[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 71 (Monday, April 14, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20874-20880]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-08361]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Title III, Part A, Alaska Native and 
Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions (ANNH) Program

AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Overview Information: Title III, Part A, Alaska Native-Serving and 
Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions (ANNH) Program Notice inviting 
applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2014.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Numbers: 84.031N and 
84.031W.

DATES: 
    Applications Available: April 14, 2014.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 2, 2014.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: August 1, 2014.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The Title III, Part A, ANNH Program is 
authorized under Section 317 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as 
amended (HEA) to provide grants to eligible institutions of higher 
education (IHEs) to enable them to improve and expand their capacity to 
serve Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians. Institutions may use these 
grants to plan, develop, or implement activities that strengthen the 
institution.
    Priorities: This notice contains two competitive preference 
priorities and one invitational priority. The competitive preference 
priorities are from the Department's 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) (the Supplemental Priorities).
    Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2014 and any subsequent 
year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from 
the competition, these priorities are competitive preference 
priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we award up to two points for 
each competitive preference priority. The maximum competitive 
preference points an application can receive under this competition is 
four depending on how well the application meets these priorities.
    These priorities are:
    Competitive Preference Priority 1--Increasing Postsecondary 
Success.
    Projects that are designed to address the following priority area: 
Increasing the number and proportion of high-need students (as defined 
in this notice) who persist in and complete college or other 
postsecondary education and training.
    Competitive Preference Priority 2--Improving Productivity.
    Projects that are designed to significantly increase efficiency in 
the use of time, staff, money, or other resources while improving 
student learning or other educational outcomes (i.e., outcome per unit 
of resource). Such projects may include innovative and sustainable uses 
of technology, modification of school schedules and teacher 
compensation systems, use of open educational resources (as defined in 
this notice), or other strategies.

    Note: The types of projects identified in Competitive Preference 
Priority 2 are suggestions for ways to improve productivity. The 
Department recognizes that some of these examples, such as 
modification of teacher compensation systems, may not be relevant to 
this program. Accordingly, applicants should consider responding to 
this competitive preference priority in a way that improves 
productivity in a relevant higher education context.

    Invitational Priority: For FY 2014 and any subsequent year in which 
we make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from this 
competition, this priority is an invitational priority. Under 34 CFR 
75.105(c)(1) we do not give an application that meets this invitational 
priority a competitive or absolute preference over other applications.
    This priority is:
    Support activities that strengthen Native language preservation and 
revitalization at the IHE.

    Note: There are no additional points awarded for the 
invitational priority.

    Definitions: The following definitions are from the Supplemental 
Priorities and apply to the priorities in this notice:
    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.
    Open educational resources (OER) means teaching, learning, and 
research

[[Page 20875]]

resources that reside in the public domain or have been released under 
an intellectual property license that permits their free use or 
repurposing by others.
    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1057-1059d.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 82, 
84, 85, 86, 98 and 99. (b) The regulations for this program in 34 CFR 
part 607. (c) The Supplemental Priorities.

    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 IHEs only.


    Note: The eligibility criteria for this competition, including 
the enrollment of needy students and expenditure provisions, are set 
forth in section III.1. Eligible Applicants of this notice. The tie-
breaker provisions are set in section V.3. Tie-breaker for Grants of 
this notice.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: $1,874,766.
    Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of 
applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2015 from the list of 
unfunded applicants from this competition.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $200,000-$859,000 per year.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $624,922 per year.
    Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a 
budget exceeding $859,000 for a single budget period of 12 months. The 
Assistant Secretary for the Office of Postsecondary Education may 
change the maximum amount through a notice published in the Federal 
Register.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 3.

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

    Project Period: Up to 60 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: This program is authorized by Title III, 
Part A, of the HEA. An IHE that has been designated as an eligible 
institution for the ANNH Programs may apply for the grants announced in 
this notice. At the time of application, an Alaska Native-Serving 
Institution must have an enrollment of undergraduate students that is 
at least 20 percent Alaska Native. 34 CFR 607.2(e). At the time of 
application, a Native Hawaiian-Serving Institution must have an 
enrollment of undergraduate students that is at least 10 percent Native 
Hawaiian. 34 CFR 607.2(f).
    To qualify as an eligible institution under any Title III, Part A 
program, including the ANNH Programs, an institution must--
    (a) Be accredited or preaccredited by a nationally recognized 
accrediting agency or association that the Secretary has determined to 
be a reliable authority as to the quality of education or training 
offered;
    (b) Be legally authorized by the State in which it is located to be 
a junior college or to provide an educational program for which it 
awards a bachelor's degree;
    (c) Be designated as an ``eligible institution'' by demonstrating 
that it: (1) Has an enrollment of needy students as described in 34 CFR 
607.3; and (2) has low average educational and general expenditures per 
full-time equivalent (FTE) undergraduate student, as described in 34 
CFR 607.4.

    Note: For purposes of establishing eligibility for this 
competition, on January 13, 2014, the Department published a notice 
inviting applications for eligibility designation in the Federal 
Register (79 FR 2161). The deadline for submission of the 
designation of eligibility application was March 7, 2014. Only 
institutions that submitted the required application and received 
designation through this process are eligible to submit applications 
for this competition.

    Relationship between Title V, Title III, Part A and Part F 
Programs.

    Note 1: Title V and Title III, Part A--A current grantee under 
the Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) Program which is 
authorized under Title V of the HEA, may not receive a grant under 
any HEA, Title III, Part A program.


    Note 2: Title III, Part A--A current grantee under the 
Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP), Asian American and Native 
American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISI) Program, 
Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions (NASNTI) Program, and 
the Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian (ANNH) Program authorized by 
section 317 of the HEA, may not receive a grant authorized under any 
other Title III, Part A program.


    Note 3: Title III, Part F--A current grantee under the AANAPISI, 
NASNTI, Hispanic Serving Institutions--STEM and Articulation (HSI--
STEM), Predominantly Black Institutions (PBI) Programs, and ANNH 
Program authorized by Title III, Part F, Section 371 of the HEA, may 
not receive a grant authorized under any other Title III, Part F 
program under Section 371.


    Note 4: Title III, Part A; Title III, Part F--An eligible IHE 
may submit a Title III, Part A and a Title III, Part F grant 
proposal and may receive funding under both Parts if the IHE is not 
already receiving funding under one or both Parts at the time the 
applications are submitted. (See Note 2 and Note 3).


    Note 5: Individual Development Grant and Cooperative Arrangement 
Grant--An eligible IHE that submits applications for an individual 
development grant and a cooperative arrangement grant in this 
competition may be awarded both in the same fiscal year. However, we 
will not award a second cooperative arrangement grant to an 
otherwise eligible IHE for an award year for which the IHE already 
has a cooperative arrangement grant award under the ANNH program.

    2.a. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost 
sharing or matching.
    b. Supplement-Not-Supplant: This program involves supplement-not-
supplant funding requirements. Grant funds shall be used so that they 
supplement and, to the extent practical, increase the funds that would 
otherwise be available for the activities to be carried out under the 
grant and in no case supplant those funds (34 CFR 607.30(b)).

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: You can obtain an 
application via the Internet using the following address: http://
http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov. If you do not have access to the Internet, please contact 
LaTonya Brown, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street NW., Room 
6029, Washington, DC 20006-8513. Telephone: (202) 502-7619, or by 
email: [email protected].
    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 person listed in 
this section.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements 
concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you 
must submit, are in the application package for this program.
    Page Limits: The application narrative (Part III of the 
application) is where you, the applicant, address the selection 
criteria. We have established mandatory page limits for the Individual 
Development Grant and Cooperative Arrangement Grant applications. You 
must limit the application narrative (Part III) to no more than 50 
pages for

[[Page 20876]]

the Individual Development Grant; and 70 pages for cooperative 
arrangement grants. This page limit requirement is separate from the 
five additional pages for the ``Other'' sections.
    Note: Please include a separate heading when responding to each 
priority. For the purpose of determining compliance with the page 
limit, each page on which there are words will be counted at one full 
page. Applicants must use the following standards.
     A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only, with 1'' 
margins at the top, bottom, and both sides. Page numbers and an 
identifier may be outside the 1'' margin.
     Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) 
all text in the application narrative, except titles, headings, 
footnotes, quotations, references, captions and all text in charts, 
tables, figures, and graphs. Charts, tables, figures, and graphs in the 
application narrative may be single spaced and will count toward the 
page limit.
     Use a font that is either 12 point or larger, and no 
smaller than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
     Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, 
Courier New, or Arial. An applications submitted in any other font 
(including Times Roman and Arial Narrow) will not be accepted.
    The page limit does not apply to Part I, the Application for 
Federal Assistance (SF-424); the Supplemental Information for SF-424 
Form required by the Department of Education; Part II, the Budget 
section and the Budget Information Non-Construction Programs (ED 524), 
with the exception of the budget narrative justification which is part 
of the page limitations of the application narrative section Part III); 
Part IV, the assurances and certifications; or the one-page program 
abstract, the resumes, the bibliography, or the letters of support. 
However, the page limit does apply to all of the application narrative 
section (Part III), including the budget responses of the selection 
criteria and the ``Other/CPP'' section and ``Other/IP'' section for the 
priorities.

    Note:  Each of the Priority sections (Other/CPP and Other/IP) is 
limited to five pages. If you exceed the five-page limit under any 
one of the Priority sections, we will reject your application.

    If you include any attachments or appendices not specifically 
requested in the application package, (such as resumes under Key 
Personnel) these items will be counted as part of your application 
narrative (Part III) for the purpose of the page limit requirement. You 
must include your complete response to the selection criteria in the 
application narrative.

    Note: Sections A-C of the Budget Information-Non-Construction 
Programs Form (ED 524) are not the same as the narrative response to 
the Budget section of the selection criteria. The supporting 
narrative for the activity detail budget form lists the requested 
budget line items line by line.

    We will reject your application if you exceed the page limit.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: April 14, 2014.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 2, 2014.
    Applications for grants under this competition must be submitted 
electronically using the http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov Apply site (http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov). For 
information (including dates and times) about how to submit your 
application electronically, or in paper format by mail or hand delivery 
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, please refer to section IV.7. Other Submission 
Requirements of this notice.
    We do not consider an application that does not comply with the 
deadline requirements.
    Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or 
auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should contact 
the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII 
of this notice. If the Department provides an accommodation or 
auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability in connection with the 
application process, the individual's application remains subject to 
all other requirements and limitations in this notice. Deadline for 
Intergovernmental Review: August 1, 2014.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: This program is subject to Executive 
Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. Information about 
Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under Executive Order 
12372 is in the application package for these programs.
    5. Funding Restrictions: We specify limitations on allowable costs 
in 34 CFR 607.30. We reference additional regulations outlining funding 
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
    Applicability of Executive Order 13202. Applicants that apply for 
construction funds under the Title III, Part A programs, must comply 
with Executive Order 13202, signed by former President George W. Bush 
on February 17, 2001, and amended on April 6, 2001. This Executive 
Order provides that recipients of Federal construction funds may not 
``require or prohibit bidders, offerors, contractors, or subcontractors 
to enter into or adhere to agreements with one or more labor 
organizations, on the same or other construction project(s)'' or 
``otherwise discriminate against bidders, offerors, contractors, or 
subcontractors for becoming or refusing to become or remain signatories 
or otherwise adhere to agreements with one or more labor organizations, 
on the same or other construction project(s).'' However, the Executive 
Order does not prohibit contractors or subcontractors from voluntarily 
entering into these agreements. Projects funded under these programs 
that include construction activity will be provided a copy of this 
Executive Order and will be asked to certify that they will adhere to 
it.
    6. Data Universal Numbering System Number, Taxpayer Identification 
Number, 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 System for Award 
Management (SAM) (formerly the Central Contractor Registry (CCR)), the 
Government's primary registrant database;
    c. Provide your DUNS number and TIN on your application; and
    d. Maintain an active 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-to-two business days.
    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 SAM registration process can take approximately seven business 
days, but may take upwards of several weeks, depending on the 
completeness and accuracy of the data entered into the SAM database by 
an entity. Thus, if you think you might want to apply for Federal 
financial assistance under a program administered by the Department, 
please allow sufficient time to obtain and register your DUNS

[[Page 20877]]

number and TIN. We strongly recommend that you register early.

    Note:  Once your SAM registration is active, you will need to 
allow 24 to 48 hours for the information to be available in 
http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov and before you can submit an application through 
http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov.

    If you are currently registered with SAM, 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.
    Information about SAM is available at www.SAM.gov. To further 
assist you with obtaining and registering your DUNS number and TIN in 
SAM or updating your existing SAM account, we have prepared a SAM.gov 
Tip Sheet, which you can find at: http://www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/sam-faqs.html.
    In addition, if you are submitting your application via http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov, 
you must (1) be designated by your organization as an Authorized 
Organization Representative (AOR); and (2) register yourself with 
http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov as an AOR. Details on these steps are outlined at the 
following http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov Web page: www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html.
    7. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under the 
ANNH Programs must be submitted electronically unless you qualify for 
an exception to this requirement in accordance with the instructions in 
this section.
    a. Electronic Submission of Applications.
    Applications for grants under the Alaska Native-Serving 
Institutions Program (CFDA number 84.031N) and the Native Hawaiian-
Serving Institutions Program (CFDA number 84.031W) must be submitted 
electronically using the Government wide http://Grants.gov">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.
    We will reject your application if you submit it in paper format 
unless, as described elsewhere in this section, you qualify for one of 
the exceptions to the electronic submission requirement and submit, no 
later than two weeks before the application deadline date, a written 
statement to the Department that you qualify for one of these 
exceptions. Further information regarding calculation of the date that 
is two weeks before the application deadline date is provided later in 
this section under Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement.
    You may access the electronic grant application for this 
competition at www.Grants.gov. You must search for the downloadable 
application package for this program by the CFDA number. Do not include 
the CFDA number's alpha suffix in your search (e.g., search for 84.031, 
not 84.031N).
    Please note the following:
     When you enter the http://Grants.gov">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 http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov are date and time 
stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted and must 
be date and time stamped by the http://Grants.gov">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 http://Grants.gov">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 
http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov, we will notify you if we are rejecting your application 
because it was date and time stamped by the http://Grants.gov">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 http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov.
     You should review and follow the Education Submission 
Procedures for submitting an application through http://Grants.gov">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 http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov 
system. You can also find the Education Submission Procedures 
pertaining to http://Grants.gov">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 qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, as described elsewhere in this section, and submit your 
application in paper format.
     You must submit all documents electronically, including 
all information you typically provide on the following forms: the 
Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424), the Department of 
Education Supplemental Information for SF 424, Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and 
certifications.
     You must 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 http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov an automatic notification of receipt that 
contains a http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov tracking number. (This notification indicates 
receipt by http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov only, not receipt by the Department.) The 
Department then will retrieve your application from http://Grants.gov">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 http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov System: If you are experiencing problems submitting 
your application through http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov, please contact the http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov 
Support Desk, toll free, at 1-800-518-4726. You must obtain a 
http://Grants.gov">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 http://Grants.gov">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 person 
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII of this 
notice and provide an

[[Page 20878]]

explanation of the technical problem you experienced with http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov, 
along with the http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number. We will accept your 
application if we can confirm that a technical problem occurred with 
the http://Grants.gov">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 
http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov system. We will not grant you an extension if you failed 
to fully register to submit your application to http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov before 
the application deadline date and time or if the technical problem 
you experienced is unrelated to the http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov system.

    Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement: You qualify for an 
exception to the electronic submission requirement, and may submit your 
application in paper format, if you are unable to submit an application 
through the http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov system because--
     You do not have access to the Internet; or
     You do not have the capacity to upload large documents to 
the http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov system;

and

     No later than two weeks before the application deadline 
date (14 calendar days, or, if the fourteenth calendar day before the 
application deadline date falls on a Federal holiday, the next business 
day following the Federal holiday), you mail or fax a written statement 
to the Department, explaining which of the two grounds for an exception 
prevent you from using the Internet to submit your application.
    If you mail your written statement to the Department, it must be 
postmarked no later than two weeks before the application deadline 
date. If you fax your written statement to the Department, we must 
receive the faxed statement no later than two weeks before the 
application deadline date.
    Address and mail or fax your statement to: LaTonya Brown, U.S. 
Department of Education, 1990 K Street NW., Room 6029, Washington, DC 
20006-8513. FAX: (202) 502-7861.
    Your paper application must be submitted in accordance with the 
mail or hand delivery instructions described in this notice.
    b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.
    If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, you may mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a 
commercial carrier) your application to the Department. You must mail 
the original and two copies of your application, on or before the 
application deadline date, to the Department at the following address: 
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: 
(CFDA Number 84.031N or 84.031W), LBJ Basement Level I, 400 Maryland 
Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20202-4260.
    You must show proof of mailing consisting of one of the following:
    (1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark.
    (2) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the 
U.S. Postal Service.
    (3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial 
carrier.
    (4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of the 
U.S. Department of Education.
    If you mail your application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do 
not accept either of the following as proof of mailing:
    (1) A private metered postmark.
    (2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service.
    If your application is postmarked after the application deadline 
date, we will not consider your application.

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

    c. Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery.
    If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, you (or a courier service) may deliver your paper 
application to the Department by hand. You must deliver the original 
and two copies of your application, by hand, on or before the 
application deadline date, to the Department at the following address: 
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: 
(CFDA Number 84.031N or 84.031W), 550 12th Street, SW., Room 7039, 
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 these programs 
are in 34 CFR 607.22(a) through (g). Applicants must address each of 
the following selection criteria (separately for each proposed 
activity). The total weight of the selection criteria is 100 points; 
the maximum score for each criterion is noted in parentheses.
    (a) Quality of the Applicant's Comprehensive Development Plan 
(Maximum 25 Points).
    (b) Quality of Activity Objectives (Maximum 15 Points).
    (c) Quality of Implementation Strategy (Maximum 20 Points).
    (d) Quality of Key Personnel (Maximum 7 Points).
    (e) Quality of Project Management Plan (Maximum 10 Points).
    (f) Quality of Evaluation Plan (Maximum 15 Points).
    (g) Budget (Maximum 8 Points).
    2. 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).
    Awards will be made in rank order according to the average score 
received from an evaluation performed by a panel of three non-Federal 
reviewers. That average score includes scores for competitive 
preference priorities 1 and 2.
    Tie-breaker for Development Grants. In tie-breaking situations for 
development grants, 34 CFR 607.23(b)

[[Page 20879]]

requires that additional points be awarded to any applicants that: (1) 
Have an endowment fund of which the current market value, per full-time 
equivalent (FTE) enrolled student, is less than the average current 
market value of the endowment funds, per FTE enrolled student at 
comparable institutions that offer similar instruction; (2) have 
expenditures for library materials per FTE enrolled student that are 
less than the average expenditures per FTE enrolled student at 
comparable institutions that offer similar instruction; or (3) propose 
to carry out one or more of the following activities--
    (1) Faculty development;
    (2) Funds and administrative management;
    (3) Development and improvement of academic programs;
    (4) Acquisition of equipment for use in strengthening management 
and academic programs;
    (5) Joint use of facilities; and
    (6) Student services.
    For the purpose of these funding considerations, we use 2011-2012 
data.
    If a tie remains after applying the tie-breaker mechanism above, 
priority will be given in the case of applicants for: (a) Individual 
development grants to applicants that have the lowest endowment values 
per FTE student; and (b) cooperative arrangement development grants to 
applicants in accordance with section 394(b) of the HEA, if the 
Secretary determines that the cooperative arrangement is geographically 
and economically sound or will benefit the applicant institution.
    3. Special Conditions: Under 34 CFR 74.14, 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 (34 CFR 607.24); 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). We may also notify you informally.
    If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding, 
we notify you.
    2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: We identify 
administrative and national policy requirements in the application 
package and reference these and other requirements in the Applicable 
Regulations section in this notice.
    We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of 
an award in the Applicable Regulations section 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 in 34 
CFR 75.118 and 34 CFR 607.31. 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: The Secretary has established the 
following key performance measures for assessing the effectiveness of 
the Strengthening Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving 
Institutions Programs:
    (a) The percentage change, over the five-year period, of the number 
of full-time degree-seeking undergraduates enrolled at Alaska Native 
and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions. Note that this is a long-term 
measure, which will be used to periodically gauge performance, 
beginning in FY 2014.
    (b) The percentage of first-time, full-time degree-seeking 
undergraduate students at 4-year Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-
Serving Institutions who were in their first year of postsecondary 
enrollment in the previous year and are enrolled in the current year at 
the same Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institution;
    (c) The percentage of first-time, full-time degree-seeking 
undergraduate students at 2-year Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-
Serving Institutions who were in their first year of postsecondary 
enrollment in the previous year and are enrolled in the current year at 
the same Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institution;
    (d) The percentage of first-time, full-time degree-seeking 
undergraduate students enrolled at 4-year Alaska Native and Native 
Hawaiian-Serving Institutions graduating within six years of 
enrollment; and
    (e) The percentage of first-time, full-time degree seeking 
undergraduate students enrolled at 2-year Alaska Native and Native 
Hawaiian-Serving Institutions graduating within three years of 
enrollment.
    5. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award, the 
Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 607.31, the extent to which a 
grantee has made ``substantial progress toward achieving the objectives 
set forth in its grant application, including, if applicable, the 
institution's success in institutionalizing practices and improvements 
developed under the grant.'' 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: LaTonya Brown, U.S. Department of 
Education, 1990 K Street NW., Room 6029, Washington, DC 20006-8513. 
Telephone: (202) 502-7619 or, by email: [email protected].
    If you use a TDD or a TTY, 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 compact disc) on request to 
the program contact person 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

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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 this 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: April 9, 2014.
Lynn B. Mahaffie,
Senior Director, Policy Coordination, Development, and Accreditation 
Service, delegated the authority to perform the functions and duties of 
the Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2014-08361 Filed 4-11-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P