[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 130 (Thursday, July 8, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41235-41238]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-15471]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Office of Postsecondary Education; Overview Information Student 
Support Services (SSS) Program; Notice Inviting Applications for New 
Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2005

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.042A.

    Dates: Applications Available: July 20, 2004.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: August 31, 2004.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: September 7, 2004.
    Eligible Applicants: Institutions of higher education or 
combinations of institutions of higher education.
    Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested 
$266,557,000 for this program for FY 2005. 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: $220,000-$350,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $280,000.
    Maximum Award: We will not fund any application at an amount 
exceeding the maximum amounts specified below for a single budget 
period of 12 months. All successful applicants will be required to meet 
all of the goals and objectives proposed in their applications 
regardless of whether those proposed goals and objectives were based on 
budgets that exceeded the maximum amounts.
     For an applicant who is not currently receiving a SSS 
Program grant, the maximum award amount is--$220,000 for a project that 
will serve a minimum of 160 student participants; $220,000 for a 
project that will serve only individuals with disabilities; and 
$170,000 or an amount equal to $1,375 per student participant, 
whichever is greater, for a project that will serve less than 160 
student participants.
     For an applicant who is currently receiving a SSS Program 
grant the maximum award amount is--the greater of (a) $220,000, or (b) 
an amount equal to 103 percent of the applicant's prior grant award 
amount for FY 2003 or FY 2004. For applicant institutions of higher 
education who received individual grants in the last competition and 
have since merged into one institution the maximum award amount is--an 
amount equal to 103 percent of either their combined FY 2003 grant 
award amounts or their combined FY 2004 grant award amounts, whichever 
is greater. The Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education may 
increase the maximum grant award to current SSS Program grantees to an 
amount equal to 105 percent of either their FY 2003 or FY 2004 grant 
award amount, whichever is greater, without further notice. The 
Assistant Secretary may increase the maximum grant award to more than 
105 percent through a notice published in the Federal Register.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 975.

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

    Project Period: Up to 60 months.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The purpose of the SSS Program is to increase 
the number of disadvantaged low-income college students, first 
generation college students, and college students with disabilities in 
the United States who successfully complete a program of study at the 
postsecondary level of education. The support services provided should 
increase their retention and graduation rates, facilitate their 
transfer from two-year to four-year colleges, and foster an 
institutional climate supportive of their success.
    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070a-11 and 20 U.S.C. 1070a-14.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 
81, 82, 84, 85, 86, 97, 98 and 99. (b) The regulations for this program 
in 34 CFR part 646.

    Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants 
except federally recognized Indian Tribes.


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

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested 
$266,557,000 for this program for FY 2005. 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: $220,000-$350,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $280,000.
    Maximum Award: We will not fund any application at an amount 
exceeding the maximum amounts specified below for a single budget 
period of 12 months. All successful applicants will be required to meet 
all of the goals and objectives proposed in their applications 
regardless of whether those proposed goals and objectives were based on 
budgets that exceeded the maximum amounts.
     For an applicant who is not currently receiving a SSS 
Program grant, the maximum award amount is--$220,000 for a project that 
will serve a minimum of 160 student participants; $220,000 for a 
project that will serve only individuals with disabilities; and 
$170,000 or an amount equal to $1,375 per student participant, 
whichever is greater, for a project that will serve less than 160 
student participants.
     For an applicant who is currently receiving a SSS Program 
grant the maximum award amount is--the greater of (a) $220,000, or (b) 
an amount equal to 103 percent of the applicant's prior grant award 
amount for FY 2003 or FY 2004. For applicant institutions of higher 
education who received individual grants in the last competition and 
have since merged into one institution the maximum award amount

[[Page 41236]]

is--an amount equal to 103 percent of either their combined FY 2003 
grant award amounts or their combined FY 2004 grant award amounts, 
whichever is greater. The Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary 
Education may increase the maximum grant award to current SSS Program 
grantees to an amount equal to 105 percent of either their FY 2003 or 
FY 2004 grant award amount, whichever is greater, without further 
notice. The Assistant Secretary may increase the maximum grant award to 
more than 105 percent through a notice published in the Federal 
Register.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 975.

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

    Project Period: Up to 60 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: Institutions of higher education or 
combinations of institutions of higher education.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: Section 402D of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965, as amended (HEA), requires that all successful applicants 
that use SSS Program funds for the grant-aid-to-students component must 
provide matching funds, in cash, from non-Federal funds, in an amount 
that is not less than 33 percent of the total amount of SSS Program 
funds used for grant-aid-to-students. This matching requirement does 
not apply to a grant recipient that is eligible to receive funds under 
part A or part B of Title III or under Title V of the HEA.
    3. Other: An applicant may submit more than one application if 
each, separate application describes a project that will serve a 
different campus, as defined in the program regulations, 34 CFR 
646.7(c). Also, an applicant may submit more than one application if 
each, separate application describes a project that will serve a 
different population of participants: For example, individuals with 
disabilities, who cannot readily be served by a single project. For 
each additional application, the applicant must submit a justification 
as to why the different population of participants cannot be served by 
a single project.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: Deborah I. Walsh or 
Dorothy Marshall, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street, NW., 
suite 7000, Washington, DC 20006-8510. Telephone: (202) 502-7600 or by 
email: [email protected].
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may 
call the Federal Information Relay Services (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 
persons listed in this section.
    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 competition. Page 
Limit: You must limit the narrative part of your application--Part II--
First Year Budget Narrative and Part III--Program Narrative--to no more 
than 75 pages using the following standards:
     A ``page'' is 8.5 x 11, on one side 
only, with 1 margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
     Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) 
all text in the application, including titles, headings, footnotes, 
quotations, references, and captions; however, you may single space all 
text in charts, tables, figures, and graphs.
     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 Part I, the application face sheet 
(ED 424); Part I-A, the SSS Program profile and one-page abstract; the 
budget summary form (ED 524); Parts IV and VI, the assurances and 
certifications; and Part V, the prior experience form.
    No appendices or attachments should be included with the 
application. If you include any attachments or appendices, these items 
will be counted as part of the Program Narrative for purposes of the 
page limit requirement.
    We will reject your application if--
     You apply these standards and exceed the page limit; or
     You apply other standards and exceed the equivalent of the 
page limit.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: July 20, 2004.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: August 31, 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 competition. 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: September 7, 2004.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: This competition 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 
competition.
    5. Funding Restrictions: We specify unallowable costs in 34 CFR 
646.31. We reference additional 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 
competition. Application Procedures: The Government Paperwork 
Elimination Act (GPEA) of 1998 (Pub. L. 105-277) and the Federal 
Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 1999 (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.
    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 under the SSS 
Program--CFDA Number 84.042A, be submitted electronically using e-
Application available through the Department of Education's e-Grants 
system. The e-Grants system is accessible through its portal page at: 
http://e-grants.ed.gov.
    If you are unable to submit an application through the e-Grants 
system, you may submit a written request for a waiver of the electronic 
submission requirement. In your request, you should explain the reason 
or reasons that prevent you from using the Internet to submit your 
application. Address your request to: Linda Byrd-Johnson, Ph.D., U.S. 
Department of Education,

[[Page 41237]]

1990 K Street, NW., room 7085, Washington, DC 20006-8510. Please submit 
your request no later than two weeks before the application deadline 
date.
    If, within two weeks of the application deadline date you are 
unable to submit an application electronically, you 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 you from using the Internet to submit your 
application.
    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 SSS Program--CFDA 
Number 84.042A, is one of the programs included in the pilot project. 
If you are an applicant under the SSS Program--CFDA Number 84.042A, you 
must submit your application to us in electronic format or receive a 
waiver.
    The pilot project involves the use of 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. The data you enter online 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:
     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.
     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.
     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.
     Your e-Application must comply with any page limit 
requirements described in this notice.
     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).
     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) 
245-6272.
     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 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 persons listed elsewhere in this notice under 
For Further Information Contact (see VII. Agency Contacts) or (2) the 
e-Grants help desk at 1-888-336-8930.
    You may access the electronic grant application for the SSS Program 
at: http://e-grants.ed.gov.

V. Application Review Information

    1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this program 
competition are in 34 CFR 646.21 and the application package.

    Note: Under the ``Objectives'' selection criterion, 34 CFR 
646.21(b), applicants should address the core objectives related to 
the participants' academic achievements, including retention and 
graduation. Applicants also should note that objectives must be 
measured by cohorts of students who become SSS Program participants 
in each year of the project, and that multi-layered and tiered 
objectives are not acceptable. The application package contains 
specific instructions.

    2. Review and Selection Process: The Secretary will select an 
application for funding in rank-order, based on the application's total 
score for the selection criteria and prior experience, pursuant to 34 
CFR 646.20 through 646.22. If there are insufficient funds for all 
applications with the same total scores, the Secretary will choose 
among the tied applications so as to serve geographical areas that have 
been underserved by the SSS Program.

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, 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 expenditures information as specified by the Secretary in 34 
CFR 75.118.
    4. Performance Measures: The success of the SSS Program will be 
measured by the postsecondary persistence and degree completion rates 
of SSS Program participants that remain at the grantee institution. All 
SSS Program grantees will be required to submit an annual performance 
report documenting the persistence and degree attainment of their 
participants. Since students may take different lengths of time to 
complete their degrees, multiple years of performance report data are 
needed to determine the degree completion rates of SSS Program 
participants. The Department will aggregate the data provided in the 
annual performance

[[Page 41238]]

reports from all grantees to determine the accomplishment level.

VII. Agency Contacts

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Deborah I. Walsh or Dorothy Marshall, 
U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street, NW., suite 7000, 
Washington, DC 20006-8510. Telephone: (202) 502-7600 or by email: 
[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 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: 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.htm.


    Dated: July 2, 2004.
Sally L. Stroup,
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 04-15471 Filed 7-7-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P