[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 181 (Thursday, September 18, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54719-54722]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-23889]


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

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[CFDA Nos. 84.116A, 84.116B]


Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education--
Comprehensive Program (Preapplications and Applications); Notice 
Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2004

    Purpose of Program: To provide grants or enter into cooperative 
agreements to improve postsecondary education opportunities.
    Eligible Applicants: Institutions of higher education or 
combinations of those institutions and other public and private 
nonprofit institutions and agencies.
    Applications Available: September 18, 2003.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Preapplications: November 3, 2003.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Final Applications: March 22, 2004.

    Note: All applicants must submit a preapplication to be eligible 
to submit a final application.

    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: May 21, 2004.
    Estimated Available Funds: $9,000,000 for new awards.
    The Administration has requested $39 million for this program for 
FY 2004 (approximately $9 million of which will be available for new 
awards). 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: $50,000-$275,000 per year.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $156,000 per year.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 50-55.

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

    Project Period: Up to 36 months.
    Applicable Regulations: The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 
82, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99.

Invitational Priorities

    While applicants may propose any project within the scope of 20 
U.S.C. 1138, under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1) the Secretary is particularly 
interested in applications that meet one or more of the following 
invitational priorities. However, an application that meets one or more 
of these invitational priorities does not receive competitive or 
absolute preference over other applications.

Invitational Priority 1

    Projects to improve the quality of K-12 teaching through new models 
of teacher preparation and through new kinds of partnerships between 
schools and colleges and universities that enhance students' 
preparation for, access to, and success in college.

Invitational Priority 2

    Projects to promote innovative reforms in the curriculum and 
instruction of various subjects at the college preparation, 
undergraduate, and graduate/professional levels, especially through 
student-centered or technology-mediated strategies, and including the 
subject area of civic education.

Invitational Priority 3

    Projects designing more cost-effective ways of improving 
postsecondary instruction and operations, i.e., to promote more student 
learning relative to institutional resources expended.

Invitational Priority 4

    Projects to support new ways to ensure equal access to 
postsecondary education and to improve rates of retention and program 
completion, especially for underrepresented students whose retention 
and completion rates continue to lag behind those of other groups, and 
especially to encourage wider adoption of proven approaches to this 
problem.

Aligning Your Proposal to the Review Criteria

    The success of FIPSE's Comprehensive Program depends upon (1) the 
extent to which funded projects are being replicated--i.e., adopted or 
adapted--by others; and (2) the manner in which projects are being 
institutionalized and continued after grant funding. These two results 
constitute FIPSE's indicators of the success of our program.
    If funded, you will be asked to collect and report data in your 
project's annual performance report (EDGAR, 34 CFR 75.590) on steps 
taken toward these goals. Consequently, applicants to FIPSE's 
Comprehensive Program are advised to include these two outcomes in 
conceptualizing the design, implementation and evaluation of the 
proposed project. Consideration of FIPSE's two performance outcomes is 
an important part of many of the review criteria discussed below. Thus, 
it is important to the success of your application that you include 
these objectives. Their measure should be a part of the project 
evaluation plan, along with measures of objectives specific to your 
project.

[[Page 54720]]

Methods for Applying Selection Criteria

    For preapplications (preliminary applications) and final 
applications, the Secretary gives equal weight to each of the selection 
criteria. Within each of these criteria, the Secretary gives equal 
weight to each of the factors.

Selection Criteria

    In evaluating preapplications and final applications for grants 
under this program competition, the Secretary uses the following 
selection criteria chosen from those listed in 34 CFR 75.210.

Preapplications

    In evaluating preapplications, the Secretary uses the following 
four selection criteria:
    (a) Need for project. The Secretary considers the need for the 
proposed project. In determining need, the Secretary considers each of 
the following factors:
    (1) The magnitude or severity of the problem to be addressed by the 
proposed project.
    (2) The magnitude of the need for the services to be provided or 
the activities to be carried out by the proposed project.
    (b) Significance. The Secretary considers the significance of the 
proposed project. In determining the significance, the Secretary 
considers each of the following factors:
    (1) The potential contribution of the proposed project to increased 
knowledge or understanding of educational problems, issues, or 
effective strategies.
    (2) The extent to which the proposed project involves the 
development or demonstration of promising new strategies that build on, 
or are alternatives to, existing strategies.
    (3) The importance or magnitude of the results or outcomes likely 
to be attained by the proposed project.
    (4) The potential replicability of the proposed project or 
strategies, including, as appropriate, the potential for implementation 
in a variety of settings.
    (c) Quality of the project design. The Secretary considers the 
quality of the design of the proposed project. In determining the 
quality of the design, the Secretary considers each of the following 
factors:
    (1) The extent to which the design of the proposed project is 
appropriate to, and will successfully address, the needs of the target 
population or other identified needs.
    (2) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be 
achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable.
    (3) The extent to which the design for implementing and evaluating 
the proposed project will result in information to guide possible 
replication of project activities or strategies, including information 
about the effectiveness of the approach or strategies employed by the 
project.
    (4) The extent to which the proposed project is designed to build 
capacity and yield results that will extend beyond the period of 
Federal financial assistance.
    (d) Quality of the project evaluation. The Secretary considers the 
quality of the project evaluation to be conducted of the proposed 
project. In determining the quality of the evaluation, the Secretary 
considers each of the following factors:
    (1) The extent to which the evaluation will provide guidance about 
effective strategies suitable for replication or testing in other 
settings.
    (2) The extent to which the methods of evaluation are thorough, 
feasible, and appropriate to the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the 
proposed project.
    (3) The extent to which the methods of evaluation include the use 
of objective performance measures that are clearly related to the 
intended outcomes of the project and will produce quantitative and 
qualitative data to the extent possible.
    Final Applications. In evaluating final applications, the Secretary 
uses the following seven selection criteria:
    (a) Need for project. The Secretary considers the need for the 
proposed project. In determining need, the Secretary considers each of 
the following factors:
    (1) The magnitude or severity of the problem to be addressed by the 
proposed project.
    (2) The magnitude of the need for the services to be provided or 
the activities to be carried out by the proposed project.
    (b) Significance. The Secretary considers the significance of the 
proposed project. In determining significance, the Secretary considers 
each of the following factors:
    (1) The potential contribution of the proposed project to increased 
knowledge or understanding of educational problems, issues, or 
effective strategies.
    (2) The extent to which the proposed project involves the 
development or demonstration of promising new strategies that build on, 
or are alternatives to, existing strategies.
    (3) The importance or magnitude of the results or outcomes likely 
to be attained by the proposed project.
    (4) The potential replicability of the proposed project or 
strategies, including, as appropriate, the potential for implementation 
in a variety of settings.
    (c) Quality of the project design. The Secretary considers the 
quality of the design of the proposed project. In determining the 
quality of the design, the Secretary considers each of the following 
factors:
    (1) The extent to which the design of the proposed project is 
appropriate to, and will successfully address, the needs of the target 
population or other identified needs.
    (2) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be 
achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable.
    (3) The extent to which the design for implementing and evaluating 
the proposed project will result in information to guide possible 
replication of project activities or strategies, including information 
about the effectiveness of the approach or strategies employed by the 
project.
    (4) The extent to which the proposed project is designed to build 
capacity and yield results that will extend beyond the period of 
Federal financial assistance.
    (d) Quality of the project evaluation. The Secretary considers the 
quality of the evaluation to be conducted of the proposed project. In 
determining the quality of evaluation to be conducted, the Secretary 
considers each of the following factors:
    (1) The extent to which the evaluation will provide guidance about 
effective strategies suitable for replication or testing in other 
settings.
    (2) The extent to which the methods of evaluation are thorough, 
feasible, and appropriate to the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the 
proposed project.
    (3) The extent to which the methods of evaluation include the use 
of objective performance measures that are clearly related to the 
intended outcomes of the project and will produce quantitative and 
qualitative data to the extent possible.
    (e) Quality of the management plan. The Secretary considers the 
quality of the personnel who will carry out the proposed project. In 
determining the quality of the management plan, the Secretary considers 
the adequacy of the management plan to achieve the objectives of the 
proposed project on time and within budget, including clearly defined 
responsibilities, timelines, and milestones for accomplishing project 
tasks.
    (f) Quality of project personnel. The Secretary considers the 
quality of the personnel who will carry out the proposed project. In 
determining the quality of project personnel the

[[Page 54721]]

Secretary considers each of the following factors:
    (1) The extent to which the applicant encourages applications for 
employment from persons who are members of groups that have 
traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national 
origin, gender, age, or disability.
    (2) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of key project personnel.
    (g) Adequacy of resources. The Secretary considers the adequacy of 
resources for the proposed project. In determining the adequacy of 
resources, the Secretary considers each of the following factors:
    (1) The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to the 
objectives, design, and potential significance of the proposed project.
    (2) The relevance and demonstrated commitment of each partner in 
the proposed project to the implementation and success of the project.
    (3) The potential for continued support of the project after 
Federal funding ends, including, as appropriate, the demonstrated 
commitment of appropriate entities to such support.

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 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 Comprehensive Program --CFDA No. 84.116A is one of the programs 
included in the pilot project. If you are an applicant under the 
Comprehensive Program --CFDA No. 84.116A, you may submit your 
preapplication and/or your final application to us in either electronic 
or paper format.
    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. If you participate in 
this voluntary pilot project by submitting an application 
electronically, the data you enter on-line will be saved into a 
database. We request your participation in e-Application. We shall 
continue to evaluate its success and solicit suggestions for 
improvement.
    If you participate in e-Application when submitting your 
preapplication or final application, please note the following:
    [sbull] Your participation is voluntary.
    [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 any 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 may submit all documents electronically, including the 
Title Page (Form No. ED 40-514) and Budget Summary form, 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 Title Page (Form No. ED 40-514) 
to the Application Control Center after following these steps:
    (1) Print ED 40-514 from the e-Application system.
    (2) The institution's Authorizing Representative must sign this 
form.
    (3) Place the PR/Award number in the upper right hand corner (Item 
1) of the hard copy signature page of the ED 40-514.
    (4) Fax the signed ED 40-514 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.
    [sbull] Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of System 
Unavailability: If you elect to participate in the e-Application pilot 
for the Comprehensive Program preapplication, CFDA No. 84.116A, or the 
final application, CFDA No. 84.116B, and you are prevented from 
submitting your application on the closing 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 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 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 
Comprehensive Program preapplication--CFDA No. 84.116A or final 
application--CFDA No. 84.116B--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 Contact: Education Publications Center (ED Pubs), 
P.O. Box 1398, Jessup MD 20794-1398. Telephone (toll free): 1-877-433-
7827. FAX: (301) 470-1244. If you use a telecommunications device for 
the deaf (TDD), you may call (toll free): 1-877-567-7734.
    You may also contact ED Pubs at its Web site: http://www.ed.gov/pubs/edpubs.html.
    Or you may contact ED Pubs at its e-mail address: 
[email protected].
    If you request an application from ED Pubs, be sure to identify 
this competition as follows: CDFA number 84.116A.

    Note: Application text and forms are available on the FIPSE Web 
site (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Fund for the Improvement of 
Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K 
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20006-8544. Telephone: (202) 502-7500. The 
application text and forms may be

[[Page 54722]]

obtained from the Internet address: http://www.ed.gov/FIPSE/.
    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 contact listed under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.
    Individuals with disabilities also may obtain a copy of the 
application package in an alternative format. However, the Department 
is not able to reproduce in 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/news/fedregister.
    To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available 
free on 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. 1138-1138d.

    Dated: September 15, 2003.
Sally L. Stroup,
Assistant Secretary, Office of Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 03-23889 Filed 9-17-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P