[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 80 (Tuesday, April 26, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24537-24542]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-08827]



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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Veterans Upward Bound 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) 2022 for the 
Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) Program, Assistance Listing Number 84.047V. 
This notice relates to the approved information collection under OMB 
control number 1840-0823.

DATES: 
    Applications Available: April 26, 2022.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 10, 2022.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: August 9, 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 December 27, 2021 (86 FR 73264) and available at 
www.federalregister.gov/d/2021-27979. Please note that these Common 
Instructions supersede the version published on February 13, 2019, and, 
in part, describe the transition from the requirement to register in 
SAM.gov a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number to the 
implementation of the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). More information 
on the phase-out of DUNS numbers is available at https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ofo/docs/unique-entity-identifier-transition-fact-sheet.pdf.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenneth Foushee, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 2C221, Washington, DC 20202-
4260. Telephone: (202) 453-7417. Email: [email protected] or Dana 
Foreman, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 
2C142, Washington, DC 20202-4260. Telephone: (202) 453-7396. Email: 
[email protected].
    If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability and 
wish to access telecommunications relay services, please dial 7-1-1.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The Upward Bound (UB) Program is one of the 
seven programs collectively known as the Federal TRIO Programs. The UB 
Program is a discretionary grant program that supports projects 
designed to provide students with the skills and motivation necessary 
to complete a program of secondary education and enter into and succeed 
in a program of postsecondary education. There are three types of 
grants under the UB Program: UB; VUB; and UB Math and Science. In this 
notice we invite applications for VUB grants only. The invitation to 
apply for UB grants was published in the Federal Register on December 
16, 2021, and is available at https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/12/16/2021-27235/applications-for-new-awards-upward-bound-program. We will invite applications for UB Math and Science 
grants in a separate notice.
    The VUB Program supports projects designed to prepare, motivate, 
and assist military veterans in the development of academic and other 
skills necessary for acceptance into and success in a program of 
postsecondary education.
    VUB grantees are required to provide the services listed in section 
402C(b) and (c) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA) 
(20 U.S.C. 1070a-13(b), (c)). Permissible services under the VUB 
Program are specified in section 402C(d) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1070a-
13(d)).
    Priorities: This notice contains three competitive preference 
priorities. Competitive Preference Priority 1 is from the Secretary's 
Notice of Administrative Priorities for Discretionary Grant Programs, 
published in the Federal Register on March 9, 2020 (85 FR 13640) 
(Administrative Priorities). Competitive Preference Priorities 2 and 3 
are from the Secretary's Supplemental Priorities and Definitions for 
Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal Register on 
December 10, 2021 (86 FR 70612) (Supplemental Priorities).
    Note: Applicants must include in the one-page abstract submitted 
with the application an indication of which, if any, competitive 
preference priorities are addressed. If the applicant has addressed one 
or more of the competitive preference priorities, this information must 
also be listed on the VUB Program Profile Form.
    Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2022 and any subsequent 
year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from 
this competition, these priorities are competitive preference 
priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we award up to an additional 
nine points to an application, depending on how well the application 
meets the priorities.
    These priorities are:
    Competitive Preference Priority 1: Applications that Demonstrate a 
Rationale (Up to 3 points).
    Under this priority, an applicant proposes a project that 
demonstrates a rationale (as defined in this notice).
    Note: A list of evidence-based practices that are relevant to the 
VUB Program is available at https://www2.ed.gov/programs/triovub/applicant.html. This list is not exhaustive. Additional information 
regarding What Works Clearinghouse practice guides and intervention 
reports that could also be relevant is posted on the Department's 
website at www.ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc.
    Competitive Preference Priority 2: Meeting Student Social, 
Emotional, and Academic Needs (Up to 3 points).
    Projects that are designed to improve students' social, emotional, 
academic, and career development, with a focus on underserved students, 
through the following priority areas:
    (a) Developing and supporting educator and school capacity to 
support social and emotional learning and development that is trauma-
informed, such as addressing exposure to community-based violence and 
trauma specific to military- or veteran-connected students (as defined 
in this notice); and
    (b) Creating education or work-based settings that are supportive, 
positive, identify-safe and inclusive with regard to race, ethnicity, 
culture, language, and disability status, through developing trusting 
relationships between students (including underserved students), 
educators, families, and community partners.
    Note: Because the VUB Program supports students and not the 
professional development of educators, applicants should address 
supports for students only.
    Competitive Preference Priority 3: Strengthening Cross-Agency 
Coordination and Community Engagement to Advance Systemic Change (Up to 
3 points).
    Projects that are designed to take a systemic evidence-based 
approach to improving outcomes for underserved students by establishing 
cross-agency partnerships, or community-based partnerships with local 
nonprofit organizations, businesses, philanthropic organizations, or 
others, to meet family well-being needs.
    Definitions: The definitions below are from 34 CFR 77.1, the 
Supplemental Priorities, and the UB regulations at 34 CFR 645.6.

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    Demonstrates a rationale means a key project component included in 
the project's logic model is informed by research or evaluation 
findings that suggest the project component is likely to improve 
relevant outcomes.
    Evidence-based means the proposed project component is supported by 
evidence that demonstrates a rationale.
    Logic model (also referred to as theory of action) means a 
framework that identifies key components of the proposed project, 
product (i.e., the active ``ingredients'' that are hypothesized to be 
critical to achieving the relevant outcomes) and describes the 
theoretical and operational relationships among the key project 
components and relevant outcomes.
    Note: In developing logic models, applicants may want to use 
resources such as the Regional Educational Laboratory Program's (REL 
Pacific) Education Logic Model Application, available at https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/pacific/elm.asp. Other sources include: 
https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/pacific/pdf/REL_2014025.pdf, 
https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/pacific/pdf/REL_2014007.pdf, and 
https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/northeast/pdf/REL_2015057.pdf.
    Military- or veteran-connected student means a student who is a 
member of the uniformed services, a veteran of the uniformed services, 
or the spouse of a service member or veteran.\1\
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    \1\ In accordance with the VUB regulations, ``military- and 
veteran-connected student'' is limited to those who qualify as 
``veterans'' under 34 CFR 645.6(b), namely ``a person who--
    (1) Served on active duty as a member of the Armed Forces of the 
United States for a period of more than 180 days and was discharged 
or released under conditions other than dishonorable;
    (2) Served on active duty as a member of the Armed Forces of the 
United States and was discharged or released because of a service 
connected disability;
    (3) Was a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces of 
the United States and was called to active duty for a period of more 
than 30 days; or
    (4) Was a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces of 
the United States who served on active duty in support of a 
contingency operation (as that term is defined in section 101(a)(13) 
of title 10, United States Code) on or after September 11, 2001.''
    34 CFR 645.6(b).
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    Project component means an activity, strategy, intervention, 
process, product, practice, or policy included in a project. Evidence 
may pertain to an individual project component or to a combination of 
project components (e.g., training teachers on instructional practices 
for English learners and follow-on coaching for these teachers).
    Relevant outcome means the student outcome(s) or other outcome(s) 
the key project component is designed to improve, consistent with the 
specific goals of the program.
    Underserved student means a student in one or more of the following 
subgroups:
    (a) A student who is living in poverty or is served by schools with 
high concentrations of students living in poverty.
    (b) A student experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity.
    (c) A student who is the first in their family to attend 
postsecondary education.
    (d) A student who is enrolled in or is seeking to enroll in 
postsecondary education who is eligible for a Pell Grant.
    Application Requirements: The following application requirements 
for FY 2022 are from section 402C(e) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1070a-13(e)) 
and the program regulations at 34 CFR 645.21.
    An applicant must submit the following, as part of the 
application--
    (1) Not less than two-thirds of the project's participants will be 
low-income individuals who are potential first- generation college 
students;
    (2) The remaining participants will be low-income individuals, 
potential first-generation college students, or veterans who have a 
high risk for academic failure; and
    (3) The project will collaborate with other Federal TRIO projects 
or programs serving similar populations in the target area in order to 
minimize the duplication of services and promote collaborations so that 
more students can be served.
    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070a-11 and 1070a-13.
    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 (EDGAR) 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 regulations for this program in 
34 CFR part 645. (e) The Administrative Priorities. (f) The 
Supplemental Priorities.
    Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of 
higher education only.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: The Administration received 
$1,137,000,000 for the Federal TRIO Programs for FY 2022, of which we 
intend to use an estimated $19,288,880 for the VUB Program.
    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: $287,537-$460,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $373,768.
    Maximum Award: The maximum award varies based on whether the 
applicant is currently receiving a VUB Program grant, as well as the 
number of participants served.
     For an applicant that is not currently receiving a VUB 
Program grant, the maximum award amount is $287,537, based upon a per-
participant cost of no more than $2,300 and a minimum of 125 
participants.
     For an applicant that is currently receiving a VUB Program 
grant, the maximum award amount is equal to the applicant's base award 
amount for FY 2021, and the minimum number of participants is the 
number of participants in the project's FY 2021 grant award 
notification.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 60.
    Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.
    Project Period: Up to 60 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: Institutions of higher education; public 
and private agencies; organizations, including community-based 
organizations with experience in serving disadvantaged youth; secondary 
schools; and combinations of such institutions, agencies, and 
organizations.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This competition does not require cost 
sharing or matching.
    3. Indirect Cost Rate Information: This program uses a training 
indirect cost rate. This limits indirect cost reimbursement to an 
entity's actual indirect costs, as determined in its negotiated 
indirect cost rate agreement, or eight percent of a modified total 
direct cost base, whichever amount is less. For more information 
regarding

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training indirect cost rates, see 34 CFR 75.562. For more information 
regarding indirect costs, or to obtain a negotiated indirect cost rate, 
please see www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocfo/intro.html.
    4. 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.
    5. Subgrantees: A grantee under this competition may not award 
subgrants to entities to directly carry out project activities 
described in its application.
    6. Other: An applicant may submit more than one application for a 
VUB Program grant so long as each application describes a project that 
serves a different target area (34 CFR 645.20(a)). The Secretary is not 
designating any additional populations for which an applicant may 
submit a separate application under this competition (34 CFR 645.20 
(b)). The term ``target area'' is defined as a discrete local or 
regional geographical area served by a project (34 CFR 645.6(b)).

IV. Application 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 December 27, 2021 (86 FR 73264) and available at 
www.federalregister.gov/d/2021-27979, which contain requirements and 
information on how to submit an application. Please note that these 
Common Instructions supersede the version published on February 13, 
2019, and, in part, describe the transition from the requirement to 
register in SAM.gov a DUNS number to the implementation of the UEI. 
More information on the phase-out of DUNS numbers is available at 
https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ofo/docs/unique-entity-identifier-transition-fact-sheet.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 
645.41. We reference additional 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, which includes the budget narrative, to no more 
than 65 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, excluding titles, headings, 
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions as well as all text in 
charts, tables, figures, and graphs, which may be single-spaced.
     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. However, the 
recommended page limit does apply to all of the application narrative. 
We recommend that any application addressing the competitive preference 
priorities include no more than three additional pages for each 
priority, for a total of up to nine additional pages for the 
competitive preference priorities if the three competitive preference 
priorities are addressed.

V. Application Review Information

    1. Selection Criteria: The following selection criteria are from 34 
CFR 645.31.
    We will award up to 100 points to an application under the 
selection criteria and up to 9 additional points to an application 
under the competitive preference priorities, for a total score of up to 
109 points. The maximum number of points available for each criterion 
is indicated in parentheses.
    (a) Need for the project. (Up to 24 points). The Secretary 
evaluates the need for a VUB project in the proposed target area on the 
basis of clear evidence that shows--
    (i) The proposed target area lacks the services for eligible 
veterans that the applicant proposes to provide; (Up to 6 points)
    (ii) A large number of veterans who reside in the target area are 
low income and potential first-generation college students; (Up to 6 
points)
    (iii) A large number of veterans who reside in the target area who 
have not completed high school, or have completed high school but have 
not enrolled in a program of postsecondary education; (Up to 6 points) 
and
    (iv) Other indicators of need for a VUB project, including the 
presence of unaddressed academic or socio-economic problems of veterans 
in the area. (Up to 6 points)
    (b) Objectives. (Up to 9 points). The Secretary evaluates the 
quality of the applicant's objectives and proposed targets 
(percentages) in the following areas on the basis of the extent to 
which they are both ambitious, as related to the need data provided 
under selection criterion (a), and attainable, given the project's plan 
of operation, budget, and other resources:
    (i) Academic performance (standardized test scores) (2 points);
    (ii) Education program retention and completion (3 points);
    (iii) Postsecondary enrollment (3 points); and
    (iv) Postsecondary completion (1 point).
    (c) Plan of operation. (Up to 30 points). The Secretary determines 
the quality of the applicant's plan of operation by assessing the 
quality of--
    (1) The plan to inform the faculty and staff at the applicant 
institution or agency and the interested individuals and organizations 
throughout the target area of the goals and objectives of the project 
(Up to 3 points);
    (2) The plan for identifying, recruiting, and selecting 
participants to be served by the project (Up to 3 points);
    (3) The plan for assessing individual participant needs and for 
monitoring the academic progress of participants while they are in VUB 
(Up to 3 points);
    (4) The plan for locating the project within the applicant's 
organizational structure (Up to 3 points);
    (5) The curriculum, services and activities that are planned for 
participants in both the academic year and summer components (Up to 3 
points);
    (6) The planned timelines for accomplishing critical elements of 
the project (Up to 3 points);
    (7) The plan to ensure effective and efficient administration of 
the project, including, but not limited to, financial management, 
student records management, and personnel management (Up to 3 points);
    (8) The applicant's plan to use its resources and personnel to 
achieve project objectives and to coordinate the VUB project with other 
projects for disadvantaged students (Up to 3 points);

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    (9) The plan to work cooperatively with parents and key 
administrative, teaching, and counseling personnel at the target 
schools to achieve project objectives (Up to 3 points); and
    (10) A follow-up plan for tracking graduates of VUB as they enter 
and continue in postsecondary education (Up to 3 points).
    (d) Applicant and community support. (Up to 16 points). The 
Secretary evaluates the applicant and community support for the 
proposed project on the basis of the extent to which--
    (1) The applicant is committed to supplementing the project with 
resources that enhance the project such as: Space, furniture and 
equipment, supplies, and the time and effort of personnel other than 
those employed in the project (Up to 8 points).
    (2) Resources secured through written commitments from community 
partners (Up to 8 points).
    (i) An applicant that is an institution of higher education must 
include in its application commitments from the target schools and 
community organizations;
    (ii) An applicant that is a secondary school must include in its 
application commitments from institutions of higher education, 
community organizations, and, as appropriate, other secondary schools 
and the school district;
    (iii) An applicant that is a community organization must include in 
its application commitments from the target schools and institutions of 
higher education.
    (e) Quality of personnel. (Up to 8 points). To determine the 
quality of personnel the applicant plans to use, the Secretary looks 
for information that shows--
    (1) The qualifications required of the project director, including 
formal training or work experience in fields related to the objectives 
of the project and experience in designing, managing, or implementing 
similar projects (Up to 3 points);
    (2) The qualifications required of each of the other personnel to 
be used in the project, including formal training or work experience in 
fields related to the objectives of the project (Up to 3 points); and
    (3) The quality of the applicant's plan for employing personnel who 
have succeeded in overcoming barriers similar to those confronting the 
project's target population (Up to 2 points).
    (f) Budget and cost effectiveness. (Up to 5 points). The Secretary 
reviews each application to determine the extent to which--
    (1) The budget for the project is adequate to support planned 
project services and activities (Up to 3 points); and
    (2) Costs are reasonable in relation to the objectives and scope of 
the project (Up to 2 points).
    (g) Evaluation plan. (Up to 8 points). The Secretary evaluates the 
quality of the evaluation plan for the project on the basis of the 
extent to which the applicant's methods of evaluation--
    (1) Are appropriate to the project and include both quantitative 
and qualitative evaluation measures (Up to 4 points); and
    (2) Examine in specific and measurable ways the success of the 
project in making progress toward achieving its process and outcomes 
objectives (Up to 4 points).
    2. Review and Selection Process: We remind potential applicants 
that in reviewing applications in any discretionary grant competition, 
the Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.217(d)(3), the past 
performance of the applicant in carrying out a previous award, such as 
the applicant's use of funds, achievement of project objectives, and 
compliance with grant conditions. The Secretary may also consider 
whether the applicant failed to submit a timely performance report or 
submitted a report of unacceptable quality.
    In addition, in making a competitive grant award, the Secretary 
requires various assurances including those applicable to Federal civil 
rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities 
receiving Federal assistance from the Department of Education (34 CFR 
100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
    For this competition, a panel of non-Federal reviewers will review 
each application in accordance with the selection criteria in 34 CFR 
645.31. The individual scores of the reviewers will be added and the 
sum divided by the number of reviewers to determine the average peer 
reviewer score received in the review process. Additionally, in 
accordance with 34 CFR 645.32, the Secretary will award prior 
experience points to applicants that conducted a VUB Program project 
during budget periods 2017-18, 2018-2019, 2019-20, and 2020-21, based 
on their documented experience. Prior experience points, if any, will 
be added to the application's averaged reader score to determine the 
total score for each application.
    If there are insufficient funds for all applications with the same 
total scores, the Secretary will choose among the tied applications so 
as to serve geographic areas in which there is a significant 
concentration of veterans, that have been underserved by the VUB 
program, in accordance with 34 CFR 645.30(c) and the following 
procedures. The Secretary will identify and recommend an award for--
     First, applicants in the funding band that are located 
within a Congressional District (a) that did not have a VUB project 
during the prior grant cycle and (b) that have the highest percentage 
of veterans among the general population of their district. If this 
first tie-breaker provision exhausts available funds, then no further 
action is taken.
     Second, the remaining applicants in the funding band that 
have the highest percentage of veterans among the general population of 
their district.
    Note: In applying the tie-breaker criteria, the Department will use 
the most current data available. With respect to Congressional 
Districts and percentages of veterans among the general population 
within Congressional Districts, the most recent available data from the 
National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics Veterans 
Population Tables for Congressional Districts is for the 116th 
Congress. Therefore, the geographical boundaries used for the tie-
breaker are drawn from the 116th Congress.
    3. Risk Assessment and Special 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 special 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)),

[[Page 24541]]

accessible through the System for Award Management (SAM). You may 
review and comment on any information about yourself that a Federal 
agency previously entered and that is currently in FAPIIS.
    Please note that, if the total value of your currently active 
grants, cooperative agreements, and procurement contracts from the 
Federal Government exceeds $10,000,000, the reporting requirements in 2 
CFR part 200, Appendix XII, require you to report certain integrity 
information to FAPIIS semiannually. Please review the requirements in 2 
CFR part 200, Appendix XII, if this grant plus all the other Federal 
funds you receive exceed $10,000,000.
    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 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.
    5. Performance Measures: The success of the VUB Program will be 
measured by the percentage of VUB participants who enroll in and 
complete a postsecondary education program. The following performance 
measures have been developed to track progress toward achieving program 
success:
    (a) The percentage of VUB participants who enrolled in a program of 
postsecondary education;
    (b) The percentage of former VUB participants who enrolled in a 
program of postsecondary education and who attained either an 
associate's degree within three years or a bachelor's degree within six 
years;
    (c) The percentage of former VUB participants who enrolled in a 
program of postsecondary education and who in the first year of the 
program placed into college-level math and English without the need for 
remediation; and
    (d) The percentage of former VUB participants who enrolled in a 
program of postsecondary education and graduated on time--within four 
years for a bachelor's degree and within two years for an associate's 
degree.
    All VUB Program grantees will be required to submit APRs.
    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

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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 the Office of Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2022-08827 Filed 4-25-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P