[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 92 (Monday, May 15, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22323-22329]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-09772]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Alaska Native Education Program

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Education is issuing a notice inviting 
applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2017 for the Alaska 
Native Education (ANE) program, Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance 
(CFDA) Number 84.356A.

DATES: 
    Applications Available: May 15, 2017.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 14, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Almita Reed, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 3E222, Washington, DC 20202-
6200. Telephone: (202)260-1979.
    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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

[[Page 22324]]

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The major purpose of the ANE program is to 
support innovative projects that recognize and address the unique 
educational needs of Alaska Native (as defined in this notice) children 
and adults. These projects must include the activities authorized under 
section 6304(a)(2) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
1965, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESEA),\1\ and may 
include one or more of the activities authorized under section 
6304(a)(3) of the ESEA.
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    \1\ In December 2015, Congress enacted the Every Student 
Succeeds Act (ESSA), which reauthorized the ANE program. Therefore, 
for purposes of this notice, all references to the ``ESEA'' are to 
the ``ESEA, as amended by the ESSA.''
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    Application Requirements: The descriptions required under 
paragraphs 1 and 2 below align with the mandatory activities for all 
grantees under section 6304(a)(2) of the ESEA. The requirements under 
paragraphs 3 through 6 apply only to entities that do not meet the 
definition of Alaska Native organization (as defined in this notice) 
and are attempting to establish their eligibility to apply for a grant 
under section 6304(a)(1)(C) of the ESEA.
    To be considered for an award under this competition, each 
application must provide detailed descriptions of--
    (1) The plans, methods, strategies, and activities the applicant 
will develop and implement to improve the educational outcomes of 
Alaska Natives; and how the applicant will develop and implement such 
plans, methods, strategies, and activities; and
    (2) The data the applicant will collect to assist in the evaluation 
of the programs carried out under the ANE program, including data that 
addresses the performance measures in section IV.4 (Performance 
Measures) of this notice; and how the applicant will collect such 
data.\2\
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    \2\ Grantees must submit the data as part of their annual 
performance reports (APRs).
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    Additionally, an entity that does not meet the definition of Alaska 
Native organization and is attempting to establish its eligibility to 
apply for a grant under section 6304(a)(1)(C) of the ESEA must submit 
the following:
    (3) Written documentation demonstrating that the entity is located 
in the State of Alaska;
    (4) Written documentation demonstrating that the entity is 
predominately governed by Alaska Natives (as defined in this notice);
    (5) Written documentation demonstrating that the entity has 
experience operating programs that fulfill the purposes of the ANE 
program (as defined in this notice); and
    (6) A copy of the official charter or sanction (as defined in this 
notice) provided to the entity by an Alaska Native tribe or Alaska 
Native organization.
    Permissible Activities: The activities described below are examples 
of permissible activities under section 6304(a)(3) of the ESEA. 
Applicants may propose to conduct one or more permissible activities, 
including but not limited to, (1) the development of curricula and 
programs that address the educational needs of Alaska Native students; 
(2) training and professional development activities for educators; (3) 
early childhood and parenting education activities designed to improve 
the school readiness of Alaska Native children; and (4) activities 
designed to enable Alaska Native students to meet challenging State 
academic standards or to increase the graduation rates of Alaska Native 
students. A detailed list of permissible activities can be found in the 
ANE grant application package (see also 20 U.S.C. 7544(a)(3)).

    Note: The construction of facilities that support the operation 
of ANE programs will be a permissible activity only if Congress 
specifically authorizes the use of FY 2017 funds for that purpose.

    Definitions: The definitions for Alaska Native and Alaska Native 
organization are from section 6306 of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 7546). The 
definitions for logic model and strong theory are from 34 CFR 77.1. The 
definition for Native is from section 3(b) of the Alaska Native Claims 
Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1602(b)). In addition, we are establishing 
definitions for experience operating programs that fulfill the purposes 
of the ANE program, official charter or sanction, and predominately 
governed by Alaska Natives under section 437(d)(1) of the General 
Education Provisions Act (GEPA). These definitions apply to the FY 2017 
competition and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the 
list of unfunded applications.
    Alaska Native has the same meaning as the term Native has in 
section 3(b) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 
1602(b)) and includes the descendants of individuals so defined.
    Alaska Native organization means an organization that has or 
commits to acquire expertise in the education of Alaska Natives and 
is--
    (a) An Indian tribe, as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b), located in 
Alaska;
    (b) A tribal organization, as defined in section 4 of such Act (25 
U.S.C. 450b), located in Alaska; or
    (c) An organization listed in clauses (i) through (xii) of section 
419(4)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 619(4)(B)(i) through 
(xii)), or the successor of an entity so listed.
    Experience operating programs that fulfill the purposes of the ANE 
program means that the entity has received and successfully 
administered a grant under the ANE program or another Department 
program that focused on meeting the unique educational needs of Alaska 
Native children and families in Alaska.
    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.
    Native means a citizen of the United States who is a person of one-
fourth degree or more Alaska Indian (including Tsimshian Indians not 
enrolled in the Metlaktla \3\ combination thereof). The term includes 
any Native as so defined either or both of whose adoptive parents are 
not Natives. It also includes, in the absence of proof of a minimum 
blood quantum, any citizen of the United States who is regarded as an 
Alaska Native by the Native village or Native group of which he claims 
to be a member and whose father or mother is (or, if deceased, was) 
regarded as Native by any village or group. Any decision of the 
Secretary [of the Interior] regarding eligibility for enrollment shall 
be final.
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    \3\ Or, ``Metlakatla''.
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    Official charter or sanction means a signed letter or written 
agreement that expressly (1) authorizes the applicant to conduct 
specific activities under the ANE program; and (2) describes the nature 
of those activities.
    Predominately governed by Alaska Natives means that at least 80 
percent of the entity's governing board (i.e., board elected or 
appointed to direct the policies of the organization) are Alaska 
Natives.
    Strong theory means a rationale for the proposed process, product, 
strategy, or practice that includes a logic model.
    Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking: Under the Administrative Procedure 
Act (5 U.S.C. 553), the Department generally offers interested parties 
the opportunity to comment on proposed definitions. Section 437(d)(1) 
of GEPA, however, allows the Secretary to exempt from

[[Page 22325]]

rulemaking requirements, regulations governing the first grant 
competition under a new or substantially revised program authority. 
Because this is the first grant competition for this program under 
section 6304 of the ESEA, the definitions in this notice qualify for 
this exemption. In order to ensure timely grant awards, the Secretary 
has decided to forgo public comment on the definitions under section 
437(d)(1) of GEPA. These definitions will apply to the FY 2017 grant 
competition and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the 
list of unfunded applications from this competition.

    Program Authority:  Title VI, part C of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 
7541-7546).

    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 81, 82, 84, 
86, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The OMB 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.

    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 Further Continuing and Security 
Assistance Appropriations Act, 2017, would provide, on an annualized 
basis, $32,391,307 for the ANE program, of which we would use an 
estimated $10,361,324 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 or subsequent 
years from the list of unfunded applications from this competition.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $300,000 to $1,500,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $370,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 28.

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

    Project Period: 36 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: (a) Alaska Native organizations with 
experience operating programs that fulfill the purposes of the ANE 
program;
    (b) Alaska Native organizations that do not have experience 
operating programs that fulfill the purposes of the ANE program, but 
are in partnership with--
    (i) A State educational agency (SEA) or local educational agency 
(LEA); or
    (ii) An Alaska Native organization that operates a program that 
fulfills the purposes of the ANE program;
    (c) An entity located in Alaska, and predominately governed by 
Alaska Natives, that does not meet the definition of an Alaska Native 
organization but--
    (i) Has experience operating programs that fulfill the purposes of 
the ANE program; and
    (ii) Is granted an official charter or sanction from at least one 
Alaska Native tribe or Alaska Native organization to carry out programs 
that meet the purposes of the ANE program.
    For purposes of this program, an Alaska Native organization that 
applies for a grant in partnership with an SEA or LEA must serve as the 
fiscal agent for the project. Likewise, applicants that apply as part 
of a group, or partnership, must comply with 34 CFR 75.127-75.129. 
Specifically, group applicants must submit a partnership agreement 
(e.g., Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or Memorandum of Agreement 
(MOA)) that is signed and dated by all partners. The partnership 
agreement must clearly describe the work to be completed by each 
partner who will participate in the project in order to accomplish the 
goals and objectives of the proposed project. The activities, roles, 
and responsibilities of each partner, as described in the partnership 
agreement, must be consistent with the activities, roles, and 
responsibilities of each partner, as described in the grant 
application.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost 
sharing or matching.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: You can obtain an 
application package via the internet, from the Education Publications 
Center (ED Pubs), or from the program office.
    To obtain a copy via the internet, use the following address: 
www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/grantapps/index.html.
    To obtain a copy from ED Pubs, write, fax, or call: ED Pubs, U.S. 
Department of Education, P.O. Box 22207, Alexandria, VA 22304. 
Telephone, toll free: 1-877-433-7827. FAX: (703) 605-6794. If you use a 
TDD or a TTY, call, toll free: 1-877-576-7734.
    You can contact ED Pubs at its Web site, also: www.EDPubs.gov or at 
its email address: [email protected].
    If you request an application from ED Pubs, be sure to identify 
this program as follows: CFDA number 84.356A.
    To obtain a copy from the program office, contact: Almita Reed, 
U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 3E222, 
Washington, DC 20202-6200. Telephone: (202) 260-1979 or by email: 
[email protected]. If you use a TDD or TTY, call the FRS, toll free, 
at 1-800-877-8339.
    Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application 
package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, 
or compact disc) by contacting the program contact person listed in 
this section.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements 
concerning the content and form of an application, together with the 
form you must submit, are in the application package for this 
competition.
    Page Limit: The application narrative is where you, the applicant, 
address the selection criteria that reviewers use to evaluate your 
application. We suggest that you limit the application narrative to no 
more than 30 pages, and 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.
     Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) 
all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings, 
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in 
charts, tables, figures, and graphs.
     Use a font that is either 12 point or larger or no smaller 
than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
     Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, 
Courier New, or Arial.
    The suggested page limit does not apply to the cover sheet; the 
budget section, including the narrative budget justification; the 
assurances and certifications; or the one-page abstract, the resumes, 
the bibliography, or the letters of support. However, the suggested 
page limit does apply to all of the application narrative section.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: May 15, 2017.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 14, 2017.
    Applications for grants under this competition must be submitted

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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 
the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. 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.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: This program is not subject to 
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79.
    5. Funding Restrictions: In accordance with section 6305 of the 
ESEA, no more than five percent of funds awarded for a grant under the 
ANE program may be used for program administration (20 U.S.C. 7545).
    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: http://www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/sam-faqs.html.
    In addition, if you are submitting your application via Grants.gov, 
you must (1) be designated by your organization as an Authorized 
Organization Representative (AOR); and (2) register yourself with 
Grants.gov as an AOR. Details on these steps are outlined at the 
following Grants.gov Web page: www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html.
    7. Other Submission Requirements:
    Applications for grants under this competition must be submitted 
electronically unless you qualify for an exception to this requirement 
in accordance with the instructions in this section.
    a. Electronic Submission of Applications.
    Applications for grants under the Alaska Native Education Program, 
CFDA number 84.356A, 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 ANE program 
at www.Grants.gov. You must search for the downloadable application 
package for this competition by the CFDA number. Do not include the 
CFDA number's alpha suffix in your search (e.g., search for 84.356, not 
84.356A).
    Please note the following:
     When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find 
information about submitting an application electronically through the 
site, as well as the hours of operation.
     Applications received by Grants.gov are date and time 
stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted and must 
be date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30:00 
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. Except as 
otherwise noted in this section, we will not accept your application if 
it is received--that is, date and time stamped by the Grants.gov 
system--after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application 
deadline date. We do not consider an application that does not comply 
with the deadline requirements. When we retrieve your application from 
Grants.gov, we will notify you if we are rejecting your application 
because it was date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system after 
4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date.
     The amount of time it can take to upload an application 
will vary depending on a variety of factors, including the size of the 
application and the speed of your internet connection. Therefore, we 
strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline 
date to begin the submission process through Grants.gov.
     You should review and follow the Education Submission 
Procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov that are 
included in the application package for this competition to ensure that 
you submit your application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov 
system. You can also find the Education Submission Procedures 
pertaining to Grants.gov under News

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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: 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 read-only flattened 
Portable Document Format (PDF). Do not upload an interactive or 
fillable PDF file. If you upload a file type other than a read-only 
flattened 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.
     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 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 the person 
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 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 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: Almita Reed, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 3E222, 
Washington, DC 20202-6200. FAX: (202) 260-8969.
    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 84.356A, 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.

[[Page 22328]]

    (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 application 
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 84.356A, 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 competition 
are from 34 CFR 75.210 and section 6304(a)(2)(A) of the ESEA. The 
maximum possible score for all criteria is 110 points. The maximum 
possible score for each criterion is indicated in parentheses. The 
selection criteria for this competition are as follows:
    (a) Need for project (up to 30 points)
    The Secretary considers the need for the proposed project. In 
determining the need for the proposed project, the Secretary considers 
the extent to which specific gaps or weaknesses in services, 
infrastructure, or opportunities have been identified and will be 
addressed by the proposed project, including the nature and magnitude 
of those gaps or weaknesses.
    (b) Quality of the project design (up to 30 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 following factors:
    (1) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be 
achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable 
(up to 10 points);
    (2) The extent to which the design of the proposed project is 
supported by a strong theory (as defined in this notice) (up to 10 
points); and
    (3) The extent to which the project plans, methods, strategies, and 
activities described by the applicant under Application Requirement 1 
will improve educational outcomes for Alaska Natives (up to 10 points).
    (c) Quality of the management plan (up to 30 points)
    The Secretary considers the quality of the management plan for the 
proposed project. In determining the quality of the management plan for 
the proposed project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (1) The adequacy of the management plan to achieve the objectives 
of the proposed project on time and within budget, including clearly 
defined responsibilities, timelines, and milestones for accomplishing 
project tasks (up to 15 points); and
    (2) The adequacy of mechanisms for ensuring high-quality products 
and services from the proposed project (up to 15 points).
    (d) Adequacy of resources (up to 20 points)
    The Secretary considers the adequacy of resources for the proposed 
project. In determining the adequacy of resources, the Secretary 
considers the following factors:
    (1) The extent to which the budget is adequate to support the 
proposed project (up to 10 points); and
    (2) The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to the 
number of persons to be served and the anticipated results and benefits 
(up to 10 points).
    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).
    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.

[[Page 22329]]

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 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 APR 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.
    (c) Under 34 CFR 75.250(b), the Secretary may provide a grantee 
with additional funding for data collection analysis and reporting. In 
this case the Secretary establishes a data collection period.
    4. Performance Measures: Pursuant to the Government Performance and 
Results Act of 1993 (GPRA), the Department has developed the following 
four measures for evaluating the overall effectiveness of projects 
funded under this competition: (1) The percentage of Alaska Native 
students in schools served by the program who meet or exceed 
proficiency standards in reading, mathematics, and science on the 
Alaska State assessments; (2) the percentage of Alaska Native children 
participating in early learning and preschool programs who consistently 
demonstrate school readiness in language and literacy as measured by 
the Revised Alaska Development Profile; (3) the percentage of Alaska 
Native students in schools served by the program who graduate from high 
school with a high school diploma in four years; and (4) the number of 
Alaska Native programs that primarily focus on Alaska Native culture 
and language.
    To the extent that they apply to the grantee's project, all 
grantees will be expected to submit an APR that includes data 
addressing these performance measures.
    5. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award under 34 CFR 
75.253, the Secretary considers, among other things, whether a grantee 
has made substantial progress in achieving the goals and objectives of 
the project; whether the grantee has expended funds in a manner that is 
consistent with its approved application and budget; and, if the 
Secretary has established performance measurement requirements, the 
performance targets in the grantee's approved application.
    In making a continuation award, the Secretary also considers 
whether the grantee is operating in compliance with the assurances in 
its approved application, including those applicable to Federal civil 
rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities 
receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department (34 CFR 
100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).

VII. 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 person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT.
    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 Portable Document Format (PDF). To use PDF you 
must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at the site.
    You may also access documents of the Department published in the 
Federal Register by using the article search feature at: 
www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search 
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published 
by the Department.

    Dated: May 10, 2017.
Jason Botel,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2017-09772 Filed 5-12-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4000-01-P