[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 193 (Monday, October 5, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62715-62719]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-21886]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Centers of Excellence for Veteran 
Student Success 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 new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2020 for the 
Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success (CEVSS) Program, 
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number 84.116G. This 
notice relates to the approved information collection under OMB control 
number 1894-0006.

DATES: 
    Applications Available: October 5, 2020.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: November 4, 2020.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: January 4, 2021.

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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kelly Harris, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 268-30, Washington, DC 20202. 
Telephone: (202) 453-7346. 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 purpose of this program is to encourage 
institutions of higher education (IHEs) to develop model programs to 
support veteran student success in postsecondary education by 
coordinating services to address the academic, financial,

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physical, and social needs of veteran students.
    Priorities: This notice contains one absolute priority and two 
competitive preference priorities. In accordance with 34 CFR 
75.105(b)(2)(v), the absolute priority is from the activities specified 
in section 873 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA). 
Competitive Preference Priority 1 is from the notice of final 
administrative priorities for discretionary grant programs 
(Administrative Priorities) published in the Federal Register on March 
9, 2020 (85 FR 13640). Competitive Preference Priority 2 is from the 
Notice of Final Priority for Discretionary Grant Programs, published in 
the Federal Register on November 27, 2019 (84 FR 65300) (Opportunity 
Zones NFP).
    Absolute Priority: For FY 2020 and any subsequent year in which we 
make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this 
competition, this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 
75.105(c)(3), we consider only applications that meet this priority.
    This priority is:
    Projects that include the following required activities:
    (a) Establishing a Center of Excellence for Veteran Student Success 
on the campus of the institution to provide a single point of contact 
to coordinate comprehensive support services for veteran students;
    (b) Establishing a veteran student support team, including 
representatives from the offices of the institution responsible for 
admissions, registration, financial aid, veterans benefits, academic 
advising, student health, personal or mental health counseling, career 
advising, disabilities services, and any other office of the 
institution that provides support to veteran students on campus;
    (c) Providing a coordinator whose primary responsibility is to 
coordinate the model program;
    (d) Monitoring the rates of veteran student enrollment, 
persistence, and completion; and
    (e) Developing a plan to sustain the Center of Excellence for 
Veteran Student Success after the grant period.
    Competitive Preference 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 competitive preference 
priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we award an additional two 
points to an application that meets Competitive Preference Priority 1, 
and one additional point to an application that meets Competitive 
Preference Priority 2, for a maximum of up to three additional points.
    These priorities are:
    Competitive Preference Priority 1--Applications From New Potential 
Grantees. (2 points)
    Under this priority, an applicant must demonstrate that the 
applicant has never received a grant, including through membership in a 
group application submitted in accordance with 34 CFR 75.127-75.129, 
under the CEVSS program.
    Competitive Preference Priority 2--Spurring Investments in 
Qualified Opportunity Zones. (1 point)
    Under this priority, an applicant must demonstrate the following:
    (a) The area in which the applicant proposes to provide services 
overlaps with a Qualified Opportunity Zone, as designated by the 
Secretary of the Treasury under section 1400Z-1 of the Internal Revenue 
Code (IRC). An applicant must--
    (i) Provide the census tract number of the Qualified Opportunity 
Zone(s) in which it proposes to provide services; and
    (ii) Describe how the applicant will provide services in the 
Qualified Opportunity Zone(s).

    Note:  Applicants addressing this priority could consider 
indicating how they plan to conduct outreach and recruitment of 
veterans that reside in Qualified Opportunity Zones which, compared 
to areas that are not Qualified Opportunity Zones, have higher 
average poverty rates, lower median household incomes, higher 
unemployment rates, and lower levels of educational attainment.\1\

    \1\ Brett Theodos, Brady Meixell, and Carl Hedman, ``Did States 
Maximize Their Opportunity Zones Selections?'' Urban Institute, 
2018, available at: https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/98445/did_states_maximize_their_opportunity_zone_selections_7.pdf.
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    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1161t.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 82, 84, 86, 97, 
98, and 99. (b) The Office of Management and Budget Guidelines to 
Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 
2 CFR part 180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department 
in 2 CFR part 3485. (c) The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost 
Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 
200, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR 
part 3474. (d) The Administrative Priorities. (e) The Opportunity Zones 
NFP.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: $6,930,000.
    Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of 
applications, we may make additional awards in subsequent years from 
the list of unfunded applications from this competition.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $433,000 to $450,000 for up to 36 
months.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $441,500 for up to 36 months.
    Maximum Award: We will not make an award exceeding $450,000 for a 
36-month period.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 16.

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

    Project Period: Up to 36 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: IHEs and consortia of IHEs.
    2. a. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost 
sharing or matching.
    b. Supplement-Not-Supplant: This program involves supplement-not-
supplant funding requirements.
    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.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-02-13/pdf/2019-02206.pdf, which 
contain requirements and information on how to submit an application.
    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 reference regulations outlining funding 
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
    4. Recommended Page Limit: The application narrative is where you, 
the applicant, address the selection criteria that reviewers use to 
evaluate your application. We recommend that you (1) limit the 
application narrative to no more than 50 pages and (2) use the 
following standards:

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     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, and 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 the cover sheet; the 
budget section, including the narrative budget justification; the 
assurances and certifications; or the one-page abstract and the 
bibliography. However, the recommended page limit does apply to all of 
the application narrative.

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

V. Application Review Information

    1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition 
are from 34 CFR 75.210. Applicants should address each of the following 
selection criteria separately for each proposed activity. The selection 
criteria are worth a total of 100 points; the maximum score for each 
criterion is noted in parentheses.
    (a) Need for project. (Maximum 10 points) The Secretary considers 
the need for the proposed project. In determining the need for the 
proposed project, the Secretary considers:
    (1) The magnitude of the need for the services to be provided or 
the activities to be carried out by the proposed project.
    (2) The extent to which the proposed project will provide services 
or otherwise address the needs of students at risk of educational 
failure.
    (3) 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) Significance. (Maximum 10 points) The Secretary considers the 
significance of the proposed project. In determining the significance 
of the proposed project, the Secretary considers:
    (1) The extent to which the proposed project is likely to build 
local capacity to provide, improve, or expand services that address the 
needs of the target population.
    (2) The importance or magnitude of the results or outcomes likely 
to be attained by the proposed project.
    (c) Quality of the project design. (Maximum 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:
    (1) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be 
achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable.
    (2) The extent to which the design of the proposed project is 
appropriate to, and will successfully address, the needs of the target 
population or other identified needs.
    (3) The extent to which the proposed project is designed to build 
capacity and yield results that will extend beyond the period of 
Federal financial assistance.
    (d) Quality of project personnel. (Maximum 15 points) The Secretary 
considers the quality of the personnel who will carry out the proposed 
project.
    (1) 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.
    (2) In addition, the Secretary considers:
    (i) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of the project director or principal investigator.
    (ii) The qualifications, including relevant training and 
experience, of key project personnel.

    Note:  As stated in the absolute priority for this competition, 
a proposed Center of Excellence for Veteran Student Success must 
have a coordinator whose primary responsibility is to coordinate the 
model program. In response to this selection criterion, the 
application must describe the qualifications of this individual, the 
members of the veteran student support team described in the 
absolute priority, and any other individuals who will help carry out 
the proposed project. The grant project director may or may not be 
the coordinator of the Center of Excellence for Veteran Student 
Success. Applicants should consider emphasizing how the training and 
experience of veteran employees staffing the project, if applicable, 
will support the goals of the project.

    (e) Adequacy of resources. (Maximum 20 points) The Secretary 
considers the adequacy of resources for the proposed project. In 
determining the adequacy of resources for the proposed project, the 
Secretary considers:
    (1) The adequacy of support, including facilities, equipment, 
supplies, and other resources, from the applicant organization or the 
lead applicant organization.
    (2) The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to the 
number of persons to be served and to the anticipated results and 
benefits.
    (3) The potential for continued support of the project after 
Federal funding ends, including, as appropriate, the demonstrated 
commitment of appropriate entities to such support.

    Note:  A budget summary and budget narrative attached to your 
proposal should itemize the support you are requesting through the 
CEVSS Program.

    (f) Quality of the project evaluation. (Maximum 15 points) The 
Secretary considers the quality of the evaluation to be conducted of 
the proposed project. In determining the quality of the evaluation, the 
Secretary considers:
    (1) The extent to which the methods of evaluation are thorough, 
feasible, and appropriate to the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the 
proposed project.
    (2) The extent to which the methods of evaluation provide for 
examining the effectiveness of the project implementation strategies.
    (3) 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 
(34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23). The projects must also 
be awarded and operated in a manner consistent with nondiscrimination 
requirements contained in the U.S. Constitution.
    A panel of two non-Federal reviewers will review and score each 
application in accordance with the selection criteria. A rank order 
funding slate will be made from this review. Awards will be made in 
rank order according to the

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average score received from the peer review and from the competitive 
preference priorities addressed by the applicant.
    If the Secretary has insufficient funding to award multiple 
applications with the same score, consistent with section 873(d)(2)(A) 
and (B) of the HEA, in making a selection, the Secretary will consider 
(a) the number of veteran students enrolled at each IHE; and (b) the 
need for model programs to address the needs of veteran students at a 
wide range of IHEs, including the need to provide (i) an equitable 
distribution of such grants to IHEs of various types and sizes; (ii) an 
equitable geographic distribution of such grants; and (iii) an 
equitable distribution of such grants among rural and urban areas.
    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 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 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). For specific requirements on reporting, 
please go to www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
    5. Performance Measures: Under 34 CFR 75.110, the Secretary has 
established the following Government Performance and Results Act of 
1993 (GPRA) performance measures for the CEVSS Program: (1) The extent 
to which the project is institutionalized at the end of the project 
period; and (2) The extent to which funded projects increase 
enrollment, persistence, and completion rates of veteran students at 
their institutions.
    These measures constitute the Department's indicators of success 
for this program. Consequently, we advise an applicant for a grant 
under this program to give careful consideration to these measures in 
conceptualizing the approach and evaluation for its proposed project.
    If funded, you will be required to collect and report data in your 
project's annual performance report (34 CFR 75.590).

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 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

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your search to documents published by the Department.

Robert L. King,
Assistant Secretary for the Office of Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2020-21886 Filed 10-2-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P