[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 31 (Tuesday, February 15, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 7676]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-3330]



  Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 31 / Tuesday, February 15, 2000 / 
Notices  

[[Page 7676]]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[CFDA No. 84.120A]


Office of Postsecondary Education, U.S. Department of Education 
Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program; Notice Inviting 
Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2000 Under the 
Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program

    Purpose of Program: The Minority Science and Engineering 
Improvement Program (MSEIP) is designed to effect long-range 
improvement in science and engineering education at predominantly 
minority institutions and to increase the flow of underrepresented 
ethnic minorities, particularly minority women, into scientific 
careers.
    Eligibility for Grants: Under Section 361 of Title III of the 
Higher Education Act (HEA), as amended, the following entities are 
eligible to receive a grant under the MSEIP:
    (1) Public and private nonprofit institutions of higher education 
that:
    (A) Award baccalaureate degrees; and
    (B) Are minority institutions;
    (2) Public or private nonprofit institutions of higher education 
that:
    (A) Award associate degrees; and (B) Are minority institutions 
that:
    (i) Have a curriculum that includes science or engineering 
subjects; and
    (ii) Enter into a partnership with public or private nonprofit 
institutions of higher education that award baccalaureate degrees in 
science and engineering;
    (3) Nonprofit science-oriented organizations, professional 
scientific societies, and institutions of higher education that award 
baccalaureate degrees, that:
    (A) Provide a needed service to a group of minority institutions; 
or
    (B) Provide in-service training for project directors, scientists, 
and engineers from minority institutions; or
    (4) Consortia of organizations that provide needed services to one 
or more minority institutions, the membership of which may include:
    (A) Institutions of higher education that have a curriculum in 
science and engineering;
    (B) Institutions of higher education that have a graduate or 
professional program in science or engineering;
    (C) Research laboratories of, or under contract with, the 
Department of Energy;
    (D) Private organizations that have science or engineering 
facilities; or
    (E) Quasi-governmental entities that have a significant scientific 
or engineering mission.
    Deadline for Application Transmittal: March 27, 2000.
    Applications Available: February 15, 2000.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: May 26, 2000.
    Eligible Applicants: (a) For institutional, design, and special 
projects described respectively in 34 CFR 637.14 (a), (b), and (c)--
public and nonprofit private minority institutions as defined in 
section 361 (1) and (2) of the HEA.
    (b) For special projects described in 34 CFR 637.14 (b) and (c)--
nonprofit organizations, institutions, and consortia as defined in 
section 361 (3) and (4) of the HEA.
    (c) For cooperative projects described in 34 CFR 637.15--groups of 
nonprofit accredited colleges and universities whose primary fiscal 
agent is an eligible minority institution as defined in 34 CFR 
637.4(b).

    Notes: 1. A minority institution is defined in 34 CFR 637.4(b) 
as an accredited college or university whose enrollment of a single 
minority group or combination of minority groups, as defined in 34 
CFR 637.4(b), exceeds 50 percent of the total enrollment.
    2. Section 365(4) of the HEA now defines the term ``science'' to 
include ``behavior science.''

    Estimated Range and Average Size of Awards: The amounts referenced 
below are advisory and represent the Department's best estimate at this 
time. The average size of an award is the estimate for a single-year 
project or for the first budget period of a multi-year project.

Institutional
    Estimated Range of Awards: $100,000-$200,000
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $120,000
    Estimated Number of Awards: 21
Design
    Estimated Range of Awards: $15,000-$20,000
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $19,000
    Estimated Number of Awards: 3
Special
    Estimated Range of Awards: $20,000-$150,000
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $26,300
    Estimated Number of Awards: 10
Cooperative
    Estimated Range of Awards: $100,000-$500,000
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $280,000
    Estimated Number of Awards: 3

    Applicable Regulations: Regulations applicable to this program are 
(a) The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) 
in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 83, 86, 97, 98, and 99; and (b) The 
regulations in 34 CFR part 637.

    Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of 
higher education only.

    Project Period: Up to 36 months.
    For Information Contact: Mr. Kenneth Waters or Ms. Deborah Newkirk, 
Institutional Development and Undergraduate Education Service, U.S. 
Department of Education, 1990 K Street, NW, 6th Floor, Washington, DC 
20006-8517 Telephone: 202/502-7591 or by Internet to 
[email protected]. The government encourages applicants to FAX 
requests for applications to (202) 502-7861. Individuals who use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339. 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. 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: 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, DC, 
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: Sections 301 (a), (b), and 307 of the Higher 
Education Amendments of 1998, Public Law 105-244, 112 Stat. 1581.

    Dated: February 8, 2000.
A. Lee Fritschler,
Assistant Secretary, Office of Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 00-3330 Filed 2-14-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P