Grants and cooperative agreements; availability, etc.: Telecommunications and information infrastructure assistance program,
[Federal Register: January 4, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 1)]
[Notices]
[Page 331-339]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr04ja99-123]
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Part VII
Department of Commerce
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance Program; Notice
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
[Docket Number: 981203295-8295-01; CFDA: 11.552]
RIN 0660-ZA06
Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance Program
AGENCY: National Telecommunications and Information Administration, Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of availability of funds.
SUMMARY: The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) issues this Notice describing the conditions under which applications will be received under the Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance Program (TIIAP) and how NTIA will determine which applications it will fund. TIIAP assists eligible organizations by promoting the widespread use and availability of advanced telecommunications and information technologies in the public and non-profit sectors. By providing matching grants for information infrastructure projects, this program will help develop a nationwide, interactive, multimedia information infrastructure that is accessible to all Americans, in rural as well as urban areas.
DATES: Complete applications for the Fiscal Year 1999 TIIAP grant program must be mailed or hand-carried to the address indicated below and received by NTIA no later than 9:00 p.m. EST, March 11, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Applications must be mailed to:
Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance Program, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW, HCHB, Room 4092, Washington, D.C. 20230 Or hand-delivered to: Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance Program, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 1874, Herbert Clark Hoover Building, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20230
Room 1874 is located at entrance #10 on 15th Street NW, between Pennsylvania and Constitution Avenues.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Stephen J. Downs, Director of the Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance Program. Telephone: 202/482-2048; fax: 202/501-5136; e-mail: tiiap@ntia.doc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Program Purposes
NTIA announces the sixth annual round of a competitive matching grant program, the Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance Program (TIIAP). TIIAP was created to promote the development, widespread availability, and use of advanced telecommunications and information technologies to serve the public interest.
To accomplish this objective, TIIAP will provide matching grants to state, local, and tribal governments; ‹SUP›1‹/SUP› non-profit health care providers and public health institutions; schools; libraries; museums; colleges; universities; public safety providers; non-profit community-based organizations; and other non-profit entities. TIIAP will support projects that improve the quality of, and the public's access to, cultural, educational, and training resources; reduce the cost, improve the quality, and/or increase the accessibility of health care and public health services; promote responsive public safety services; improve the effectiveness and efficiency of government and public services; and foster communication, resource-sharing, and economic development within communities, both rural and urban.
\1\ American Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Villages.
Authority
Title II of the Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 1999, Pub. L. No. 105-277 (1998).
Funding Availability
Approximately $17 million is available for federal assistance. A small amount of funds that have been deobligated from grants awarded in previous fiscal years may also be available for Fiscal Year 1999 grants. Based on past experience, NTIA expects this year's grant round to be very competitive. In Fiscal Year 1998, NTIA received more than 750 applications collectively requesting more than $300 million in grant funds. From these applications, the Department of Commerce announced 46 TIIAP awards totaling $18.5 million in federal funds.
Based on previous grant rounds, TIIAP anticipates that the average size of a grant award will be approximately $350,000 and last between two and three years. An applicant may request up to $650,000 in total federal support.
Eligible Organizations
Non-profit entities; state, local, and tribal governments; and colleges and universities are eligible to apply. Although individuals and for-profit organizations are not eligible to apply, they may participate as project partners.
Matching Funds Requirements
Grant recipients under this program will be required to provide matching funds toward the total project cost. Applicants must document their capacity to provide matching funds. Matching funds may be in the form of cash or in-kind contributions. Grant funds under this program are usually released in direct proportion to local matching funds utilized and documented as having been expended. NTIA will provide up to 50 percent of the total project cost, unless the applicant can document extraordinary circumstances warranting a grant of up to 75 percent. Generally, federal funds (such as grants) may not be used as matching funds, except as provided by federal statute. If you plan to use funds from a federal agency, you should contact the federal agency that administers the funds in question and obtain documentation from that agency's Office of General Counsel to support the use of federal funds for matching purposes.
Completeness of Application
TIIAP will initially review all applications to determine whether all required elements are present and clearly identifiable. The required elements are listed and described in the Guidelines for Preparing Applications--Fiscal Year 1999. Each of the required elements must be present and clearly identified. Failure to do so may result in rejection of the application.
Application Deadline
As noted above, complete applications for the Fiscal Year 1999 TIIAP grant program must be received by NTIA no later than 9:00 p.m. EST, March 11, 1999. A postmark date is not sufficient. Applications which have been provided to a delivery service on or before March 10, 1999, with ``delivery guaranteed'' before 9:00 p.m. on March 11, 1999, will be accepted for review if the applicant can document that the application was provided to the delivery service with delivery to the address listed above guaranteed prior to the closing date and time. Applications will not be accepted via facsimile machine transmission or electronic
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mail. NTIA anticipates that it will take approximately six months to complete the review of applications and make final funding decisions.
Program Funding Priorities
NTIA supports innovative and exemplary projects that can serve as models for using information infrastructure in the public and non- profit sectors and thereby contribute to the development of an advanced National Information Infrastructure (NII).‹SUP›2‹/SUP› NTIA believes that every project supported under TIIAP should be a nationally significant demonstration of how telecommunications and information technologies can be used to extend valuable services and opportunities to all Americans, especially the underserved. ``Underserved'' refers to individuals and communities that are subject to barriers that limit or prevent their access to the benefits of information infrastructure technologies and services. In terms of information infrastructure, these barriers may be technological, geographic, economic, physical, linguistic, or cultural.
\2\ The National Information Infrastructure (NII) is a federal policy initiative to facilitate and accelerate the development and utilization of the nation's information infrastructure. The Administration envisions the NII as a seamless web of communications networks, computers, databases, and consumer electronics that will put vast amounts of information at users' fingertips. For more information on various aspects of the NII initiative, see The National Information Infrastructure: Agenda for Action, 58 Fed. Reg. 49,025 (September 21, 1993).
NTIA expects each project to serve as a national model and offer potentially new and useful insights into the use of network technologies. Each project should identify specific problems or needs in a community, use information infrastructure services and technologies to offer concrete solutions, and produce measurable outcomes. TIIAP emphasizes the application of technology to meet people's needs, and not simply on the technology as an end in itself. In addition, the development of the NII depends upon the contribution of a wide variety of skills, ideas, and perspectives. Therefore, TIIAP- supported projects should, to the greatest degree possible, reach out to all members of a community and catalyze partnerships ‹SUP›3‹/SUP› to help erase the distinction between information ``haves'' and ``have- nots.''
\3\ A ``partner'' is defined as an organization that supplies cash or in kind resources and/or plays an active role in the planning and implementation of the project.
As a national program, TIIAP supports a variety of model projects among different application areas,‹SUP›4‹/SUP› geographic regions, and underserved populations. Each project awarded a grant, however, must be innovative in its application of technology. TIIAP defines innovation broadly. It can encompass, but is not restricted to, a new application of proven technologies; a creative strategy for overcoming traditional barriers to access; a new configuration of existing information resources; or uses of cutting edge technologies.
\4\ For a discussion of the application areas TIIAP supports, please see Notice, page 6.
For FY 1999, TIIAP is especially interested in projects developed by smaller, locally-based organizations that both serve and represent technologically underserved communities across the nation. For example, these organizations may include but are not limited to: community-based organizations; small non-profits; colleges and universities serving rural communities; Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, and Tribal Colleges and Universities; and organizations representing Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities. TIIAP wants to build the capacity of smaller organizations that work closely with the community. These non-profits often are able to understand the local dynamics that are helpful in defining the problem and creating a community-driven, successful solution.
For the FY 1999 grant competition, TIIAP is also especially interested in projects that propose to use advanced network technologies to enhance the quality and efficiency of services delivered through non-profit organizations. Driven by research efforts in academia, the federal government, and the private sector,‹SUP›5‹/SUP› technological advances promise to improve significantly the quality of today's networks. For example, higher bandwidth networks will afford the opportunity to deliver high resolution video to the desktop; emerging wireless networks will give end users greater flexibility in how and when they can access information. TIIAP encourages applicants to explore the capabilities of these technologies.
\5\ The Internet2 and the Next Generation Internet initiatives are but two examples of the partnerships working to enhance the quality of today's networking technologies.
Applicants who are not ready to prepare a project demonstrating innovative uses of advanced network technologies this year may want to consider preparing a planning grant. While the emphasis for Fiscal Year 1999 is on projects that deploy, use, and evaluate the use of information infrastructure applications, NTIA will also consider allocating a limited amount of funds to support outstanding planning projects that explore potential uses of advanced network technologies. Applications for such projects will be evaluated against the same criteria applied to all other applications.
In Fiscal Year 1999, TIIAP will support projects in five application areas: Community Networking; Education, Culture, and Lifelong Learning; Health; Public Safety; and Public Services. Each application will be reviewed with other applications in the same area. In this grant round, TIIAP is especially interested in projects that cut across application areas to better serve the needs of individuals and communities. Different application areas often share the same end users. TIIAP encourages applications in which the use of network technology enables partners in different disciplines (e.g., health, education, and public safety) to share information. For example, health providers and field emergency services that share responsibility in the rescue and care of accident victims, or schools and social service providers that work to serve the same families, could benefit by increasing coordination and information sharing.
The five application areas are described below.
Community Networking
This area focuses on multi-purpose projects that enable a broad range of community residents and organizations to communicate, share information, promote community economic development, and participate in civic activities. While TIIAP will continue to support a full range of projects in the Community Networking application area, this year TIIAP is particularly interested in projects that: (1) provide individual end users with sophisticated and useful tools for gathering, analyzing, and applying a variety of information resources to concrete community or regional problems; (2) enable small firms, non-profit providers of services, and persons involved in community development to communicate, share resources, and launch collaborative initiatives more effectively in order to promote local or regional community and economic development; or (3) develop collaborative, regional approaches which address the needs of both rural and urban populations.
Examples of Community Networking projects may include, but would not be limited to: projects involving multiple stakeholder organizations that wish to
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link services, reduce duplicative record-keeping, simplify and/or expand end-user access to a variety of information resources, engage in initiatives that would not have been possible without networking technologies, or provide information across various application areas within a specific geographic region.
Education, Culture, and Lifelong Learning
Projects in this area seek to improve education and training for learners of all ages and provide cultural enrichment through the use of information infrastructure in both traditional and non-traditional settings. While TIIAP will continue to support a full range of projects in the Education, Culture, and Lifelong Learning application area, this year TIIAP is particularly interested in projects which propose partnerships among multiple institutions to address lifelong learning needs.
Examples of Education, Culture, and Lifelong Learning projects may include, but would not be limited to: projects that explore creative partnerships among schools, libraries, museums, colleges, or universities to deliver network-based learning resources; projects linking workplaces and job-training sites to educational institutions; projects that enrich communities by delivering on-line informational, educational, and cultural services from public libraries, museums, and other cultural centers; and projects that allow users to collaborate in the creation of cultural works or participate actively in meaningful on-line learning exchanges.
Health
Projects in this area involve the use of information infrastructure in the delivery of health care and public health services. While TIIAP will continue to support a full range of projects in the Health application area, this year TIIAP is particularly interested in projects that support the delivery of public health services such as efforts to identify physical, mental, and environmental health problems; define priorities for public health response; prevent disease, injury, and disability; and enforce laws and regulations that protect physical, mental, and environmental health.
Examples of Health projects may include, but would not be limited to: systems that improve the care and treatment of patients in their homes; telemedicine systems that offer new approaches to extending medical and dental expertise to rural or underserved urban areas or non-traditional settings; projects designed to improve communication between health care providers and patients and enable consumers to participate more actively in their health care; projects to improve treatment of patients in emergency situations and extend trauma care services beyond the emergency room; and networks or information services aimed at disease prevention and health promotion.
Public Safety
Projects in this area will seek to increase the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies, emergency, rescue, and fire departments, the court system, or other entities involved in providing safety services that respond to, prevent, or intervene in crises. While TIIAP will continue to support a full range of projects in the Public Safety application area, this year TIIAP is particularly interested in projects that include multiple agencies (such as those that combine police, emergency medical services, fire companies, or courts) or participation across municipal boundaries.
Examples of Public Safety projects may include, but would not be limited to: projects that facilitate information exchange among public safety agencies located in single or multiple geographic areas to increase efficiency and share resources, including spectrum resources; projects that provide information in a timely manner to ``first- response officials,'' such as police officers, emergency medical technicians, and firefighters; projects that help public safety agencies provide community outreach services; and projects that aim to increase the safety and security of children and reduce domestic violence.
Public Services
Projects in this area aim to improve the delivery of services to people with a range of social service needs. This area includes, for example, employment counseling, housing and transportation support, child welfare, food assistance, and other services typically delivered by state, tribal, and local governments or by community-based non- profit organizations. While TIIAP will continue to support a full range of projects in the Public Services application area, this year TIIAP is particularly interested in projects that aim to link multiple organizations to provide a client-based focus to the delivery of services. Such projects would focus on the comprehensive needs of individuals and families who require the coordinated services of multiple organizations.
Examples of Public Services projects may include, but would not be limited to: projects that use information technology creatively to promote self-sufficiency and independence among individuals and families; electronic information and referral services that provide information on a variety of community-based and government services; projects that make public agencies more accessible and responsive to community residents; electronic benefits transfer projects; projects that employ geographic information systems to study demographic or environmental trends and target community strategies to assist individuals; and projects that focus on the needs of special communities, such as seniors or individuals with disabilities.
Limitations on Project Scope
Projects funded by TIIAP must meet the Program Funding Priorities described in this Notice. Projects must involve innovative approaches to the delivery of useful, practical services in real-world environments within the grant award period.
Listed below are types of projects TIIAP will not support in Fiscal Year 1999.
(1) One-Way Networks. TIIAP will not support construction or extensions of one-way networks, that is, networks which deliver information to a passive audience; all networks and services proposed for TIIAP support must be interactive. ‹SUP›6‹/SUP› For example, TIIAP will not fund one-way broadcast systems, tape duplication and/or delivery projects, or any project which does not permit the end user in some fashion to select the information he or she will receive.
\6\ ``Interactivity'' is defined as the capacity of a communications system to allow end users to communicate directly with other users, either in real time (as in a video teleconference) or on a store-and-forward basis (as with electronic mail), or to seek and gain access to information on an on-demand basis, as opposed to a broadcast basis.
(2) Single-Organization Projects. TIIAP will not support projects whose primary emphasis is on the internal communications needs of a single organization, even if the organization has a considerable number of offices in different cities or regions of the country. For example, TIIAP will not consider projects that create or expand Local Area Networks or internal e-mail systems whose end users are principally, or exclusively, staff members of a single organization. However, TIIAP will support applications that extend communications among multiple organizations and agencies within a governmental jurisdiction. Projects should, to the maximum degree feasible,
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include appropriate partnerships, with plans for inter-organizational communications among the partners.
(3) Replacement or Upgrade of Existing Facilities. TIIAP will not support any projects whose purpose is to upgrade or replace existing systems, add workstations or servers to existing networks, or complete the installation of a network.
In addition, TIIAP will not support projects whose primary purpose is to develop content, hardware, or software, to provide training on the use of the information infrastructure, ‹SUP›7‹/SUP› or to build voice-based systems.
\7\ ``Information infrastructure'' includes telecommunication networks, computers, other end-user devices, software, standards, and skills that collectively enable people to connect to each other and to a vast array of services and information resources.
(1) Content Development Projects. Many projects necessarily involve some modification or development of content. ‹SUP›8‹/SUP› Therefore, TIIAP will support projects in which the creation or conversion of content is part of a larger effort to utilize information infrastructure technologies to address real-world problems. However, TIIAP will not support projects whose primary purpose is to develop data resources, or in any other way produce information content. For example, TIIAP will not consider projects which are designed only to develop curriculum, create databases, convert existing paper-based information to a digital format, digitize existing graphics collections, or establish World Wide Web sites.
\8\ ``Content development'' refers to the creation of information resources, such as databases or World Wide Web sites, for the purpose of dissemination through one or more on-line services.
(2) Hardware or Software Development Projects. Some projects may require limited software development or the customization or modification of existing software or hardware in order to meet particular end-user requirements or to enable the exchange of information across networks. However, the creation of a software or hardware product cannot be a project's primary purpose.
(3) Training Projects. While TIIAP does consider training to be an essential aspect of most implementation projects, TIIAP will not support projects whose primary purpose is to provide training in the use of software applications, Internet use, or other use of information infrastructure.
(4) Voice-based Systems. Two-way, interactive voice networks are an important element of the existing information infrastructure. Voice as a means for conveying information and voice input tools play critical roles in ensuring people with disabilities have access to network technology. However, TIIAP will not support projects whose primary purpose is to either build or install voice-based communication networks such as call centers or two-way radio networks.
Review Criteria
Reviewers will review and rate each application using the following criteria. The relative weights of each criterion are identified in parentheses.
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Project Definition (10%)
Each application will be judged on the overall purpose of the proposed project and its potential impact on a community. In assessing the ``Project Definition,'' reviewers will examine the degree to which the applicant clearly: (1) identifies a specific problem(s) or need(s) within the community to be served; (2) proposes a feasible means of addressing the community's problem(s) employing network services and technologies; and (3) identifies anticipated outcomes and potential impacts that are both realistic and measurable.
Reviewers will assess the degree to which an applicant convincingly links the three major elements--problem, solution, and outcomes.
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Evaluation (15%)
Each application will be rated on the quality of its plans for evaluation and its potential to measure both the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed solution(s) and anticipated outcome(s) of the project.
Reviewers also will assess the degree to which the evaluation links to the overall formulation of project goals and objectives (i.e., the problem, solution, and anticipated outcomes identified in the ``Project Definition'' section) and the Review Criteria treated below.
When examining an applicant's evaluation, reviewers will assess the evaluation design, an implementation plan for the evaluation, and the allocation of resources (i.e., budget, staff, and management) for evaluation. Reviewers will also analyze the evaluation questions; the methodological approach for answering the evaluation questions; how data will be collected; and how the data will be analyzed. Finally, reviewers will assess the qualifications of any proposed evaluators.
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Significance (20%)
When considering ``Significance,'' reviewers will assess the degree to which the proposed project is innovative and can serve as a model.
When rating the degree to which an application demonstrates innovation, reviewers will use their experience as experts in their respective fields to determine whether a proposed project introduces a unique or novel approach and extends the state-of-the-art in a given application area. As noted in the section on ``Program Funding Priorities,'' reviewers will assess innovation broadly, examining both the technology to be used and the application of technology in a particular setting, to serve a particular population, or to solve a particular problem. Reviewers will examine each project in a national context and ask: (1) how an application compares with, complements, or improves upon other activities in a given application area, and (2) what insight(s) a proposed project could add to what is known about using network technologies in a given application area.
With respect to identifying projects that could serve as models for other communities across the country, reviewers will draw on their own experience as experts in the field to assess the degree to which a project has the potential to be readily duplicated or adapted to other communities across the country.
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Project Feasibility (15%)
Each application will be rated on the overall feasibility of the proposed project and its plan of implementation. In assessing project feasibility, reviewers will focus on the following issues: the technical approach; the qualifications of the applicant team; the proposed budget and implementation schedule; and the applicant's plan for sustaining the project beyond the grant period.
Reviewers will assess how the proposed system would work, how it would operate with other systems, the technological alternatives that have been examined, the plans for the maintenance and/or upgrading of the system, and the capability of the system to accommodate growth and new technological developments. Applicants are expected to make use of existing infrastructure and commercially available telecommunications services, unless extraordinary circumstances require the construction of new network facilities.
In assessing the qualifications of the project team, reviewers will assess the applicant and its partners to determine if they have the resources, expertise, and experience necessary to undertake the project and complete it within the
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proposed period. Reviewers will also examine the proposed duration of the project to determine if the implementation schedule is reasonable.
Reviewers will analyze the budget in terms of clarity and cost- effectiveness. The proposed budget should be appropriate to the tasks proposed and sufficiently detailed so that reviewers can easily understand the relationship of items in the budget to the project narrative.
Finally, reviewers will examine the potential long-term viability of the applicant's plans. In evaluating the plan, reviewers will consider the economic circumstances of the community or communities to be served by the proposed project and the applicant's strategies to sustain the project after the completion of the grant.
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Community Involvement (20%)
Each application will be rated on the overall level of community involvement in the development and implementation of the proposed project. Reviewers will pay particular attention to the partnerships involved, the strength and diversity of support for the project within the community, the support for the project's end users,‹SUP›9‹/SUP› and any applicable privacy and security issues.
\9\ An ``end user'' is one who customarily employs or seeks access to, rather than provides, information infrastructure. An end user may be a consumer of information (e.g., a member of the public employing a touch-screen public access terminal); may be involved in an interactive communication with other end users; or may use information infrastructure to provide services to the public.
Reviewers will examine the breadth of community involvement to ensure it includes the development of partnerships among unaffiliated organizations,‹SUP›10‹/SUP› from the public, non-profit, or private sectors, as an integral part of each project. TIIAP considers partners to be organizations that supply cash or in-kind resources and/or play an active role in the planning and implementation of the project. Reviewers will:
\10\ ``Unaffiliated'' organizations are institutions that do not have formal associations or relationships with the applicant.
(1) Examine the steps the applicant has taken to involve a variety of community stakeholders in project development and the plans for ongoing community involvement in the project. Reviewers will look for evidence of demand, from the community, the end users, and the potential beneficiaries, for the services proposed by the project;
(2) Consider the degree of attention paid to the needs, skills, working conditions, and living environments of the targeted end users. Reviewers will also consider the extent to which applicants involve representatives from a broad range of potential users in both the design and implementation of the project and consider the varying degrees of abilities of all end users, including individuals with disabilities;
(3) Assess the applicant's plans for training end users, upgrading their skills, and building community awareness and knowledge of the project;
(4) Evaluate the steps applicants have taken to involve and document the support of a variety of stakeholder groups and organizations; and
(5) examine the applicant's efforts to safeguard the privacy of the end users and beneficiaries ‹SUP›11‹/SUP› of the project. In circumstances where proprietary or sensitive individual data is involved, reviewers will closely examine the applicant's strategies for addressing the privacy and confidentiality of user data.
\11\ Project beneficiaries are those individuals or organizations deriving benefits from a project's outcome(s). A project beneficiary may also, but not necessarily, be a project end user.
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Reducing Disparities (15%)
Reviewers will assess the degree to which each application targets underserved communities specifically and/or reaches out to underserved groups within a broader community. ``Underserved'' refers to individuals and communities that are subject to barriers that limit or prevent their access to the benefits of information infrastructure and services. These barriers may be technological, geographic, economic, physical, linguistic, or cultural. For example,
(1) A rural community may be geographically isolated from information resources and lack local technical expertise to help install and manage the network infrastructure;
(2) An inner city neighborhood may contain large numbers of potential end users who lack the technical and financial resources to access the information infrastructure; or
(3) People with disabilities may need a variety of special hardware or software interfaces to facilitate their use of the information infrastructure.
Reviewers will assess evidence of community need and the applicant's proposed strategies for overcoming barriers to the access and use of information technologies. Reviewers will focus on the applicant's strategies for reaching out to targeted groups and for tailoring services which address the learning mechanisms, attitudes, abilities, and customs of the community.
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Documentation and Dissemination (5%)
Applicants will also be rated on the quality of their plans for documentation and dissemination. Reviewers will assess whether an applicant has allocated sufficient funds and resources to document project activities and disseminate project findings and lessons learned.
Applicants will be rated on the extent to which their documentation plans include effective record keeping strategies that will assist in the applicant's assessment of the project and facilitate future evaluations of the applicant's efforts. Reviewers will also assess an applicant's plans for disseminating the knowledge gained as a result of the project.
Eligible Costs
Eligible Costs. Allowable costs incurred under approved projects shall be determined in accordance with applicable federal cost principles, i.e., OMB Circular A-21, A-87, A-122, or Appendix E of 45 C.F.R. Part 74. If included in the approved project budget, TIIAP will allow costs for personnel; fringe benefits; computer hardware, software, and other end-user equipment; telecommunication services and related equipment; consultants, evaluators, and other contractual services; travel; rental of office equipment, furniture, and space; and supplies. All costs must be reasonable and directly related to the project.
Indirect Costs. The total dollar amount of the indirect costs proposed in an application under this program must not exceed the indirect cost rate negotiated and approved by a cognizant federal agency or 100 percent of the total proposed direct costs dollar amount in the application, whichever is less.
Ineligible Costs
Costs associated with the construction or major renovation of buildings are not eligible. While costs for the construction of new network facilities are eligible costs, applicants are expected to make use of existing infrastructure and commercially available telecommunications services. Only under extraordinary circumstances will the construction of new network facilities be approved. Costs of the professional services, such as instruction, counseling, or medical care, provided via a network supported through this program are not eligible.
Note that costs that are ineligible for TIIAP support may not be included as part of the applicant's matching fund
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contribution. In addition, the Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Fiscal Year 1999 places restrictions on eligible costs for applicants which are recipients of Universal Service Fund discounts and applicants receiving assistance from the Department of Justice's Regional Information Sharing Systems Program as part of the project costs.
This statute provides:
That notwithstanding any other provision of law, no entity that receives telecommunications services at preferential rates under section 254(h) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254(h)) or receives assistance under the regional information sharing systems grant program of the Department of Justice under part M of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796h) may use funds under a grant under this heading to cover any costs of the entity that would otherwise be covered by such preferential rates or such assistance, as the case may be.‹SUP›12‹/SUP›
\12\ Title II of the Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 1999, Pub. L. No. 105-277 (1998).
Accordingly, recipients of the above-described preferential rates or assistance are prohibited from including any costs that would be covered by such preferential rates or assistance in their proposed TIIAP grant budget.
Award Period
Successful applicants will have between 12 and 36 months to complete their projects. While the completion time will vary depending on the complexity of the project, NTIA has found that most applicants require at least two years to complete and fully evaluate their projects. Accordingly, NTIA encourages applicants to propose projects that last two to three years.
Selection Process
NTIA will publish a notice in the Federal Register listing all applications received by TIIAP. Listing an application in such a notice merely acknowledges receipt of an application that will compete for funding with other applications. Publication does not preclude subsequent return or disapproval of the application, nor does it ensure that the application will be funded. The selection process will last approximately six months and involves four stages:
(1) During the first stage, each eligible application will be reviewed by a panel of outside readers, who have demonstrated expertise in both the programmatic and technological aspects of the application. The review panels will evaluate applications according to the review criteria provided in this Notice and make non-binding written recommendations to the program.
(2) Upon completion of the external review process, program staff may analyze applications as necessary. Program staff analysis will be based on the degree to which a proposed project meets the program's funding scope as described in the section entitled ``Limitations on Project Scope;'' the eligibility of costs and matching funds included in an application's budget; ‹SUP›13‹/SUP› and the extent to which an application complements or duplicates projects previously funded or under consideration by NTIA or other federal programs. The analysis of program staff will be provided to the TIIAP Director in writing.
\13\ See discussion of ``Eligible Costs'' and ``Matching Funds Requirements'' in this Notice.
The TIIAP Director then prepares and presents a slate of recommended grant awards to the Office of Telecommunications and Information Applications' (OTIA) Associate Administrator for review and approval. ‹SUP›14‹/SUP› The Director's recommendations and the Associate Administrator's review and approval will take into account the following selection factors:
\14\ The Office of Telecommunication and Information Applications is the division of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration that supervises NTIA's grant awards programs.
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The evaluations of the outside reviewers;
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The analysis of program staff;
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The degree to which the proposed grants meet the program's priorities as described in the section entitled ``Program Funding Priorities;''
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The geographic distribution of the proposed grant awards;
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The variety of technologies and strategies employed by the proposed grant awards;
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The extent to which the proposed grant awards represent a reasonable distribution of funds across application areas;
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The promotion of access to and use of the information infrastructure by rural communities and other underserved groups;
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Avoidance of redundancy and conflicts with the initiatives of other federal agencies; and
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The availability of funds.
(3) Upon approval by the OTIA Associate Administrator, the Director's recommendations will then be presented to the Selecting Official, the NTIA Administrator. The NTIA Administrator selects the applications to be negotiated for possible grant award taking into consideration the Director's recommendations and the degree to which the slate of applications, taken as a whole, satisfies the selection factors described above and the program's stated purposes as set forth in the section entitled ``Program Purposes.''
(4) After applications have been selected in this manner, negotiations will take place between TIIAP staff and the applicant. These negotiations are intended to resolve any differences that exist between the applicant's original request and what TIIAP proposes to fund, and if necessary, to clarify items in the application. Not all applicants who are contacted for negotiation will necessarily receive a TIIAP award. Final selections made by the Administrator will be based upon the recommendations by the Director and the OTIA Associate Administrator and the degree to which the slate of applications, taken as a whole, satisfies the program's stated purposes as set forth in the section entitled ``Program Purposes,'' upon the conclusion of negotiations.
Use of Program Income
Applicants are advised that any program income generated by a proposed project is subject to special conditions. Anticipated program income must be documented appropriately in the project budget. In addition, should an application be funded, unanticipated program income must be reported to TIIAP, and the budget for the project must be renegotiated to reflect receipt of this program income. Program income means gross income earned by the recipient that is either directly generated by a supported activity, or earned as a result of the award. In addition, federal policy prohibits any recipient or subrecipient receiving federal funds from the use of equipment acquired with these funds to provide services to non-federal outside organizations for a fee that is less than private companies charge for equivalent services. This prohibition does not apply to services provided to outside organizations at no cost.
Policy on Sectarian Activities
Applicants are advised that on December 22, 1995, NTIA issued a notice in the Federal Register on its policy with regard to sectarian activities. Under NTIA's policy, while religious activities cannot be the essential thrust of a grant, an application will not be ineligible where sectarian activities are only incidental or attenuated to the overall project purpose for which funding is requested. Applicants for whom this policy may be
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relevant should read the policy that was published in the Federal Register at 60 FR 66491, Dec. 22, 1995.
Waiver Authority
It is the general intent of NTIA not to waive any of the provisions set forth in this Notice. However, under extraordinary circumstances and when it is in the best interest of the federal government, NTIA, upon its own initiative or when requested, may waive the provisions in this Notice. Waivers may only be granted for requirements that are discretionary and not mandated by statute. Any request for a waiver must set forth the extraordinary circumstances for the request and be included in the application or sent to the address provided in the ``Addresses'' section above. NTIA will not consider a request to waive the application deadline for an application until the application has been received.
Other Information
Electronic Information. Information about NTIA and TIIAP, including this document and the Guidelines for Preparing Applications--Fiscal Year 1999, can be retrieved electronically via the Internet using the World Wide Web. Use http://www.ntia.doc.gov to reach the NTIA home page and follow directions to locating information about TIIAP. TIIAP can also be reached via electronic mail at tiiap@ntia.doc.gov.
Application Forms. Standard Forms 424 (OMB Approval Number 0348- 0044), Application for Federal Assistance; 424A (OMB Approval Number 0348-0043), Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs; and 424B (OMB Approval Number 0348-0040), Assurances--Non-Construction Programs, (Rev 4-92), and other Department of Commerce forms shall be used in applying for financial assistance. These forms are included in the Guidelines for Preparing Applications--Fiscal Year 1999, which can be obtained by contacting NTIA by telephone, fax, or electronic mail, as described in the ``Addresses'' section above. TIIAP requests one original and five copies of the application. Applicants for whom the submission of five copies presents financial hardship may submit one original and two copies of the application. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required to respond to nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control number. In addition, all applicants are required to submit a copy of their application to their state Single Point of Contact (SPOC) offices, if they have one. For information on contacting state SPOC offices, refer to the Guidelines for Preparing Applications-- Fiscal Year 1999.
Because of the high level of public interest in projects supported by TIIAP, the program anticipates receiving requests for copies of successful applications. Applicants are hereby notified that the applications they submit are subject to the Freedom of Information Act. To assist NTIA in making disclosure determinations, applicants may identify sensitive information and label it ``confidential.''
Type of Funding Instrument. The funding instrument for awards under this program shall be a grant.
Federal Policies and Procedures. Recipients and subrecipients are subject to all applicable federal laws and federal and Department of Commerce policies, regulations, and procedures applicable to federal financial assistance awards.
Pre-Award Activities. If an applicant incurs any project costs prior to the project start date negotiated at the time the award is made, it does so solely at its own risk of not being reimbursed by the government. Applicants are hereby notified that, notwithstanding any oral or written assurance that they may have received, there is no obligation on the part of the Department of Commerce to cover pre-award costs.
No Obligation for Future Funding. If an application is selected for funding, the Department of Commerce has no obligation to provide any additional future funding in connection with that award. Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the total discretion of the Department of Commerce.
Past Performance. Unsatisfactory performance of an applicant under prior federal financial assistance awards may result in that applicant's proposal not being considered for funding.
Delinquent Federal Debts. No award of federal funds shall be made to an applicant who has an outstanding delinquent federal debt until:
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The delinquent account is paid in full;
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A negotiated repayment schedule is established and at least one payment is received; or
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Other arrangements satisfactory to the Department of Commerce are made.
Purchase of American Made Products. Applicants are hereby notified that any equipment or products authorized to be purchased with funding provided under this program must be American-made to the maximum extent feasible.
Name Check Review. All non-profit applicants are subject to a name check review process. Name checks are intended to reveal if any key individuals associated with the applicant have been convicted of or are presently facing criminal charges such as fraud, theft, perjury, or other matters that significantly reflect on the applicant's management, honesty, or financial integrity.
Primary Applicant Certifications. All primary applicants must submit a completed Form CD-511, ``Certifications Regarding Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free Workplace Requirements and Lobbying,'' and the following explanations are hereby provided:
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Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension--Prospective participants (as defined at 15 C.F.R. Part 26, Section 105) are subject to 15 C.F.R. Part 26, ``Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension'' and the related section of the certification form prescribed above applies;
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Drug-Free Workplace--Grantees (as defined at 15 C.F.R. Part 26, Section 605) are subject to 15 C.F.R. Part 26, Subpart F, ``Government wide Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Grants)'' and the related section of the certification form prescribed above applies;
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Anti-Lobbying--Persons (as defined at 15 C.F.R. Part 28, Section 105) are subject to the lobbying provisions of 31 U.S.C. Sec. 1352, ``Limitation on use of appropriated funds to influence certain federal contracting and financial transactions,'' and the lobbying section of the certification form prescribed above applies to applications/bids for grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts for more than $100,000, and loans and loan guarantees for more than $150,000, or the single family maximum mortgage limit for affected programs, whichever is greater; and
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Anti-Lobbying Disclosure--Any applicant that has paid or will pay for lobbying in connection with a covered federal action, such as the awarding of any federal contract, the making of any federal grant, the making of any federal loan, the entering into of any cooperative agreement, or the extension, continuation, renewal, amendment, or modification of any federal contract, grant, loan, or cooperative agreement using any funds must submit an SF-LLL, ``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities'' (OMB Control Number 0348-0046), as required under 15 C.F.R. part 28, Appendix B.
Lower Tier Certifications. Recipients shall require applicants/ bidders for
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subgrants, contracts, subcontracts, or other lower tier covered transactions at any tier under the award to submit, if applicable, a completed Form CD-512, ``Certifications Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion-Lower Tier Covered Transactions and Lobbying'' and disclosure form SF-LLL, ``Disclosure of Lobbying Activities.'' Form CD-512 is intended for the use of recipients and should not be transmitted to DOC. SF-LLL submitted by any tier recipient or subrecipient should be submitted to DOC in accordance with the instructions contained in the award document.
False Statements. A false statement on an application is grounds for denial or termination of funds and grounds for possible punishment by a fine or imprisonment as provided in 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1001.
Intergovernmental Review. Applications under this program are subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.'' It has been determined that this notice is a ``not significant'' rule under Executive Order 12866. Larry Irving, Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information.
[FR Doc. 98-34228Filed12-31-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-60-P
