PKG00242639-instructions.pdf

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

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

• Federal Funding Opportunity Title: FY 2018-2020 Research and Evaluation (R&E) and National Technical Assistance (NTA) programs, jointly known as RNTA.

• Announcement Type and Date: FY 2018-2020 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: 5/31/2018.

• Notice of Funding Opportunity: EDA-HDQ-RNTA-2018-2005669

• 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. 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. of this announcement. Applicants must submit applications electronically at www.grants.gov (Grants.gov).

• 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; private individual; or a for-profit organization.

• Notice of 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 http://www.grants.gov/ 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 reserves the right to determine if an award will be structured as a grant or a cooperative agreement.

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

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

FULL ANNOUNCEMENT TEXT

A. Program Description

1. Overview and Program Information

2. 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. Past Performance and Non-Compliance with Award Provisions

5. Restrictions Governing Making Grants to Corporations Convicted of Felony Criminal

Violations and/or Unpaid Federal Tax Liabilities

6. EDA’s Non-relocation Policy

7. Audit Requirements

8. Implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

I. Instructions for Application Submission via Grants.gov

Appendix A. Certifications Regarding Federal Felony and Federal Criminal Tax Convictions, Unpaid Federal Tax Assessments and Delinquent Federal Tax Returns

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 and 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) including through the advancement of innovation and job growth with a specific focus on building the capacities for job growth;

providing data, tools and technical assistance to support the export needs of business; and, supporting growing ecosystems that attract foreign direct investment.

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 programs1. This section provides detailed information on the two programs to which this NOFO applies.

Additional information about EDA’s programs, including information about the eligibility of specific kinds of projects, is available through EDA staff and available at www.eda.gov.

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. EDA also regularly evaluates the impacts and outcomes of its various programs as a means of identifying policy and program modifications that will increase the Agency’s efficiency and effectiveness.

R&E investments may be awarded to:

• 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 and distressed communities and potential remedies thereof;

• Evaluate success of economic development programs, policies and strategies for improving economic outcomes;

• 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.

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

Assistance, Public Works, Economic Adjustment Assistance, University Centers, Regional Innovation Strategies, and Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms. For more information see www.eda.gov and www.grants.gov.

http://www.eda.gov/

Examples of R&E projects include:

o 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.

o 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.

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

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

Examples of NTA projects include:

o 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 http://www.statsamerica.org/ii2/ http://www.statsamerica.org/distress http://www.clustermapping.us/ craft an approach to upgrade its performance based on its own unique assets and relative strengths.

o 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.

o “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. EDA reserves the right to determine if an award will be structured as a grant or a cooperative agreement.

2. Statutory Authorities for EDA’s Programs

The authority for the RNTA programs is section 207 of PWEDA (42 U.S.C. § 3147), and 13 C.F.R. part 306, subpart A.

Applicant eligibility and program requirements are set forth in EDA’s regulations (codified at 13 C.F.R. chapter III), and all applicants must address these requirements2.

B. Federal Award Information

1. What funding is available under this announcement?

In FY 2018, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (P.L. 115-141) appropriated $1.5 million for R&E and $9.5 million for EDA’s Technical Assistance programs3 of which EDA plans to allocate nearly $1.0 million to the NTA program.

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

2 EDA’s regulations are accessible at the U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO) website at https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/8. Under “Browse,” select the Code of Federal Regulations, choose the most recent year, and scroll down to find Title 13, Chapter III.

3 Includes funding for EDA’s Local Technical Assistance and NTA programs, as well as the agency’s University Center program. This NOFO only applies to EDA’s 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://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/ 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 per year and three NTA projects. EDA anticipates making similar awards in FY 2018-2020, 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 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 outlined above 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 terms. 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 Special 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 Applicants4

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 State5;

f. A private individual6 or

g. For-profit organization7,.

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; or (ii) Will be of no or only incidental benefit to the Eligible Recipient8.

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.iii.

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

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

5 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).

6 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, the requirements of 2 C.F.R. § 200 apply 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)). EDA will apply the requirements of 2 C.F.R. § 200 to applicants and recipients who apply as individuals under this NOFO.

7 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.

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

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 nature of the contribution (cash or in-kind) and the amount of the matching share funds. 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, services, or forgiveness or assumptions of debt9.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact EDA via the email address listed in Section G. 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.

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Address to Request Application Package

An applicant may obtain the appropriate application package electronically at www.grants.gov (Grants.gov). Applicants may search for this NOFO on Grants.gov using Funding Opportunity Number “EDA-HDQ-RNTA-2018-2005669”. All components of the appropriate application package may be accessed and downloaded (in a screen-fillable format) at www.grants.gov/web/grants/search-grants.html.

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

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

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

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

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

To be considered complete, an application package must consist of:

• All required documents as listed in Section D.2.a.;

• The Proposal, which includes the Executive Summary, Project Narrative, Organizational Capacity and Project Management, Budget Description, and Schedule of Major Milestones and Deliverables; and

• Addenda to the Proposal materials as listed in Section D.2.c.

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

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

a. Required Documents

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

i. One Form ED-900A (Additional EDA Assurances for Construction Or Non- Construction Investments) from each applicant or co-applicant, as applicable.

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

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

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

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

vi. One Form SF-LLL (Disclosure of Lobbying Activities) from each applicant or co-applicant, as applicable.

b. Proposal Content

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

i. Project Narrative

The Project Narrative should address all activities that will be undertaken using the funds requested under this NOFO, a summary of how these activities support the overall project’s goals, and a clear vision for the final report. 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;

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

• 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.

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; and

• 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.

ii. 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 Addenda to the Proposal and will not count against the page limitations of this section (See Addenda section below). 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.

iii. Budget Narrative

A separate budget narrative must be created and submitted to describe the costs associated with each line item on the Form SF-424A. 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.

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 above, 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; or (b) will be of no or only incidental financial benefit to the recipient.

• If contracts will be used to complete part or all of this project, applicant must include a statement that contracts will be awarded by competitive bid, or if contracts will not be awarded by competitive bid, applicant must provide adequate documentation that sole source justifications can be made in accordance with the Uniform Administrative

Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance) as set forth in 2 C.F.R. § 200.320(f).

iv. Schedule of Major Milestones and Deliverables

All 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.

c. Addenda to the Proposal

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

i. 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.

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

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

• A certificate of good standing from the State of its incorporation that is less than twelve (12) months old;

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

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

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

If F&A costs (sometimes referred to as indirect costs) are included in the budget, the applicant must include documentation to support the F&A rate it is using. The applicant must submit a copy of its current approved F&A rate agreement (F&A Agreement). Subject to the limitation on F&A costs set out in section D.6. below (i.e., F&A costs may amount to no more than 20 percent of the total project cost), the maximum dollar amount of allocable F&A costs for which EDA will reimburse a recipient shall be the lesser of the (i) line-item amount for the Federal share of F&A costs contained in the EDA-approved budget for the award, or (ii) Federal share of the total allocable F&A costs of the award based on either (a) the 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 F&A Agreement, it may propose indirect costs in its budget; however, the applicant must prepare and submit an allocation plan and rate proposal for approval within ninety days from the award start date. See 2 C.F.R. part 200 Apps.

III, IV, V, VI, and 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 F&A Agreement and will submit an allocation plan and rate proposal to EDA or the applicant’s cognizant Federal agency for approval.

If the applicant (1) does not have a current F&A Agreement and (2) has never had a negotiated F&A rate, the applicant may elect to charge a de minimis rate of 10 percent of modified total direct costs subject to the exceptions of 2 C.F.R. § 200.414(f). The applicant should include a statement in its Budget Narrative that it does not have an F&A Agreement; it has never had a negotiated F&A rate; and it is electing to charge the de minimis rate.

If the applicant is a State or local unit of government (or a Tribe) that receives less than $35 million in direct Federal funding per year, it may submit any of the following: (a) a Certificate of F&A Costs from EDA or the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), (b) acknowledgment received from EDA and Certificate of F&A Costs, (c) a cost allocation plan approved by a Federal agency, or (d) a negotiated F&A Agreement.

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

☐ All required forms (ED 900A, SF424, SF424A, SF424B, CD511, SFLLL)

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

☐ Statement of Applicant Capacity and Project Management (may not exceed 5-single sided, 8.5x11-inch pages, with a minimum 12-point font and 1-inch margins)

☐ Budget Narrative

☐ Schedule of Major Milestones and Deliverables

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

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 applicable10, 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 (2014). The guidance set out at 2 C.F.R. part 25 may be located at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2014-title2-vol1/pdf/CFR-2014-title2-vol1-part25.pdf and the guidance set out at 2 C.F.R. part 170 may be located at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR- 2014-title2-vol1/pdf/CFR-2014-title2-vol1-part170.pdf. Note that SAM now encompasses the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) and that the unique entity identifier is commonly the Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Numbers. The recipient must keep their SAM registration current.

4. Submission Dates and Times

There are no application deadlines under this NOFO. EDA plans to accept applications on a rolling basis between FY2018-2020 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. How to Submit an Application

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

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

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

10 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).

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2014-title2-vol1/pdf/CFR-2014-title2-vol1-part25.pdf http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2014-title2-vol1/pdf/CFR-2014-title2-vol1-part170.pdf http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2014-title2-vol1/pdf/CFR-2014-title2-vol1-part170.pdf http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ mailto:support@grants.gov comment on the proposed Project, including review and comment from area-wide planning organizations in metropolitan areas11. 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 http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants_spoc . Question 19 of Form SF-424 allows applicants to demonstrate compliance with EO 12372.

6. Funding Restrictions

The use of EDA funds to make equity investments is not an allowable cost; neither EDA funds nor matching share may be used for such purposes. Investment assistance may not be used to start or expand a private business.

7. 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 this program except in cases of documented systems issues as described in Section I. 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, WordPerfect, or Microsoft Excel. 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. See Section I. of this NOFO. Please visit http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-tools-and-tips.html for resources and guides on the Grants.gov registration process.

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

Please see Section I. of this NOFO for more detailed instructions and information on the requirements for submitting applications electronically via Grants.gov.

b. Pre-Submission Registration

Before applying to a competition under this NOFO, each applicant must both register with Grants.gov and register its Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) with Grants.gov.

Applicants should note that this process can be lengthy, requires interaction with multiple organizations not affiliated with EDA, and requires confirmation at each step.

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

http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants_spoc http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-tools-and-tips.html

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

E. Application Review Information

1. Evaluation Criteria

To apply for an award under this announcement, an eligible applicant must submit a completed application package to EDA in accordance with Section D. of this NOFO. Applications that do not meet all requirements or that exceed the page limitations set forth in Section D.2.b. of this announcement may be considered non-responsive and may not be considered for review. An Investment Review Committee (IRC) comprised of at least three Federal employees will be formed to review applications. The review panel will evaluate applications using the evaluation criteria identified below.

The following criteria apply to all applications, unless criteria are specifically stated to be for R&E or for NTA. Please read the criteria carefully. The number of points that can be earned for each category of criteria is listed below, with 100 points the maximum total that can be earned.

Obtain a DUNS Number

• 1-2 Business Days

• http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform

Obtain an EIN

• 10 Business Days

Register with SAM

• 7-10 Business Days

• https://www.sam.gov/

Create a Grants.gov Username and Password

• Same Day

Authorize the AOR

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

Track AOR Status

• Same Day http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html

All projects applying for EDA funding through this NOFO should have a logical nexus to supporting EDA’s Investment Priorities12.

a. Organizational or Applicant Capacity and Personnel (15 Points)

i. Ability of the applicant to carry out the proposed work and achieve success based on the education, experience, and professional accomplishments of each organization and all key personnel;

ii. Qualified personnel that, as a group, demonstrate project management expertise, as well as demonstrated success in all aspects of the scope of work;

iii. Quality of the partnerships and extent of partnership commitments;

iv. Appropriateness, quality, and availability of any facilities, materials and resources to be used in implementing the proposed plan; and

v. Verifiable quality of past performance on similar projects; applicants may be asked to provide references to substantiate this information.

vi. R&E specific-criteria:

Expertise of the applicant in the various subject matter necessary to implement research on performance measurement, metrics, and economic development and to deliver practical, sound recommendations.

vii. NTA specific-criteria:

Expertise of the applicant in the various subject matter necessary to deliver technical assistance to applicable regions across different organizational and issue types including: (a) business and industry; (b) business and industry intermediaries and/or consortia; (c) state and/or local government leaders; (d) regional and/or local economic development; (e) secondary, post-secondary, and adult education; (f) regional and/or local workforce development; and (g) organized labor and/or community-based organizations.

b. Strategic Approach (40 Points)

Documented approach to meeting the elements identified in the Scope of Work including:

i. R&E specific-criteria:

• Extent to which the proposed project will provide a specific benefit to

EDA stakeholders or the economic development community;

• Extent to which the proposed project is original and substantially contributes to the existing body of knowledge to support decisions made in economic development;

12 EDA’s Investment Priorities can be found at https://www.eda.gov/about/investment-priorities.htm. The priorities may be updated from time to time; any future revisions will be reflected on EDA’s website on January 15, April 15, June 15, or September 15 of each year.

https://www.eda.gov/about/investment-priorities.htm

• Demonstrates that the project will support, promote, and improve understanding of economic development research, policy, and implementation; and

• 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

ii. NTA specific-criteria:

• Compelling description of how the project will provide technical assistance to stakeholders and how the stakeholders will benefit from the provision of the technical assistance;

• Demonstrates how the proposed project will increase capacity of individuals, firms, or communities;

• Ability of the proposed project to stimulate economic development in distressed regions;

• Strength of proposed project to increase understanding of economic development principles; and

• 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

c. Feasibility of Budget and Financial Match (15 Points)

i. Strength of the proposed management plan to achieve the project goals and manage partner organizations and project staff;

ii. Completeness of a proposed schedule and budget, including the extent to which appropriate targets, metrics, and milestones are clearly defined;

iii. Strength of proposed financial match including documented commitments;

iv. Identification of how Federal funds will be used and how financial match will be used; and

v. Strength of partnership collaboration and interest in the concept as demonstrated by willingness of partners to contribute resources (financial or otherwise).

d. Feasibility of Deliverables and Timeline (15 Points)

i. Strength of the timeline to work toward key milestones and dates, measure progress toward well-defined targets, and the likelihood that metrics and…