Copyright State Science & Technology Institute 2002. Information in this issue of the SSTI Weekly Digest was prepared under a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration. Redistribution to all others interested in tech-based economic development is strongly encouraged — please cite the State Science & Technology Institute whenever portions are reproduced or redirected. Any opinions expressed in the Digest do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
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HOUSE ACTS ON COMMERCE PROGRAMS
The sunset provision on Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) centers would be removed under authorizing language approved by the U.S. House of Representatives last week. The action came in authorization language for key U.S. Department of Commerce and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) programs.Currently MEP centers are restricted to six years of federal funding. Centers that have reached the six year sunset have been granted extensions on a case by case basis through Congressional action. Under the House language, those extensions would no longer be necessary.
The bill did not authorize funding for the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Technology (EPSCoT), a new program to be administered by the Technology Administration.
The bill also authorizes, as shown in the table below, less funding for programs than the Clinton Administration requested in its budget proposal.
FY97Spending
FY98 Admin
Request
FY98 House
Authorization
Difference between
Admin & House
TA 10 9 7 -22% MEP 95 125 118 -6% ATP 225 275 185 -33%
TA=Technology AdministrationMEP=Manufacturing Extension Partnership
ATP=Advanced Technology Program
The House action was language authorizing action, not appropriating funds. Separate action by the House Appropriations Committee and then the full House is required to appropriate the funds for the programs. As a result, final appropriations approved by the House should be different than is contained in the authorization language. Additionally, not having authorizing language, as in EPSCoT's case, would not necessarily prevent the program from being created.
TELEMEDICINE OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE FOR RURAL AREAS
Two opportunities for rural outreach programs were recently announced.
RURAL TELEMEDICINE GRANTS
The Office of Rural Health Policy, Health Resources and Services Administration, is accepting grant applications to assist in the development of rural health care networks through the use of telemedicine. The goal of this program is to "improve access to quality health services for rural residents and reduce the isolation of rural practitioners through the use of telemedicine technologies."Eleven projects were funded in FY 1994 for a period of three years. Approximately $4 million is available in FY 1997 and the Office of Rural Health Policy expects to make 10-14 new awards. Individual grants will be limited to $400,000 (including direct and indirect costs) per year, for up to three years.
Eligible applicants include health care providers or consortia of health care providers. The grant recipient must be a public (non-federal) or private non-profit entity. Other members of the network may be public, federal, or private and profit or non-profit.
To compete for the program, applicants must participate in a telemedicine network that includes at least three members: a facility located in an urban or rural area that can provide 24-hour-a-day access to a range of specialty health care and at least two rural health facilities. The rural health facilities may include hospitals with fewer than 100 staffed beds, physicians offices, health clinics, community health centers, and nursing homes.
Applications are due June 20. To receive an application kit, call the Grants Application Center - toll-free - at 1-888-300-HRSA.
DISTANCE LEARNING AND TELEMEDICINE GRANT PROGRAM
The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is proposing to amend its regulations concerning the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant program, and is seeking comments. RUS proposes to expand the program to also become a loan program in addition to providing grants.The program helps rural schools and health care providers invest in telecommunications and computer networks linked to educational and/or medical resources that might otherwise be unavailable. Under the existing grant program, RUS funded 90 projects in 39 states between FY 1993 and FY 1995.
The proposed regulation will establish, among other things, the method of selecting projects, allocation of funds, and requirements for submitting applications. RUS estimates that, by allowing the flexibility to offer loans and grants, between 30 and 50 grants and 100 and 120 loans (or combination grant and loan) could be awarded annually.
Written comments must be postmarked no later than May 16. The proposed rule can be viewed on the Institute's home page at http://www.ssti.org For further information contact Barbara L. Eddy, Deputy Assistant Administrator, at 202/ 720-9554.
NASA SELECTS 14 MORE SBIR PHASE II AWARDS
NASA has selected 14 more proposals for contract negotiations for Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) awards. The proposals have a total value of approximately $8.4 million. The projects will be undertaken by 13 companies located in nine states.These awards are in addition to 170 Phase II awards announced last October (see SSTI Weekly Digest, October 4, 1996). The proposals were selected from 277 that were submitted. Funding for the awards may be up to $600,000 over two years.
The nine states with companies receiving awards and the total number of awards by state are: California (4), Florida (2), New Hampshire (2), Connecticut (1), Iowa (1), New York (1), Texas (1), Virginia (1), and Wisconsin (1).
Firm names, project titles, and other information on the awards can be found at http://gsfc.nasa.gov/SBIR/ addstates.htm or by calling SSTI at 614/421-SSTI (7784).
CORRECTION
In the April 18, 1997 edition of the SSTI Weekly Digest, we reported on Congressional earmarks for research projects involving specific universities. The totals for six states were incorrect and, as a result, the rankings for five states were also incorrect.
Hawaii should have been reported as receiving $99,241,000 in earmarks; Pennsylvania as receiving $42,185,000; Texas as receiving $20,553,000; Alabama as receiving $19,900,000; and, Illinois as receiving $8,025,000.
New York should have been ranked as 10, New Mexico as 11, Texas as 12, Alabama as 13, and Minnesota as 14.
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