Opportunity Information: Apply for 2012RNTA
Apply for 2012RNTA
- The Economic Development Administration in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2012 Evaluation Project to Assess Best Practices in EDAs University Center Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.312 Research and Evaluation Program.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 2, 2012 and posted on Jul 2, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 2, 2012. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $300,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education County governments Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) State governments Public and State controlled institutions of higher education City or township governments Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Private institutions of higher education.
- Pursuant to section 3 of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3122) (PWEDA) (and EDA s regulation at 13 C.F.R. 300.3, only the following types of entities are eligible to receive funding assistance from EDA 1. District Organizations (as defined in 13 C.F.R. 300.3) 2. Indian Tribes or a consortium of Indian Tribes 3. States, cities, or other political subdivisions of a state, including a special purpose unit of a state or local government engaged in economic or infrastructure development activities, or a consortium of political subdivisions 4. Institutions of higher education or a consortium of institutions of higher education or 5. Public or private non profit organizations or associations acting in cooperation with officials of a political subdivision of a state.
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Opportunity Summary:
The FY 2012 Evaluation Project to Assess Best Practices in EDA's University Center Program (Funding Opportunity Number 2012RNTA) was a discretionary grant competition run by the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) under its Research and Evaluation Program (CFDA 11.312). The purpose of the award was to fund a single evaluation effort focused specifically on EDA-funded University Centers (UCs). In practical terms, EDA was looking for an applicant that could take a program-wide view of the UC portfolio and produce credible, usable findings about what these centers do, what characteristics matter most, and which activities deliver the strongest regional economic development results.
The project scope emphasized three core tasks. First, the evaluator was expected to review and document the key attributes of EDA-funded University Centers, essentially describing the features, structures, approaches, and operating models found across UC recipients. Second, the evaluator needed to assess which types of UC activities have the greatest impact, meaning the work should go beyond description and attempt to distinguish higher-impact activities from lower-impact ones (for example, different categories of technical assistance, applied research, convening, entrepreneurship support, innovation initiatives, workforce and industry partnerships, or regional planning support, depending on how UC activities were categorized in the evaluation design). Third, the project was expected to identify best practices that could be shared with policymakers and practitioners, with the explicit goal of helping audiences better understand the UC program's broad contribution to regional economic development efforts and to improve decision-making and program effectiveness going forward.
In terms of funding, EDA anticipated making one award, with a maximum federal funding level (award ceiling) of $300,000. The opportunity required cost sharing or matching, so applicants needed to plan for a non-federal contribution consistent with EDA requirements rather than relying solely on federal funds. While the announcement excerpt does not detail the match percentage, the presence of a matching requirement signals that applicants had to demonstrate both financial commitment and the ability to support the evaluation with additional resources.
Eligibility was broad but tied to EDA's statutory and regulatory framework under the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (PWEDA) and EDA regulations at 13 C.F.R. 300.3. Entities eligible for EDA assistance include: district organizations; federally recognized Indian tribes (or consortia of tribes); states, cities, and other political subdivisions (including special purpose units engaged in economic or infrastructure development, or consortia of political subdivisions); institutions of higher education (or consortia); and public or private nonprofit organizations acting in cooperation with officials of a political subdivision of a state. The listing of eligible applicants also included various government levels (state, county, city/township), public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, federally recognized tribal governments, and nonprofit organizations (including those with or without 501(c)(3) status, with the key caveat that eligibility ultimately hinges on meeting the PWEDA and EDA regulatory definitions and cooperation requirements).
The timeline for the competition was straightforward. The opportunity was posted on July 2, 2012, with an application deadline (original and current closing date) of August 2, 2012. The archive date was September 1, 2012, indicating when the listing was formally moved to an archived status after the competition window closed.
For applicant support and access issues, EDA provided a direct point of contact: Jack Cobb, reachable by phone at 202-482-0951 or via email at RNTA@eda.gov. This contact information was specifically intended to help applicants who had difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, but it also signals where prospective applicants could route procedural questions about the competition.
Overall, this grant opportunity was designed less as an implementation or service-delivery award and more as a research-and-evaluation engagement: a focused, time-bound effort to analyze a federal economic development support program (the University Center program), generate evidence about which UC approaches are most effective, and translate those findings into best practices that EDA, regional stakeholders, and practitioners could use to strengthen economic development strategy and outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "FY 2012 Evaluation Project to Assess Best Practices in EDA's University Center Program" and it is identified by Funding Opportunity Number (FON) 2012RNTA.
Which federal agency offered this opportunity?
This was a discretionary grant competition run by the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA).
What program is this competition associated with?
The competition was offered under EDA's Research and Evaluation Program, listed as CFDA 11.312.
What is the overall purpose of the award?
The purpose was to fund a single evaluation effort focused specifically on EDA-funded University Centers (UCs), producing credible and usable findings about what these centers do, which characteristics matter most, and which activities deliver the strongest regional economic development results.
Was this meant to fund services or projects delivered by University Centers?
No. This opportunity was described as a research-and-evaluation engagement rather than an implementation or service-delivery award. The goal was to evaluate the University Center program across the portfolio and translate findings into best practices.
How many awards did EDA plan to make?
EDA anticipated making one award.
What was the maximum federal funding amount (award ceiling)?
The maximum federal funding level was $300,000.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. The opportunity required cost sharing or matching, meaning applicants needed to plan for a non-federal contribution consistent with EDA requirements rather than relying solely on federal funds.
Is the match percentage stated in the provided information?
No. The excerpt indicates that matching was required but does not specify the match percentage.
What type of work did the evaluator need to perform?
The scope emphasized three core tasks: (1) review and document key attributes of EDA-funded University Centers; (2) assess which types of UC activities have the greatest impact (moving beyond description to distinguish higher-impact activities from lower-impact ones); and (3) identify best practices to share with policymakers and practitioners to improve understanding, decision-making, and program effectiveness.
What does "review and document key attributes" of University Centers mean in this context?
It refers to describing the features, structures, approaches, and operating models found across UC recipients, taking a program-wide view of the UC portfolio.
What does "assess which types of UC activities have the greatest impact" mean?
It means the evaluation was expected to go beyond describing activities and attempt to differentiate activities that produce stronger regional economic development results from those that produce weaker results, based on how UC activities were categorized in the evaluation design.
What kinds of University Center activities were mentioned as examples that could be assessed?
Examples mentioned include technical assistance, applied research, convening, entrepreneurship support, innovation initiatives, workforce and industry partnerships, and regional planning support (depending on the evaluation design).
What is meant by "best practices" in this opportunity?
Best practices refer to practical, shareable lessons about effective University Center characteristics and activities that could be used by policymakers and practitioners to strengthen the UC program and regional economic development efforts.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was broad but tied to EDA's statutory and regulatory framework under the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (PWEDA) and EDA regulations at 13 C.F.R. 300.3.
Which types of entities were listed as eligible for EDA assistance?
Eligible entities included district organizations; federally recognized Indian tribes (or consortia of tribes); states, cities, and other political subdivisions (including special purpose units engaged in economic or infrastructure development, or consortia of political subdivisions); institutions of higher education (or consortia); and public or private nonprofit organizations acting in cooperation with officials of a political subdivision of a state.
Do nonprofits need to have 501(c)(3) status to be eligible based on the provided information?
The listing referenced nonprofit organizations including those with or without 501(c)(3) status, with the key caveat that eligibility ultimately depends on meeting PWEDA and EDA regulatory definitions and cooperation requirements.
Are private institutions of higher education included in the eligibility description?
Yes. The eligibility listing included both public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education.
Are tribal governments included in the eligibility description?
Yes. Federally recognized tribal governments were included, and the description also referenced federally recognized Indian tribes or consortia of tribes.
Are local governments included in the eligibility description?
Yes. The listing included states, counties, and cities/townships, as well as other political subdivisions and consortia of political subdivisions.
What legal and regulatory authorities governed eligibility?
Eligibility was governed by PWEDA (the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965) and EDA regulations at 13 C.F.R. 300.3.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on July 2, 2012.
What was the application deadline?
The application deadline (original and current closing date) was August 2, 2012.
What does the archive date indicate?
The archive date (September 1, 2012) indicates when the listing was formally moved to an archived status after the competition window closed.
Who was the point of contact for applicant support?
The point of contact was Jack Cobb.
How could applicants contact the point of contact?
Applicants could reach Jack Cobb by phone at 202-482-0951 or by email at RNTA@eda.gov.
What types of issues was the contact information intended to help with?
The contact information was specifically intended to help applicants who had difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, and it also indicated where prospective applicants could direct procedural questions about the competition.
What is the intended audience for the evaluation findings?
The findings and best practices were intended to be shared with policymakers and practitioners, helping audiences understand the UC program's contribution to regional economic development and supporting improved decision-making and program effectiveness.
What does it mean that EDA wanted a "program-wide view" of the University Center portfolio?
It means the evaluator was expected to look across EDA-funded University Centers as a whole, rather than focusing on only one center, and to produce portfolio-level insights about attributes, activities, and impacts.
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