[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 230 (Monday, December 1, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67155-67157]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-29753]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Office of Postsecondary Education; Overview Information; Fund for 
the Improvement of Postsecondary Education--Special Focus Competition: 
US-Brazil Higher Education Consortia Program; Notice Inviting 
Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2004

    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.116M.

DATES: Applications Available: November 28, 2003.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 16, 2004.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: June 16, 2004.
    Eligible Applicants: Institutions of higher education or 
combinations of institutions and other public and private nonprofit 
institutions and agencies.
    Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested 
$300,000 for new awards under this program 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: $25,000-$30,000 for FY 2004; $190,000-
$210,000 for 4-year duration of grant.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $200,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 12.

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


    Project Period: Up to 48 months.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: To provide grants or enter into cooperative 
agreements to improve postsecondary education opportunities by focusing 
on problem areas or improvement approaches in postsecondary education. 
This program is a Special Focus Competition under the Fund for the 
Improvement of Postsecondary Education (Title VII, Part B of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965, as amended) to support projects addressing a 
particular problem area or improvement approach in postsecondary 
education.
    Priority: Under this competition, we are particularly interested in 
applications that address the following priority.
    Invitational Priority: For FY 2004 this priority is an invitational 
priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105 (c) we do not give an application that 
meets this invitational priority a competitive or absolute preference 
over other applications.
    This priority encourages proposals designed to support the 
formation of educational consortia of American and Brazilian 
institutions to encourage cooperation in the coordination of curricula, 
the exchange of students, and the opening of educational opportunities 
between the United States and Brazil. The invitational priority is 
issued in cooperation with Brazil. These awards support only the 
participation of U.S. institutions and students in these consortia. 
Brazilian institutions participating in any consortium proposal 
responding to the invitational priority may apply, respectively, to the 
Coordination of Improvement of Personnel of Superior Level (CAPES), 
Brazilian Ministry of Education, for additional funding under a 
separate but parallel Brazilian competition.
    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1138-1138d.
    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.

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

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary awards.
    Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested 
$300,000 for this program 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: $25,000-$30,000 for FY 2004; $190,000-
$210,000 for 4-year duration of grant.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $200,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 12.

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


    Project Period: Up to 48 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: Institutions of higher education or 
combinations of institutions and other public and private nonprofit 
institutions and agencies.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not involve cost 
sharing or matching.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: Beverly Baker, Fund for 
the Improvement of Postsecondary Education, U.S. Department of 
Education, 1990 K Street, NW., suite 6140, Washington, DC 20006-8544. 
Telephone: (202) 502-7503 or by e-mail: [email protected] or 
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): 1-877-576-7734.
    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: CFDA number 84.116M.
    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 a copy of the application 
package in an alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, 
audiotape, or computer diskette) by contacting the program contact 
person listed in this section. However, the Department is not able to 
reproduce in an alternative format the standard forms included in the 
application package.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements 
concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you 
must submit, are in the application package for this program.
    Page Limit: 10 single spaced or 20 double spaced 8.5'' x 11'' sized 
pages (font size 12), with 1 inch margins on the top, bottom and the 
sides. The page limit does not apply to the cover sheet, the abstract, 
the budget section and budget narrative, the assurances and 
certifications; the short resumes, or letters of support.
    Our reviewers will not read any pages of your application that--
    [sbull] Exceed the page limit if you apply these standards; or

[[Page 67156]]

    [sbull] Exceed the equivalent of the page limit if you apply other 
standards.
    3. Submission Dates and Times: Applications Available: November 28, 
2003. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 16, 2004. The 
dates and times for the transmittal of applications by mail or by hand 
(including a courier service or commercial carrier) are in the 
application package for this program. The application package also 
specifies the hours of operation of the e-Application Web site.
    We do not consider an application that does not comply with the 
deadline requirements.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: June 16, 2004.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: This program is subject to Executive 
Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. Information about 
Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under Executive Order 
12372 is in the application package for this program.
    5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding 
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
    6. Other Submission Requirements: Instructions and requirements for 
the transmittal of applications by mail or by hand (including a courier 
service or commercial carrier) are in the application package for this 
program.
    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: We are 
continuing to expand our pilot project for electronic submission of 
applications to include additional formula grant programs and 
additional discretionary grant competitions. The US-Brazil Higher 
Education Consortia Program--CFDA Number 84.116M is one of the programs 
included in the pilot project. If you are an applicant under US-Brazil 
Higher Education Consortia 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). If you use e-Application, you will 
be entering data online while completing your application. You may not 
e-mail an electronic copy of a grant application to us. If you 
participate in this voluntary pilot project by submitting an 
application electronically, the data you enter online will be saved 
into a database. We request your participation in e-Application. We 
shall continue to evaluate its success and solicit suggestions for its 
improvement.
    If you participate in e-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 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 
US-Brazil Higher Education Program cover page, US-Brazil Program Budget 
Information 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 US-Brazil Program cover page to 
the Application Control Center after following these steps:
    1. Print the US-Brazil Higher Education cover page from e-
Application.
    2. The institution's Authorizing Representative must sign the US-
Brazil Program cover page.
    3. Place the PR/Award number in the upper right hand corner of the 
hard copy signature page of the US-Brazil Program cover page.
    4. Fax the signed US-Brazil Program cover page 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.
    Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of System 
Unavailability: If you elect to participate in the e-Application pilot 
for the US-Brazil Higher Education Consortia Program and 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. We will grant this 
extension if--
    1. You are a registered user of e-Application, and you have 
initiated an e-Application for this competition; and
    2.(a) The e-Application system is 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 is unavailable for any period of time 
during the last hour of operation (that is, for any period of time 
between 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time) on the 
application deadline date.
    We must acknowledge and confirm these periods of unavailability 
before granting you an extension. To request this extension or to 
confirm our acknowledgement of any system unavailability, you may 
contact either (1) the person listed elsewhere in this notice under For 
Further Information Contact (see VII. Agency Contact) or (2) the e-
GRANTS help desk at 1-888-336-8930.
    You may access the electronic grant application for the US-Brazil 
Higher Education Consortia Program at: http://e-grants.ed.gov.

V. Application Review Information

    1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this program are 
in 34 CFR 75.210 as follows:
    (1) Significance. The Secretary considers the significance of the 
proposed project. In determining the significance of the proposed 
project, the Secretary considers--
    (a) 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;
    (b) The likely utility of the products (such as information, 
materials, processes, or techniques) that will result from the proposed 
project, including the potential for their being used effectively in a 
variety of other settings; and
    (c) The importance or magnitude of the results or outcomes likely 
to be attained by the proposed project, especially improvements in 
teaching and student achievement.
    (2) Quality of the Project Design. The Secretary considers the 
quality of the design of the proposed project. In determining the 
quality of the design of the proposed project, the Secretary 
considers--

[[Page 67157]]

    (a) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be 
achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable; 
and
    (b) 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.
    (3) Adequacy of Resources. The Secretary considers the adequacy of 
resources for the proposed project. In determining the adequacy of 
resources, the Secretary considers--
    (a) The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to the 
objectives, design, and potential significance of the proposed project;
    (b) The potential for continued support of the project after 
Federal funding ends, including, as appropriate, the demonstrated 
commitment of appropriate entities to such support; and
    (c) The relevance and demonstrated commitment of each partner in 
the proposed project to the implementation and success of the project.
    (4) Quality of Project Personnel. The Secretary considers the 
quality of the project personnel. In determining the quality of project 
personnel, The Secretary considers--
    (a) 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; and
    (b) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of key project personnel.
    2. Review and Selection Process: The Secretary gives equal weight 
to each of the listed criteria. Within each of the criteria, the 
Secretary gives equal weight to each of the factors.

VI. Award Administration Information

    1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we notify your 
U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a Grant Award Notice 
(GAN). We may also notify you informally.
    If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding, 
we notify you.
    2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: We identify 
administrative and national policy requirements in the application 
package and reference these and other requirements in the Applicable 
Regulations section of this notice.
    We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of 
an award in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice and 
include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also 
incorporates your approved application as part of your binding 
commitments under the grant.
    3. Reporting: At the end of your project period, you must submit a 
final performance report, including financial information, as directed 
by the Secretary. If you receive a multi-year award, you must submit an 
annual performance report that provides the most current performance 
and financial expenditure information as specified by the Secretary in 
34 CFR 75.118.
    4. Performance Measures: Under the Government Performance and 
Results Act (GPRA), FIPSE performance is focused on (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. 
Consequently, applicants for FIPSE grants are advised to give careful 
consideration to these two outcomes in conceptualizing the design, 
implementation, and evaluation of the proposed project. If funded, you 
will be asked to collect and report data in your project's annual 
performance report on steps taken toward these goals.

VII. Agency Contact

For Further Information Contact: Beverly Baker, Fund for the 
Improvement of Postsecondary Education, U.S. Department of Education, 
1990 K Street, NW., suite 6140, Washington, DC 20006-8544. Telephone: 
(202) 502-7503 or by e-mail: [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 in this 
section.

VIII. Other Information

    Electronic Access to This Document: You may view this document, as 
well as all other documents of this Department 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 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.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html.


    Dated: November 24, 2003.
Sally L. Stroup,
Assistant Secretary, Office of Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 03-29753 Filed 11-28-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P