[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 208 (Monday, November 1, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60222-60226]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-23784]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Centers for International Business 
Education 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) 2022 for the Centers for 
International Business Education (CIBE) program, Assistance Listing 
Number 84.220A. This notice relates to the approved information 
collection under OMB control number 1840-0616.

DATES: 
    Applications Available: November 1, 2021.
    Pre-Application Webinar Information: The Department will hold a 
pre-application meeting via webinar for prospective applicants. 
Detailed information regarding this webinar will

[[Page 60223]]

be provided on the International and Foreign Language Education website 
at https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/iegps/index.html. 
Additionally, for new potential grantees unfamiliar with grantmaking at 
the Department, please consult our funding basics resources at 
www2.ed.gov/documents/funding-101/funding-101-basics.pdf.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: December 16, 2021.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: February 14, 2022.

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: Timothy Duvall, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 2B225, Washington, DC 20202. 
Telephone: (202) 453-7521. 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 the CIBE Program is to provide 
funding to institutions of higher education (IHEs) or consortia of such 
institutions for curriculum development, research, and training on 
issues of importance to international business and U.S. trade 
competitiveness.
    Priorities: This notice contains two competitive preference 
priorities and one invitational priority. The competitive preference 
priorities for fiscal year (FY) 2022 are from the notice of final 
priorities for this program published in the Federal Register on June 
3, 2014 (79 FR 31870) (NFP).
    Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2022 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 up to an additional 
five points depending on how well the application addresses Competitive 
Preference Priority 1, and up to an additional five points depending on 
how well the application addresses Competitive Preference Priority 2. 
An applicant may receive a maximum of 10 additional points under the 
competitive preference priorities.
    These priorities are:
    Competitive Preference Priority 1--Collaboration with a 
Professional Association or Business (up to 5 points).
    Applications that propose to collaborate with one or more 
professional associations and/or businesses on activities designed to 
expand employment opportunities for international business students, 
such as internships and work-study opportunities.
    Competitive Preference Priority 2--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 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 business curriculum of the 
MSI(s) and/or community college(s). If an applicant institution is an 
MSI, 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 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 (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.
    Note: The institutions designated eligible under Title III and 
Title V may be viewed at the following link: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/idues/eligibility.html.
    Invitational Priority: For FY 2022 and any subsequent year in which 
we make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this 
competition, this priority is an invitational priority. Under 34 CFR 
75.105(c)(1), we do not give an application that meets this 
invitational priority a competitive or absolute preference over other 
applications.
    This priority is:
    Applications that propose programs or activities focused on 
language instruction and/or performance testing and assessment to 
strengthen the preparation of international business professionals.
    Application Requirements: The following application requirements 
for fiscal year (FY) 2022 are from section 612(f) of the HEA.
    An applicant must submit, as part of its application--
    (a) Evidence that the IHE, or consortium of such IHEs, will conduct 
extensive planning prior to the establishment of a center concerning 
the scope of the center's activities and the design of its programs in 
accordance with 20 U.S.C. 1130-1(d)(1);
    (b) Assurance of ongoing collaboration in the establishment and 
operation of the center by faculty of the business, management, foreign 
language, international studies, professional international affairs, 
and other professional schools or departments, as appropriate;
    (c) Assurance that the education and training programs of the 
center will be open to students concentrating in each of these 
respective areas, as appropriate, and that diverse perspectives will be 
made available to students in programs under 612(f) of the HEA; and
    (d) Assurance that the IHE, or consortium of such IHEs, will use 
the assistance provided under this program to supplement and not to 
supplant activities conducted by IHEs described in 20 U.S.C. 1130-
1(c)(1).
    Program Authority: Title VI, part B, HEA (20 U.S.C. 1130-1 and 20 
U.S.C. 1132 through 1132-7).
    Note: Projects will be awarded and must be operated in a manner 
consistent with the nondiscrimination requirements contained in Federal 
civil rights laws.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 75, 76, 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 NFP.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.

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    Estimated Available Funds: $4,571,400.
    Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of 
applications, we may make additional awards in future fiscal years from 
the list of unfunded applications from this competition.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $265,000-$305,000 per year.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $285,000 per year.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 16.
    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 2022 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 (as defined in section 101 of the HEA) 
or consortia of IHEs.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program requires cost sharing or 
matching. The matching requirement is described in section 612(e) of 
the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1130-1 (e)(2)(3)(4)) and requires that the Federal 
share of the cost of planning, establishing, and operating centers 
under this program shall be--
    a. Not more than 90 percent for the first year in which Federal 
funds are received;
    b. Not more than 70 percent for the second year; and
    c. Not more than 50 percent for the third year and for each year 
thereafter.
    The non-Federal share of the cost of planning, establishing, and 
operating centers under this program may be provided either in cash or 
in-kind.
    Waiver of non-Federal share: Under section 612(e)(4) of the HEA, in 
the case of an IHE receiving a grant under the CIBE Program and 
conducting outreach or consortium activities with another IHE in 
accordance with section 612(c)(2)(E), the Secretary may waive a portion 
of the requirements for the non-Federal share equal to the amount 
provided by the IHE receiving the grant to the other IHE for carrying 
out the outreach or consortium activities. Any such waiver is subject 
to the terms and conditions the Secretary may deem necessary for 
carrying out the purposes of the program.
    d. Indirect Cost Rate Information: This program uses a restricted 
indirect cost rate. For more information regarding indirect costs, or 
to obtain a negotiated indirect cost rate, please see https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocfo/fipao/faq.html.
    e. Administrative Cost Limitation: This program does not include 
any program-specific limitation on administrative expenses. All 
administrative expenses must be reasonable and necessary and conform to 
Cost Principles described in 2 CFR part 200 subpart E of the Uniform 
Guidance.
    3. Subgrantees: Under 34 CFR 75.708(b) and (c), a grantee under 
this competition may award subgrants--to directly carry out project 
activities described in its application--to the following types of 
entities: IHEs, nonprofit organizations, professional organizations, or 
businesses. The grantee may award subgrants to entities it has 
identified in an approved application or that it selects through a 
competition under procedures established by the grantee.

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. Submission of Proprietary Information: Given the types of 
projects that may be proposed in applications for the CIBE 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 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. 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 program.
    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:
     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 the cover sheet; 
budget section, including the narrative budget justification; the 
assurance and certifications; or the abstract, the resumes, the 
biography, or letters of support. However, the recommended page limit 
does apply to all of the application narrative.

V. Application Review Information

    1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this program are 
from section 612 of the HEA and 34 CFR 75.210. The maximum score for 
all of the selection criteria, taken together with the maximum number 
of points awarded to applicants that address the competitive preference 
priorities, is 110 points. The maximum score for each selection 
criterion is indicated in parentheses.
    Note: In addressing the selection criteria below, refer to sections 
611 and 612 of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1130-1).
    (a) Meeting the purpose of the authorizing statute. (up to 20 
points)
    The Secretary reviews each application to determine how well the 
applicant describes how it will establish and operate Centers for 
International Business Education which--
    (1) Will be national resources for the teaching of improved 
business techniques, strategies, and methodologies which emphasize the 
international context in which business is transacted;
    (2) Will provide instruction in critical foreign languages and 
international fields needed to provide understanding

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of the cultures and customs of United States trading partners; and
    (3) Will provide research and training in the international aspects 
of trade, commerce, and other fields of study.
    (b) Significance. (up to 20 points)
    In determining the significance of the proposed project, the 
Secretary considers--
    (1) The national significance of the proposed project.
    (2) The importance or magnitude of the results or outcomes likely 
to be attained by the proposed project.
    Note: You may discuss the significance of regional and local 
activities to address selection criterion (b)(2).
    (c) Quality of the project design. (up to 10 points)
    In determining the quality of the design of the proposed project, 
the Secretary considers the extent to which the proposed activities 
constitute a coherent, sustained program of research and development in 
the field, including, as appropriate, a substantial addition to an 
ongoing line of inquiry.
    (d) Quality of the management plan. (up to 10 points)
    In determining the quality of the management plan for the proposed 
project, the Secretary considers the adequacy of the management plan to 
achieve the objectives of the proposed project on time and within 
budget, including clearly defined responsibilities, timelines, and 
milestones for accomplishing project tasks.
    (e) Quality of project personnel. (up to 10 points)
    In determining the quality of project personnel, the Secretary 
considers--
    (1) 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) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of the project director or principal investigator.
    (3) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of key project personnel.
    Note: Briefly describe key staff and faculty in this section. 
Supplemental materials should include resumes for staff, business and 
other faculty, and some Advisory Board members, in alphabetical order, 
two resumes per page, single-spaced. Provide title including 
department, education, research and teaching experience, major 
publications, awards, etc. Suggested maximum length: 20 pages, 40 
resumes.
    (f) Adequacy of resources. (up to 10 points)
    In determining the adequacy of resources for the proposed project, 
the Secretary considers--
    (1) The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to the 
objectives, design, and potential significance of the proposed project.
    (2) 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 20 points)
    In determining the quality of the evaluation, the Secretary 
considers the following factors:
    (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 are appropriate 
to the context within which the project operates.
    (3) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide 
timely guidance for quality assurance.
    (4) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide 
performance feedback and permit periodic assessment of progress toward 
achieving intended outcomes.
    Note: Please carefully review the section on ``Guidance on 
Developing an Evaluation Plan'' in the application package for detailed 
instructions on how to address this criterion.
    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).
    3. Risk Assessment and Specific Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR 
200.206, before awarding grants under this program the Department 
conducts a review of the risks posed by applicants. Under 2 CFR 
200.208, the Secretary may impose specific conditions, and under 2 CFR 
3474.10 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 200.206(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.
    5. In General: In accordance with the Office of Management and 
Budget's guidance located at 2 CFR part 200, all applicable Federal 
laws, and relevant Executive guidance, the Department will review and 
consider applications for funding pursuant to this notice inviting 
applications in accordance with--
    (a) Selecting recipients most likely to be successful in delivering 
results based on the program objectives through an objective process of 
evaluating Federal award applications (2 CFR 200.205);
    (b) Prohibiting the purchase of certain telecommunication and video 
surveillance services or equipment in alignment with section 889 of the 
National Defense Authorization Act of 2019 (Pub. L. 115-232) (2 CFR 
200.216);
    (c) Providing a preference, to the extent permitted by law, to 
maximize use of goods, products, and materials

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produced in the United States (2 CFR 200.322); and
    (d) Terminating agreements in whole or in part to the greatest 
extent authorized by law if an award no longer effectuates the program 
goals or agency priorities (2 CFR 200.340).

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 
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 CIBE Program must be submitted 
electronically into the office of International and Foreign Language 
Education (IFLE) web-based reporting system, International Resource 
Information System (IRIS). For information about IRIS and to view the 
reporting instructions, please go to https://iris.ed.gov/iris/pdfs/CIBE.pdf.
    (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: For the purposes of the Government 
Performance and Results Act of 1993 and Department reporting under 34 
CFR 75.110, the following measures will be used by the Department to 
evaluate the success of the CIBE Program:
    (a) Percentage of CIBE Program participants who advanced in their 
professional field two years after their participation.
    (b) Percentage of CIBE projects that established or 
internationalized a concentration, degree, or professional program with 
a focus on or connection to international business over the course of 
the CIBE grant period. (long-term measure).
    (c) Percentage of CIBE projects for which there was an increase in 
the export business activities of the project's business industry 
participants.
    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/CIBE.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, whether 
the grantee has made substantial progress in achieving 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: On request to the program contact person listed 
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, individuals with disabilities 
can obtain this document and a copy of the application package in an 
accessible format. The Department will provide the requestor with an 
accessible format that may include Rich Text Format (RTF) or text 
format (txt), a thumb drive, an MP3 file, braille, large print, 
audiotape, or compact disc, or other accessible format.
    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 your search to documents published 
by the Department.

Michelle Asha Cooper,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2021-23784 Filed 10-29-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P