.

• Dates: There are no submission deadlines under this NOFO. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the termination of this NOFO or publication of a superseding RNTA NOFO. All applications will first undergo a technical review by EDA and will undergo a full merit review upon successfully passing technical review. Please see section E.2 (p. 24) of this NOFO for complete information on EDA’s review process.

• Applicant Submissions: Applicants are advised to carefully read the application and submission information provided in section D (p. 11) of this announcement.

• Eligible Applicants: Pursuant to section 3(4) of PWEDA (42 U.S.C. § 3122(4)) and 13 C.F.R. § 300.3 (Eligible Recipient), eligible applicants for and recipients of EDA RNTA investment assistance include: a District Organization; an Indian Tribe or a consortium of Indian Tribes; a State; a city or other political subdivision of a State, including a special purpose unit of a State or local government engaged in economic or infrastructure development activities, or a consortium of political subdivisions; an institution of higher education or a consortium of institutions of higher education; a public or private non-profit organization or association acting in cooperation with officials of a political subdivision of a State; a private individual; or a for-profit organization.

• Funding Opportunity Description: EDA provides strategic investments on a competitive merit basis to support economic development, foster job creation, and attract private investment in economically distressed areas of the United States. Under this NOFO, EDA solicits applications from applicants in order to provide investments that support research and technical assistance projects under EDA’s R&E and NTA programs.

Grants and cooperative agreements made under these programs are designed to leverage existing regional assets and support the implementation of economic development strategies that advance new ideas and creative approaches to advance economic prosperity in distressed communities.

EDA may make changes or additions to this NOFO. All changes will be communicated on Grants.gov.

FULL ANNOUNCEMENT TEXT

Research and Evaluation and National Technical Assistance

A. Program Description

1. Overview and Program Information

2. EDA Investment Priorities

3. Statutory Authorities for EDA’s Programs

B. Federal Award Information

1. What Funding is Available Under this Announcement?

2. What Type of Funding Instrument Will Be Used to Make Awards and How Long Will a

Project’s Period of Performance Be?

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Address to Request Application Package

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

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

4. Submission Dates and Times

5. Intergovernmental Review

6. Funding Restrictions

7. Other Submission Requirements

E. Application Review Information

1. Evaluation Criteria

2. Review and Selection Process

3. Federal Awardee Performance & Integrity Information System (FAPIIS) Review

F. Federal Award Administration Information

1. Federal Award Notification

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

5. Past Performance and Non-Compliance with Award Provisions

6. EDA’s Non-relocation Policy

7. Audit Requirements

I. Instructions for Application Submission via the Economic Development Grants Experience

(EDGE)

1. Register Early and Submit Early

2. Authorized Representative Requirement

3. Verify That Your Submission Was Successful

4. EDGE Systems Issues

Appendix A Full Application Checklist

Appendix B Budget Template and Gantt Chart Samples

A. Program Description

1. Overview and Program Information

The EDA mission is to lead the Federal economic development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing American regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. Through its RNTA programs, EDA works towards fulfilling this mission by funding research, evaluation, and national technical assistance projects that promote competitiveness and innovation in distressed rural and urban regions throughout the United States and its territories.

Such projects will support the DOC Strategic Plan (2018-2022) and the EDA Learning Agenda by providing analysis that supports evidence-based policy making consistent with the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 (the Evidence Act).1 While EDA regularly evaluates the impacts and outcomes of its various programs, including EDA’s RNTA programs, the Evidence Act and subsequent implementation guidance create a more formal framework for developing learning agendas across the federal government.

Competitive proposals under this NOFO will help EDA fulfill or refine its learning agenda.

Under this NOFO, EDA solicits applications for investments that support research, evaluation, and national technical assistance projects under EDA’s Research and Evaluation (R&E) and National Technical Assistance (NTA) programs2. This section provides detailed information on the two programs to which this NOFO applies.

a. R&E Program

Through the R&E program, EDA supports the development of tools, recommendations, and resources that shape Federal economic development policies and inform economic development decision-making. R&E program investments provide critical, cutting-edge research and best practices to regional, state, and local practitioners in the economic development field, thereby enhancing understanding and implementation of economic development concepts throughout the country.

R&E investments may be awarded to:

• Evaluate success of economic development programs, policies, and strategies for improving economic outcomes, including the priority research projects listed in the forthcoming EDA Learning Agenda;

• Research and evaluate topics or issues to improve the understanding of economic development principles, strategies, and concepts;

• Improve understanding of the causes of economic distress, entrenched poverty, underserved areas or populations, and distressed communities and provide effective strategies or recommendations for addressing the causes thereof;

1 115 Public Law 435, 132 Stat. 5529 (January 14, 2019).

2 EDA publishes separate NOFO announcements for its other programs, including Planning, Local Technical

Assistance, Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance, University Centers, Build to Scale, and Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms. For more information see www.eda.gov/funding-opportunities/ and www.grants.gov. Additional information about EDA’s programs is available through EDA staff and available at www.eda.gov.

http://www.eda.gov/funding-opportunities/ http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.eda.gov/

• Develop innovative tools, measures and widely applicable data sets for studying economic development outcomes, principles, and policies; or

• Perform other activities determined by EDA to be appropriate under the R&E program.

Examples of R&E projects include:

• Innovation Index 2.0 – http://www.statsamerica.org/ii2/ – Provides practitioners an easy-to-compare method of assessing the innovation capacity of their region by providing the composite index of innovation inputs and outputs built upon data from five areas: human capital, business dynamics, business profile, employment and productivity, and economic well-being.

• Measuring Distress – http://www.statsamerica.org/distress – This tool provides practitioners a fast, simple way to calculate whether a county, region, or neighborhood may meet EDA eligibility thresholds for unemployment and income.

• Urban Institute: Understanding Impact – This project will first conduct a program evaluation of infrastructure and non-infrastructure EDA grants from 2010 – 2019.

Using the knowledge from this evaluation, Urban Institute will produce a series of policy briefs highlighting important findings and develop an immersive narrative microsite that supports EDA’s mission.

Please note that these examples are informational and in no way limit the range of potential proposed projects.

b. NTA Program

EDA’s NTA program supports a small number of projects that provide technical assistance at a national scope. These projects support best practices among communities trying to solve problems related to economic development goals. By working in conjunction with its national technical assistance partners, EDA helps States, local governments, and community-based organizations to achieve their highest economic potential. The NTA program supports activities that are beneficial to the economic development community nationwide and includes, but is not limited to, outreach, training, and information dissemination. It can also provide assistance with implementation of economic development best practices and proven techniques.

NTA investments may be awarded to:

• Determine the causes of excessive unemployment, underemployment, low per capita income, outmigration, or other economic distress-related problems throughout the nation;

• Formulate and implement economic development tools, models, and innovative techniques that will alleviate or prevent conditions of economic distress;

• Formulate and implement economic development programs to increase regional and national capacity;

• Evaluate the effectiveness and economic impact of programs, projects, and techniques to alleviate economic distress and promote economic development;

• Disseminate information about effective programs, projects, and techniques that alleviate conditions of economic distress and promote economic development;

• Assess, market, and establish business clusters and associations; or http://www.statsamerica.org/ii2/ http://www.statsamerica.org/distress

• Perform other activities determined by EDA to be appropriate under the NTA program.

Examples of NTA projects include:

• Smart Power, Inc. – https://decommissioningcollaborative.org/ – This project provided technical assistance to Nuclear Closure Community (NCC) stakeholders across the country to increase their capacity for economic recovery after Nuclear Power Plant closures. It resulted in the development of a lessons learned and best practices report and a new educational website for stakeholders.

• Rural Innovation Initiative – https://ruralinnovation.us/rural-innovation-initiative/ – This program selects communities to receive intensive technical assistance as they execute an innovation hub strategy: an economic development model that works to educate and train local residents in digital skills, employ them in new economy jobs, and empower them to launch the startups that will drive their digital economy.

• US Cluster Mapping Initiative – http://www.clustermapping.us/ – Used by governments, economic developers, and businesses to understand and shape the competitive landscape for a wide range of industries, allowing each region to craft an approach to upgrade its performance based on its own unique assets and relative strengths.

• Small Scale Manufacturing and Place-Based Economic Development – https://smartgrowthamerica.org/ – This program supports planning and place-making activities with local government leaders, job-seeking residents and business leaders through economic development planning activities, expanding opportunities for small scale manufacturing and revitalizing neighborhoods.

• National Association of Development Organizations: “Stronger CEDS, Stronger Regions” – https://www.nado.org/stronger-ceds-stronger-regions-resource-archive-2/

– This program provides customized trainings and technical assistance to Economic Development Districts (EDDs) and other regional partners to amplify EDA’s message about the tremendous value and potential of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies (CEDS) to support broader regional economic and community development goals.

Please note that these examples are informational and in no way limit the range of potential proposed projects.

EDA may make changes or additions to this NOFO. All changes will be communicated on Grants.gov. It is recommended that applicants set up a Grants.gov account and subscribe to this funding opportunity in order to be notified of any updates or changes.

2. EDA Investment Priorities

All projects considered for EDA funding under this NOFO must be consistent with at least one of EDA’s Investment Priorities. EDA’s Investment Priorities can be found at https://www.eda.gov/about/investment-priorities.htm. EDA’s website will be updated on January 15, April 15, June 15, or September 15 of each year if there are any revisions to these Investment Priorities.

https://decommissioningcollaborative.org/ https://ruralinnovation.us/rural-innovation-initiative/ http://www.clustermapping.us/ https://smartgrowthamerica.org/work-with-us/apply-for-our-free-technical-assistance/small-scale-manufacturing/ https://www.nado.org/stronger-ceds-stronger-regions-resource-archive-2/ https://www.eda.gov/about/investment-priorities.htm

Additionally, EDA may post to the agency’s website, https://www.eda.gov/programs/rnta/, specific programmatic funding priorities that EDA wishes to fund under this NOFO.

3. Statutory Authorities for EDA’s Programs

The statutory authority for the RNTA programs is section 207 of PWEDA (42 U.S.C. § 3147).

Applicant eligibility and program requirements are set forth in EDA’s regulations at 13 C.F.R.

chapter III, and all applicants must address these requirements3. Specific requirements for the RNTA program are at subpart A of 13 C.F.R. part 306.

B. Federal Award Information

1. What Funding is Available Under this Announcement?

EDA was appropriated $1.5 million for the R&E program and $1 million for the NTA program pursuant to the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116-260, Title 1 of Division B— Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2021) and its accompanying Explanatory Statement.4 The funding periods and 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. Neither DOC nor EDA will be held responsible for proposal or application preparation costs. Publication of this announcement does not obligate DOC or EDA to award any specific grant or cooperative agreement or to obligate all or any part of available funds.

The typical award amounts set out below are provided as contextual information and may prove useful for planning purposes. Actual amounts awarded may be higher or lower depending on the nature of the proposed project and the availability of funds. Applications for funding of activities related to existing awards may compete with applications for new awards.

In recent years, the average size of R&E and NTA investments has been approximately $350,000, and investments generally range from $200,000 to $500,000. Historically, EDA has funded approximately five R&E projects and three NTA projects per year. EDA anticipates making similar awards in FY 2021-2023, subject to availability of funds.

2. What Type of Funding Instrument Will Be Used to Make Awards and How Long Will a Project’s Period of Performance Be?

Subject to the availability of funds, EDA may award grants or cooperative agreements to eligible applicants to help support economic development project-based activities. EDA will award a cooperative agreement on a case-by-case basis if substantial agency involvement is required. For

3 EDA’s regulations are accessible at the U.S. Government Publishing Office website at https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/ECFR?page=browse.7 Under “Browse” select “Title 13 – Business Credit and Assistance,” click “Go,” and follow the link to parts “300-399.”

4 In the Explanatory Statement, EDA’s NTA program is included as part of EDA’s suite of Technical Assistance programs along with EDA’s Local Technical Assistance and University Center programs. Collectively these Technical Assistance programs were appropriated $10 million of which EDA anticipates allocating $1 million to the NTA program. Information regarding available funding for the Local Technical Assistance and University Center programs may be found on www.grants.gov and www.eda.gov.

https://www.eda.gov/programs/rnta/ http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-http://www.grants.gov/ a cooperative agreement, the nature of EDA’s “substantial involvement” (to be included in the terms and conditions of the award) will generally be collaboration between EDA and the recipient on the scope of work. However, other possible examples of EDA’s “substantial involvement” may include, but are not limited to: (i) authority to halt immediately an activity if detailed performance specifications are not met; (ii) stipulation that the recipient must meet or adhere to specific procedural requirements before subsequent stages of a project may continue;

(iii) involvement in the selection of key recipient personnel; and (iv) operational involvement and monitoring during the project to ensure compliance with statutory requirements.

EDA anticipates a twelve (12) to eighteen (18) month project period for investments funded under this NOFO, subject to the availability of funds, EDA policy, and satisfactory performance under the award. Applicants should ensure that their proposal and budget clearly specify how they will complete the scope of work within this timeframe. A typical project period begins with an initial kickoff meeting between the recipient and EDA staff to discuss project scope and to ensure that all parties are in agreement as to the project plan. After the initial meeting, the recipient generally will be required to submit a final work plan to EDA staff for review and approval. Progress and financial reports and project work will be submitted to EDA based on the dates agreed to during the initial meeting and as outlined in the Specific Award Conditions.

The recipient will be expected to submit a draft report to EDA at least 60 days before the end of the project period for EDA’s review. This report should concisely communicate key project information and should provide a high-level overview of activities undertaken, detail lessons learned during the project period, and outline the expected and actual economic benefits of the project. Based on the Agency’s review, EDA may request technical and substantive revisions to the draft report. If these revisions are incorporated and the draft report is ultimately approved by EDA, EDA may approve publication of a final report and the recipient will brief EDA senior management on research methods and report results.

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants5

Pursuant to PWEDA, eligible applicants for and eligible recipients of EDA investment assistance under this NOFO include a(n):

a. District Organization;

b. Indian Tribe or a consortium of Indian Tribes;

c. State, county, city, or other political subdivision of a State, including a special purpose unit of a State or local government engaged in economic or infrastructure development activities, or a consortium of political subdivisions;

d. Institution of higher education or a consortium of institutions of higher education;

e. Public or private non-profit organization or association acting in cooperation with officials of a political subdivision of a State6;

5 See 42 U.S.C. § 3122(4)(B) and 13 C.F.R. § 300.3.

6 For projects that are national or regional in scope, EDA may, in its sole discretion, waive the requirement that a non-profit organization or association demonstrate it is acting in cooperation officials of a political subdivision of a State. See 42 U.S.C. § 3147(a)(3) and 13 C.F.R. § 306.3(b).

f. Private individual7; or

g. For-profit organization8.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

EDA encourages cost sharing, and applications that include matching funds may be more competitive than those that do not. Generally, the amount of an EDA award may not exceed 50 percent of the total cost of the project. However, for RNTA awards, the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development (Assistant Secretary) has the discretion to establish a maximum investment rate of up to 100 percent where the project: (i) merits, and is not otherwise feasible without, an increase to the investment rate; and (ii) will be of no or only incidental benefit to the eligible recipient9.

If an Applicant is requesting an EDA investment rate of greater than 50 percent, the applicant must provide the basis for the request. Applicants must clearly and in detail describe their justification for the request within their Budget Narrative in accordance with section D.2.b.i(4) (p. 15).

For match provided, the applicant must document that the matching share will: (i) be committed to the project for the period of performance, (ii) be available as needed, and (iii) not be conditioned or encumbered in any way that may preclude its use consistent with the requirements of EDA investment assistance. In order to meet these requirements, applicants must, at a minimum, submit for each source of matching share, a commitment letter or equivalent document signed by an authorized representative of the organization or entity providing the matching funds. Additional documentation may be requested by EDA in order to substantiate the availability of the matching funds.

In the application review process, EDA will consider as a competitiveness factor the amount of the matching share funds as provided in section E.1 (p. 20). Documented in-kind contributions may provide the required non-Federal share of the total project cost. All in-kind contributions must be eligible project costs and meet applicable Federal cost principles and uniform administrative requirements as set forth in 2 C.F.R. part 200. Examples of in-kind contributions can include space, equipment, or services10. Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact EDA via the email address listed in section G (p. 28) of this NOFO to determine how in-kind contributions may be utilized to satisfy the matching share requirement for their respective project concept and application.

7 A private individual means a natural person unrelated to any business or non-profit organization he or she may own or operate in his or her name. Further, EDA will apply the requirements of 2 C.F.R. part 200 to applicants and recipients who apply as individuals under this NOFO. See also 2 C.F.R. § 25.110(b) (Exempting individuals who apply for or receive agency awards or direct subawards from the requirements of the unique entity identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)).

8 Per 2 C.F.R. § 200.101(c), EDA will apply subparts A through E of the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards to for-profit entities.

9 See 42 U.S.C. § 3144(c)(3); 13 C.F.R. § 301.4(b)(4).

10 See section 204(b) of PWEDA (42 U.S.C. § 3144(b)).

D. Application and Submission Information

This NOFO employs a two-step application process: (1) the Concept Proposal and (2) the Full Application. EDA will only review Full Applications submitted by applicants who first submitted a Concept Proposal. Any Full Application received from an applicant that did not submit a Concept Proposal will be deemed ineligible and not considered for funding.

1. Address to Request Application Package

For the Concept Proposal, applicants may use the optional template available at https://eda.gov/programs/rnta/resources/. For the Full Application, applicants may obtain, complete, and submit the application package electronically through the Economic Development Grants Experience (EDGE) at sfgrants.eda.gov. Applicants are advised that they must complete the registration process in EDGE in order to complete an application. To accommodate accessibility requirements, applicants may request a paper application by contacting EDA using the contact information in section G (p. 28) of this NOFO.

Applicants are advised to carefully read the submission information provided in section D (p. 11) of this NOFO.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

a. Concept Proposal

In order to be considered for funding, applicants must submit a slide-deck that does not exceed 10 slides in the format below. The presentation deck must be submitted as a PowerPoint file and should address the items identified in the outline below and in the template referenced in section D.1 (p. 11).

Concept Proposal Deck Structure Slide 1: Organization Information Slide 2: Economic Development Need Slide 3: Strategic Approach Slide 4: Alignment with EDA’s and RNTA’s Mission Slide 5: Feasibility of Deliverables and Timeline Slide 6: Feasibility of Budget Slide 7: Impacts and National Perspective Slide 8: Organizational / Applicant Capacity and Personnel Slide 9: Cross Collaboration with Partners Slide 10: Sustainability, Scalability, and Dissemination

b. Full Application

Full Applications will only be accepted electronically through EDGE at the link that EDA will provide with its response to Concept Proposals. Applicants are advised to carefully read the submission information provided in section D (p. 11) of this NOFO. Any Full Application https://eda.gov/programs/rnta/resources/ received from an applicant that did not submit a Concept Proposal will be deemed ineligible and eliminated from the competition without further review.

The preferred electronic file format for attachments is Adobe portable document format (PDF) and, where appropriate, Microsoft Excel; however, EDA will accept Microsoft Word-formatted electronic files.

A complete Full Application includes all required documents as set forth below. Full 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.

All documentation and data submitted as part of the Full Application package should be current as of the date of application submission.

All application forms submitted through EDGE must be signed electronically by an Authorized Representative; see section I.2 (p. 31) of this NOFO for information on Authorized Representative requirements. See also sections D.7 (p. 19) of this NOFO for important information on submitting your application.

Applications must include the following documents:

Project Design and Substance Executive Summary Project Narrative Applicant Capacity and Project Management Budget Narrative and Staffing Plan Schedule of Major Milestones and Deliverables Resumes of Key Personnel Matching Share Documentation (as applicable)

Forms and Supporting Documentation ED-900A (Additional EDA Assurances for Construction or Non-Construction Investments) 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) Organizational Documentation (if applicable)11

11 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)(a) (p. 16).

i. Project Design and Substance

Document Executive Summary Project Narrative Applicant Capacity and Project Management Budget Narrative and Staffing Plan Schedule of Major Milestones and Deliverables Resumes of Key Personnel Matching Share Documentation (as applicable)

The application must clearly articulate the overall goals of the project, the specific and distinct Scope of Work and concrete activities that will be accomplished under it, specifically addressing whether the applicant is applying for R&E funds or for NTA funding. The application also must 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 (p. 20). Applicants should carefully adhere to the word or page limits specified for each section of the application. Pages beyond the specified page limit for each section may not be read or considered.

(1) Executive Summary The Executive Summary should be a clear, concise, and descriptive summary of your proposed project. This should be no more than 500 words and, if selected for funding, may be used in a public announcement or on EDA’s website.

(2) Project Narrative The Project Narrative should address all activities that will be undertaken using the funds requested under this NOFO, a summary of how these activities support the overall project’s goals, and a clear vision for the final report. All applicants also must state which EDA Investment Priority(ies) their proposed project aligns with and clearly describe how.

The Project Narrative may not exceed 12-single sided, 8.5x11-inch pages, with a minimum 12-point font and 1-inch margins. Within the Project Narrative, applicants should address the following elements as relevant to their specified type of project proposal (R&E or NTA):

If applying for an R&E investment the applicant must address the following sub-criteria:

• Justification for why the proposed project will provide a specific benefit to the Nation’s economic development community;

• Description of how the proposed project is original and innovative, and will add to the body of knowledge supporting decisions made on economic development;

• Description of how the project will promote better understanding of economic development research, policy, and implementation;

12 Applicants that currently do not have and never have had 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(2)(b) (p. 17).

Indirect Cost Rate (ICR) Documentation (if applicable)12

• Description of how the proposed project will increase understanding of economic development principles;

• Explanation of how the proposed project supports EDA’s mission to lead the Federal economic development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing and supporting American regions for growth and success in the global economy; and

• Clear plan for ensuring products/services produced by the project will remain available to the economic development community, and updated as necessary, without continued EDA financial support.

If applying for an NTA investment the applicant must address the following sub-criteria:

• Description of the technical assistance that will be provided to stakeholders;

• Description of how the proposed project increases the economic development capacity of individuals, firms, or communities;

• Discussion of how the project will stimulate economic development in distressed regions;

• Explanation of how the proposed project supports EDA’s mission to lead the Federal economic development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing and supporting American regions for growth and success in the global economy; and

• Clear plan for ensuring products/services produced by the project will remain available to the economic development community, and updated as necessary, without continued EDA financial support.

(3) Applicant Capacity and Project Management A separate section on applicant capacity (whether an organization or private individual), including project management experience, should address the applicant’s ability to perform all activities that will be undertaken using the funds requested under this NOFO, a summary of how these activities support the overall project’s goals, and a clear vision for the final deliverables, including the required report.

The Applicant Capacity and Project Management section may not exceed 5-single sided, 8.5x11-inch pages, with a minimum 12-point font and 1-inch margins. Note: resumes for key personnel should be included under Resumes for Key Personnel and will not count against the page limitations of this section. Within the Applicant Capacity and Project Management section, applicants should address how the applicant will be able to work collaboratively with Federal partners and economic development organizations, and demonstrate:

• Subject matter expertise in the various aspects of a regional ecosystem including, economic development, workforce development, planning, and others.

• Functional expertise in the major components of the work, including leadership and facilitation of projects related to robust programmatic content, actionable recommendations, and toolkits.

• Experience coordinating with Federal project managers and collaborating with various partners (including a discussion of the extent of participation of government agencies, private sector interests, education providers, non-profits, community and labor groups, workforce boards, utilities, etc.). This competency includes the governance structure of the project and should be as specific as possible regarding roles and responsibilities.

(4) Budget Narrative and Staffing Plan A separate budget narrative must be created and submitted to describe the costs associated with each line item on the Form SF-424A. There is a sample budget template in Appendix C that applicants may use. Supporting documentation listing the components of these categories must be included. The budget narrative should include the following:

• A personnel plan listing all positions proposed to be charged to the project whether as Federal or non-Federal costs. The personnel plan must include the position titles, salaries, percentage of time dedicated to the project, and amount of salary charged to the project for each staff member assigned to the project. The sum of all salaries charged to the project must equal the amount on the “Personnel” budget line item on Form SF-424A. The personnel plan should provide a description of how the personnel will carry out the proposed plan, including the adequacy and previous performance of the proposed team to carry out project activities.

• A description of the source, nature, and amount of all non-EDA funds for the project.

As described in section C.2 (p. 10), all non-EDA funds must be committed to the project, available as needed, and not conditioned or encumbered in any way that would preclude their use consistent with the purpose of the project. Applicants must also attach documentation (e.g., commitment letter from the source) confirming non- EDA (matching or cost share) funding.

• As described in section C.2 (p. 10), if the applicant is requesting a federal share higher than 50% of the total project costs, then the applicant must provide a detailed justification as a part of the Budget Narrative as to why the project (a) merits, and is not otherwise feasible without, such an increase to the EDA investment rate; and (b) will be of no or only incidental financial benefit to the recipient.

(5) Schedule of Major Milestones and Deliverables Applicants must submit a schedule detailing the expected start and end date of all major milestones and deliverables described in the Project Narrative. The schedule should be outlined in months (e.g., “One month from award…”), such that an evaluator could easily discern in how many months the Applicant could start the project from the date of project award, in how many months each of the key project milestones and deliverables will be accomplished from the date of project award, and the anticipated number of months after the date of project award that the project will be completed, generally not to exceed the 18-month award period. Applicants should incorporate preparation of the final report and presentation into the project timeline and period of performance.

This is best conveyed through a Gantt Chart. There is a sample Gantt Chart in Appendix B that applicants may use.

(6) Resumes of Key Personnel Applicants must attach the resumes of key project staff, each of which should not exceed two pages in length. Resumes should be compiled and uploaded together as one PDF file.

(7) Matching Share Documentation (as applicable) Applicants must submit commitment letters or equivalent documents that demonstrate that all matching 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 representatives of the sources of the matching funds. Authorized representatives must have the authority to execute documents and to obligate and expend funds on behalf of their respective organizations.

ii. Forms and Supporting Documentation

(1) Forms Applications must include the following documents, either per applicant or per application, as noted:

Form Description Number

ED-900A Additional EDA Assurances for Construction or Non-Construction Investments

One per applicant

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

(2) Supporting Documentation

Applications must include the following documentation, as applicable, depending on a given project’s primary service area and the type and history of each applicant organization.

Documentation Number

Organizational Documentation (if applicable)

For each applicant, depending on entity type

ICR Documentation (if applicable)

For each applicant

(a) Organizational Documentation

Each applicant and co-applicant must provide documentation that supports each applicant’s or co-applicant’s organizational status as an eligible entity where applicable (section C.1 (p. 9) of this NOFO) (e.g., articles of incorporation, certificates of good standing, bylaws).

• 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. This must include articles of incorporation, bylaws, certificate of good standing, and a copy of the most recent (not older than 18 months) IRS Form 990 (Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax) (without attachments or schedules).

• Other entities, including institutions of higher education that are not 100% publicly-controlled, for-profit organizations, and private individuals must provide documentation that demonstrates their organization type.

(b) Copy of Current, Approved Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable)

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

For most applicants, this will entail the submission of 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 (1) line-item amount for the Federal Share of indirect costs contained in the EDA approved budget for the award, or (2) Federal Share of the total allocable indirect costs of the award based on either (a) the indirect cost rate approved by EDA (or applicable cognizant Federal agency), provided that the cost rate is current at the time the costs were incurred and provided that the rate is approved on or before the award end date, or (b) other acceptable documentation as indicated below.

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 90 days from the award start date (unless claiming the 10 percent de minimis indirect cost rate, discussed below). See 2 C.F.R. 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). If the applicant chooses to pursue this option, it 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 include a statement in its Budget Narrative that it does not have a current negotiated (including provisional) indirect cost rate and is electing to charge the de minimis rate.

Note if the applicant is a State or local unit of government (or a Tribe) that receives less than $35,000,000 in direct Federal funding per year it may submit any of the following:

i. A Certificate of Indirect Costs from DOI or EDA;

ii. Acknowledgment received from EDA and Certificate of Indirect Costs in the form prescribed at 2 C.F.R. pt. 200, app. VII;

iii. 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

iv. NICRA.

EDA reserves the right to require District Organizations to submit a cost allocation plan or a full indirect cost rate proposal if, in EDA’s judgment, a NICRA is required to verify the District Organization’s proposed indirect cost rate.

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

To enable the use of a universal identifier and to enhance the quality of information available to the public as required by the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006, to the extent applicable13, applicants are required to: (i) be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) before submitting their application; (ii) provide a valid unique entity identifier in their application; and (iii) continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which they has 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 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 C.F.R. parts 25 and 170.

4. Submission Dates and Times

There are no application deadlines under this NOFO. EDA plans to accept applications on a rolling basis between FY2021-2023 or until the publication of a new RNTA NOFO. EDA may cancel or withdraw the NOFO at any time, and all funding is subject to the availability of funding.

A Concept Proposal is mandatory; EDA will only review Full Applications submitted by applicants who submitted a Concept Proposal. Concept Proposals must be submitted via email to rnta@eda.gov.

Full Applications will only be accepted electronically through EDGE at the link that EDA will provide with its response to Concept Proposals. EDA will not accept paper (hard copy), facsimile or email transmissions of applications.

13 Individuals who apply for or receive agency awards or direct subawards are exempt from the requirements of the unique entity identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)). See 2 C.F.R. § 25.110(b).

mailto:rnta@eda.gov

5. Intergovernmental Review

Applications submitted under this NOFO are subject to the requirements of Executive Order (EO) 12372, “Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs,” if a State has adopted a process under EO 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 must give State and local governments a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on the proposed Project, including review and comment from area-wide planning organizations in metropolitan areas14. To find out more about a State’s process under EO 12372, applicants may contact their State’s Single Point of Contact (SPOC). Names and addresses of some States’ SPOCs are listed on the Office of Management and Budget’s home page at https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/SPOC-4-13-20.pdf. Question 19 of Form SF-424 allows applicants to demonstrate compliance with EO 12372.

6. Funding Restrictions

EDA Investment assistance may not be used to start or expand a private business.

In general, EDA does not reimburse pre-award project costs. Applicants that are in need of such reimbursement should work closely with the EDA representative for their State to determine if their pre-award costs may be considered for reimbursement. In order for contracted pre-award costs to be eligible for reimbursement, the applicant must competitively procure services pursuant to the Federal government’s procurement procedures. All pre-award costs are incurred at an applicant’s own risk and will be considered for reimbursement, in EDA’s sole discretion, only if an applicant receives an award and such costs are approved by EDA in writing. Under no circumstances will EDA or DOC be held responsible for application preparation expenditures, which are distinguished from pre-award project costs.

7. Other Submission Requirements

a. Means of Submission

Concept Proposals must be submitted via rnta@eda.gov. In its response to concept proposals received, EDA will provide the EDGE link to submit a Full Application. FULL APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED THROUGH EDGE. EDA will not accept paper, facsimile, or email transmissions of applications for this program except in cases of documented systems issues as described in section I (p. 31) of this NOFO. The preferred electronic file format for attachments is Adobe portable document format (PDF); however, EDA will accept electronic files in Microsoft Word or Microsoft Excel.

14 As provided for in 15 C.F.R. part 13.

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

Please see section I (p. 31) of this NOFO for more detailed instructions and information on the requirements for submitting applications electronically via EDGE.

E. Application Review Information

Throughout the review and selection process, EDA, at its sole discretion, may request from applicants written clarification or corrected or missing documents and require that applicants provide such clarifications or corrections in order to continue to be considered for an award under this NOFO. EDA will provide applicants a reasonable amount of time to provide any additional documentation. Failure to provide complete and accurate supporting documentation in a timely manner when requested by EDA may result in the rejection of your application. EDA may ask applicants to clarify application materials, objectives, and work plans, or modify budgets or other specifics as necessary to comply with Federal requirements.

1. Evaluation Criteria

Concept Proposals will be reviewed against the following nine criteria on a “Completely Addresses”, “Somewhat Addresses”, or “Does not Address” scale. Concept Proposals received under both the R&E and NTA programs will be scored competitively against other Concept Proposals received for the same program using the following common criteria:

Summary of Criteria Completely

Addresses Somewhat Addresses

Does not Address

Economic Development Need Strategic Approach

Alignment with EDA’s and RNTA’s Mission

Feasibility of Deliverables and Timeline

Feasibility of Budget Impacts and National

Perspective

Organizational/Applicant Capacity and Personnel

Cross Collaboration with Partners

Sustainability, Scalability, and Dissemination

All applicants that submit a complete Concept Proposal will receive a letter from EDA notifying them of the review results. Based on the results of these reviews and EDA’s option to encourage a project—based on discretion provided through the Evaluation Factors listed above—the letter from EDA will encourage or discourage the development of a Full Application by the applicant.

Even though a Full Application may be discouraged,…