[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 28 (Monday, February 11, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6241-6243]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-3239]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[CFDA No. 84.120A]


Office of Postsecondary Education; Minority Science and 
Engineering Improvement Program; Notice Inviting Applications for New 
Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2002

    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 as amended (HEA), 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 or 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.
    Eligible Applicants: (a) For institutional, design, and special 
projects described in 34 CFR 637.12, 637.13 and 637.14, respectively, 
public and private nonprofit minority institutions of higher education 
as defined in sections 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).

    Note: 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 exceeds 50 percent 
of the total enrollment.

    Applications Available: February 11, 2002.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: March 29, 2002.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: May 29, 2002.
    Estimated Available Funds: $8,500,000.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $15,000-$500,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: The amounts referenced 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 Projects

    Estimated Range of Awards: $100,000-$300,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $120,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 16.

Design Projects

    Estimated Range of Awards: $15,000-$20,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $19,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 2.

Special Projects

    Estimated Range of Awards: $20,000-$150,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $75,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 8.

Cooperative Projects

    Estimated Range of Awards: $100,000-$500,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $280,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 4.
    Estimated Total Number of Awards: 30.

    Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this 
notice. Applicants should

[[Page 6242]]

periodically check MSEIP web site for further information on this 
program. The address is:  http://www.ed.gov/offices/OPE/HEP/idues/mseip.html.

    Project Period: Up to 36 months.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department 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 637.

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

    Applicability of Executive Order 13202: Applicants that apply for 
construction funds under these programs must comply with the Executive 
Order 13202 signed by President Bush on February 17, 2001 and amended 
on April 26, 2001. This Executive order provides that recipients of 
Federal construction funds may not ``require or prohibit bidders, 
offerors, contractors, or subcontractors to enter into or adhere to 
agreements with one or more labor organizations, on the same or other 
construction project(s)'' or ``otherwise discriminate against bidders, 
offerors, contractors, or subcontractors for becoming or refusing to 
become or remain signatories or otherwise adhere to agreements with one 
or more labor organizations, on the same or other construction 
project(s).'' However, the Executive order does not prohibit 
contractors or subcontractors from voluntarily entering into these 
agreements.
    Projects funded under this program that include construction 
activity will be provided a copy of this Executive order and will be 
asked to certify that they will adhere to it.

Application Procedures

    Note: Some of the procedures in these instructions for 
transmitting applications differ from those in 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, 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

    In Fiscal Year 2002, the U.S. Department of Education is continuing 
to expand its pilot project of electronic submission of applications to 
include additional formula grant programs and additional discretionary 
grant competitions. The Minority Science and Engineering Improvement 
Program, CFDA 84.120A is one of the programs included in the pilot 
project. If you are an applicant under the Minority Science and 
Engineering Improvement Program, you may submit your application to us 
in either electronic or paper format.
    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 the 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 may submit all grant documents electronically 
including the Application for Federal Assistance under the Minority 
Science and Engineering Improvement Program (OMB No. 1840-0109), 
Project Summary Page, Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs (ED 
524), and all necessary assurances and certifications.
     Within three working days of submitting your electronic 
application, fax a signed copy of the Application for Federal 
Assistance under the Minority Science and Engineering Improvement 
Program (OMB No. 1840-0109) to the Application Control Center after 
following these steps:
    1. Print the Application for Federal Assistance under the Minority 
Science and Engineering Improvement Program (OMB No. 1840-0109) from 
the e-APPLICATION system.
    2. Make sure 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 the 
Application for Federal Assistance under the Minority Science and 
Engineering Improvement Program (OMB No. 1840-0109).
    5. Fax the Application for Federal Assistance under the Minority 
Science and Engineering Improvement Program (OMB No. 1840-0109) to the 
Application Control Center at (202) 260-1349.
     We may request that you give us original signatures on all 
other forms at a later date.
    You may access the electronic grant application for the MSEIP 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.

FOR APPLICATIONS AND FURTHER 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 20006-8516. Telephone: (202) 502-7586 for Mr. 
Waters and for Ms. Newkirk, (202) 502-7591. FAX: (202) 502-7861, or via 
Internet: [email protected], [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.
    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 persons listed under FOR 
APPLICATIONS AND FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
    Individuals with disabilities may obtain a copy of the application 
in an alternative format by contacting those persons. However, the 
Department is not able to reproduce in an alternative 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 the following site: 
www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister.
    To use PDF, you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available 
free at this site. 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. 1067-1067k.


[[Page 6243]]


    Dated: February 6, 2002.
Kenneth W. Tolo,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy, Planning and Innovation, 
Office of Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 02-3239 Filed 2-8-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P