[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 122 (Monday, June 27, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-15505]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: June 27, 1994]


_______________________________________________________________________

Part III





Department of Education





_______________________________________________________________________



American Overseas Research Centers; Grants and Cooperative Agreements; 
Availability, etc.; Notice
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[CFDA No.: 84.274]

 

American Overseas Research Centers; Notice Inviting Applications 
for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 1994

    Note to Applicants: This notice is a complete application package. 
Together with the statute authorizing the program and the Education 
Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), the notice 
contains all of the information, application forms, and instructions 
needed to apply for a grant under this competition.
    Purpose of the Program: To provide grants to eligible consortia to 
establish or operate overseas research centers that promote 
postgraduate research, exchanges, and area studies.
    Eligible Applicants: Consortia of U.S. institutions of higher 
education.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: August 8, 1994.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: September 8, 1994.
    Available Funds: $500,000.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $50,000-$100,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $98,500.
    Estimated Number of Awards: Five.

    Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this 
notice.

    Project Period: Up to 36 months.

Applicable Regulations

    The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) 
as follows:
    (1) 34 CFR Part 74 (Administration of Grants to Institutions of 
Higher Education, Hospitals, and Nonprofit Organizations).
    (2) 34 CFR Part 75 (Direct Grant Programs).
    (3) 34 CFR Part 77 (Definitions that Apply to Department 
Regulations).
    (4) 34 CFR Part 79 (Intergovernmental Review of Department of 
Education Programs and Activities).
    (5) 34 CFR Part 82 (New Restrictions on Lobbying).
    (6) 34 CFR Part 85 (Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension 
(Nonprocurement) and Governmentwide Requirements for Drug-Free 
Workplace (Grants)).
    (7) 34 CFR Part 86 (Drug-Free Schools and Campuses).
    Description of Program: The Secretary shall only award grants to 
support centers that (1) receive more than 50 percent of their funding 
from public or private United States sources; (2) have a permanent 
presence in the country in which the center is located; and (3) are 
organizations described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986, which are exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of 
the Code.
    Grants may be used to pay all or a portion of the cost of 
establishing or operating a center or program, including the cost of 
faculty and staff stipends and salaries, faculty, staff and student 
travel, the operation and maintenance of overseas facilities, the cost 
of teaching and research materials, the cost of acquisition, 
maintenance and preservation of library collections, the cost of 
bringing visiting scholars and faculty to a center to teach or to 
conduct research, the cost of organizing and managing conferences, and 
the cost of publication and dissemination of material for the scholarly 
and general public.

Selection Criteria

    (a) (1) The Secretary uses the following selection criteria to 
evaluate applications for new grants under this competition.
    (2) The maximum score for all of these criteria is 100 points.
    (3) The maximum score for each criterion is indicated in 
parentheses.
    The regulations in 34 CFR 75.210 (a) and (c) provide that the 
Secretary may award up to 100 points for the selection criteria, 
including distribution of an additional 15 points. For this 
competition, the Secretary distributes the 15 additional points as 
follows: 3 points to selection criterion 34 CFR 75.210(b)(4) (Quality 
of key personnel) for a possible total of 10 points; 10 points to 
selection criterion 34 CFR 75.210(b)(5) (Budget and cost effectiveness) 
for a possible total of 15 points; and 2 points to selection criterion 
34 CFR 75.210(b)(7) (Adequacy of resources) for a possible total of 
five points.
    (b) The criteria--(1) Meeting the purposes of the authorizing 
statute. (30 points) The Secretary reviews each application to 
determine how well the project will meet the purpose of the American 
Overseas Research Centers program, including consideration of--
    (i) The objectives of the project; and
    (ii) How the objectives of the project further the purposes of the 
American Overseas Research Centers program.
    (2) Extent of need for the project. (20 points) The Secretary 
reviews each application to determine the extent to which the project 
meets specific needs recognized in Title VI of the Higher Education Act 
of 1965, as amended, including consideration of--
    (i) The needs addressed by the project;
    (ii) How the applicant identified those needs;
    (iii) How those needs will be met by the project; and
    (iv) The benefits to be gained by meeting those needs.
    (3) Plan of operation. (15 points) The Secretary reviews each 
application to determine the quality of the plan of operation for the 
project, including--
    (i) The quality of the design of the project;
    (ii) The extent to which the plan of management is effective and 
ensures proper and efficient administration of the project;
    (iii) How well the objectives of the project relate to the purpose 
of the program;
    (iv) The quality of the applicant's plan to use its resources and 
personnel to achieve each objective;
    (v) How the applicant will ensure that project participants who are 
otherwise eligible to participate are selected without regard to race, 
color, national origin, gender, age, or handicapping condition; and
    (4) Quality of key personnel. (10 points)
    (i) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the quality 
of key personnel the applicant plans to use on the project, including--
    (A) The qualifications of the project director (if one is to be 
used);
    (B) The qualifications of each of the other key personnel to be 
used in the project;
    (C) The time that each person referred to in paragraphs (b)(4)(i) 
(A) and (B) will commit to the project; and
    (D) How the applicant, as part of its nondiscriminatory employment 
practices, will ensure that its personnel are selected for employment 
without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, or 
handicapping condition.
    (ii) To determine personnel qualifications under paragraphs 
(b)(4)(i) (A) and (B), the Secretary considers--
    (A) Experience and training in fields related to the objectives of 
the project; and
    (B) Any other qualifications that pertain to the quality of the 
project.
    (5) Budget and cost effectiveness. (15 points) The Secretary 
reviews each application to determine the extent to which--
    (i) The budget is adequate to support the project; and
    (ii) Costs are reasonable in relation to the objectives of the 
project.
    (6) Evaluation plan. (5 points) The Secretary reviews each 
application to determine the quality of the evaluation plan for the 
project, including the extent to which the applicant's methods of 
evaluation--
    (i) Are appropriate to the project; and
    (ii) To the extent possible, are objective and produce data that 
are quantifiable.
    (Cross-reference: See 34 CFR 75.590 Evaluation by the grantee).
    (7) Adequacy of resources. (5 points) The Secretary reviews each 
application to determine the adequacy of the resources that the 
applicant plans to devote to the project, including facilities, 
equipment, and supplies.

Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs

    This program is subject to the requirements of Executive Order 
12372 (Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs) and the 
regulations in 34 CFR part 79.
    The objective of the Executive order is to foster an 
intergovernmental partnership and to strengthen federalism by relying 
on State and local processes for State and local government 
coordination and review of proposed Federal financial assistance.
    Applicants must contact the appropriate State Single Point of 
Contact to find out about, and to comply with, the State's process 
under Executive Order 12372. Applicants proposing to perform activities 
in more than one State should immediately contact the Single Point of 
Contact for each of those States and follow the procedure established 
in each State under the Executive Order. If you want to know the name 
and address of any State Single Point of Contact see the list published 
in the Federal Register on May 3, 1994 (59 FR 22904-22905).
    In States that have not established a process or chosen a program 
for review, State, area wide, regional, and local entities may submit 
comments directly to the Department.
    Any State Process Recommendation and other comments submitted by a 
State Single Point of Contact and any comments from State, area wide, 
regional, and local entities must be mailed or hand-delivered by the 
date indicated in this notice to the following address: The Secretary, 
E.O. 12372--CFDA #84.274, U.S. Department of Education, room 4161, 400 
Maryland Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20202-0125.
    Proof of mailing will be determined on the same basis as for 
applications (see 34 CFR 75.102). Recommendations or comments may be 
hand-delivered until 4:30 p.m. (Washington, DC time) on the date 
indicated in this notice.
    Please note that the above address is not the same address as the 
one to which the applicant submits its completed application. Do not 
send applications to the above address.

Instructions for Transmittal of Applications

    (a) If an applicant wants to apply for a grant, the applicant 
shall--
    (1) Mail the original and two copies of the application on or 
before the deadline date to: U.S. Department of Education, Application 
Control Center, Attention (CFDA #84.274), Washington, DC 20202-4725 or
    (2) Hand-deliver the original and two copies of the application by 
4:30 p.m. (Washington, DC time) on the deadline date to: U.S. 
Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA 
#84.274), Room #3633, Regional Office Building #3, 7th and D Streets 
SW., Washington, DC.
    (b) An applicant must show one of the following as proof of 
mailing:
    (1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark.
    (2) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the 
U.S. Postal Service.
    (3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial 
carrier.
    (4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary.
    (c) If an application is mailed through the U.S. Postal Service, 
the Secretary does not accept either of the following as proof of 
mailing:
    (1) A private metered postmark.
    (2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service.

    Notes: (1) The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a 
dated postmark. Before relying on this method, an applicant should 
check with its local post office.

    (2) The Application Control Center will mail a Grant Application 
Receipt Acknowledgment to each applicant. If an applicant fails to 
receive the notification of application receipt within 15 days from the 
date of mailing the application, the applicant should call the U.S. 
Department of Education Application Control Center at (202) 708-9494.
    (3) The applicant must indicate on the envelope and--if not 
provided by the Department--in Item 10 of the Application for Federal 
Assistance (Standard Form 424) the CFDA number--and suffix letter, if 
any--of the competition under which the application is being submitted.

Application Instructions and Forms

    The appendix to this application is divided into three parts plus a 
statement regarding estimated public reporting burden and various 
assurances and certifications. These parts and additional materials are 
organized in the same manner that the submitted application should be 
organized. The parts and additional materials are as follows:
    Part I: Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424 (Rev. 
4-88)) and instructions.
    Part II: Budget information--Non-construction Programs (Standard 
Form 424A) and instructions.
    Part III: Application Narrative.
    Additional Materials:
    Estimated Public Reporting Burden.
    Assurances--Non-Construction Programs (Standard Form 424B).
    Certifications regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension, and Other 
Responsibility Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements (ED 80-
0013).
    Certification regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and 
Voluntary Exclusion: Lower Tier Covered Transactions (ED 80-0014, 9/90) 
and instructions. (NOTE: ED 80-0014 is intended for the use of grantees 
and should not be transmitted to the Department.)
    Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (Standard Form LLL) (if 
applicable) and instructions; and Disclosure of Lobbying Activities 
Continuation Sheet (Standard Form LLL-A).
    An applicant may submit information on a photostatic copy of the 
application and budget forms, the assurances, and the certifications. 
However, the application form, the assurances, and the certifications 
must each have an original signature. No grant may be awarded unless a 
completed application form has been received.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michelle D. LeSourd, U.S. Department 
of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20202-5331, 
telephone: (202) 732-6074. Individuals who use a telecommunications 
device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay 
Service at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern time, 
Monday through Friday.
    Information about the Department's funding opportunities, including 
copies of application notices for discretionary grant competitions, can 
be viewed on the Department's electronic bulletin board (ED Board), 
telephone (202) 260-9950; or on the Internet Gopher Server at 
GOPHER.ED.GOV (under Announcements, Bulletins and Press Releases). 
However, the official application notice for a discretionary grant 
competition is the notice published in the Federal Register.

    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1127.

    Dated: June 21, 1994.
David A. Longanecker,
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.

    BILLING CODE 4000-01-P

Appendix

TN27JN94.025


TN27JN94.026


TN27JN94.027


TN27JN94.028


TN27JN94.029


TN27JN94.030

    BILLING CODE 4000-01-C

Supplementary Budget Information

    Under 34 CFR 75.562, the Secretary accepts an indirect cost rate of 
eight (8) percent of the total direct cost of the project.

Part III--Application Narrative

Instructions for Part III--Application Narrative

    Before preparing the Application Narrative, an applicant should 
carefully read all the information included in the notice, especially 
the program purpose, description of program, and the selection of 
criteria the Secretary uses to evaluate applications.
    1. Begin with a one-page abstract; that is, a summary of the 
proposed project.
    2. Describe the program to be developed and the project it will 
carry out.
    3. Be sure to identify the students to be served, and how they are 
being recruited; describe in detail how program activities will be 
accomplished.
    4. Describe the proposed project in light of each of the selection 
criteria in the order they are listed in this notice.
    5. Applicants should include a plan of operation for each year for 
which program funds are requested.
    6. Include all of the above and any other pertinent information 
that might assist the Secretary in reviewing the application.
    The Secretary strongly recommends that the applicant limit the 
Application Narrative to no more than 75 double-spaced pages (on one 
side only), in 10 to 12 point type size, although the Secretary will 
consider applications of greater length.
    Under terms of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, as amended, and 
the regulations implementing that Act, the Department of Education 
invites comment on the public reporting burden in this collection 
information. Public reporting burden for this collection of information 
is estimated to average 60 hours per response, including the time for 
reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and 
maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the 
collection of information. You may send comments regarding this burden 
estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, 
including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the U.S. Department 
of Education, Information Management and Compliance Division, 
Washington, D.C. 20202-4651; and to the Office of Management and 
Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project, 1840-0686, Washington, D.C. 20503.
    Information collection approved under OMB control number 1840-0686. 
Expiration date: 8/31/95.

    BILLING CODE 4000-01-P

TN27JN94.031


TN27JN94.032


TN27JN94.033


TN27JN94.034


TN27JN94.035


TN27JN94.036


TN27JN94.037


TN27JN94.038


    BILLING CODE 4000-01-C

Important Notice to Prospective Participants in U.S. Department of 
Education Contract and Grant Programs

Grants

    Applicants for grants from the U.S. Department of Education (ED) 
have to compete for limited funds.
    Deadlines assure all applicants that they will be treated fairly 
and equally, without last minute haste.
    For these reasons, ED must set strict deadlines for grant 
applications. Prospective applicants can avoid disappointment if they 
understand that failure to meet a deadline will mean that an applicant 
will be rejected without any consideration whatever.
    The rules, including the deadline, for applying for each grant are 
published, individually, in the Federal Register. A one-year 
subscription to the Federal Register may be obtained by sending $340.00 
to: Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, 
Washington, DC 20202-9371. (Send check or money order only, no cash or 
stamps.)
    The instructions in the Federal Register must be followed exactly. 
Do not accept any other advice you may receive. No ED employee is 
authorized to extend any deadline published in the Federal Register.
    Questions regarding submission of applications may be addressed to: 
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Washington, 
DC 20202-4725.

Contracts

    Competitive procurement actions undertaken by ED are governed by 
the Federal Procurement Regulations and implementing ED Procurement 
Regulations.
    Generally, prospective competitive procurement actions are 
synopsized in the Commerce Business Daily (CBD). Prospective offerors 
are therein advised of the nature of the procurement and where to apply 
for copies of the Request for Proposals (RFP).
    Offerors are advised to be guided solely by the contents of the CBD 
synopsis and the instructions contained in the RFP. Questions regarding 
the submission of offers should be addressed to the Contracting 
Specialist identified on the face page of the RFP.
    Offers are judged in competition with others, and failure to 
conform with any substantive requirements of the RFP will result in 
rejection of the offer without any consideration whatever.
    Do not accept any advice you receive that is contrary to 
instructions contained in either the CBD synopsis or the RFP. No ED 
employee is authorized to consider a proposal which is non-responsive 
to the RFP.
    A subscription to the CBD is available for $208.00 per year via 
second class mailing or $261.00 per year via first class mailing. 
Information included in the Federal Acquisition Regulations is 
contained in Title 48, Code of Federal Regulations, Chapter 1 ($49.00). 
The foregoing publication may be obtained by sending your check or 
money order only, no cash or stamps, to: Superintendent of Documents, 
U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9371.
    In an effort to be certain this important information is widely 
disseminated, this notice is being included in all ED mail to the 
public. You may, therefore, receive more than one notice. If you do, we 
apologize for any annoyance it may cause you.

[FR Doc. 94-15505 Filed 6-24-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P