[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 24 (Thursday, February 5, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6502-6506]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-02350]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Migrant Education Program (MEP) 
Consortium Incentive Grant Program

AGENCY: Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Department of 
Education

ACTION: Notice.

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Overview Information

    Migrant Education Program (MEP) Consortium Incentive Grant Program 
Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2015.

    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.144F.

DATES: Applications Available: February 5, 2015.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 20, 2015.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: April 6, 2015.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The purpose of the MEP Consortium Incentive 
Grant program is to provide incentive grants to State educational 
agencies (SEAs) that participate in a consortium with one or more other 
SEAs or other appropriate entities to improve the delivery of services 
to migrant children whose education is interrupted. Through this 
program, the Department provides financial incentives to SEAs to 
participate in high-quality consortia to improve the intrastate and 
interstate coordination of migrant education programs by addressing key 
needs of migratory children whose education is interrupted.
    Priorities: These priorities are from the notice of final 
requirements for this program, published in the Federal Register on 
March 3, 2004 (69 FR 10110), and from the notice of final priority for 
this program, published in the Federal Register on March 12, 2008 (73 
FR 13217).
    Absolute Priorities: For FY 2015, these priorities are absolute 
priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), we consider only applications 
that meet one or more of these absolute priorities. In order for an SEA 
to be considered for an incentive grant, an application from a proposed 
consortium in which the SEA would participate must address one or more 
of the following absolute priorities:
    Priority 1: Services designed to improve the proper and timely 
identification and recruitment of eligible migratory children whose 
education is interrupted.
    Priority 2: Services designed (based on a review of scientifically 
based research) to improve the school readiness of preschool-aged 
migratory children whose education is interrupted.
    Priority 3: Services designed (based on a review of scientifically 
based research) to improve the reading proficiency of migratory 
children whose education is interrupted.
    Priority 4: Services designed (based on a review of scientifically 
based research) to improve the mathematics proficiency of migratory 
children whose education is interrupted.
    Priority 5: Services designed (based on a review of scientifically 
based research) to decrease the dropout rate of migratory students 
whose education is interrupted and improve their high school completion 
rate.

[[Page 6503]]

    Priority 6: Services designed (based on a review of scientifically 
based research) to strengthen the involvement of migratory parents in 
the education of migratory students whose education is interrupted.
    Priority 7: Services designed (based on a review of scientifically 
based research) to expand access to innovative educational technologies 
intended to increase the academic achievement of migratory students 
whose education is interrupted.
    Priority 8: Services designed (based on a review of scientifically 
based research) to improve the educational attainment of out-of-school 
migratory youth whose education is interrupted.

    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 6398(d).

    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75 (except 75.232), 
76, 77, 79, 82, 84, 85, and 99. (b) The OMB Guidelines to Agencies on 
Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Non-procurement) in 2 CFR part 
180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR 
part 3485, and the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost 
Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 200 
(except Sec.  200.328(b)), as adopted and amended in 2 CFR part 3474. 
(c) The notice of final requirements published in the Federal Register 
on March 3, 2004 (69 FR 10110). (d) The notice of final priority 
published in the Federal Register on March 12, 2008 (73 FR 13217). (e) 
The notice of final requirement published in the Federal Register on 
December 31, 2013 (78 FR 79613).

    Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants 
except federally recognized Indian tribes.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Formula grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: $3,000,000.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $50,000-$150,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $64,000.
    Maximum Award: By statute, the maximum amount that we may award 
under this program is $250,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 47.

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

    Project Period: Up to 36 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: SEAs receiving MEP Basic State Formula 
grants, in a consortium with one or more other SEAs or other 
appropriate entities.
    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. Pursuant to the notice of final 
requirements published in the Federal Register on March 3, 2004 (69 FR 
10110), the supplement-not-supplant provisions in sections 1120A(b) and 
1304(c)(2) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as 
amended, are applicable to this program.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: Rachel Crawford, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 3E319, LBJ, 
Washington, DC 20202-6135. Telephone: (202)260-2590 or by email: 
[email protected]. You may also download the application package 
at: www2.ed.gov/programs/mepconsortium/applicant.html.
    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 an 
applicant must submit, are in the application package for this program.
    Page Limit: Part IV of the application is where you, the applicant, 
describe the proposed consortium and include the Part IV Summary Chart 
(this chart is explained in the application package). Your description 
of the proposed consortium must include how the consortium's proposed 
project meets (1) the Application Requirements listed in the notice of 
final requirements published in the Federal Register on March 3, 2004 
(69 FR 10110), the notice of final priority published in the Federal 
Register on March 12, 2008 (73 FR 13217), and the notice of final 
requirement published in the Federal Register on December 31, 2013 (78 
FR 79613), (2) one or more of the absolute priorities, and (3) the 
selection criteria that reviewers use to evaluate your application. We 
recommend that you limit Part IV to no more than 25 double-spaced 
pages, using the standards in the following paragraphs. Please note 
that the Summary Chart does not count as part of Part IV for purposes 
of the page limit.
     A ``page'' is 8.5 x 11, on one side 
only, with 1 margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
     Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) 
all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings, 
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in 
charts, tables, figures, and graphs.
     Use a font that is either 12-point or larger or no smaller 
than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
     Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, 
Courier New, or Arial. An application submitted in any other font 
(including Times Roman or Arial Narrow) will not be accepted.
     For charts, tables, and graphs, use a font that is either 
12-point or larger or no smaller than 10 pitch.
    The page limit does not apply to the Part IV Summary Chart, Parts I 
through III, or Parts V through VII, or to any appendices, resumes, 
bibliography, or letters of support. However, the recommended page 
limit does apply to the description of the proposed consortium in Part 
IV of the application.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: February 5, 2015.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 20, 2015.
    Applications for grants under this competition must be submitted 
electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov). For 
information (including dates and times) about how to submit your 
application electronically, or in paper format by mail or hand delivery 
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, please refer to section IV. 7. Other Submission 
Requirements.
    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.

[[Page 6504]]

    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: April 6, 2015.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: This competition is subject to 
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. 
Information about Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under 
Executive Order 12372 is in the application package for this 
competition.
    5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding 
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section in this notice.
    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 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 
Grants.gov and before you can submit an application through 
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 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/web/grants/register.html.
    7. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under 
this competition 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 MEP Consortium Incentive Grant 
program, CFDA number 84.144F, must be submitted electronically using 
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.
    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 the MEP 
Consortium Incentive Grant program 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 84.144, not 84.144F).
    Please note the following:
     When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find 
information about submitting an application electronically through the 
site, as well as the hours of operation.
     Applications received by Grants.gov are date and time 
stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted and must 
be date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30:00 
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 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.

[[Page 6505]]

     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 person 
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.

    Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement: You qualify for an 
exception to the electronic submission requirement, and may submit your 
application in paper format, if you are unable to submit an application 
through the Grants.gov system because--
     You do not have access to the Internet; or
     You do not have the capacity to upload large documents to 
the Grants.gov system; and
     No later than two weeks before the application deadline 
date (14 calendar days or, if the fourteenth calendar day before the 
application deadline date falls on a Federal holiday, the next business 
day following the Federal holiday), you mail or fax a written statement 
to the Department, explaining which of the two grounds for an exception 
prevents you from using the Internet to submit your application.
    If you mail your written statement to the Department, it must be 
postmarked no later than two weeks before the application deadline 
date. If you fax your written statement to the Department, we must 
receive the faxed statement no later than two weeks before the 
application deadline date.
    Address and mail or fax your statement to: Rachel Crawford, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 3E319, 
Washington, DC 20202-4260.
    FAX: (202)205-0089.
    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 84.144F), LBJ Basement Level 1, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC 20202-4260.
    You must show proof of mailing consisting of one of the following:
    (1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark.
    (2) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the 
U.S. Postal Service.
    (3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial 
carrier.
    (4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of the 
U.S. Department of Education.
    If you mail your application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do 
not accept either of the following as proof of mailing:
    (1) A private metered postmark.
    (2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service.
    If your application is postmarked after the application deadline 
date, we will not consider your application.

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

c. Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery

    If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, you (or a courier service) may deliver your paper 
application to the Department by hand. You must deliver the original 
and two copies of your application by hand, on or before the 
application deadline date, to the Department at the following address: 
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: 
(CFDA Number 84.144F), 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.


[[Page 6506]]



V. Application Review Information

    1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this program are 
from 34 CFR part 75.210 and are listed in the application package.
    2. Review and Selection Process: We remind potential applicants 
that in reviewing applications in any 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).
    3. Special Conditions: Under 2 CFR 3474.10, the Secretary may 
impose special conditions and, in appropriate circumstances, high-risk 
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 2 CFR part 
200, subpart D; has not fulfilled the conditions of a prior grant; or 
is otherwise not responsible.

VI. Award Administration Information

    1. Award Notices: If your consortium 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 also notify you 
informally.
    If an 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: Grant recipients under this program must submit the 
annual and final performance and financial reports specified in the 
notice of final requirements for this grant program published in the 
Federal Register on March 3, 2004 (69 FR 10110).
    4. Performance Measures: Consortium grantees are required to report 
on their project's effectiveness based on the project objectives, 
performance measures, and scheduled activities outlined in the 
consortium's application.
    In addition, all grantees are required, under 34 CFR 80.40(b), to 
report on the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) indicators 
as part of their Consolidated State Performance Report. The GPRA 
indicators established by the Department for the MEP, of which the 
Consortium Incentive Grants are a component, are:
    a. The percentage of MEP students that scored at or above 
proficient on their State's annual Reading/Language Arts assessments in 
grades 3-8.
    b. The percentage of MEP students that scored at or above 
proficient on their State's annual Mathematics assessments in grades 3-
8.
    c. The percentage of MEP students who were enrolled in grades 7-12, 
and graduated or were promoted to the next grade level.
    d. The percentage of MEP students who entered 11th grade that had 
received full credit for Algebra I.

VII. Agency Contacts

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rachel Crawford, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 3E319, LBJ, Washington, DC 
20202-6135. Telephone: (202)260-2590, 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 may 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 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 2, 2015.
Deborah Delisle,
Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2015-02350 Filed 2-4-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P