[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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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