[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 245 (Tuesday, December 22, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79574-79580]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-32089]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Talent Search Program

AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice.

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Overview Information

    Talent Search Program
    Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 
2016.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.044A.

Dates: Applications Available: December 22, 2015.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: February 5, 2016.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: April 20, 2016.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Talent Search Program is to 
identify qualified individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds with 
potential for education at the postsecondary level and encourage them 
to complete secondary school and undertake postsecondary education. 
Talent Search projects publicize the availability of, and facilitate 
the application for, student financial assistance for persons who seek 
to pursue postsecondary education, and encourage persons who have not 
completed programs at the secondary or postsecondary level to enter or 
reenter and complete these programs.
    Background: The Federal TRIO programs, including the Talent Search 
Program, represent a national commitment to education for all students 
regardless of race, ethnic background, disability status, or economic 
circumstances. Consistent with this mission, the Department has a 
strong interest in ensuring that students

[[Page 79575]]

who are low-income, potential first-generation college students, 
limited English proficient, students from groups that are traditionally 
underrepresented in postsecondary education, students with 
disabilities, students who are homeless children and youths, students 
who are in foster care or are aging out of the foster care system, or 
other disconnected students receive services provided by Talent Search.
    Priorities: This notice contains two competitive preference 
priorities. In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(v), Competitive 
Preference Priority 1(a) is from allowable activities specified in the 
statute (see section 402B(c)(1) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as 
amended (HEA))(20 U.S.C. 1070a-12(c)(1)). Competitive Preference 
Priority 1(b) is from 34 CFR 75.226. In accordance with 34 CFR 
75.105(b)(2)(iv), Competitive Preference Priority 2(a) is from 
allowable activities specified in the statute (see section 402B(c)(6) 
of the HEA)(20 U.S.C. 1070a-12(c)(6)). Competitive Preference Priority 
2(b) is from 34 CFR 75.226.
    Applicants must include, in the one-page abstract submitted with 
the application, a statement indicating which, if any, of the 
competitive preference priorities are addressed. If the applicant 
addresses any of the competitive preference priorities, this 
information must also be listed on the Talent Search Program Profile 
Form.
    Background on Competitive Preference Priorities: Each competitive 
preference priority has two parts--(a) and (b)--and the applicant must 
address both parts to receive consideration for the highest available 
number of points for that priority.
    Competitive Preference Priority 1(a). Under Competitive Preference 
Priority 1(a), the Department will award a competitive preference to 
projects designed to provide academic tutoring, which may include 
instruction in reading, writing, study skills, mathematics, science, 
and other subjects. The Department is interested in receiving 
applications with strong plans to provide effective tutoring programs 
for students to increase the likelihood that they complete high school 
and enroll in a postsecondary institution. Applicants addressing this 
priority should demonstrate how their proposals will improve student 
outcomes consistent with the Talent Search Program.
    Competitive Preference Priority 2(a). Through Competitive 
Preference Priority 2(a), the Department encourages applicants to 
propose strategies focused on developing mentoring programs. Mentoring 
programs are administered in various forms. Most scholars believe that 
mentoring is an important complement to other strategies employed to 
improve student outcomes. Yet, it is less clear which programmatic 
approaches to mentoring are particularly effective for students with 
different academic, social, or economic profiles. The Department is 
interested in receiving applications with strong plans to provide 
effective mentoring to students to increase the likelihood that they 
complete high school and enroll in a postsecondary institution. 
Applicants addressing this priority should demonstrate how their 
proposals will improve student outcomes consistent with the Talent 
Search Program.
    Competitive Preference Priorities 1(b) and 2(b). To meet 
Competitive Preference Priority (1)(b) or (2)(b), applicants must cite 
research studies that support their proposed tutoring or mentoring 
strategies. Applicants must address part (a) of each priority to be 
considered for the points available in part (b) of each priority. In 
recognition of the growing and emergent body of available research on 
tutoring and mentoring strategies that improve student success, we will 
award points for studies with varying levels of methodological rigor: 
One point for studies that meet Evidence of Promise (as defined in this 
notice) or two points for studies that meet Moderate Evidence of 
Effectiveness (as defined in this notice).
    Through Competitive Preference Priorities 1(b) and 2(b), an 
applicant can earn one additional point for each priority by 
demonstrating that its strategy is based on research that meets the 
Evidence of Promise standard or two additional points for each priority 
by demonstrating that its strategy is based on research that meets the 
Moderate Evidence of Effectiveness standard. Applicants seeking to 
address Competitive Preference Priority 1(b) or 2(b) should identify up 
to two citations for studies that meet the definition of the applicable 
evidence standard for each priority (a maximum of four citations if 
addressing both priorities). The Department will review the studies 
cited by the applicants to determine if they meet the requirements for 
Evidence of Promise or Moderate Evidence of Effectiveness.
    Cited studies may include those already listed in the Department's 
What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) Reviewed Studies Database (see http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/ReviewedStudies.aspx) or those that are not 
included in that database. Studies listed in the WWC Reviewed Studies 
Database do not necessarily satisfy any or all of the criteria needed 
to meet either the Evidence of Promise standard or the Moderate 
Evidence of Effectiveness standard, as defined in this notice, and 
therefore it is important that applicants themselves ascertain the 
suitability of a study for an evidence priority.
    Points will only be awarded if the submitted studies are determined 
to meet the particular evidence standard, and if a determination is 
made that the research cited is relevant to the proposed projects. 
Applicants addressing Competitive Preference Priorities 1(b) or 2(b) 
should clearly demonstrate the relevance of the cited studies to 
proposed project activities. Applicants should also clearly demonstrate 
how the proposed project activities align with the cited study with 
sufficient fidelity. Where modifications to the cited intervention will 
be made to account for student or institutional/organizational 
characteristics, resource limitations, or other special factors, the 
applicant should provide a justification or basis for the modifications 
in the narrative response to the priority.
    The link(s) for the citation(s) submitted for Competitive 
Preference Priority 1(b) or 2(b) should be provided on the abstract, as 
well as on the Talent Search Program Profile Form. Applicants should 
specify in their narrative responses to these priorities the findings 
within the studies cited as evidence in support of their strategies and 
ensure that the citation(s) and link(s) are from an available source.
    Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2016 and any subsequent 
year for 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 up to six additional 
points to an application, depending on how well application meets one 
or more of these priorities.
    The competitive preference priorities are:
    Competitive Preference Priority 1(a)--Providing Academic Tutoring. 
The Secretary gives priority to projects designed to provide academic 
tutoring, which may include instruction in reading, writing, study 
skills, mathematics, science, and other subjects (1 additional point).
    Competitive Preference Priority 1(b)--Strategies supported by 
Evidence of Promise (1 additional point) or by Moderate Evidence of 
Effectiveness (2 additional points).
    Competitive Preference Priority 2(a)--Providing Mentoring Programs 
(1 additional point). The Secretary gives priority to projects designed 
to provide mentoring programs involving

[[Page 79576]]

elementary or secondary school teachers or counselors, faculty members 
at institutions of higher education, students, or any combination of 
such persons (1 additional point).
    Competitive Preference Priority 2(b)--Programs supported by 
Evidence of Promise (1 additional point) or on Moderate Evidence of 
Effectiveness (2 additional points).
    Definitions:
    The following definitions are from 34 CFR 77.1.
    Evidence of Promise means there is empirical evidence to support 
the theoretical linkage(s) between at least one critical component and 
at least one relevant outcome presented in the logic model for the 
proposed process, product, strategy, or practice. Specifically, 
Evidence of Promise means the conditions in both paragraphs (i) and 
(ii) of this definition are met:
    (i) There is at least one study that is a--
    (A) Correlational study with statistical controls for selection 
bias;
    (B) Quasi-experimental design study that meets the What Works 
Clearinghouse Evidence Standards with reservations; or
    (C) Randomized controlled trial that meets the What Works 
Clearinghouse Evidence Standards with or without reservations.
    (ii) The study referenced in paragraph (i) of this definition found 
a statistically significant or substantively important (defined as a 
difference of 0.25 standard deviations or larger) favorable association 
between at least one critical component and one relevant outcome 
presented in the logic model for the proposed process, product, 
strategy, or practice.
    Moderate Evidence of Effectiveness means one of the following 
conditions is met:
    (i) There is at least one study of the effectiveness of the 
process, product, strategy, or practice being proposed that meets the 
What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards without reservations, found 
a statistically significant favorable impact on a relevant outcome 
(with no statistically significant and overriding unfavorable impacts 
on that outcome for relevant populations in the study or in other 
studies of the intervention reviewed by and reported on by the What 
Works Clearinghouse), and includes a sample that overlaps with the 
populations or settings proposed to receive the process, product, 
strategy, or practice.
    (ii) There is at least one study of the effectiveness of the 
process, product, strategy, or practice being proposed that meets the 
What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards with reservations, found a 
statistically significant favorable impact on a relevant outcome (with 
no statistically significant and overriding unfavorable impacts on that 
outcome for relevant populations in the study or in other studies of 
the intervention reviewed by and reported on by the What Works 
Clearinghouse), includes a sample that overlaps with the populations or 
settings proposed to receive the process, product, strategy, or 
practice, and includes a large sample and a multi-site sample. Note: 
Multiple studies can cumulatively meet the large and multi-site sample 
requirements as long as each study meets the other requirements in this 
paragraph.
    Multi-site sample means more than one site, where site can be 
defined as an LEA, locality, or State.
    Quasi-experimental design study means a study using a design that 
attempts to approximate an experimental design by identifying a 
comparison group that is similar to the treatment group in important 
respects. These studies, depending on design and implementation, can 
meet What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards with reservations (but 
not What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards without reservations).
    Randomized controlled trial means a study that employs random 
assignment of, for example, students, teachers, classrooms, schools, or 
districts to receive the intervention being evaluated (the treatment 
group) or not to receive the intervention (the control group). The 
estimated effectiveness of the intervention is the difference between 
the average outcome for the treatment group and for the control group. 
These studies, depending on design and implementation, can meet What 
Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards without reservations.
    Relevant outcome means the student outcome(s) (or the ultimate 
outcome if not related to students) the proposed process, product, 
strategy, or practice is designed to improve; consistent with the 
specific goals of a program.
    What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards means the standards set 
forth in the What Works Clearinghouse Procedures and Standards Handbook 
(Version 3.0, March 2014), which can be found at the following link: 
http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/DocumentSum.aspx?sid=19.
    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070a-11 and 1070a-12.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75 (except for 
Sec. Sec.  75.215 through 75.221), 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 part 643.

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


    Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of 
higher education only.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested 
$859,752,000 for the Federal TRIO Program for FY 2016, of which we 
intend to use an estimated $134,662,000 for Talent Search awards. The 
actual level of funding, if any, depends on final Congressional action. 
However, we are inviting applications to allow enough time to complete 
the grant process if Congress appropriates funds for this program.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $230,000-$681,210.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $265,754.
    Maximum Award:
     For an applicant that is not currently receiving a Talent 
Search Program grant, the maximum award amount is $230,000 for a 
project that will serve a minimum of 500 participants, based upon a 
per-participant cost of no more than $460.
     For an applicant that is currently receiving a Talent 
Search Program grant, the maximum award amount is the greater of (a) 
$230,000 or (b) 100 percent of the applicant's base award amount for FY 
2015. The minimum number of participants an applicant proposes to serve 
must be 500 and the project must propose a per-participant cost that 
does not exceed $460 per participant. For example, an applicant that is 
eligible for a $460,000 grant, must propose to serve at least 1,000 
participants.
    We will reject any application that proposes a budget exceeding the 
maximum amount listed above for a single budget period of 12 months. We 
will also reject any application that proposes a budget to serve fewer 
than 500 participants, and will reject any application that proposes a 
budget that

[[Page 79577]]

exceeds the maximum per participant cost of $460.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 451.

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

    Project Period: Up to 60 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: Institutions of higher education, public 
and private agencies, and organizations including community-based 
organizations with experience in serving disadvantaged youth, 
combinations of such institutions, agencies and organizations, and 
secondary schools, for planning, developing, or carrying out one or 
more of the services identified under this program.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost 
sharing or matching.
    3. Other: An applicant may submit multiple applications if each 
separate application describes a project that will serve a different 
target area or different target schools. The term target area is 
defined as a geographic area served by a project, and the term target 
school is a school designated by the applicant as a focus of project 
services (34 CFR 643.7).

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: Craig Pooler, U.S. 
Department of Education, 1990 K Street NW., Suite 7010, Washington, DC 
20006-8510. Telephone: (202) 502-7600; or 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 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 Limit: The application narrative is where you, the applicant, 
address the selection criteria that reviewers use to evaluate your 
application. You must limit the project narrative (Part III), which 
includes the budget narrative, to the equivalent of no more than 65 
pages using the following standards. However, any application 
addressing the competitive preference priorities may include up to two 
additional pages for each part of each priority (1(a) and (b); 2(a) and 
(b)), if addressed. Those up to eight additional pages must be used to 
discuss how the application meets the competitive preference priority 
(or priorities). The additional pages allotted to address priorities 
cannot be used for or transferred to the project narrative or any 
section of the application.

    Note: For the purpose of determining compliance with the page 
limit, each page on which there is text or graphics will be counted 
as one full page.

    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 project narrative.
    Single space is appropriate for titles, headings, footnotes, 
quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in figures, 
charts, and graphs.
    You should also include a table of contents in the project 
narrative, which will not be counted toward the page limit.
    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 and Arial Narrow) will not be accepted.
    The page limit does not apply to Part I--the Application for 
Federal Assistance Face Sheet (SF 424); Part II--the budget information 
summary form (ED Form 524); Part III, the Talent Search Program Profile 
Form, the one-page Project Abstract form; and Part IV--the Assurances 
and Certifications. If you include any attachments or appendices, these 
items will be counted as part of Part III--the Project Narrative, for 
the purpose of the page-limit requirement. You must include your 
complete response to the selection criteria and priorities in Part 
III--the Project Narrative.
    We will reject your application if you exceed the page limit.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: December 22, 2015.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: February 5, 2016.
    Applications for grants under this program 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 
the person listed under For Further Information Contact in section VII 
in this notice. If the Department provides an accommodation or 
auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability in connection with the 
application process, the individual's application remains subject to 
all other requirements and limitations in this notice.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: April 20, 2016.
    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: We specify unallowable costs in 34 CFR 
643.31. We reference additional regulations outlining funding 
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of 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

[[Page 79578]]

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: 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 Talent Search Program, CFDA 
number 84.044A, 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 Talent 
Search Program 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 84.044, 
not 84.044A).
    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 program 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

[[Page 79579]]

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: James Davis, U.S. 
Department of Education, 1990 K Street NW., Room 7007, Washington, DC 
20006-8510. FAX: (202) 502-7545.
    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 84.044A) 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 84.044A), 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 this program 
competition are in 34 CFR 643.21 and listed in the application package.
    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, 106.4,1 08.8, and 110.23).
    For this competition, a panel of three non-Federal reviewers will 
review each application in accordance with the selection criteria, 
pursuant to 34 CFR 643.21. The individual scores assigned by the 
reviewers will be added and the sum divided by the number of reviewers 
to determine the peer reviewer score received in the review process. 
Additionally, in accordance with 34 CFR 643.22, the Secretary will 
award prior experience points to applicants that have conducted a 
Talent Search project during budget periods 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15, 
based on their documented experience. Prior experience points, if any, 
will be added to the application's averaged reader score to determine 
the total score for each application.
    3. Tie-breaker: If there are insufficient funds for all 
applications with the same total scores, the Secretary will choose

[[Page 79580]]

among the tied applications so as to serve geographical areas that have 
been underserved by the Talent Search Program.
    4. 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 notify you informally, 
also.
    If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding, 
we notify you.
    2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements:
    We identify administrative and national policy requirements in the 
application package and reference these and other requirements in the 
Applicable Regulations section 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: At the end of your project period, you must submit a 
final performance report, including financial information, as directed 
by the Secretary. If you receive a multi-year award, you must submit an 
annual performance report that provides the most current performance 
and financial expenditure information as directed by the Secretary 
under 34 CFR 75.118. The Secretary may also require more frequent 
performance reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). For specific requirements 
on reporting, please go to www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
    4. Performance Measures: The success of the Talent Search Program 
will be measured by secondary school persistence and graduation rates 
of Talent Search participants, as well as postsecondary enrollment and 
completion rates. All Talent Search Program grantees will be required 
to submit an annual performance report documenting secondary school 
persistence, secondary school graduation and postsecondary enrollment 
of their participants. Since students may take different amounts of 
time to complete their postsecondary education, multiple years of 
performance report data are needed to determine the postsecondary 
completion rates of Talent Search Program participants. The Department 
of Education will aggregate the data provided in the annual performance 
reports from all grantees to determine the accomplishment level.
    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 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 Contact

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Craig Pooler, U.S. Department of 
Education, 1990 K Street NW., Suite 7010, Washington, DC 20006-8510. 
Telephone: (202) 502-7600 or 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 persons listed under For Further Information 
Contact in section VII if 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 the 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: December 16, 2015.
Jamienne S. Studley,
Deputy Under Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-32089 Filed 12-21-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4000-01-P