[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 207 (Thursday, October 27, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-26661]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: October 27, 1994]


_______________________________________________________________________

Part V





Department of Education





_______________________________________________________________________



Bilingual Vocational Training Program; Inviting Applications for New 
Grant Awards for Fiscal Year 1995; Notice
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[CFDA No.: 84.077]

 

Bilingual Vocational Training Program; Notice Inviting 
Applications for New Grant Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 1995

    Note to Applicants: This notice is a complete application package. 
Together with the statute authorizing the program and applicable 
regulations governing the program, including the Education Department 
General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), this notice contains all of 
the information, application forms, and instructions needed to apply 
for a grant under this competition.
    Purpose of Program: The Bilingual Vocational Training Program 
provides financial assistance for bilingual vocational education and 
training for limited English proficient out-of-school youth and adults, 
to prepare these individuals for jobs in recognized occupations and new 
and emerging occupations.
    The Bilingual Vocational Training Program supports the National 
Education Goal that, by the year 2000, every adult American will be 
literate and will possess the knowledge and skills necessary to compete 
in a global economy and exercise the rights and responsibilities of 
citizenship. The program furthers this goal by helping to improve 
vocational education and training for limited English proficient 
adults.
    Eligible Applicants: State agencies, local educational agencies, 
postsecondary educational institutions, private non-profit vocational 
training institutions, other non-profit organizations specifically 
created to serve or currently serving individuals who normally use a 
language other than English.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: December 12, 1994.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: February 2, 1995.
    Available funds: $2,209,000.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $150,000-$250,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $184,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 12.

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

    Project Period: Up to 18 months.

Applicable Regulations

    (a) 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 80 (Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants 
and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments).
    (6) 34 CFR Part 81 (General Education Provisions Act--Enforcement).
    (7) 34 CFR Part 82 (New Restrictions on Lobbying).
    (8) 34 CFR Part 85 (Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension 
(Nonprocurement) and Governmentwide Requirements for Drug-Free 
Workplace (Grants)).
    (9) 34 CFR Part 86 (Drug-Free Schools and Campuses).
    (b) The regulations for this program in 34 CFR Parts 400 and 427.

Content of the Application

    (a) An application must--
    (1) Provide an assurance that the activities and services for which 
assistance is sought will be administered by or under the supervision 
of the applicant;
    (2) Propose a project of a size, scope and design that will make a 
substantial contribution toward carrying out the purpose of the 
Bilingual Vocational Training Program;
    (3) Contain measurable goals for the enrollment, completion, and 
placement of program participants;
    (4) Include a comparison of how the applicant's goals take into 
consideration any related standards and measures in the geographic area 
for the Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Training (JOBS) program (42 
U.S.C. 681 et seq.) and any Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) 
programs (29 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.) and any standards set by the State 
Board for Vocational Education for the occupational and geographic 
area;
    (5) Describe, for each occupation for which training is to be 
provided, how successful program completion will be determined and 
reported to the Secretary in terms of the academic and vocational 
competencies to be demonstrated by enrollees prior to successful 
completion and any academic or work credentials expected to be acquired 
upon completion; and
    (6) Be submitted to the State board for vocational education (State 
board) established under section 111 of the Carl D. Perkins Vocational 
and Applied Technology Education Act (the Act) for review and comment, 
including comment on the relationship of the proposed project to the 
State's vocational education program.
    (b) An applicant shall include any comments received under 
paragraph (a)(6) of this section with the application.

Invitational Priority

    Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1) the Secretary is particularly interested 
in applications that meet the following invitational priority. However, 
an application that meets this invitational priority does not receive 
competitive or absolute preference over other applications:
    Applications that include strategies for developing the applicant's 
capacity to continue, expand, or build upon its bilingual vocational 
education and training when Federal funding under this competition 
ends, as evidenced by such actions as--
    (a) Extending training to additional sites that are not funded 
under this program;
    (b) Integrating the project into the long-term planning of the 
applicant;
    (c) Committing funding and staffing for continued implementation of 
the project;
    (d) Incorporating the project into the applicant's organizational 
and program structure; or
    (e) Establishing and strengthening relationships within the 
community, region, or State that will support continuation of the 
project.

Selection Criteria

    The Secretary uses the following selection criteria to evaluate 
applications for new grants under this competition. The maximum score 
for all of these criteria is 100 points. The maximum score for each 
criterion is indicated in parentheses.
    For this competition, the Secretary assigns the 15 points, reserved 
in 34 CFR 427.20(b), as follows:
    Plan of operation (34 CFR 427.21(b)). Five points are added to this 
criterion for a possible total of 20 points.
    Demonstration and dissemination (34 CFR 427.21(g)). Ten points are 
added to this criterion for a possible total of 20 points.
    (a) Need. (15 points) The Secretary reviews each application for 
specific information that shows the need for the proposed bilingual 
vocational training project in the local geographic area, including--
    (1) The employment training need of limited English proficient 
individuals to be met;
    (2) The labor market need to be met; and
    (3) The relationship of the proposed project to other employment 
training programs in the community.
    (b) Plan of operation. (20 points)
    (1) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the extent 
to which the project proposes measurable goals for student enrollment, 
completion, and placement and describes how the applicant sets the 
goals taking into consideration the standards and measures for JOBS 
programs and JTPA programs and any standards set by the State Board 
established under section 111 of the Act for the occupation and 
geographic area.
    (2) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the extent 
to which the project defines successful program completion (or 
describes how successful program completion will be defined and 
reported to the Secretary) in a way consistent with the goals of the 
program for each occupation for which training is to be provided.
    (3) (i) The Secretary reviews each application for specific 
information that, upon completion of their training, more than 65 
percent of the trainees will be employed in jobs (including military 
specialties) related to their training, or will be enrolled for further 
training related to their training under this program. This information 
must correspond to the information described in paragraph (a) of this 
section.
    (ii) The estimated job placement rate must be supported by past 
records, actual employer job commitments, anticipated job openings, or 
other pertinent information.
    (4) The Secretary reviews each application for an effective plan of 
management that ensures proper and efficient administration of the 
project, including--
    (i) Clearly defined project objectives that relate to the purpose 
of the Bilingual Vocational Training Program;
    (ii) For each objective, the specific tasks to be performed in 
order to achieve the specified project objective;
    (iii) How the applicant plans to use its resources and personnel to 
achieve each objective; and
    (iv) If the applicant plans to use a project advisory committee, a 
clear plan for using a project advisory committee to assist in project 
development, to review curriculum materials, and to make 
recommendations about job placements.
    (c) Program factors. (20 points)
    (1) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the quality 
of training to be provided, including--
    (i) Provision of vocational skills instruction in English and the 
trainees' native languages;
    (ii) Provision of job-related English-as-a-second language 
instruction;
    (iii) Coordination of the job-related English-as-a-second language 
instruction with the vocational skills instruction;
    (iv) Recruitment procedures that are targeted towards limited 
English proficient out-of-school youth and adults who have the greatest 
need for bilingual vocational training;
    (v) Assessment procedures that evaluate the language and vocational 
training needs of the trainees;
    (vi) Provision of counseling activities and employability skills 
instruction that prepare trainees for employment in an English language 
environment; and
    (vii) Job development and job placement procedures that provide 
opportunities for career advancement or entrepreneurship.
    (2) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the 
project's potential to have a lasting impact in the local geographic 
area, including the potential impact of the project on--
    (i) Program participants;
    (ii) The agency or agencies responsible for administering the 
bilingual vocational training program;
    (iii) Other employment training services in the local area; and
    (iv) The community.
    (d) Key personnel. (10 points)
    (1) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the quality 
of key personnel the applicant plans to use on the project, including--
    (i) The qualifications of the director and other key personnel to 
be used in the project;
    (ii) The appropriateness of the time that each person referred to 
in paragraph (d)(1)(i) of this section will commit to the project; and
    (iii) How the applicant, as part of its nondiscriminatory 
employment practices, will ensure that personnel will be selected 
without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, or 
disability.
    (2) To determine personnel qualifications under paragraph (d)(1)(i) 
of this section, the Secretary considers--
    (i) Experience and training in fields related to the objectives of 
the project;
    (ii) Experience and training in project management; and
    (iii) Any other qualifications that pertain to the quality of the 
project.
    (e) Budget and cost effectiveness. (5 points) The Secretary reviews 
each application to determine the extent to which--
    (1) The budget is sufficient to support the proposed project, and 
that it represents a cost effective use of Bilingual Vocational 
Training Program funds;
    (2) Costs are necessary and reasonable in relation to the 
objectives of the proposed project; and
    (3) The facilities, equipment, and supplies that the applicant 
plans to use are adequate for the proposed project.
    (f) Evaluation plan. (10 points)
    The Secretary reviews each application to determine the quality of 
the project's evaluation plan, including the extent to which the plan--
    (1) Is clearly explained and appropriate for the project;
    (2) Identifies at a minimum, types of data to be collected and 
reported with respect to the English-language competencies and academic 
and vocational competencies demonstrated by participants and the number 
and kinds of academic and work credentials acquired by individuals who 
complete the training;
    (3) Identifies at a minimum, types of data to be collected and 
reported with respect to enrollment, completion, and placement of 
participants by sex, racial or ethnic group, socio-economic status, and 
if appropriate, by level of English proficiency, for each occupation 
for which training is provided;
    (4) Includes activities during the formative stages of the project 
to help guide and improve the project, as well as a summative 
evaluation that includes recommendations for replicating project 
activities and results; and
    (5) Makes use of an external evaluator.
    (g) Demonstration and dissemination. (20 points) The Secretary 
reviews each application for information to determine the effectiveness 
and efficiency of the plan for demonstrating and disseminating 
information about project activities and results throughout the project 
period, including--
    (1) High quality in the design of the demonstration and 
dissemination plan and procedures for evaluating the effectiveness of 
the dissemination plan;
    (2) Provisions for publicizing the project at the local, State, and 
national levels by conducting or delivering presentations at 
conferences, workshops, and other professional meetings and by 
preparing materials for journal articles, newsletters, and brochures;
    (3) Provisions for making available the methods and techniques used 
by the project to others interested in replicating these methods and 
techniques, such as by inviting them to observe project activities;
    (4) A description of the types of materials the applicant plans to 
make available to help others replicate project activities and the 
methods for making the materials available; and
    (5) Provisions for assisting others to adopt and successfully 
implement the project or methods and techniques used by the project.

Additional Factors

    (a) After evaluating the applications according to the selection 
criteria and consulting with the appropriate State board established 
under section 111 of the Act, the Secretary determines whether the most 
highly rated applications are equitably distributed among populations 
of individuals with limited English proficiency within the affected 
State.
    (b) The Secretary may select other applications for funding if 
doing so would improve the--
    (1) Equitable distribution of assistance among populations of 
individuals with limited English proficiency within the affected State; 
or
    (2) Geographical distribution of projects funded under this 
program.

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 June 10, 1994 (59 FR 30214-30215).
    In States that have not established a process or chosen a program 
for review, State, areawide, 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, areawide, 
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# 84.077, U.S. Department of Education, Room 4161, 400 
Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20202-0125.
    Proof of mailing will be determined on the same basis as 
applications (see 34 CFR 75.102). Recommendations or comments may be 
hand-delivered until 4:30 p.m. (Washington, D.C. 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 six copies of the application on or 
before the deadline date to: U.S. Department of Education, Application 
Control Center, Attention: (CFDA# 84.077), Washington, D.C. 20202-4725 
or
    (2) Hand deliver the original and six copies of the application by 
4:30 p.m. (Washington, D.C. time) on or before the deadline date to: 
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: 
(CFDA# 84.077), Room #3633, Regional Office Building #3, 7th and D 
Streets, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20202-4725.
    (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 Acknowledgement 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) 
708-8493.
    (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 24) the CFDA number of the 
competition under which the application is being submitted.

Application Instructions and Forms:

    The appendix to this application is divided into six 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: Instructions for ED Form No. 524.
    Part III: Budget Information Non-construction Programs (ED Form No. 
524).
    Part IV: Budget Narrative.
    Part V: Program Narrative.
    Part VI: Additional Assurances and Certifications:
    a. Assurances--Non-Construction Programs (Standard Form 424B).
    b. Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension, and 
Other Responsibility Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements (ED 
80-0013) and Instructions.
    c. Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and 
Voluntary Exclusion: Lower Tier Covered Transactions (ED 80-0014, 9/90) 
and Instructions. (NOTE: The grantee should keep this form on file. It 
should not be transmitted to the Department.)
    d. Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (Standard Form LLL) (if 
applicable) and Instructions; and Disclosure of Lobbying Activities 
Continuation Sheet (Standard Form LLL-A.)
    All forms and instructions are included as Appendix A of this 
notice. Questions and answers pertaining to this program are included, 
as Appendix B, to assist potential applicants.
    All applicants must submit ONE original signed application, 
including ink signatures on all forms and assurances and SIX copies of 
the application. Please mark each application as original or copy. 
Local or State agencies may choose to submit two copies with the 
original. No grant may be awarded unless a complete application form 
has been received.
    For Further Information Contact: Cindy Towsner, Special Programs 
Branch, Division of National Programs, Office of Vocational and Adult 
Education, U.S. Department of Education, 600 Independence Avenue, S.W. 
(Room 4512, Mary E. Switzer Building), Washington, D.C. 20202-7242. 
Telephone (202) 205-5864. Individuals who use a telecommunications 
device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay 
Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern 
time, Monday through Friday.

    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 2441(a).

    Dated: October 21, 1994.
Augusta Souza Kappner,
Assistant Secretary, Office of Vocational and Adult Education.

BILLING CODE 4000-01-P 
      

Appendix A

TN27OC94.020


TN27OC94.021


BILLING CODE 4000-01-C
    Public reporting burden for this collection of information is 
estimated to vary from 13 to 22 hours per response, with an average of 
17.5 hours, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching 
existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and 
completing and reviewing the collection of information. 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, DC 20202-4651; and the Office of Management and 
Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project 1875-0102, Washington, DC 20503.

Instructions for Ed Form No. 524

General Instructions

    This form is used to apply to individual U.S. Department of 
Education discretionary grant programs. Unless directed otherwise, 
provide the same budget information for each year of the multi-year 
funding request. Pay attention to applicable program specific 
instructions, if attached.

Section A--Budget Summary: U.S. Department of Education Funds

    All applicants must complete Section A and provide a breakdown by 
the applicable budget categories shown in lines 1-11.

Lines 1-11, columns (a)-(e):
    For each project year for which funding is requested, show the 
total amount requested for each applicable budget category.
Lines 1-11, column (f):
    Show the multi-year total for each budget category. If funding is 
requested for only one project year, leave this column blank.
Line 12, columns (a)-(e):
    Show the total budget request for each project year for which 
funding is requested.
Line 12, column (f):
    Show the total amount requested for all project years. If funding 
is requested for only one year, leave this space blank.

Section B--Budget Summary: Non-Federal Funds

    If you are required to provide or volunteer to provide matching 
funds or other non-Federal resources to the project, these should be 
shown for each applicable budget category on lines 1-11 of Section B.

Lines 1-11, columns (a)-(e):
    For each project year for which matching funds or other 
contributions are provided, show the total contribution for each 
applicable budget category.
Lines 1-11, column (f):
    Show the multi-year total for each budget category. If non-Federal 
contributions are provided for only one year, leave this column blank.
Line 12, columns (a)-(e):
    Show the total matching or other contribution for each project 
year.
Line 12, column (f):
    Show the total amount to be contributed for all years of the multi-
year project. If non-Federal contributions are provided for only one 
year, leave this space blank.

Section C--Other Budget Information

    Pay attention to applicable program specific instructions, if 
attached.
    1. Provide an itemized budget breakdown, by project year, for each 
budget category listed in Sections A and B.
    2. If applicable to this program, enter the type of indirect rate 
(provisional, predetermined, final or fixed) that will be in effect 
during the funding period. In addition, enter the estimated amount of 
the base to which the rate is applied, and the total indirect expense.
    3. If applicable to this program, provide the rate and base on 
which fringe benefits are calculated.
    4. Provide other explanations or comments you deem necessary.

BILLING CODE 4000-01-P

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BILLING CODE 4000-01-C

Instructions for Part IV--Budget Narrative

    The budget narrative should explain, justify, and, if needed, 
clarify your budget summary. For each line item (personnel, fringe 
benefits, travel, etc.) in your budget, explain why it is there and how 
you computed the costs.
    Please limit this section to no more than five pages. Be sure that 
each page of your application is numbered consecutively.

Explanation of Budget Categories

    1. Personnel: Show salaries to be paid to project personnel.
    2. Fringe Benefits: Indicate the rate and amount of fringe 
benefits.
    3. Travel: Indicate the amount requested for both inter- and intra-
State travel of project staff. Include funds for at least one trip for 
two people to attend a project director's meeting in Washington, DC.
    4. Equipment: Indicate the cost of non-expendable personal property 
that has a useful life of more than one year and a cost of $300 or more 
per unit ($5,000 or more if State, Local or Tribal Government).
    5. Supplies: Include the cost of consumable supplies and materials 
to be used during the project.
    6. Contractual: Show the amount to be used for (1) procurement 
contracts (except those which belong on other lines such as supplies 
and equipment; and (2) sub-contracts.
    7. Construction: Not Allowable.
    8. Other: Indicate all direct costs not clearly covered by lines 1 
through 7 above, including consultants.
    9. Total, Direct Cost: Show the total for lines 1 through 8.
    10. Indirect Costs: Indicate the rate and amount of indirect costs. 
NOTE: For training grants, the indirect cost rate cannot exceed 8%.
    11. Training/Stipend Cost: (if allowable).
    12. TOTAL, Federal Funds Requested: Show total for lines 9 through 
11.

Cost Sharing

    Indicate the actual rate and amount of cost sharing when there is a 
cost sharing requirement. If cost sharing is required by program 
regulations, the local share required refers to a percentage of Total 
Project Cost, not of Federal funds.

Instructions for Part IV--Program Narrative

    The program narrative will comprise the largest portion of your 
application. This part is where you spell out the who, what, when, 
where, why, and how of your proposed project.
    Although you will not have a form to fill out for your narrative, 
there is a format. This format is the selection criteria. Because your 
application will be reviewed and rated by a review panel on the basis 
of the selection criteria, your narrative should follow the order and 
format of the criteria.
    Before preparing your application, you should carefully read the 
legislation and regulations of the program, eligibility requirements, 
information on any priority set by the Secretary, and the selection 
criteria for this competition.
    Your program narrative should be clear, concise, and to the point. 
Begin the narrative with a one page abstract or summary of your 
proposed project. Then describe the project in detail, addressing each 
selection criterion in order.
    The Secretary strongly suggests that the applicant limit the 
program narrative to no more than 40 double-spaced, typed pages (on one 
side only), although the Secretary will consider applications of 
greater length. Be sure to number consecutively ALL pages in your 
application.
    You may include supporting documentation as appendices. Be sure 
that this material is concise and pertinent to this program competition 
and is numbered consecutively.
    Applicants are advised that: (a) The Department considers only 
information contained in the application in ranking applications for 
funding consideration. Letters of support sent separately from the 
formal application package are not considered in the review by the 
technical review panels. (34 CFR 75.217)
    (b) The technical review panel evaluates each application solely on 
the basis of the established technical review criteria. Letters of 
support contained in the application will strengthen the application 
only insofar as they contain commitments that pertain to the 
established technical review criteria, such as commitment and 
resources.

Additional Materials

Instructions for Estimated Public Reporting Burden

    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 of 
information. Public reporting burden for this collection of information 
is estimated to average 90 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 
to the U.S. Department of Education, Information Management and 
Compliance Division, Washington, DC 20202-4651; and to the Office of 
Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project, OMB 1830-0013, 
Washington, DC 20503. (Information collection approved under OMB 
control number 1830-0013. Expiration date:
2/28/95.)

BILLING CODE 4000-01-P

TN27OC94.024


TN27OC94.025


TN27OC94.026


TN27OC94.027


TN27OC94.028


TN27OC94.029


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BILLING CODE 4000-01-C

Appendix B

    Potential applicants frequently direct questions to officials of 
the Department regarding application notices and programmatic and 
administrative regulations governing various direct grant programs. 
To assist potential applicants the Department has assembled the 
following most commonly asked questions.
    Q. Can we get an extension of the deadline?
    A. No. A closing date may be changed only under extraordinary 
circumstances. Any change must be announced in the Federal Register 
and apply to all applications. Waivers for individual applications 
cannot be granted regardless of the circumstances.
    Q. How many copies of the application should I submit and must 
they be bound?
    A. Our new policy calls for an original and six copies to be 
submitted. The binding of applications is optional.
    Q. May we use this same application to compete for funds under a 
different grant program?
    A. Yes, however, the likelihood of success is not good. A 
properly prepared application must meet the specifications of the 
grant program to which it is submitted.
    Q. I'm not sure which grant program is most appropriate for my 
project. What should I do?
    A. We are happy to provide general program information. Clearly, 
it would not be appropriate for staff to participate in the actual 
writing of an application, but we can respond to specific questions 
about application requirements, evaluation criteria, and the 
priorities. Applicants should understand that this previous contact 
is not required, nor will it in any way influence the success of an 
application.
    Q. When will I find out if I'm going to be funded?
    A. You can expect to receive notification within 3 to 4 months 
of the application closing date, depending on the number of 
applications received and the number of grant programs with closing 
dates at about the same time.
    Q. Once my application has been reviewed by the review panel, 
can you tell me the outcome?
    A. No. Every year we are called by a number of applicants who 
have legitimate reasons for needing to know the outcome of the 
review prior to official notification. Some applicants need to make 
job decisions, some need to notify a local school district, etc. 
Regardless of the reason, because final funding decisions have not 
been made at that point, we cannot share information about the 
review with anyone.
    Q. Will my application be returned if I am not funded?
    A. We no longer return unsuccessful applications. Thus 
applicants should retain at least one copy of the application.
    Q. Can I obtain copies of reviewers' comments?
    A. Upon written request, reviewers' comments will be mailed to 
unsuccessful applicants.
    Q. Is travel allowed under these projects?
    A. Travel associated with carrying out the project is allowed. 
Because we may request the project director of funded projects to 
attend an annual project directors meeting, you may also wish to 
include a trip or two to Washington, D.C. in the travel budget. 
Travel to conferences is sometimes allowed when it is for purposes 
of dissemination.
    Q. If my application receives high scores from the reviewers, 
does that mean that I will receive funding?
    A. Not necessarily. It is often the case that the number of 
applications scored highly by the reviewers exceeds the dollars 
available for funding projects under a particular competition. The 
order of selection, which is based on the scores of all the 
applications and other relevant factors, determines the applications 
that can be funded.
    Q. What happens during negotiations?
    A. During negotiations technical and budget issues may be 
raised. These are issues that have been identified during the panel 
and staff reviews that require clarification. Sometimes issues are 
stated as ``conditions.'' These are issues that have been identified 
as so critical that the award cannot be made unless those conditions 
are met. Questions may also be raised about the proposed budget. 
Generally, these issues are raised because there is inadequate 
justification or explanation of a particular budget item, or because 
the budget item seems unimportant to the successful completion of 
the project. If you are asked to make changes that you feel could 
seriously affect the project's success, you may provide reasons for 
not making the changes or provide alternative suggestions. 
Similarly, if proposed budget reductions will, in your opinion, 
seriously affect the project activities, you may explain why and 
provide additional justification for the proposed expenses. An award 
cannot be made until all negotiation issues have been resolved.
    Q. How do I provide an assurance?
    A. Except for SF-424B, ``Assurances--Non-Construction 
Programs,'' which must be completed, simply state in writing that 
you are meeting a prescribed requirement.
    Q. Where can copies of the Federal Register, a program's 
regulations, and Federal statutes be obtained?
    Copies of these materials can usually be found at your local 
library. If not, most can be obtained from the Government Printing 
Office by writing to: Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government 
Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402, Telephone: (202) 783-3238. 
When requesting copies of regulations or statutes, it is helpful to 
use the specific name, public law number, or part number. The 
material referenced in this notice would be referred to as follows:
    (1) Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education 
Act (Public Law 101-392) 104 Stat. 753 (1990).
    (2) State Vocational and Applied Technology Education Programs 
and National Discretionary Programs of Vocational Education Final 
Regulations, 34 CFR parts 400 and 427.
    (3) Education Department General Administrative Regulations, 34 
CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82, 85 and 86.

[FR Doc. 94-26661 Filed 10-26-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P