[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 181 (Wednesday, September 18, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58767-58768]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-23720]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[CFDA No. 84.022A]


Office of Postsecondary Education; Fulbright-Hays Doctoral 
Dissertation Research Abroad Fellowship Program; Notice Inviting 
Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2003

    Purpose of Program: The Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad 
Fellowship Program provides opportunities for graduate students to 
engage in full-time dissertation research abroad in modern foreign 
languages and area studies.
    For FY 2003 the competition for new awards focuses on projects 
designed to meet the priority we describe in the PRIORITY section of 
this application notice.
    Eligible Applicants: Institutions of higher education.
    Applications Available: September 25, 2002.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: October 25, 2002.
    Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested 
$4,580,000 for this program for FY 2003. 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 if 
Congress appropriates funds for this program.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $15,000-$60,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Fellowship Awards: $32,028.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 143 fellowships.

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

    Project Period: The institutional project period is 18 months 
beginning July 1, 2003. Students may request funding for 6-12 months.
    Page Limit: The application narrative is where the student 
applicant addresses the selection criteria that reviewers use to 
evaluate the application. The student must limit the narrative to the 
equivalent of no more than 10 pages, and the references to the 
equivalent of no more than 2 pages, using the following standards:
    [sbull] A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only, with 1'' 
margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
    [sbull] Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) 
all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings, 
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in 
charts, tables, figures, and graphs.
    [sbull] Use a font that is either 12-point or larger or no smaller 
than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
    The page limit does not apply to the cover sheet; the budget 
section, including the narrative budget justification; the assurances 
and certifications; or the references. However, you must include all of 
the application narrative in responding to the selection criteria 
included.
    We will reject your application if--
    [sbull] You apply these standards and exceed the page limit; or
    [sbull] You apply other standards and exceed the equivalent of the 
page limit.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 81, 82, 
85, 86, 97, 98, and 99; and (b) The regulations for this program in 34 
CFR part 662.

Priority

    This competition focuses on projects designed to meet a priority in 
the regulations for this program (34 CFR 662.21(d)).
    Absolute Priority: A research project that focuses on one or more 
of the following areas: Africa, East Asia, Southeast Asia and the 
Pacific, South Asia, the Near East, East Central Europe and Eurasia, 
and the Western Hemisphere (Canada, Central and South America, Mexico, 
and the Caribbean). Please note that applications that

[[Page 58768]]

propose projects focused on Western Europe will not be funded.
    Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) we consider only applications that meet 
the priority.

Instructions for Transmittal of Applications

    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 FY 2003, 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 Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research 
Abroad Fellowship Program--CFDA 84.022A is one of the programs included 
in the pilot project.
    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:
    [sbull] Your participation is voluntary.
    [sbull] You will not receive any additional point value or penalty 
because you submit a grant application in electronic or paper format.
    [sbull] You can submit all documents, except transcripts, 
electronically, including the Application for Federal Assistance (ED 
424), Budget Information-Non-Construction Programs (ED 524), and all 
necessary assurances and certifications. Transcripts must be mailed 
separately.
    [sbull] Within three working days of submitting your electronic 
application, fax a signed copy of the Application for Federal 
Assistance (ED 424) to the Application Control Center 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 at (202) 260-1349.
    [sbull] 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 Fulbright-
Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Program 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.

    Note 1: An applicant institution of higher education must submit 
all of its applications in either electronic or paper format. 
Students interested in funding under this program must check with 
the applicant institution to see which method of submission the 
institution will use.


    Note 2: Please note that due to the Department's end of the 
fiscal year close out activities, the e-APPLICATION system will be 
unavailable on October 1. It will become available for users again 
on Wednesday, October 2.

    For Applications and Further Information Contact: The application 
for this program is available at: http://www.ed.gov/offices/OPE/HEP/iegps/ddrap.html.
    Karla Ver Bryck Block, International Education and Graduate 
Programs Service, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street, NW., 
Suite 6000, Washington, DC 20006-8521. Telephone: (202) 502-7632 or via 
Internet: [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 person listed under For 
Applications and Further Information Contact.
    Individuals with disabilities 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 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: 
http://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.
    You may also view this document in PDF at the following site: 
http://www.ed.gov/offices/OPE/HEP/iegps/.

    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: 22 U.S.C. 2452(b)(6).

    Dated: September 13, 2002
Sally L. Stroup,
Assistant Secretary, Office of Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 02-23720 Filed 9-17-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P