Office of Postsecondary Education; Overview Information; Talent Search (TS) Program; Notice Inviting Applications For New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, 67705-67709 [2010-27732]

Download as PDF jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 212 / Wednesday, November 3, 2010 / Notices Regulatory Compliance Related to the Personnel Preparation Program’s Service Obligation. OMB Control Number: 1820–0622. Agency Form Number(s): N/A. Frequency of Responses: On Occasion. Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit; Individuals or households; Not-for-profit institutions. Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 4,650. Total Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 6,750. Abstract: The data collection under this request are governed by 34 CFR 304.1–304.32 of the The data collection under this request are governed by 34 CFR 304.1–304.32 of the December 9, 1999 regulations that implement section 673(h) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Amendments of 1997 which requires that individuals who receive a scholarship through the Personnel Preparation Program funded under the Act subsequently provide special education and related services to children with disabilities for a period of two years for every year for which assistance was received. Scholarship recipients who do not satisfy the requirements of the regulations must repay all or part of the cost of assistance in accordance with regulations issued by the Secretary. These regulations implement requirements governing among other things, the service obligation for scholars, oversight by grantees, and repayment of scholarship. In order for the Federal government to ensure the goals of the program are achieved, certain data collection, record keeping, and documentation are necessary. Requests for copies of the information collection submission for OMB review may be accessed from the RegInfo.gov Web site at https://www.reginfo.gov/ public/do/PRAMain or from the Department’s Web site at https:// edicsweb.ed.gov, by selecting the ‘‘Browse Pending Collections’’ link and by clicking on link number 4381. When you access the information collection, click on ‘‘Download Attachments ’’ to view. Written requests for information should be addressed to U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., LBJ, Washington, DC 20202–4537. Requests may also be electronically mailed to the Internet address ICDocketMgr@ed.gov or faxed to 202– 401–0920. Please specify the complete title of the information collection and OMB Control Number when making your request. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf VerDate Mar<15>2010 19:21 Nov 02, 2010 Jkt 223001 (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877– 8339. [FR Doc. 2010–27750 Filed 11–2–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000–01–P DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Postsecondary Education; Overview Information; Talent Search (TS) Program; Notice Inviting Applications For New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.044A. Dates: Applications Available: November 3, 2010. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: December 28, 2010. Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: February 28, 2011. Full Text of Announcement I. Funding Opportunity Description Purpose of Program: The purpose of the TS Program is to identify qualified individuals with potential for education at the postsecondary level and encourage them to complete secondary school and undertake a program of postsecondary education. TS projects publicize the availability of, and facilitate the application for, student financial assistance for persons who seek to pursue postsecondary education and encourage persons who have not completed programs at the secondary or postsecondary level to enter or reenter and complete these programs. Priorities: Under this competition we are particularly interested in applications that address the following priorities. Invitational Priorities: For FY 2011 these priorities are invitational priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1) we do not give an application that meets these invitational priorities a competitive or absolute preference over other applications. These priorities are: Invitational Priority 1: The Secretary encourages applicants to propose projects that provide services to students enrolled in schools that are not currently being served by a Talent Search project, especially schools that the State has identified as the persistently lowest-achieving schools. Invitational Priority 2: The Secretary encourages applicants to work with appropriate State agencies to use data from State longitudinal data systems or to obtain data from reliable third-party sources when providing information on the implementation of their Talent PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 67705 Search projects and their participants’ outcomes. Invitational Priority 3: The Secretary encourages applicants to coordinate project services with school-level partners and other community resources in order to carry out projects that are cost-effective and best meet students’ needs. Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070a–11– 1070a–12. Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75 (except for §§ 75.215 through 75.221), 77, 79, 80, 82, 84, 85, 86, 97, 98 and 99. (b) The regulations for this program in 34 CFR part 643. Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants except federally recognized Indian tribes. Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of higher education only. II. Award Information Type of Award: Discretionary grants. Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested $853.1 million for the Federal TRIO Programs for FY 2011, of which we intend to use an estimated $142.1 million for the TS Program. The actual level of funding, if any, depends on final congressional action. However, we are inviting applications to allow enough time to complete the grant process if Congress appropriates funds for this program. Estimated Range of Awards: $230,000–$702,000. Estimated Average Size of Awards: $306,168. Maximum Award: • An applicant not currently receiving a TS Program grant: For an applicant who is not currently receiving a TS Program grant, the maximum award amount is $230,000 and the project must serve a minimum of 500 participants, based upon a per participant cost of no more than (or not to exceed) $460. • An applicant currently receiving a TS Program grant: For an applicant who is currently receiving a TS Program grant, the maximum award amount is the greater of (a) $230,000 or (b) an amount equal to 103 percent of the applicant’s grant award amount for FY 2009 or FY 2010, whichever is greater. The applicant must propose to serve a minimum of 500 participants and, regardless of the size of the award, the per participant cost may not exceed $460. If an applicant who is currently receiving a TS Program grant is serving E:\FR\FM\03NON1.SGM 03NON1 67706 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 212 / Wednesday, November 3, 2010 / Notices more than 500 participants, the applicant is encouraged to continue to serve the same number of participants. However, if the applicant proposes to reduce the number of participants to be served, the applicant must propose to serve at least 500 participants and the per participant cost may not exceed $460 per participant. For example, if an applicant is eligible for a $460,000 grant (103 percent of the current funding level) the applicant must propose to serve at least 1,000 participants. The Department may choose to fund successful applicants who are currently receiving a TS Program grant at a level equal to the greater of the award amount FY 2009 or FY 2010 instead of an amount equal to 103 percent of the current award amount. However, in that situation, the Department will adjust the number of participants that the applicant will be required to serve accordingly. For example, an applicant with a current grant of $446,602 would be required to serve at least 971 participants ($446,602 ÷ $460 = 971). We will reject any application that proposes a budget exceeding the maximum amount listed in this section for a single budget period of 12 months. We will also reject any application that proposes a budget to serve less than 500 participants, and will reject any application that proposes a budget that exceeds the maximum per participant cost of $460. Estimated Number of Awards: 464. Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice. Project Period: Up to 60 months. jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES III. Eligibility Information 1. Eligible Applicants: Institutions of higher education, public and private agencies and organizations including community-based organizations with experience in serving disadvantaged youth, combinations of such institutions, agencies and organizations, and secondary schools, for planning, developing, or carrying out one or more of the services identified under this program. 2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost sharing or matching. 3. Other: An applicant may submit more than one application for a TS grant so long as each application describes a project that serves a different target area or target schools (34 CFR 643.10(a)). The term target area is defined as a geographic area served by a TS project, and the term target school is a school designated by the applicant as a focus of project services (34 CFR 643.7(b)). VerDate Mar<15>2010 19:21 Nov 02, 2010 Jkt 223001 IV. Application and Submission Information 1. Address to Request Application Package: Geraldine Smith or ReShone Moore, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street, NW., suite 7000, Washington, DC 20006–8510. Telephone: (202) 502–7600 or by e-mail: TRIO@ed.gov. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1–800–877–8339. Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) by contacting one of the program contact persons listed in this section. 2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you must submit, are in the application package for this program. Page Limit: The application narrative (Part III of the application) is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that reviewers use to evaluate your application. You must limit the application narrative (Part III) to no more than 65 pages using the following standards: • A ‘‘page’’ is 8.5″ x 11″, on one side only, with 1’’ margins at the top, bottom, and both sides. Page numbers and an identifier may be within the 1″ margin. • Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) all text in the application narrative, except titles, headings, footnotes, quotations, references, captions, and all text in charts, tables, figures and graphs. • Use a font that is 12 point or larger. • Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, Courier New, or Arial. An application submitted in any other font (including Times Roman and Arial Narrow) will not be accepted. The page limit does not apply to Part I, the Application for Federal Assistance Face Sheet (SF 424); Part II, the budget information summary form (ED Form 524); the TS Program Profile, the onepage Project Abstract narrative; and the assurances and certifications. The page limit also does not apply to a table of contents. If you include any attachments or appendices, these items will be counted as part of Part III, the application narrative, for purposes of the page-limit requirement. You must include your complete response to the selection criteria, which also includes the budget narrative in Part III, the application narrative. PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 We will reject your application if you exceed the page limit. 3. Submission Dates and Times: Applications Available: November 3, 2010. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: December 28, 2010. Applications for grants under this program must be submitted electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov). For information (including dates and times) about how to submit your application electronically, or in paper format by mail or hand delivery if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, please refer to section IV. 7. Other Submission Requirements of this notice. We do not consider an application that does not comply with the deadline requirements. Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII of this notice. If the Department provides an accommodation or auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability in connection with the application process, the individual’s application remains subject to all other requirements and limitations in this notice. Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: February 28, 2011. 4. 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. 5. Funding Restrictions: We specify unallowable costs in 34 CFR 643.31. We reference additional regulations outlining restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice. 6. Data Universal Numbering System Number, Taxpayer Identification Number, and Central Contractor Registry: To do business with the Department of Education, you must— a. Have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN); b. Register both your DUNS number and TIN with the Central Contractor Registry (CCR), the Government’s primary registrant database; c. Provide your DUNS number and TIN on your application; and d. Maintain an active CCR registration with current information while your application is under review by the E:\FR\FM\03NON1.SGM 03NON1 jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 212 / Wednesday, November 3, 2010 / Notices Department and, if you are awarded a grant, during the project period. You can obtain a DUNS number from Dun and Bradstreet. A DUNS number can be created within one business day. If you are a corporate entity, agency, institution, or organization, you can obtain a TIN from the Internal Revenue Service. If you are an individual, you can obtain a TIN from the Internal Revenue Service or the Social Security Administration. If you need a new TIN, please allow 2–5 weeks for your TIN to become active. The CCR registration process may take five or more business days to complete. If you are currently registered with the CCR, you may not need to make any changes. However, please make certain that the TIN associated with your DUNS number is correct. Also note that you will need to update your CCR registration on an annual basis. This may take three or more business days to complete. In addition, if you are submitting your application via Grants.gov, you must (1) be designated by your organization as an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR); and (2) register yourself with Grants.gov as an AOR. Details on these steps are outlined in the Grants.gov 3Step Registration Guide (see https:// www.grants.gov/section910/ Grants.govRegistrationBrochure.pdf). 7. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under this program must be submitted electronically unless you qualify for an exception to this requirement in accordance with the instructions in this section. a. Electronic Submission of Applications. Applications for grants under the Talent Search Program, CFDA number 84.044A, must be submitted electronically using the Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site at www.Grants.gov. Through this site, you will be able to download a copy of the application package, complete it offline, and then upload and submit your application. You may not e-mail an electronic copy of a grant application to us. We will reject your application if you submit it in paper format unless, as described elsewhere in this section, you qualify for one of the exceptions to the electronic submission requirement and submit, no later than two weeks before the application deadline date, a written statement to the Department that you qualify for one of these exceptions. Further information regarding calculation of the date that is two weeks before the application deadline date is provided later in this section under VerDate Mar<15>2010 19:21 Nov 02, 2010 Jkt 223001 Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement. You may access the electronic grant application for the Talent Search Program at https://www.Grants.gov. You must search for the downloadable application package for this program by the CFDA number. Do not include the CFDA number’s alpha suffix in your search (e.g., search for 84.326, not 84.326A). Please note the following: • When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find information about submitting an application electronically through the site, as well as the hours of operation. • Applications received by Grants.gov are date and time stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted and must be date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. Except as otherwise noted in this section, we will not accept your application if it is received—that is, date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system—after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. We do not consider an application that does not comply with the deadline requirements. When we retrieve your application from Grants.gov, we will notify you if we are rejecting your application because it was date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. • The amount of time it can take to upload an application will vary depending on a variety of factors, including the size of the application and the speed of your Internet connection. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline date to begin the submission process through Grants.gov. • You should review and follow the Education Submission Procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov that are included in the application package for this program to ensure that you submit your application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov system. You can also find the Education Submission Procedures pertaining to Grants.gov under News and Events on the Department’s G5 system home page at https://www.G5.gov. • You will not receive additional point value because you submit your application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, as described elsewhere in this section, and submit your application in paper format. PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 67707 • You must submit all documents electronically, including all information you typically provide on the following forms: The Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424), the Department of Education Supplemental Information for SF 424, Budget Information—NonConstruction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and certifications. • You must attach any narrative sections of your application as files in a .PDF (Portable Document) format only. If you upload a file type other than a .PDF file or submit a passwordprotected file, we will not review that material. • Your electronic application must comply with any page-limit requirements described in this notice. • After you electronically submit your application, you will receive from Grants.gov an automatic notification of receipt that contains a Grants.gov tracking number. (This notification indicates receipt by Grants.gov only, not receipt by the Department.) The Department then will retrieve your application from Grants.gov and send a second notification to you by e-mail. This second notification indicates that the Department has received your application and has assigned your application a PR/Award number (an EDspecified identifying number unique to your application). • We may request that you provide us original signatures on forms at a later date. Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of Technical Issues with the Grants.gov System: If you are experiencing problems submitting your application through Grants.gov, please contact the Grants.gov Support Desk, toll free, at 1–800–518–4726. You must obtain a Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number and must keep a record of it. If you are prevented from electronically submitting your application on the application deadline date because of technical problems with the Grants.gov system, we will grant you an extension until 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, the following business day to enable you to transmit your application electronically or by hand delivery. You also may mail your application by following the mailing instructions described elsewhere in this notice. If you submit an application after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date, please contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII of this notice and provide an explanation of the technical problem you experienced with Grants.gov, along with the Grants.gov Support Desk Case E:\FR\FM\03NON1.SGM 03NON1 67708 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 212 / Wednesday, November 3, 2010 / Notices Number. We will accept your application if we can confirm that a technical problem occurred with the Grants.gov system and that that problem affected your ability to submit your application by 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. The Department will contact you after a determination is made on whether your application will be accepted. jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES Note: The extensions to which we refer in this section apply only to the unavailability of, or technical problems with, the Grants.gov system. We will not grant you an extension if you failed to fully register to submit your application to Grants.gov before the application deadline date and time or if the technical problem you experienced is unrelated to the Grants.gov system. Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement: You qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, and may submit your application in paper format, if you are unable to submit an application through the Grants.gov system because— • You do not have access to the Internet; or • You do not have the capacity to upload large documents to the Grants.gov system; and • No later than two weeks before the application deadline date (14 calendar days or, if the fourteenth calendar day before the application deadline date falls on a Federal holiday, the next business day following the Federal holiday), you mail or fax a written statement to the Department, explaining which of the two grounds for an exception prevent you from using the Internet to submit your application. If you mail your written statement to the Department, it must be postmarked no later than two weeks before the application deadline date. If you fax your written statement to the Department, we must receive the faxed statement no later than two weeks before the application deadline date. Address and mail or fax your statement to: Geraldine Smith, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street, NW., room 7000, Washington, DC 20006–8510. FAX: (202) 502–7857. Your paper application must be submitted in accordance with the mail or hand delivery instructions described in this notice. b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail. If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, you may mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a commercial carrier) your application to the Department. You must mail the original and three copies VerDate Mar<15>2010 19:21 Nov 02, 2010 Jkt 223001 of your application, on or before the application deadline date, to the Department at the following address: U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA Number 84.044A), LBJ Basement Level 1, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202–4260. You must show proof of mailing consisting of one of the following: (1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark. (2) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the U.S. Postal Service. (3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial carrier. (4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. If you mail your application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do not accept either of the following as proof of mailing: (1) A private metered postmark. (2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service. If your application is postmarked after the application deadline date, we will not consider your application. Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated postmark. Before relying on this method, you should check with your local post office. c. Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery. If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, you (or a courier service) may deliver your paper application to the Department by hand. You must deliver the original and two copies of your application by hand, on or before the application deadline date, to the Department at the following address: U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA Number 84.044A), 550 12th Street, SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202–4260. The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, except Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays. Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications: If you mail or hand deliver your application to the Department— (1) You must indicate on the envelope and—if not provided by the Department—in Item 11 of the SF 424 the CFDA number, including suffix letter, if any, of the competition under which you are submitting your application; and (2) The Application Control Center will mail to you a notification of receipt of your grant application. If you do not receive this notification within 15 business days from the application deadline date, you should call PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 the U.S. Department of Education Application Control Center at (202) 245– 6288. V. Application Review Information 1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this program competition are in 34 CFR 643.21 and listed in the application package. Note: With the changes made to the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, by the Higher Education Opportunity Act, the TS Program objectives have been standardized. Please note that applicants are required to use these objectives to measure performance under the program. Specifically, under the ‘‘Objectives’’ selection criterion, 34 CFR 643.21(b), worth eight points, applicants should address the standardized objectives related to the participants’ academic achievements, including secondary school persistence, secondary school graduation with a regular secondary school diploma, secondary school graduation from a rigorous secondary school program of study, postsecondary education enrollment, and postsecondary degree attainment. 2. Review and Selection Process: A panel of non-federal readers will review each application on the basis of the selection criteria in 34 CFR 643.21. The individual scores of the readers will be added and the sum divided by the number of readers to determine the reader score received in the review process. In accordance with 34 CFR 643.22, the Secretary will award prior experience points to applicants that have conducted a TS Program project during budget periods 2007–08, 2008– 09, and 2009–10, based on their documented experience. Prior experience points, if any, will be added to the application’s averaged reader score to determine the total score for each application. If there are insufficient funds for all applications with the same total scores, per 34 CFR 643.20(c), the Secretary will choose among the tied applications so as to serve geographical areas that have been underserved by the TS Program. 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, 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 also requires various assurances including those applicable to Federal civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs E:\FR\FM\03NON1.SGM 03NON1 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 212 / Wednesday, November 3, 2010 / Notices jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES or activities receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department of Education (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23). 3. Special Conditions: Under 34 CFR 74.14 and 80.12, the Secretary may impose special 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 34 CFR parts 74 or 80, as applicable; has not fulfilled the conditions of a prior grant; or is otherwise not responsible. 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). We may notify you informally, also. If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding, we will 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. 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 multi-year 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 https:// www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/ appforms/appforms.html. 4. Performance Measures: The success of the TS Program will be measured by secondary school persistence and VerDate Mar<15>2010 19:21 Nov 02, 2010 Jkt 223001 graduation rates of TS Program participants, as well as postsecondary enrollment and completion rates. All TS Program grantees will be required to submit an annual performance report documenting secondary school persistence, secondary school graduation, and postsecondary enrollment of their participants. Because students may take different lengths of time to complete their postsecondary education, multiple years of performance report data are needed to determine the postsecondary completion rates of TS Program participants. The Department will aggregate the data provided in the annual performance reports from all grantees to determine the performance level of the overall TS Program. 5. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award, the Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.253, the extent to which a grantee has made ‘‘substantial progress toward meeting the objectives in its approved application.’’ This consideration includes the review of a grantee’s progress in meeting the targets and projected outcomes in its approved application, and whether the grantee has expended funds in a manner that is consistent with its approved application and budget. In making a continuation grant, 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. Agency Contacts FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Geraldine Smith or ReShone Moore, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street, NW., suite 7000, Washington, DC 20006–8510. Telephone: (202) 502–7600 or by e-mail: TRIO@ed.gov. If you use a TDD, call the FRS, toll free, at 1–800–877–8339. VIII. Other Information Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this document and a copy of the application package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) on request to the program contact persons listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII of this notice. Electronic Access to This Document: You can view this document, as well as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 67709 Format (PDF) on the Internet at the following site: https://www.ed.gov/news/ fedregister. To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at this site. Note: The official version of this document is the document published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations is available on GPO Access at: https://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/ index.html. Dated: October 29, 2010. Eduardo M. Ochoa, Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education. [FR Doc. 2010–27732 Filed 11–2–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000–01–P DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION National Assessment Governing Board; Meeting National Assessment Governing Board, Department of Education. AGENCY: Notice of Open Meeting and Partially Closed Sessions. ACTION: The notice sets forth the schedule and proposed agenda of a forthcoming meeting of the National Assessment Governing Board. This notice also describes the functions of the Board. Notice of this meeting is required under Section 10 (a) (2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. This document is intended to notify members of the general public of their opportunity to attend. Individuals who will need special accommodations in order to attend the meeting (e.g.: interpreting services, assistive listening devices, materials in alternative format) should notify Munira Mwalimu at 202– 357–6938 or at Munira.Mwalimu@ed.gov no later than November 5, 2010. We will attempt to meet requests after this date, but cannot guarantee availability of the requested accommodation. The meeting site is accessible to individuals with disabilities. SUMMARY: DATES: November 18–20, 2010. Times November 18: Committee Meetings Assessment Development Committee: Open Session—12:00 p.m–1:00 p.m..; Closed Session 1:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. Executive Committee: Open Session— 4:30 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.; Closed Session— 5:15 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. E:\FR\FM\03NON1.SGM 03NON1

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[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 212 (Wednesday, November 3, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67705-67709]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-27732]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Office of Postsecondary Education; Overview Information; Talent 
Search (TS) Program; Notice Inviting Applications For New Awards for 
Fiscal Year (FY) 2011

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.044A.

    Dates: Applications Available: November 3, 2010.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: December 28, 2010.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: February 28, 2011.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The purpose of the TS Program is to identify 
qualified individuals with potential for education at the postsecondary 
level and encourage them to complete secondary school and undertake a 
program of postsecondary education. TS projects publicize the 
availability of, and facilitate the application for, student financial 
assistance for persons who seek to pursue postsecondary education and 
encourage persons who have not completed programs at the secondary or 
postsecondary level to enter or reenter and complete these programs.
    Priorities: Under this competition we are particularly interested 
in applications that address the following priorities.
    Invitational Priorities: For FY 2011 these priorities are 
invitational priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1) we do not give an 
application that meets these invitational priorities a competitive or 
absolute preference over other applications.
    These priorities are:
    Invitational Priority 1: The Secretary encourages applicants to 
propose projects that provide services to students enrolled in schools 
that are not currently being served by a Talent Search project, 
especially schools that the State has identified as the persistently 
lowest-achieving schools.
    Invitational Priority 2: The Secretary encourages applicants to 
work with appropriate State agencies to use data from State 
longitudinal data systems or to obtain data from reliable third-party 
sources when providing information on the implementation of their 
Talent Search projects and their participants' outcomes.
    Invitational Priority 3: The Secretary encourages applicants to 
coordinate project services with school-level partners and other 
community resources in order to carry out projects that are cost-
effective and best meet students' needs.

    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070a-11-1070a-12.

    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75 (except for 
Sec. Sec.  75.215 through 75.221), 77, 79, 80, 82, 84, 85, 86, 97, 98 
and 99.
    (b) The regulations for this program in 34 CFR part 643.

    Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants 
except federally recognized Indian tribes.


    Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of 
higher education only.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested $853.1 
million for the Federal TRIO Programs for FY 2011, of which we intend 
to use an estimated $142.1 million for the TS Program. The actual level 
of funding, if any, depends on final congressional action. However, we 
are inviting applications to allow enough time to complete the grant 
process if Congress appropriates funds for this program.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $230,000-$702,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $306,168.
    Maximum Award:
     An applicant not currently receiving a TS Program grant: 
For an applicant who is not currently receiving a TS Program grant, the 
maximum award amount is $230,000 and the project must serve a minimum 
of 500 participants, based upon a per participant cost of no more than 
(or not to exceed) $460.
     An applicant currently receiving a TS Program grant: For 
an applicant who is currently receiving a TS Program grant, the maximum 
award amount is the greater of (a) $230,000 or (b) an amount equal to 
103 percent of the applicant's grant award amount for FY 2009 or FY 
2010, whichever is greater. The applicant must propose to serve a 
minimum of 500 participants and, regardless of the size of the award, 
the per participant cost may not exceed $460. If an applicant who is 
currently receiving a TS Program grant is serving

[[Page 67706]]

more than 500 participants, the applicant is encouraged to continue to 
serve the same number of participants. However, if the applicant 
proposes to reduce the number of participants to be served, the 
applicant must propose to serve at least 500 participants and the per 
participant cost may not exceed $460 per participant. For example, if 
an applicant is eligible for a $460,000 grant (103 percent of the 
current funding level) the applicant must propose to serve at least 
1,000 participants.
    The Department may choose to fund successful applicants who are 
currently receiving a TS Program grant at a level equal to the greater 
of the award amount FY 2009 or FY 2010 instead of an amount equal to 
103 percent of the current award amount. However, in that situation, 
the Department will adjust the number of participants that the 
applicant will be required to serve accordingly. For example, an 
applicant with a current grant of $446,602 would be required to serve 
at least 971 participants ($446,602 / $460 = 971).
    We will reject any application that proposes a budget exceeding the 
maximum amount listed in this section for a single budget period of 12 
months. We will also reject any application that proposes a budget to 
serve less than 500 participants, and will reject any application that 
proposes a budget that exceeds the maximum per participant cost of 
$460.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 464.

    Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this 
notice.

    Project Period: Up to 60 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: Institutions of higher education, public 
and private agencies and organizations including community-based 
organizations with experience in serving disadvantaged youth, 
combinations of such institutions, agencies and organizations, and 
secondary schools, for planning, developing, or carrying out one or 
more of the services identified under this program.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost 
sharing or matching.
    3. Other: An applicant may submit more than one application for a 
TS grant so long as each application describes a project that serves a 
different target area or target schools (34 CFR 643.10(a)). The term 
target area is defined as a geographic area served by a TS project, and 
the term target school is a school designated by the applicant as a 
focus of project services (34 CFR 643.7(b)).

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: Geraldine Smith or 
ReShone Moore, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street, NW., suite 
7000, Washington, DC 20006-8510. Telephone: (202) 502-7600 or by e-
mail: TRIO@ed.gov.
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call the 
Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.
    Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application 
package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, 
or computer diskette) by contacting one of the program contact persons 
listed in this section.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements 
concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you 
must submit, are in the application package for this program.
    Page Limit: The application narrative (Part III of the application) 
is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that 
reviewers use to evaluate your application. You must limit the 
application narrative (Part III) to no more than 65 pages using the 
following standards:
     A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only, with 1'' 
margins at the top, bottom, and both sides. Page numbers and an 
identifier may be within the 1'' margin.
     Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) 
all text in the application narrative, except titles, headings, 
footnotes, quotations, references, captions, and all text in charts, 
tables, figures and graphs.
     Use a font that is 12 point or larger.
     Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, 
Courier New, or Arial. An application submitted in any other font 
(including Times Roman and Arial Narrow) will not be accepted.
    The page limit does not apply to Part I, the Application for 
Federal Assistance Face Sheet (SF 424); Part II, the budget information 
summary form (ED Form 524); the TS Program Profile, the one-page 
Project Abstract narrative; and the assurances and certifications. The 
page limit also does not apply to a table of contents. If you include 
any attachments or appendices, these items will be counted as part of 
Part III, the application narrative, for purposes of the page-limit 
requirement. You must include your complete response to the selection 
criteria, which also includes the budget narrative in Part III, the 
application narrative.
    We will reject your application if you exceed the page limit.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: November 3, 2010.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: December 28, 2010.
    Applications for grants under this program must be submitted 
electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov). For 
information (including dates and times) about how to submit your 
application electronically, or in paper format by mail or hand delivery 
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, please refer to section IV. 7. Other Submission 
Requirements of this notice.
    We do not consider an application that does not comply with the 
deadline requirements.
    Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or 
auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should contact 
the person listed under  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII 
of this notice. If the Department provides an accommodation or 
auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability in connection with the 
application process, the individual's application remains subject to 
all other requirements and limitations in this notice.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: February 28, 2011.
    4. 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.
    5. Funding Restrictions: We specify unallowable costs in 34 CFR 
643.31. We reference additional regulations outlining restrictions in 
the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
    6. Data Universal Numbering System Number, Taxpayer Identification 
Number, and Central Contractor Registry: To do business with the 
Department of Education, you must--
    a. Have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and a 
Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN);
    b. Register both your DUNS number and TIN with the Central 
Contractor Registry (CCR), the Government's primary registrant 
database;
    c. Provide your DUNS number and TIN on your application; and
    d. Maintain an active CCR registration with current information 
while your application is under review by the

[[Page 67707]]

Department and, if you are awarded a grant, during the project period.
    You can obtain a DUNS number from Dun and Bradstreet. A DUNS number 
can be created within one business day.
    If you are a corporate entity, agency, institution, or 
organization, you can obtain a TIN from the Internal Revenue Service. 
If you are an individual, you can obtain a TIN from the Internal 
Revenue Service or the Social Security Administration. If you need a 
new TIN, please allow 2-5 weeks for your TIN to become active.
    The CCR registration process may take five or more business days to 
complete. If you are currently registered with the CCR, you may not 
need to make any changes. However, please make certain that the TIN 
associated with your DUNS number is correct. Also note that you will 
need to update your CCR registration on an annual basis. This may take 
three or more business days to complete.
    In addition, if you are submitting your application via Grants.gov, 
you must (1) be designated by your organization as an Authorized 
Organization Representative (AOR); and (2) register yourself with 
Grants.gov as an AOR. Details on these steps are outlined in the 
Grants.gov 3-Step Registration Guide (see https://www.grants.gov/section910/Grants.govRegistrationBrochure.pdf).
    7. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under 
this program must be submitted electronically unless you qualify for an 
exception to this requirement in accordance with the instructions in 
this section.
    a. Electronic Submission of Applications.
    Applications for grants under the Talent Search Program, CFDA 
number 84.044A, must be submitted electronically using the 
Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site at www.Grants.gov. Through this 
site, you will be able to download a copy of the application package, 
complete it offline, and then upload and submit your application. You 
may not e-mail an electronic copy of a grant application to us.
    We will reject your application if you submit it in paper format 
unless, as described elsewhere in this section, you qualify for one of 
the exceptions to the electronic submission requirement and submit, no 
later than two weeks before the application deadline date, a written 
statement to the Department that you qualify for one of these 
exceptions. Further information regarding calculation of the date that 
is two weeks before the application deadline date is provided later in 
this section under Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement.
    You may access the electronic grant application for the Talent 
Search Program at https://www.Grants.gov. You must search for the 
downloadable application package for this program by the CFDA number. 
Do not include the CFDA number's alpha suffix in your search (e.g., 
search for 84.326, not 84.326A).
    Please note the following:
     When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find 
information about submitting an application electronically through the 
site, as well as the hours of operation.
     Applications received by Grants.gov are date and time 
stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted and must 
be date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30:00 
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. Except as 
otherwise noted in this section, we will not accept your application if 
it is received--that is, date and time stamped by the Grants.gov 
system--after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application 
deadline date. We do not consider an application that does not comply 
with the deadline requirements. When we retrieve your application from 
Grants.gov, we will notify you if we are rejecting your application 
because it was date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system after 
4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date.
     The amount of time it can take to upload an application 
will vary depending on a variety of factors, including the size of the 
application and the speed of your Internet connection. Therefore, we 
strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline 
date to begin the submission process through Grants.gov.
     You should review and follow the Education Submission 
Procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov that are 
included in the application package for this program to ensure that you 
submit your application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov system. 
You can also find the Education Submission Procedures pertaining to 
Grants.gov under News and Events on the Department's G5 system home 
page at https://www.G5.gov.
     You will not receive additional point value because you 
submit your application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you 
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, as described elsewhere in this section, and submit your 
application in paper format.
     You must submit all documents electronically, including 
all information you typically provide on the following forms: The 
Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424), the Department of 
Education Supplemental Information for SF 424, Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and 
certifications.
     You must attach any narrative sections of your application 
as files in a .PDF (Portable Document) format only. If you upload a 
file type other than a .PDF file or submit a password-protected file, 
we will not review that material.
     Your electronic application must comply with any page-
limit requirements described in this notice.
     After you electronically submit your application, you will 
receive from Grants.gov an automatic notification of receipt that 
contains a Grants.gov tracking number. (This notification indicates 
receipt by Grants.gov only, not receipt by the Department.) The 
Department then will retrieve your application from Grants.gov and send 
a second notification to you by e-mail. This second notification 
indicates that the Department has received your application and has 
assigned your application a PR/Award number (an ED-specified 
identifying number unique to your application).
     We may request that you provide us original signatures on 
forms at a later date.
    Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of Technical Issues 
with the Grants.gov System: If you are experiencing problems submitting 
your application through Grants.gov, please contact the Grants.gov 
Support Desk, toll free, at 1-800-518-4726. You must obtain a 
Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number and must keep a record of it.
    If you are prevented from electronically submitting your 
application on the application deadline date because of technical 
problems with the Grants.gov system, we will grant you an extension 
until 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, the following business day to 
enable you to transmit your application electronically or by hand 
delivery. You also may mail your application by following the mailing 
instructions described elsewhere in this notice.
    If you submit an application after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC 
time, on the application deadline date, please contact the person 
listed under  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII of this 
notice and provide an explanation of the technical problem you 
experienced with Grants.gov, along with the Grants.gov Support Desk 
Case

[[Page 67708]]

Number. We will accept your application if we can confirm that a 
technical problem occurred with the Grants.gov system and that that 
problem affected your ability to submit your application by 4:30:00 
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. The 
Department will contact you after a determination is made on whether 
your application will be accepted.

    Note:  The extensions to which we refer in this section apply 
only to the unavailability of, or technical problems with, the 
Grants.gov system. We will not grant you an extension if you failed 
to fully register to submit your application to Grants.gov before 
the application deadline date and time or if the technical problem 
you experienced is unrelated to the Grants.gov system.

    Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement: You qualify for an 
exception to the electronic submission requirement, and may submit your 
application in paper format, if you are unable to submit an application 
through the Grants.gov system because--
     You do not have access to the Internet; or
     You do not have the capacity to upload large documents to 
the Grants.gov system;
    and
     No later than two weeks before the application deadline 
date (14 calendar days or, if the fourteenth calendar day before the 
application deadline date falls on a Federal holiday, the next business 
day following the Federal holiday), you mail or fax a written statement 
to the Department, explaining which of the two grounds for an exception 
prevent you from using the Internet to submit your application.
    If you mail your written statement to the Department, it must be 
postmarked no later than two weeks before the application deadline 
date. If you fax your written statement to the Department, we must 
receive the faxed statement no later than two weeks before the 
application deadline date.
    Address and mail or fax your statement to: Geraldine Smith, U.S. 
Department of Education, 1990 K Street, NW., room 7000, Washington, DC 
20006-8510. FAX: (202) 502-7857.
    Your paper application must be submitted in accordance with the 
mail or hand delivery instructions described in this notice.
    b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.
    If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, you may mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a 
commercial carrier) your application to the Department. You must mail 
the original and three copies of your application, on or before the 
application deadline date, to the Department at the following address:
    U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, 
Attention: (CFDA Number 84.044A), LBJ Basement Level 1, 400 Maryland 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202-4260.
    You must show proof of mailing consisting of one of the following:
    (1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark.
    (2) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the 
U.S. Postal Service.
    (3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial 
carrier.
    (4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of the 
U.S. Department of Education.
    If you mail your application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do 
not accept either of the following as proof of mailing:
    (1) A private metered postmark.
    (2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service.
    If your application is postmarked after the application deadline 
date, we will not consider your application.

    Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated 
postmark. Before relying on this method, you should check with your 
local post office.

    c. Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery.
    If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, you (or a courier service) may deliver your paper 
application to the Department by hand. You must deliver the original 
and two copies of your application by hand, on or before the 
application deadline date, to the Department at the following address:
    U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, 
Attention: (CFDA Number 84.044A), 550 12th Street, SW., Room 7041, 
Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-4260.
    The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily 
between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, except 
Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays.

    Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications: If you 
mail or hand deliver your application to the Department--
    (1) You must indicate on the envelope and--if not provided by 
the Department--in Item 11 of the SF 424 the CFDA number, including 
suffix letter, if any, of the competition under which you are 
submitting your application; and
    (2) The Application Control Center will mail to you a 
notification of receipt of your grant application. If you do not 
receive this notification within 15 business days from the 
application deadline date, you should call the U.S. Department of 
Education Application Control Center at (202) 245-6288.

V. Application Review Information

    1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this program 
competition are in 34 CFR 643.21 and listed in the application package.

    Note: With the changes made to the Higher Education Act of 1965, 
as amended, by the Higher Education Opportunity Act, the TS Program 
objectives have been standardized. Please note that applicants are 
required to use these objectives to measure performance under the 
program. Specifically, under the ``Objectives'' selection criterion, 
34 CFR 643.21(b), worth eight points, applicants should address the 
standardized objectives related to the participants' academic 
achievements, including secondary school persistence, secondary 
school graduation with a regular secondary school diploma, secondary 
school graduation from a rigorous secondary school program of study, 
postsecondary education enrollment, and postsecondary degree 
attainment.

    2. Review and Selection Process: A panel of non-federal readers 
will review each application on the basis of the selection criteria in 
34 CFR 643.21. The individual scores of the readers will be added and 
the sum divided by the number of readers to determine the reader score 
received in the review process. In accordance with 34 CFR 643.22, the 
Secretary will award prior experience points to applicants that have 
conducted a TS Program project during budget periods 2007-08, 2008-09, 
and 2009-10, based on their documented experience. Prior experience 
points, if any, will be added to the application's averaged reader 
score to determine the total score for each application. If there are 
insufficient funds for all applications with the same total scores, per 
34 CFR 643.20(c), the Secretary will choose among the tied applications 
so as to serve geographical areas that have been underserved by the TS 
Program.
    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, 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 
also requires various assurances including those applicable to Federal 
civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs

[[Page 67709]]

or activities receiving Federal financial assistance from the 
Department of Education (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 
110.23).
    3. Special Conditions: Under 34 CFR 74.14 and 80.12, the Secretary 
may impose special 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 34 CFR parts 74 or 80, as applicable; has not fulfilled 
the conditions of a prior grant; or is otherwise not responsible.

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). We may notify you informally, also.
    If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding, 
we will 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. 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 multi-year 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 https://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
    4. Performance Measures: The success of the TS Program will be 
measured by secondary school persistence and graduation rates of TS 
Program participants, as well as postsecondary enrollment and 
completion rates. All TS Program grantees will be required to submit an 
annual performance report documenting secondary school persistence, 
secondary school graduation, and postsecondary enrollment of their 
participants. Because students may take different lengths of time to 
complete their postsecondary education, multiple years of performance 
report data are needed to determine the postsecondary completion rates 
of TS Program participants. The Department will aggregate the data 
provided in the annual performance reports from all grantees to 
determine the performance level of the overall TS Program.
    5. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award, the 
Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.253, the extent to which a 
grantee has made ``substantial progress toward meeting the objectives 
in its approved application.'' This consideration includes the review 
of a grantee's progress in meeting the targets and projected outcomes 
in its approved application, and whether the grantee has expended funds 
in a manner that is consistent with its approved application and 
budget. In making a continuation grant, 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. Agency Contacts

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Geraldine Smith or ReShone Moore, U.S. 
Department of Education, 1990 K Street, NW., suite 7000, Washington, DC 
20006-8510. Telephone: (202) 502-7600 or by e-mail: TRIO@ed.gov.
    If you use a TDD, call the FRS, toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.

VIII. Other Information

    Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this 
document and a copy of the application package in an accessible format 
(e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) on 
request to the program contact persons listed under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII of this notice.
    Electronic Access to This Document: You can view this document, as 
well as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal 
Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) on the 
Internet at the following site: https://www.ed.gov/news/fedregister. To 
use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at 
this site.

    Note: The official version of this document is the document 
published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the 
official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal 
Regulations is available on GPO Access at: https://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/.


    Dated: October 29, 2010.
Eduardo M. Ochoa,
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2010-27732 Filed 11-2-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
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