[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 186 (Tuesday, September 26, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56115-56119]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-15757]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Office of Postsecondary Education; Overview Information; 
Fulbright-Hays Faculty Research Abroad (FRA) Program Notice Inviting 
Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2007

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.019A.

    Dates: Applications Available: October 10, 2006.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: November 15, 2006.
    Eligible Applicants: Institutions of higher education (IHE). As 
part of the application process, faculty submit individual applications 
to the IHE. The IHE then officially submits all eligible

[[Page 56116]]

individual faculty applications with its grant application to the 
Department.
    Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested 
$1,395,000 for new awards in this program for FY 2007. 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 Fellowship Awards: $20,000-$100,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Fellowship Awards: $60,000.
    Estimated Number of Fellowship Awards: 25.

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

    Project Period: The institutional project period is 18 months 
beginning June 1, 2007. Faculty may request funding for 3-12 months.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The Fulbright-Hays Faculty Research Abroad 
Fellowship Program offers opportunities to faculty of IHEs to engage in 
research abroad in modern foreign languages and area studies.
    Priorities: In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(ii), this 
priority is from the regulations for this program (34 CFR 663.21(d)).
    Absolute Priority: For FY 2007 this priority is an absolute 
priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) we consider only applications that 
meet this priority.
    This priority is: A research project that focuses on one or more of 
the following areas: Africa, East Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific 
Islands, South Asia, the Near East, East Central Europe and Eurasia, 
and the Western Hemisphere (excluding the United States and its 
territories). Please note that applications that propose projects 
focused on Western Europe are not eligible.
    Within this absolute priority, we are particularly interested in 
applications that address the following competitive priority.
    Competitive Preference Priority: Within the absolute priority, we 
give competitive preference to applications that address the following 
priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105 (c)(2)(i) and 663.21(d)(2) we award an 
additional five (5) points to an application, that meets this priority.
    This priority is: Research projects that focus on one or more of 
the areas where one or more of the following critical languages are 
spoken: Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Russian, as well as the 
Indic, Iranian, and Turkic language families.

    Program Authority: 22 U.S.C. 2452(b)(6).

    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 81, 82, 
84, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The regulations for this program in 34 
CFR part 663.

    Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to IHEs only.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants redistributed as fellowships to 
individual beneficiaries.
    Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested 
$1,395,000 for this program for FY 2007. 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 Fellowship Awards: $20,000--$100,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Fellowship Awards: $60,000.
    Estimated Number of Fellowship Awards: 25.

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

    Project Period: The institutional project period is 18 months 
beginning June 1, 2007. Faculty may request funding for 3-12 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: IHEs. As part of the application process, 
faculty submit individual applications to the IHE. The IHE then 
officially submits all eligible individual faculty applications with 
its grant application to the Department.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost 
sharing or matching.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: Both IHEs and faculty 
applicants may obtain an application package via the Internet by 
downloading the package from the program Web site: http://www.ed.gov/programs/iegpsfra/applicant.html.
    IHEs and faculty applicants may also obtain a copy of the 
application package by contacting Amy Wilson, International Education 
Programs Service, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street, NW., 
Suite 6000, Washington, DC 20006-8521. Telephone: (202) 502-7689 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 the program contact 
person listed in this section.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements 
concerning the content of an application, together with the forms to be 
submitted, are in the application package for this program.
    Page Limit: The application narrative is where the faculty 
applicant addresses the selection criteria that reviewers use to 
evaluate the application. The faculty applicant must limit the 
narrative to the equivalent of 10 pages and the bibliography to the 
equivalent of two (2) 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. However, faculty applicants may 
single space all text in charts, tables, figures, graphs, titles, 
headings, footnotes, endnotes, quotations, bibliography, and captions.
     Use a font that is either 12-point or larger or no smaller 
than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
     Use a 10-point font in charts, tables, figures, graphs, 
footnotes, and endnotes. However, these items are considered part of 
the narrative and counted within the 10-page limit.
     Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, 
Courier New or Arial. Applications submitted in any other font 
(including Times Roman, Arial Narrow) will not be accepted.
    The page limits only apply to the application narrative and 
bibliography. However, faculty applicants must include their complete 
responses to the selection criteria in the application narrative.
    We will reject a faculty applicant's application if--
     A faculty applicant applies these standards and exceeds 
the page limits; or
     A faculty applicant applies other standards and exceeds 
the equivalent of the page limits.
    3. Submission Dates and Times: Applications Available: October 10, 
2006.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: November 15, 2006.
    Applications for grants under this program must be submitted 
electronically using the Electronic Grant

[[Page 56117]]

Application System (e-Application) available through the Department's 
e-Grants system. Please note that the application availability date for 
this competition is October 10. The application will not be available 
on the e-Application system until October 10. For information 
(including dates and times) about how to submit an IHE's application 
electronically or by mail or hand delivery if an IHE qualifies 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.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: This program is not subject to 
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79.
    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 program must be submitted electronically, unless an IHE qualifies 
for an exception to this requirement in accordance with the 
instructions in this section.
    a. Electronic Submission of Applications.
    Applications for grants under the Fulbright-Hays Faculty Research 
Abroad Program--CFDA Number 84.019A must be submitted electronically 
using e-Application available through the Department's e-Grants system, 
accessible through the e-Grants portal page at: http://e-grants.ed.gov.
    We will reject an application if an IHE submits it in paper format 
unless, as described elsewhere in this section, the IHE qualifies for 
one of the exceptions to the electronic submission requirement and 
submits, no later than two weeks before the application deadline date, 
a written statement to the Department that the IHE qualifies 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.
    While completing the electronic application, both the IHE and the 
faculty applicant will be entering data online that will be saved into 
a database. Neither the IHE nor the faculty applicant may e-mail an 
electronic copy of a grant application to us.
    Please note the following:
     The process for submitting applications electronically 
under the Fulbright-Hays Faculty Research Abroad Fellowship Program has 
several parts. The following is a brief summary of the process; 
however, all applicants should review and follow the detailed 
description of the application process that is contained in the 
application package. In summary, the major parts are as follows: (1) 
IHEs must e-mail the following information to [email protected]: name 
of university, full name and e-mail address of potential project 
director. We recommend that applicant IHEs submit this information as 
soon as possible to ensure that applicant IHEs obtain access to the e-
Application system well before the application deadline date. We 
suggest that applicant IHEs send this information no later than October 
31, 2006, in order to facilitate timely submission of their 
applications; (2) Faculty must complete their individual applications 
and submit them to their IHE's project director using e-Application; 
(3) Persons providing references for individual faculty must complete 
and submit reference forms for the faculty and submit them to the IHE's 
project director using e-Application; and (4) The IHE's project 
director must officially submit the IHE's application, which must 
include all eligible individual faculty applications, reference forms, 
and other required forms, using e-Application. Unless an IHE applicant 
qualifies for an exception to the electronic submission requirement in 
accordance with the procedures in this section, all portions of the 
application must be submitted electronically.
     The IHE must complete the electronic submission of the 
grant application by 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application 
deadline date. The e-Application system will not accept an application 
for this program after 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the 
application deadline date. Therefore, we strongly recommend that both 
the IHE and the faculty applicant not wait until the application 
deadline date to begin the application process.
     The regular hours of operation of the e-Grants Web site 
are 6 a.m. Monday until 7 p.m. Wednesday; and 6 a.m. Thursday until 
midnight Saturday, Washington, DC time. Please note that the system is 
unavailable on Sundays, and between 7 p.m. on Wednesdays and 6 a.m. on 
Thursdays, Washington, DC time, for maintenance. Any modifications to 
these hours are posted on the e-Grants Web site.
     Faculty applicants will not receive additional point value 
because he/she submits his/her application in electronic format, nor 
will we penalize the IHE or faculty applicant if it qualifies for an 
exception to the electronic submission requirement, as described 
elsewhere in this section, and submits an application in paper format.
     IHEs must submit all documents electronically, including 
the Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424), and all necessary 
assurances and certifications. Both IHEs and faculty applicants must 
attach any narrative sections of the application as files in a .DOC 
(document), .RTF (rich text), or .PDF (portable document) format. If an 
IHE or a faculty applicant uploads a file type other than the three 
file types specified above or submit a password protected file, we will 
not review that material.
     Both the IHE's and the faculty applicant's electronic 
application must comply with any page limit requirements described in 
this notice.
     Prior to submitting your electronic application, you may 
wish to print a copy of it for your records.
     After the individual faculty applicant electronically 
submits his/her application to his/her IHE, the faculty member will 
receive an automatic acknowledgment. In addition, the applicant IHE's 
Project Director will receive a copy of this acknowledgment by e-mail. 
After a person submits a reference electronically, he/she will receive 
an online confirmation. After the applicant IHE submits its 
application, including all eligible individual faculty applications, to 
the Department, the applicant IHE will receive an automatic 
acknowledgment, which will include a PR/Award number (an identifying 
number unique to the IHE's application).
     Within three working days after submitting the IHE's 
electronic application, the IHE must fax a signed copy of the SF 424 to 
the Application Control Center after following these steps:
    (1) Print SF 424 from e-Application.
    (2) The applicant IHE'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 SF 424.
    (4) Fax the signed SF 424 to the Application Control Center at 
(202) 245-6272.
     We may request that you provide us original signatures on 
other forms at a later date.
    Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of e-Application System 
Unavailability: If an IHE is prevented from electronically submitting 
the application on the application deadline date because the e-
Application system is unavailable, we will grant the IHE an extension 
of one business day in order

[[Page 56118]]

to transmit the application electronically, by mail, or by hand 
delivery. We will grant this extension if--
    (1) The IHE is a registered user of e-Application and the IHE has 
initiated an electronic 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 
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 the IHE an extension. To request this extension or to 
confirm our acknowledgement of any system unavailability, an IHE may 
contact either (1) the person listed elsewhere in this notice under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT (see VII. Agency Contact) or (2) the e-
Grants help desk at 1-888-336-8930. If the system is down and therefore 
the application deadline is extended, an e-mail will be sent to all 
registered users who have initiated an e-Application. Extensions 
referred to in this section apply only to the unavailability of the 
Department's e-Application system.
    Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement: An IHE may qualify 
for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, and may 
submit its application in paper format, if the IHE is unable to submit 
an application through the e-Application system because--
     The IHE or a faculty applicant does not have access to the 
Internet; or
     The IHE or a faculty applicant does not have the capacity 
to upload large documents to the Department's e-Application 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), the IHE mails or faxes a written 
statement to the Department, explaining which of the two grounds for an 
exception prevent the IHE from using the Internet to submit its 
application. If an IHE mails a written statement to the Department, it 
must be postmarked no later than two weeks before the application 
deadline date. If an IHE faxes its 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 this statement to: Amy Wilson, U.S. 
Department of Education, 1990 K Street, NW., Suite 6000, Washington, DC 
20006-8521. Fax: (202) 502-7860.
    The IHE's 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 an IHE qualifies for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, the IHE may mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a 
commercial carrier) its application to the Department. The IHE must 
mail the original and two copies of the 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 
84.019A), 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 
84.019A), 7100 Old Landover Road, Landover, MD 20785-1506.
    Regardless of which address the IHE uses, the IHE 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 the IHE mails its 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 the IHE's application is postmarked after the application 
deadline date, we will not consider its application.

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

    c. Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery.
    If an IHE qualifies for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, the IHE (or a courier service) may deliver its paper 
application to the Department by hand. The IHE must deliver the 
original and two copies of the 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 84.019A), 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 an IHE 
mails or hand delivers its application to the Department:
    (1) The IHE must indicate on the envelope and--if not provided 
by the Department--in Item 11 of the SF 424 the CFDA number--and 
suffix letter, if any--of the competition under which the IHE is 
submitting its application.
    (2) The Application Control Center will mail a grant application 
receipt acknowledgment to the IHE. If the IHE does not receive the 
grant application receipt acknowledgment within 15 business days 
from the application deadline date, the IHE should call the U.S. 
Department of Education Application Control Center at (202) 245-
6288.

V. Application Review Information

    Faculty applications are divided into seven categories based on the 
world area focus of their research projects, as described in the 
absolute priority listed in this notice. Language and area studies 
experts in seven discrete world area-based panels will review the 
faculty applications. Each panel reviews, scores and ranks its 
applications separately from the applications assigned to the other 
world area panels. However, all fellowship applications will be ranked 
from the highest to lowest score for funding purposes.
    Selection Criteria: The following selection criteria for this 
competition are from 34 CFR 663.21: The maximum score for all of the 
criteria is 100 points. The maximum score for each criterion is 
indicated in parentheses.
    Quality of proposed project (60 points): In determining the quality 
of the research project proposed by the applicant, the Secretary 
considers (1) The statement of the major hypotheses to be tested or 
questions to be examined, and the description and justification of the 
research methods to be used (10 points); (2) The relationship of the 
research to the literature on the topic and to major theoretical issues 
in the field, and the project's importance in terms of the concerns of 
the discipline (10 points); (3) The preliminary research already 
completed or plans for research prior to going overseas, and the kinds,

[[Page 56119]]

quality and availability of data for the research in the host country 
or countries (10 points); (4) The justification for overseas field 
research and preparations to establish appropriate and sufficient 
research contacts and affiliations abroad (10 points); (5) The 
applicant's plans to share the results of the research in progress with 
scholars and officials of the host country or countries and the 
American scholarly community (10 points); and (6) The objectives of the 
project regarding the sponsoring institution's plans for developing or 
strengthening, or both, curricula in modern foreign languages and area 
studies (10 points).
    Qualifications of the applicant (40 points): In determining the 
qualifications of the applicant, the Secretary considers (1) The 
overall strength of the applicant's academic record (teaching, 
research, contributions, professional association activities) (10 
points); (2) The applicant's excellence as a teacher or researcher, or 
both, in his or her area or areas of specialization (10 points); (3) 
The applicant's proficiency in one or more of the languages (other than 
English and the applicant's native language) of the country or 
countries of research, and the specific measures to be taken to 
overcome any anticipated language barriers (15 points); and (4) The 
applicant's ability to conduct research in a foreign cultural context, 
as evidenced by the applicant's previous overseas experience, or 
documentation provided by the sponsoring institution, or both (5 
points).

VI. Award Administration Information

    1. Award Notices: If a faculty application is successful, we notify 
the IHE's U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send the IHE a 
Grant Award Notification (GAN). We may also notify the IHE informally.
    If a faculty application is not evaluated or not selected for 
funding, we notify the IHE.
    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 its approved application as part of its binding 
commitments under the grant.
    3. Reporting: At the end of the project period, the IHE must submit 
a final performance report, including the final reports of all of the 
IHE's fellows, and financial information, as directed by the Secretary. 
The IHE and fellows are required to use the electronic reporting system 
Evaluation of Exchange, Language, International and Area Studies 
(EELIAS) to complete the final report.
    4. Performance Measures: Under the Government Performance and 
Results Act (GPRA), the following measures will be used by the 
Department in assessing the performance of the Fulbright-Hays Faculty 
Research Abroad Program:
    (1) The average language competency score of Fulbright-Hays 
Training Grants--Faculty Research Abroad fellows at the end of the 
research period (post-test) minus the average competency score at the 
beginning of the research period (pre-test). All grantees will be 
expected to provide documentation of the improved language proficiency 
of the fellows through the EELIAS system. Reporting screens for 
institutions and fellows may be viewed at: http://www.eelias.org/eelias/pdfs/FRA/fraDirectorCombined.pdf, http://www.eelias.org/eelias/pdfs/FRA/fraFellowCombined.pdf.
    (2) The percent of projects judged to be successful by the program 
officer, based on a review of information provided in the final 
performance reports. The information provided by grantees in their 
performance reports submitted via EELIAS will be the source of data for 
this measure.

VII. Agency Contact

    For Further Information Contact: Amy Wilson, International 
Education Programs Service, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K 
Street, NW., Suite 6000, Washington, DC 20006-8521. Telephone: (202) 
502-7689 or via the Internet: [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 person listed in this 
section.

VIII. Other Information

    Electronic Access to This Document: You may view this document, as 
well as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal 
Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) on the 
Internet at the following site: http://www.ed.gov/news/fedregister.
    To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available 
free at this site. If you have questions about using PDF, call the U.S. 
Government Printing Office (GPO), toll free, at 1-888-293-6498; or in 
the Washington, DC, area at (202) 512-1530.

    Note: The official version of this document is the document 
published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the 
official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal 
Regulations is available on GPO Access at: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html.


    Dated: September 20, 2006.
James F. Manning,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
 [FR Doc. E6-15757 Filed 9-25-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P