[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 69 (Friday, April 10, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19298-19305]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-08324]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Applications for New Awards; Alaska Native-Serving and Native
Hawaiian-Serving Institutions Program
AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice.
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Overview Information: Alaska Native-Serving and Native Hawaiian-
Serving Institutions (ANNH) Program, Notice inviting applications for
new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2015.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Numbers: 84.031N and
84.031W.
DATES:
Applications Available: April 10, 2015.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 9, 2015.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: August 10, 2015.
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The 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.
Background: We encourage applicants to read carefully the Selection
Criteria section of this notice. Consistent with the Department's
increasing emphasis in recent years on promoting evidence-based
practices through our grant competitions, the Secretary will evaluate
applications on the extent to which the proposed project is supported
by a logic model that meets the evidence standard of ``strong theory''
(as defined in this notice). Resources to assist applicants in creating
a logic model can be found here: http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/pacific/pdf/REL_2014007.pdf.
[[Page 19299]]
Priorities: This notice contains one absolute priority, two
competitive preference priorities, and one invitational priority. The
absolute priority is from the Department's notice of final supplemental
priorities and definitions for discretionary grant programs
(Supplemental Priorities), published in the Federal Register on
December 10, 2014 (79 FR 73425). Competitive Preference Priority 1 is
from section 320(c)(2)(H) of the HEA. Competitive Preference Priority 2
is from the Supplemental Priorities.
Absolute Priority: For FY 2015 and any subsequent year in which we
make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from this competition,
this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) we
consider only applications that meet this priority.
This priority is:
Projects that are designed to increase the number and proportion of
high-need students (as defined in this notice) who are academically
prepared for, enroll in, or complete on time college, other
postsecondary education, or other career and technical education.
Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2015 and any subsequent
year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from
this competition, these priorities are competitive preference
priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we award an application up to
three additional points for each priority, for a total of up to six
additional points, depending on how well the application meets each of
these priorities.
These priorities are:
Competitive Preference Priority 1 (up to three additional points).
Academic tutoring and counseling programs and student support
services.
Competitive Preference Priority 2 (up to three additional points).
Projects that are designed to leverage technology through
implementing high-quality, accessible online courses, online learning
communities, or online simulations, such as those for which educators
could earn professional development credit or continuing education
units through digital credentials (as defined in this notice) based on
demonstrated mastery of competencies and performance-based outcomes,
instead of traditional time-based metrics.
Invitational Priority: For FY 2015 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:
Projects that support activities that strengthen Native language
preservation and revitalization.
Definitions: The following definitions are from the Supplemental
Priorities and from 34 CFR 77.1 and apply to the priorities and
selection criteria in this notice:
Digital credentials means evidence of mastery of specific
competencies or performance-based abilities, provided in digital rather
than physical medium (such as through digital badges). These digital
credentials may then be used to supplement or satisfy continuing
education or professional development requirements.
High-minority school means a school as that term is defined by a
local educational agency, which must define the term in a manner
consistent with its State's Teacher Equity Plan, as required by section
1111(b)(8)(C) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
The applicant must provide the definition(s) of high-minority schools
used in its application.
High-need students means students who are at risk of educational
failure or otherwise in need of special assistance and support, such as
students who are living in poverty, who attend high-minority schools,
who are far below grade level, who have left school before receiving a
regular high school diploma, who are at risk of not graduating with a
diploma on time, who are homeless, who are in foster care, who have
been incarcerated, who have disabilities, or who are English learners.
Logic model (also referred to as theory of action) means a well-
specified conceptual framework that identifies key components of the
proposed process, product, strategy, or practice (i.e., the active
``ingredients'' that are hypothesized to be critical to achieving the
relevant outcomes) and describes the relationships among the key
components and outcomes, theoretically and operationally.
Note: In developing logic models, applicants may want to use
resources such as the Pacific Education Laboratory's Education Logic
Model Application (www.relpacific.mcrel.org/PERR.html or http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED544779.pdf) to help design their logic
models.
Regular high school diploma means the standard high school diploma
that is awarded to students in the State and that is fully aligned with
the State's academic content standards or a higher diploma and does not
include a General Education Development credential, certificate of
attendance, or any alternative award.
Strong theory means a rationale for the proposed process, product,
strategy, or practice that includes a logic model.
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1059d.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 82, 84,
86, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The Office of Management and Budget Guidelines
to Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement)
in 2 CFR part 180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the
Department in 2 CFR part 3485. (c) The Uniform Administrative
Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal
Awards in 2 CFR part 200, as adopted and amended in 2 CFR part 3474.
(d) The regulations for this program in 34 CFR 607. (e) The
Supplemental Priorities.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants--Individual Development Grants
and Cooperative Arrangement Development Grants.
Estimated Available Funds: $10,535,000.
Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of
applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2016 from the list of
unfunded applicants from this competition.
Estimated Range of Awards:
Individual Development Grants: $600,000-$800,000 per year.
Cooperative Arrangement Development Grants: $600,000-$900,000 per
year.
Estimated Average Size of Awards:
Individual Development Grants: $686,000 per year.
Cooperative Arrangement Development Grants: $800,000 per year.
Maximum Award: We will reject any application for an Individual
Development Grant that proposes a budget exceeding $800,000 for a
single budget period of 12 months and we will reject any application
for a Cooperative Arrangement Development Grant that proposes a budget
exceeding $900,000 for a single budget period of 12 months. The
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education may change the maximum
amounts through a notice published in the Federal Register.
Estimated Number of Awards: 16-17.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Project Period: Up to 60 months.
[[Page 19300]]
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: (a) An IHE is eligible to receive funds
under the ANNH Program if it qualifies as an Alaska Native or Native
Hawaiian-Serving Institution. 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));
and 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 the ANNH Program, an
institution must also be--
(i) 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;
(ii) Legally authorized by the State in which it is located to be a
junior or community college or to provide an educational program for
which it awards a bachelor's degree; and
(ii) Designated as an ``eligible institution'' by demonstrating
that it has: (A) An enrollment of needy students as described in 34 CFR
607.3; and (B) has low average educational and general expenditures per
full-time equivalent (FTE) undergraduate student, as described in 34
CFR 607.4.
Note: The notice for applying for designation as an eligible
institution was published in the Federal Register on November 3,
2014 (79 FR 65197) and applications were due on December 22, 2014.
Only institutions that submitted applications by the deadline date
and that the Department determined are eligible may apply for a
grant.
(b) A grantee under the Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions
(HSI) Program, which is authorized under title V, part A of the HEA,
may not receive a grant under any HEA, title III, part A program,
including the ANNH Program.
(c) 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 ANNH Program authorized by
section 317 of the HEA may not receive a grant authorized under any
other title III, part A program.
(d) A current grantee under the AANAPISI, NASNTI, Hispanic Serving
Institutions-STEM and Articulation (HSI-STEM), Predominantly Black
Institutions (PBI), and the ANNH programs authorized by title III, part
F, section 371 of the HEA, may receive a grant authorized under any
title III, part A program.
(e) An eligible IHE that submits applications for an Individual
Development Grant and a Cooperative Arrangement Development Grant in
this competition may be awarded both in the same fiscal year. However,
we will not award a second Cooperative Arrangement Development Grant to
an otherwise eligible IHE for an award year for which the IHE already
has a Cooperative Arrangement Development Grant award under the ANNH
Program. A grantee with an Individual Development Grant or a
Cooperative Arrangement Development Grant may be a subgrantee in one or
more Cooperative Arrangement Development Grants. The lead institution
in a Cooperative Arrangement Development Grant must be an eligible
institution. Partners or subgrantees are not required to be eligible
institutions.
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 must be used to 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:
www.Grants.gov. If you do not have access to the Internet, please
contact Bora Mpinja, for CFDA number 84.031N, or Robyn Wood, for CFDA
number 84.031W, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street NW., 6th
floor, Washington, DC 20006-8513. You may contact these individuals at
the following email addresses or telephone numbers: [email protected];
(202) 502-7629; [email protected]; (202) 502-7437.
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 applicable 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, the absolute priority, the competitive preference priorities
and the invitational priority that reviewers use to evaluate your
application. We have established mandatory page limits for Individual
Development Grant and Cooperative Arrangement Development Grant
applications.
You must limit the section of the application narrative that
addresses:
The selection criteria to no more than 50 pages for an
Individual Development Grant and 70 pages for a Cooperative Arrangement
Grant.
The absolute priority to no more than three pages.
A competitive preference priority, if you are addressing
one or both, to no more than three pages (for a total of six pages if
you address both).
The invitational priority to no more than two pages, if
you address it.
Accordingly, under no circumstances may the application narrative
exceed 61 pages for the Development Grant and 81 pages for the
Cooperative Arrangement Grant.
Please address the priorities in the section of the application
narrative titled ``Other'' and include a separate heading for the
absolute priority and for each competitive preference priority and
invitational priority that you address.
For the purpose of determining compliance with the page limits,
each page on which there are words will be counted as 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 within 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, and captions and all text in charts,
tables, figures, and graphs. These items may be single spaced. Charts,
tables, figures, and graphs in the application narrative count toward
the page limit.
Use a font that is either 12 point or larger or no smaller
than 10 pitch (characters per inch). However, you may use a 10-point
font in charts, tables, figures, graphs, footnotes, and endnotes.
Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier,
Courier New, or Arial. An application submitted in any other font
(including Times
[[Page 19301]]
Roman and Arial Narrow) will not be accepted.
The page limit applies to all of the application narrative section,
including your complete response to the selection criteria (including
the budget narrative), the absolute priority, the competitive
preference priorities, and the invitational priority. However, the page
limit does not apply to Part I, the Application for Federal Assistance
(SF 424); the Supplemental Information for SF 424 Form; Part II, the
Budget section and the Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs
(ED 524); Part IV, the assurances and certifications; or the one-page
program abstract, the resumes, the bibliography, or the letters of
support.
If you include any attachments or appendices not specifically
requested in the application package, these items will be counted as
part of the application narrative for the purpose of the page-limit
requirement.
We will reject your application if you exceed the page limit.
3. Submission Dates and Times:
Applications Available: April 10, 2015.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 9, 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 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
one of 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.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: August 10, 2015.
4. Intergovernmental Review: This program is subject to Executive
Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. Information about
Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under Executive Order
12372 is in the application package for this program.
5. Funding Restrictions: (a) General. We specify unallowable costs
in 34 CFR 607.30. We reference additional regulations outlining funding
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
(b) Applicability of Executive Order 13202. Applicants that apply
for construction funds under the title III, part A, HEA programs must
comply with Executive Order 13202, as 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 to adhere to agreements with one or more labor
organizations, on the same or other related 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), 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 two to five 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 program 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 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
[[Page 19302]]
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 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.
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 one of 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.
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.
[[Page 19303]]
Address and mail or fax your statement to: Bora Mpinja, for CFDA
number 84.031N, or Robyn Wood, for CFDA number 84.031W, U.S. Department
of Education, 1990 K Street NW., 6th floor, 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 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 84.031N 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 following selection criteria for this
competition are from 34 CFR 607.22(a) through (g) and 34 CFR 75.210. We
will award up to 100 points to an application under the selection
criteria; the total possible points for each selection criterion is
noted in parentheses.
(a) Quality of the applicant's comprehensive development plan.
(Maximum 20 points) The extent to which--
(1) The strengths, weaknesses, and significant problems of the
institution's academic programs, institutional management, and fiscal
stability are clearly and comprehensively analyzed and result from a
process that involved major constituencies of the institution;
(2) The goals for the institution's academic programs,
institutional management, and fiscal stability are realistic and based
on comprehensive analysis;
(3) The objectives stated in the plan are measurable, related to
institutional goals, and, if achieved, will contribute to the growth
and self-sufficiency of the institution; and
(4) The plan clearly and comprehensively describes the methods and
resources the institution will use to institutionalize practice and
improvements developed under the proposed project, including, in
particular, how operational costs for personnel, maintenance, and
upgrades of equipment will be paid with institutional resources.
(b) Quality of activity objectives. (Maximum 15 points) The extent
to which the objectives for each activity are--
(1) Realistic and defined in terms of measurable results; and
(2) Directly related to the problems to be solved and to the goals
of the comprehensive development plan.
(c) Quality of implementation strategy. (Maximum 20 points) The
extent to which--
(1) The implementation strategy for each activity is comprehensive;
(2) The rationale for the implementation strategy for each activity
is clearly described and is supported by the results of relevant
studies or projects; and
(3) The timetable for each activity is realistic and likely to be
attained.
(d) Quality of key personnel. (Maximum 7 points) The extent to
which--
(1) The past experience and training of key professional personnel
are directly related to the stated activity objectives; and
(2) The time commitment of key personnel is realistic.
(e) Quality of project management plan. (Maximum 10 points) The
extent to which--
(1) Procedures for managing the project are likely to ensure
efficient and effective project implementation; and
(2) The project coordinator and activity directors have sufficient
authority to conduct the project effectively, including access to the
president or chief executive officer.
(f) Quality of evaluation plan. (Maximum 15 points) The extent to
which--
(1) The data elements and the data collection procedures are
clearly described and appropriate to measure the attainment of activity
objectives and to measure the success of the project in achieving the
goals of the comprehensive development plan; and
(2) The data analysis procedures are clearly described and are
likely to produce formative and summative results on attaining activity
objectives and measuring the success of the project on achieving the
goals of the comprehensive development plan.
(g) Budget. (Maximum 8 points) The extent to which the proposed
costs are necessary and reasonable in relation to the project's
objectives and scope.
(h) Quality of the project design. (Maximum 5 points) The Secretary
considers the quality of the design of the proposed project. In
determining the quality of the design of the proposed project, the
Secretary considers the extent to which the proposed project is
supported by strong theory (as defined in this notice).
[[Page 19304]]
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 a panel of three non-Federal reviewers.
3. Tie-breaker. In tie-breaking situations, we award one additional
point to an application from an IHE that has an endowment fund of which
the current market value, per 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. We
also award one additional point to an application from an IHE that has
expenditures for library materials per FTE enrolled student that are
less than the average expenditures for library materials per FTE
enrolled student at comparable institutions that offer similar
instruction. We also award one additional point to an application from
an IHE that proposes 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 2012-2013
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 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 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 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 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 ANNH Program:
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: This is a long-term
measure, which will be used to periodically gauge performance);
b. The percentage of first-time, full-time degree-seeking
undergraduate students at four-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 two-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 four-year Alaska Native and Native
Hawaiian-Serving Institutions who graduate within six years of
enrollment; and
e. The percentage of first-time, full-time degree seeking
undergraduate students enrolled at two-year Alaska Native and Native
Hawaiian-Serving Institutions who graduate within three years of
enrollment.
5. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award under 34 CFR
75.253, the Secretary considers, among other things: Whether a grantee
has made substantial progress in achieving the goals and objectives of
the project; whether the grantee has expended funds in a manner that is
consistent with its approved application and budget; and, if the
Secretary has established performance measurement requirements, the
performance targets in the grantee's approved application. In making a
continuation award, 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).
[[Page 19305]]
VII. Agency Contacts
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bora Mpinja, for CFDA number 84.031N,
Robyn Wood, for CFDA number 84.031W, and Don Crews, U.S. Department of
Education, 1990 K Street NW., 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20006-8513. You
may contact these individuals at the following email addresses or
telephone numbers: [email protected]; (202) 502-7629;
[email protected]; (202) 502-7437; [email protected]; (202) 502-7574.
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
one of 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.
Delegation of Authority: The Secretary of Education has delegated
authority to Jamienne S. Studley, Deputy Under Secretary, to perform
the functions and duties of the Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary
Education.
Dated: April 7, 2015.
Jamienne S. Studley,
Deputy Under Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-08324 Filed 4-9-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P