[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 165 (Tuesday, August 26, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51261-51263]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-21815]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[CFDA No. 84.017A]


Office of Postsecondary Education; International Research and 
Studies Program; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal 
Year (FY) 2004

    Purpose of Program: The International Research and Studies Program 
provides grants to conduct research and studies to improve and 
strengthen instruction in modern foreign languages, area studies, and 
other international fields.
    For FY 2004, we encourage applicants to design projects that focus 
on the invitational priorities in the Priorities section of this 
application notice.
    Eligible Applicants: Public and private agencies, organizations, 
institutions, and individuals.
    Applications Available: August 26, 2003.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: November 3, 2003.
    Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested 
$2,053,000 for International Research and Studies new awards for FY 
2004. 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: $30,000--$170,000 per year.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $108,053 per year.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 19.

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

    Project Period: Up to 36 months.
    Page Limit: The application narrative, section C, is where you, the 
applicant, address the selection criteria that reviewers use to 
evaluate your application. You must limit the narrative to the 
equivalent of no more than 30 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. However, you may 
single space all text in charts, tables, figures and graphs. Charts, 
tables, figures, and graphs presented in the application narrative do 
count toward the page limit.
    [sbull] Use a font that is either 12-point or larger or no smaller 
than 10 pitch (characters per inch). However you may use a 10-point 
font in charts, tables, figures, and graphs.
    The page limit does not apply to the cover sheet; the budget 
section, including the narrative budget justification; the assurances 
and certifications; the one-page abstract; or the appendices. However, 
you must include your complete response to the selection criteria in 
the application narrative in section C.
    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, 80, 82, 
85, 86, 97, 98, and 99; (b) the regulations in 34 CFR part 655; and (c) 
the regulations for this program in 34 CFR part 660.

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

Priorities

    Invitational Priorities: We are particularly interested in 
applications that meet the following invitational priorities.

Invitational Priority 1

    Research, surveys, studies, or development of instructional 
materials that are nonbiased, factually accurate and solicitous of 
diverse views, and that serve to enhance international understanding 
for use at the elementary and secondary education levels, or for use in 
teacher education programs.

Invitational Priority 2

    The development of instructional materials that are nonbiased, 
factually accurate and solicitous of diverse views on the Middle East, 
Central Asia, and South Asia or the languages spoken in these regions.

Invitational Priority 3

    Studies assessing the outcomes and effectiveness of programs 
authorized under title VI of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as 
amended, and related programs supported under section 102(b)(6) of the 
Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961.
    Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1) we do not give an application that meets 
the invitational priorities a competitive or absolute preference over 
other applications.
    Application Procedures: The Government Paperwork Elimination Act 
(GPEA) of 1998 (Pub. L. 105-277) and the Federal Financial Assistance 
Management Improvement Act of 1999

[[Page 51262]]

(Pub. L. 106-107) encourage us to undertake initiatives to improve our 
grant processes. Enhancing the ability of individuals and entities to 
conduct business with us electronically is a major part of our response 
to these Acts. Therefore, we are taking steps to adopt the Internet as 
our chief means of conducting transactions in order to improve services 
to our customers and to simplify and expedite our business processes.

    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.

    We are requiring that applications for grants for FY 2004 under the 
International Research and Studies Program be submitted electronically 
using e-Application available through the Department's e-GRANTS system. 
The e-GRANTS system is accessible through its portal page at: http://e-grants.ed.gov.
    An applicant who is unable to submit an application through the e-
GRANTS system may submit a written request for a waiver of the 
electronic submission requirement. In the request, the applicant should 
explain the reason or reasons that prevent the applicant from using the 
Internet to submit the application. The request should be addressed to: 
Jose Martinez, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K St., NW., Suite 
6000, Washington, DC 20006-8521. Please submit your request no later 
than two weeks before the application deadline date.
    If, within two weeks of the application deadline date, an applicant 
is unable to submit an application electronically, the applicant must 
submit a paper application by the application deadline date in 
accordance with the transmittal instructions in the application 
package. The paper application must include a written request for a 
waiver documenting the reasons that prevented the applicant from using 
the Internet to submit the application.

Pilot Project for Electronic Submission of Applications

    In FY 2004, the Department is continuing to expand its pilot 
project for electronic submission of applications to include additional 
formula grant programs and additional discretionary grant competitions. 
The International Research and Studies Program--CFDA 84.017A is one of 
the programs included in the pilot project. If you are an applicant 
under the International Research and Studies Program, you must submit 
your application to us in electronic format or receive a waiver.
    The pilot project involves the use of the Electronic Grant 
Application System (e-Application). Users of e-Application will be 
entering data on-line while completing their applications. You may not 
e-mail a soft copy of a grant application to us. The data you enter on-
line will be saved into a database. We shall continue to evaluate the 
success of e-Application and solicit suggestions for its improvement.
    If you participate in e-Application, please note the following:
    [sbull] When you enter the e-Application system, you will find 
information about its hours of operation. We strongly recommend that 
you do not wait until the application deadline date to initiate an e-
Application package.
    [sbull] You will not receive additional point value because you 
submit a grant application in electronic format, nor will we penalize 
you if you submit an application in paper format.
    [sbull] You must submit all documents electronically, including the 
Application for Federal Education Assistance (ED 424), Budget 
Information--Non-Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary 
assurances and certifications.
    [sbull] Your e-Application must comply with any page limit 
requirements described in this notice.
    [sbull] After you electronically submit your application, you will 
receive an automatic acknowledgement, which will include a PR/Award 
number (an identifying number unique to your application).
    [sbull] Within three working days after submitting your electronic 
application, fax a signed copy of the Application for Federal Education 
Assistance (ED 424) to the Application Control Center after following 
these steps:
    1. Print ED 424 from e-Application.
    2. The institution's Authorizing Representative must sign this 
form.
    3. Place the PR/Award number in the upper right hand corner of the 
hard copy signature page of the ED 424.
    4. Fax the signed ED 424 to the Application Control Center at (202) 
260-1349.
    [sbull] We may request that you give us original signatures on 
other forms at a later date.
    [sbull] Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of System 
Unavailability: If you are prevented from submitting your application 
on the application deadline date because the e-Application system is 
unavailable, we will grant you an extension of one business day in 
order to transmit your application electronically, by mail, or by hand 
delivery. For us to grant this extension--
    1. You must be a registered user of e-Application and have 
initiated an e-Application for this competition; and
    2. (a) The e-Application system must be unavailable for 60 minutes 
or more between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Washington, DC 
time, on the application deadline date; or
    (b) The e-Application system must be unavailable for any period of 
time during the last hour of operation (that is, for any period of time 
between 3:30 and 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time) on the application 
deadline date.
    The Department must acknowledge and confirm these periods of 
unavailability before granting you an extension. To request this 
extension or to confirm the Department's acknowledgement of any system 
unavailability, you may contact either (1) the person listed elsewhere 
in this notice under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT or (2) the e-
GRANTS help desk at 1-888-336-8930.
    You may access the electronic grant application for the 
International Research and Studies Program at: http://e-grants.ed.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jose L. Martinez, U.S. Department of 
Education International Education and Graduate Programs Service, 1990 K 
Street, NW., Suite 6000, Washington, DC 20006-8521. Telephone: (202) 
502-7635, 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 
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.

[[Page 51263]]

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 any questions about using PDF, call the 
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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. 1125.

    Dated: August 21, 2003.
Sally L. Stroup,
Assistant Secretary, Office of Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 03-21815 Filed 8-25-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P