[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 38 (Tuesday, February 26, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13030-13041]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-04434]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Native American Career and Technical 
Education Program (NACTEP)

AGENCY: Office of Vocational and Adult Education, Department of 
Education.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Overview Information:
    Native American Career and Technical Education Program (NACTEP).
    Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 
2013.

    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.101A.


[[Page 13031]]


    Dates:
    Applications Available: February 26, 2013.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: March 28, 2013.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The Native American Career and Technical 
Education Program (NACTEP) provides grants to improve career and 
technical education programs that are consistent with the purposes of 
the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (the 
Act) and that benefit Native Americans and Alaska Natives.
    Priorities: On December 15, 2010, following public comment 
rulemaking, the Department published in the Federal Register a notice 
of final supplemental priorities and definitions for discretionary 
grant programs (75 FR 78486), and corrected the notice on May 12, 2011 
(76 FR 27637) (supplemental priorities). Under this competition we are 
using the Secretary's STEM and Technology priorities from the 
supplemental priorities, since both of these are key Administration 
priorities in education. The use of technology within CTE programs 
funded under the Act, including NACTEP, can help improve the quality of 
instruction and the connections that students have to universities, 
colleges, employers, and industries that are far from campus. Career 
and technical education in the STEM fields is important in providing 
students with education that can lead to employment in high growth, in-
demand industry sectors. If we are to prepare Native American and 
Alaska Native students for the jobs of the future, we believe it is 
important for STEM to be a focus of the CTE programs available to them.
    Under this competition we are particularly interested in 
applications that address the following priorities.
    Invitational Priorities: For FY 2013, these priorities are 
invitational priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1) we do not give an 
application that meets one or both of these invitational priorities a 
competitive or absolute preference over other applications.
    Priority 1--Technology.
    Under this priority, we invite applications that propose projects 
that are designed to improve student achievement (as defined in this 
notice) or teacher effectiveness through the use of high-quality 
digital tools or materials, which may include preparing teachers to use 
the technology to improve instruction, as well as developing, 
implementing, or evaluating digital tools or materials.
    Priority 2--Promoting Science, Technology, Engineering, and 
Mathematics (STEM) Education.
    Under this priority, we invite applications that propose projects 
that are designed to address one or more of the following priority 
areas:
    (a) Providing students with increased access to rigorous and 
engaging coursework in STEM.
    (b) Increasing the number and proportion of students prepared for 
postsecondary or graduate study and careers in STEM.
    (c) Increasing the opportunities for high-quality preparation of, 
or professional development for, teachers or other educators of STEM 
subjects.
    Definitions: These definitions are from statute or from the notice 
of final requirements, definitions, and selection criteria for this 
program, published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register. The 
source of each definition is noted after the definition.
    Act of April 16, 1934 means the Federal law commonly known as the 
``Johnson-O'Malley Act'' that authorizes the Secretary of the Interior 
to enter into contracts for the education of Indians and other 
purposes. (25 U.S.C. 455-457)
    Acute economic need means an income that is at or below the 
national poverty level according to the latest available data from the 
U.S. Department of Commerce or the U.S. Department of Health and Human 
Services Poverty Guidelines. See the notice of final requirements, 
definitions, and selection criteria for this program, published 
elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register.
    Alaska Native or Native means a citizen of the United States who is 
a person of one-fourth degree or more Alaska Indian (including 
Tsimshian Indians not enrolled in the Metlakta Indian Community) 
Eskimo, or Aleut blood, or a combination thereof. The term includes--
    (a) Any Native, as so defined, either or both of whose adoptive 
parents are not Natives; and
    (b) In the absence of proof of a minimum blood quantum, any citizen 
of the United States who is regarded as an Alaska Native by the Native 
village or Native group of which he or she claims to be a member and 
whose father or mother is (or, if deceased, was) regarded as Native by 
any village or group. Any decision of the Secretary of the Interior 
regarding eligibility for enrollment will be final. (20 U.S.C. 
2326(a)(1); 43 U.S.C. 1602(b))
    Alaska Native entity means an entity such as an Alaska Native 
village, group, or regional or village corporation. (43 U.S.C. 1600 et 
seq.) (43 USCS 1601 et seq.)
    Alaska Native group means any tribe, band, clan, village, 
community, or village association of Natives in Alaska composed of less 
than twenty-five Natives, who comprise a majority of the residents of 
the locality. (43 U.S.C. 1602(d))
    Alaska Native village means any tribe, band, clan, group, village, 
community, or association in Alaska--
    (a) Listed in sections 1610 and 1615 of the Alaska Native Claims 
Settlement Act; or
    (b) That meets the requirements of chapter 33 of the Alaska Native 
Claims Settlement Act; and
    (c) That the Secretary of the Interior determines was, on the 1970 
census enumeration date (as shown by the census or other evidence 
satisfactory to the Secretary of the Interior, who shall make findings 
of fact in each instance), composed of twenty-five or more Natives. (43 
U.S.C. 1602(c))
    Alaska regional corporation means an Alaska Native regional 
corporation established under the laws of the State of Alaska in 
accordance with the provisions of chapter 33 of the Alaska Native 
Claims Settlement Act. (43 U.S.C. 1602(g))
    Alaska village corporation means an Alaska Native village 
corporation organized under the laws of the State of Alaska as a 
business for profit or nonprofit corporation to hold, invest, manage 
and/or distribute lands, property, funds, and other rights and assets 
for and on behalf of an Alaska Native village, in accordance with the 
terms of chapter 33 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. (43 
U.S.C. 1602(j))
    Bureau means the Bureau of Indian Affairs of the U.S. Department of 
the Interior. (25 U.S.C. 2021(2))
    Bureau-funded school means--
    (a) A Bureau-operated elementary or secondary day or boarding 
school or Bureau-operated dormitory for students attending a school 
other than a Bureau school. (25 U.S.C. 2021(3) and (4));
    (b) An elementary school, secondary school, or dormitory, that 
receives financial assistance for its operation under a contract, 
grant, or agreement with the Bureau under section 102, 103(a), or 208 
of ISDEA (25 U.S.C. 450f, 450h(a), or 458d) or under the Tribally 
Controlled Schools Act of 1988 (25 U.S.C. 2504 et seq.). (25 U.S.C. 
2021(3) and (5)); or
    (c) A school for which assistance is provided under the Tribally 
Controlled Schools Act of 1988 (25 U.S.C. 2501 et seq.). (25 U.S.C. 
2021)

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    Career and technical education means organized educational 
activities that--
    (a) Offer a sequence of courses that--
    (1) Provides individuals with coherent and rigorous content aligned 
with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge 
and skills needed to prepare for further education and careers in 
current or emerging professions;
    (2) Provides technical skills proficiency, an industry-recognized 
credential, a certificate, or an associate degree; and
    (3) May include prerequisite courses (other than remedial courses) 
that meet the requirements of this definition; and
    (b) Include competency-based applied learning that contributes to 
the academic knowledge, higher-order reasoning and problem-solving 
skills, work attitudes, general employability skills, technical skills, 
and occupation-specific skills, and knowledge of all aspects of an 
industry, including entrepreneurship, of the individual. (20 U.S.C. 
2302(5))
    Coherent sequence of courses means a series of courses in which 
career and academic education is integrated, and that directly relates 
to, and leads to, both academic and occupational competencies. The term 
includes competency-based education and academic education, and adult 
training or retraining, including sequential units encompassed within a 
single adult retraining course, that otherwise meet the requirements of 
this definition. (57 FR 36726)
    Direct assistance to students means tuition, dependent care, 
transportation, books, and supplies that are necessary for a student to 
participate in a project funded under this program. See the notice of 
final requirements, definitions, and selection criteria for this 
program, published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register.
    High-need children and high-need students means children and 
students at risk of educational failure, such as children and students 
who are living in poverty, who are English learners, who are far below 
grade level or who are not on track to becoming college- or career-
ready by graduation, who have left school or college before receiving, 
respectively, a regular high school diploma or a college degree or 
certificate, who are at risk of not graduating with a diploma on time, 
who are homeless, who are in foster care, who are pregnant or parenting 
teenagers, who have been incarcerated, who are new immigrants, who are 
migrant, or who have disabilities. See the notice of final supplemental 
priorities and definitions for discretionary grant programs, published 
in the Federal Register on December 15, 2010 (75 FR 78486), and 
corrected on May 12, 2011 (76 FR 27637).(76 FR 27640).
    Indian means a person who is a member of an Indian tribe. (20 
U.S.C. 2326(a)(3); 25 U.S.C. 450b(d))
    Indian tribe means any Indian tribe, band, nation, or other 
organized group or community, including any Alaska Native village or 
regional or village corporation as defined in or established pursuant 
to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), 
that is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services 
provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as 
Indians. (20 U.S.C. 2326(a)(3); 25 U.S.C. 450b(e))
    Institution of higher education means--
    (a) An educational institution in any State that--
    (1) Admits as regular students only persons having a certificate of 
graduation from a school providing secondary education, or the 
recognized equivalent of such a certificate;
    (2) Is legally authorized within such State to provide a program of 
education beyond secondary education;
    (3) Provides an educational program for which the institution 
awards a bachelor's degree or provides not less than a 2-year program 
that is acceptable for full credit toward such a degree;
    (4) Is a public or other nonprofit institution; and
    (5) Is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or 
association or, if not so accredited, is an institution that has been 
granted pre-accreditation status by such an agency or association that 
has been recognized by the Secretary of the Education for the granting 
of pre-accreditation status, and the Secretary of Education has 
determined that there is satisfactory assurance that the institution 
will meet the accreditation standards of such an agency or association 
within a reasonable time.
    (b) The term also includes--
    (1) Any school that provides not less than a 1-year program of 
training to prepare students for gainful employment in a recognized 
occupation and that meets the provisions of paragraphs (a)(1), (2), 
(4), and (5) of this definition.
    (2) A public or nonprofit private educational institution in any 
State that, in lieu of the requirement in paragraph (a)(1) of this 
definition, admits as regular students persons who are beyond the age 
of compulsory school attendance in the State in which the institution 
is located. (20 U.S.C. 1001 and 2302(18))
    Special populations means--
    (a) Individuals with disabilities;
    (b) Individuals from economically disadvantaged families, including 
foster children;
    (c) Individuals preparing for nontraditional training fields;
    (d) Single parents, including single pregnant women;
    (e) Displaced homemakers; and
    (f) Individuals with limited English proficiency. (20 U.S.C. 
2302(29))
    Stipend means a subsistence allowance for a student that is 
necessary for the student to participate in a project funded under this 
program. See the notice of final requirements, definitions, and 
selection criteria for this program, published elsewhere in this issue 
of the Federal Register.
    Student achievement means--
    (a) For tested grades and subjects: (1) A student's score on the 
State's assessments under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, 
as amended. (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.) (ESEA); and, as appropriate, (2) 
other measures of student learning, such as those described in 
paragraph (b) of this definition, provided they are rigorous and 
comparable across schools.
    (b) For non-tested grades and subjects: alternative measures of 
student learning and performance, such as student scores on pre-tests 
and end-of-course texts; student performance on English language 
proficiency assessments; and other measures of student achievement that 
are rigorous and comparable across schools.
    See the notice of final supplemental priorities and definitions for 
discretionary grant programs, published in the Federal Register on 
December 15, 2010 (75 FR 78486), and corrected on May 12, 2011 (76 FR 
27637).
    Support services means services related to curriculum modification, 
equipment modification, classroom modification, supportive personnel, 
and instructional aids and devices. (20 U.S.C. 2302(31))
    Tribal organization means the recognized governing body of any 
Indian tribe; any legally established organization of Indians that is 
controlled, sanctioned, or chartered by such governing body or that is 
democratically elected by the adult members of the Indian community to 
be served by the organization and that includes the maximum 
participation of Indians in all phases of its activities, provided 
that, in any case where a contract is let or grant made to an 
organization to perform services benefiting more than one Indian tribe,

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the approval of each such Indian tribe shall be a prerequisite to the 
letting or making of such contract or grant. (20 U.S.C. 2326(a)(3); 25 
U.S.C. 450b(l))
    Tribally Controlled College or University means an institution of 
higher education that is formally controlled, or has been formally 
sanctioned or chartered, by the governing body of an Indian tribe or 
tribes, except that no more than one such institution will be 
recognized with respect to any such tribe. (20 U.S.C. 2302(33) and 25 
U.S.C. 1801(a)(4))
    Requirements: These requirements are from the notice of final 
requirements, definitions, and selection criteria for this program, 
published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, unless a 
specific statutory citation for the requirement is provided.
    Authorized Programs, Services, and Activities
    (a) Authorized programs. Section 116(e) of the Act requires the 
Secretary to ensure that activities funded under NACTEP ``will improve 
career and technical education programs'' (20 U.S.C. 2326(e)). This 
requirement continues to align NACTEP with other programs authorized 
under the Act that require recipients of funds under the Act to provide 
coherent and rigorous content aligned with challenging academic 
standards and improve career and technical education.
    Therefore, under NACTEP the Assistant Secretary will award grants 
to carry out projects that--
    (1) Propose organized educational activities offering a sequence of 
courses that--
    (i) Provide individuals with coherent and rigorous content aligned 
with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge 
and skills needed to prepare for further education and careers in 
current or emerging professions;
    (ii) Provide technical skill proficiency, an industry-recognized 
credential, a certificate, or an associate degree; and
    (iii) Include competency-based applied learning that contributes to 
the academic knowledge, higher-order reasoning and problem-solving 
skills, work attitudes, general employability skills, technical skills, 
and occupation-specific skills, and knowledge of all aspects of an 
industry, including entrepreneurship, of an individual. Projects may 
include prerequisite courses (other than remedial courses) that meet 
the definitional requirements of section 3(5) of the Act. (20 U.S.C. 
2302(5)) In addition, at the secondary level, coherent and rigorous 
academic curriculum must be aligned with challenging academic content 
standards and student academic achievement standards in reading or 
language arts and in mathematics that the State in which the applicant 
is located has established under the ESEA. Contacts for State ESEA 
programs may be found on the Internet at: www.ed.gov/about/contacts/state/index.html.
    (2) Develop new programs, services, or activities or improve or 
expand existing programs, services, or activities that are consistent 
with the purposes of the Act. In other words, the Department will 
support ``expansions'' or ``improvements'' that include, but are not 
limited to, the expansion of effective programs or practices; upgrading 
of activities, equipment, or materials; increasing staff capacity; 
adoption of new technology; modification of curriculum; or 
implementation of new policies to improve program effectiveness and 
outcomes.
    (3) Fund a career and technical education program, service, or 
activity that--
    (i) Is a new program, service, or activity that was not provided by 
the applicant during the instructional term (a defined period, such as 
a semester, trimester, or quarter, within the academic year) that 
preceded the request for funding under NACTEP;
    (ii) Will improve or expand an existing career and technical 
education program; or
    (iii) Inherently improves career and technical education.

    Note:  A program, service, or activity ``inherently improves 
career and technical education'' if it--
    (a) Develops new career and technical education programs of 
study that will be approved by the appropriate accreditation agency;
    (b) Strengthens the rigor of the academic and career and 
technical components of funded programs;
    (c) Uses curriculum that is aligned with industry-recognized 
standards and will result in students attaining industry-recognized 
credentials, certificates, or degrees;
    (d) Integrates academics (other than remedial courses) with 
career and technical education programs through a coherent sequence 
of courses to ensure learning in the core academic and career and 
technical subjects;
    (e) Links career and technical education at the secondary level 
with career and technical education at the postsecondary level and 
facilitates students' pursuit of a baccalaureate degree;
    (f) Expands the scope, depth, and relevance of curriculum, 
especially content that provides students with a comprehensive 
understanding of all aspects of an industry and a variety of hands-
on, job-specific experiences; and
    (g) Offers--
    (1) Work-related experience, internships, cooperative education, 
school-based enterprises, entrepreneurship, community service 
learning, and job shadowing that are related to career and technical 
education programs;
    (2) Coaching/mentoring, support services, and extra help for 
students after school, on weekends, and/or during the summers, so 
they can meet higher standards;
    (3) Career guidance and academic counseling for students 
participating in career and technical education programs;
    (4) Placement services for students who have successfully 
completed career and technical education programs and attained a 
technical skill proficiency that is aligned with industry-recognized 
standards;
    (5) Professional development programs for teachers, counselors, 
and administrators;
    (6) Strong partnerships among grantees and local educational 
agencies, postsecondary institutions, community leaders, adult 
education providers, and, as appropriate, other entities, such as 
employers, labor organizations, parents, and local partnerships, to 
enable students to achieve State academic standards and career and 
technical skills;
    (7) The use of student assessment and evaluation data to improve 
continually instruction and staff development with the goal of 
increasing student achievement in career and technical education 
programs; or
    (8) Research, development, demonstration, dissemination, 
evaluation and assessment, capacity-building, and technical 
assistance, related to career and technical education programs.

    (b) Assistance to Bureau-funded secondary schools. An Indian tribe, 
a tribal organization, or an Alaska Native entity, that receives funds 
through a NACTEP grant or contract may use the funds to provide 
assistance to a secondary school operated or supported by the U.S. 
Department of the Interior to enable such school to carry out career 
and technical education programs.
    (c) Student stipends. In accordance with section 116(c)(2) of the 
Act, a portion of an award under this program may be used to provide 
stipends (as defined in the Definitions section of this notice) to one 
or more students to help meet the students' costs of participation in a 
NACTEP project. A grantee must apply the following procedures for 
determining student eligibility for stipends and appropriate amounts to 
be awarded as stipends:
    (1) To be eligible for a stipend a student must--
    (i) Be enrolled in a career and technical education project funded 
under this program;
    (ii) Be in regular attendance in a NACTEP project and meet the 
training institution's attendance requirement;
    (iii) Maintain satisfactory progress in his or her program of study 
according to the training institution's published standards for 
satisfactory progress; and

[[Page 13034]]

    (iv) Have an acute economic need that--
    (A) Prevents participation in a project funded under this program 
without a stipend; and
    (B) Cannot be met through a work-study program.
    (2) The amount of a stipend is the greater of either the minimum 
hourly wage prescribed by State or local law or the minimum hourly wage 
established under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
    (3) A grantee may only award a stipend if the stipend combined with 
other resources the student receives does not exceed the student's 
financial need. A student's financial need is the difference between 
the student's cost of attendance and the financial aid or other 
resources available to defray the student's cost of participating in a 
NACTEP project.
    (4) To calculate the amount of a student's stipend, a grantee would 
multiply the number of hours a student actually attends career and 
technical education instruction by the amount of the minimum hourly 
wage that is prescribed by State or local law, or by the minimum hourly 
wage that is established under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
    Example: If a grantee uses the Fair Labor Standards Act minimum 
hourly wage of $7.25 and a student attends classes for 20 hours a 
week, the student's stipend would be $145 for the week during which 
the student attends classes ($7.25 x 20 = $145.00).

    Note: In accordance with applicable Department statutory 
requirements and administrative regulations, grantees must maintain 
records that fully support their decisions to award stipends and the 
amounts that are paid, such as proof of a student's enrollment in a 
NACTEP project, stipend applications, timesheets showing the number 
of attendance hours confirmed in writing by an instructor, student 
financial status information, and evidence that a student would not 
be able to participate in the NACTEP project without a stipend. (20 
U.S.C. 1232f; 34 CFR 75.700-75.702; 75.730; and 75.731)

    (5) An eligible student may receive a stipend when taking a course 
for the first time. However, generally a stipend may not be provided to 
a student who has already taken, completed, and had the opportunity to 
benefit from a course and is merely repeating the course.
    (6) An applicant must include in its application the procedure it 
intends to use to determine student eligibility for stipends and 
stipend amounts, and its oversight procedures for the awarding and 
payment of stipends.
    (d) Direct assistance to students. A grantee may provide direct 
assistance to students if the following conditions are met:
    (1) The recipient of the direct assistance is an individual who is 
a member of a special population and who is participating in the 
grantee's NACTEP project.
    (2) The direct assistance is needed to address barriers to the 
individual's successful participation in that project.
    (3) The direct assistance is part of a broader, more generally 
focused program or activity to address the needs of an individual who 
is a member of a special population.

    Note: Direct assistance to individuals who are members of 
special populations is not, by itself, a ``program or activity for 
special populations.''

    (4) The grant funds used for direct assistance must be expended to 
supplement, and not supplant, assistance that is otherwise available 
from non-Federal sources. (20 U.S.C. 2391(a)) For example, generally, a 
postsecondary educational institution could not use NACTEP funds to 
provide child care for single parents if non-Federal funds previously 
were made available for this purpose, or if non-Federal funds are used 
to provide child care services for single parents participating in non-
career and technical education programs and these services otherwise 
would have been available to career and technical education students in 
the absence of NACTEP funds.
    (5) In determining how much of the NACTEP grant funds it will use 
for direct assistance to an eligible student, a grantee must consider 
whether the specific services to be provided are a reasonable and 
necessary cost of providing career and technical education programs for 
special populations. However, the Assistant Secretary does not envision 
a circumstance in which it would be a reasonable and necessary 
expenditure of NACTEP project funds for a grantee to use a majority of 
a project's budget to pay direct assistance to students, in lieu of 
providing the students served by the project with career and technical 
education.

Additional Program Requirements

    (a) Appeal process. Any applicant denied funding under this NACTEP 
competition may request a hearing to review the Secretary's decision 
not to make the award. The Secretary will implement the appeal process 
in accordance with the procedures set forth in 34 CFR 401.23. In 
accordance with those procedures, any applicant denied funding will 
have 30 calendar days to make a written request to the Secretary for a 
hearing to review the Secretary's decision.
    (b) Career and technical education agreement. Any applicant that is 
not proposing to provide career and technical education directly to its 
students and proposes instead to use NACTEP funds to pay one or more 
qualified educational entities to provide education to its students 
must include with its application a written career and technical 
education agreement between the applicant and that entity. The written 
agreement must describe the commitment between the applicant and each 
educational entity and must include, at a minimum, a statement of the 
responsibilities of the applicant and the entity. The agreement must be 
signed by the appropriate individuals on behalf of each party, such as 
the authorizing official or president of a tribe or tribal 
organization, a college president, or a college dean.
    (c) Limitation on services. Section 315 of the Act prohibits the 
use of funds received under the Act to provide career and technical 
education programs to students prior to the seventh grade.
    (d) Supplement-Not-Supplant. In accordance with section 311(a) of 
the Act, funds under this program may not be used to supplant non-
Federal funds used to carry out career and technical education 
activities and tech-prep activities. Further, the prohibition against 
supplanting also means that grantees are required to use their 
negotiated restricted indirect cost rates under this program. (34 CFR 
75.563)
    The Secretary cautions applicants not to plan to use funds under 
NACTEP to replace otherwise available non-Federal funding for direct 
assistance to students and family assistance programs. For example, 
NACTEP funds must not be used to supplant tribal and other non-Federal 
funds with Federal funds in order to pay the costs of students' 
tuition, dependent care, transportation, books, supplies, and other 
costs associated with participation in a career and technical education 
program.
    Further, the Secretary is concerned that funds under NACTEP may be 
used to replace Federal student financial aid. The Secretary wishes to 
highlight that the Act does not authorize the Secretary to fund 
projects that serve primarily as entities through which students may 
apply for and receive tuition and other financial assistance.

Integration of Services

    (a) A tribe, tribal organization, or Alaska Native entity receiving 
financial assistance under this program may integrate those funds with 
assistance received from related programs in

[[Page 13035]]

accordance with the provisions of Public Law 102-477, the Indian 
Employment, Training and Related Services Demonstration Act of 1992 (25 
U.S.C. 3401 et seq.).
    (b) A tribe, tribal organization, or Alaska Native entity wishing 
to integrate funds must have a plan that meets the requirements of the 
Indian Employment, Training and Related Services Demonstration Act and 
is acceptable to the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of 
Education.
    For further information on the integration of grant funds under 
this and related programs contact Jack Stevens the Division of 
Workforce Development, Office of Indian Energy and Economic 
Development, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1951 Constitution Avenue 
NW., Mailstop 20 SIB, Washington, DC 20245. Telephone: (202) 208-6764. 
Email address: [email protected]. Fax: (202) 208-4564.

Indian Self-Determination Contracts

    Section 116(b)(2) of the Act provides that grants or contracts 
awarded under section 116 of the Act are subject to the terms and 
conditions of section 102 of the ISDEA (25 U.S.C. 450f) and must be 
conducted in accordance with the provisions of sections 4, 5, and 6 of 
the Act of April 16, 1934 (25 U.S.C. 455-457), that are relevant to the 
programs administered under section 116(b) of the Act. Section 102 of 
the ISDEA authorizes Indian tribes to request self-determination 
contracts. Accordingly, an Indian tribe or tribal organization that has 
applied to the Secretary for financial assistance under NACTEP and has 
been notified of its selection to be a recipient of financial 
assistance may submit a request to operate its NACTEP project through a 
section 102 Indian self-determination contract.
    In accordance with section 102(a) of the ISDEA, any Indian tribe or 
tribal organization requesting to operate its project under an Indian 
self-determination contract must do so by tribal resolution. After 
successful applicants are selected under this NACTEP competition, the 
Secretary will review any requests to operate a project under an Indian 
self-determination contract pursuant to the ISDEA. If a request for an 
Indian self-determination contract is approved, the Indian tribe or 
tribal organization submitting the request will be required, to the 
extent possible, to operate its project in accordance with the ISDEA, 
the Act, and the non-statutory program requirements established in the 
notice of final requirements, definitions, and selection criteria for 
this program, published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal 
Register.
    The career and technical education programs, services, and 
activities provided through an Indian self-determination contract would 
have to be essentially the same as were proposed in the initial 
application and approved by the Department. Any Indian tribe or tribal 
organization that is selected to receive funding under this 
competition, but whose request for an Indian self-determination 
contract is denied, may appeal the denial to the Secretary. If you have 
questions about ISDEA self-determination contracts, please contact the 
persons listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this 
notice.
    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 2301, et seq., particularly 2326(a)-
(g)).
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 80, 81, 
82, 84, 86, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The Education Department suspension and 
debarment regulations in 2 CFR part 3485. (c) The notice of final 
supplemental priorities and definitions for discretionary grant 
programs, published in the Federal Register on December 15, 2010 (75 FR 
78486), and corrected on May 12, 2011 (76 FR 27637). (d) The notice of 
final requirements, definitions, and selection criteria for this 
program, published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register.

    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: $14,023,000 for the first 12 months or 
the project period. Funding for year two is subject to the availability 
of funds and to a grantee meeting the requirements of 34 CFR 75.253. FY 
2013 funds will be used for new awards under this competition.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $300,000 to $600,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $450,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 30.

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

    Project Period. Up to 24 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: (a) The following entities are eligible for 
an award under NACTEP:
    (1) A federally recognized Indian tribe.
    (2) A tribal organization.
    (3) An Alaska Native entity.
    (4) A Bureau-funded school, except for a Bureau-funded school 
proposing to use its award to support secondary school career and 
technical education programs.
    (b) Any tribe, tribal organization, Alaska Native entity, or 
eligible Bureau-funded school may apply individually or as part of a 
consortium with one or more eligible tribes, tribal organizations, 
Alaska Native entities, or eligible Bureau-funded schools. (Eligible 
applicants seeking to apply for funds as a consortium must meet the 
requirements in 34 CFR 75.127-75.129, which apply to group 
applications.)
    2. Demonstration of Eligibility: The following requirements are 
from the notice of final requirements, definitions, and selection 
criteria for this program, published elsewhere in this issue of the 
Federal Register.
    (a) An eligible applicant (as determined by the Act) must include 
documentation in its application showing that it and, if appropriate, 
its consortium members are eligible to apply.
    (b) As defined in the Indian Self-Determination and Education 
Assistance Act (ISDEA) (25 U.S.C. 450b(l)), the term ``tribal 
organization'' means the recognized governing body of any Indian tribe; 
any legally established organization of Indians which is controlled, 
sanctioned, or chartered by such governing body or which is 
democratically elected by the adult members of the Indian community to 
be served by such organization and which includes the maximum 
participation of Indians in all phases of its activities: Provided, 
that in any case where a contract is let or grant made to an 
organization to perform services benefiting more than one Indian tribe, 
the approval of each such Indian tribe shall be a prerequisite to the 
letting or making of such contract or grant. In accordance with this 
statutory definition, any tribal organization proposing to provide 
NACTEP services for the benefit of more than one Indian tribe must 
first obtain the approval of each Indian tribe it proposes to serve and 
must submit documentation of such approval with its NACTEP application 
and that documentation of tribal approval is a prerequisite to the 
awarding of a NACTEP grant to any tribal organization proposing to 
serve more than one Indian tribe.
    3. (a) Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost 
sharing or matching.
    (b) Supplement-Not-Supplant: This program involves supplement-not-

[[Page 13036]]

supplant funding requirements. (34 CFR 75.563)
    4. Other:
    (a) Background Information
    This notice invites applications for a NACTEP competition that 
implements section 116 of the Act, enacted August 12, 2006. Section 116 
of the Act continues to authorize the Secretary to award grants, 
cooperative agreements, or enter into contracts with Indian tribes, 
tribal organizations, and Alaska Native entities to operate career and 
technical education projects that improve career and technical 
education for Native American and Alaska Native students.
    Under section 116 of the Act, Bureau-funded schools proposing to 
fund secondary programs are not eligible to receive an award directly 
from the Secretary. However, an Indian tribe, tribal organization, 
Alaska Native entity, or Bureau-funded school may use its award to 
assist a secondary school operated or supported by the U.S. Department 
of the Interior to carry out career and technical education programs. A 
Bureau-funded school that is not proposing a secondary program is 
eligible for assistance under NACTEP.
    (b) Under the statutory definition of ``career and technical 
education'', the sequence of courses provided as part of a career and 
technical education program must provide students with coherent and 
rigorous content aligned with challenging academic standards and 
relevant technical knowledge and skills needed to prepare for further 
education and careers in current or emerging professions. (20 U.S.C. 
2302(5)(A)(i))
    (c) Special Populations. Paragraph (F) of the definition of 
``Special Populations'' in section 3(29) of the Act uses the phrase 
``individuals with limited English proficiency''. Under section 324 of 
the Act, NACTEP students with other barriers to educational achievement 
may receive assistance such as tuition and fees, dependent care, 
transportation, books, and supplies, that are necessary for a student 
to participate in a project funded under this program. (20 U.S.C. 
2414(b))

    Note:  Refer to the Direct assistance to students and Student 
Stipends sections of this notice for guidance on providing financial 
assistance for tuition, dependent care, transportation, books, 
supplies, and stipends.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address To Request Application Package: Gwen Washington, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., room 11076, PCP, 
Washington, DC 20202-7241. Telephone: (202) 245-7790. Fax: (202) 245-
7170 or by email: [email protected]. Or Linda Mayo, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., room 11075, PCP, 
Washington, DC 20202-7241. Telephone: (202) 245-7790. Fax: (202) 245-
7170 or by email: [email protected].
    You may also obtain an application package via the Internet from 
the following address: www.ed.gov/GrantApps/.
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text 
telephone (TTY), 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 accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, 
or compact disc) by contacting the program contact persons listed in 
this section.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission:
    Requirements concerning the content of the application, together 
with the forms you must submit, are in the application package for this 
program.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: February 26, 2013.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 12, 2013.
    Applications for grants under this program may be submitted 
electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov), 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. 7. 
Other Submission Requirements or 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 persons 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.
    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. Data Universal Numbering System Number, Taxpayer Identification 
Number, Central Contractor Registry, and System for Award Management: 
To do business with the Department of Education, you must--
    a. Have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and a 
Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN);
    b. Register both your DUNS number and TIN with the Central 
Contractor Registry (CCR)--and, after July 24, 2012, with the System 
for Award Management (SAM), the Government's primary registrant 
database;
    c. Provide your DUNS number and TIN on your application; and
    d. Maintain an active CCR and SAM registration with current 
information while your application is under review by the Department 
and, if you are awarded a grant, during the project period.
    You can obtain a DUNS number from Dun and Bradstreet. A DUNS number 
can be created within one business day.
    If you are a corporate entity, agency, institution, or 
organization, you can obtain a TIN from the Internal Revenue Service. 
If you are an individual, you can obtain a TIN from the Internal 
Revenue Service or the Social Security Administration. If you need a 
new TIN, please allow 2-5 weeks for your TIN to become active.
    The CCR or SAM registration process may take five or more business 
days to complete. If you are currently registered with the CCR, you may 
not need to make any changes. However, please make certain that the TIN 
associated with your DUNS number is correct. Also note that you will 
need to update your registration annually. This may take three or more 
business days to complete. Information about SAM is available at 
SAM.gov.
    In addition, if you are submitting your application via Grants.gov, 
you must (1) be designated by your organization as an Authorized 
Organization Representative (AOR); and (2) register yourself with 
Grants.gov as an AOR. Details on these steps are outlined at the 
following Grants.gov Web page: www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp.
    7. Other Submission Requirements:
    Applications for grants under this program may be submitted 
electronically or in paper format by mail or hand delivery.
    a. Electronic Submission of Applications.
    We are participating as a partner in the Governmentwide Grants.gov 
Apply

[[Page 13037]]

site. NACTEP, CFDA Number 84.101A, is included in this project. We 
request your participation in Grants.gov.
    If you choose to submit your application electronically, you must 
use the Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site at www.Grants.gov. Through 
this site, you will be able to download a copy of the application 
package, complete it offline, and then upload and submit your 
application. You may not email an electronic copy of a grant 
application to us.
    You may access the electronic grant application for NACTEP at 
www.Grants.gov. You must search for the downloadable application 
package for this competition by the CFDA number. Do not include the 
CFDA number's alpha suffix in your search (e.g., search for 84.101, not 
84.101A).
    Please note the following:
     Your participation in Grants.gov is voluntary.
     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 4:30:00 
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 
4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date.
     The amount of time it can take to upload an application 
will vary depending on a variety of factors, including the size of the 
application and the speed of your Internet connection. Therefore, we 
strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline 
date to begin the submission process through Grants.gov.
     You should review and follow the Education Submission 
Procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov that are 
included in the application package for this competition to ensure that 
you submit your application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov 
system. You can also find the Education Submission Procedures 
pertaining to Grants.gov under News and Events on the Department's G5 
system home page at www.G5.gov.
     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.
     If you submit your application electronically, 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.
     If you submit your application electronically, you must 
upload any narrative sections and all other attachments to your 
application as files in a PDF (Portable Document) read-only, non-
modifiable format. Do not upload an interactive or fillable PDF file. 
If you upload a file type other than a read-only, non-modifiable PDF 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 email. 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 4:30:00 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 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC 
time, on the application deadline date, please contact the persons 
listed under For Further Information Contact in section VII of 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 4:30:00 
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 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.

    b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.
    If you submit your application in paper format by mail (through the 
U.S. Postal Service of 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 84.101A), 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.

[[Page 13038]]

    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 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 84.101A) 
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 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 the notice of final requirements, definitions, and selection 
criteria for this program, published elsewhere in this issue of the 
Federal Register and are as follows. The maximum score for each 
criterion is indicated in parentheses.
    (a) Need for project. (5 points total) In determining the need for 
the proposed project, we consider the extent of the need for the 
services to be provided or the activities to be carried out by the 
proposed project, as evidenced by data on such phenomena as local labor 
market demand or occupational trends, or from surveys, recommendations 
from accrediting agencies, or tribal economic development plans.
    (b) Significance. (15 points total) In determining the significance 
of the proposed project, we consider the following factors:
    (1) The potential contribution of the proposed project toward 
increasing the understanding of educational needs, issues, or 
strategies for providing career and technical education to American 
Indians and Alaska Natives. (5 points)
    (2) The likelihood that the proposed project will result in system 
change or improvement in the applicant's educational program as 
evidenced by the types of training and activities identified in the 
project application. (5 points)
    (3) The extent to which the proposed project is likely to build 
local capacity to provide, improve, or expand services that address the 
career and technical needs of the target population. (5 points)
    (c) Quality of the project design. (25 points total) In determining 
the quality of the design of the proposed project, we consider the 
following factors:
    (1) The extent to which goals, objectives, and outcomes are clearly 
specified and measurable (e.g., identification of the requirements for 
each course of study to be provided under the project, the technical 
skill proficiencies to be taught and the industry-recognized standards 
or competency assessments to be used, including related training areas 
and a description of the industry certifications, credentials, 
certificates, or degrees that students may earn; expected enrollments, 
completions, and student placements in jobs, military specialties, and 
continuing education/training opportunities in each career training 
area; the number of teachers, counselors, and administrators to be 
trained). (10 points)
    (2) The extent to which the design of the proposed project is 
appropriate to, and will successfully address, the needs of the target 
population or other identified needs, as evidenced by the applicant's 
description of programs and activities that align with the target 
population's needs. (5 points)
    (3) The extent to which the design for implementing and evaluating 
the proposed project plans for and is likely to result in the 
development of information that will guide possible dissemination of 
information on project practices, activities, or strategies, including 
information about the effectiveness of the approach or strategies 
employed by the project, planned dissemination activities, the kind of 
practices, activities, or strategies to be disseminated, the target 
audience for the dissemination of such practices, activities, or 
strategies, and the proposed uses for such disseminated practices, 
activities, or strategies. (5 points)
    (4) The extent to which the proposed project will establish 
linkages with or will be coordinated with similar or related efforts, 
and with community, State, or Federal resources, where such 
opportunities and resources exist. (5 points)
    (d) Quality of project services. (20 points total) In determining 
the quality of the services to be provided by the proposed project, we 
consider the following factors:
    (1) The extent to which the training or professional development 
services to be provided by the proposed project would be of sufficient 
quality, intensity, and duration to lead to improvements in practice 
among the project staff and instructors, including the extent to which 
the proposed training and professional development plans address ways 
in which learning gaps will be addressed and how continuous review of 
performance will be conducted to identify training needs. (5 points)
    (2) The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed 
project will create opportunities for students to receive an industry-
recognized credential; become employed in high-skill, high-wage, and 
high-demand occupations; or both. (5 points)
    (3) The extent to which the services proposed in the project will 
create opportunities for students to acquire technical skill 
proficiencies, industry certifications, or the skills identified by 
State or industry-recognized career and technical education programs or 
professions. In describing the services, there must be a clear link 
between the services and the skill proficiencies, industry 
certifications, credentials, certificates, or degrees that students may 
earn. (10 points)
    (e) Quality of project personnel. (15 points total) In determining 
the quality of project personnel, we consider the following factors:
    (1) The extent to which the applicant encourages applications for 
employment from persons who are members of groups that have 
traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national 
origin, gender, age, or disability. (5 points)
    (2) The qualifications, including relevant training, expertise, and 
experience, of the project director, key personnel, and project 
consultants. (5 points)
    (3) The extent to which the project will use instructors who are 
certified to teach in the field in which they will provide instruction. 
(5 points)
    (f) Adequacy of resources. (20 points total) In determining the 
adequacy of resources for the proposed project, we consider the 
following factors:
    (1) The adequacy of support, including facilities, equipment, 
supplies, and other resources, from the

[[Page 13039]]

applicant organization(s) and the tribal entity or entities to be 
served. (5 points)
    (2) The extent to which the budget is adequate and costs are 
reasonable in relation to the objectives of the proposed project. (5 
points)
    (3) The relevance and demonstrated commitment (e.g., through 
written career and technical education agreements, memoranda of 
understanding, letters of support and commitment, or commitments to 
employ project participants, as appropriate) of the applicant, members 
of the consortium, local employers, or tribal entities to be served by 
the project. (5 points)
    (4) The potential for continued support of the project after 
Federal funding ends. (5 points)
    (g) Quality of the management plan. (15 points total) In 
determining the quality of the management plan for the proposed 
project, we consider the following factors:
    (1) The adequacy of the management plan to achieve the objectives 
of the proposed project on time and within budget, including clearly 
defined responsibilities, timelines, and the milestones and performance 
standards for accomplishing project tasks. (5 points)
    (2) The extent to which the time commitments of the project 
director and other key project personnel are appropriate and adequate 
to meet the objectives of the proposed project. (5 points)
    (3) The adequacy of mechanisms for ensuring high-quality products 
and services from the proposed project. (5 points)
    (h) Quality of the project evaluation. (25 points total) In 
determining the quality of the evaluation, we consider the following 
factors:
    (1) The extent to which the methods of evaluation proposed by the 
grantee are thorough, feasible, and appropriate to the goals, 
objectives, and outcomes of the proposed project. (5 points)
    (2) The extent to which the methods of evaluation include the use 
of objective performance measures that are clearly related to the 
intended outcomes of the project and the Government Performance and 
Results Act of 1993 (GPRA) performance measures, and will produce 
quantitative and qualitative data, to the extent possible. (5 points)
    (3) The extent to which the methods of the evaluation include 
processes that consider the validity and integrity of data collection 
and analysis; accessibility of appropriate and timely data; accurate 
descriptions of performance; collection processes that yield unbiased, 
unprejudiced, and impartial data results; and the extent to which 
representation of the data clearly communicates an accurate picture of 
performance. (5 points)
    (4) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide 
performance feedback and continuous improvement toward achieving 
intended outcomes. (5 points)
    (5) The quality of the evaluation to be conducted by an external 
evaluator with the necessary background and technical expertise to 
carry out the evaluation. (5 points)
    2. Additional Selection Factors: In accordance with the requirement 
in section 116(e) of the Act, we have included the following additional 
selection factors and will award additional points to any application 
addressing the following factors, as indicated. These additional 
factors are from the notice of final requirements, definitions, and 
selection criteria for this program, published elsewhere in this issue 
of the Federal Register and are as follows. We will award--
    (a) Up to 10 additional points to applications that propose 
exemplary approaches that involve, coordinate with, or encourage tribal 
economic development plans; and
    (b) Five points to applications from tribally controlled colleges 
or universities that--
    (1) Are accredited or are candidates for accreditation by a 
nationally recognized accreditation organization as an institution of 
postsecondary career and technical education; or
    (2) Operate career and technical education programs that are 
accredited or are candidates for accreditation by a nationally 
recognized accreditation organization and issue certificates for 
completion of career and technical education programs (20 U.S.C. 
2326(e)).
    3. Review and Selection Process: We remind potential applicants 
that in reviewing applications in any discretionary grant competition, 
the Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.217(d)(3), the past 
performance of the applicant in carrying out a previous award, such as 
the applicant's use of funds, achievement of project objectives, and 
compliance with grant conditions. The Secretary may also consider 
whether the applicant failed to submit a timely performance report or 
submitted a report of unacceptable quality.
    In addition, in making a competitive grant award, the Secretary 
also requires various assurances including those applicable to Federal 
civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or 
activities receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department 
of Education (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
    4. Special Conditions: Under 34 CFR 74.14 and 80.12, the Secretary 
may impose special conditions on a grant if the applicant or grantee is 
not financially stable; has a history of unsatisfactory performance; 
has a financial or other management system that does not meet the 
standards in 34 CFR parts 74 or 80, as applicable; has not fulfilled 
the conditions of a prior grant; or is otherwise not responsible.

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); or we may send you an email containing a link to 
access an electronic version of your 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: (a) If you apply for a grant under this competition, 
you must ensure that you have in place the necessary processes and 
systems to comply with the reporting requirements in 2 CFR part 170 
should you receive funding under the competition. This does not apply 
if you have an exception under 2 CFR 170.110(b).
    (b) 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 www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
    4. Performance Measures: Under GPRA, Federal departments and 
agencies must clearly describe the goals and objectives of their 
programs,

[[Page 13040]]

identify resources and actions needed to accomplish these goals and 
objectives, develop a means of measuring progress made, and regularly 
report on their achievement. One important source of program 
information on successes and lessons learned is the project evaluation 
conducted under individual grants. The Department has developed the 
following core factors and measures for evaluating the overall 
effectiveness of NACTEP projects:
    (a) At the secondary level: An increase in the percentage of career 
and technical education students who--
    (1) Attain academic proficiency, as demonstrated by meeting 
academic content standards and student academic achievement standards 
that meet challenging State defined academic standards for reading/
language arts and mathematics;
    (2) Attain career and technical skill proficiencies, including 
student achievement on technical assessments that are aligned with 
industry-recognized standards;
    (3) Attain a secondary school diploma;
    (4) If a credential, certificate, or degree is offered by the State 
in which the project operates, in conjunction with a secondary school 
diploma, attain a proficiency credential, certificate, or degree in 
conjunction with a secondary school diploma; and
    (5) Are placed in--
    (i) Postsecondary education or advanced training;
    (ii) Military service; or
    (iii) Employment.
    (b) At the postsecondary level: An increase in the percentage of 
career and technical education students who--
    (1) Attain challenging career and technical skill proficiencies, 
including student achievement on technical assessments that are aligned 
with industry-recognized standards;
    (2) Attain an industry-recognized credential, a certificate, or a 
degree;
    (3) Are retained in postsecondary education or transfer to a 
baccalaureate degree program;
    (4) Are placed in--
    (i) Military service; or
    (ii) Apprenticeship programs; and
    (5) Are placed or have been retained in employment, including in 
high-skill, high-wage, or high-demand occupations or professions.
    (c) At the adult education level: An increase in the percentage of 
participating adult career and technical education students who--
    (1) Enroll in a postsecondary education or training program;
    (2) Attain career and technical education skill proficiencies 
aligned with industry-recognized standards;
    (3) Receive industry-recognized credentials or certificates; and
    (4) Are placed in a job, upgraded in a job, or retain employment.

    Note: All grantees will be expected to submit an annual 
performance report addressing these performance measures, to the 
extent feasible and to the extent that they apply to each grantee's 
NACTEP project.

    5. Evaluation Requirements: To help ensure the high quality of 
NACTEP projects and the achievement of the goals and purposes of 
section 116 of the Act, each grantee must budget for and conduct an 
ongoing evaluation of the effectiveness of its NACTEP project. An 
independent evaluator must conduct the evaluation. As provided in the 
notice of final requirements, definitions, and selection criteria for 
this program, published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal 
Register, the evaluation must--
    (a) Be appropriate for the project and be both formative and 
summative in nature;
    (b) Include--
    (1) Applicable performance measures for NACTEP;
    (2) Qualitative and quantitative data with respect to--
    (i) Academic and career and technical competencies demonstrated by 
the participants and the number and kinds of academic and work 
credentials acquired by individuals, including participation in 
programs providing skill proficiency assessments, industry 
certifications, or training at the associate degree level that is 
articulated with an advanced degree option;
    (ii) Enrollment, completion, and placement of participants by 
gender for each occupation for which training was provided;
    (iii) Job or work skill attainment or enhancement, including 
participation in apprenticeship and work-based learning programs, and 
student progress in achieving technical skill proficiencies necessary 
to obtain employment in the field for which the student has been 
prepared, including attainment or enhancement of technical skills in 
the industry the student is preparing to enter;
    (iv) Activities during the formative stages of the project to help 
guide and improve the project, as well as a summative evaluation that 
includes recommendations for disseminating information on project 
activities and results;
    (v) The number and percentage of students who obtained industry-
recognized credentials, certificates, or degrees;
    (vi) If available, the outcomes of students' technical assessments, 
by type and scores; and
    (vii) The rates of attainment of a proficiency credential or 
certificate, in conjunction with a secondary school diploma;
    (c) Measure the effectiveness of the project, including--
    (1) A comparison between the intended and observed results; and
    (2) A demonstration of a clear link between the observed results 
and the specific treatment given to project participants;
    (d) Measure the extent to which information about or resulting from 
the project was disseminated at other sites, such as through the 
grantee's development and use of guides or manuals that provide step-
by-step directions for practitioners to follow when initiating similar 
efforts; and
    (e) Measure the long-term impact of the project, such as, follow-up 
data on students' employment, sustained employment, promotions, and 
further/continuing education or training, or the impact the project had 
on tribal economic development or career and technical education 
activities offered by tribes.
    6. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award, the 
Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.253, the extent to which a 
grantee has made ``substantial progress toward meeting the objectives 
in its approved application.'' This consideration includes the review 
of a grantee's progress in meeting the targets and projected outcomes 
in its approved application, and whether the grantee has expended funds 
in a manner that is consistent with its approved application and 
budget. In making a continuation grant, the Secretary also considers 
whether the grantee is operating in compliance with the assurances in 
its approved application, including those applicable to Federal civil 
rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities 
receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department (34 CFR 
100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8 and 110.23).

VII. Agency Contacts

    For Further Information Contact: Gwen Washington, U.S. Department 
of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., room 11076, PCP, Washington, DC 
20202-7241. Telephone: (202) 245-7790. Fax: (202) 245-7170 or by email: 
[email protected]. Or Linda Mayo, U.S. Department of Education, 
400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 11075, PCP, Washington, DC 20202-7241. 
Telephone: (202) 245-7790. Fax: (202) 245-7170 or by email: 
[email protected].
    If you use a TDD or a TTY, call the FRS, toll free, at 1-800-877-
8339.

[[Page 13041]]

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 compact disc) on request to 
the program contact persons listed under For Further Information 
Contact in section VII of this notice.
    Electronic Access to This Document: 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 via the Federal Digital System 
at: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site 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). To use PDF 
you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at the 
site.
    You may also access documents of the Department published in the 
Federal Register by using the article search feature at: 
www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search 
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published 
by the Department.

    Dated: February 21, 2013.
Brenda Dann-Messier,
Assistant Secretary for Vocational and Adult Education.
[FR Doc. 2013-04434 Filed 2-25-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P