[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 56 (Wednesday, March 24, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14223-14224]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-7188]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[CFDA No. 84.303A]


Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI), Technology 
Innovation Challenge Grants Program; Notice Announcing a Two-Tier 
Review Process for Applications Received Under the Fiscal Year (FY) 
1999 Competition

SUMMARY: The Secretary announces the use of a two-tier review process 
to evaluate applications submitted for new

[[Page 14224]]

awards under the FY 1999 Technology Innovation Challenge Grants 
program. The Secretary takes this action to ensure a thorough review 
and assessment of the large number of applications that are expected to 
be received under the FY 1999 competition. This competition was 
announced previously in a notice published in the Federal Register on 
December 22, 1998 (63 FR 70977). That notice, however, did not explain 
that a two-tier review process is to be used in the evaluation of 
applications. Because the announcement of a two-tier review process 
does not affect the contents of applications in this competition, the 
date by which applications must be received remains the same as 
originally announced, March 12, 1999.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In prior fiscal years, applications for 
awards under this program were evaluated and selected in accordance 
with procedures established in the notice of final selection criteria, 
selection procedures, and application procedures for Technology 
Innovation Challenge Grants published in the Federal Register on May 
12, 1997 (62 FR 26175). This year, however, these procedures for 
``evaluation and selection of applications'' will not apply to this 
program. Instead, the Department will follow the procedures in 34 CFR 
part 75 except as indicated below.
    Application Review Procedures: The Secretary will use a two-tier 
process for reviewing applications in this competition. In the first 
tier, all eligible applications will be reviewed. The applications with 
the highest scores in the first tier--the top-ranked 60--will be 
reviewed in the second tier. In the event of a tie for the 60th place 
in the rank order of applications in the first tier, all applications 
tied for that final position will be considered in the second tier. The 
same evaluation criteria will be used in the second tier as in the 
first tier. The Secretary will select applications for funding on the 
basis of the rank ordering of applications in the second tier. In all 
other respects, the Secretary will follow the procedures in the 
Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), 34 CFR 
part 75, in reviewing applications.
    Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking: In accordance with the 
Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553), it is the practice of the 
Secretary to offer interested parties the opportunity to comment on 
proposed regulations. However, these exceptions to EDGAR make 
procedural changes only. Therefore, under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(A), proposed 
rulemaking is not required.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Payer, U.S. Department of 
Education, Office of Educational Research and Improvement, 555 New 
Jersey Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20208-5544. Telephone 202 208-3882. 
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.
    Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an 
alternate format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer 
diskette) on request to the contact person listed in the preceding 
paragraph.
    Individuals with disabilities may obtain a copy of the application 
package in an alternate format, also, by contacting that person. 
However, the Department is not able to reproduce in an alternate format 
the standard forms included in the application package.

Electronic Access to This Document

    Anyone may view this document, as well as all other Department of 
Education documents published in the Federal Register, in text or 
portable document format (pdf) on the World Wide Web at either of the 
following sites:

http://ocfo.gov/fedreg.htm
http://www.ed.gov/news.html

To use the pdf you must have the Adobe Acrobat Reader Program with 
Search, which is available free at either of the previous sites. If you 
have questions about using the pdf, call the U.S. Government Printing 
Office at (202) 512-1530, or toll free, at 1-888-293-6498.
    Anyone may also view these documents in text copy only on an 
electronic bulletin board of the Department. Telephone: (202) 219-1511 
or, toll free, 1-800-222-4922. The documents are located under Option 
G-Files/Announcements, Bulletins and Press Releases.

    Note: The official version of a document is the document 
published in the Federal Register.

    PROGRAM AUTHORITY: 20 U.S.C. 6846.

    Dated: March 19, 1999.
C. Kent McGuire,
Assistant Secretary for Educational Research and Improvement.
[FR Doc. 99-7188 Filed 3-23-99; 8:45 am]
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