[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 245 (Friday, December 20, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 104116-104119]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-30435]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Applications for New Awards; Education Research and Development
Center Program
AGENCY: Institute of Education Sciences, 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) 2025 for the
Education Research and Development Center Program.
DATES:
Application Package Available: December 20, 2024.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: March 14, 2025.
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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Corinne Alfeld. Email:
[email protected]. Telephone: 202-987-0835.
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: Through the Education Research and Development
Center Program, the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) funds
Research and Development (R&D) centers to conduct a focused program of
research that will contribute to solving a specific education problem
and generate new knowledge in their topic area; provide national
leadership, research training, capacity building, and outreach within
their topic area; and conduct relatively rapid research and scholarship
on supplemental questions that emerge within their topic area.
Assistance Listing Number (ALN): 84.305C.
OMB Control Number: 4040-0001.
Competition: The IES National Center for Education Research (NCER)
is announcing one competition:
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 Gifted Education.
Using Generative Artificial Intelligence to Improve
Instruction in Postsecondary Education.
Application Submission: You may submit one or more than one
application to the IES FY 2025 Education Research and Development
Center Program.
If you submit the same or similar application to IES and to another
funding entity within or external to the Department and receive funding
for the non-IES application prior to IES scientific peer review of
applications, you must withdraw the same or similar application
submitted to IES, or IES may otherwise determine you are ineligible to
receive an award. If reviews are happening concurrently, IES staff will
consult with the other potential funder to determine the degree of
overlap and which entity will provide funding if both applications are
being considered for funding.
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. 7294 for the Improving Gifted
Education R&D Center; and 20 U.S.C. 9501, et seq., for the Using
Generative Artificial Intelligence to Improve Instruction in
Postsecondary Education R&D Center.
[[Page 104117]]
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, 75.200, 75.201, 75.209, 75.210, 75.211, 75.217(a)-(c), 75.219,
75.220, 75.221, 75.222, and 75.230. (b) The Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) 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
Guidance 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 this competition.
Note: As of October 1, 2024, grant applicants must follow the
provisions in the OMB Guidance for Federal Financial Assistance (89 FR
30046, April 22, 2024) when preparing an application. For more
information about these regulations please visit: https://www.cfo.gov/resources-coffa/uniform-guidance/.
II. Award Information
Types of Awards: Cooperative agreements.
Fiscal Information: Although Congress has not yet enacted an
appropriation for FY 2025, 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. IES may announce additional competitions
later in FY 2025.
The Improving Gifted Education R&D Center would be supported with
funding authorized under the Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented
Students Education program. Although Congress has not yet enacted an
appropriation for FY 2025, IES is inviting applications for this
competition now so that applicants can have adequate time to prepare
their applications should Congress appropriate funds for this program.
The Using Generative Artificial Intelligence to Improve Instruction
in Postsecondary Education R&D Center will be supported as part of the
Accelerate, Transform, and Scale Initiative established by IES to
invest in quick-turnaround high-reward, scalable solutions intended to
improve education outcomes for all learners (https://ies.ed.gov/ats-initiative/).
Estimated Range of Awards: The size of the awards will depend on
the scope of the projects proposed. The estimated range of awards
varies by topic:
$5,000,000 (total) for Improving Gifted Education.
$8,000,000 to $10,000,000 (total) for Using Generative
Artificial Intelligence to Improve Instruction in Postsecondary
Education.
Maximum Award: The maximum award amount for each topic is set out
in the NCER Request for Applications (RFA). On December 20, 2024, the
Education R&D Center RFA will be posted at: https://ies.ed.gov/funding/25rfas.asp.
For all IES competitions, applications must include budgets no
higher than the relevant maximum award amount as set out in the
relevant RFA. IES will not make an award exceeding the maximum award
amount as set out in the relevant RFA.
Estimated Number of Awards: IES intends to fund one award under the
Improving Gifted Education topic and one award under the Using
Generative Artificial Intelligence to Improve Instruction in
Postsecondary Education topic. IES may consider making additional
awards to high-quality applications under the Using Generative
Artificial Intelligence to Improve Instruction in Postsecondary
Education topic that remain unfunded after one award is made should
resources permit. However, the number of awards made under each topic
will depend on the quality of the applications received for that topic
and the availability of funds.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.
Project Period: The maximum project period is as follows:
5 years for Improving Gifted Education.
5 years for Using Generative Artificial Intelligence to
Improve Instruction in Postsecondary Education.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: For Improving Gifted Education,
partnerships involving at least one institution of higher education and
at least two State educational agencies with the ability and capacity
to conduct rigorous research are eligible to apply. Partnerships may
also include additional institutions of higher education, additional
State educational agencies, local educational agencies, other public
agencies, other private agencies and organizations, other research
institutions, and non-profit and for-profit organizations.
For Using Generative Artificial Intelligence to Improve Instruction
in Postsecondary Education, entities that have the ability and capacity
to conduct rigorous research are eligible to apply. Eligible applicants
include, but are not limited to, non-profit and for-profit
organizations and public and private agencies and institutions, such as
colleges and universities.
2. a. Cost Sharing or Matching: This competition does not require
cost sharing or matching.
b. Indirect Cost Rate Information: These programs use 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: In accordance with 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, public and
private agencies and organizations, 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.
2. Other Information: Information regarding program and application
requirements for the competition can be found in the currently
available IES Application Submission Guide (https://ies.ed.gov/funding/submission_guide.asp) and in the RFA, which will be available on
[INSERT DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER], on the IES
website at: https://ies.ed.gov/funding/. The application packages for
this
[[Page 104118]]
competition will also be available on December 20, 2024.
3. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements
concerning the content of an application are contained in the RFA for
the specific 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 is March 14, 2025.
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 of 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 this competition (ALN 84.305C), peer reviewers will 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
training plan, the quality of the plans for national leadership,
capacity building, and outreach activities, the quality of the
management and institutional resources, and the qualifications and
experience of the personnel. These criteria are 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). Also, IES requires all key personnel on a
grant award to have a persistent identifier, such as ORCID iD (Open
Researcher and Contributor Identification; https://orcid.org/), in
place before an award will be made.
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.
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 also may 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 a 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 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. School readiness outcomes include pre-
reading, reading, pre-writing, early mathematics, early science, and
social-emotional skills that prepare young children for school. 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
[[Page 104119]]
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 program contact person listed
in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, 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, 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 Department documents 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 Department documents 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.
Matthew Soldner,
Acting Director, Institute of Education Sciences.
[FR Doc. 2024-30435 Filed 12-19-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P