[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 19 (Monday, January 31, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4822-4826]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-1746]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Office of Indian Education; Overview Information; Demonstration 
Grants for Indian Children; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards 
for Fiscal Year (FY) 2005

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.299A.

DATES: Applications Available: January 31, 2005.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: March 17, 2005.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: May 16, 2005.
    Eligible Applicants: Eligible applicants for this program include a 
State educational agency (SEA); a local educational agency (LEA); an 
Indian tribe; an Indian organization; a federally supported elementary 
or secondary school for Indian students; an Indian institution 
(including an Indian institution of higher education); or a consortium 
of such institutions that

[[Page 4823]]

meets the requirements of 34 CFR 75.127 through 75.129.
    An application from a consortium of eligible entities must include 
a consortium agreement. Letters of support do not meet the requirement 
for a consortium agreement.
    Applicants applying as ``Indian organizations'' must demonstrate 
eligibility by showing how they meet all the criteria outlined in 34 
CFR 263.20.
    The term ``Indian institution of higher education'' means an 
accredited college or university within the United States that is cited 
in section 532 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 
1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note), any other institution that qualifies for 
funding under the Tribally Controlled College or University Assistance 
Act of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), and Dine College (formerly Navajo 
Community College), authorized in the Navajo Community College Act (25 
U.S.C. 640a et seq).
    We will reject any application that does not meet these 
requirements.
    Estimated Available Funds: $2,472,924.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $100,000 to $275,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $247,292.
    Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a 
budget exceeding $275,000 for a single budget period of 12 months. The 
Assistant Deputy Secretary may change the maximum amount through a 
notice published in the Federal Register.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 10.


    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: The purpose of the Demonstration Grants for 
Indian Children program is to provide financial assistance to projects 
that develop, test, and demonstrate the effectiveness of services and 
programs to improve the educational opportunities and achievement of 
preschool, elementary, and secondary Indian students. To meet the 
purposes of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, this program will 
focus project services on (1) Increasing school readiness skills of 
three- and four-year-old American Indian and Alaska Native children; 
and (2) enabling American Indian and Alaska Native high school 
graduates to transition successfully to postsecondary education by 
increasing their competency and skills in challenging subjects, 
including mathematics and science.
    Priorities: This competition contains two absolute priorities and 
two competitive preference priorities.
    Absolute Priorities: For FY 2005 these priorities are absolute 
priorities. In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(ii), these 
priorities are from the regulations for this program (34 CFR 
263.21(c)(1) and (3)). Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), we consider only 
applications that meet one or both of the following priorities.
    These priorities are:

Absolute Priority One

    School readiness projects that provide age appropriate educational 
programs and language skills to three- and four-year-old Indian 
students to prepare them for successful entry into school at the 
kindergarten level.

Absolute Priority Two

    College preparatory programs for secondary school students designed 
to increase competency and skills in challenging subject matters, 
including mathematics and science, to enable Indian students to 
transition successfully to postsecondary education.
    Competitive Preference Priorities: Within these absolute 
priorities, we give competitive preference to applicants that address 
the following priorities.

Competitive Preference Priority One

    In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(iv), this priority is from 
section 7121 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as 
amended (ESEA), 20 U.S.C. 7441(d)(1)(B). Five competitive preference 
priority points will be awarded to an applicant that presents a plan 
for combining two or more of the activities described in section 
7121(c) of the ESEA over a period of more than one year.

Competitive Preference Priority Two

    In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(iv), this priority is from 
section 7143 of the ESEA, 20 U.S.C. 7473. Five competitive preference 
priority points will be awarded to an application submitted by an 
Indian tribe, Indian organization, or Indian institution of higher 
education, including a consortium of any of these entities with other 
eligible entities. An application from a consortium of eligible 
entities that meets the requirements of 34 CFR 75.127 through 75.129 
and includes an Indian tribe, Indian organization, or Indian 
institution of higher education will be considered eligible to receive 
the five competitive preference points. These competitive preference 
points are in addition to the five competitive preference points that 
may be given under Competitive Preference Priority One.


    Note: A consortium agreement, signed by all parties, must be 
submitted with the application in order for the application to be 
considered a consortium application. Letters of support do not meet 
the requirement for a consortium agreement. We will reject any 
application from a consortium that does not meet this requirement.


    Note: The term ``Indian institution of higher education'' means 
an accredited college or university within the United States that is 
cited in section 532 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status 
Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note), any other institution that 
qualifies for funding under the Tribally Controlled College or 
University Assistance Act of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), and Dine 
College (formerly Navajo Community College), authorized in the 
Navajo Community College Act (25 U.S.C. 640a et seq.).


    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7441.

    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; and (b) 34 CFR part 263.

    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: $2,472,924.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $100,000 to $275,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $247,292.
    Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a 
budget exceeding $275,000 for a single budget period of 12 months. The 
Assistant Deputy Secretary may change the maximum amount through a 
notice published in the Federal Register.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 10.


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

    Project Period: Up to 48 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: Eligible applicants for this program 
include an SEA; an LEA; an Indian tribe; an Indian organization; a 
federally supported elementary or secondary school for Indian students; 
an Indian institution (including an Indian institution of

[[Page 4824]]

higher education); or a consortium of such institutions that meets the 
requirements of 34 CFR 75.127 through 75.129. An application from a 
consortium of eligible entities must meet the requirements of 34 CFR 
75.127 through 75.129. An application from a consortium of eligible 
entities must include a consortium agreement. Letters of support do not 
meet the requirement for a consortium agreement.
    Applicants applying as ``Indian organizations'' must demonstrate 
eligibility by showing how they meet all the criteria outlined in 34 
CFR 263.20.
    The term ``Indian institution of higher education'' means an 
accredited college or university within the United States that is cited 
in section 532 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 
1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note), any other institution that qualifies for 
funding under the Tribally Controlled College or University Assistance 
Act of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), and Dine College (formerly Navajo 
Community College), authorized in the Navajo Community College Act (25 
U.S.C. 640a et seq.).
    We will reject any application that does not meet these 
requirements.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not involve cost 
sharing or matching.
    3. Other: Projects funded under this competition must budget for a 
one-and-one-half day Project Directors' meeting in Washington, DC 
during each year of the project period.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: 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].
    You may also obtain the application package electronically by 
downloading it from the following Web site: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ods/oie/index.html.
    If you request an application from ED Pubs, be sure to identify 
this competition as follows: CFDA number 84.299A.
    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 elsewhere in this notice under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT.
    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: The application narrative (Part III of the application) 
is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that 
reviewers use to evaluate your application. You must limit Part III to 
the equivalent of no more than 50 double-spaced 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 narrative, including titles, headings, 
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as 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 cover sheet; Part II, 
the budget section, including the narrative budget justification; Part 
IV, the assurances and certifications; or the one-page abstract, the 
resumes, the bibliography, or the letters of support. However, you must 
include all of the application narrative in Part III.
    Our reviewers will not read any pages of your application that--
     Exceed the page limit if you apply these standards; or
     Exceed the equivalent of the page limit if you apply other 
standards.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: January 31, 2005.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: March 17, 2005.
    Applications for grants under this competition must be submitted 
electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov). For 
information (including dates and times) about how to submit your 
application electronically or by mail or hand delivery if you qualify 
for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, please refer 
to section IV. 6. Other Submission Requirements in this notice.
    We do not consider an application that does not comply with the 
deadline requirements.
    Deadline For Intergovernmental Review: May 16, 2005.
    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: Applications for grants under 
this competition must be submitted electronically unless you qualify 
for an exception to this requirement in accordance with the 
instructions in this section.
    a. Electronic Submission of Applications. Applications for grants 
under the Demonstration Grants for Indian Children--CFDA Number 84.299A 
must be submitted electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site. 
Through this site, you will be able to download a copy of the 
application package, complete it offline, and then upload and submit 
your application. You may not e-mail an electronic copy of a grant 
application to us.
    We will reject your application if you submit it in paper format 
unless, as described elsewhere in this section, you qualify for one of 
the exceptions to the electronic submission requirement and submit, no 
later than two weeks before the application deadline date, a written 
statement to the Department that you qualify for one of these 
exceptions. Further information regarding calculation of the date that 
is two weeks before the application deadline date is provided later in 
this section under Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement.
    You may access the electronic grant application for Demonstration 
Grants for Indian Children at: http://www.grants.gov. You must search 
for the downloadable application package for this program by the CFDA 
number. Do not include the CFDA number's alpha suffix in your search.
    Please note the following:
     When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find 
information about submitting an application electronically through the 
site, as well as the hours of operation.
     Applications received by Grants.gov are time and date 
stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted with a 
date/time received by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30 p.m., 
Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. We will not 
consider your application if it was received by the Grants.gov system 
later than 4:30 p.m. on the application deadline date. When we retrieve 
your

[[Page 4825]]

application from Grants.gov, we will notify you if we are rejecting 
your application because it was submitted after 4:30 p.m. on the 
application deadline date.
     The amount of time it can take to upload an application 
will vary depending on a variety of factors including the size of the 
application and the speed of your Internet connection. Therefore, we 
strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline 
date to begin the application process through Grants.gov.
     You should review and follow the Education Submission 
Procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov that are 
included in the application package for this competition to ensure that 
your application is submitted timely to the Grants.gov system.
     To use Grants.gov, you, as the applicant, must have a D-U-
N-S Number and register in the Central Contractor Registry (CCR). You 
should allow a minimum of five business days to complete the CCR 
registration.
     You will not receive additional point value because you 
submit your application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you 
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, as described elsewhere in this section, and submit your 
application in paper format.
     You must submit all documents electronically, including 
all information typically included on the Application for Federal 
Education Assistance (ED 424), Budget Information--Non-Construction 
Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and certifications. Any 
narrative sections of your application should be attached as files in a 
.DOC (document), .RTF (rich text), or .PDF (Portable Document) format.
     Your electronic application must comply with any page 
limit requirements described in this notice.
     After you electronically submit your application, you will 
receive an automatic acknowledgement from Grants.gov that contains a 
Grants.gov tracking number. The Department will retrieve your 
application from Grants.gov and send you a second confirmation by e-
mail that will include a PR/Award number (an ED-specified identifying 
number unique to your application).
     We may request that you provide us original signatures on 
forms at a later date.
    Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement: You qualify for an 
exception to the electronic submission requirement, and may submit your 
application in paper format, if you are unable to submit an application 
through the Grants.gov system because--
     You do not have access to the Internet; or
     You do not have the capacity to upload large documents to 
the Grants.gov system; and
     No later than two weeks before the application deadline 
date (14 calendar days or, if the fourteenth calendar day before the 
application deadline date falls on a Federal holiday, the next business 
day following the Federal holiday), you mail or fax a written statement 
to the Department, explaining which of the two grounds for an exception 
prevent you from using the Internet to submit your application. If you 
mail your written statement to the Department, it must be postmarked no 
later than two weeks before the application deadline date. If you fax 
your written statement to the Department, we must receive the faxed 
statement no later than two weeks before the application deadline date.
    Address and mail or fax your statement to: Cathie Martin, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 5C152, 
Washington, DC 20202-6335. FAX: (202) 260-7779.
    Your paper application must be submitted in accordance with the 
mail or hand delivery instructions described in this notice.
    b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail. If you qualify for an 
exception to the electronic submission requirement, you may mail 
(through the U.S. Postal Service or a commercial carrier), your 
application to the Department. You must mail the original and two 
copies of your application, on or before the application deadline date, 
to the Department at the applicable following address:

By mail through the U.S. Postal Service:
    U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, 
Attention: CFDA Number 84.299A, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, 
DC 20202-4260; or
By mail through a commercial carrier:
    U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center--Stop 
4260, Attention: CFDA Number 84.299A, 7100 Old Landover Road,Landover, 
MD 20785-1506.

    Regardless of which address you use, you must show proof of mailing 
consisting of one of the following:
    (1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark,
    (2) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the 
U.S. Postal Service,
    (3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial 
carrier, or
    (4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of the 
U.S. Department of Education.
    If you mail your application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do 
not accept either of the following as proof of mailing:
    (1) A private metered postmark, or
    (2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service.
    If your application is postmarked after the application deadline 
date, we will not consider your application.


    Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated 
postmark. Before relying on this method, you should check with your 
local post office.


    c. Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery. If you 
qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, you 
(or a courier service) may deliver your paper application to the 
Department by hand. You must deliver the original and two copies of 
your application by hand, on or before the application deadline date, 
to the Department at the following address: U.S. Department of 
Education, Application Control Center, Attention: CFDA Number 84.299A, 
550 12th Street, SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center Plaza,Washington, DC 
20202-4260. The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries 
daily between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, except 
Saturdays, Sundays and Federal holidays.
    Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications: If you mail 
or hand deliver your application to the Department:
    (1) You must indicate on the envelope and--if not provided by the 
Department--in Item 4 of the Application for Federal Education 
Assistance (ED 424) the CFDA number--and suffix letter, if any--of the 
competition under which you are submitting your application.
    (2) The Application Control Center will mail a grant application 
receipt acknowledgment to you. If you do not receive the grant 
application receipt acknowledgment within 15 business days from the 
application deadline date, you should call the U.S. Department of 
Education Application Control Center at (202) 245-6288.

V. Application Review Information

    Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition are 
from EDGAR, 34 CFR 75.210, and are listed in the application package.

VI. Award Administration Information

    1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we notify your 
U.S.

[[Page 4826]]

Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a Grant Award 
Notification (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: The Secretary has established the 
following key performance measures for assessing the effectiveness of 
the Demonstration Grants for Indian Children program: (1) The 
percentage of pre-school American Indian and Alaska Native students who 
possess school readiness skills gained through scientifically research-
based curriculum that prepares them for kindergarten will increase; (2) 
The percentage of American Indian and Alaska Native high school 
students successfully completing (as defined by receiving a passing 
grade) challenging core subjects (including English, Mathematics, 
Science and Social Studies) will increase; and (3) Whether American 
Indian and Alaska Native high school students participating in the 
program have college assessment scores (ACT, SAT or PSAT) as high as 
the district average.
    Under the selection criteria ``Quality of project services'' and 
``Quality of the project evaluation,'' we will consider the extent to 
which the applicant demonstrates a strong capacity to provide reliable 
data on these measures.
    All grantees will be expected to submit, as part of their 
performance report, information documenting their progress with regard 
to these performance measures.

VII. Agency Contact

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cathie Martin, Office of Indian 
Education, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 
5C152, Washington, DC 20202-6335. Telephone: (202) 260-3774 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 contact person listed in this section.

VII. 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: January 25, 2005.
Victoria Vasques,
Assistant Deputy Secretary for Indian Education.
[FR Doc. 05-1746 Filed 1-28-05; 8:45 am]
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