[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 90 (Tuesday, May 10, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27994-27999]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-10001]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Native American-Serving Nontribal 
Institutions 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 
Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions (NASNTI) Program, 
Assistance Listing Number 84.031X. This notice relates to the approved 
information collection under OMB control number 1840-0816.

DATES: 
    Applications Available: May 10, 2022.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 11, 2022.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: September 7, 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: Don Crews, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 2B110, Washington, DC 20202-
4260. Telephone: (202) 453-7920. 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 NASNTI Program provides grants to eligible 
institutions of higher education (IHEs) to enable them to improve and 
expand their capacity to serve Native Americans and low-income 
individuals. Institutions may use the grants to plan, develop, 
undertake, and carry out activities to improve and expand their 
capacity to serve Native American and low-income students.
    Background: Students' sense of belonging impacts postsecondary 
retention.\1\ Creating that sense of belonging begins with ensuring the 
institution's ability to serve students well. Research shows that 
implementing intrusive advising practices \2\ and other proactive 
strategies to directly support underserved students can lead to 
successful outcomes. Such proactive practices may be increasingly 
important as institutions reengage postsecondary students following 
enrollment decreases due to COVID-19.
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    \1\ Davis, G.M., Hanzsek-Brill, M.B., Petzold, M.C., and 
Robinson, D.H., ``Students' Sense of Belonging: The Development of a 
Predictive Retention Model.'' Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching 
and Learning, vol. 19, no. 1, pp. 117-27 (Feb. 2019).
    \2\ Museus, S.D., Ravello, J.N., ``Characteristics of Academic 
Advising That Contribute to Racial and Ethnic Minority Student 
Success at Predominantly White Institutions.'' NACADA Journal, vol. 
41, no. 1, pp. 13-25 (2021). https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1300278.pdf.
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    Proactive practices alone may not be sufficient to retain students 
who suffer from financial hardship, however. Data have shown that 
higher education opportunity and outcomes are highly inequitable across 
family income groups.\3\ Therefore, implementing or expanding supports 
that provide students with financial literacy, paid internship 
placement, and other services that help to alleviate financial 
stressors further support student retention.
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    \3\ ``Indicators of Higher Education Equity in the United 
States: 2016 Historical Trend Report,'' The Pell Institute and 
PennAHEAD (Jan. 2016). https://firstgen.naspa.org/report/indicators-of-higher-education-equity-in-the-united-states-2016-historical-trend-report.
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    Through this grant program, the Department encourages Native 
American-serving nontribal institutions to develop, create, or enhance 
programs that foster students' sense of belonging and to implement 
services that will help students complete their degree programs. 
Through the competitive preference priorities for this grant 
competition, the Department invites applicants to submit proposals to 
provide high-quality learning, improve student engagement, and reduce 
the cost of obtaining a college degree for Native American and low-
income students. Although the most effective strategy to reduce the 
cost of attending college may vary across IHEs, we encourage applicants 
to consider strategies that reduce a student's need to incur debt to 
earn a degree, for example, by reducing the time to degree completion.
    Priorities: This notice contains two competitive preference 
priorities. The priorities are from the Secretary's Supplemental 
Priorities and Definitions for Discretionary Grants Programs, published 
in the Federal Register on December 10, 2021 (86 FR 70612) 
(Supplemental Priorities).
    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 5 
points to an application for each priority, depending on how well the 
application meets the priorities. Applicants may respond to one or both 
priorities, for a total of up to 10 additional points.
    These priorities are:
    Competitive Preference Priority 1: Meeting Student Social, 
Emotional, and Academic Needs (up to 5 points).
    Projects that are designed to improve students' social, emotional, 
academic, and career development, with a focus on underserved students 
(as defined in this notice), by creating a positive, inclusive, and 
identity-safe climate at IHEs through one or more of the following 
activities:
    (a) Fostering a sense of belonging and inclusion for underserved 
students.
    (b) Implementing evidence-based practices for advancing student 
success for underserved students.
    (c) Providing evidence-based professional development opportunities 
designed to build asset-based mindsets for faculty and staff on campus 
and that are inclusive with regard to race, ethnicity, culture, 
language, and disability status.

[[Page 27995]]

    Competitive Preference Priority 2: Increasing Postsecondary 
Education Access, Affordability, Completion, and Post-Enrollment 
Success (up to 5 points).
    Projects that are designed to increase postsecondary access, 
affordability, completion, and success for underserved students by 
addressing one or more of the following priority areas:
    (a) Increasing postsecondary education access and reducing the cost 
of college by creating clearer pathways for students between 
institutions and making transfer of course credits more seamless and 
transparent.
    (b) Increasing the number and proportion of underserved students 
who enroll in and complete postsecondary education programs, which may 
include strategies related to college preparation, awareness, 
application, selection, advising, counseling, and enrollment.
    (c) Reducing the net price or debt-to-earnings ratio for 
underserved students who enroll in or complete college, other 
postsecondary education, or career and technical education programs.
    (d) Supporting the development and implementation of student 
success programs that integrate multiple comprehensive and evidence-
based services or initiatives, such as academic advising, structured/
guided pathways, career services, credit-bearing academic undergraduate 
courses focused on career, and programs to meet basic needs, such as 
housing, childcare and transportation, student financial aid, and 
access to technological devices.
    Note: Applicants must include in the one-page abstract submitted 
with the application a statement indicating that they are addressing 
one or both competitive preference priorities. If the applicant has 
addressed one or both competitive preference priorities, this 
information also must be listed on the NASNTI Program Profile form in 
the application booklet.
    Definitions: The definitions below are from 34 CFR 77.1, 20 U.S.C. 
1059f, and the Supplemental Priorities.
    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.
    Department means the U.S. Department of Education.
    Fiscal Year means the Federal fiscal year--a period beginning on 
October 1 and ending on the following September 30.
    Grantee means the legal entity to which a grant is awarded and that 
is accountable to the Federal Government for the use of the funds 
provided. The grantee is the entire legal entity even if only a 
particular component of the entity is designated in the grant award 
notice (GAN). For example, a GAN may name as the grantee one school or 
campus of a university. In this case, the granting agency usually 
intends, or actually intends, that the named component assume primary 
or sole responsibility for administering the grant-assisted project or 
program. Nevertheless, the naming of a component of a legal entity as 
the grantee in a grant award document shall not be construed as 
relieving the whole legal entity from accountability to the Federal 
Government for the use of the funds provided. (This definition is not 
intended to affect the eligibility provision of grant programs in which 
eligibility is limited to organizations that may be only components of 
a legal entity.) The term ``grantee'' does not include any secondary 
recipients, such as subgrantees and contractors, that may receive funds 
from a grantee pursuant to a subgrant or contract.
    Logic model (also referred to as a theory of action) means a 
framework that identifies key project components of the proposed 
project (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.
    Native American means an individual who is of a tribe, people, or 
culture that is indigenous to the United States.
    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 postsecondary education or 
career and technical education, and adult learners, as appropriate, in 
one or both of the following subgroups:
    (a) A student who is living in poverty.
    (b) A student who is a member of a federally recognized Indian 
Tribe.\4\
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    \4\ The NASNTI Program serves Native American and low-income 
students. For the subgroup of ``underserved students'' described in 
paragraph (b) of this definition, for the purpose of this program, 
we refer to those students who are Native American, as defined in 20 
U.S.C. 1059f.
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    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1059f (title III, part A of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA)).
    Note: In 2008, the HEA was amended by the Higher Education 
Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA), Public Law 110-315. Please note that 
the regulations in 34 CFR part 607 have not been updated to reflect 
these statutory changes.
    Note: Projects will be awarded and must be operated in a manner 
consistent with the nondiscrimination requirements contained in the 
Federal civil rights laws.
    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 regulations for this program in 34 CFR part 607. (e) 
The Supplemental Priorities.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants. Five-year Individual 
Development Grants and Cooperative Arrangement Development Grants will 
be awarded in FY 2022.
    Note: A cooperative arrangement is an arrangement to carry out 
allowable grant activities between an institution eligible to receive a 
grant under this part and another eligible or ineligible IHE, under 
which the resources of the cooperating institutions are combined and 
shared to better achieve the purposes of this part and avoid costly 
duplication of effort.
    Estimated Available Funds: $3,200,000.
    Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of 
applications, we may make additional awards in subsequent years from 
the list of

[[Page 27996]]

unfunded applications from this competition.
    Individual Development Grants:
    Estimated Range of Awards: $250,000-$350,000 per year.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $300,000 per year.
    Maximum Award: We will not make an award exceeding $350,000 for a 
single budget period of 12 months.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 6.
    Cooperative Arrangement Development Grants:
    Estimated Range of Awards: $400,000-$550,000 per year.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $475,000 per year.
    Maximum Award: We will not make an award exceeding $550,000 for a 
single budget period of 12 months.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 2.
    Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.
    Project Period: Up to 60 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: This program is authorized by title III, 
part A, of the HEA. At the time of submission of their applications, 
applicants must certify their total undergraduate headcount enrollment 
and that not less than 10 percent of the IHE's enrollment is Native 
American. An official for the applicant must execute and submit an 
assurance form, which is included in the application materials for this 
competition.
    To qualify as an eligible institution under the NASNTI Program, an 
institution must--
    (i) Be accredited or preaccredited by a nationally recognized 
accrediting agency or association that the Secretary has determined to 
be a reliable authority as to the quality of education or training 
offered;
    (ii) Be legally authorized by the State in which it is located to 
be a junior or community college or to provide an educational program 
for which it awards a bachelor's degree;
    (iii) Be designated as an ``eligible institution,'' by 
demonstrating that it: (1) Has an enrollment of needy students as 
described in 34 CFR 607.3; and (2) has low average education and 
general expenditures per full-time equivalent (FTE) undergraduate 
student as described in 34 CFR 607.4.
    Note: The notice announcing the FY 2022 process for designation of 
eligible institutions, and inviting applications for waiver of 
eligibility requirements, was published in the Federal Register on 
December 16, 2021 (86 FR 71470). The Department reopened the process 
for applications in a notice published in the Federal Register on 
February 7, 2022 (87 FR 6855). Only institutions that the Department 
determines are eligible, or which are granted a waiver under the 
process described in that notice, may apply for a grant in this 
program.
    An eligible IHE that submits applications for an Individual 
Development Grant and a Cooperative Arrangement Development Grant in 
this competition may be awarded both in the same fiscal year. A grantee 
with an Individual Development Grant or a Cooperative Arrangement 
Development Grant may be a partner in one or more Cooperative 
Arrangement Development Grants. The lead institution in a Cooperative 
Arrangement Development Grant must be an eligible institution. Partners 
are not required to be eligible institutions. Tribally Controlled 
Colleges and Universities, as authorized by title III of the HEA, may 
participate in more than one Cooperative Arrangement Development Grant 
as a partner.

Relationship Between the Title III, Part A Programs and the Developing 
Hispanic-Serving Institutions (DHSI) Program

    A grantee under the DHSI program, which is authorized under title V 
of the HEA, may not receive a grant under any HEA, title III, part A 
program. The title III, part A programs are: Strengthening Institutions 
Program; the Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities Program; the 
Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions Program; the 
Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving 
Institutions Program; and the NASNTI Program. Furthermore, a current 
DHSI program grantee may not give up its HSI grant to receive a grant 
under any title III, part A program as described in 34 CFR 607.2(g)(1).
    An eligible HSI that is not a current grantee under the DHSI 
program may apply for a FY 2022 grant under all title III, part A 
programs for which it is eligible, as well as receive consideration for 
a grant under the DHSI program. However, a successful applicant may 
receive only one grant as described in 34 CFR 607.2(g)(1).
    2. a. Cost Sharing or Matching: This competition does not require 
cost sharing or matching unless the grantee uses a portion of its grant 
for establishing or improving an endowment fund. If a grantee uses a 
portion of its grant for endowment fund purposes, it must match those 
grant funds with non-Federal funds (20 U.S.C. 1057(d)(1)-(2)).
    b. Supplement-Not-Supplant: This program involves supplement-not-
supplant funding requirements. Grant funds must be used so that they 
supplement and, to the extent practical, increase the funds that would 
otherwise be available for the activities to be carried out under the 
grant and in no case supplant those funds (34 CFR 607.30(b)).
    c. Indirect Cost Rate Information: A grantee may not use an 
indirect cost rate to determine allowable cost under its grant (34 CFR 
607.30(c)).
    d. 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: 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 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 
607.10(c). 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)

[[Page 27997]]

limit the application narrative to no more than 55 pages for Individual 
Development Grants and no more than 75 pages for Cooperative 
Arrangement Development Grants and (2) use the standards below. If you 
are addressing one or both competitive preference priorities, we 
recommend that you limit your response to no more than an additional 10 
pages total, four additional pages for Competitive Preference Priority 
1 and six additional pages for Competitive Preference Priority 2. 
Please include a separate heading when responding to one or both 
competitive preference priorities.
     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 following 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. (Up to 15 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. (5 points)
    (2) The extent to which the proposed project will focus on serving 
or otherwise addressing the needs of disadvantaged individuals. (5 
points)
    (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. (5 points)
    (b) Quality of the project design. (Up to 25 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. 
(10 points)
    (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. (5 points)
    (3) The extent to which the proposed project demonstrates a 
rationale (as defined in this notice). (10 points)
    (c) Quality of project services. (Up to 10 points) The Secretary 
considers the quality of the services to be provided by the proposed 
project.
    (1) 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. (4 points)
    (2) In addition, the Secretary considers:
    (i) 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. (4 points)
    (ii) The extent to which the services to be provided by the 
proposed project reflect up-to-date knowledge from research and 
effective practice. (2 points)
    (d) Quality of project personnel. (Up to 20 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. (9 points)
    (2) In addition, the Secretary considers:
    (i) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of the project director or principal investigator. (3 points)
    (ii) The qualifications, including relevant training and 
experience, of key project personnel. (8 points)
    (e) Adequacy of resources. (Up to 5 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 extent to which the budget is adequate to support the 
proposed project. (3 points)
    (2) The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to the 
objectives, design, and potential significance of the proposed project. 
(2 points)
    (f) Quality of the management plan. (Up to 15 points) The Secretary 
considers the quality of the management plan for the proposed project. 
In determining the quality of the management plan for the proposed 
project, the Secretary considers:
    (1) 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. (8 points)
    (2) The adequacy of procedures for ensuring feedback and continuous 
improvement in the operation of the proposed project. (2 points)
    (3) The adequacy of mechanisms for ensuring high-quality products 
and services from the proposed project. (5 points)
    (g) Quality of the project evaluation. (Up to 10 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. (5 points)
    (2) The extent to which the methods of evaluation include the use 
of objective performance measures that are clearly related to the 
intended outcomes of the project and will produce quantitative and 
qualitative data to the extent possible. (5 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

[[Page 27998]]

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).
    A panel of three 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 average score received from the peer review 
and from the competitive preference priority, if addressed by the 
applicant.
    In tie-breaking situations for development grants, under 34 CFR 
607.23(b), we award one additional point to an application from an IHE 
that has an endowment fund of which the current market value, per FTE 
enrolled student, is less than the average current market value of the 
endowment funds, per FTE enrolled student, at comparable type 
institutions that offer similar instruction. We award one additional 
point to an application from an IHE that has expenditures for library 
materials per FTE enrolled student that are less than the average 
expenditure for library materials per FTE enrolled student at similar 
type institutions. We also add one additional point to an application 
from an IHE that proposes to carry out one or more of the following 
activities:
    (1) Faculty development.
    (2) Funds and administrative management.
    (3) Development and improvement of academic programs.
    (4) Acquisition of equipment for use in strengthening
    management and academic programs.
    (5) Joint use of facilities.
    (6) Student services.
    For the purpose of these funding considerations, we use 2019-2020 
data.
    If a tie remains after applying the tie-breaker mechanism above, 
priority will be given to applicants that have the lowest endowment 
values per FTE enrolled student.
    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 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

[[Page 27999]]

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 Secretary has established the 
following key performance measures for assessing the effectiveness of 
NASNTI:
    (a) The percentage of first-time, full-time degree-seeking 
undergraduate students at 4-year NASNTIs who were in their first year 
of postsecondary enrollment in the previous year and are enrolled in 
the current year at the same NASNTI;
    (b) The percentage of first-time, full-time degree-seeking 
undergraduate students at 2-year NASNTIs who were in their first year 
of postsecondary enrollment in the previous year and are enrolled in 
the current year at the same NASNTI;
    (c) The percentage of first-time, full-time degree-seeking 
undergraduate students enrolled at 4-year NASNTIs who graduate within 6 
years of enrollment; and
    (d) The percentage of first-time, full-time degree-seeking 
undergraduate students enrolled at 2-year NASNTIs who graduate within 3 
years of enrollment.
    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 the Office of Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2022-10001 Filed 5-9-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P