[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 34 (Monday, February 22, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7573-7576]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-3387]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools; Overview Information; 
Models of Exemplary, Effective, and Promising Alcohol or Other Drug 
Abuse Prevention Programs on College Campuses; Notice Inviting 
Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2010

    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.184N.
    Dates:
    Applications Available: February 22, 2010.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: March 31, 2010.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: June 1, 2010.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The goals of this program are to identify and 
disseminate information about exemplary and effective alcohol or other 
drug abuse prevention programs implemented on college campuses. Through 
this grant competition, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) also will 
recognize colleges and universities whose programs, while not yet 
exemplary or effective, show evidence that they are promising.
    Priority: This priority is from the notice of final priority, 
definitions, requirements, and selection criteria for this competition, 
published in the Federal Register on April 1, 2008 (73 FR 17867).
    Absolute Priority: For FY 2010 and any subsequent year in which we 
make awards based on the list of unfunded applicants from this 
competition, this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 
75.105(c)(3) we consider only applications that meet this priority.
    This priority is:
    Exemplary, Effective, and Promising Alcohol or Other Drug Abuse 
Prevention Programs on College Campuses.
    Under this priority the Department provides funding to institutions 
of higher education (IHEs) that have implemented an exemplary, 
effective, or promising alcohol or other drug abuse prevention program 
on their campus. To meet the priority, in its application, an applicant 
must:
    1. Describe the program that has for at least two full years been 
implemented on its campus, including the structure and content of the 
program, the student population that is targeted by the program, and 
any unique features of the program;
    2. Provide a detailed theoretical basis for the program's 
effectiveness;
    3. Provide data to demonstrate the program's impact on the target 
student population, including evidence of cognitive or behavioral 
changes, or both, among the target population; and
    4. Consent to a site visit to clarify information in the 
application and verify evaluation data.
    Under this competition, the Department selects an IHE for 
recognition as having an exemplary, effective, or promising program 
based on the recommendation from the two peer reviewers who conduct the 
site visit. Therefore, note that selection for a site visit does not 
ensure recognition as an exemplary, effective, or promising program by 
the Department.

Recognition Types

    Contingent upon the quality of data provided by the applicant and 
the recommendation of site visitors, an applicant may earn one of three 
levels of recognition. Level 1 is recognition as an exemplary program. 
An IHE whose program is designated as exemplary must:
    1. Within 30 days of receiving an award, provide to the Department 
a plan to disseminate information about its program to other IHEs;
    2. Upon approval by the Department, implement its dissemination 
plan; and
    3. Enhance and further evaluate the exemplary program during the 
project period of the grant award.
    Level 2 is recognition as an effective program. An IHE whose 
program is designated as effective must:
    1. Within 30 days of receiving an award, provide to the Department 
a plan to disseminate information about its program to other IHEs;

[[Page 7574]]

    2. Upon approval by the Department, implement its dissemination 
plan; and
    3. Enhance and further evaluate the effective program during the 
project period of the grant award.
    Level 3 is designation as a promising program. An IHE whose program 
is recognized as promising must:
    1. Within 30 days of receiving an award, submit to the Department a 
plan to enhance and further evaluate its program;
    2. Upon approval by the Department, implement its enhancement and 
evaluation plan; and
    3. Within 12 months of award, provide to the Department a report 
detailing the results of its evaluation.

Definitions

    1. Exemplary program means a program that has a strong theoretical 
base and demonstrated effectiveness in reducing alcohol or other drug 
abuse among college students or reducing problems resulting from 
alcohol or other drug use among college students, using a research 
design of the highest quality. For the purpose of this grant 
competition, a research design of the highest quality means an 
experimental design in which students are randomly assigned to 
participate in a project being evaluated (treatment group) or not 
participate in the project (control group). The effect of the project 
is the difference in outcomes between the treatment and control groups.
    If strong, experimentally determined evidence of the effectiveness 
of a program already exists, and the program was implemented on the 
applicant's campus with fidelity to the research, then a quasi-
experimental evaluation of the program's implementation on the 
applicant's campus may be an acceptable research design. For the 
purpose of this grant competition, quasi-experimental designs include 
several designs that attempt to approximate a random assignment design.
    2. Effective program means a program that has a strong theoretical 
base and has been evaluated using either an experimental or quasi-
experimental research design, with the evaluation results suggesting 
effectiveness in reducing alcohol or other drug abuse among college 
students, reducing problems resulting from alcohol or other drug use 
among college students, reducing risk factors, enhancing protective 
factors, or resulting in some combination of those impacts.
    3. Promising program means a program that has a strong theoretical 
base and for which evidence has been obtained, using limited research 
methods, that the program may reduce alcohol or other drug abuse among 
college students, reduce problems resulting from alcohol or other drug 
use among college students, reduce risk factors, enhance protective 
factors, or result in some combination of those impacts. For the 
purpose of this grant competition, limited research methods are methods 
that include a pre- and post-treatment measurement of the effects of a 
treatment on a single subject or group of single subjects.
    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7131.
    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. (b) The regulations in 34 CFR part 299. 
(c) The notice of final priority, definitions, requirements, and 
selection criteria, published in the Federal Register on April 1, 2008 
(73 FR 17867).

    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: $825,000.
    Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of 
applications, we may make additional awards later in FY 2010 and in 
subsequent years from the list of unfunded applicants from this 
competition.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $125,000-$175,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $137,500.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 6.

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

    Project Period: Up to 24 months. No continuation awards will be 
provided.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: IHEs that offer an associate or 
baccalaureate degree.

Limitations on Eligibility

    (a) Exemplary or effective programs. The length of time an IHE is 
ineligible for a subsequent award after receiving recognition for an 
exemplary or effective program is three years.
    (b) Promising programs. Programs recognized as promising may be 
eligible for a new award when their current grant is no longer active. 
A grant is considered active until the end of the grant's project or 
funding period, including any extensions of those periods that extend 
the grantee's authority to obligate funds. A project that fails to 
achieve exemplary or effective status after a second designation as a 
promising program may not reapply for three years after its second 
project period is no longer active.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This competition does not require cost 
sharing or matching.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package:
    You can obtain an application package via the Internet. To obtain a 
copy via the Internet, use the following address: http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/grantapps/index.html.
    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 person listed under Accessible 
Format in section VIII of this notice.
    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.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: February 22, 2010.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: March 31, 2010.
    Applications for grants under this competition may be submitted 
electronically using the Electronic Grant Application System (e-
Application) accessible through the Department's e-Grants site, or in 
paper format by mail or hand delivery. For information (including dates 
and times) about how to submit your application electronically, or in 
paper format by mail or hand delivery, 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 
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.

[[Page 7575]]

    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: June 1, 2010.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: This competition 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 
competition.
    5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding 
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice. The 
maximum amount an applicant may receive for a project recognized as an 
exemplary or effective program may be no more than $150,000 plus 
indirect costs, and a project recognized as a promising program may 
receive no more than $100,000 plus indirect costs.
    6. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under 
this competition may be submitted electronically or in paper format by 
mail or hand delivery.
    a. Electronic Submission of Applications.
    If you choose to submit your application to us electronically, you 
must use e-Application, accessible through the Department's e-Grants 
Web site at: http://e-grants.ed.gov.
    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:
     Your participation in e-Application is voluntary.
     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 
competition 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 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 Office of Safe and 
Drug Free Schools after following these steps:
    (1) Print SF 424 from e-Application.
    (2) The applicant'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 Amalia Cuervo at (202) 245-7166.
     We may request that you provide us original signatures on 
other forms at a later date.
    Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of System 
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. If e-Application is available, and, 
for any reason, you are unable to submit your application 
electronically or you do not receive an automatic acknowledgment of 
your submission, you may submit your application in paper format by 
mail or hand delivery in accordance with the instructions in this 
notice.
    b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.
    If you submit your application in paper format by mail (through the 
U.S. Postal Service or a commercial carrier), 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: 
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: 
(CFDA Number 84.184N), 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

[[Page 7576]]

relying on this method, you should check with your local post 
office.

    c. Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery.
    If you submit your application in paper format by hand delivery, 
you (or a courier service) 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 
84.184N), 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

    Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition are 
from the notice of final priority, definitions, requirements, and 
selection criteria published in the Federal Register on April 1, 2008 
(73 FR 17867) 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 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 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 and performance 
information, as directed by the Secretary. For this competition, if you 
receive an award for a project period of more than 12 months you must 
also submit an interim report 12 months after the award date that 
provides the most current performance and financial expenditure 
information as directed by the Secretary. 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 Measure: The Secretary may choose to develop 
performance measures for the Models of Exemplary, Effective, and 
Promising Alcohol or Other Drug Abuse Prevention Programs on College 
Campuses in accordance with the Government Performance and Results Act 
of 1993 (GPRA). If measures are developed, grantees will be asked to 
provide information that relates to participant outcomes and project 
management.

VII. Agency Contact

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amalia Cuervo, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 10068, PCP, Washington, DC 
20202-6450. Telephone: 202-245-7881. Or by e-mail: 
[email protected].
    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 competition 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: www.ed.gov/news/fedregister. To use PDF 
you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at this 
site.

    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 16, 2010.
Kevin Jennings,
Assistant Deputy Secretary for Safe and Drug-Free Schools.
[FR Doc. 2010-3387 Filed 2-19-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P