[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 78 (Tuesday, April 22, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21603-21607]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-8711]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Office of Postsecondary Education; Overview Information: Minority 
Science and Engineering Improvement Program (MSEIP); Notice Inviting 
Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2008

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.120A.

    Dates:
    Applications Available: April 22, 2008.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: May 22, 2008.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The MSEIP is designed to effect long-range 
improvement in science and engineering education at predominantly 
minority institutions and to increase the flow of underrepresented 
ethnic minorities, particularly minority women, into scientific and 
technological careers.
    Priorities: In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(iv), these 
priorities are from allowable activities specified in section 352 of 
the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA) (20 U.S.C. 
1067b(b)).
    Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2008, three priorities 
are competitive preference priorities based on 34 CFR 637.31(c). Under 
34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i) we award an additional five (5) points to an 
application that meets Competitive Preference Priority 1. Under 34 CFR 
75.105(c)(2)(ii) we give preference to an application that meets 
Competitive Preference Priority 2 and Competitive Preference Priority 3 
over an application of comparable merit that does not meet these 
priorities.
    These priorities are:
    Competitive Preference Priority 1. Applications from institutions 
that have not received an MSEIP grant within five years prior to this 
competition.
    Competitive Preference Priority 2. Applications from previous 
grantees with a proven record of success.
    Competitive Preference Priority 3. Applications that contribute to 
achieving balance among funded projects with respect to--(a) geographic 
region; (b) academic discipline; and (c) project type.
    Invitational Priorities: For FY 2008, three priorities are 
invitational priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1) we do not give an 
application that meets these invitational priorities a competitive or 
absolute preference over other applications.
    These priorities are:
    Invitational Priority 1. Applications that focus on the development 
of bridge or articulation programs that target pre-freshmen entering 
into science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) fields.
    Invitational Priority 2. Applications that focus directly on 
student learning and encourage and facilitate implementation of 
pedagogical approaches that have been proven effective in increasing 
student retention and achievement in STEM fields.
    Invitational Priority 3. Applications that focus on mentoring 
programs designed to increase the number of underrepresented students 
who graduate with STEM undergraduate degrees.

    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1067-1067k.

    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 82, 
84, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The regulations for this program in 34 
CFR part 637.

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

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grant.
    Estimated Available Funds: $2,932,725.
    Estimated Range of Awards: Institutional Project Grant: $25,000-
$200,000. Special Project Grant: $25,000-$100,000. Cooperative Project 
Grant: $100,000-$300,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: Institutional Project Grant: 
$120,000. Special Project Grant: $50,000. Cooperative Project Grant: 
$200,000.
    Maximum Awards: Institutional Project Grant: $200,000. Special 
Project Grant: $100,000. Cooperative Project Grant: $300,000. For each 
type of grant, we will not fund any application at an amount exceeding 
the specified maximum amount 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; if we conclude, during our 
initial review of the application, that the proposed goals and 
objectives cannot be obtained with the specified maximum amount. The 
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education may change the maximum

[[Page 21604]]

amounts through a notice published in the Federal Register.
    Estimated Number of Awards: Institutional Project Grants: 10. 
Special Project Grants: 10. Cooperative Project Grants: 3.

    Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this 
notice. Applicants should periodically check the MSEIP Web site for 
further information on this program. The address is: http://www.ed.gov/programs/iduesmsi/index.html

    Project Period: Up to 36 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: The eligibility of an applicant is 
dependent on the type of MSEIP project. There are four types of MSEIP 
projects: Institutional, design, special projects, and cooperative. We 
will not award design grants in the FY 2008 competition.
    A. For institutional and special projects described in 34 CFR 
637.12 through 637.14, eligible applicants include public and private 
nonprofit minority institutions of higher education as defined in 
section 361(1) and (2) of the HEA.
    B. For special projects described in 34 CFR 637.14(b) and (c), 
eligible applicants are, in addition to those described in paragraph A, 
nonprofit science-oriented organizations, professional scientific 
societies, institutions of higher education that award baccalaureate 
degrees and meet the requirement of section 361(3) of the HEA, and 
consortia of organizations that meet the requirements of section 361(4) 
of the HEA.
    C. For cooperative projects described in 34 CFR 637.15, eligible 
applicants are groups of nonprofit accredited colleges and universities 
whose primary fiscal agent is an eligible minority institution as 
defined in 34 CFR 637.4(b).

    Note: As defined in 34 CFR 637.4(b), a minority institution 
means an accredited college or university whose enrollment of a 
single minority group or a combination of minority groups exceeds 50 
percent of the total enrollment.

    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: Dr. Bernadette M. Hence, 
Institutional Development and Undergraduate Education Service, U.S. 
Department of Education, 1990 K Street, NW., 6th floor, Washington, DC 
20006-8517. Telephone: (202) 219-7038 or (202) 502-7777, by fax: (202) 
502-7861, or by e-mail: [email protected] or [email protected].
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call the 
Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.
    Individuals with disabilities can 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 you 
must submit, are in the application package for this program.
    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. We have established a 
mandatory page limit for the narrative portion for each type of project 
application. The page limits are as follows: Institutional Project 
Application: 40 pages. Special Projects Application: 35 pages. 
Cooperative Project Application: 50 pages. You must limit the 
application narrative (Part III) to the equivalent of no more than 
these page limits. You must use the following standards:
     A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only, with 1'' 
margins at the top, bottom, and both sides. Page numbers and a document 
identifier may be within the 1'' margin.
     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 a font that is either 12 point or larger or no smaller 
than 10 pitch (characters per inch). However, you may use a 10-point 
font in charts, tables, figures, and graphs.
     Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, 
Courier New, or Arial. An application submitted in any other font 
(including Times Roman or Arial Narrow) will not be accepted.
    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); or 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 not specifically 
requested, 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 exceed the page limit; or if 
you apply other standards and exceed the equivalent of the page limit.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: April 22, 2008.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: May 22, 2008.
    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 in paper format 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.
    Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or 
auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should contact 
the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in Section VII 
in this notice. If the Department provides an accommodation or 
auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability in connection with the 
application process, the individual's application remains subject to 
all other requirements and limitations in this notice.
    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 in 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 Minority Science and Engineering 
Improvement Program (MSEIP), CFDA Number 84.120A, must be submitted 
electronically using the Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site at: 
http://www.Grants.gov. Through this site, you will be able to download 
a

[[Page 21605]]

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 MSEIP 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 (e.g., search for 84.120, not 
84.120A).
    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 date and time 
stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted and must 
be date and 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 accept your application if 
it is received--that is date and time stamped by the Grants.gov 
system--after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application 
deadline date. We do not consider an application that does not comply 
with the deadline requirements. When we retrieve your application from 
Grants.gov, we will notify you if we are rejecting your application 
because it was date and 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/help/GrantsgovSubmissionProcedures.pdf.
     To submit your application via Grants.gov, you must 
complete all steps in the Grants.gov registration process (see http://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp). These steps include (1) 
registering your organization, a multi-part process that includes 
registration with the Central Contractor Registry (CCR); (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/section910/Grants.govRegistrationBrochure.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 submit successfully an application via Grants.gov. In 
addition you will need to update your CCR registration on an annual 
basis. This may take three or more business days to complete.
     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 you typically provide on the following forms: 
Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424), the Department of 
Education Supplemental Information for SF 424, Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and 
certifications. Please note that two of these forms--the SF 424 and the 
Department of Education Supplemental Information for SF 424--have 
replaced the ED 424 (Application for Federal Education Assistance).
     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 in this paragraph 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 from Grants.gov an automatic notification of receipt that 
contains a Grants.gov tracking number. (This notification indicates 
receipt by Grants.gov only, not receipt by the Department.) The 
Department then will retrieve your application from Grants.gov and send 
a second notification to you by e-mail. This second notification 
indicates that the Department has received your application and has 
assigned your application 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 experiencing problems submitting 
your application through Grants.gov, please contact the Grants.gov 
Support Desk, toll free, at 1-800-518-4726. You must obtain a 
Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number and must keep a record of it.
    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 described elsewhere in this notice.
    If you submit an application after 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, 
on the application deadline date, please contact the person listed 
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII in this notice and 
provide an explanation of the technical problem you experienced with 
Grants.gov, along with the Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number. 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: The extensions to which we refer 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

[[Page 21606]]

application to Grants.gov before the application 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: Karen W. Johnson, U.S. 
Department of Education, 1990 K Street, NW., Washington, DC 20006-8517. 
FAX: (202) 502-7861.
    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 84.120A), 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 
84.120A), 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.
    (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.
    (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 84.120A), 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 11 of the SF 424 the CFDA number, including suffix 
letter, if any, of the competition under which you are submitting your 
application; and
    (2) The Application Control Center will mail to you a notification 
of receipt of your grant application. If you do not receive this 
notification 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 637.32 (a) through (j), and are as follows. Applicants must 
address each of the section criteria. The total weight of the selection 
criteria is 100 points; the weight of each criterion is noted in 
parentheses.
    (a) Identification of need for the project (Total 10 points).
    (b) Quality of key personnel (Total 5 points).
    (c) Budget and cost effectiveness (Total 5 points).
    (d) Evaluation plan (Total 10 points).
    (e) Adequacy of resources (Total 5 points).
    (f) Plan of operation (Total 15 points).
    (g) Potential institutional impact of the project (Total 10 
points).
    (h) Institutional commitment to the project (Total 10 points).
    (i) Expected Outcomes (Total 15 points).
    (j) Scientific and educational value of the proposed project (Total 
15 points).
    2. Review and Selection Process: Additional factors we consider in 
selecting an application for an award are in 34 CFR 75.217.
    Tiebreaker for Institutional, Special Project, and Cooperative 
Grants. If there are insufficient funds for all applications with the 
same total scores, applications will receive preference in the 
following order: First, applications that satisfy the requirement of 
Competitive Preference Priority 1; second, applications that satisfy 
the requirements of both Competitive Preference Priorities 2 and 3; and 
third, applications that satisfy the requirements of Competitive 
Preference Priority 2.

VI. Award Administration Information

    1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we will notify 
your U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a Grant Award 
Notification (GAN). We may notify you informally, also.
    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 in this notice.
    We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of 
an award in the Applicable Regulations section in this notice and 
include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also 
incorporates your approved

[[Page 21607]]

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 directed by the Secretary 
under 34 CFR 75.118. The Secretary may also require more frequent 
performance reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). For specific requirements 
on reporting, please go to http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
    4. Performance Measures: The Secretary has established the 
following key performance measures for assessing the effectiveness of 
the MSEIP program: (1) The percentage change in the number of full-
time, degree-seeking minority undergraduate students at grantee 
institutions enrolled in the fields of engineering or physical or 
biological sciences, compared to the average minority enrollment in the 
same fields in the three-year period immediately prior to the beginning 
of the current grant; (2) the percentage of full-time undergraduate 
minority students who were in their first year of postsecondary 
enrollment in the previous year and are enrolled in the current year at 
the same institution in the fields of engineering or physical or 
biological sciences; and (3)(a) in four-year grantee institutions, the 
percentage of minority students who enrolled in the fields of 
engineering or physical or biological sciences who graduate within six 
years of enrollment; or (b) in two-year grantee institutions, the 
percentage of minority students enrolled in the fields of engineering 
or physical or biological sciences who graduate within three years of 
enrollment.

VII. Agency Contact

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen W. Johnson, U.S. Department of 
Education, 1990 K Street, NW., 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20006-8517. 
Telephone: (202) 502-7642 or (202) 502-7777, by fax: (202) 502-7861, or 
by e-mail: [email protected] or Dr. Bernadette M. Hence, U.S. 
Department of Education, 1990 K Street, NW., 6th Floor, Washington, DC 
20006-8517. Telephone: (202) 219-7038 or (202) 502-7777, by fax (202) 
502-7861, or by e-mail: [email protected] or [email protected].
    If you use a TDD, call the FRS, toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.

VIII. Other Information

    Alternative Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this 
document and a copy of the application package in an alternative format 
(e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) on 
request to the program contact persons listed under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT in Section VII in this notice.
    Electronic Access to This Document: You can 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: April 17, 2008.
Diane Auer Jones,
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. E8-8711 Filed 4-21-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P