[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 41 (Thursday, February 29, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7950-7956]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-4642]
[[Page 7949]]
_______________________________________________________________________
Part VI
Department of Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
_______________________________________________________________________
Telecommunications and Infrastructure Assistance Program; Notice
Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 41 / Thursday, February 29, 1996 /
Notices
[[Page 7950]]
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
[Docket Number: 950124024-6045-03; CFDA: 11.552]
RIN 0660-AA04
Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance
Program
AGENCY: National Telecommunications and Information Administration,
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of solicitation of grant applications.
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SUMMARY: Subject to the availability of fiscal year 1996 funds, the
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)
issues this Notice describing the conditions under which applications
will be accepted 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 of advanced telecommunications and
information technologies in the public and non-profit sectors. By
providing matching grants for Demonstration, Access, and Planning
projects, this program will help develop a nationwide, interactive,
multimedia information infrastructure that is accessible to all
citizens, in rural as well as urban areas.
DATES: Complete applications for the fiscal year 1996 TIIAP grant
program must be mailed or hand-carried to the address indicated below
and received by NTIA by 5 P.M. EST, April 4, 1996. Applications
received after that time and date will not be accepted. Applications
will not be accepted via facsimile machine transmission or e-mail. NTIA
anticipates that it will take between 4 and 6 months to process
applications and make final funding determinations.
ADDRESSES: Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance
Program, National Telecommunications and Information Administration,
U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW.,
HCHB, Room 4090, Washington, DC 20230.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Stephen J. Downs, Acting 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 third annual round of a competitive matching
grant* program, TIIAP. TIIAP was created to promote the development and
widespread availability of advanced telecommunications and information
technologies to serve the public interest.
*Terms marked with an asterisk (*) are defined at the end of
this Notice.
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To accomplish this objective, TIIAP will provide matching grants to
state and local governments, non-profit health care and public health
providers, school districts, libraries, colleges, universities, public
safety providers, non-profit community-based organizations, and other
non-profit entities, for projects that will improve the quality of, and
the public's access to, education and lifelong learning; reduce the
cost, improve the quality, and/or increase the accessibility of health
care and public health services; promote responsive public services;
and foster communication and resource-sharing within communities, both
rural and urban.
Authority
The Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary and
Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 1994, P.L. No. 103-317, 108
Stat. 1724, 1747 (1994) and P.L. No. 104-99 ``Balanced Budget
Downpayment Act, I.''
Funding Availability
NTIA issues this Notice subject to the appropriations made
available under the continuing resolution (P.L. No. 104-99). NTIA
anticipates making grant awards provided that funding for TIIAP is
continued beyond March 15, 1996, the expiration date of the current
continuing resolution. This continuing resolution includes $21.5
million for TIIAP. Issuance of grants, however, is subject to the
future availability of FY 1996 funds. Further notice will be made in
the Federal Register of the final status of funding for this program at
the appropriate time.
Based on past experience, NTIA expects that the level of
competition will be extremely strong. In fiscal year 1995, NTIA
received more than 1,800 applications, collectively requesting more
than $680 million in grant funds. From these 1,800 applications, the
Department of Commerce announced 117 TIIAP awards totaling $35.7
million in Federal funds.
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible Organizations. All state and local governments, all
colleges and universities, and all non-profit entities are eligible to
apply. However, individuals and for-profit organizations are not
eligible.
Matching Funds Requirements. Grant recipients under this program
will be required to provide matching funds toward the total project
cost. A project will not be considered eligible for funding unless the
applicant documents the capacity to supply matching funds. Matching
funds may be in the form of cash or in-kind contributions. Grant funds
under this program will be released in direct proportion to local
matching funds raised and/or documented. NTIA will supply up to 50% of
the total project cost, unless extraordinary circumstances warrant a
grant of up to 75%. Federal funds (such as grants) generally may not be
used as matching monies, except as provided by Federal statute. For
information about whether particular Federal funds may be used as
matching funds, the applicant should contact the Federal agency that
administers the funds in question.
Scope of Proposed Project. Funded projects must fall into the
program categories and priorities described in this Notice. Projects
must involve the delivery of useful, practical services in real-world
environments within the grant award period. In fiscal year 1996, TIIAP
will not fund the following kinds of projects:
One-Way Networks. TIIAP will not support the construction or
augmentation of one-way networks; all services and networks proposed
under the program must be interactive.*
Content Development* Projects. TIIAP will not support projects
whose primary focus is to develop or produce information content,
rather than to apply information infrastructure* to practical problems.
For example, TIIAP will not consider projects whose primary purpose is
the creation of databases or other information resources by converting
paper-based information. Similarly, TIIAP will not consider projects
that create new information resources, such as World Wide Web sites,
unless these projects also include specific measures to ensure access
to and use of those resources. Examples of such measures include, but
are not limited to, placement of public access workstations and
provision of training programs.
Hardware or Software Development Projects. While some hardware or
software development may be required
[[Page 7951]]
to integrate existing systems or components, it may not be a major
emphasis of any TIIAP project.
Single-Organization Projects. TIIAP will not support projects whose
primary emphasis is on the internal communications needs of a single
organization. Projects must include appropriate partnerships, with
plans for inter-organizational communications among the partners.
Replacement or Upgrade of Existing Facilities. TIIAP will not
support any projects whose primary emphasis is the upgrade or
replacement of existing facilities.
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 prior policy,
NTIA funds could not be used for any sectarian purposes. 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 relevant
should read the policy that was published at 60 FR 66491, Dec. 22,
1995.
Completeness of Application. TIIAP will initially review all
proposals 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 1996
(Guidelines). Each of the required elements must be present and clearly
identified for the proposal to be reviewed. Incomplete applications
will be rejected.
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:
1. The delinquent account is paid in full;
2. A negotiated repayment schedule is established and at least one
payment is received; or
3. Other arrangements satisfactory to the Department of Commerce
are made.
Program Categories
Introduction. The fiscal year 1996 TIIAP grant program is divided
into three categories: Demonstration projects, Access projects, and
Planning projects. NTIA will award approximately 65% of the funds in
this program to support Demonstration projects, approximately 30% of
the funds to support Access projects, and approximately 5% of the funds
to support Planning projects, unless the quality and/or number of
submissions in any of these categories does not, in NTIA's judgment,
merit the proposed allocation of funds. Proposals will be evaluated and
selected according to specific criteria (see the ``Evaluation
Criteria'' section in this Notice).
Demonstration Projects. The primary goal of Demonstration projects
is to demonstrate new, high-impact, useful applications of information
infrastructure which hold significant potential for replication in
other communities. The projects must deploy, use, and evaluate
innovative applications of information infrastructure to address a
particular problem or set of problems in real-world environments.
Projects selected in this category will have a high potential to serve
as models* for other communities and to demonstrate results within the
grant period.
Demonstration projects must focus on the application of information
technology to specific needs or problems, rather than on the technology
itself. Every application for a Demonstration project must clearly
describe how using information infrastructure is expected to result in
measurably improved outcomes, such as lowering the cost of health care
or improving student performance.
Successful Demonstration applicants must complete their projects
within 12-24 months.
Information on Demonstration projects previously funded by TIIAP
can be retrieved electronically (see the ``Electronic Information''
sub-section in this Notice) or by contacting the TIIAP office.
Applicants are reminded that evaluation criteria for Demonstration
projects change from year to year.
Note: No award in the Demonstration projects category will
exceed $750,000.
Access Projects. The primary goal of Access projects is to provide
underserved* communities, populations, or geographic areas with greater
access to the benefits of the National Information Infrastructure
(NII).* Access projects emphasize serving groups of people who have not
been adequately served in the past and increasing their access to
services and information. Access projects place greater emphasis on
reducing disparities than on innovation. Hence, an Access project may
build on or emulate a successful model which has gained widespread
acceptance in the field.
As is the case with Demonstration projects, the focus of Access
projects is on the application of technology to specific needs or
problems, rather than on technology itself. Every Access application
must clearly describe how using information infrastructure is expected
to result in measurably improved outcomes, such as lowering the cost of
health care or improving student performance.
Successful Access applicants must complete their projects within
12-18 months.
Examples of Access projects that have received funding in the past
are the creation of wide-area networks within school systems or
districts and the provision of Internet access to an isolated group or
population. Information on current Access projects can be retrieved
electronically (see the ``Electronic Information'' sub-section in this
Notice) or by contacting the TIIAP office. Applicants are reminded that
evaluation criteria for Access projects change from year to year.
Note: No award in the Access projects category will exceed
$250,000.
Planning Projects. The primary goal of Planning projects is to
enable organizations, or groups of organizations, to develop strategies
for the enhanced application of information infrastructure. Planning
projects provide opportunities to bring coalitions together to form
firm foundations on which to implement information infrastructure
equitably, to examine the opportunities that investment in information
infrastructure creates, to aggregate demand for telecommunications
services among multiple organizations, and to understand the needs of
potential end users. Planning projects are encouraged for rural or
underserved populations where an enhanced telecommunications
infrastructure could provide greater economic opportunity.
The end result of a Planning project should be a credible plan for
deploying and using information infrastructure and sufficient support
from the community to implement the plan. Proposals in this category
must include clear descriptions of (1) the planning process or
methodology to be employed and (2) the expected outcomes of the
process.
Successful Planning applicants must complete their projects within
9-12 months.
One example of a Planning project that has received funding in the
past is the design, testing, and documentation of a scalable planning
model for a city-wide advanced information
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infrastructure. Another example of a funded Planning project is the
development of a statewide strategic plan for networking state
agencies, educational organizations, industry, health care, and other
public service providers so that opportunities for equitably providing
services to a state's widely dispersed population can be shared.
Information on current Planning projects can be retrieved
electronically (see the ``Electronic Information'' sub-section in this
Notice) or by contacting the TIIAP office. Applicants are reminded that
evaluation criteria for Planning projects change from year to year.
Note: No award in the Planning projects category will exceed
$100,000.
Project Funding Priorities
In fiscal year 1996, TIIAP will support projects in four broad
application groups*: Community-wide Networking, Health, Lifelong
Learning, and Public Services. In all of these groups, TIIAP is
committed to supporting projects that will use the NII to promote
services to, and/or to encourage greater participation in the NII by,
traditionally underserved populations.
Community-wide Networking. These are multi-purpose projects that
allow members of a community to share information resources and improve
communication. Community-wide networking projects must link services or
provide information resources across multiple application groups or
sub-groups. Examples include, but would not be limited to, connecting
local schools with public libraries, connecting local businesses with
job retraining programs, and/or connecting citizens to a variety of
social service programs or information resources.
Health. Projects involving the use of telecommunications in the
delivery of health and mental health services, public health, home
health care, provision of health information to the public, or the
education and training of health professionals. Examples of projects
could include, but would not be limited to: community health
information networks for sharing clinical, financial, and
administrative information among hospitals, clinics, public health
departments, and other organizations; telemedicine systems that extend
medical expertise to underserved areas and/or into the home; and
networks or information services aimed at disease prevention, health
promotion, and health education.
Lifelong Learning. Projects in this group are divided into three
subgroups.
Pre-School and K-12 Education. Projects that bring educational
materials or instruction to pre-school and K-12 students or that permit
those students to participate in educational activities via
telecommunications. Related activities such as professional development
of pre-school and K-12 teachers and administrators also fall within
this sub-group, as do projects that intend to improve the
administration of pre-school and K-12 education.
Higher Education. Projects involving the delivery of college-level
courses (including graduate courses); provision of continuing or adult
education; or activities such as professional development for community
college or university professors or administrators.
Library and Lifelong Learning Services. Projects that bring
information, education, and enrichment services on-line through public
libraries, museums, cultural centers, literacy organizations, or other
non-profit organizations. This sub-group also includes teaching adults
basic literacy and job skills.
Public Services. Projects in this group are divided into two
subgroups.
Human Services. Projects aimed at improving the delivery of
services such as public and subsidized housing, food assistance, child
welfare, day care, substance abuse prevention and counseling, job
counseling and training, poverty relief, legal assistance, or shelter
providing protection from domestic violence. Examples include, but
would not be limited to, networks that facilitate coordination and
collaboration among public and/or community-based organizations;
projects that improve agency responsiveness by providing direct
electronic access to information on available services; and projects
that employ information technology creatively to promote self-
sufficiency among individuals and families.
Public Safety. Projects aimed at increasing the effectiveness of
police and fire departments or other entities involved in providing
public safety services. Examples may include those that link public
safety agencies located in a single geographic area to increase
efficiency and share resources, or those that provide information in a
timely manner to ``first-response officials,'' such as police officers,
emergency medical technicians, and firefighters. Other projects might
link agencies with information resources, or provide community outreach
services, regarding safety issues and procedures.
TIIAP will also support projects that promote the accessibility and
usability of the NII for persons with disabilities. Such projects are
expected to fit into one of the four broad application groups described
above.
The Guidelines booklet provides more information on selecting a
group and/or subgroup for your application.
Evaluation Criteria
Demonstration projects will be evaluated against nine criteria.
While each criterion is weighted equally, the following three criteria
are qualifying criteria. Demonstration project applicants must fully
meet each qualifying criterion. If an application is deemed inadequate
on any one of these, it will be not be further evaluated.
1. Problem Definition
2. Technical Approach
3. Ability to Serve as a Model
Projects judged to be qualified will then be fully evaluated on all
nine criteria, which include the following additional six criteria.
4. Applicant Qualifications
5. Partnerships and Community Support
6. Support for End Users
7. Evaluation and Dissemination
8. Reducing Disparities in Access to and Use of the NII
9. Budget
Access projects will also be evaluated against nine criteria. While
each criterion is weighted equally, the following two criteria are
qualifying criteria. Access project applicants must fully meet both
qualifying criteria. If an application is deemed inadequate on either
of them, it will not be further evaluated.
1. Problem Definition
2. Reducing Disparities in Access to and Use of the NII
Projects judged to be qualified will then be fully evaluated on all
nine criteria, which include the following additional seven criteria.
3. Technical Approach
4. Applicant Qualifications
5. Partnerships and Community Support
6. Support for End Users
7. Evaluation and Dissemination
8. Sustainability
9. Budget
Planning projects will be evaluated against seven criteria. While
each criterion is weighted equally, the following two criteria are
qualifying criteria. Planning project applicants must fully meet both
qualifying criteria. If an application is deemed inadequate on either
of them, it will not be further evaluated.
1. Problem Definition
2. Partnerships and Community Support
Projects judged to be qualified will then be fully evaluated on all
seven criteria, which include the following additional five criteria.
3. Reducing Disparities in Access to and Use of the NII
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4. Applicant Qualifications
5. Support for End Users
6. Evaluation and Dissemination
7. Budget
Explanations of Evaluation Criteria
1. Problem Definition. Applicants must clearly link the proposed
project to a specific problem or problems in one or more of the
application groups or sub-groups described in the ``Project Funding
Priorities'' section in this Notice.
The need(s) or problem(s) to be addressed should be thoroughly
documented, including end-user demographics and target audiences to be
served. Applicants must explain how the use of advanced
telecommunications and information technology will contribute to the
solution of the problem(s) and identify the clear and measurable
results expected as an outcome of the project. The scope of the project
must meet TIIAP eligibility criteria (see the ``Eligibility'' section
in this Notice).
For example, health care providers in rural areas may be required
to spend a disproportionate amount of time in travel to visit homebound
patients, when the time could be better spent interacting with patients
or upgrading their skills. Using an interactive video system to meet
with patients and to take continuing medical education courses could
reduce the travel time burden, improving the efficiency of health care
delivery and making it possible for nurses to develop new skills cost-
effectively.
2. Technical Approach. TIIAP defines technical quality as the
application of appropriate information technology consistent with the
vision of a nationwide, seamless, interactive network of networks, not
as innovation for its own sake. Therefore, a project proposed to TIIAP
must demonstrate a knowledge of, and a realistic approach to, issues of
interoperability* and scalability.* It is essential that the proposal
be specific about how the proposed system would work, how the proposed
system would operate with other systems, and how the system would be
maintained and/or upgraded as needed.
NTIA expects applicants to consider carefully safeguards to protect
the privacy of the end users and beneficiaries* of the project. It is
essential that the proposal address the privacy and confidentiality of
user data if this is relevant. For example, an applicant proposing a
project dealing with individually identifiable information (student
grades, medical records, etc.) will be required to describe the
mechanism(s) to be used for protecting the confidentiality of such
information and the privacy of the individuals involved.
3. Applicant Qualifications. Applicants must present evidence of
qualifications and experience essential to the successful completion of
the project. The applicant should clearly describe the experience of
its key project personnel in addressing information- and technology-
related issues. The applicant should also describe the qualifications
of project partners.
4. Partnerships and Community Support. Proposals must provide
evidence of public and/or private sector support and involvement. The
extent to which applicants have included diverse sectors of the
community in project design and development will be considered an
integral part of the proposal. Applicants are also expected to
coordinate with other entities in their states. A proposal should
present a clear discussion of who the partners will be, what their
respective roles in the project will be, what benefits each expects to
receive, and what each partner will contribute to the project in the
form of financial support, personnel, or other resources. In addition,
applicants must provide documentation of the partners' commitment to
the project, including letters of commitment from the partners to the
applicant describing their roles and contributions.
5. Support for End Users. Projects supported by TIIAP must
demonstrate a high degree of attention to the needs, skills, working
conditions, and living environments of the targeted end users.
Applicants must clearly define the end users, including demographic or
other statistical information. Plans for training end users and/or
upgrading their skills must be clearly delineated. Applicants should
explain clearly how the project will provide end users with easily
accessible, useful information, and how end users will benefit from the
services offered. Proposals should include evidence of a significant
degree of end-user involvement in the design and planning of projects.
6. Evaluation and Dissemination. Every project proposed to TIIAP
must present a clearly defined evaluation plan with specific criteria
for measuring the effectiveness of the project in reaching its intended
audience and in improving outcomes. The applicant must identify
specific evaluation instruments to be employed for this purpose. The
proposed budget should include sufficient funds to perform a thorough
and useful evaluation. In conjunction with the evaluation strategy,
TIIAP will review the applicant's plan for disseminating the knowledge
gained as a result of implementing the project. Applicants should
demonstrate a willingness to share information about their projects
with interested parties, to host site visits, and to participate in
technology demonstrations.
7. Reducing Disparities in Access to and Use of the NII. The
applicant must identify existing disparities, supported by specific
quantitative data, and must clearly describe a plan to redress these
disparities. The applicant must be sensitive to and take into
consideration the local environment of a traditionally underserved
population in developing a targeted strategy to overcoming existing
barriers. For example, unique sharing arrangements or innovative
strategies may be proposed to redress disparities in access.
Additionally, the applicant must clearly define the project's
beneficiaries; in so doing, the applicant should include demographic
and other data as appropriate.
8. Budget. The applicant must fully explain each budget item,
including both the Federal and the non-Federal shares of the total
project cost, in the manner outlined in the Guidelines. Reviewers will
closely examine the degree to which the proposed budget is reasonable
in relation to the scope of the project. The budget must be reasonable
for the tasks proposed, and the relationship of items in the budget to
the project narrative must be clearly drawn.
9. Ability to Serve as a Model. (Applicable only to Demonstration
projects.) Demonstration projects must show a strong potential to serve
as a model for others to follow. These projects should be innovative,
not necessarily in terms of the technology to be used, but in the
application of technology in a particular setting, to serve a
particular population, or to solve a particular problem. Demonstration
applicants must explain the degree to which the projects can be
replicated, or can serve as catalysts for activities, in other settings
or for other populations. Because of this requirement that a
Demonstration project show the potential for applicability in other
contexts, reviewers will also examine the economic viability of the
proposed model. Demonstration applicants must also explain how the
impact of their projects can extend beyond the scope of the original
activity funded by TIIAP. For example, the project's innovative
application of a particular technology may stimulate the creation of a
market for products and services based on that technology. In addition,
the program
[[Page 7954]]
will examine whether a subsequent evaluation of the project can
contribute significantly to our understanding of how the NII can be
used to improve the delivery of a wide range of social services and
promote economic development.
10. Sustainability. (Applicable only to Access projects.) The
applicant must clearly describe a credible plan for sustaining the
project beyond the period of Federal funding. Such a plan should
include discussion of anticipated ongoing expenses and potential
sources or mechanisms for securing needed funds. In evaluating the
plan, reviewers will consider the economic circumstances of the
community or communities to be served by the proposed project.
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.
Each eligible application will first 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 evaluation criteria
provided in this Notice and make non-binding recommendations to the
program staff. Working with the staff, the TIIAP Director prepares a
slate of recommended grant awards for the Selection Official, who is
the NTIA Administrator.
In making recommendations, the Director will consider the following
selection factors:
1. The evaluations of the outside reviewers;
2. The geographic distribution of the proposed grant awards;
3. The variety of technologies employed by the proposed grant
awards;
4. The extent to which the proposed grant awards represent a
reasonable distribution of funds across application groups and sub-
groups;
5. The promotion of access to and use of the information
infrastructure for underserved groups;
6. Avoidance of redundancy and conflicts with the initiatives of
other Federal agencies; and
7. The availability of funds.
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 program's stated purposes as set forth
in the section entitled ``Program Purposes.'' 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. 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 Director's
recommendations and the degree to which the slate of applications,
taken as a whole, satisfies the program's stated purposes upon the
conclusion of negotiations.
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
CFR Part 74. If included in the approved project budget, TIIAP will
allow costs for personnel, fringe benefits, computer hardware and
software, other end-user equipment, telecommunication services and
related equipment, consultants and other contractual services, travel,
rental of office equipment, furniture and space, supplies, etc. that
are reasonable and directly related to the project. Construction costs
are not eligible.
Note that costs that are ineligible for TIIAP support may not be
included as part of the applicant's matching fund contribution.
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 prior to the proposed effective date of the award or 100 percent
of the total proposed direct costs dollar amount in the application,
whichever is less.
Award Period
Successful applicants for Demonstration grants will have between 12
and 24 months to complete their projects. Successful applicants for
Access grants will have between 12 and 18 months to complete their
projects. Successful applicants for Planning grants will have between 9
and 12 months to complete their projects. The completion time will vary
depending on the complexity of the project.
Other Information
Electronic Information. Information about NTIA and TIIAP, including
this document and the Guidelines, can be retrieved electronically via
the Internet through ftp, gopher and the World Wide Web.
To reach the ftp server, ftp to ftp.ntia.doc.gov. Use the login
name of `anonymous' and use your E-mail address as the password. Change
to the /pub/grantinfo directory to find TIIAP files.
To reach the gopher server, point your gopher client at
gopher.ntia.doc.gov and login as `gopher'.
To reach the www server, use http://www.ntia.doc.gov/tiiap/
tiiap.html to reach the TIIAP Home Page.
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, which can be obtained by contacting NTIA by telephone, fax,
or electronic mail, as described in the `Address' section above. TIIAP
requires 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. 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 page 39 of the
Guidelines.)
Because of the high level of public interest in projects supported
by TIIAP, the program anticipates receiving requests for copies of
applications. Applicants are hereby notified that the applications they
submit are subject to the Freedom of Information Act. Applicants may
identify sensitive information and label it ``confidential'' to assist
NTIA in making disclosure determinations.
Type of Funding Instrument. The funding instrument for awards under
this program shall be a grant.
Authority and Funding Availability. The National Telecommunications
and Information Administration (NTIA), Department of Commerce, serves
as the President's principal adviser on
[[Page 7955]]
telecommunications and information policy. NTIA's functions were
codified as part of the Telecommunications Authorization Act of 1992,
Pub. L. No. 102-538, 106 Stat. 3533, 47 U.S.C. Secs. 901-04 (1993).
Anticipated Funding. NTIA issues this Notice subject to the
authority of the continuing resolution (P.L. 104-99). NTIA anticipates
making grant awards provided that funding for TIIAP is continued beyond
the March 15, 1996, expiration date of the continuing resolution. This
continuing resolution includes $21.5 million for TIIAP. Issuance of
grants is subject to the availability of FY 1996 funds. Further notice
will be made in the Federal Register about the final status of funding
for this program at the appropriate time.
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 or NTIA 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.
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:
1. Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension--Prospective
participants (as defined at 15 CFR Part 26, Section 105) are subject to
15 CFR Part 26, ``Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension'' and the
related section of the certification form prescribed above applies;
2. Drug-Free Workplace--Grantees (as defined at 15 CFR Part 26,
Section 605) are subject to 15 CFR Part 26, Subpart F, ``Governmentwide
Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Grants)'' and the related section
of the certification form prescribed above applies;
3. Anti-Lobbying--Persons (as defined at 15 CFR 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
4. 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 CFR part 28, Appendix B.
Lower Tier Certifications. Recipients shall require applicants/
bidders for 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 a
significant rule under Executive Order 12866.
Definitions
Application group or sub-group. The specific sector whose problems
or issues a proposed project addresses. The application groups and sub-
groups are described in the section on ``Project Funding Priorities''
in this Notice.
Content development. 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.
End user. A person 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.
Grant. Financial assistance award authorized by law to support
autonomous projects or activities of state or local governments, or
non-profit groups. This term does not include direct United States
government cash assistance to an individual, a subsidy, a loan, a loan
guarantee, or insurance.
Information infrastructure. The 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.
Interactivity. 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.
Interoperability. The condition achieved among information and
communication systems when information (i.e., data, voice, image,
audio, or video) can be easily and cost-effectively shared across
acquisition, transmission, and presentation technologies, equipment,
and services.
Model. A project that employs a novel, innovative, and replicable
approach. The ultimate impact of a model project should extend far
beyond
[[Page 7956]]
the community or communities to be served by the project itself.
National Information Infrastructure (NII). 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).
Project beneficiary. Individual or organization deriving benefits
from a project's outcome(s). A project beneficiary may also, but not
necessarily, be a project end user.
Scalability. The ability of a system to accommodate a significant
growth in the size of the system (i.e., services provided, end users
served) without the need for substantial redesign. A scalable approach
that is demonstrated on a small scale can also be applied on a larger
scale.
Underserved. End users who are subject to barriers that limit or
prevent their access to either social services or information
infrastructure. In terms of information infrastructure, these barriers
may be geographic, economic, physical, linguistic, or cultural. For
example, a rural community may be physically isolated from circuits
adequate to allow for data access; inner city neighborhoods may contain
large numbers of potential end users for whom ownership of computer
hardware is unlikely; individuals with disabilities may have the need
for different types of interfaces when manipulating hardware and
software.
Larry Irving,
Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information.
[FR Doc. 96-4642 Filed 2-28-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-60-P
