[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 246 (Friday, December 23, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76264-76267]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-7784]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Office of Postsecondary Education; Overview Information; 
Educational Opportunity Centers (EOC) Program; Notice Inviting 
Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2006

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.066A.

DATES: Applications Available: December 23, 2005.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: February 15, 2006.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: April 17, 2006.
    Eligible Applicants: Institutions of higher education, public and 
private agencies and organizations; combinations of institutions, 
agencies, and organizations; and secondary schools under exceptional 
circumstances, such as if there is no institution, agency, or 
organization capable of carrying out an EOC project in the proposed 
target area.
    Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested 
$48,972,000 for new awards for this program for FY 2006. 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-$2,200,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $352,000.
    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. We may choose not to further consider or review 
applications with budgets that exceed the maximum amounts specified 
below if we conclude, during our initial review of the application, 
that the proposed goals and objectives cannot be obtained with the 
specified maximum amount.
     For an applicant who is not currently receiving an EOC 
Program grant, the maximum award amount is $220,000 for a project that 
will serve a minimum of 1,000 eligible participants.
     For an applicant who is currently receiving an EOC Program 
grant the maximum award 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 
2005.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 140.

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

    Project Period: Up to 60 months.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The purpose of the EOC Program is to provide 
information with respect to financial and academic assistance available 
for individuals who desire to pursue a program of postsecondary 
education, and provide assistance to those individuals in applying for 
admission to institutions that offer programs of postsecondary 
education, including assistance in preparing necessary applications for 
use by admissions and financial aid officers.
    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070a-11 and 1070a-16.
    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 644.

    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 
$48,972,000 for new awards for this program for FY 2006. 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-$2,200,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $352,000.
    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. We may choose not to further consider or review 
applications with budgets that exceed the maximum amounts specified 
below if we conclude, during our initial review of the application, 
that the proposed goals and objectives cannot be obtained with the 
specified maximum amount.
     For an applicant who is not currently receiving an EOC 
Program grant, the maximum award amount is $220,000 for a project that 
will serve a minimum of 1,000 eligible participants.
     For an applicant who is currently receiving an EOC Program 
grant the maximum award 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 
2005.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 140.

    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, public 
and private agencies and organizations; combinations of institutions, 
agencies,

[[Page 76265]]

and organizations; and, secondary schools in exceptional circumstances, 
such as if there is no institution, agency, or organization capable of 
carrying out an EOC project in the proposed target area.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not involve cost 
sharing or matching.
    3. Other: An applicant may submit more than one application, if 
each separate application describes a project that will serve different 
target schools and target populations. A secondary school applicant 
must submit a certification that there is no other eligible entity in 
the proposed target area that is capable of carrying out an EOC 
project.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address To Request Application Package: Margaret Wingfield or 
Rachael Couch, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street, NW., suite 
7000, Washington, DC 20006-8510. Telephone: (202) 502-7600 or by e-
mail: [email protected].
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may 
call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) 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 either of 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 program. Page 
Limit: The application narrative is where you, the applicant, address 
the selection criteria that reviewers use to evaluate your application. 
You must limit the section of the narrative that addresses the 
selection criteria to the equivalent of no more than 50 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, except titles, headings, 
footnotes, quotations, references, captions and all text in charts, 
tables, and graphs.
     Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, 
Courier New or Arial. Applications submitted in any other font 
(including Times Roman and Arial Narrow) will be rejected.
     Use 12-point font.
    The page limit does not apply to Part I, the application for 
federal assistance face sheet (SF 424); the supplemental information 
form required by the Department of Education; Part II, the budget 
information summary form (ED Form 524); and Part IV, the assurances and 
certifications. The page limit also does not apply to a table of 
contents. If you include any attachments or appendices, these items 
will be counted as part of the Program Narrative (Part III) for 
purposes of the page limit requirement. You must include your complete 
response to the selection criteria in the program narrative.
    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: December 23, 
2005.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: February 15, 2006.
    Applications for grants under this program 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.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: April 17, 2006.
    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 the regulations outlining 
funding restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this 
notice.
    6. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under 
this program 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 EOC Program--CFDA Number 84.066A must be submitted 
electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site at: http://www.grants.gov. 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 the EOC Program 
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, and 
must be date/time stamped by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30 
p.m., Washington, DC, time, on the application deadline date. Except as 
otherwise noted in this section, we will not consider your application 
if it is date/time stamped by the Grants.gov system later than 4:30 
p.m., Washington, DC, time, on the application deadline date. When we 
retrieve your application from Grants.gov, we will notify you if we are 
rejecting your application because it was date/time stamped by the 
Grants.gov system after 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC, time, 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 submission 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 program to ensure that you 
submit your application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov system. 
You can also find the Education Submission Procedures pertaining to 
Grants.gov at: http://e-Grants.ed.gov/

[[Page 76266]]

help/GrantsgovSubmissionProcedures.pdf.
     To submit your application via Grants.gov, you must 
complete all the steps in the Grants.gov registration process (see 
http://www.grants.gov/GetStarted). These steps include (1) registering 
your organization, (2) registering yourself as an Authorized 
Organization Representative (AOR), and (3) getting authorized as an AOR 
by your organization. Details on these steps are outlined in the 
Grants.gov 3-Step Registration Guide (see http://www.grants.gov/assets/GrantsgovCoBrandBrochure8X11.pdf). You also must provide on your 
application the same D-U-N-S Number used with this registration. Please 
note that the registration process may take five or more business days 
to complete, and you must have completed all registration steps to 
allow you to successfully submit an application via Grants.gov.
     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 (SF 424), Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs (ED 
524), and all necessary assurances and certifications. You must attach 
any narrative sections of your application as files in a .DOC 
(document), .RTF (rich text), or .PDF (Portable Document) format. If 
you upload a file type other than the three file types specified above 
or submit a password protected file, we will not review that material.
     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 acknowledgment 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.
    Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of Technical Issues 
with the Grants.gov System: If you are prevented from electronically 
submitting your application on the application deadline date because of 
technical problems with the Grants.gov system, we will grant you an 
extension until 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC, time, the following business 
day to enable you to transmit your application electronically, or by 
hand delivery. You also may mail your application by following the 
mailing instructions as described elsewhere in this notice. If you 
submit an application after 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC, time, on the 
deadline date, please contact either of the persons listed elsewhere in 
this notice under For Further Information Contact, and provide an 
explanation of the technical problem you experienced with Grants.gov, 
along with the Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number (if available). We 
will accept your application if we can confirm that a technical problem 
occurred with the Grants.gov system and that that problem affected your 
ability to submit your application by 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC, time, 
on the application deadline date. The Department will contact you after 
a determination is made on whether your application will be accepted.

    Note: Extensions referred to in this section apply only to the 
unavailability of or technical problems with the Grants.gov system. 
We will not grant you an extension if you failed to fully register 
to submit your application to Grants.gov before the deadline date 
and time or if the technical problem you experienced is unrelated to 
the Grants.gov system.

    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: Geraldine Smith, U.S. 
Department of Education, 1990 K Street, NW., suite 7000, Washington, DC 
20006-8510. FAX: (202) 502-7857.
    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 84.066A), 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 
84.066A), 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

[[Page 76267]]

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 84.066A), 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 (SF 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

    1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this program are 
from 34 CFR 644.21 and are listed in the application package.

    Note: Under the ``Objectives'' selection criterion, 34 CFR 
644.21(b), applicants must address both outcome and process 
objectives that are related to each of the purposes of the EOC 
Program as described in 34 CFR 644.1. The application package for 
this program specifies the following four objectives related to the 
purposes of the EOC program: Increasing enrollment in continuing 
education programs, increasing applications for student financial 
aid, increasing applications for postsecondary education admissions, 
and increasing postsecondary education enrollment. The EOC Program 
Profile page in the application package details more specific 
information that applicants must submit regarding these four 
objectives. Applicants may, but are not required to, develop 
additional objectives for their project.

    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 644.20 through 644.22. If there are insufficient funds for two or 
more applications with the same total scores, the Secretary will choose 
among the tied applications so as to serve geographical areas and 
eligible populations that have been underserved by the EOC 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 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 expenditures information as specified by the Secretary in 
34 CFR 75.118.
    4. Performance Measures: The success of the EOC Program is measured 
by the EOC Program participants' success in enrollment in continuing 
education programs, completion of applications for student financial 
aid, submission of applications for postsecondary admission, and 
postsecondary education enrollment. All EOC Program grantees will be 
required to submit an annual performance report.

VII. Agency Contacts

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Margaret Wingfield or Rachael Couch, 
U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street, NW., suite 7000, 
Washington, DC 20006-8510. Telephone: (202) 502-7600 or by e-mail: 
[email protected]
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may 
call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) 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: www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html.


    Dated: December 20, 2005.
Sally L. Stroup,
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. E5-7784 Filed 12-22-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P