[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 39 (Tuesday, February 28, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10398-10402]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-1867]



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Part V





Department of Education





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Office of Elementary and Secondary Education; Overview Information; 
Office of Indian Education--Demonstration Grants for Indian Children; 
Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2006; 
Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 39 / Tuesday, February 28, 2006 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Office of Elementary and Secondary Education; Overview 
Information; Office of Indian Education--Demonstration Grants for 
Indian Children; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal 
Year (FY) 2006

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

Dates:

    Applications Available: February 28, 2006.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: March 30, 2006.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: May 30, 2006.
    Eligible Applicants: Eligible applicants for this program include 
State educational agencies (SEAs); local educational agencies (LEAs); 
Indian tribes; Indian organizations; federally supported elementary or 
secondary schools for Indian students; Indian institutions (including 
Indian institutions of higher education); or a consortium of any of 
these institutions.
    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 in consortium with or as an ``Indian 
organization'' must demonstrate eligibility by showing how the ``Indian 
organization'' meets 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: $3,000,000.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $100,000 to $275,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $250,000.
    Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a 
budget exceeding $275,000 for a single budget period of 12 months. The 
Assistant Secretary may change the maximum amount through a notice 
published in the Federal Register.
    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: 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 2006 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 matter, 
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. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i) we award up to 
an additional 10 points to an application, depending on the extent to 
which the application meets one or both of these priorities.
    These priorities are:

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). We award five competitive 
preference priority points 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.


    Note: For Competitive Preference Priority One, the combination 
of activities is limited to the activities described in the Absolute 
Priorities.

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. We award five competitive 
preference priority points 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.


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    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 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: $3,000,000.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $100,000 to $275,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $250,000.
    Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a 
budget exceeding $275,000 for a single budget period of 12 months. The 
Assistant Secretary may change the maximum amount through a notice 
published in the Federal Register.
    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: Eligible applicants for this program 
include SEAs; LEAs; Indian tribes; Indian organizations; federally 
supported elementary or secondary schools for Indian students; Indian 
institutions (including Indian institutions of higher education); or a 
consortium of any of these institutions.
    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 in consortium with or as an ``Indian 
organization'' must demonstrate eligibility by showing how the ``Indian 
organization'' meets 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/oese/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 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: February 28, 2006.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: March 30, 2006.
    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 30, 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 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 at: http://www.grants.gov. Through this site, 
you will be able to download a copy of the application package, 
complete it offline,

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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, 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 competition 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/help/GrantsgovSubmissionProcedures.pdf.
     To submit your application via Grants.gov, you must 
complete all of 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 new 
Grants.gov 3-Step Registration Guide (see http://www.grants.gov/assets/GrantsgovCoBrandBrochure8X11.pdf). You must also 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 (ED 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 the person 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

[[Page 10401]]

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: Lana Shaughnessy, 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 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 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. 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 a scientifically based 
research curriculum that prepares them for kindergarten; (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); and (3) the percentage of American Indian and Alaska 
Native high school students attaining at least the district average 
score in national college entrance examinations (the ACT and the SAT) 
and preliminary college entrance examinations (the PSAT).
    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: Lana Shaughnessy, U.S. Department 
of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 5C152, Washington, DC 
20202-6335. Telephone: (202) 205-2528 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 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

[[Page 10402]]

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: February 23, 2006.
Henry L. Johnson,
Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education.
[FR Doc. 06-1867 Filed 2-27-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P