[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 15 (Tuesday, January 23, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7472-7474]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-1874]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[CFDA No: 84.031]


Office of Postsecondary Education; Strengthening Institutions, 
American Indian Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, and 
Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions Programs; Notice 
Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2001

    Purpose of Programs: The Strengthening Institutions, American 
Indian Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, and Alaska Native 
and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions Programs are all authorized 
under Title III, Part A of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended 
(HEA). These programs will be referred to collectively in this notice 
as the ``Title III Part A programs.'' Each provides grants to eligible 
institutions of higher education

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to enable them to improve their academic quality, institutional 
management, and fiscal stability, and increase their self-sufficiency. 
The grants thereby support the elements of the National Education Goals 
that are relevant to these institutions' unique missions.

    Notes: 1. A grantee under the Developing Hispanic-Serving 
Institutions (HSI) Program authorized under Title V of the HEA may 
not simultaneously receive a grant under any part of the Title III 
Part A programs. Further, an HSI Program grantee may not give up 
that grant in order to apply for a grant under any Title III Part A 
program. Therefore, a current HSI Program grantee may not apply for 
a grant under any Title III Part A program under this notice.
    2. An institution that does not fall within the limitation 
described in NOTE 1 may apply for a fiscal year 2001 grant under any 
Title III Part A program for which it qualifies as well as under the 
HSI Program. However, we may award to such an applicant only one 
grant under any of those programs. Accordingly, an institution 
applying for a grant under more than one program must indicate that 
fact in each application; further, the institution must indicate 
which grant it prefers to receive in a case where reviewers score 
the applications within the funding range under more than one 
program.

    Applications Available: January 31, 2001.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: March 23, 2001 for 
development and planning grants under each of the Title III Part A 
programs.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: May 23, 2001 for planning 
and development grants under each of the Title III Part A programs.
    Available Funds: We estimate that approximately $13,000,000 will be 
available for new development grants under the Strengthening 
Institutions Program and approximately $9,000,000 for new development 
grants under the American Indian Tribally Controlled Colleges and 
Universities Program, of which $5,000,000 may be used for construction 
and renovation of classrooms, libraries, laboratories or other 
instructional facilities. Institutions that are currently receiving 
grants under the program, as part of their budget request for fiscal 
year 2001 funds, may request funds for construction and renovations 
though the Secretary will give priority to institutions that do not 
currently have a grant. We estimate that up to $1,000,000 may be 
available for new projects under the Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-
Serving Institutions Program.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $330,000-$365,000 per year for 5-year 
development grants under the Strengthening Institutions Program; 
$30,000-$35,000 for 1-year planning grants under the Title III Part A 
Programs; $800,000 to $1,200,000 for 1-year construction and renovation 
grants and $347,000-$395,000 per year for 5-year development grants 
under the American Indian Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities 
Program; and $347,000-$395,000 per year for 5-year development grants 
under the Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions 
Program.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $350,000 per year for 5-year 
development grants under the Strengthening Institutions Program; 
$32,500 for 1-year planning grants under the Title III Part A Programs; 
$1,000,000 per grant for 1-year construction and renovation grants and 
$371,000 per year for 5-year development grants under the American 
Indian Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities Program; and 
$371,000 per year for 5-year development grants under the Alaska Native 
and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions Program.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 14 planning grants under the Title III 
Part A programs; 35 development grants under the Strengthening 
Institutions Program; 5 construction and renovation grants and 10 
development grants under the American Indian Tribally Controlled 
Colleges and Universities Program; and 2 development grants under the 
Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions Program.
    Project Period: 60 months for development grants and 12 months for 
planning grants.

    Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this 
notice. Applicants should periodically check the Title III Part A 
web site for further information on these programs. The address is: 
http://www.ed.gov/offices/OPE/HEP/idues/title3a.html

    Special Funding Considerations: In tie-breaking situations 
described in 34 CFR 607.23 of the Strengthening Institutions Program 
regulations, we award one additional point to an applicant institution 
that has an endowment fund for which the 1997-1998 market value per 
full-time equivalent (FTE) student was less than the comparable average 
per FTE student at similar type institutions. We also award one 
additional point to an applicant institution that had 1997-1998 
expenditures for library materials per FTE student that were less than 
the comparable average per FTE student at similar type institutions.
    For the purpose of these funding considerations, an applicant must 
demonstrate that the market value of its endowment fund per FTE 
student, and library expenditures per FTE student, were less than the 
national averages for the year 1997-1998.
    The Department has changed the way it collects information for 
determining the value of endowment funds and total expenditures for 
library materials. As a result of that change, we do not have base year 
data beyond 1996-1997. In order to award grants in a timely manner, 
however, we will calculate the averages using data submitted by 
applicants.
    If a tie remains, after applying the additional point or points, we 
determine that an institution will receive a grant according to a 
combined ranking of endowment values per FTE student and library 
expenditures per FTE student. The institutions with the lowest combined 
library expenditures per FTE student and endowment values per FTE 
student are ranked higher in numerical order.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Department of Education General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR Parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 82, 
85, 86, 97, 98, and 99; (b) the regulations for this program in 34 CFR 
Part 607. Amendments to 34 CFR Part 607 relating to the American Indian 
Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities and Alaska Native and 
Native-Hawaiian-Serving Institutions Programs were published in the 
Federal Register of December 15, 1999, 64 FR 70146, 70153-70155.
    For Applications or Information Contact: Darlene B. Collins, U.S. 
Department of Education, 1990 K Street, NW, 6th Floor, Washington, DC 
20006-8513. Telephone (202) 502-7777. e-mail: [email protected]
    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 
alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audio tape, or computer 
diskette) on request to the contact person listed under For 
Applications or Further Information Contact.
    Individuals with disabilities may obtain a copy of the application 
package in an alternative format, also, by contacting that person. 
However, the Department is not able to reproduce in an alternative 
format the standard forms included in the application package.

Electronic Submission of Grant Applications

Application Procedures

    Note: Some of the procedures in these instructions for 
transmitting application

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differ from those in the Education Department General Administrative 
Regulations (EDGAR) (34 CFR 75.102). Under the Administrative 
Procedures Act (5 U.S.C.553) the Department generally offers 
interested parties the opportunity to comment on proposed 
regulations. However, these amendments make procedural changes only 
and do not establish new substantive policy. Therefore, under 5 
U.S.C. 553(b)(A), the Secretary has determined that proposed 
rulemaking is not required.

Pilot Project for Electronic Submission of Applications

    We are continuing our pilot project under which applicants for 
planning grants under the Title III Part A programs can submit their 
applications electronically. The CFDA numbers for these programs are: 
84.031A, N, T, and W. This year, we are extending our pilot project to 
include development grant applications from the American Indian 
Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, and the Alaska Native 
and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions Programs. Therefore, planning 
grant applicants under any of the Title III Part A programs and 
development grant applicants under the American Indian Tribally 
Controlled Colleges and Universities, and the Alaska Native and the 
Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions Programs may submit their 
applications to us in either electronic or paper format.
    Institutions submitting a development grant application under the 
Strengthening Institutions program, however, must submit a paper 
application.
    The pilot project involves the use of the Electronic Grant 
Application System (e-APPLICATION formerly e-GAPS) portion of the Grant 
Administration and Payment System (GAPS). We request your participation 
in this pilot project. We shall continue to evaluate its success and 
solicit suggestions for improvement.
    If you participate in this e-APPLICATION pilot, please note the 
following:
     Your participation is strictly voluntary.
     You will not receive any additional point value or penalty 
because you submit a grant application in electronic or paper format.
     You can submit all grant documents electronically 
including the Application for Federal Assistance (ED 424), Budget 
Information--Non-Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary 
assurances and certifications.
     Fax a signed copy of the Application for Federal 
Assistance (ED 424) after following these steps:
    1. Print ED 424 from the e-APPLICATION system.
    2. Make sure that the institution's Authorizing Representative 
signs this form.
    3. Before faxing this form, submit your electronic application via 
the e-APPLICATION system. You will receive an automatic 
acknowledgement, which will include a PR/Award number (an identifying 
number unique to your application).
    4. Place the PR/Award number in the upper right hand corner of ED 
424.
    5. Fax ED 424 to the Application Control Center within three 
working days of submitting your electronic application. We will 
indicate a fax number in e-APPLICATION at the time of your submission.
     We may request at a later date that you give us original 
signatures on all other forms.
    You may access the electronic grant application for the Title III 
Part A programs at: http://e-grants.ed.gov
    We have included additional information about the e-APPLICATION 
pilot project (see Parity Guidelines between Paper and Electronic 
Applications) 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://ocf.ed.gov/fedreg.htm
http://www.ed.gov/news.html

    To use PDF, you must have the Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is 
available free at either of the previous sites. If you have questions 
about using 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  20 U.S.C. 1057.

    Dated: January 17, 2001.
A. Lee Fritschler,
Assistant Secretary, Office of Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 01-1874 Filed 1-22-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P