[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 226 (Monday, November 27, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 82860-82863]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-26008]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Applications for New Awards; Education Research and Development
Center Program
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) 2024 for the
Education Research and Development Center Program, Assistance Listing
Number (ALN) 84.305C. This notice relates to the approved information
collection under OMB control number 4040-0001.
DATES: The dates when applications are available and the deadlines for
transmittal of applications invited under this notice are indicated in
the chart at the end of this notice and in the Request for Applications
(RFA) that is posted at the following website: https://ies.ed.gov/funding.
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 7, 2022 (87 FR 75045) and available at
www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/12/07/2022-26554/common-instructions-for-applicants-to-department-of-education-discretionary-grant-programs. Please note that these Common Instructions supersede
the version published on December 27, 2021.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The contact person associated with a
particular research competition is listed in the chart at the end of
this notice, as well as in the relevant RFA and application package.
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: In awarding the grants, the Institute of
Education Sciences (IES) intends to provide national leadership in
expanding knowledge and understanding of (1) education outcomes for all
learners from early childhood education through postsecondary and adult
education, and
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(2) employment and wage outcomes when relevant (such as for those
engaged in career and technical, postsecondary, or adult education).
IES research grant programs are designed to provide interested
individuals and the general public with reliable and valid information
about education practices that support learning and improve academic
achievement and access to education opportunities for all learners.
These interested individuals include parents, educators, learners,
researchers, and policymakers. In carrying out its grant programs, IES
provides support for programs of research in areas of demonstrated
national need.
Competition in This Notice: The IES National Center for Education
Research (NCER) is announcing one competition: the education research
and development center program.
The Education Research and Development Center Program (ALN
84.305C). Under this competition, NCER will consider only applications
that address one of the following topics:
Improving Rural Education.
Using Generative Artificial Intelligence to Augment
Teaching and Learning in Classrooms.
K-12 Teacher Recruitment and Retention Policy.
Improving Outcomes in Elementary Science Education.
IES intends to fund four centers, each focused on one of the
topics, subject to receiving applications of sufficient quality. The
Education Research and Development Center for Improving Outcomes in
Elementary Science Education will be supported in part with funding
provided by the National Science Foundation's STEM Education
Directorate.
Exemption from Proposed Rulemaking: Under section 191 of the
Education Sciences Reform Act, 20 U.S.C. 9581, IES is not subject to
section 437(d) of the General Education Provisions Act, 20 U.S.C.
1232(d), and is therefore not required to offer interested parties the
opportunity to comment on matters relating to grants.
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 9501 et seq., 42 U.S.C. 1861 et seq.
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 77, 81, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98,
and 99. In addition, the regulations in 34 CFR part 75 are applicable,
except for the provisions in 34 CFR 75.100, 75.101(b), 75.102, 75.103,
75.105, 75.109(a), 75.200, 75.201, 75.209, 75.210, 75.211, 75.217(a)-
(c), 75.219, 75.220, 75.221, 75.222, 75.230, and 75.250(a). (b) The
Office of Management and Budget Guidelines to Agencies on
Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR part
180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR
part 3485. (c) The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost
Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part
200, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR
part 3474.
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of
higher education only.
Note: The open licensing requirement in 2 CFR 3474.20 does not
apply to these competitions.
II. Award Information
Types of Awards: Cooperative agreements.
Fiscal Information: Although Congress has not yet enacted an
appropriation for FY 2024, IES is inviting applications for this
competition now so that applicants can have adequate time to prepare
their applications. The actual level of funding, if any, depends on
final congressional action. 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. IES may announce additional competitions later in FY 2024.
Estimated Range of Awards: See chart at the end of this notice. The
size of the awards will depend on the scope of the projects proposed.
Estimated Number of Awards: We intend to fund not more than one
grant under each of the four topics. However, the number of awards made
under this competition will depend on the quality of the applications
received for each topic in the competition and the availability of
funds; and, in the special case that the peer review process results in
a tie between two or more grant applications, making it impossible to
adhere to that limit without funding only some of the equally ranked
applications, IES may make a larger number of awards to include all
applications of the same rank.
Maximum Award: The maximum award amount for each topic area in this
competition is set out in the RFA. Three of the four centers will have
maximum awards of $10,000,000. The fourth center, co-funded with the
National Science Foundation (NSF), will have a maximum award of
$15,000,000. Applications must include budgets no higher than the
relevant maximum award. IES will not make an award exceeding the
maximum award amount.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.
Project Period: The project period for each Education Research and
Development Center is 5 years. This information is also included in the
chart at the end of this notice.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: Applicants that have the ability and
capacity to conduct rigorous research are eligible to apply. Eligible
applicants include, but are not limited to, nonprofit and for-profit
organizations and public and private agencies and institutions of
higher education, such as colleges and universities.
2. a. Cost Sharing or Matching: These programs do not require cost
sharing or matching.
b. Indirect Cost Rate Information: This program uses an
unrestricted indirect cost rate. 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.
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: nonprofit and for-profit organizations and public and private
agencies and institutions of higher education. The grantee may award
subgrants to entities it has identified in an approved 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 7, 2022 (87 FR 75045) and available at https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/12/07/2022-26554/common-instructions-for-applicants-to-department-of-education-discretionary-grant-programs, which contain requirements and information on how to
submit an application. Please note that these Common Instructions
supersede the version published on December 27, 2021.
2. Other Information: Information regarding program and application
requirements for the competition is in the IES Application Submission
Guide (currently available) and in the NCER
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RFA (to be posted) on the IES website at: https://ies.ed.gov/funding/.
The date on which the application package for this competition will be
available is indicated in the chart at the end of this notice.
3. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements
concerning the content of an application are contained in the RFA for
this competition. The forms that must be submitted are in the
application package for the specific competition.
4. Submission Dates and Times: The deadline date for transmittal of
applications for this competition is indicated in the chart at the end
of this notice and in the RFA for the competition.
We do not consider an application that does not comply with the
deadline requirements.
5. Intergovernmental Review: This competition is not subject to
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79.
6. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
V. Application Review Information
1. Selection Criteria: For all its grant competitions, IES uses
selection criteria based on a peer review process that has been
approved by the National Board for Education Sciences. The Peer Review
Procedures for Grant Applications can be found on the IES website at
https://ies.ed.gov/director/sro/application_review.asp.
For the 84.305C competition, peer reviewers will be asked to
evaluate the significance of the focused program of research, the
quality of the research plan for the focused program of research, the
quality of the plans for leadership, capacity building and outreach
activities, the quality of the management and institutional resources,
and the qualifications and experience of the personnel. These criteria
will be described in greater detail in the RFA.
2. Review and Selection Process: We remind potential applicants
that in reviewing applications in any discretionary grant competition,
IES 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, compliance with the
IES policy regarding public access to research, and compliance with
grant conditions. IES 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, IES 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 competition, the Department
conducts a review of the risks posed by applicants. Under 2 CFR
200.208, IES 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 also notify you
informally.
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. Grant Administration: Applicants should budget for an annual
meeting of up to three days for project directors to be held in
Washington, DC.
4. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a grant under the competition
announced in this notice, 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
IES. If you receive a
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multiyear award, you must submit an annual performance report that
provides the most current performance and financial expenditure
information as directed by IES under 34 CFR 75.118. IES 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: To evaluate the overall success of its
education research grant programs, IES annually assesses the percentage
of projects that result in peer-reviewed publications and the number of
IES-supported interventions with evidence of efficacy in improving
learner education outcomes. Student academic outcomes include learning
and achievement in academic content areas, such as reading, writing,
math, and science, as well as outcomes that reflect students'
successful progression through the education system, such as course and
grade completion; high school graduation; and postsecondary enrollment,
progress, and completion. Social and behavioral competencies include
social and emotional skills, attitudes, and behaviors that are
important to academic and post-academic success. Employment and
earnings outcomes include hours of employment, job stability, and wages
and benefits, and may be measured in addition to student academic
outcomes.
6. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award under 34 CFR
75.253, IES 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; whether a grantee
is in compliance with the IES policy regarding public access to
research; and if IES 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, IES 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 relevant program contact
person listed in the chart at the end of this notice, as well as in the
relevant RFA and application package, individuals with disabilities can
obtain this document and a copy of the RFA 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.
Mark Schneider,
Director, Institute of Education Sciences.
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Deadline for
ALN and name Application package transmittal of Estimated range of Project period For further information
available applications awards * contact
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National Center for Education Research (NCER)
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84.305C. Education Research and On or before March 7, 2024........ Up to 5 years.
Development Center Program. December 7, 2023.
[ssquf] Improving Rural ................... ..................... $1 to $2 million........ ..................... Emily Doolittle,
Education. [email protected]
, 202-987-0795.
[ssquf] K-12 Teacher ................... ..................... $1 to $2 million........ ..................... Wai-Ying Chow, Wai-
Recruitment and Retention [email protected], 202-
Policy. 245-8198.
[ssquf] Improving Outcomes in ................... ..................... $2 to $3 million........ ..................... Jennifer Schellinger,
Elementary Science Education. [email protected], 202-987-0765.
[ssquf] Using Generative ................... ..................... $1 to $2 million........ ..................... Christina Chhin,
Artificial Intelligence to [email protected]
Augment Teaching and Learning , 202-245-7736.
in Classrooms.
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* These estimates are annual amounts.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.
Note: If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability and wish to access telecommunications relay services, please dial 7-1-1.
[FR Doc. 2023-26008 Filed 11-24-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P