[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 28 (Tuesday, February 11, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7754-7758]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-02651]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; American Overseas Research Centers 
Program

AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Education (Department) is issuing a notice 
inviting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2020 for the American 
Overseas Research Centers (AORC) program, Catalog of Federal Domestic 
Assistance (CFDA) number 84.274A. This notice relates to the approved 
information collection under OMB control number 1894-0006.

DATES: 
    Applications Available: February 11, 2020.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: March 27, 2020.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: May 26, 2020.
    Pre-Application Webinar Information: The Department will hold a 
pre-application meeting via webinar for prospective applicants. 
Detailed information regarding the webinar will be provided on the 
website for the AORC program at www2.ed.gov/programs/iegpsaorc/index.html.

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 13, 2019 (84 FR 3768), and available at 
www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg.FR-2019-02-13/pdf/2019-02206.pdf.

[[Page 7755]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheryl E. Gibbs, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 257-09, Washington, DC 20202. 
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 Program: The AORC program provides grants to consortia 
of United States institutions of higher education (IHEs) to establish 
or operate overseas centers to promote postgraduate research, 
exchanges, and area studies. AORC grants may be used to pay all or a 
portion of the costs for the operation and maintenance of overseas 
facilities; organizing and managing conferences; teaching and research 
materials; the acquisition, maintenance, and preservation of library 
collections; bringing visiting scholars and faculty to the center to 
teach or to conduct research; faculty and staff stipends and salaries; 
faculty, staff, and student travel; and publication and dissemination 
of materials for the scholarly and general public.
    Priorities: Under this competition we are particularly interested 
in applications that address the following priorities.
    Invitational Priorities: For FY 2020 and any subsequent year in 
which we make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this 
competition, these priorities are invitational priorities. Under 34 CFR 
75.105(c)(1), we do not give an application that meets these 
invitational priorities a competitive or absolute preference over other 
applications.
    These priorities are:
    Invitational Priority 1--Professional Development Opportunities for 
Community Colleges and Minority Serving Institutions.
    Provide professional development opportunities to participants from 
community colleges and minority-serving institutions. The opportunities 
must include: Foreign language instruction at the beginning level to 
introduce participants to the languages of the center, or at the 
intermediate and advanced levels to strengthen participants' foreign 
language proficiency; curriculum development workshops for 
incorporating global content into courses; and conferences related to 
the scholarly focus of the center. The professional development 
opportunities may be provided in the United States or overseas where 
the center is located.
    For the purpose of this priority:
    Community college means an institution that meets the definition in 
section 312(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA) 
(20 U.S.C. 1058(f)); or an institution of higher education (as defined 
in section 101 of the HEA) 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 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.
    Note: The list of institutions currently designated as eligible 
under title III and title V is available at: www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/idues/eligibility.html#el-inst.
    Invitational Priority 2--Open Access to Center-related Research, 
Instructional, and Scholarly Resources.
    Projects that promote international scholarship by providing open 
access to center-related research studies, conference proceedings, 
online libraries, digital archives, foreign language instructional 
materials, scholarly publications, and other resources related to the 
thematic focus of the center.
    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1128a.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 75, 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.
    Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to IHEs only.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Available Funds: $1,000,000.
    Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of 
applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2021 from the list of 
unfunded applications from this competition.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $46,000-$70,000 for each 12-month budget 
period.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $58,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 17.
    Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.
    Project Period: Up to 48 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: Consortia of United States IHEs that 
receive more than 50 percent of their funding from public or private 
United States sources, have a permanent presence in the country in 
which the center is located, and are organizations described in section 
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, which are exempt from 
taxation under section 501(a) of such Code.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost 
sharing or matching.
    3. Subgrantees: A grantee under this competition may not award 
subgrants to entities to directly carry out project activities 
described in its application.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Application Submission Instructions: Applicants are required to 
follow the Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of 
Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal 
Register on February 13, 2019 (84 FR 3768), and available at 
www.govinfo.go v/content/pkg/FR-2019-02-13/pdf/2019-02206.pdf, which 
contain requirements and information on how to submit an application.
    2. Submission of Proprietary Information: Given the types of 
projects that may be proposed in applications for the AORC grant 
competition, your application may include business information that you 
consider proprietary. In 34 CFR 5.11 we define ``business information'' 
and describe the process we use in determining whether any of that 
information is proprietary and, thus, protected from disclosure under 
Exemption 4 of the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552, as 
amended). Because we plan to post on our website a selection of FY 2020 
AORC funded abstracts and applications' narrative sections, you may 
wish to request confidentiality of business information.
    Consistent with Executive Order 12600, please designate in your 
application any information that you believe is exempt from disclosure 
under Exemption 4. In the appropriate Appendix section of your 
application, under ``Other Attachments Form,'' please list the page 
number or numbers on which we can find this information.

[[Page 7756]]

For additional information please see 34 CFR 5.11(c).
    3. 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 competition.
    4. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding 
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
    5. Recommended Page Limit: The application narrative (Part III of 
the application) is where you, the applicant, address the selection 
criteria that reviewers use to evaluate the application. We recommend 
that you (1) limit the application narrative to no more than 30 pages 
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, 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 recommended page limit does not apply to Part I, Application 
for Federal Assistance cover sheet (SF 424); the Supplemental 
Information Form SF 424B; Part II, ED 524 (Summary Budget A) and the 
detailed budget justification (Summary Budget C); or Part IV, 
assurances and certifications. The recommended page limit also does not 
apply to the project abstract, curriculum vitae, or letters of support. 
However, the recommended page limit does apply to the entire 
application narrative.

V. Application Review Information

    1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition 
are from section 609 of the HEA and 34 CFR 75.210. The maximum score 
for all selection criteria is 100 points. The maximum score for each 
criterion is indicated in parentheses.
    (a) Program purpose (up to 20 points).
    The Secretary reviews each application to determine the extent to 
which the proposed project promotes postgraduate research, exchanges, 
and area studies.
    (b) Need for project (up to 10 points).
    (1) The Secretary considers the need for the proposed project.
    (2) In determining the need for the proposed project, the Secretary 
considers the magnitude of the need for the services to be provided or 
the activities to be carried out by the proposed project.
    (c) Quality of the project design (up to 10 points).
    (1) The Secretary considers the quality of the design of the 
proposed project.
    (2) In determining the quality of the design of the proposed 
project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (i) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be 
achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable.
    (ii) The extent to which fellowship recipients or other project 
participants are to be selected on the basis of academic excellence.
    (d) Quality of project services (up to 20 points).
    (1) The Secretary considers the quality of the services to be 
provided by the proposed project.
    (2) In determining the quality of the services to be provided by 
the proposed project, the Secretary considers the quality and 
sufficiency of strategies for ensuring equal access and treatment for 
eligible project participants who are members of groups that have 
traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national 
origin, gender, age, or disability.
    (3) In addition, the Secretary considers the extent to which the 
services to be provided by the proposed project are appropriate to the 
needs of the intended recipients or beneficiaries of those services.
    (e) Quality of project personnel (up to 15 points).
    (1) The Secretary considers the quality of the personnel who will 
carry out the proposed project.
    (2) In determining the quality of project personnel, the Secretary 
considers the extent to which the applicant encourages applications for 
employment from persons who are members of groups that have 
traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national 
origin, gender, age, or disability.
    (3) In addition, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (i) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of key project personnel.
    (ii) The extent to which time commitments of the project director 
and other key project personnel are appropriate and adequate to meet 
the objectives of the proposed project.
    (f) Adequacy of resources (up to 10 points).
    (1) The Secretary considers the adequacy of resources for the 
proposed project.
    (2) In determining the adequacy of resources for the proposed 
project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (i) The extent to which the budget is adequate to support the 
proposed project.
    (ii) The adequacy of support, including facilities, equipment, 
supplies, and other resources, from the applicant organization or the 
lead applicant organization.
    (g) Quality of the project evaluation (up to 15 points).
    (1) The Secretary considers the quality of the evaluation to be 
conducted of the proposed project.
    (2) In determining the quality of the evaluation, the Secretary 
considers the following factors:
    (i) The extent to which the methods of evaluation are appropriate 
to the context within which the project operates.
    (ii) The extent to which the methods of evaluation are thorough, 
feasible, and appropriate to the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the 
proposed project.
    (iii) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide 
timely guidance for quality assurance.
    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).
    All applications submitted to the FY 2020 AORC competition will be 
evaluated and scored by peer reviewers who are subject matter experts 
in area studies, international studies, and world languages. The 
Department will develop a rank order slate of all applicants in the 
competition, from the highest score to the lowest score. Applications 
selected

[[Page 7757]]

for funding will be determined by the applicant's rank order in the 
competition.
    3. Risk Assessment and Specific Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR 
200.205, before awarding grants under this program 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.
    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 
$250,000), 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 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 the 
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 the 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 the approved application as part of the 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 
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).
    AORC program grantees are required to submit their performance 
reports into the web-based International Resource Information System 
(IRIS) data reporting system. For specific requirements on reporting, 
please go to www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
    5. Performance Measures: The purpose of the AORC program is to 
promote area studies, exchanges, and postgraduate research. In 
compliance with the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993, the 
Department will use the following measures to assess the impact of the 
AORC program on project participants and researchers:
    AORC Performance Measure 1: The number of individuals conducting 
postgraduate research utilizing the services of title VI AORCs.
    AORC Performance Measure 2: The percentage of AORC program 
participants who advanced in their professional field within two years 
after their participation.
    The grantee performance reports collected in IRIS will be the data 
source for these measures. The AORC program reporting screens may be 
viewed at: http://iris.ed.gov/iris/pdfs/AORC.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 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. You may 
access the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of 
Federal Regulations at www.govinfo.gov. 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

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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.

Robert L. King,
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2020-02651 Filed 2-10-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P