[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 39 (Wednesday, March 1, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12208-12215]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-04005]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Strengthening Institutions Program

AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Overview Information:
    Strengthening Institutions Program.
    Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 
2017.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.031F.

Dates: 
    Applications Available: March 1, 2017.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 17, 2017.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: June 16, 2017.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP) 
provides grants to eligible institutions of higher education (IHEs) to 
help them become self-sufficient and expand their capacity to serve 
low-income students by providing funds to improve and strengthen the 
institution's academic quality, institutional management, and fiscal 
stability.

    Note: The Department of Education (Department) is conducting two 
separate competitions for SIP grants in 2017. In this competition 
(CFDA number 84.031F), applicants must address an absolute priority. 
The separate competition under CFDA number 84.031A does not include 
any priorities. The 84.031A competition will be announced in a 
separate Federal Register notice. Applicants may apply for grants in 
both the 84.031A and 84.031F competitions but can only receive one 
grant.

    Background: The SIP Program is critical to the Department's efforts 
to improve college completion for students who have been traditionally 
underrepresented in postsecondary education. In recent years, SIP 
competitions have given priority to applicants proposing evidence-based 
interventions. This competition, which provides larger awards than are 
available under the 84.031A competition, maintains that recent emphasis 
and goes one step further, by encouraging applicants to commit to 
conducting rigorous evaluations of those interventions.
    In responding to the absolute priority, we encourage applicants to 
not just identify the proposed evidence-based interventions, but also 
to describe how those interventions will be implemented in a way that 
will change institutional

[[Page 12209]]

practices, cultures, and the overall institutional approach to 
improving results for students. In addition, to more strategically 
align SIP grants with broader reform strategies intended to improve 
college completion, this notice includes a competitive preference 
priority that encourages applicants to propose activities designed to 
assist students in progressing into credit-bearing courses. Each year, 
substantial numbers of students enroll in college and are assigned to 
take developmental education courses. These non-credit bearing courses 
often introduce an additional barrier to college persistence and 
completion for college students, particularly at SIP-eligible 
institutions. We are interested in receiving applications with strong 
plans for improving outcomes for students who are academically 
underprepared for college.
    Priorities: In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(ii), the 
absolute priority is from 34 CFR 75.226 and the competitive preference 
priority is from section 311(c)(6) of the HEA.
    Absolute Priority: For FY 2017 and any subsequent year in which we 
make awards from the list of unfunded applications 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:
    Moderate Evidence of Effectiveness.
    Projects that are supported by moderate evidence of effectiveness.

    Note: Applicants must identify on the Evidence of Effectiveness 
Form in the application package no more than two studies that 
underpin the primary practice or strategy they intend to carry out. 
In assessing the relevance of the research cited to support the 
proposed project, the Secretary will consider, among other factors, 
the portion of the requested funds that will be dedicated to the 
identified evidence-based activities. Cited studies may include both 
those already listed in the Department's What Works Clearinghouse 
(WWC) Database of Individual Studies (see https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/ReviewedStudies#/OnlyStudiesWithPositiveEffects:false,SetNumber:1) and those that 
have not yet been reviewed by the WWC. Studies listed in the WWC 
Database of Individual Studies do not necessarily satisfy any or all 
of the criteria needed to meet the moderate evidence of 
effectiveness standard. Therefore, it is important that applicants 
themselves ascertain whether the study or studies for the evidence 
priority meets the standard for moderate evidence of effectiveness.

    Additional details regarding this and other aspects of this 
competition are in the application package.
    Competitive Preference Priority: For FY 2017 and any subsequent 
year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applications 
from this competition, this priority is a competitive preference 
priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2), we award up to an additional three 
points to an application, depending on how well the application meets 
the priority.
    This priority is:
    Projects that provide tutoring, counseling, and student service 
programs designed to improve academic success, including innovative, 
customized, instruction courses designed to help retain students and 
move the students rapidly into core courses and through program 
completion, which may include remedial education and English language 
instruction.
    Definitions: These definitions are from 34 CFR 77.1.
    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 (http://relpacific.mcrel.org/resources/elm-app/ or 
http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED544779.pdf) to help design their 
logic models.

    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 a local educational agency, locality, or State.
    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.
    Strong theory means a rationale for the proposed process, product, 
strategy, or practice that includes a logic model.
    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. 1057-1059d (title III, part A, of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA)).

    Note: In 2008, the HEA was amended by the Higher Education 
Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA), Public Law 110-315. The HEOA made a 
number of technical and substantive revisions to SIP. Please note 
that the regulations for SIP in 34 CFR part 607 have not been 
updated to reflect these statutory changes.

    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 80, 82, 
84, 86, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The Education Department suspension and 
debarment regulations 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 as 
regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3474. (d) The regulations 
for this program in 34 CFR part 607.

    Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to IHEs only.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grant. Five-year Individual 
Development Grants will be awarded in FY 2017.

[[Page 12210]]

Cooperative Arrangement Development Grants will not be made in FY 2017.
    Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested 
$86,534,000 for awards for the SIP program for FY 2017, of which we 
intend to use an estimated $3,699,000 for this competition. 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.
    Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of 
applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2018 from the list of 
unfunded applicants from this competition.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $500,000-$600,000 per year.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $550,000 per year.
    Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a 
budget exceeding $600,000 for a single budget period of 12 months.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 6-7.

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

    Project Period: Up to 60 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: This program is authorized by title III, 
part A, of the HEA. To qualify as an eligible institution under any 
title III, part A program, an institution must--
    (a) Be accredited or preaccredited by a nationally recognized 
accrediting agency or association that the Secretary has determined to 
be a reliable authority as to the quality of education or training 
offered;
    (b) Be legally authorized by the State in which it is located to be 
a junior or community college or to provide an educational program for 
which it awards a bachelor's degree;
    (c) Be designated as an ``eligible institution'' by demonstrating 
that it: (1) Has an enrollment of needy students as described in 34 CFR 
607.3; and (2) has low average educational and general expenditures per 
full-time equivalent (FTE) undergraduate student as described in 34 CFR 
607.4.

    Note: The notice announcing the FY 2017 process for designation 
of eligible institutions, and inviting applications for waiver of 
eligibility requirements, was published in the Federal Register on 
November 25, 2016 (81 FR 85210). Only institutions that the 
Department determines are eligible, or which are granted a waiver 
under the process described in that notice, may apply for a grant in 
this program.

Relationship Between the Title III, Part A Programs and the Developing 
Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) Program

    A grantee under the Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) 
program, which is authorized under title V of the HEA, may not receive 
a grant under any HEA, title III, part A program. The title III, part A 
programs are: SIP; the Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities 
program; the Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions 
program; the Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-
Serving Institutions program; and the Native American-Serving Nontribal 
Institutions program. Furthermore, a current HSI program grantee may 
not give up its HSI grant to receive a grant under SIP or any title 
III, part A program as described in 34 CFR 607.2(g)(1).
    An eligible HSI that is not a current grantee under the HSI program 
may apply for a FY 2017 grant under all title III, part A programs for 
which it is eligible, as well as receive consideration for a grant 
under the HSI program. However, a successful applicant may receive only 
one grant as described in 34 CFR 607.2(g)(1).
    2.a. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost 
sharing or matching unless the grantee uses a portion of its grant for 
establishing or improving an endowment fund. If a grantee uses a 
portion of its grant for endowment fund purposes, it must match those 
grant funds with non-Federal funds (20 U.S.C. 1059c(c) (3)(B)).
    b. Supplement-Not-Supplant: This program involves supplement-not-
supplant funding requirements. Grant funds must be used so that they 
supplement and, to the extent practical, increase the funds that would 
otherwise be available for the activities to be carried out under the 
grant and in no case supplant those funds (34 CFR 607.30(b)).
    3. Other: An IHE, if selected for a SIP award, can only receive 
funding for one award under this program. If the IHE scores within the 
funding range for both competitions, the IHE will be awarded the grant 
awarded under this competition.

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 Nalini Lamba-Nieves, or Jymece Seward, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 4C103, Washington, DC 20202-
6450. You may contact the individuals at the following email addresses 
and telephone numbers: [email protected], (202) 453-7953; and 
[email protected], (202) 453-6138.
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text 
telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-
800-877-8339.
    Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application 
package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, 
or compact disc) by contacting the program contacts listed in this 
section.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements 
concerning the content and forms of an application, together with the 
forms you must submit, are in the application package for this program.
    Page Limit: The application narrative (Part III of the application) 
is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that 
reviewers use to evaluate your application. We have established 
mandatory page limits. You must limit the section of the application 
narrative that addresses:
     The selection criteria, including the budget narrative of 
the selection criteria, to no more than 55 pages.
     The absolute priority to no more than three pages.
     The competitive preference priority to no more than two 
pages.

Accordingly, under no circumstances may the application narrative 
exceed 60 pages. Applicants must provide information addressing the 
absolute priority in the section of the application narrative titled 
Absolute Priority--Moderate Evidence of Effectiveness. If addressing 
the competitive preference priority, applicants must provide 
information regarding the competitive preference priority in the 
section of the application narrative titled Competitive Preference 
Priority. Applicants must use the following standards:
     A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only, with 1'' 
margins at the top, bottom, and both sides. Page numbers and an 
identifier may be outside of the 1'' margin.
     Each page on which there is text or graphics will be 
counted as one full page.
     Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) 
all text in the application narrative, except titles, headings, 
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions. Text in charts, 
tables, figures, and graphs in the

[[Page 12211]]

application narrative may be single spaced and will count toward the 
page limit.
     Use a font that is either 12 point or larger, and no 
smaller than 10 pitch (characters per inch). 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 Roman and Arial Narrow) will not be accepted.
    The page limit does not apply to Part I, the Application for 
Federal Assistance (SF 424-cover sheet); the Supplemental Information 
for SF 424 Form required by the Department of Education; Part II, the 
Budget Information-Non-Construction Programs Form (ED 524); Section A--
Budget Summary--U.S. Department of Education Funds; Section B--Budget 
Summary--Non-Federal Funds; Section C--Budget Narrative; Part IV, the 
assurances and certifications; the one-page program abstract; the table 
of contents; or the bibliography. If you include any attachments or 
appendices not specifically requested in the application package, these 
items will be counted as part of your application narrative for the 
purpose of the page-limit requirement.

    Note: The Budget Information-Non-Construction Programs Form (ED 
524) Sections A-C are not the same as the narrative response to the 
Budget section of the selection criteria.

    We will reject your application if you exceed the page limit.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: March 1, 2017.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 17, 2017.
    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 Other Submission Requirements in section 
IV 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: June 16, 2017.
    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) We specify unallowable costs in 34 CFR 
607.10(c). We reference regulations outlining funding restrictions in 
the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
    (b) Applicants that apply for construction funds under the title 
III, part A, HEA programs, must comply with Executive Order 13202, 
signed by former President George W. Bush on February 17, 2001, and 
amended on April 6, 2001. This Executive order provides that recipients 
of Federal construction funds may not ``require or prohibit bidders, 
offerors, contractors, or subcontractors to enter into or adhere to 
agreements with one or more labor organizations, on the same or other 
construction project(s)'' or ``otherwise discriminate against bidders, 
offerors, contractors, or subcontractors for becoming or refusing to 
become or remain signatories or otherwise adhere to agreements with one 
or more labor organizations, on the same or other construction 
project(s).'' However, the Executive order does not prohibit 
contractors or subcontractors from voluntarily entering into these 
agreements. Projects funded under this program 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), 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 at the 
following Web site: http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform. 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 you enter into the SAM database. 
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, it may be 24 to 48 
hours before you can access the information in, and 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.

[[Page 12212]]

    Applications for grants under the SIP (CFDA number 84.031F) 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 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 84.031F).
    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. In addition, for specific guidance and procedures 
for submitting an application through Grants.gov, please refer to the 
Grants.gov Web site at: www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html.
     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: 
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 read-only, non-modifiable 
Portable Document Format (PDF). Do not upload an interactive or 
fillable PDF file. If you upload a file type other than a read-only, 
non-modifiable PDF (e.g., Word, Excel, WordPerfect, etc.) or submit a 
password-protected file, we will not review that material. Please note 
that this could result in your application not being considered for 
funding because the material in question--for example, the application 
narrative--is critical to a meaningful review of your proposal. For 
that reason it is important to allow yourself adequate time to upload 
all material as PDF files. The Department will not convert material 
from other formats to PDF.
     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. Grants.gov 
will also notify you automatically by email if your application met all 
the Grants.gov validation requirements or if there were any errors 
(such as submission of your application by someone other than a 
registered Authorized Organization Representative, or inclusion of an 
attachment with a file name that contains special characters). You will 
be given an opportunity to correct any errors and resubmit, but you 
must still meet the deadline for submission of applications.
    Once your application is successfully validated by Grants.gov, the 
Department then will retrieve your application from Grants.gov and send 
you an email with a unique PR/Award number for your application.
    These emails do not mean that your application is without any 
disqualifying errors. While your application may have been successfully 
validated by Grants.gov, it must also meet the Department's application 
requirements as specified in this notice and in the application 
instructions. Disqualifying errors could include, for instance, failure 
to upload attachments in a read-only, non-modifiable PDF; failure to 
submit a required part of the application; or failure to meet applicant 
eligibility requirements. It is your responsibility to ensure that your 
submitted application has met all of the Department's requirements.
     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

[[Page 12213]]

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 the problem affected your ability to 
submit your application by 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the 
application deadline date. We will contact you after we determine 
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 E. Laws, Jr., U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 4C141, 
Washington, DC 20202-6450. FAX: (202) 401-8466.
    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 84.031F), 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.

    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.

    We will not consider applications postmarked after the deadline 
date.
    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 84.031F), 550 12th Street SW., Room 7041, 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 are 
from 34 CFR 607.22(a) through (g) and 34 CFR 75.210. Applicants must 
address each of the following selection criteria (separately for each 
proposed activity). The total weight of the selection criteria is 105 
points; the maximum score for each 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 the Project Design. (Maximum 10 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).
    (c) 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.
    (d) Quality of Implementation Strategy. (Maximum 15 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

[[Page 12214]]

    (3) The timetable for each activity is realistic and likely to be 
attained.
    (e) Quality of Key Personnel. (Maximum 8 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.
    (f) 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.
    (g) Quality of Evaluation Plan. (Maximum 20 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.
    (3) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will, if well-
implemented, produce evidence about the project's effectiveness that 
would meet the What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards with 
reservations.
    (h) Budget. (Maximum 7 Points) The extent to which the proposed 
costs are necessary and reasonable in relation to the project's 
objectives and scope.
    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 
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).
    A panel of three non-Federal reviewers will review and score each 
application in accordance with the selection criteria in 34 CFR 
607.22(a) through (g) and 34 CFR 75.210. The panel will also assess the 
relevance of the evidence submitted in response to the absolute 
priority. A rank order funding slate will be made from this review, and 
the Department will determine which applicants will be considered for 
funding based on their reviewed scores. Applicants whose scores fall 
below the funding range will not have their applications further 
reviewed. For applications within the funding range, the Institute for 
Education Sciences (IES) will then evaluate the quality of their 
evidence to determine whether it meets the definition of ``moderate 
evidence of effectiveness'' under the absolute priority. Applicants 
whose evidence does not meet the requirements of the absolute priority 
are not eligible for funding. The Department will continue reviewing 
the evidence submitted by applicants within the preliminary funding 
range until it has a sufficient number of applicants that are highly 
rated and meet the requirements of the absolute priority and the 
Department has used all funding available for this competition. For 
applicants that meet the requirements of the absolute priority, awards 
will be made in rank order according to the average score received from 
the non-Federal peer reviewers.
    Tie-breaker. In tie-breaking situations, 34 CFR 607.23(b) requires 
that 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 type 
institutions that offer similar instruction. We 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 
expenditure for library materials per FTE enrolled student at similar 
type institutions. We also add 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 2014-2015 
data.
    If a tie remains after applying the tie-breaker mechanism above, 
priority will be given to applicants that have the lowest endowment 
values per FTE enrolled student.
    3. Risk Assessment and Special Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR 
200.205, before awarding grants under this competition the Department 
conducts a review of the risks posed by applicants. 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.
    4. Integrity and Performance System: If you are selected under this 
competition to receive an award that over the course of the project 
period may exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (currently 
$150,000), under 2 CFR 200.205(a)(2) we must make a judgment about your 
integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under Federal 
awards--that is, the risk posed by you as an applicant--before we make 
an award. In doing so, we must consider any information about you that 
is in the integrity and performance system (currently referred to as 
the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System 
(FAPIIS)), accessible through SAM. You may review and comment on any 
information about yourself that a Federal agency previously entered and 
that is currently in FAPIIS.
    Please note that, if the total value of your currently active 
grants, cooperative agreements, and procurement contracts from the 
Federal Government exceeds $10,000,000, the reporting requirements in 2 
CFR part 200, Appendix XII, require you to report certain integrity 
information to FAPIIS semiannually. Please review the requirements in 2 
CFR part 200, Appendix XII, if this grant plus all the other Federal 
funds you receive exceed $10,000,000.

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

[[Page 12215]]

(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 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 multiyear 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 SIP:
    a. The percentage change, over the five-year period, of the number 
of full-time degree-seeking undergraduates enrolled at SIP 
institutions. Note that this is a long-term measure that will be used 
to periodically gauge performance;
    b. The percentage of first-time, full-time degree-seeking 
undergraduate students at four-year SIP institutions who were in their 
first year of postsecondary enrollment in the previous year and are 
enrolled in the current year at the same SIP institution;
    c. The percentage of first-time, full-time degree-seeking 
undergraduate students at two-year SIP institutions who were in their 
first year of postsecondary enrollment in the previous year and are 
enrolled in the current year at the same SIP institution;
    d. The percentage of first-time, full-time degree-seeking 
undergraduate students enrolled at four-year SIP institutions 
graduating within six years of enrollment; and
    e. The percentage of first-time, full-time degree-seeking 
undergraduate students enrolled at two-year SIP institutions graduating 
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 budgets; 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).

VII. Agency Contacts

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Nalini Lamba-Nieves, and Jymece 
Seward, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 
4C103, Washington, DC 20202-6450. You may contact these individuals at 
the following email addresses and telephone numbers:

[email protected], (202) 453-7953

[email protected], (202) 453-6138

    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 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 PDF. To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat 
Reader, which is available free at this site.
    You may also access documents of the Department published in the 
Federal Register by using the article search feature at: 
www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced feature at 
this site, you can limit your search to documents published by the 
Department.

    Dated: February 24, 2017.
Linda Byrd-Johnson,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary, Higher Education Programs, and 
Senior Director, Student Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-04005 Filed 2-28-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P