[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 104 (Tuesday, June 1, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29265-29270]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-13690]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology
[Docket No. 990517136-9136-01]
RIN 0693-ZA30


Community Alliance for Math, Science and Technology Literacy 
(CASTL)

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce.

ACTION: Invitation for proposals to establish pilot programs partnering 
local school boards and businesses for enhanced professional 
development of K-12 math, science and technology teachers.

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SUMMARY: This notice is to invite proposals from local educational 
agencies (LEAs) or non-profit organizations acting on their behalf to 
participate in the CASTL program. This pilot program will partner local 
school boards, non-profit educational organizations, and the local 
business community to develop and conduct innovative professional 
development activities for K-12 math, science and technology teachers. 
A community based effort will create new professional development 
activities to help increase teacher recruitment and retention, assist 
teachers in developing hands-on workplace-based math, science and 
technology curriculum, and increase communication between the 
educational and business enterprises. It is anticipated that ten awards 
will be made in fiscal year 1999 affecting teachers employed as of 
September 1999. Seed funding for the pilot program will focus on urban 
and rural statistical areas, and other areas identified as requiring 
special assistance in promoting math, science and technology education. 
Applications must be prepared by a partnership between the LEA and the 
business and/or research communities.

DATES: Applications must be received at the address below no later than 
5 p.m., Eastern Standard Time on July 1, 1999, in order to be 
considered for the Fiscal Year 1999 awards. Late applications will be 
rejected and returned to the sender. Applications which have been 
provided to a delivery service will be accepted for review if the 
applicant can document that the application was provided to the 
delivery service by June 30, 1999, with delivery to the address listed 
below guaranteed prior to the closing date and time. Applications will 
not be accepted via facsimile machine transmission or electronic mail.


[[Page 29266]]


ADDRESSES: Applicants must submit one signed original plus two (2) 
copies of the proposal along with the required forms (Refer to 
``Application Forms'' section) to: CASTL Program Coordinator; Division 
109; National Institute of Standards and Technology; 100 Bureau Drive, 
Stop 1090; Gaithersburg, MD 20899-1090.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dr. Jack Hsia, Program Coordinator, telephone (301) 975-3067, or e-mail 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority

    This program is an implementation of section 7 of the Technology 
Administration Act of 1998 (Pub. L. 105-309), codified at section 19a 
of the NIST Act, as amended (15 USC 278g-2a). This statute authorizes 
the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to establish 
a teacher science and technology enhancement program to provide for the 
professional development of mathematics and science teachers of 
elementary, middle, and secondary schools, including providing for the 
improvement of these teachers with respect to the understanding of 
science and the impact of science on commerce. Under section 278g-
2a(e), NIST may use means it deems appropriate to accomplish the goals 
of the program. The CASTL program accomplishes the statutory goals 
because it will allow K-12 teachers to experience firsthand how math, 
science, and technology impact commerce. This will both enhance 
teachers' professional development and enable teachers to incorporate 
these experiences into their math, science, and technology curricula. A 
community based effort will create new professional development 
activities to help increase teacher recruitment and retention, assist 
teachers in developing hands-on workplace-based math, science and 
technology curriculum, and increase communication between the 
educational and business enterprises, consistent with the statutory 
goals.

Program Description

    The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) wishes to 
initiate a pilot program partnering local school boards and businesses 
to foster high quality K-12 education through enhanced professional 
development of K-12 math, science and technology teachers. Together, 
the school board and the local businesses are expected to leverage 
their collected strengths to develop and implement a program to 
increase teachers' understanding of math, science and technology and to 
assist them in development of innovative curriculum. Businesses will 
provide on-site opportunities for teachers to experience hands-on 
inquiry based learning and workplace based application of math, science 
and technology skills. This partnership is expected to commit to 
providing at least 4 years of support for the teachers. The pilot 
program is expected to complement existing reform and professional 
development activities.
    Enhanced professional development is expected to increase the 
hiring and retention rates for math, science and technology teachers. 
Experiences in the workplace will provide opportunities for teachers to 
develop innovative teaching methods reflecting real-world experience of 
math, science and technology. As teachers develop a greater 
understanding and comfort with the foundations and applications of math 
and science, they are better able to pass along such an understanding 
to their students. Students are anticipated to graduate with an 
increased understanding about the application of and excitement for 
math and science, leading to an increase in the overall scientific 
literacy of society. Local businesses and the overall community are 
expected to benefit from students better prepared for jobs in the 
technology-based industries that contribute more than half the nation's 
economic growth.
    Using a relatively small amount of federal seed money, local school 
board in ten pilot program sites will implement the pilot program. The 
pilot program will directly impact only a tiny fraction of the 15,000 
independent school districts nationwide. However, these pilot programs 
are anticipated to provide models that can be adopted by communities 
and businesses nationwide. Successful demonstration and refinement of 
the pilot program will be followed by dissemination of the model across 
the nation, with relatively little additional federal funding required 
(local communities and businesses will assume the bulk of the expenses 
after successful demonstration of the pilot program). Thus a small 
federal investment is leveraged into substantial nationwide results.

Background Information

    Advances in technology fuel at least one half of the economic 
growth of the U.S. and the industrialized nations, and this fraction is 
expected to continue to increase in the next century. However, industry 
and government leaders identify the shortage of employees with adequate 
science and mathematics skills, at all levels, as a major impediment to 
continued national economic growth. International studies such as the 
recently reported Third International Mathematics and Science Study 
show U.S. K-12 students performing near the bottom of industrialized 
nations in tests of science and math knowledge. To maintain and improve 
U.S. economic competitiveness and provide opportunities for all 
citizens, the quality of science and math education in the United 
States must be significantly increased.
    Improving science and math education is a complex problem requiring 
many different approaches. Many governmental and non-governmental 
organizations are each contributing towards the solution. The goal of 
this pilot program is to enhance the professional development of U.S. 
science and technology teachers through education-business partnership. 
It is expected that proper professional and financial support of 
science and math teachers will immediately increase successful 
recruitment and retention of qualified new science and math teachers, 
and will eventually lead to increases enrollment of teaching students 
specializing in science and math as the greater opportunities become 
known.

Business-Education Partnership

    This pilot program will create a partnership between the local 
school board and the local business community to develop and implement 
enhanced professional development for K-12 math, science and technology 
teachers. Goals and outcomes of the pilot program should include the 
following elements:
     Increase teachers' understanding about the application of 
any excitement for math and science.
     Provide specialized professional development for K-12 
math, science and technology teachers, aiming to reach needs of 
teachers of all grades.
     Increase teacher recruitment and/or retention rates.
     Integrate insight of the business/research community into 
new curriculum elements.
     Investigate creating an infrastructure for a sustainable 
program.
     Maximize atmosphere for teacher learning and creativity.
    Local business partners may include industrial firms, corporations 
employing technology, research institutions and other organizations 
which can provide teachers experience with real-world based application 
of math, science and technology.
    This pilot program may incorporate a range of activities depending 
on the

[[Page 29267]]

needs of the community. Funds are intended to supplement the work of 
the LEA, not the business or community partners. The objectives 
include:
     Collecting data regarding the needs of math, science, and 
technology teachers in the school district,
     Integrating several existing professional development 
programs into a single, coordinated effort,
     Providing staff time for teachers to develop and implement 
new curriculum changes resulting from pilot program and/or participate 
in cohort groups of pilot program participants,
     Coordinating with local technical and community colleges,
     Providing alternative certification activities for math, 
science and technology teachers, and
     Coordinating curriculum elements through grades K-12.
    NIST expects each pilot program to directly involve at least 10 
teachers in the pilot phase. However, with greater commitment from 
local businesses, more teachers may be involved. Participating local 
businesses, possibly through a central organization, will commit to 
working with the LEA for a minimum of four years. The businesses' 
contribution must provide teachers hands-on experience with workplace 
applications of math, science and technology. This exposure will assist 
teachers in gaining a better understanding of the business' science and 
technology skill needs and goals. From this experience, the teachers 
and administrators will work together to translate the experiences into 
more effective classroom lessons. Students will learn from real-world 
based examples, increasing their scientific inquiry skills and overall 
understanding of the use of math, science and technology.
    NIST will evaluate the implementation of the pilot programs. Award 
recipients agree to participate in the evaluation of these pilot 
programs. This may involve a meeting among all recipients. Each pilot 
program coordinator is expected to track the progress of the teachers 
and their hiring and retention rates as part of the evaluation process. 
Applicants are encouraged to indicate additional evaluation activities 
they will perform.

Creating the Partnership

    A unique feature of the pilot programs will be the ability of the 
partnership to tailor the pilot program to best fit local community and 
schools needs, and best make use of local resources. The 15,000 
independent schools districts across the nation represent an enormous 
diversity in financial resources, student and community demographics, 
types of local businesses, and other factors: from inner city urban 
districts, to affluent suburbs, to geographically extended rural and 
Indian reservation districts. Attempts at ``one size fits all'' 
programs rarely succeed in addressing such a diversity of needs and 
resources.
    The support of locally selected program champions and businesses is 
vital to pilot program success. A partnership development team led by 
the local champion will guide and structure a community math and 
science education and workforce development plan. Team members will 
represent local school boards, businesses, teachers, students, the 
public, and other stakeholders who can identify and focus on local 
needs.
    Both the school board and the business community will make 
commitments to the pilot program. Local school boards must commit to 
working collaboratively with the businesses. Staff must be allocated 
time for curriculum development to translate their experiences into 
classroom lessons and for instructing their colleagues about what they 
have learned. This time may occur during a summer program and/or as 
part of regularly scheduled professional development. School boards 
will integrate this pilot program into existing educational reform 
efforts. Businesses will commit to participating in the pilot program's 
development, implementation and support for multiple years. Employees 
will be allocated time to work with the teachers.
    Several Federal departments and agencies have on-going research and 
programs in the areas of K-12 math, science and technology education. 
This pilot program will tie into these existing programs when possible, 
especially if a particular effort is underway in the community. 
Nationwide programs are being sponsored by the National Science 
Foundation, the U.S. Department of Education, and the U.S. Department 
of Labor, among other agencies. Contingent upon success of the pilot 
program and additional federal and private funding, the program may 
grow in future years.

Organizational Involvement

    Participation by community and professional organizations heightens 
the level of community commitment to this pilot program. These 
organizations lend their resources, knowledge, and experience to the 
process and help facilitate the creation of partnerships. The 
partnership development team is encouraged to engage any and all 
community organizations that will add to the success of the pilot 
programs.

Funding Availability

    Approximately $200,000 will be available and it is anticipated that 
ten awards in the range of up to $20,000 will be selected to pay the 
administrative cost for starting the program. The pilot program will be 
integrated into the community as a self-sustaining activity over time. 
Based on preliminary results and future NIST appropriations, NIST may 
provide additional support in future years.
    Grant funds may be used only for direct costs of administering this 
pilot program. Such costs may include salary for one person, excluding 
benefits. by August 1, 1999 a detailed accounting of all funds is due 
to the NIST program office at the above address. Any additional costs, 
including indirect costs, are the responsibility of the educational and 
business partners.

Award Period

    Funds will be awarded for a 12 month period.

Matching Requirements

    Cost sharing and matching are not required under this pilot 
program.

Application Forms

    Standard Form (SF) 424, Application for Financial Assistance, SF 
424A, SF 424B, and CD-511 shall be used for applying for financial 
assistance. Awards resulting from this competition will be administered 
in accordance with 15 CFR part 14, ``Uniform Administration 
Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher 
Education, Hospitals, Other Non-Profit, and Commercial Organizations'' 
or 15 CFR part 24, ``Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and 
Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments,'' as applicable; 
OMB Circular A-21, ``Cost Principles for Educational Institutions,'' or 
OMB Circular A-122, ``Cost Principles for Non-Profit Organizations,'' 
or OMB Circular A-87, ``Cost Principles for State, Local, and Indian 
Tribal Governments,'' as applicable; and other award terms and 
conditions. An application kit may be requested from the contact person 
at the address listed above. All required forms may be downloaded from 
the following website: http://www.rdc.noaa.gov/\grants/pdf.
    Proposals may be structured in any way that the applicants believe 
will best present their proposed project, but should be limited to a 
maximum of 40 pages. A format that NIST offers for consideration by 
applicants is as follows:

[[Page 29268]]

Proposal Summary

I. Executive Summary
II. Pilot Program Participants
    List all partnership members identified to date, their contact 
persons, addresses, telephone numbers and fax numbers. Indicate which 
members serve on the partnership development team.
III. Pilot Program
    Personnel List key pilot program staff, including the principal 
coordinator.
IV. Narrative
    Provide a concise summary (maximum of 10 pages) describing the 
implementation plan for the pilot program, including:
    (a) Need assessment
    (b) Objectives
    (c) Program implementation
    (d) Professional development opportunities for participating 
teachers
    (e) Relationship to existing school reform efforts
    (f) Evaluation
V. Budget Prepare SF-424-A.
VI. Supporting Materials
    (a) Required forms
    (b) Letters of support from partners

Type of Funding Instrument

    NIST expects to award up to 10 grants. This information is provided 
in the interest of maximum oppeness of the agency's intent. It is not 
intended to bind the agency to any specific number of grants.

Eligibility Criteria

    Partnerships between an LEA and the local business and/or research 
communities are eligible to prepare applications for CASTL grants. An 
LEA may not submit an application without written commitment from these 
outside representatives. Applications will only be accepted from an LEA 
or non-profit administrator acting on behalf of the partnership. An LEA 
is defined in Title XIV, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act, as amended, 20 U.S.C. section 8801(18)(A). An LEA is ``a 
public board of education or other public authority legally constituted 
within a State for either administrative control or direction of, or to 
perform a service function for, public elementary or secondary schools 
in a city, county, township, school district, or other political 
subdivision of a State, or for such combination of school districts or 
counties as are recognized in a State as an administrative agency for 
its public elementary or secondary schools.'' An official from the LEA 
must certify in writing that a third party administrator will act on 
its behalf with regard to this project. A principal coordinator must be 
identified to serve as a point of contact.

Application Evaluation Criteria

    Applications will be evaluated by a panel of at least three 
independent reviewers who are knowledgeable in the subject matter of 
this solicitation and its objectives. All applications will be 
evaluated and scored on the basis of the evaluation criteria delineated 
below.
    1. Local needs assessment. The proposal demonstrates an 
identifiable need for financial assistance to promote science and math 
education in the local area. (20 points)
    2. The proposal provides specialized professional development for 
K-12 math, science and technology teachers, which complements existing 
professional development and/or reform efforts within the school 
district. (20 points)
    3. Identification of an adequate number of relevant business and 
community partners. (15 points)
    4. The proposed activities match the goals of this grant program, 
including adding to a sustainable infrastructure for community 
involvement and contribution to the educational system. (15 points)
    5. Demonstration of meaningful provisions for academic year follow-
up, continued dialogue among participants, and development of new 
curriculum based on the experience. (15 points)
    6. Commitment to program evaluation, including participation in 
meetings, reporting requirements, and other evaluation criteria. (10 
points)
    7. Appropriateness of budget. (5 points)

Selection Procedures

    The selection of LEAs to be recommended for an award will be made 
by Director of the Office of International and Academic Affairs (OIAA) 
at NIST. In recommending applications for funding, the OIAA Director 
will take into consideration the results of the evaluations and scores 
of the independent review panel, geographic distribution of funds, and 
the selection official's judgment as to which applications, taken as a 
whole, are likely to best further the goals of the CASTL program. In 
addition, school districts that represent urban on rural statistical 
areas as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau or who document needs 
requiring special assistance in promoting science and math education 
will be given priority. The final selection of applications and award 
of cooperative agreements will be made by the NIST Grants Officer.

Other Requirements

Federal Policies and Procedures

    Recipients and subrecipients are subject to all Federal laws and 
Federal and DoC policies, regulations, and procedures applicable to 
Federal financial assistance awards.

Past Performance

    Insatisfactory performance under prior Federal awards may result in 
an application not being considered for funding.

Preaward Activities

    If applicants incur any costs prior to an award being made, they do 
so solely at their own risk of not being reimbursed by the Government. 
Notwithstanding any verbal or written assurance that may have been 
received, there is no obligation on the part of DoC/NIST to cover 
preaward costs.

Award Payments

    Advances shall be limited to the minimum amounts necessary to meet 
immediate disbursement needs. Advanced funds not disbursed in a timely 
manner must be promptly returned to the Department of Commerce (DoC). 
Advances will be approved for periods not to exceed 30 days.

Budget Changes

    When the terms of an award allow the recipient to transfer funds 
among approved direct cost categories, the transfer authority does not 
authorize the recipient to create new budget categories within an 
approved budget unless the Grants officer has provided prior approval.

Tax Refunds

    Refunds of FICA/FUTA taxes received by the Recipient during or 
after the award period must be refunded or credited to the DoC where 
the benefits were financed with Federal funds under the award. The 
Recipient agrees to contact the Grants Officer immediately upon receipt 
of these refunds. The Recipient further agrees to refund portions of 
FICA/FUTA taxes determined to belong to the Federal Government, 
including refunds received after the expiration of the award.

Other Federal Awards with Similar Programmatic Activities

    The Recipient must immediately provide written notification to the 
Federal Program Officer and the Grants Officer in the event that, 
subsequent to receipt of the DoC award, other financial assistance is 
received to support or fund

[[Page 29269]]

any portion of the scope of work incorporated into the DoC award. DoC 
will not pay for costs that are funded by other sources.

No Obligation for Future Funding

    If an application is selected for funding, DoC/NIST has no 
obligation to provide any additional future funding in connection with 
that award. Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the 
period of performance is at the total discretion of DoC/NIST.

Payment of Debts Owed the Federal Government

    Any debts determined to be owned the Federal Government shall be 
paid promptly by the Recipient. Unless otherwise provided by law, a 
debt will be considered delinquent if it is not paid within 15 days of 
the due date. Failure to pay a debt by the due date shall result in the 
imposition of late payment charges. In addition, failure to pay the 
debt or establish a repayment agreement by the due date will also 
result in the referral of the debt for collection action any may result 
in DoC taking further action as specified in the terms of the award. 
Payment of a debt must not come from other Federally sponsored 
programs. Verification that other Federal funds have not been used will 
be made during future program visits and audits.

Competition and Codes of Conduct for Subawards

    Any subawards must be made in a manner that will provide, to the 
maximum extent practicable, open and free competition. The Recipient 
must be alert to organizational conflicts of interest as well as other 
practices among subrecipients that may restrict or eliminate 
competition. In order to ensure objective subrecipient performance and 
eliminate unfair competitive advantage, subrecipients that develop or 
draft work requirements, statements of work, or requests for proposals 
shall be excluded from competing for such subawards.
    The Recipient shall maintain written standards of conduct governing 
the performance of its employees engaged in the award and 
administration subawards. No employee, officer, or agent shall 
participate in the selection, award, or administration of a subaward 
supported by Federal funds if a real or apparent conflict of interest 
would be involved. Such a conflict would arise when the employee, 
officer, or agent, any member of his or her immediate family, his or 
her partner, or an organization which employs or is about to employ any 
of the parties mentioned in this section, has a financial interest or 
other interest in the organization selected for a subaward. The 
officers, employees, and agents of the Recipient may not solicit nor 
accept anything of monetary value from subrecipients. However, the 
Recipient may set standards for situations in which the financial 
interest is not substantial or the gift is an unsolicited item of 
nominal value. The standards of conduct must provide for disciplinary 
actions to be applied for violations of such standards by officers, 
employees, or agents of the Recipient.

Subaward and/or Contract to a Federal Agency

    Recipient, subrecipients, contractors, and/or subcontractors shall 
not sub-grant or sub-contract any part of the approved project to any 
agency of the DoC and/or other Federal department, agency or 
instrumentality, without the prior written approval of the Grants 
Officer.

Name Check Review

    All non-profit and for-profit applicants are subject to a name 
check review process. Name checks are intended to reveal if any key 
individuals associated with the applicant have been convicted of or are 
presently facing criminal charges such as fraud, theft, perjury, or 
other matters which significantly reflect on the applicants' management 
honesty or financial integrity.

Primary Applicant Certifications

    All primary applicants must subject a completed Form CD-511, 
Certifications Regarding Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility 
Matters; Drug-Free Workplace Requirements and Lobbying, and the 
following explanations are hereby provided:
1. Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension
    Prospective participants (as defined at 15 CFR part 26, section 
105) are subject to 15 CFR part 26, Nonprocurement Debarment and 
Suspension and the related section of the certification form prescribed 
above apply;
2. Drug-Free Workplace
    Grantees (as defined at 15 CFR 26.605) are subject to 15 CFR part 
26, subpart F, Governmentwide Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace 
(Grants) and the related section of the certification form prescribed 
above applies;
3. Anti-Lobbying
    Persons (as defined at 15 CFR 28.105) are subject to the lobbying 
provisions of 31 U.S.C. 1352, Limitation on use of appropriated funds 
to influence certain Federal contracting and financial transactions, 
and the lobbying section of the certification form prescribed above 
applies to applicants/bids for cooperative agreements for more than 
$100,000; and
4. Anti-Lobbying Disclosures
    Any applicant who has paid or will pay for lobbying using any funds 
must submit an SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities, as required 
under 15 CFR part 28, appendix B.

False Statements

    A false statement on an application is grounds for denial or 
termination of funds and grounds for possible punishment by a fine or 
imprisonment as provided in 18 U.S.C. 1001.

Intergovernmental Review

    Applications under this program are not subject to Executive Order 
12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.''

Purchase of American-Made Equipment and Products

    Applicants are hereby notified that they are encouraged, to the 
greatest practicable extent, to purchase American-made equipment and 
products with funding provided under this program.

Non-Compliance With Award Provisions

    Failure to comply with any or all of the provisions of the award 
may be considered grounds for any or all of the following actions: 
Establishment of an account receivable, withholding payments under any 
DoC awards to the Recipient, changing the method of payment from 
advance to reimbursement only, termination of any DoC active awards, 
and may have a negative impact on future funding by the DoC.

Prohibition Against Assignment by the Recipient

    Notwithstanding any other provision of the award, the Recipient 
shall not transfer, pledge, mortgage, or otherwise assign the award, or 
any interest therein, or any claim arising thereunder, to any party or 
parties, bank trust companies, or other financing or financial 
institutions.

[[Page 29270]]

Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Information

    Any Recipient classified for tax purposes as an individual, 
partnership, proprietorship, corporation, or medical corporation is 
required to submit a taxpayer identification number (TIN) (either 
social security number, employer identification number as applicable, 
or registered foreign organization number) on Form W-9, ``Payer's 
Request for Taxpayer Identification Number.'' Tax-exempt organizations 
and corporations (with the exception of medical corporations) are 
excluded from this requirement. Form W-9 shall be submitted to the 
Grants Officer within 60 days of the award start date. The TIN will be 
provided to the IRS by DoC on Form 1099-G, ``Statement for Recipients 
of Certain Government Payments.'' Recipients who either fail to provide 
their TIN or provide an incorrect TIN may have funding suspended until 
the requirement is met.
    Disclosure of Recipient's TIN is mandatory for Federal income tax 
reporting purposes under the authority of 26 USC, section 6011 and 
6109(d), and 26 CFR 301.6109-1. This is to ensure the accuracy of 
income computation by the IRS. This information will be used to 
identify an individual who is compensated with DoC funds or paid 
interest under the Prompt Payment Act.

Foreign Travel

    Recipients must comply with the provisions of the Fly America Act 
(49 U.S.C. 40118). The Fly America Act requires that Federal travelers 
and others performing U.S. Government-financed foreign air travel must 
use U.S. flag air carriers, to the extent that service by such carriers 
is available. Foreign air carriers may be used only when a U.S. flag 
air carrier is unavailable, or use of U.S. flag air carrier service 
will not accomplish the agency's mission.

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Disclosure

    To the extent permitted under the FOIA, contents of applications 
and proposals submitted by successful applicants may be released in 
response to FOIA requests.

Executive Order 12866

    This rule has been determined not to be significant for purposes of 
Executive Order 12866.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This Notice involves collections of information subject to the 
Paperwork reduction Act (PRA), which have been approved by the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB) under OMB Control Numbers 0348-0043, 
0348-0044, 0348-0040 and 0348-0046. Notwithstanding, any other 
provisions of law no person is required to respond to nor shall a 
person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with a collection 
of information subject to the requirements of the PRA unless that 
collection displays a current valid OMB Control number.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

    These awards fall under Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance 
Program No. 11.609.

    Dated: May 24, 1999.
Karen H. Brown,
Deputy Director.
[FR Doc. 99-13690 Filed 5-28-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-M