To
promote the widespread use and availability of advanced telecommunications
and information technologies in the public and nonprofit 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 citizens, in
rural areas as well as urban areas.
TYPES
OF ASSISTANCE:
Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES
AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
Through TOP, NTIA provides
underserved communities with opportunities to explore the possibilities
that emerging digital network technologies offer to solve critical
challenges in such areas as lifelong learning, community and economic
development, government and public services, safety, health, culture,
and the arts. TOP projects demonstrate creative uses of digital
network technologies to address pressing needs in the public and
non-profit sectors. Therefore, TOP expects each applicant to present
a clear vision and a workable plan to apply digital network technologies
to address specific challenges in their communities. Rather than
simply requesting funds to build capacity or upgrade existing equipment,
each application should describe a project that pinpoints specific
problems, proposes creative solutions, and postulates measureable
outcomes.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant Eligibility:
All non-profit entities (including, but not limited to, faith-based
organizations, national organizations and associations, non-profit
community-based organizations, non-profit health care providers,
schools, libraries, museums, colleges, universities, public safety
providers) and state, local, and tribal governments are eligible
to apply. Although individuals and for-profit organizations are
not eligible to apply, they are encouraged to participate as project
partners.
Beneficiary Eligibility:
General Public.
Credentials/Documentation:
Applicants must certify that the organization is in compliance
or will comply with the Department of Commerce assurances included
in the standard application.
Pre-application
Coordination: Program staff members are available
to provide technical and other assistance in preparing application
forms. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental
Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office
or official designated as the single point of contact in his or
her State for more information on the process the State requires
to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected
the program for review.
Application Procedure:
The standard application forms as approved by OMB and provided
by NTIA must be used for this program, including the Standard
Form 424 (Rev 4-92) and the required certifications.
Award Procedure:
Applications are reviewed on the basis of funding criteria as
established in the Notice of Availability of Funds. The Administrator
of NTIA may select an application for funding, in whole or in
part, and will notify the applicant of final decisions.
Deadlines:
The NTIA Administrator shall select and publish in the Federal
Register the date by which new applications must be filed in order
to be considered for funding in the referenced fiscal year. For
fiscal year 2002, the deadline for filing applications was March
21, 2002.
Range of Approval/Disapproval
Time: Awards for the fiscal year will generally
be announced within 180 days from the filing of an application.
Appeals:
All awards decisions are final. There is no administrative appeal
process.
Renewals:
Not applicable.
ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula and Matching
Requirements: 47 U.S.C. 392 (b) and (c). The
Administrator will provide up to 50 percent of the total project
costs, unless extraordinary circumstances warrant a grant of up
to 75 percent. A project will not be considered grantable unless
the applicant can document a capacity both to supply matching funds,
and to sustain the project beyond the period of the award.
Length and Time Phasing
of Assistance: Successful applicants will
have between one and three years to complete the project as specified
in the award document. The actual time will vary depending on
the complexity of any particular project. Extensions may be requested
in writing if circumstances require additional time, and extensions
must be approved by the Grants Officer. Financial assistance is
generally released as required during the award period.
POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports:
Financial and progress reports are to be submitted in accordance
with the terms and conditions of the award, and are due on quarterly
basis.
Audits:
Audits will be conducted in accordance with the terms and conditions
of the award and OMB Circular No. A-133, Audits of States, Local
Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations. In accordance with the
provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133, (Revised, June 24, 1997),
"Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations,"
nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $300,000
or more in Federal Awards will have a single or a program-specific
audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend
less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal
audit requirements for the year, except as noted in Circular No.
A-133.
Records:
All financial and programmatic records, supporting documents,
statistical reports, and other records of recipients or subrecipients
must be maintained in accordance with the terms of the award.
Generally, the recipient must retain records for three years from
the date on which the final expenditure report is submitted.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION:
Account Identification:
13-0552-0-1-503.
Obligations:
(Grants) FY 02 $12,414,042; FY 03 est $0; and FY 04 est $0.
Range
and Average of Financial Assistance:
$241,185 to $705,000. Average: $496,562.
In fiscal year 2002, NTIA
received 741 applications requesting $353 million, and the program
awarded 25 grants totaling $12.4 million.
REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND
LITERATURE:
Written requests to the
Director, Technology Opportunities Program, will obtain application
package containing the Notice of Availability of Funds, application
forms and guidelines. Cost will be determined in accordance with
OMB Circular Nos. A-21 for institutions of higher education, A-87
for State, Local, and Indian Tribal Governments, and with A-122
for nonprofit organizations. Grants management will be in accordance
with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-110 for institutions of
higher educations, other nonprofit organizations, and for-profit
organizations; and 15 CFR Part 24 for State and local governments.
INFORMATION CONTACTS:
Regional or Local
Office: None.
Headquarters Office:
Mr. Stephen Downs, Director, Technology Opportunities Program,
Office of Telecommunications and Information Applications/NTIA,
Room 4092, Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW.,
Washington, DC 20230. Telephone: (202) 482-2048.
Web Site Address: http://www.ntia.doc.gov/top
EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:
1) The University of California-Los
Angeles, Neighborhood Knowledge California Telecommunication Project
is assembling a wide variety of public and private databases to
expand opportunities for home ownership through fair housing and
lending research, education, and policy development; 2) the City
of Chicago, Illinois, Greenhouse Project is developing a model for
reducing radio frequency congestion and increasing interoperability
among urban public safety responders by using broadband wireless
technology; and 3)Ekklesia Development Corp, Cincinnati, Project
GILEAD is developing the nation's first online service linking faith-based
human service providers and their clientele in Cincinnati, Ohio.
CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:
In determining whether
to approve an application, in whole or in part, and the amount of
such grant, the Administrator will consider the project's conformance
with the program purposes and funding criteria set forth in the
appropriations legislation and the Notice of Availability of Funds.
