[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 102 (Friday, May 25, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24297-24305]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-11261]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; National Resource Centers Program 
for Foreign Language and Area Studies or Foreign Language and 
International Studies and Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships 
Program

AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Education is issuing a notice inviting 
applications for fiscal year (FY) 2018 for the National Resource 
Centers (NRC) Program, Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) 
number 84.015A, and the Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships 
(FLAS) Program, Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number 
84.015B.

DATES: 
    Applications Available: May 25, 2018.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 25, 2018.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: August 23, 2018.

ADDRESSES: For the addresses for obtaining and submitting an 
application, please refer to our Common Instructions for Applicants to 
Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the 
Federal Register on February 12, 2018 (83 FR 6003) and available at 
www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-02-12/pdf/2018-02558.pdf.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Timothy Duvall (Africa, International, 
Middle East, and Russia and Eastern Europe) U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 258-54, Washington, DC 20202-
4260. Telephone: (202) 453-7521. Email: [email protected]; Carolyn 
Collins (Canada, Latin America, and Western Europe), Room 258-30, 
Telephone: (202) 453-7854. Email: [email protected]; Cheryl Gibbs 
(Asia), Room 257-15, Telephone: (202) 453-5690. Email: 
[email protected].
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text 
telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-
800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

Purpose of Programs

National Resource Centers Program
    The NRC Program provides grants to institutions of higher education 
(IHEs) or consortia of IHEs to establish, strengthen, and operate 
comprehensive and undergraduate centers that will be national resources 
for: (a) Teaching of modern foreign languages; (b) instruction in 
fields needed to provide a full understanding of world regions where 
the modern foreign languages are used; (c) research and training in 
international studies and international and foreign language aspects of 
professional and other fields of study; and (d) instruction and 
research on issues in world affairs.
Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships Program
    The FLAS Program allocates academic year and summer fellowships to 
IHEs and consortia of IHEs to assist meritorious undergraduate and 
graduate students receiving modern foreign language training in 
combination with area studies, international studies, or the 
international aspects of professional studies. FLAS fellowships may 
also assist graduate students engaged in predissertation level study, 
preparation for dissertation research, dissertation research abroad, or 
dissertation writing.
    Priorities: This notice contains two absolute priorities and two 
competitive preference priorities for the NRC Program. Absolute 
Priority 1 is from section 602(e) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, 
as amended (HEA) (20 U.S.C. 1122(e)). Absolute Priority 2 is from the 
program regulations (34 CFR 656.23). The competitive preference 
priorities are from the notice of final priorities for the NRC Program 
published in the Federal Register on May 30, 2014 (79 FR 31028). This 
notice also contains two competitive preference priorities for the FLAS 
Program. Competitive Preference Priority 1 is from the program 
regulations (34 CFR 657.22) and Competitive Preference Priority 2 is 
from the notice of final priorities for the FLAS Program published in 
the Federal Register on May 30, 2014 (79 FR 31031).
NRC Program
    Absolute Priorities: For FY 2018, these priorities are absolute 
priorities for the NRC Program. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), we consider 
only applications that meet these priorities.
    These priorities are:
    Absolute Priority 1.

[[Page 24298]]

    Applications that provide (1) an explanation of how the activities 
funded by the grant will reflect diverse perspectives and a wide range 
of views and generate debate on world regions and international 
affairs; and (2) a description of how the applicant will encourage 
government service in areas of national need, as identified by the 
Secretary, as well as in areas of need in the education, business, and 
non-profit sectors.
    Absolute Priority 2.
    Applications that provide for teacher training activities on the 
language, languages, area studies, or thematic focus of the Center.
    Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2018, these priorities 
are competitive preference priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we 
award up to an additional five points depending on how well the 
application meets Competitive Preference Priority 1, and up to an 
additional five points depending on how well the application meets 
Competitive Preference Priority 2. An application may receive a total 
of up to 10 additional points under the competitive preference 
priorities.
    These priorities are:
    Competitive Preference Priority 1--Collaboration with Minority-
Serving Institutions (MSIs) or Community Colleges (up to 5 points).
    Applications that propose significant and sustained collaborative 
activities with one or more Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) (as 
defined in this notice) and/or with one or more community colleges (as 
defined in this notice). These activities must be designed to 
incorporate international, intercultural, or global dimensions into the 
curriculum of the MSI(s) or community college(s), and to improve 
foreign language, area, and intercultural studies or international 
business instruction at the MSI(s) or community college(s). If an 
applicant institution is an MSI or a community college, that 
institution may propose intra-campus collaborative activities instead 
of, or in addition to, collaborative activities with other MSIs or 
community colleges.
    For the purpose of this priority:
    Community college means an institution that meets the definition in 
section 312(f) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1058(f)); or an institution of 
higher education as defined in section 101 of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1001) 
that awards degrees and certificates, more than 50 percent of which are 
not bachelor's degrees (or an equivalent) or master's, professional, or 
other advanced degrees.
    Minority-Serving Institution (MSI) means an institution that is 
eligible to receive assistance under sections 316 through 320 of part A 
of title III, under part B of title III, or under title V of the HEA.
    The institutions designated eligible under title III and title V 
may be viewed at the following link: www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/idues/eligibility.html.
    Competitive Preference Priority 2--Collaborative Activities with 
Teacher Education Programs (up to 5 points).
    Applications that propose collaborative activities with units such 
as schools or colleges of education, schools of liberal arts and 
sciences, post-baccalaureate teacher education programs, teacher 
education programs, and teacher preparation programs on or off the NRC 
campus. These collaborative activities are designed to support the 
integration of an international, intercultural, or global dimension and 
world languages into teacher education, and/or to promote the 
preparation and credentialing of more foreign language teachers in less 
commonly taught languages (LCTLs) for which there is a demand for 
additional teachers to meet existing and expected future kindergarten 
through grade 12 language program needs.
FLAS Program
    Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2018, these priorities 
are competitive preference priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we 
award up to an additional five points depending on how well the 
application meets Competitive Preference Priority 1, and up to an 
additional five points depending on how well the application meets 
Competitive Preference Priority 2. An application may receive a total 
of up to 10 additional points under the competitive preference 
priorities.
    Competitive Preference Priority 1--FLAS Fellowships for Students 
who Demonstrate Financial Need (up to 5 points).
    Applications that propose to give preference when awarding 
fellowships to undergraduate students, graduate students, or both, who 
demonstrate financial need as indicated by the students' expected 
family contribution, as determined under part F of title IV of the HEA. 
This need determination will be based on the students' financial 
circumstances and not on other aid.
    The applicant must describe how it will ensure that all fellows who 
receive such preference show potential for high academic achievement 
based on such indices as grade point average, class ranking, or similar 
measures that the institution may determine.
    Competitive Preference Priority 2--Academic Year FLAS Fellowships 
Awarded in the Less Commonly Taught Languages (up to 5 points).
    Applications that propose to award at least 25 percent of academic 
year FLAS fellowships in modern foreign languages other than French, 
German, and Spanish.

    Note:  Under 34 CFR 657.22(a), the Secretary may designate 
specific languages as a priority for the allocation of fellowships. 
For FLAS Competitive Preference Priority 2, we took into 
consideration the findings in the recent Modern Language Association 
of America (MLA) survey \1\ of fall 2016 undergraduate and graduate 
enrollments in language courses at 2,547 postsecondary institutions 
in the United States. Of 1,417,921 total enrollments, the three 
most-studied modern foreign languages included Spanish with 712,240 
enrollments or 50 percent; French with 175,667 enrollments or 12 
percent; and German with 80,594 enrollments or 6 percent. Together, 
these three languages represented 968,501 or 68 percent of 
enrollments. Other languages, with 34,830 enrollments, constituted 
25 percent of enrollments for the same period.
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    \1\ Modern Language Association of America, ``Enrollments in 
Languages Other Than English in United States Institutions of Higher 
Education, Summer 2016 and Fall 2016: Preliminary Report'' (February 
2018) (p. 13).
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    The findings in the MLA survey are consistent with the 
definition of LCTLs used by the Center for Advanced Research on 
Language Acquisition (CARLA).\2\ CARLA defines LCTLs as ``all of the 
world's languages except English, French, German, and Spanish.''

    \2\ Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition, 
University of Minnesota, available at www.carla.umn.edu.
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    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1122.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 75, 76, 77, 79, 81, 82, 84, 
86, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The Office of Management and Budget Guidelines 
to Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) 
in 2 CFR part 180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the 
Department in 2 CFR part 3485. (c) The Uniform Administrative 
Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal 
Awards in 2 CFR part 200, as adopted and amended as regulations of the 
Department in 2 CFR part 3474. (d) The regulations in 34 CFR parts 655, 
656, and 657. (e) The notices of final priorities for these programs 
published in the Federal Register on May 30, 2014 (79 FR 31028, 79 FR 
31031).
    Areas of National Need: In accordance with section 601(c) of the 
HEA (20 U.S.C. 1121(c)), the Secretary consulted with a wide range of 
Federal agencies and received recommendations regarding national need 
for expertise in

[[Page 24299]]

foreign language and world regions. These agencies' recommendations may 
be viewed on this web page: www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/iegps/index.html.
    Diverse Perspectives and Areas of National Need: Section 602(e) of 
the HEA requires that each IHE or consortium of IHEs include the 
following information in NRC grant applications:
    (1) An explanation of how the activities funded by the grant will 
reflect diverse perspectives and a wide range of views and generate 
debate on world regions and international affairs; and
    (2) A description of how the applicant will encourage government 
service in areas of national need, as identified by the Secretary, as 
well as in areas of need in the education, business, and non-profit 
sectors.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated NRC Available Funds: $22,743,107.
    Africa ($2,370,700); Canada ($425,000); East Asia ($3,467,200); 
International ($1,655,000); Latin America ($3,482,017); Middle East 
($3,375,000); Russia and Eastern Europe ($2,605,000); South Asia 
($1,906,340); Southeast Asia ($1,898,850); and Western Europe 
($1,558,000).
    Estimated Range of Awards: $188,000-$270,000 per year.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $215,000 per year.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 100.
    Estimated FLAS Available Funds: $30,343,000.
    Africa ($3,357,000); Canada ($349,500); East Asia ($5,419,000); 
International ($2,454,000); Latin America ($4,456,500); Middle East 
($3,526,500); Russia and Eastern Europe ($3,583,500); South Asia 
($2,713,500); Southeast Asia ($2,449,500); and Western Europe 
($2,034,000).
    Estimated Range of Awards: $154,500-$351,000 per year.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $202,500 per year.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 105.
    FLAS Fellowship Subsistence Allowances: The subsistence allowance 
for a graduate student academic year fellowship is $15,000; the 
subsistence allowance for an undergraduate student academic year 
fellowship is $5,000. The subsistence allowance for a summer fellowship 
is $2,500 for graduate and undergraduate students.
    FLAS Fellowship Institutional Payments: The institutional payment 
for a graduate student academic year fellowship is $18,000; the 
institutional payment for an undergraduate student academic year 
fellowship is $10,000. The institutional payment for a summer 
fellowship is $5,000 for graduate and undergraduate students.
    Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of 
applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2019 from the list of 
unfunded applications from these competitions.

    Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this 
notice. The estimated range and average size of awards are based on 
a single 12-month budget period. We may use FY 2018 funds to support 
multiple 12-month budget periods for one or more grantees.

    Project Period: Up to 48 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: IHEs or consortia of IHEs.
    2. a. Cost Sharing or Matching: These programs do not require cost 
sharing or matching.
    b. Supplement-Not-Supplant: The NRC Program involves supplement-
not-supplant funding requirements. Under 34 CFR 656.33(b)(3), grant 
funds may not be used to supplant funds normally used by applicants for 
purposes of this program.
    3. Subgrantees: Under 34 CFR 75.708(b) and (c), a grantee under the 
NRC Program may award subgrants--to directly carry out project 
activities described in its application--to the following types of 
entities: IHEs, non-profit organizations, professional organizations, 
or businesses. The grantee may award subgrants to entities it has 
identified in an approved application or that it selects through 
competition under procedures established by the grantee. However, a 
grantee under the FLAS Program may not award subgrants to entities to 
directly carry out project activities described in its application.
    4. Other: (a) Reasonable and Necessary Costs: Applicants must 
ensure that all costs included in the proposed budget are necessary and 
reasonable to meet the goals and objectives of the proposed project. 
Any costs determined by the Secretary to be unreasonable or unnecessary 
will be removed from the final approved budget.
    (b) Audits: (i) A non-Federal entity that expends $750,000 or more 
during the non-Federal entity's fiscal year in Federal awards must have 
a single or program-specific audit conducted for that year in 
accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR part 200. (2 CFR 200.501(a).)
    (ii) A non-Federal entity that expends less than $750,000 during 
the non-Federal entity's fiscal year in Federal awards is exempt from 
Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 2 CFR 
200.503 (Relation to Other Audit Requirements), but records must be 
available for review or audit by appropriate officials of the Federal 
agency, pass-through entity, and Government Accountability Office 
(GAO). (2 CFR 200.501(d).)

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Application Submission Instructions: For information on how to 
submit an application, please refer to our Common Instructions for 
Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, 
published in the Federal Register on February 12, 2018 (83 FR 6003) and 
available at www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-02-12/pdf/2018-02558.pdf.
    2. 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.
    3. Funding Restrictions: We specify unallowable costs in 34 CFR 
656.30(b) and 657.33. We reference additional regulations outlining 
funding restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this 
notice.
    4. Recommended Page Limit: The application narrative (Part III of 
the application) is where you, the applicant, address the priorities, 
selection criteria, and application requirements that reviewers use to 
evaluate your application. We recommend that you (1) limit the 
application narrative to no more than 50 pages for single institution 
applications, and to no more than 60 pages for consortia applications 
and (2) 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, except titles, headings, 
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions. Charts, tables, 
figures, and graphs in the application narrative may be single spaced 
and will count toward the recommended page limit.
     Use a font that is either 12 point or larger, or no 
smaller than 10 pitch (characters per inch). However, you may use a 10-
point font in charts, tables, figures, and graphs.
     Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, 
Courier New, or Arial.

[[Page 24300]]

    The recommended page limit does not apply to Part I, the 
Application for Federal Assistance face sheet (SF 424); the 
supplemental SF 424 form; Part II, Budget Information--Non-Construction 
Programs (ED 524); the detailed line item budget; Part IV, the 
assurances and certifications, and the response to section 427 of the 
General Education Provisions Act; the project abstract, the table of 
contents, the list of acronyms, the response to the diverse 
perspectives/areas of need requirements, the NRC/FLAS project profile 
form, and the appendices (curriculum vitae, course list, performance 
measure form; letters of support). However, the recommended page limit 
does apply to all of the application narrative.
    5. Award Basis: In determining whether to approve a grant award and 
the amount of such award, the Department will consider, among other 
things, the applicant's performance and use of funds under a previous 
or existing award under any Department program (34 CFR 75.217(d)(3)(ii) 
and 75.233). In assessing the applicant's performance and use of funds 
under a previous or existing award, the Secretary will consider, among 
other things, the outcomes the applicant has achieved and the results 
of any Departmental grant monitoring, including the applicant's 
progress in remedying any deficiencies identified in such monitoring.

V. Application Review Information

    1. General: For the FY 2018 NRC and FLAS competitions, all 
applications will be assigned to peer review panels based on the 
country, thematic focus, international studies, or world region such as 
Africa, Asia, or the Middle East. All applicant institutions specify 
their respective categories in their NRC and FLAS applications. The 
readers who serve on the peer review panels are selected for the 
specialized area studies, international studies, and modern foreign 
language expertise needed to review, score, and rank the assigned 
applications in each distinct category. For the NRC and FLAS 
competitions, the Department will select applications for funding 
consideration from each distinct peer review panel based on the ranking 
of the applications within that panel.
    2. Selection Criteria: The maximum score for all of the NRC 
selection criteria, taken together with the maximum number of points 
awarded to applicants that address the competitive preference 
priorities, is 175 points. The maximum score for all of the FLAS 
selection criteria, taken together with the maximum number of points 
awarded to applicants that address the competitive preference 
priorities, is 145 points.

NRC Program

    The Secretary uses the following selection criteria from 34 CFR 
656.21 to evaluate an NRC application for a comprehensive Center:
    (a) Program planning and budget (up to 25 points). The Secretary 
reviews each application to determine--
    (1) The extent to which the activities for which the applicant 
seeks funding are of high quality and directly related to the purpose 
of the National Resource Centers Program;
    (2) The extent to which the applicant provides a development plan 
or timeline demonstrating how the proposed activities will contribute 
to a strengthened program and whether the applicant uses its resources 
and personnel effectively to achieve the proposed objectives;
    (3) The extent to which the costs of the proposed activities are 
reasonable in relation to the objectives of the program; and
    (4) The long-term impact of the proposed activities on the 
institution's undergraduate, graduate, and professional training 
programs.
    (b) Quality of staff resources (up to 15 points). The Secretary 
reviews each application to determine--
    (1) The extent to which teaching faculty and other staff are 
qualified for the current and proposed Center activities and training 
programs, are provided professional development opportunities 
(including overseas experience), and participate in teaching, 
supervising, and advising students;
    (2) The adequacy of Center staffing and oversight arrangements, 
including outreach and administration and the extent to which faculty 
from a variety of departments, professional schools, and the library 
are involved; and
    (3) The extent to which the applicant, as part of its 
nondiscriminatory employment practices, encourages applications for 
employment from persons who are members of groups that have been 
traditionally underrepresented, such as members of racial or ethnic 
minority groups, women, persons with disabilities, and the elderly.
    (c) Impact and evaluation (up to 30 points). The Secretary reviews 
each application to determine--
    (1) The extent to which the Center's activities and training 
programs have a significant impact on the university, community, 
region, and the Nation as shown through indices such as enrollments, 
graduate placement data, participation rates for events, and usage of 
Center resources; and the extent to which the applicant supplies a 
clear description of how the applicant will provide equal access and 
treatment of eligible project participants who are members of groups 
that have been traditionally underrepresented, such as members of 
racial or ethnic minority groups, women, persons with disabilities, and 
the elderly;
    (2) The extent to which the applicant provides an evaluation plan 
that is comprehensive and objective and that will produce quantifiable, 
outcome-measure-oriented data; and the extent to which recent 
evaluations have been used to improve the applicant's program;
    (3) The degree to which activities of the Center address national 
needs, and generate information for and disseminate information to the 
public; and
    (4) The applicant's record of placing students into post-graduate 
employment, education, or training in areas of national need and the 
applicant's stated efforts to increase the number of such students that 
go into such placements.
    (d) Commitment to the subject area on which the Center focuses (up 
to 10 points). The Secretary reviews each application to determine the 
extent to which the institution provides financial and other support to 
the operation of the Center, teaching staff for the Center's subject 
area, library resources, linkages with institutions abroad, outreach 
activities, and qualified students in fields related to the Center.
    (e) Strength of library (up to 10 points). The Secretary reviews 
each application to determine--
    (1) The strength of the institution's library holdings (both print 
and non-print, English and foreign language) in the subject area and at 
the educational levels (graduate, professional, undergraduate) on which 
the Center focuses; and the extent to which the institution provides 
financial support for the acquisition of library materials and for 
library staff in the subject area of the Center; and
    (2) The extent to which research materials at other institutions 
are available to students through cooperative arrangements with other 
libraries or on-line databases and the extent to which teachers, 
students, and faculty from other institutions are able to access the 
library's holdings.
    (f) Quality of the Center's non-language instructional program (up 
to 20 points). The Secretary reviews each application to determine--

[[Page 24301]]

    (1) The quality and extent of the Center's course offerings in a 
variety of disciplines, including the extent to which courses in the 
Center's subject matter are available in the institution's professional 
schools;
    (2) The extent to which the Center offers depth of specialized 
course coverage in one or more disciplines of the Center's subject 
area;
    (3) The extent to which the institution employs a sufficient number 
of teaching faculty to enable the Center to carry out its purposes and 
the extent to which instructional assistants are provided with pedagogy 
training; and
    (4) The extent to which interdisciplinary courses are offered for 
undergraduate and graduate students.
    (g) Quality of the Center's language instructional program (up to 
20 points). The Secretary reviews each application to determine--
    (1) The extent to which the Center provides instruction in the 
languages of the Center's subject area and the extent to which students 
enroll in the study of the languages of the subject area through 
programs or instruction offered by the Center or other providers;
    (2) The extent to which the Center provides three or more levels of 
language training and the extent to which courses in disciplines other 
than language, linguistics, and literature are offered in appropriate 
foreign languages;
    (3) Whether sufficient numbers of language faculty are available to 
teach the languages and levels of instruction described in the 
application and the extent to which language teaching staff (including 
faculty and instructional assistants) have been exposed to current 
language pedagogy training appropriate for performance-based teaching; 
and
    (4) The quality of the language program as measured by the 
performance-based instruction being used or developed, the adequacy of 
resources for language teaching and practice, and language proficiency 
requirements.
    (h) Quality of curriculum design (up to 15 points). The Secretary 
reviews each application to determine--
    (1) The extent to which the Center's curriculum has incorporated 
undergraduate instruction in the applicant's area or topic of 
specialization into baccalaureate degree programs (for example, major, 
minor, or certificate programs) and the extent to which these programs 
and their requirements (including language requirements) are 
appropriate for a Center in this subject area and will result in an 
undergraduate training program of high quality;
    (2) The extent to which the Center's curriculum provides training 
options for graduate students from a variety of disciplines and 
professional fields and the extent to which these programs and their 
requirements (including language requirements) are appropriate for a 
Center in this subject area and result in graduate training programs of 
high quality; and
    (3) The extent to which the Center provides academic and career 
advising services for students; the extent to which the Center has 
established formal arrangements for students to conduct research or 
study abroad and the extent to which these arrangements are used; and 
the extent to which the institution facilitates student access to other 
institutions' study abroad and summer language programs.
    (i) Outreach activities (up to 20 points). The Secretary reviews 
each application to determine the extent to which the Center 
demonstrates a significant and measurable regional and national impact 
of, and faculty and professional school involvement in, domestic 
outreach activities that involve--
    (1) Elementary and secondary schools;
    (2) Postsecondary institutions; and
    (3) Business, media, and the general public.
    (j) Degree to which priorities are served (up to 10 points). If, 
under the provisions of Sec.  656.23, the Secretary establishes 
competitive priorities for Centers, the Secretary considers the degree 
to which those priorities are being served.
    The Secretary uses the following selection criteria from 34 CFR 
656.22 to evaluate an NRC application for an undergraduate Center:
    (a) Program planning and budget (up to 25 points). The Secretary 
reviews each application to determine--
    (1) The extent to which the activities for which the applicant 
seeks funding are of high quality and directly related to the purpose 
of the National Resource Centers Program;
    (2) The extent to which the applicant provides a development plan 
or timeline demonstrating how the proposed activities will contribute 
to a strengthened program and whether the applicant uses its resources 
and personnel effectively to achieve the proposed objectives;
    (3) The extent to which the costs of the proposed activities are 
reasonable in relation to the objectives of the program; and
    (4) The long-term impact of the proposed activities on the 
institution's undergraduate training program.
    (b) Quality of staff resources (up to 15 points). The Secretary 
reviews each application to determine--
    (1) The extent to which teaching faculty and other staff are 
qualified for the current and proposed Center activities and training 
programs, are provided professional development opportunities 
(including overseas experience), and participate in teaching, 
supervising, and advising students;
    (2) The adequacy of Center staffing and oversight arrangements, 
including outreach and administration and the extent to which faculty 
from a variety of departments, professional schools, and the library 
are involved; and
    (3) The extent to which the applicant, as part of its 
nondiscriminatory employment practices, encourages applications for 
employment from persons who are members of groups that have been 
traditionally underrepresented, such as members of racial or ethnic 
minority groups, women, persons with disabilities, and the elderly.
    (c) Impact and evaluation (up to 30 points). The Secretary reviews 
each application to determine--
    (1) The extent to which the Center's activities and training 
programs have a significant impact on the university, community, 
region, and the Nation as shown through indices such as enrollments, 
graduate placement data, participation rates for events, and usage of 
Center resources; the extent to which students matriculate into 
advanced language and area or international studies programs or related 
professional programs; and the extent to which the applicant supplies a 
clear description of how the applicant will provide equal access and 
treatment of eligible project participants who are members of groups 
that have been traditionally underrepresented, such as members of 
racial or ethnic minority groups, women, persons with disabilities, and 
the elderly;
    (2) The extent to which the applicant provides an evaluation plan 
that is comprehensive and objective and that will produce quantifiable, 
outcome-measure-oriented data; and the extent to which recent 
evaluations have been used to improve the applicant's program;
    (3) The degree to which activities of the Center address national 
needs, and generate information for and disseminate information to the 
public; and
    (4) The applicant's record of placing students into post-graduate 
employment, education, or training in areas of national need and the 
applicant's stated efforts to increase the

[[Page 24302]]

number of such students that go into such placements.
    (d) Commitment to the subject area on which the Center focuses (up 
to 10 points). The Secretary reviews each application to determine the 
extent to which the institution provides financial and other support to 
the operation of the Center, teaching staff for the Center's subject 
area, library resources, linkages with institutions abroad, outreach 
activities, and qualified students in fields related to the Center.
    (e) Strength of library (up to 10 points). The Secretary reviews 
each application to determine--
    (1) The strength of the institution's library holdings (both print 
and non-print, English and foreign language) in the subject area and at 
the educational levels (graduate, professional, undergraduate) on which 
the Center focuses; and the extent to which the institution provides 
financial support for the acquisition of library materials and for 
library staff in the subject area of the Center; and
    (2) The extent to which research materials at other institutions 
are available to students through cooperative arrangements with other 
libraries or on-line databases and the extent to which teachers, 
students, and faculty from other institutions are able to access the 
library's holdings.
    (f) Quality of the Center's non-language instructional program (up 
to 20 points). The Secretary reviews each application to determine--
    (1) The quality and extent of the Center's course offerings in a 
variety of disciplines;
    (2) The extent to which the Center offers depth of specialized 
course coverage in one or more disciplines of the Center's subject 
area;
    (3) The extent to which the institution employs a sufficient number 
of teaching faculty to enable the Center to carry out its purposes and 
the extent to which instructional assistants are provided with pedagogy 
training; and
    (4) The extent to which interdisciplinary courses are offered for 
undergraduate students.
    (g) Quality of the Center's language instructional program (up to 
20 points). The Secretary reviews each application to determine--
    (1) The extent to which the Center provides instruction in the 
languages of the Center's subject area and the extent to which students 
enroll in the study of the languages of the subject area through 
programs offered by the Center or other providers;
    (2) The extent to which the Center provides three or more levels of 
language training and the extent to which courses in disciplines other 
than language, linguistics, and literature are offered in appropriate 
foreign languages;
    (3) Whether sufficient numbers of language faculty are available to 
teach the languages and levels of instruction described in the 
application and the extent to which language teaching staff (including 
faculty and instructional assistants) have been exposed to current 
language pedagogy training appropriate for performance-based teaching; 
and
    (4) The quality of the language program as measured by the 
performance-based instruction being used or developed, the adequacy of 
resources for language teaching and practice, and language proficiency 
requirements.
    (h) Quality of curriculum design (up to 15 points). The Secretary 
reviews each application to determine--
    (1) The extent to which the Center's curriculum has incorporated 
undergraduate instruction in the applicant's area or topic of 
specialization into baccalaureate degree programs (for example, major, 
minor, or certificate programs) and the extent to which these programs 
and their requirements (including language requirements) are 
appropriate for a Center in this subject area and will result in an 
undergraduate training program of high quality; and
    (2) The extent to which the Center provides academic and career 
advising services for students; the extent to which the Center has 
established formal arrangements for students to conduct research or 
study abroad and the extent to which these arrangements are used; and 
the extent to which the institution facilitates student access to other 
institutions' study abroad and summer language programs.
    (i) Outreach activities (up to 20 points). The Secretary reviews 
each application to determine the extent to which the Center 
demonstrates a significant and measurable regional and national impact 
of, and faculty and professional school involvement in, domestic 
outreach activities that involve--
    (1) Elementary and secondary schools;
    (2) Postsecondary institutions; and
    (3) Business, media and the general public.
    (j) Degree to which priorities are served (up to 10 points). If, 
under the provisions of Sec.  656.23, the Secretary establishes 
competitive priorities for Centers, the Secretary considers the degree 
to which those priorities are being served.

FLAS Program

    The Secretary uses the following selection criteria from 34 CFR 
657.21 to evaluate an institutional application for an allocation of 
FLAS fellowships:
    (a) Quality of staff resources (up to 15 points). The Secretary 
reviews each application to determine--
    (1) The extent to which teaching faculty and other staff are 
qualified for the current and proposed activities and training 
programs, are provided professional development opportunities 
(including overseas experience), and participate in teaching, 
supervising, and advising students;
    (2) The adequacy of applicant staffing and oversight arrangements 
and the extent to which faculty from a variety of departments, 
professional schools, and the library are involved; and
    (3) The extent to which the applicant, as part of its 
nondiscriminatory employment practices, encourages applications for 
employment from persons who are members of groups that have been 
traditionally underrepresented, such as members of racial or ethnic 
minority groups, women, persons with disabilities, and the elderly.
    (b) Impact and evaluation (up to 25 points). The Secretary reviews 
each application to determine--
    (1) The extent to which the applicant's activities and training 
programs have contributed to an improved supply of specialists on the 
program's subject as shown through indices such as undergraduate and 
graduate enrollments and placement data; and the extent to which the 
applicant supplies a clear description of how the applicant will 
provide equal access and treatment of eligible project participants who 
are members of groups that have been traditionally underrepresented, 
such as members of racial or ethnic minority groups, women, persons 
with disabilities, and the elderly;
    (2) The extent to which the applicant provides an evaluation plan 
that is comprehensive and objective and that will produce quantifiable, 
outcome-measure-oriented data; and the extent to which recent 
evaluations have been used to improve the applicant's program;
    (3) The degree to which fellowships awarded by the applicant 
address national needs; and
    (4) The applicant's record of placing students into post-graduate 
employment, education, or training in areas of national need and the 
applicant's stated efforts to increase the number of such students that 
go into such placements.

[[Page 24303]]

    (c) Commitment to the subject area on which the applicant or 
program focuses (up to 10 points). The Secretary reviews each 
application to determine--
    (1) The extent to which the institution provides financial and 
other support to the operation of the applicant, teaching staff for the 
applicant's subject area, library resources, and linkages with 
institutions abroad; and
    (2) The extent to which the institution provides financial support 
to students in fields related to the applicant's teaching program.
    (d) Strength of library (up to 10 points). The Secretary reviews 
each application to determine--
    (1) The strength of the institution's library holdings (both print 
and non-print, English and foreign language) for students; and the 
extent to which the institution provides financial support for the 
acquisition of library materials and for library staff in the subject 
area of the applicant; and
    (2) The extent to which research materials at other institutions 
are available to students through cooperative arrangements with other 
libraries or on-line databases.
    (e) Quality of the applicant's non-language instructional program 
(up to 20 points). The Secretary reviews each application to 
determine--
    (1) The quality and extent of the applicant's course offerings in a 
variety of disciplines, including the extent to which courses in the 
applicant's subject matter are available in the institution's 
professional schools;
    (2) The extent to which the applicant offers depth of specialized 
course coverage in one or more disciplines on the applicant's subject 
area;
    (3) The extent to which the institution employs a sufficient number 
of teaching faculty to enable the applicant to carry out its purposes 
and the extent to which instructional assistants are provided with 
pedagogy training; and
    (4) The extent to which interdisciplinary courses are offered for 
students.
    (f) Quality of the applicant's language instructional program (up 
to 20 points). The Secretary reviews each application to determine--
    (1) The extent to which the applicant provides instruction in the 
languages of the applicant's subject area and the extent to which 
students enroll in the study of the languages of the subject area 
through programs or instruction offered by the applicant or other 
providers;
    (2) The extent to which the applicant provides three or more levels 
of language training and the extent to which courses in disciplines 
other than language, linguistics, and literature are offered in 
appropriate foreign languages;
    (3) Whether sufficient numbers of language faculty are available to 
teach the languages and levels of instruction described in the 
application and the extent to which language teaching staff (including 
faculty and instructional assistants) have been exposed to current 
language pedagogy training appropriate for performance-based teaching; 
and
    (4) The quality of the language program as measured by the 
performance-based instruction being used or developed, the adequacy of 
resources for language teaching and practice, and language proficiency 
requirements.
    (g) Quality of curriculum design (up to 20 points). The Secretary 
reviews each application to determine--
    (1) The extent to which the applicant's curriculum provides 
training options for students from a variety of disciplines and 
professional fields and the extent to which these programs and their 
requirements (including language requirements) are appropriate for an 
applicant in this subject area and result in graduate training programs 
of high quality;
    (2) The extent to which the applicant provides academic and career 
advising services for students; and
    (3) The extent to which the applicant has established formal 
arrangements for students to conduct research or study abroad and the 
extent to which these arrangements are used; and the extent to which 
the institution facilitates student access to other institutions' study 
abroad and summer language programs.
    (h) Foreign language and area studies fellowships awardee selection 
procedures (up to 15 points). The Secretary reviews each application to 
determine whether the selection plan is of high quality, showing how 
awards will be advertised, how students apply, what selection criteria 
are used, who selects the fellows, when each step will take place, and 
how the process will result in awards being made to correspond to any 
announced priorities.
    (i) Priorities (up to 10 points). If one or more competitive 
priorities have been established under Sec.  657.22, the Secretary 
reviews each application for information that shows the extent to which 
the Center or program meets these priorities.

    Note: Applicants should address these selection criteria only in 
the context of the program requirements in sections 601 and 602 of 
the HEA, 20 U.S.C. 1121-1122.

    3. 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 
(34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
    4. Risk Assessment and Specific Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR 
200.205, before awarding grants under these programs the Department 
conducts a review of the risks posed by applicants. Under 2 CFR 
3474.10, the Secretary may impose specific 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.
    5. 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 the System for Award Management. 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

[[Page 24304]]

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 (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. Open Licensing Requirements: Unless an exception applies, if you 
are awarded a grant under this competition, you will be required to 
openly license to the public grant deliverables created in whole, or in 
part, with Department grant funds. When the deliverable consists of 
modifications to pre-existing works, the license extends only to those 
modifications that can be separately identified and only to the extent 
that open licensing is permitted under the terms of any licenses or 
other legal restrictions on the use of pre-existing works. 
Additionally, a grantee or subgrantee that is awarded competitive grant 
funds must have a plan to disseminate these public grant deliverables. 
This dissemination plan can be developed and submitted after your 
application has been reviewed and selected for funding. For additional 
information on the open licensing requirements, please refer to 2 CFR 
part 3474.20.
    4. 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. 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.
    Performance reports for the NRC Program and the FLAS Program must 
be submitted electronically into the Office of International and 
Foreign Language Education web-based reporting system, International 
Resource Information System (IRIS). For information about IRIS and to 
view the reporting instructions, 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. If 
a grantee is provided additional funding for this purpose, the 
Secretary establishes a data collection period.
    5. Performance Measures: (a) Under the Government Performance and 
Results Act of 1993, the following measures will be used by the 
Department to evaluate the success of the NRC Program:
    1. Percentage of priority languages defined by the Secretary of 
Education taught at NRCs.
    2. Percentage of NRC grants teaching intermediate or advanced 
courses in priority languages as defined by the Secretary of Education.
    3. Percentage of NRCs that increased the number of intermediate or 
advanced level language courses in the priority and/or LCTLs during the 
course of the grant period.
    4. Percentage of NRCs that increased the number of certificate, 
minor, or major degree programs in the priority and/or LCTLs, area 
studies, or international studies during the course of the four-year 
grant period.
    5. Percentage of less and least commonly taught languages as 
defined by the Secretary of Education taught at title VI NRCs.
    6. Cost per NRC that increased the number of intermediate or 
advanced level language courses in the priority and/or LCTLs during the 
course of the grant period.
    (b) The following measures will be used by the Department to 
evaluate the success of the FLAS Program:
    1. Percentage of FLAS-graduated fellows who secured employment that 
utilizes their foreign language and area studies skills within eight 
years after graduation, based on the FLAS tracking survey.
    2. Percentage of FLAS master's and doctoral graduates who studied 
priority languages as defined by the Secretary of Education.
    3. Percentage of FLAS fellows who increased their foreign language 
reading, writing, and/or listening/speaking scores by at least one 
proficiency level.
    The information provided by grantees in their performance reports 
submitted via IRIS will be the source of data for these measures. 
Reporting screens for institutions can be viewed at:

http://iris.ed.gov/iris/pdfs/NRC.pdf
http://iris.ed.gov/iris/pdfs/FLAS.pdf

    6. 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 persons 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. You may 
access the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of 
Federal Regulations 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 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.

[[Page 24305]]

    Specifically, through the advanced search feature at this site, you 
can limit your search to documents published by the Department.

    Dated: May 22, 2018.
Frank T. Brogan,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary and Delegated the Duties of 
Assistant Secretary, Office of Planning, Evaluation, and Policy 
Development, Delegated the Duties of the Assistant Secretary, Office of 
Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2018-11261 Filed 5-24-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4000-01-P