[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 80 (Wednesday, April 24, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31188-31193]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-08771]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Applications for New Awards; Graduate Assistance in Areas of
National Need (GAANN)
AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Department of Education (Department) is issuing a notice
inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2024 for the
Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) Program,
Assistance Listing Number 84.200A. This notice relates to the approved
information collection under OMB control number 1840-0604.
DATES:
Applications Available: April 24, 2024.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 24, 2024.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: August 22, 2024.
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/d/2022-26554. Please note that these Common
Instructions supersede the version published on December 27, 2021.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rebecca Ell, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20202-
4260. Telephone: (202) 453-6348. Email: [email protected]; or
ReShone Moore, Ph.D., U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue
SW, 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20202-4260. Telephone (202) 453-7624.
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 GAANN Program provides grants to academic
departments and programs of institutions of higher education (IHEs) to
support graduate fellowships for students with excellent academic
records in their previous programs of study who demonstrate financial
need and plan to pursue the highest degree available in their course of
study at the institution.
Priorities: This notice contains one absolute priority, two
competitive preference priorities, and one invitational priority. In
accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(ii), the absolute priority is from
the regulations for this program (34 CFR 648.33(a) and Appendix to part
648--Academic Areas). Please note that the codes next to selected
academic areas under the absolute priority are from the Appendix to
part 648--Academic Areas of the program regulations and can be found in
the application booklet as well as at www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=f8ad0cf4f75cd9841b2bc1adb98c5739&mc=true&node=pt34.3.648&rgn=div5. The first competitive preference priority is from the notice of
final administrative priorities for discretionary grant programs
published in the Federal Register on March 9, 2020 (85 FR
[[Page 31189]]
13640) (Administrative Priorities). The second competitive preference
priority is 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 a statement indicating which, if any, competitive
preference priorities or invitational priority is addressed.
Absolute Priority: For FY 2024 and any subsequent year in which we
make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this
competition, this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR
75.105(c)(3), we consider only applications that meet this priority.
The absolute priority is:
Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need.
A project must provide fellowships in one or more of the following
areas of national need.
For the following academic areas, the project must provide
fellowships for programs that lead either to a master's degree or a
doctoral degree, whichever is the highest degree awarded in the area of
need at the institution.
#11--Computer and Information Sciences (11)
11.01 Computer and Information Sciences, General
11.02 Computer Programming
11.04 Information Sciences and Systems
11.05 Computer Systems Analysis
11.07 Computer Science
#13--Education
13.02 Bilingual/Bicultural Education
13.10 Special Education
13.11 Student Counseling and Personnel Services
13.14 Teaching English as a Second Language/Foreign Language
#14--Engineering
14.01 Engineering, General
14.02 Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical Engineering
14.03 Agricultural Engineering
14.04 Architectural Engineering
14.05 Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering
14.06 Ceramic Sciences and Engineering
14.07 Chemical Engineering
14.08 Civil Engineering
14.09 Computer Engineering
14.10 Electrical, Electronic, and Communications Engineering
14.11 Engineering Mechanics
14.12 Engineering Physics
14.13 Engineering Science
14.14 Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering
14.15 Geological Engineering
14.16 Geophysical Engineering
14.17 Industrial/Manufacturing Engineering
14.18 Materials Engineering
14.19 Mechanical Engineering
14.20 Metallurgical Engineering
14.21 Mining and Mineral Engineering
14.22 Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering
14.23 Nuclear Engineering
14.24 Ocean Engineering
14.25 Petroleum Engineering
14.27 Systems Engineering
14.28 Textile Sciences and Engineering
14.29 Engineering Design
14.30 Engineering/Industrial Management
14.31 Materials Science
14.32 Polymer/Plastics Engineering
#26--Biological Sciences/Life Sciences
26.01 Biology, General
26.02 Biochemistry and Biophysics
26.03 Botany
26.04 Cell and Molecular Biology
26.05 Microbiology/Bacteriology
26.06 Miscellaneous Biological Specializations
26.07 Zoology
#27--Mathematics
27.01 Mathematics
27.03 Applied Mathematics
27.05 Mathematic Statistics
#40--Physical Sciences
40.01 Physical Sciences, General
40.02 Astronomy
40.03 Astrophysics
40.04 Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology
40.05 Chemistry
40.06 Geological and Related Sciences
40.07 Miscellaneous Physical Sciences
40.08 Physics
#42--Psychology
42.01 Psychology
42.02 Clinical Psychology
42.03 Cognitive Psychology and Psycholinguistics
42.04 Community Psychology
42.06 Counseling Psychology
42.07 Developmental and Child Psychology
42.08 Experimental Psychology
42.09 Industrial and Organizational Psychology
42.11 Physiological Psychology/Psychobiology
42.16 Social Psychology
42.17 School Psychology
Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2024 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
two points to an application that meets these priorities.
These priorities are:
Competitive Preference Priority 1: Applications from New Potential
Grantees (1 point).
Under this priority, an applicant must demonstrate that the
applicant does not, as of the deadline date for submission of
applications, have an active grant, including through membership in a
group application submitted in accordance with 34 CFR 75.127-75.129,
under the GAANN program.
Note: For the purpose of this priority, the ``applicant'' is the
institution. Institutions with active grants that are applying on
behalf of a new academic department cannot receive points for this
competitive priority. A grant is active until the end of the grant's
project or funding period, including any extensions of those periods
that extend the grantee's authority to obligate funds.
Competitive Preference Priority 2: Promoting Equity in Student
Access to Educational Resources and Opportunities (1 point).
Under this priority, an applicant must demonstrate that the project
will be implemented by one or more of the following entities:
(1) Historically Black colleges and universities (as defined in
this notice).
(2) Tribal Colleges and Universities (as defined in this notice).
(3) Minority-serving institutions (as defined in this notice).
Invitational Priority: For FY 2024 and any subsequent year in which
we make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this
competition, this priority is an invitational priority. Under 34 CFR
75.105(c)(1), we do not give an application that meets this
invitational priority a competitive or absolute preference over other
applications.
This priority is:
Projects designed to increase the number of low-income students in
graduate fellowships.
Projects should include plans to identify, recruit, and retain
students who are low-income.
For purpose of this priority, the term ``low-income student'' means
a student who would otherwise be eligible to receive a Maximum Pell
Grant for the award year in which the determination is made, except
that the student is enrolled in graduate study. See criteria for
Maximum Pell Grant eligibility in the Student Aid Index (SAI) and Pell
[[Page 31190]]
Grant Eligibility section of the 2024-2025 Federal Student Aid
Handbook.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ https://fsapartners.ed.gov/knowledge-center/fsa-handbook/
2024-2025/application-and-verification-guide/ch3-student-aid-index-
sai-and-pell-grant-
eligibility#:~:text=Minimum%20Pell%20Grant%20Eligibility%20Criteria.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Definitions: The following definition of ``financial need'' is from
34 CFR 648.9. The definitions of ``Historically Black Colleges and
Universities,'' ``Minority-Serving Institution,'' and ``Tribal College
and University'' are from the Supplemental Priorities.
Financial need means the fellow's financial need as determined
under title IV, part F, of the HEA for the period of the fellow's
enrollment in the approved academic field of study for which the
fellowship was awarded.
Historically Black colleges and universities means colleges and
universities that meet the criteria set out in 34 CFR 608.2.
Minority-serving institution means an institution that is eligible
to receive assistance under sections 316 through 320 of part A of title
III, under part B of title III, or under title V of the HEA.
Tribal College or University has the meaning ascribed it in section
316(b)(3) of the HEA.
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1135-1135e.
Note: Projects will be awarded and must be operated in a manner
consistent with the nondiscrimination requirements contained in Federal
civil rights laws.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 75, 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 648. (e)
The Administrative Priorities. (f) The Supplemental Priorities.
Note: The open licensing requirement in 2 CFR 3474.20 does not
apply to this program.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants, including funds redistributed
as graduate fellowships to individual fellows.
Estimated Available Funds: $20,479,535.
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: $112,102-$448,408 based on an average of
2 to 8 federally funded fellowships.
Minimum and Maximum Award: The amount of a grant to an academic
department may not be less than $100,000 and may not be more than
$750,000 in a fiscal year (648.5(a)).
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $336,306 based on an average of 6
Federal GAANN fellowships requested per grant application.
Estimated Number of Awards: 60.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.
Project Period: Up to 36 months.
Stipend Level: For the 2024-25 academic year, the institution must
pay the fellow a stipend at a level of support equal to that provided
by the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program
(https://www.nsfgrfp.org/), except this amount must be adjusted as
necessary so as not to exceed the fellow's demonstrated level of
financial need as stated under part F of title IV of the Higher
Education Act of 1965, as amended.
Institutional Payment: For the 2024-25 academic year, the estimated
institutional payment is $19,051 per fellow. This amount was determined
by adjusting the previous academic year's institutional payment of
$18,266 per fellow by the U.S. Department of Labor's Consumer Price
Index (CPI) for the 2023 calendar year.
Note: The institutional payment must be reduced by the amount the
institution charges and collects from a fellowship recipient for
tuition and other expenses as part of the recipient's instructional
program. (34 CFR 648.52(b)).
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants:
(a) Any academic department of an IHE that provides a course of
study that--(i) Leads to a graduate degree in an area of national need;
and (ii) Has been in existence for at least four years at the time of
an application for a grant under this competition.
(b) Eligible applicants may apply alone or in partnership with one
or more eligible nondegree granting institutions that have formal
arrangements for the support of doctoral dissertation research.
Note: A formal arrangement under paragraph (b) is a written
agreement between a degree-granting institution and an eligible
nondegree granting institution whereby the degree-granting institution
accepts students from the eligible nondegree granting institution as
doctoral degree candidates with the intention of awarding these
students doctorates in an area of national need.
Note: A school or department of divinity is not eligible for a
grant.
Note: Students are not eligible to apply for grants under this
program.
2a. Cost Sharing or Matching: An institution must provide, from
non-Federal funds, an institutional matching contribution equal to at
least 25 percent of the grant amount received. (See 34 CFR 648.7.)
b. Supplement-Not-Supplant: This competition involves supplement-
not-supplant funding requirements.
(See 34 CFR 648.20(b)(5).)
c. Administrative Cost Limitation: Under 34 CFR 648.64, neither
grant funds nor institutional matching funds may be used to pay for
general operational overhead costs of the academic department.
3. Subgrantees: A grantee under this competition may not award
subgrants to entities to directly carry out project activities
described in its application.
4. Other: For requirements relating to selecting fellows, see 34
CFR 648.40.
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
www.federalregister.gov/d/2022-26554, 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. 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
648.64. We reference additional regulations outlining funding
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
4. Recommended Page Limit: Applications that do not follow the page
[[Page 31191]]
limit and formatting recommendations will not be penalized. The
application narrative is where you, the applicant, address the
selection criteria that reviewers use to evaluate your application. We
recommend the following limits and standards:
A project narrative in a single discipline or for an
interdisciplinary course of study should be limited to no more than 40
pages.
A project narrative for a multidisciplinary project should
be limited to no more than 40 pages for each academic department.
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 or no smaller
than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier,
Courier New, or Arial.
Limit appendices to the following: two-page version of a
curriculum vitae, per faculty member; a course listing; letters of
commitment showing institutional support; a bibliography; and one
additional optional appendix relevant to the support of the proposal,
recommended not to exceed five pages.
The recommended page limit does not apply to the cover sheet
(Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424) and the Department of
Education Supplemental Information for the SF 424 form, the one-page
abstract; the GAANN Statutory Assurances Form; the GAANN Budget
Spreadsheet(s) Form; the Appendices; the Assurances and Certifications;
or an optional two-page table of content. However, the recommended page
limit does apply to all of the application narrative.
V. Application Review Information
1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this program are
from 34 CFR 648.31. The points assigned to each criterion are indicated
in the parentheses next to the criterion. An applicant may earn up to a
total of 100 points based on the selection criteria for the
application. An applicant that also chooses to address the competitive
preference priorities can earn up to 102 total points.
(a) Meeting the purposes of the program (up to 7 points). The
Secretary reviews each application to determine how well the project
will meet the purposes of the program, including the extent to which--
(1) The applicant's general and specific objectives for the project
are realistic and measurable;
(2) The applicant's objectives for the project seek to sustain and
enhance the capacity for teaching and research at the institution and
at State, regional, or national levels;
(3) The applicant's objectives seek to institute policies and
procedures to ensure the enrollment of talented graduate students from
traditionally underrepresented backgrounds; and
(4) The applicant's objectives seek to institute policies and
procedures to ensure that it will award fellowships to individuals who
satisfy the requirements of 34 CFR 648.40.
(b) Extent of need for the project (up to 5 points). The Secretary
considers the extent to which a grant under the program is needed by
the academic department by considering--
(1) How the applicant identified the problems that form the
specific needs of the project;
(2) The specific problems to be resolved by successful realization
of the goals and objectives of the project; and
(3) How increasing the number of fellowships will meet the specific
and general objectives of the project.
(c) Quality of the graduate academic program (up to 20 points). The
Secretary reviews each application to determine the quality of the
current graduate academic program for which project funding is sought,
including--
(1) The course offerings and academic requirements for the graduate
program;
(2) The qualifications of the faculty, including education,
research interest, publications, teaching ability, and accessibility to
graduate students;
(3) The focus and capacity for research; and
(4) Any other evidence the applicant deems appropriate to
demonstrate the quality of its academic program.
(d) Quality of the supervised teaching experience (up to 10
points). The Secretary reviews each application to determine the
quality of the teaching experience the applicant plans to provide
fellows under this program, including the extent to which the project--
(1) Provides each fellow with the required supervised training in
instruction;
(2) Provides adequate instruction on effective teaching techniques;
(3) Provides extensive supervision of each fellow's teaching
performance; and
(4) Provides adequate and appropriate evaluation of the fellow's
teaching performance.
(e) Recruitment plan (up to 5 points). The Secretary reviews each
application to determine the quality of the applicant's recruitment
plan, including--
(1) How the applicant plans to identify, recruit, and retain
students from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds in the
academic program for which fellowships are sought;
(2) How the applicant plans to identify eligible students for
fellowships;
(3) The past success of the academic department in enrolling
talented graduate students from traditionally underrepresented
backgrounds; and
(4) The past success of the academic department in enrolling
talented graduate students for its academic program.
(f) Project administration (up to 8 points). The Secretary reviews
the quality of the proposed project administration, including--
(1) How the applicant will select fellows, including how the
applicant will ensure that project participants who are otherwise
eligible to participate are selected without regard to race, color,
national origin, religion, gender, age, or disabling condition;
(2) How the applicant proposes to monitor whether a fellow is
making satisfactory progress toward the degree for which the fellowship
has been awarded;
(3) How the applicant proposes to identify and meet the academic
needs of fellows;
(4) How the applicant proposes to maintain enrollment of graduate
students from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds; and
(5) The extent to which the policies and procedures the applicant
proposes to institute for administering the project are likely to
ensure efficient and effective project implementation, including
assistance to and oversight of the project director.
(g) Institutional commitment (up to 15 points). The Secretary
reviews each application for evidence that--
(1) The applicant will provide, from any funds available to it,
sufficient funds to support the financial needs of the fellows if the
funds made available under the program are insufficient;
(2) The institution's social and academic environment is supportive
of the academic success of students from traditionally underrepresented
backgrounds on the applicant's campus;
(3) Students receiving fellowships under this program will receive
stipend support for the time necessary to complete their courses of
study, but in no case longer than five years; and
[[Page 31192]]
(4) The applicant demonstrates a financial commitment, including
the nature and amount of the institutional matching contribution, and
other institutional commitments that are likely to ensure the
continuation of project activities for a significant period of time
following the period in which the project receives Federal financial
assistance.
(h) Quality of key personnel (up to 5 points). The Secretary
reviews each application to determine the quality of key personnel the
applicant plans to use on the project, including--
(1) The qualifications of the project director;
(2) The qualifications of other key personnel to be used in the
project;
(3) The time commitment of key personnel, including the project
director, to the project; and
(4) How the applicant, as part of its nondiscriminatory employment
practices, will ensure that its personnel are selected without regard
to race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, or disabling
condition, except pursuant to a lawful affirmative action plan.
(i) Budget (up to 5 points). The Secretary reviews each application
to determine the extent to which--
(1) The applicant shows a clear understanding of the acceptable
uses of program funds; and
(2) The costs of the project are reasonable in relation to the
objectives of the project.
(j) Evaluation plan (up to 15 points). The Secretary reviews each
application to determine the quality of the evaluation plan for the
project, including the extent to which the applicant's methods of
evaluation--
(1) Relate to the specific goals and measurable objectives of the
project;
(2) Assess the effect of the project on the students receiving
fellowships under this program, including the effect on persons of
different racial and ethnic backgrounds, genders, and ages, and on
persons with disabilities who are served by the project;
(3) List both process and product evaluation questions for each
project activity and outcome, including those of the management plan;
(4) Describe both the process and product evaluation measures for
each project activity and outcome;
(5) Describe the data collection procedures, instruments, and
schedules for effective data collection;
(6) Describe how the applicant will analyze and report the data so
that it can make adjustments and improvements on a regular basis; and
(7) Include a time-line chart that relates key evaluation processes
and benchmarks to other project component processes and benchmarks.
(k) Adequacy of resources (up to 5 points). The Secretary reviews
each application to determine the adequacy of the resources that the
applicant makes available to graduate students receiving fellowships
under this program, including facilities, equipment, and supplies.
2. Review and Selection Process: We remind potential applicants
that in reviewing applications in any discretionary grant competition,
the Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.217(d)(3), the past
performance of the applicant in carrying out a previous award, such as
the applicant's use of funds, achievement of project objectives, and
compliance with grant conditions. The Secretary may also consider
whether the applicant failed to submit a timely performance report or
submitted a report of unacceptable quality.
In addition, in making a competitive grant award, the Secretary
requires various assurances, including those applicable to Federal
civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or
activities receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department
(34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
For this competition, a panel of non-Federal reviewers will review
each application in accordance with the selection criteria in 34 CFR
648.31. The individual scores of the reviewers will be added and the
sum divided by the number of reviewers to determine the peer review
score received in the review process. Additional factors we consider in
selecting an application for an award are in 34 CFR 648.32.
Tiebreaker: If there is more than one application with the same
score and insufficient funds to fund all the applications with the same
ranking, the Department will apply the following procedure to determine
which application or applications will receive an award:
First Tiebreaker: The first tiebreaker will be an institution that
has not received an award in this competition. If a tie remains, the
second tiebreaker will be utilized. If this first tie-breaker provision
exhausts available funds, then no further action is taken.
Second Tiebreaker: The second tiebreaker will be the highest
average score for the selection criterion 34 CFR 648.31(e),
``Recruitment Plan.
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
[[Page 31193]]
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: The open licensing requirement in 2
CFR 3474.20 does not apply to this program.
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.
(c) Grantees will be required to submit a supplement to the Final
Performance Report two years after the expiration of their GAANN grant.
The purpose of this supplement is to identify and report the
educational and employment outcome of each GAANN fellow.
5. Performance Measures: The following performance measures will be
used by the Department in assessing the performance of the GAANN
Program and for Department reporting under 34 CFR 75.110:
(1) The percentage of GAANN fellows completing the terminal degree
in the designated areas of national need.
(2) The median time to completion of master's and doctoral degrees
for GAANN fellows.
(3) The percentage of GAANN fellows who have placements in faculty
or professional positions in the area of their studies within one year
of completing the degree.
(4) The cost per successful outcome, where success is defined as
terminal program graduate completion.
If funded, you will be required to collect and report data in your
project's annual performance report (34 CFR 75.590) on those measures
and steps taken toward improving performance toward those outcomes.
Consequently, applicants are advised to include these outcome measures
in conceptualizing the design, implementation, and evaluation of their
proposed projects. These outcome measures should be included in the
project evaluation plan, in addition to measures of your progress
toward the goals and objectives specific to your project.
All grantees will be expected to submit an annual performance
report documenting their success in addressing these performance
measures.
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 persons 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.
Nasser H. Paydar,
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2024-08771 Filed 4-23-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P