Application for New Awards; High School Equivalency Program, 69246-69251 [2011-28944]

Download as PDF mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 69246 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 216 / Tuesday, November 8, 2011 / Notices 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: Under the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA), the Department developed the following performance measures to evaluate the overall effectiveness of the CAMP: (1) The percentage of CAMP participants completing the first academic year of their postsecondary program, and (2) the percentage of CAMP participants who, after completing the first academic year of college, continue their postsecondary education. Applicants must propose annual targets for these measures in their applications. The national target for GPRA measure 1 for FY 2012 is that 86 percent of CAMP participants will complete the first academic year of their postsecondary program. The national target for GPRA measure 2 for 2012 is that 85 percent of CAMP participants will continue their postsecondary education after completing the first academic year of college. The national targets for subsequent years may be adjusted based on additional baseline data. The panel readers will score related selection criteria on the basis of how well an applicant addresses these GPRA measures. Therefore, applicants will want to consider how to VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:29 Nov 07, 2011 Jkt 226001 demonstrate a sound capacity to provide reliable data on GPRA measures, including the project’s annual performance targets for addressing the GPRA performance measures, as is required by the Office of Management and Budget approved annual performance report that is included in the application package. All grantees will be required to submit, as part of their annual performance report, information with respect to these performance measures. 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 Contact Tara Ramsey, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Migrant Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., room 3E309, Washington, DC 20202–6135. Telephone Number: (202) 260–2063, or by email: tara.ramsey@ed.gov. If you use a TDD, call the FRS, toll free, at 1–(800) 877–8339. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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 compact disc) on request to the program contact person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII of this notice. Electronic Access to This Document: 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 via the Federal Digital System at: https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys. 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 Adobe Portable PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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: https:// www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published by the Department. Dated: November 3, 2011. Michael Yudin, Acting Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education. [FR Doc. 2011–28943 Filed 11–7–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000–01–P DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Application for New Awards; High School Equivalency Program Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Department of Education. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: Overview Information High School Equivalency Program (HEP) Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2012. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.141A. Applications Available: November 8, 2011. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: January 18, 2012. Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: March 20, 2012. DATES: Full Text of Announcement I. Funding Opportunity Description Purpose of Program: The purposes of HEP are to help migrant and seasonal farmworkers and members of their immediate family: (1) Obtain a general education diploma (GED) that meets the guidelines for high school equivalency established by the State in which the HEP project is conducted, and (2) gain employment or be placed in an institution of higher education (IHE) or other postsecondary education or training. Priorities: This competition includes two competitive preference priorities and two invitational priorities. In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(ii), Competitive Preference Priority 1 is from the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) (34 CFR 75.225). In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(iv), Competitive Preference Priority 2 is from section E:\FR\FM\08NON1.SGM 08NON1 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 216 / Tuesday, November 8, 2011 / Notices 418A(e) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended by section 408(3) of the Higher Education Opportunity Act (20 U.S.C. 1070d–2(e)). The third priority is an invitational priority for applications that promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. The fourth priority is an invitational priority for applications that propose to engage faith-based and community organizations in the delivery of services under this program. Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2012 and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from this competition, these priorities are competitive preference priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we award an additional five points to an application that meets Competitive Preference Priority 1, and we award up to 15 additional points to an application, depending on how well the applicant meets Competitive Preference Priority 2. The maximum amount of competitive preference points an application can receive under this competition is 15 points. These priorities are: mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Competitive Preference Priority 1— Novice Applicant (5 Points) The applicant must be a ‘‘novice applicant,’’ as defined in 34 CFR 75.225(a). A novice applicant is defined as one who has: (i) Never received a grant or a subgrant under the HEP program; (ii) never been a member of a group application, submitted in accordance with 34 CFR 75.127–75.129, that received a grant under the HEP program; and (iii) not had an active discretionary grant from the Federal government in the five years before the deadline date for applications under the HEP program (January 18, 2012). Competitive Preference Priority 2—Prior Experience of Service Delivery (Up to 15 Points) For applicants with an expiring HEP project, the Secretary will consider the applicant’s prior experience in implementing its expiring HEP project, based on information contained in documents previously provided to the Department, such as annual performance reports, project evaluation reports, site visit reports, and the previously approved HEP application. Under this competition, we also are particularly interested in applications that address the following priorities. Invitational Priorities: For FY 2012, and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from this competition, these VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:29 Nov 07, 2011 Jkt 226001 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—Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education Projects that are designed to address one or more of the following priority areas: (a) Providing students with increased access to rigorous and engaging coursework in STEM. (b) Increasing the opportunities for high-quality preparation of, or professional development for, teachers or other educators of STEM subjects. Note: Applicants could consider activities to better prepare program participants to transition into postsecondary education, such as preparing students to pass the sections of college entrance examinations in STEMrelated subjects or counseling and tutoring services designed to motivate participants to pursue postsecondary education in STEMrelated fields. Similarly, for demonstrating professional development, applicants could propose how they intend to increase the opportunities for high-quality professional development for project instructors in mathematics and related GED instruction. Opportunities for increasing professional development of GED instructors of STEMrelated subjects could include, for example, participation in training on intensive science teaching techniques presented by a professionally credentialed expert in science education. 69247 inviting applications to allow enough time to complete the grant process if Congress appropriates funds for this program. Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2013 from the list of unfunded applicants from this competition. Estimated Range of Awards: $180,000 to $475,000. Estimated Average Size of Awards: $432,000. Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a HEP award exceeding $475,000 for any of the five single budget periods of 12 months. The Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education may change the maximum amount through a notice published in the Federal Register. Minimum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a HEP award that is less than $180,000 for any of the five single budget periods of 12 months. The Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education may change the minimum amount through a notice published in the Federal Register. Estimated Number of Awards: 3 to 4. Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice. Project Period: Up to 60 months. III. Eligibility Information Applications that propose to engage faith-based and community organizations in the delivery of services under this program. Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070d–2. Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General Education Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 82, 84, 85, 86, 97, and 99. (b) The regulations in 34 CFR part 206. (c) The definitions in 34 CFR 200.81. (d) The regulations in 20 CFR 669.110 and 669.320. 1. Eligible Applicants: IHEs or private non-profit organizations (including faith-based organizations) that plan their projects in cooperation with an IHE and propose to operate some aspects of the project with the facilities of the IHE. 2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost sharing or matching. However, consistent with 34 CFR 75.700, which requires an applicant to comply with its approved application, an applicant that proposes non-Federal matching funds and is awarded a grant must provide those funds for each year that the funds are proposed. 3. Other: Projects funded under this competition are encouraged to budget for a two-day annual meeting for HEP Directors in the Washington, DC, area during each year of the project period. Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to IHEs only. IV. Application and Submission Information Invitational Priority 2—Faith-Based and Community Organizations II. Award Information Type of Award: Discretionary grants. Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested $1,560,683 for new awards for this program for FY 2012. The actual level of funding, if any, depends on final congressional action. However, we are PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 1. Address to Request Application Package: Tara Ramsey, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Migrant Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., room 3E309, Washington, DC, 20202– 6135. Telephone: (202) 260–2063 or by email: tara.ramsey@ed.gov. The application package content also can be viewed electronically at the E:\FR\FM\08NON1.SGM 08NON1 mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 69248 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 216 / Tuesday, November 8, 2011 / Notices following address: https://www.ed.gov/ programs/hep/applicant.html. 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 compact disc) by contacting the program contact person 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 competition. Page Limit: The application narrative (Part IV of the application) is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that reviewers use to evaluate your application. Panel readers will award points only for an applicant’s response to a given selection criterion that is contained within the section of the application designated to address that particular selection criterion. Readers will not review, or award points for responses to a given selection criterion that is located in any other section of the application or the appendices. You must limit the application narrative [Part IV] to no more than 25 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. • Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings, footnotes, quotations, references, and captions. However, you may single space all text in charts, tables, figures, and graphs. Charts, tables, figures, and graphs presented in the application narrative count toward the page limit. • Use a font that is either 12 point or larger or no smaller than 10 pitch (characters per inch) throughout the entire application package. • Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, Courier New, or Arial. An application submitted in any other font (including Times Roman or Arial Narrow) will not be accepted. The 25-page limit for the project narrative does not apply to the cover sheet; the budget section, including the narrative budget justification; the assurances and certifications; or the one-page abstract. However, the page limit does apply to all of the application narrative section. VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:29 Nov 07, 2011 Jkt 226001 Our reviewers will not read any pages of your application narrative that exceed the 25-page limit. Appendices must be limited to 20 pages and must include the following: Resumes and job descriptions of key personnel. Job descriptions must include duties and minimum qualifications. Items in the appendices will only be used by the program office for the purpose of approving any future personnel changes. 3. Submission Dates and Times: Applications Available: November 8, 2011. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: January 18, 2012. Applications for grants under this competition 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: March 20, 2012. 4. Intergovernmental Review: This competition 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 competition. 5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding 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 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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 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 at the following Grants.gov Web page: https:// www.grants.gov/applicants/ get_registered.jsp. 7. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under this competition 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 High School Equivalency Program, CFDA number 84.141A, 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 email 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 E:\FR\FM\08NON1.SGM 08NON1 mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 216 / Tuesday, November 8, 2011 / Notices 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 HEP at https:// www.Grants.gov. You must search for the downloadable application package for this competition by the CFDA number. Do not include the CFDA number’s alpha suffix in your search (e.g., search for 84.141, not 84.141A). 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 competition 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 VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:29 Nov 07, 2011 Jkt 226001 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—NonConstruction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and certifications. • You must upload any narrative sections and all other attachments to your application as files in a .PDF (Portable Document) format only. If you upload a file type other than a .PDF 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 email. 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 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 69249 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 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. FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 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: Tara Ramsey, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., room 3E309, Washington, DC 20202–6135. FAX: (202) 205–0089. 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 E:\FR\FM\08NON1.SGM 08NON1 69250 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 216 / Tuesday, November 8, 2011 / Notices may mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a commercial carrier) your application to the Department. You must mail the original and two 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 84.141A, 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. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 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 84.141A, 550 12th Street, SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202–4260. The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily between 8 a.m. and 4:30 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 VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:29 Nov 07, 2011 Jkt 226001 (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 competition are from 34 CFR 75.210 of EDGAR and are listed in the application package. 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, 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 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 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 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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: Under the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA), the Department developed the following performance measures to evaluate the overall effectiveness of HEP: (1) The percentage of HEP program participants exiting the program having received a GED (GPRA 1), and (2) the percentage of HEP GED recipients who enter postsecondary education or training programs, upgraded employment, or the military (GPRA 2). Applicants must propose annual targets for these measures in their applications. The national target for GPRA measure 1 for FY 2012 is that 69 percent of HEP program participants exiting the program having received a GED credential. The national target for GPRA measure 2 for FY 2012 is that 80 percent of HEP GED recipients will enter postsecondary education or training programs, upgraded employment, or the military. The national targets for subsequent years may be adjusted based on additional baseline data. The panel readers will score related selection criteria for applicants, in part, on the basis of how well an applicant addresses these GPRA measures. Therefore, applicants should consider their capacity to provide reliable data on these measures, including the project’s annual performance targets for the GPRA measures, as required by the Office of Management and Budget approved annual performance report that is included in the application package. All E:\FR\FM\08NON1.SGM 08NON1 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 216 / Tuesday, November 8, 2011 / Notices grantees will be required to submit, as part of their annual performance report, information with respect to these GPRA measures. 5. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award, the Secretary considers, 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 Contact Tara Ramsey, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 3E309, LBJ, Washington, DC 20202– 6135. Telephone: (202) 260–2063 or by email: tara.ramsey@ed.gov If you use a TDD, call the FRS, toll free, at 1–(800) 877–8339. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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 compact disc) on request to the program contact person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII of this notice. Electronic Access to This Document: 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 via the Federal Digital System at: https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys. 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 Adobe 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: https:// www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search feature at this site, you can limit your search to VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:29 Nov 07, 2011 Jkt 226001 documents published by the Department. Dated: November 3, 2011. Michael Yudin, Acting Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education. [FR Doc. 2011–28944 Filed 11–7–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Proposed Agency Information Collection AGENCY: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Notice and request for comments. ACTION: The Department of Energy (DOE) invites public comment on a proposed collection of information that DOE is developing for submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. DATES: Comments regarding this proposed information collection must be received on or before January 9, 2012. If you anticipate difficulty in submitting comments within that period, contact the person listed in ADDRESSES as soon as possible. ADDRESSES: Written comments may be sent to Monica Neukomm, EE–20/ Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585 or by fax at (202) 586–9260 or by email at Monica.Neukomm@EE.doe.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should be directed to Monica Neukomm, EE–20/ Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, Monica.Neukomm@EE.doe.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This information collection request contains: SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 69251 (1) OMB No. New. (2) Information Collection Request Title: Department of Energy Better Buildings Challenge Information Collection Request. (3) Type of Request: New. (4) Purpose: The information being collected is needed to include participants in the Department of Energy (DOE) Better Buildings Challenge program. The Better Buildings Challenge is a voluntary leadership initiative intended to drive greater energy efficiency in the commercial and industrial marketplace to create real savings and real jobs. This will be accomplished by highlighting the ways participants overcome market barriers/persistent obstacles with replicable, marketplace solutions. The program will showcase real solutions and partner with industry leaders to better understand policy and technical opportunities. There are three types of information to be collected from ‘‘Partners,’’ the primary participant type, being: (1) Background data, including contact information, a partnership agreement form, logo(s), information needed to support public announcements, updates on participants’ showcase projects, and an energy savings goal; (2) Portfolio-wide facility-level energy performance information; and (3) Information on market innovations they are including in their energy efficiency processes. Background information will primarily be used to develop Web site content that will be publically available. Portfoliowide facility-level energy performance information will be used by DOE to measure the progress of participants in meeting the goals of the program, as well as to aggregate the change in energy performance and related metrics for the entire program. Information on market innovation will be used to highlight successful strategies participants use to overcome challenges, and will be publicly available. Additional information collected from ‘‘Allies’’ will primarily be background information that will be used to develop publically available Web site content. (5) Annual Estimated Number of Respondents: 130. (6) Annual Estimated Number of Total Responses: 710. (7) Annual Estimated Number of Burden Hours: 465. (8) Annual Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: $0. Statutory Authority: Section 421 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17081); Section 911 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, as amended (42 U.S.C. 16191). E:\FR\FM\08NON1.SGM 08NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 216 (Tuesday, November 8, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69246-69251]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-28944]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Application for New Awards; High School Equivalency Program

AGENCY: Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Department of 
Education.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Overview Information

    High School Equivalency Program (HEP)
    Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 
2012.

    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.141A.

DATES: Applications Available: November 8, 2011.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: January 18, 2012.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: March 20, 2012.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The purposes of HEP are to help migrant and 
seasonal farmworkers and members of their immediate family: (1) Obtain 
a general education diploma (GED) that meets the guidelines for high 
school equivalency established by the State in which the HEP project is 
conducted, and (2) gain employment or be placed in an institution of 
higher education (IHE) or other postsecondary education or training.
    Priorities: This competition includes two competitive preference 
priorities and two invitational priorities. In accordance with 34 CFR 
75.105(b)(2)(ii), Competitive Preference Priority 1 is from the 
Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) (34 CFR 
75.225). In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(iv), Competitive 
Preference Priority 2 is from section

[[Page 69247]]

418A(e) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended by section 
408(3) of the Higher Education Opportunity Act (20 U.S.C. 1070d-2(e)). 
The third priority is an invitational priority for applications that 
promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) 
education. The fourth priority is an invitational priority for 
applications that propose to engage faith-based and community 
organizations in the delivery of services under this program.
    Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2012 and any subsequent 
year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from 
this competition, these priorities are competitive preference 
priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we award an additional five 
points to an application that meets Competitive Preference Priority 1, 
and we award up to 15 additional points to an application, depending on 
how well the applicant meets Competitive Preference Priority 2. The 
maximum amount of competitive preference points an application can 
receive under this competition is 15 points.
    These priorities are:

Competitive Preference Priority 1--Novice Applicant (5 Points)

    The applicant must be a ``novice applicant,'' as defined in 34 CFR 
75.225(a). A novice applicant is defined as one who has: (i) Never 
received a grant or a subgrant under the HEP program; (ii) never been a 
member of a group application, submitted in accordance with 34 CFR 
75.127-75.129, that received a grant under the HEP program; and (iii) 
not had an active discretionary grant from the Federal government in 
the five years before the deadline date for applications under the HEP 
program (January 18, 2012).

Competitive Preference Priority 2--Prior Experience of Service Delivery 
(Up to 15 Points)

    For applicants with an expiring HEP project, the Secretary will 
consider the applicant's prior experience in implementing its expiring 
HEP project, based on information contained in documents previously 
provided to the Department, such as annual performance reports, project 
evaluation reports, site visit reports, and the previously approved HEP 
application.
    Under this competition, we also are particularly interested in 
applications that address the following priorities.
    Invitational Priorities: For FY 2012, and any subsequent year in 
which we make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from this 
competition, 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--Science, Technology, Engineering and 
Mathematics Education

    Projects that are designed to address one or more of the following 
priority areas:
    (a) Providing students with increased access to rigorous and 
engaging coursework in STEM.
    (b) Increasing the opportunities for high-quality preparation of, 
or professional development for, teachers or other educators of STEM 
subjects.


    Note: Applicants could consider activities to better prepare 
program participants to transition into postsecondary education, 
such as preparing students to pass the sections of college entrance 
examinations in STEM-related subjects or counseling and tutoring 
services designed to motivate participants to pursue postsecondary 
education in STEM-related fields. Similarly, for demonstrating 
professional development, applicants could propose how they intend 
to increase the opportunities for high-quality professional 
development for project instructors in mathematics and related GED 
instruction. Opportunities for increasing professional development 
of GED instructors of STEM-related subjects could include, for 
example, participation in training on intensive science teaching 
techniques presented by a professionally credentialed expert in 
science education.

Invitational Priority 2--Faith-Based and Community Organizations

    Applications that propose to engage faith-based and community 
organizations in the delivery of services under this program. Program 
Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070d-2.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Education Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 82, 84, 
85, 86, 97, and 99. (b) The regulations in 34 CFR part 206. (c) The 
definitions in 34 CFR 200.81. (d) The regulations in 20 CFR 669.110 and 
669.320.


    Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to IHEs only.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested 
$1,560,683 for new awards for this program for FY 2012. 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.
    Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of 
applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2013 from the list of 
unfunded applicants from this competition.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $180,000 to $475,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $432,000.
    Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a HEP 
award exceeding $475,000 for any of the five single budget periods of 
12 months. The Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary 
Education may change the maximum amount through a notice published in 
the Federal Register.
    Minimum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a HEP 
award that is less than $180,000 for any of the five single budget 
periods of 12 months. The Assistant Secretary for Elementary and 
Secondary Education may change the minimum amount through a notice 
published in the Federal Register.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 3 to 4.


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

    Project Period: Up to 60 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: IHEs or private non-profit organizations 
(including faith-based organizations) that plan their projects in 
cooperation with an IHE and propose to operate some aspects of the 
project with the facilities of the IHE.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost 
sharing or matching. However, consistent with 34 CFR 75.700, which 
requires an applicant to comply with its approved application, an 
applicant that proposes non-Federal matching funds and is awarded a 
grant must provide those funds for each year that the funds are 
proposed.
    3. Other: Projects funded under this competition are encouraged to 
budget for a two-day annual meeting for HEP Directors in the 
Washington, DC, area during each year of the project period.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: Tara Ramsey, U.S. 
Department of Education, Office of Migrant Education, 400 Maryland 
Avenue SW., room 3E309, Washington, DC, 20202-6135. Telephone: (202) 
260-2063 or by email: tara.ramsey@ed.gov.
    The application package content also can be viewed electronically 
at the

[[Page 69248]]

following address: https://www.ed.gov/programs/hep/applicant.html.
    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 compact disc) by contacting the program contact person 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 
competition. Page Limit: The application narrative (Part IV of the 
application) is where you, the applicant, address the selection 
criteria that reviewers use to evaluate your application. Panel readers 
will award points only for an applicant's response to a given selection 
criterion that is contained within the section of the application 
designated to address that particular selection criterion. Readers will 
not review, or award points for responses to a given selection 
criterion that is located in any other section of the application or 
the appendices. You must limit the application narrative [Part IV] to 
no more than 25 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.
     Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) 
all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings, 
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions. However, you may 
single space all text in charts, tables, figures, and graphs. Charts, 
tables, figures, and graphs presented in the application narrative 
count toward the page limit.
     Use a font that is either 12 point or larger or no smaller 
than 10 pitch (characters per inch) throughout the entire application 
package.
     Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, 
Courier New, or Arial. An application submitted in any other font 
(including Times Roman or Arial Narrow) will not be accepted.
    The 25-page limit for the project narrative does not apply to the 
cover sheet; the budget section, including the narrative budget 
justification; the assurances and certifications; or the one-page 
abstract. However, the page limit does apply to all of the application 
narrative section.
    Our reviewers will not read any pages of your application narrative 
that exceed the 25-page limit.
    Appendices must be limited to 20 pages and must include the 
following: Resumes and job descriptions of key personnel. Job 
descriptions must include duties and minimum qualifications. Items in 
the appendices will only be used by the program office for the purpose 
of approving any future personnel changes.
    3. Submission Dates and Times: Applications Available: November 8, 
2011. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: January 18, 2012.
    Applications for grants under this competition 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: March 20, 2012.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: This competition 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 
competition.
    5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding 
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 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 at the 
following Grants.gov Web page: https://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp.
    7. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under 
this competition 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 High School Equivalency Program, 
CFDA number 84.141A, 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 email 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

[[Page 69249]]

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 HEP at https://www.Grants.gov. You must search for the downloadable application 
package for this competition by the CFDA number. Do not include the 
CFDA number's alpha suffix in your search (e.g., search for 84.141, not 
84.141A).
    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 competition 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 upload any narrative sections and all other 
attachments to your application as files in a .PDF (Portable Document) 
format only. If you upload a file type other than a .PDF 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 email. 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 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: Tara Ramsey, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., room 3E309, 
Washington, DC 20202-6135. FAX: (202) 205-0089.
    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

[[Page 69250]]

may mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a commercial carrier) your 
application to the Department. You must mail the original and two 
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 84.141A, 
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 84.141A, 550 12th Street, SW., Room 7041, 
Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-4260.
    The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily 
between 8 a.m. and 4:30 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 competition 
are from 34 CFR 75.210 of EDGAR and are listed in the application 
package.
    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, 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 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 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: Under the Government Performance and 
Results Act of 1993 (GPRA), the Department developed the following 
performance measures to evaluate the overall effectiveness of HEP: (1) 
The percentage of HEP program participants exiting the program having 
received a GED (GPRA 1), and (2) the percentage of HEP GED recipients 
who enter postsecondary education or training programs, upgraded 
employment, or the military (GPRA 2).
    Applicants must propose annual targets for these measures in their 
applications. The national target for GPRA measure 1 for FY 2012 is 
that 69 percent of HEP program participants exiting the program having 
received a GED credential. The national target for GPRA measure 2 for 
FY 2012 is that 80 percent of HEP GED recipients will enter 
postsecondary education or training programs, upgraded employment, or 
the military. The national targets for subsequent years may be adjusted 
based on additional baseline data. The panel readers will score related 
selection criteria for applicants, in part, on the basis of how well an 
applicant addresses these GPRA measures. Therefore, applicants should 
consider their capacity to provide reliable data on these measures, 
including the project's annual performance targets for the GPRA 
measures, as required by the Office of Management and Budget approved 
annual performance report that is included in the application package. 
All

[[Page 69251]]

grantees will be required to submit, as part of their annual 
performance report, information with respect to these GPRA measures.
    5. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award, the 
Secretary considers, 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 Contact

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tara Ramsey, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 3E309, LBJ, Washington, DC 
20202-6135. Telephone: (202) 260-2063 or by email: tara.ramsey@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 compact disc) on request to 
the program contact person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
in section VII of this notice.
    Electronic Access to This Document: 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 via the Federal Digital System 
at: https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys. 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 Adobe 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: https://www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search 
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published 
by the Department.

    Dated: November 3, 2011.
Michael Yudin,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2011-28944 Filed 11-7-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
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