[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 213 (Thursday, November 5, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57292-57296]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-26625]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Office of Postsecondary Education; Overview Information; Centers 
for International Business Education Program; Notice Inviting 
Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2010

    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.220A.
    Dates:
    Applications Available: November 5, 2009.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: December 8, 2009.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: February 11, 2010.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

Purpose of Program

    The purpose of the Centers for International Business Education 
(CIBE) Program is to coordinate programs of the Federal government in 
the areas of research, education, and training in international 
business and trade competitiveness; and to provide grants to pay the 
Federal share of the cost of planning, establishing, and operating 
Centers for International Business Education that will--
    1. Be national resources for the teaching of improved business 
techniques, strategies, and methodologies that emphasize the 
international context in which business is transacted;
    2. Provide instruction in critical foreign languages and 
international fields needed to provide an understanding of the cultures 
and customs of United States trading partners;
    3. Provide research and training in the international aspects of 
trade, commerce, and other fields of study;
    4. Provide training to students enrolled in the institution, or 
combinations of institutions, in which a center is located;
    5. Serve as regional resources to businesses proximately located by 
offering programs and providing research designed to meet the 
international training needs of these businesses; and
    6. Serve other faculty, students, and institutions of higher 
education located within their region.

Priorities

    Invitational Priorities: For FY 2010, these 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 I. Applicants that propose programs or 
activities focused on language instruction or performance testing and 
assessment for any of the following seventy-eight (78) languages deemed 
critical on the U.S. Department of Education's list of Less Commonly 
Taught Languages (LCTLs) found below.
    This list includes the following: Akan (Twi-Fante), Albanian, 
Amharic, Arabic (all dialects), Armenian, Azeri (Azerbaijani), Balochi, 
Bamanakan (Bamana, Bambara, Mandikan, Mandingo, Maninka, Dyula), 
Belarusian, Bengali (Bangla), Berber (all languages), Bosnian, 
Bulgarian, Burmese, Cebuano (Visayan), Chechen, Chinese (Cantonese), 
Chinese (Gan), Chinese (Mandarin), Chinese (Min), Chinese (Wu), 
Croatian, Dari, Dinka, Georgian, Gujarati, Hausa, Hebrew (Modern), 
Hindi, Igbo, Indonesian, Japanese, Javanese, Kannada, Kashmiri, Kazakh, 
Khmer (Cambodian), Kirghiz, Korean, Kurdish (Kurmanji), Kurdish 
(Sorani), Lao, Malay (Bahasa Melayu or Malaysian), Malayalam, Marathi, 
Mongolian, Nepali, Oromo, Panjabi, Pashto, Persian (Farsi), Polish, 
Portuguese (all varieties), Quechua, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, 
Sinhala (Sinhalese), Somali, Swahili, Tagalog, Tajik, Tamil, Telugu, 
Thai, Tibetan, Tigrigna, Turkish, Turkmen, Ukrainian, Urdu, Uyghur/
Uigur, Uzbek, Vietnamese, Wolof, Xhosa, Yoruba, and Zulu.
    Invitational Priority II. Applicants that propose programs or 
activities focused on outreach activities or consortia with business 
programs located at other institutions of higher education (including 
those that are eligible to receive assistance under part A or B of 
Title III or under Title V) for the purpose of providing expertise 
regarding the internationalization of such programs, such as assistance 
in research, curriculum development, faculty development, or 
educational exchange programs.

    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1130-1.

    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 81, 
82, 84, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99.
    As there are no program-specific regulations, we encourage each 
potential applicant to read the authorizing statute for the CIBE 
program in Section 612 of Title VI, Part B, of the Higher Education Act 
of 1965, as amended (HEA), 20 U.S.C. 1130-1.

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

    Areas of National Need: In accordance with section 601(c) of the 
HEA, (20 U.S.C. 1121(c)), the Secretary has consulted with and received 
recommendations regarding national need for expertise in foreign 
languages and world regions from the head officials of a wide range of 
Federal agencies. The Secretary has taken these recommendations into 
account, and a list of foreign languages and world regions identified 
by the Secretary as areas of national need may be found on the 
following Web sites: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/policy.html, http://www.ed.gov/programs/iegpscibe/legislation.html. 
Also included on these Web sites are the specific recommendations the 
Secretary received from Federal agencies.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.

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    Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested 
$102,335,000 for International Education and Foreign Language Studies: 
Domestic Programs for FY 2010, of which we intend to allocate 
$11,115,000 for new awards under this program. 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: $350,000-$390,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $358,548.
    Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a 
budget exceeding $450,000 for a single budget period of 12 months.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 31.

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

    Project Period: Up to 48 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: Institutions of higher education or 
combinations of such institutions.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: The matching requirement is described 
in section 612(e) of the HEA. The HEA requires that the Federal share 
of the cost of planning, establishing and operating centers under this 
program shall be--
    a. Not more than 90 percent for the first year in which Federal 
funds are received;
    b. Not more than 70 percent for the second year; and
    c. Not more than 50 percent for the third year and for each year 
thereafter.
    The non-Federal share of the cost of planning, establishing, and 
operating centers under this section may be provided either in cash or 
in-kind.
    Waiver of non-Federal share: In the case of an institution of 
higher education receiving a grant under the CIBE program and 
conducting outreach or consortia activities with another institution of 
higher education in accordance with section 612(c)(2)(E) of the HEA, 
the Secretary may waive a portion of the requirements for the non-
Federal share equal to the amount provided by the institution of higher 
education receiving the grant to the other institution of higher 
education for carrying out the outreach or consortia activities. Any 
such waiver is subject to the terms and conditions the Secretary deems 
necessary for carrying out the purposes of the program.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: You can obtain an 
application package via the Internet or from the Education Publications 
Center (ED Pubs). To obtain a copy via the Internet, use the following 
address: http://e-grants.ed.gov. To obtain a copy from ED Pubs, write, 
fax, or call the following: Education Publications Center, 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), call, toll free: 1-877-576-7734.
    You can contact ED Pubs at its Web site, also: http://www.ed.gov/pubs/edpubs.html or at its e-mail address: [email protected].
    If you request an application from ED Pubs, be sure to identify 
this program or competition as follows: CFDA number 84.220A.
    Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application 
package in an accessible 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 the section where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria 
that reviewers use to evaluate your application. You must limit the 
application narrative [Part III] to no more than 55 typed 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, and captions. Charts, tables, 
figures, and graphs in the application narrative may be single spaced 
and will count toward the page limit.
     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 and 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 summary form (ED Form 524); Part IV, assurances, certifications, 
and the response to Section 427 of the General Education Provisions Act 
(GEPA); the table of contents; the one-page project abstract; the 
appendices; or the line item budget.
    We will reject your application if you exceed the page limit.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: November 5, 2009.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: December 8, 2009.
    Applications for grants under this program must be submitted 
electronically using the Electronic Grant Application system (e-
Application) accessible through the Department's e-Grants system. 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 of 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 
of 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.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: February 11, 2010.
    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 program must be submitted electronically unless you qualify for an 
exception to this requirement in accordance with the instructions in 
this section.

[[Page 57294]]

a. Electronic Submission of Applications

    Applications for grants under the CIBE Program--CFDA number 84.220A 
must be submitted electronically using e-Application, accessible 
through the Department's e-Grants portal page at: http://e-grants.ed.gov.
    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.
    While completing your electronic application, you will be entering 
data online that will be saved into a database. You may not e-mail an 
electronic copy of a grant application to us.
    Please note the following:
     You must complete the electronic submission of your grant 
application by 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application 
deadline date. E-Application will not accept an application for this 
program after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application 
deadline date. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you do not wait 
until the application deadline date to begin the application process.
     The hours of operation of the e-Grants Web site are 6:00 
a.m. Monday until 7:00 p.m. Wednesday; and 6:00 a.m. Thursday until 
8:00 p.m. Sunday, Washington, DC time. Please note that, because of 
maintenance, the system is unavailable between 8:00 p.m. on Sundays and 
6:00 a.m. on Mondays, and between 7:00 p.m. on Wednesdays and 6:00 a.m. 
on Thursdays, Washington, DC time. Any modifications to these hours are 
posted on the e-Grants Web site.
     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: the 
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. 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.
     Prior to submitting your electronic application, you may 
wish to print a copy of it for your records.
     After you electronically submit your application, you will 
receive an automatic acknowledgment that will include a PR/Award number 
(an identifying number unique to your application).
    Within three working days after submitting your electronic 
application, 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's Authorizing Representative must sign the form 
(or enter the name of your program-specific cover page.)
    (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 
forms at a later date.
    Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of e-Application 
Unavailability: If you are prevented from electronically submitting 
your application on the application deadline date because e-Application 
is unavailable, we will grant you an extension of one business day to 
enable you to transmit your application electronically, by mail, or by 
hand delivery. We will grant this extension if--(1) You are a 
registered user of e-Application and you have initiated an electronic 
application for this competition; and (2)(a) e-Application 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) E-Application is unavailable for any period of time between 
3:30 p.m. and 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application 
deadline date.
    We must acknowledge and confirm these periods of unavailability 
before granting you an extension. To request this extension or to 
confirm our acknowledgment of any system unavailability, you 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 e-Application is unavailable due 
to technical problems with the system 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 e-Application.
    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 e-Application because--
     You do not have access to the Internet; or
     You do not have the capacity to upload large documents to 
e-Application; 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 
prevents 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: Susanna Easton, Centers 
for International Business Education Program, U.S. Department of 
Education, 1990 K Street, NW., Room 6093, Washington, DC 20006-8521. 
FAX: (202) 502-7860.
    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 following address:

[[Page 57295]]

U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: 
(CFDA Number 84.220A), LBJ Basement Level 1, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20202-4260.

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 84.220A), 550 12th Street, SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center 
Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-4260.

The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily between 
8:00 a.m. and 4:30:00 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 grant 
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 from 
EDGAR (34 CFR 75.209 and 75.210) are as follows: (a) Meeting the 
purpose of the authorizing statute (20 points), (b) significance (20 
points), (c) quality of the project design (10 points), (d) quality of 
the management plan (10 points), (e) quality of project personnel (10 
points), (f) adequacy of resources (10 points), and (g) quality of the 
project evaluation (20 points).

    Note: Applicants should address these selection criteria only in 
the context of the program requirements in section 612 of the HEA.

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 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 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. Grantees are required to use the electronic data 
instrument International Resource Information System (IRIS) to complete 
the final report. 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: Under the Government Performance and 
Results Act of 1993, the following measure will be used by the 
Department in evaluating the success of the program: (a) Percent of 
graduates of a doctoral or Master's, including MBA, program with 
significant international business concentration at the postsecondary 
institution who are employed in business-related fields, including 
teaching at a business school; (b) Cost per Master's, including MBA, 
degree recipient or doctoral graduate; (c) Percentage of Centers for 
International Business Education projects judged to be successful by 
the program officer, based on a review of information provided in 
annual performance reports.
    The information provided by grantees in their performance reports 
submitted via the electronic International Resource Information System 
(IRIS) will be the source of data for this measure. Reporting screens 
for institutions can be viewed at: http://iris.ed.gov/iris/pdfs/CIBE.pdf.

VII. Agency Contact

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susanna Easton, Centers for 
International Business Education Program, U.S. Department of Education, 
1990 K Street, NW., Room 6093, Washington, DC 20006-8521. Telephone: 
(202) 502-7628 or by e-mail: [email protected]. The agency contact 
person does not mail application materials and does not accept 
applications.
    If you use a TDD, call the FRS, toll-free, at 1-800-877-8339.

VIII. Other Information

    Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this 
document and a copy of the application package in an accessible format 
(e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) on 
request to the program contact person listed under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT in Section VII of 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

[[Page 57296]]

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.

    Delegation of Authority: The Secretary of Education has delegated 
authority to Daniel T. Madzelan, Director, Forecasting and Policy 
Analysis for the Office of Postsecondary Education, to perform the 
functions and duties of the Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary 
Education.

    Dated: October 30, 2009.
Daniel T. Madzelan,
Director, Forecasting and Policy Analysis.
[FR Doc. E9-26625 Filed 11-4-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P