[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 216 (Tuesday, November 9, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 61198]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-29337]



[[Page 61197]]

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Part III

Department of Education
_______________________________________________________________________



Office of Educational Research and Improvement; Field-Initiated Studies 
(FIS) Education Research Grant Program; to Inviting Applications for 
New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2000; Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 216 / Tuesday, November 9, 1999 / 
Notices  

[[Page 61198]]



DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[CFDA No.: 84.305T]


Office of Educational Research and Improvement; Field-Initiated 
Studies (FIS) Education Research Grant Program; Notice Inviting 
Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2000.

PURPOSE OF PROGRAM: The Field-Initiated Studies Education Research 
Grant Program awards grants to conduct education research in which 
topics and methods of study are generated by investigators.

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS: Institutions of higher education; State and local 
education agencies; public and private organizations, institutions, and 
agencies; and individuals.

APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE: December 9, 1999.
    Application packages will be available by mail and electronically 
on the World Wide Web at the following sites: http://www.ed.gov/
offices/OERI/FIS/www.ed.gov/GrantApps/

DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS: February 16, 2000.

    Note: We must receive all applications on or before this date. 
This requirement takes exception to the Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), 34 CFR 75.102. Under the 
Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553), the Department 
generally offers interested parties the opportunity to comment on 
proposed regulations. However, this exception to EDGAR makes 
procedural changes only and does not establish new substantive 
policy. Therefore, under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(A), the Assistant Secretary 
for the Office of Educational Research and Improvement has 
determined that proposed rulemaking is not required.

TENTATIVE AWARD DATE: May 31, 2000.

AVAILABLE FUNDS: $10 million.
    The estimated amount of funds available for new awards is based on 
the Administration's request for this program for FY 2000. The actual 
level of funding, if any, depends on final congressional action. 
However, we are inviting applications to allow enough time to complete 
the grant process before the end of the fiscal year, if Congress 
appropriates funds for this program.

ESTIMATED RANGE OF AWARDS: The size of the awards will be commensurate 
with the nature and scope of the work proposed.

BUDGET PERIOD: 12-month period.

PROJECT PERIOD: 12 to 36 months.
    Note: Contingent upon the availability of funds, the Department 
intends to award another cycle of grants under this program, early 
in the next fiscal year. (Anticipated application availability date: 
June 9, 2000. Anticipated closing date: September 18, 2000. 
Anticipated award date: December 15, 2000. Estimated funds 
available: $10 million.)
    Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this 
notice.

APPLICABLE REGULATIONS: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 80, 81, 
82, 85, 86 (part 86 applies to IHEs only), 97; and (b) the regulations 
in 34 CFR part 700.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Field-Initiated Studies Education 
Research Grant Program is highly competitive. In its last competition, 
OERI funded about 1 award for every 25 eligible applications. Strong 
applications for FIS grants clearly address each of the applicable 
selection criteria.
    Strong applications make a reasoned and compelling case for the 
national significance of the problems or issues that will be the 
subject of the proposed research. Strong applications present a 
research design which is complete and clearly delineated, incorporating 
sound research methods. The personnel descriptions included in strong 
applications make it apparent that the project director, principal 
investigator and other key personnel possess training and experience 
commensurate with their duties.
    The project period of the grant may be from one to three years. In 
the application, the project period should be divided into 12-month 
budget periods. Each 12-month budget should be clearly delineated and 
justified in terms of the proposed activities.

    Collaboration: The Secretary encourages collaboration in the 
conduct of research. For example, major research universities and 
institutions may collaborate with historically underrepresented 
institutions, such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities, 
Hispanic-Serving Institutions, and Tribal Colleges and Universities.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Delores Monroe, Field-Initiated 
Studies Education Research Grants Program, Office of Educational 
Research and Improvement, U.S. Department of Education, 555 New Jersey 
Avenue, NW., room 627, Washington, DC 20208-5531. Telephone: (202) 219-
2229. E-Mail: Delores__M[email protected] If you use a telecommunications 
device for the deaf (TDD), you may call the Federal Information Relay 
Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339.

FOR APPLICATIONS CONTACT: Education Publications Center (ED Pubs), P.O. 
Box 1398, Jessup, MD 20794-1398. Telephone (toll free): 1-877-433-7827. 
FAX: (301) 470-1244. If you use a telecommunications device for the 
deaf (TDD), you may call (toll free): 1-877-576-7734.
    You may also contact ED Pubs at its web site: http://www.ed.gov/
pubs/edpubs.html 
    Or you may contact ED Pubs at its E-mail address: 
E[email protected]
    If you request an application from ED Pubs, be sure to identify 
this competition as follows: CFDA Number 84.305T.
    Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an 
alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer 
diskette) on request to the program contact person listed under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
    Individuals with disabilities also may obtain a copy of the 
application package in an alternative format by contacting that person. 
However, the Department is not able to reproduce in an alternative 
format the standard forms included in the application.
    Electronic Access to This Document: You may view this document, as 
well as all other Department of Education documents published in the 
Federal Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) on 
the Internet at either of the following sites:

http//ocfo.ed.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 (GPO), toll free, at 1-888-293-6498 or in the Washington, D.C., 
area at (202) 512-1530.

    Note: The official version of this document is the document 
published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the 
official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal 
Regulations is available on GPO Access at:
http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/index.html

    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 6031(c)(2)(B)

    Dated: November 4, 1999.
C. Kent McGuire,
Assistant Secretary for Educational Research and Improvement.
[FR Doc. 99-29337 Filed 11-8-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-U