Applications for New Awards; Training Program for Federal TRIO Programs, 28360-28366 [2012-11621]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 93 (Monday, May 14, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28360-28366]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-11621]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Training Program for Federal TRIO 
Programs

AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice.

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Overview Information

    Training Program for Federal TRIO Programs (Training Program).
    Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 
2012.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.103A.

DATES: 
    Applications Available: May 14, 2012.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 13, 2012.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: August 13, 2012.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The Training Program provides grants to train 
the staff and leadership personnel employed in, participating in, or 
preparing for employment in, projects funded under the Federal TRIO 
Programs to improve the operation of these projects.
    Priorities: This notice contains five absolute priorities and three 
competitive preference priorities. In accordance with 34 CFR 
75.105(b)(2)(iv) and 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(ii), the absolute priorities 
are from section 402G(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as 
amended (HEA), and the regulations for this program (34 CFR 642.24). 
The competitive preference priorities are from the Department's notice 
of final supplemental priorities and definitions for discretionary 
grant programs, published in the Federal Register on December 15, 2010 
(75 FR 78486), and corrected on May 12, 2011 (76 FR 27637).

    Note:  Each year, the Training Program projects must offer 
training covering every topic listed within the applicable priority 
or priorities. And, each year, one or more Training Program projects 
must provide training for new project directors. Each applicant must 
identify in its application how it will meet this requirement as 
provided in 34 CFR 642.11.

    Absolute Priorities: For FY 2012 and any subsequent year in which 
the Department makes awards from the list of unfunded applicants from 
this competition, these priorities are absolute priorities. Under 34 
CFR 75.105(c)(3), we consider only applications that meet these 
priorities. Each application must address one of these absolute 
priorities. An applicant must submit a separate application for each 
absolute priority it proposes to address.
    These priorities are:
    Absolute Priority 1. Training to improve: Reporting student and 
project performance; and the rigorous evaluation of project performance 
in order to design and operate a model TRIO project.
    Number of expected awards: 1.
    Maximum award amount: $250,000.
    Absolute Priority 2. Training on: Budget management, and the 
statutory

[[Page 28361]]

and regulatory requirements for operation of projects funded under the 
Federal TRIO Programs.
    Number of expected awards: 1.
    Maximum award amount: $250,000.
    Absolute Priority 3. Training on: Assessment of student needs; 
retention and graduation strategies, including both secondary and 
postsecondary retention and graduation strategies; and the use of 
appropriate educational technology in the operation of projects funded 
under the Federal TRIO programs.
    Number of expected awards: 1.
    Maximum award amount: $325,000.
    Absolute Priority 4. Training on: Assisting students in receiving 
adequate financial aid from programs assisted under Title IV of the HEA 
and from other programs; college and university admissions policies and 
procedures; and proven strategies to improve the financial literacy and 
economic literacy of students, including topics such as basic personal 
finance information, household money management and financial planning 
skills, and basic economic decision making skills.
    Number of expected awards: 1.
    Maximum award amount: $250,000.
    Absolute Priority 5. Training on: Strategies for recruiting and 
serving hard to reach populations--including students who are limited 
English proficient, students from groups that are traditionally 
underrepresented in postsecondary education, students who are 
individuals with disabilities, students who are homeless children and 
youths (as this term is defined in Section 725 of the McKinney-Vento 
Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a), students who are foster 
care youth, or other disconnected students.
    Number of expected awards: 1.
    Maximum award amount: $325,000.
    Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2012 and any subsequent 
year in which the Department makes 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 up to an 
additional five points to an application that meets Competitive 
Preference Priority 1, up to an additional five points to an 
application that meets Competitive Preference Priority 2, and up to an 
additional five points to an application that meets Competitive 
Preference Priority 3, depending on how well the application meets each 
of these priorities. The maximum competitive preference points an 
application can receive under this competition is 10. An applicant 
submitting an application under Absolute Priority 1 may apply using 
only Competitive Preference Priorities 2 or 3 or both. An applicant 
submitting an application under Absolute Priority 2 may apply using 
only competitive Preference Priority 3. An applicant submitting an 
application under Absolute Priorities 3, 4, or 5 may apply using all 
three Competitive Preference Priorities.
    These priorities are:

Competitive Preference Priority 1--Turning Around Persistently Lowest-
Achieving Schools (Up to 5 Additional Points)

    Background: The Department is using Competitive Preference Priority 
1 because an essential element in strengthening our education system is 
dramatic improvement of student performance in each State's 
persistently lowest-achieving schools. These schools often require 
intensive interventions to improve the school culture and climate, 
strengthen the school staff and instructional program, increase student 
attendance and enrollment in advanced courses, provide more time for 
learning, and ensure that social services and community support are 
available for students in order to raise student achievement, 
graduation rates, and college enrollment rates.
    Competitive Preference Priority 1: Projects that are designed to 
address one or more of the following priority areas:
    (a) Improving student achievement (as defined in this notice) in 
persistently lowest-achieving schools (as defined in this notice).
    (b) Increasing graduation rates (as defined in this notice) and 
college enrollment rates for students in persistently lowest-achieving 
schools (as defined in this notice).
    (c) Providing services to students enrolled in persistently lowest-
achieving schools (as defined in this notice).

    Note 1: For the purposes of this priority, the Department 
considers schools that are identified as Tier I or Tier II schools 
under the School Improvement Grants Program (see 75 FR 66363) as 
part of a State's approved FY 2009 or FY 2010 applications to be 
persistently lowest-achieving schools. A list of these Tier I and 
Tier II schools can be found on the Department's Web site at https://www2.ed.gov/programs/sif/.


    Note 2: Applicants choosing to address this priority might want 
to consider describing how they will train project directors, 
project staff, high school staff, and personnel of Upward Bound and 
Talent Search projects to turn around persistently lowest-achieving 
schools. Training must focus on services and activities that are 
authorized in the legislation and relevant to high school students. 
Training may be provided on basic skills instruction, counseling, 
assessment of student needs, college and university admissions, 
student financial aid, tutorial programs, and the coordination of 
project activities with other available resources and activities.

Competitive Preference Priority 2--Enabling More Data-Based Decision-
Making (Up to 5 Additional Points)

    Background: The Department is using Competitive Preference Priority 
2 because the Department believes that the effective use of data to 
make informed decisions is essential to the continuous improvement of 
educational results. We believe that inclusion of this competitive 
preference priority is important because accurate, timely, relevant, 
and appropriate data are key to knowing what is working for students 
and what is not. Data can show which students are on track to college- 
and career-readiness and which students need additional support, which 
instructional strategies are working, and which schools or institutions 
are successfully improving student learning and performance. Data can 
also show which teachers or faculty excel in increasing student 
achievement so that they can, for example, be given the opportunity to 
coach others or to lead communities of professional practice.
    The Training Program grant competition represents an opportunity to 
develop training for TRIO project directors and the high school staff/
personnel with whom they work to strengthen their capacity to make 
data-based decisions for their TRIO projects. TRIO grantees must set 
project objectives that are based on verifiable data taken from 
reliable sources that will be measured by cohort or class over time. In 
addition, all TRIO grantees are required to report project outcomes 
relative to their approved objectives in their Annual Performance 
Reports. All grantees use standard approved objectives that are 
measurable longitudinally and individual student data can be aggregated 
in many programs. Therefore, it is essential that grantees know how to 
use data obtained from State longitudinal systems or third parties to 
compare and contrast the efficacy of the performance and delivery of 
student services. Moreover, as they analyze project data to find ways 
of improving and enhancing reliable reporting on student outcomes, 
having access to and using data from local and State longitudinal 
databases are invaluable for TRIO projects in succeeding years of the 
grant cycle. Grantees can also use data to identify best practices. In 
sum, having access to and using reliable State or third-party data 
sources is a key component of

[[Page 28362]]

running an efficient and effective TRIO project.
    Competitive Preference Priority 2: Projects that are designed to 
collect (or obtain), analyze, and use high-quality and timely data, 
including data on program participant outcomes, in accordance with 
privacy requirements (as defined in this notice), in one or more of the 
following priority areas:
    (a) Improving postsecondary student outcomes relating to 
enrollment, persistence, and completion and leading to career success.
    (b) Providing reliable and comprehensive information on the 
implementation of Department of Education programs, and participant 
outcomes in these programs, by using data from State longitudinal data 
systems or by obtaining data from reliable third-party sources.

Competitive Preference Priority 3--Improving Productivity (Up to 5 
Additional Points)

    Background: The Department is using Competitive Preference Priority 
3--Improving Productivity because it believes that it is more important 
than ever to support TRIO projects that are designed to significantly 
increase efficiency in the use of resources while improving student 
outcomes. A key performance measure for the Training Program is its 
cost effectiveness, based on the number of TRIO project personnel 
receiving training each year. Furthermore, cost per participant is 
considered in all TRIO programs. Applicants proposing projects designed 
to offer increased opportunities to provide high-quality training for 
more individuals--that is, decrease their cost per participant while 
improving participant outcomes will be more likely to perform well on 
this efficiency measure.
    The Department is also emphasizing productivity in other TRIO 
competitions for 2012. Accordingly, both new and existing grantees will 
need assistance learning about, selecting, and implementing strategies 
that can help them be more productive while improving student outcomes. 
As such, we are interested in projects that propose to work with 
projects to adopt productivity improving strategies.
    Competitive Preference Priority 3: Projects that are designed to 
significantly increase efficiency in the use of time, staff, money, or 
other resources while improving student learning or other educational 
outcomes (i.e., outcome per unit of resource). Such projects may 
include innovative and sustainable uses of technology, modification of 
school schedules and teacher compensation systems, use of open 
educational resources (as defined in this notice), or other strategies.

    Note 1: The types of projects identified above are suggestions 
for ways to improve productivity. The Department recognizes that 
some of these examples, such as modification of teacher compensation 
systems, may not be relevant within the context of a particular 
application. Therefore, applicants addressing this priority might 
want to consider explaining how they will provide training 
opportunities to the same or an increased number of individuals at a 
lower cost per participant while improving the quality of their 
training support. Applicants might also want to consider describing 
how they will achieve this productivity by increasing efficiency in 
the use of resources.

    Maximum number of applications: In accordance with 34 CFR 642.7, 
each application must clearly identify the specific absolute priority 
for which a grant is requested and must address each of the topics 
listed under that specific absolute priority. An application for a 
grant under a specific absolute priority must address only that 
absolute priority. A grantee who wants to apply under more than one 
absolute priority must submit separate applications for each absolute 
priority. If an applicant submits more than one application for the 
same absolute priority, we will accept only the application with the 
latest ``date/time received'' validation, and we will reject all other 
applications the applicant submits for that priority.
    For example, an application for a grant under Absolute Priority 1 
must address only training described under that priority.
    Definitions: These definitions are from the notice of final 
supplemental priorities and definitions for discretionary grant 
programs, published in the Federal Register on December 15, 2010 (75 FR 
78486), and corrected on May 12, 2011 (76 FR 27637), and they apply to 
the competitive preference priorities in this competition.
    Graduation rate means a four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate 
consistent with 34 CFR 200.19(b)(1) and may also include an extended-
year adjusted cohort graduation rate consistent with 34 CFR 
200.19(b)(1)(v) if the State in which the proposed project is 
implemented has been approved by the Secretary to use such a rate under 
Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as 
amended (ESEA).
    Open educational resources means teaching, learning, and research 
resources that reside in the public domain or have been released under 
an intellectual property license that permits their free use or 
repurposing by others.
    Persistently lowest-achieving schools means, as determined by the 
State: (i) Any Title I school in improvement, corrective action, or 
restructuring that (a) is among the lowest-achieving five percent of 
Title I schools in improvement, corrective action, or restructuring or 
the lowest-achieving five Title I schools in improvement, corrective 
action, or restructuring in the State, whichever number of schools is 
greater; or (b) is a high school that has had a graduation rate as 
defined in 34 CFR 200.19(b) that is less than 60 percent over a number 
of years; and (ii) any secondary school that is eligible for, but does 
not receive, Title I funds that: (a) Is among the lowest-achieving five 
percent of secondary schools or the lowest-achieving five secondary 
schools in the State that are eligible for, but do not receive, Title I 
funds, whichever number of schools is greater; or (b) is a high school 
that has had a graduation rate as defined in 34 CFR 200.19(b) that is 
less than 60 percent over a number of years.
    To identify the persistently lowest achieving schools, a State must 
take into account both: (i) The academic achievement of the ``all 
students'' group in a school in terms of proficiency on the State's 
assessments under Section 1111(b)(3) of the ESEA in reading/language 
arts and mathematics combined; and (ii) the school's lack of progress 
on those assessments over a number of years in the ``all students'' 
group.
    Privacy requirements means the requirements of the Family 
Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), 20 U.S.C. 1232g, and its 
implementing regulations in 34 CFR part 99, the Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. 
552a, as well as all applicable Federal, State, and local requirements 
regarding privacy.
    Student achievement means--
    (a) For tested grades and subjects: (1) A student's score on the 
State's assessments under the ESEA; and, as appropriate, (2) other 
measures of student learning, such as those described in paragraph (b) 
of this definition, provided they are rigorous and comparable across 
schools.
    (b) For non-tested grades and subjects: alternative measures of 
student learning and performance, such as student scores on pre-tests 
and end-of-course tests; student performance on English language 
proficiency assessments; and other measures of student achievement that 
are rigorous and comparable across schools.

    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070a-11 and 1070a-17.


[[Page 28363]]


    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 
82, 84, 86, 97, 98 and 99. (b) The Education Department suspension and 
debarment regulations in 2 CFR part 3485. (c) The regulations for this 
program in 34 CFR part 642. (d) The notice of final supplemental 
priorities and definitions for discretionary grant programs, published 
in the Federal Register on December 15, 2010 (75 FR 78486), and 
corrected on May 12, 2011 (76 FR 27637).

    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: $1,400,000.
    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.
    Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a 
budget exceeding the maximum award amount listed for the applicable 
priority, listed as follows, for a single budget period of 12 months:
     Absolute Priority 1: $250,000.
     Absolute Priority 2: $250,000.
     Absolute Priority 3: $325,000.
     Absolute Priority 4: $250,000.
     Absolute Priority 5: $325,000.

    The Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education may change the 
maximum award amount through a notice published in the Federal 
Register.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 5.

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

    Project Period: Up to 24 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: Institutions of higher education and other 
public and private nonprofit institutions and organizations.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost 
sharing or matching.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address To Request Application Package: Suzanne Ulmer, U.S. 
Department of Education, 1990 K Street NW., Room 7000, Washington, DC 
20006-8510. Telephone: (202) 502-7600 or by email: TRIO@ed.gov.
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text 
telephone (TTY), 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 program.
    Page Limit: The application narrative 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 50 pages. However, any application addressing the competitive 
preference priorities may include up to four additional pages for each 
priority addressed in a separate section of the application submission 
to discuss how the application meets the competitive preference 
priority or priorities. These additional pages cannot be used for or 
transferred to the project narrative. Partial pages will count as a 
full page toward the page limit. For purposes of determining compliance 
with the page limit, each page on which there are words will be counted 
as one full page. Applicants must use 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 project narrative, including titles, headings, 
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in 
figures and graphs. Text in charts and tables may be single-spaced. You 
should also include a table of contents in the project narrative, which 
will not be counted against the 50-page limit.
     Use a font that is either 12 point or larger, or no 
smaller than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
     Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, 
Courier New, or Arial. 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); Part III-A--the Program Profile form; Part 
III-B--the one-page Project Abstract form; and Part IV--the Assurances 
and Certifications. If you include any attachments or appendices, these 
items will be counted as part of Part III--the Project Narrative for 
purposes of the page limit requirement. You must include your complete 
response to the selection criteria and priorities in Part III--The 
Project Narrative.
    We will reject your application if you exceed the page limit.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: May 14, 2012.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 13, 2012.
    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: August 13, 2012.
    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 
part 642.31. We reference additional 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--

[[Page 28364]]

    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: www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp.
    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 Training Program--CFDA Number 
84.103A 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 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 Training 
Program at 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 84.103, 
not 84.103A).
    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 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) read-only, non-modifiable format. Do not upload an interactive 
or fillable PDF file. If you upload a file type other than a read-only, 
non-modifiable 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

[[Page 28365]]

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: Eileen Bland, 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 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 84.103A), 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 84.103A) 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.


    Note: Applicants must include in the one-page abstract submitted 
with the application a statement indicating which competitive 
preference priorities they have addressed. The priorities addressed 
in the application must also be listed on the Training Program 
Profile Sheet.

V. Application Review Information

    1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this program are 
in 34 CFR 642.21 and are listed in the application package.
    2. Review and Selection Process: A panel of non-Federal reviewers 
will review each application in accordance with the selection criteria 
in 34 CFR 642.21. The individual scores of the reviewers will be added 
and the sum divided by the number of reviewers to determine the peer 
review score received in the review process. Additionally, in 
accordance with 34 CFR 642.22, the Secretary will award prior 
experience points to eligible applicants by evaluating the applicant's 
current performance under its expiring Training program grant. Pursuant 
to 34 CFR 642.22(b)(1), prior experience points, if any, will be added 
to the application's averaged peer review score to determine the total 
score for each application.
    Under Section 402A(c)(3) of the HEA, the Secretary is not required 
to make awards under the Training Program for Federal TRIO Programs in 
the order of the scores received by the application in the peer review 
process and adjusted for prior experience.
    In the event a tie score exists, the Secretary will select for 
funding the applicant that has the greatest capacity to provide 
training to eligible participants in all regions of the Nation in order 
to assure accessibility to the greatest number of prospective training 
participants, consistent with 34 CFR 642.20(e).
    3. Special Conditions: Under 34 CFR 74.14 and 80.12, the Secretary 
may

[[Page 28366]]

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) 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 Training Program is 
measured by its cost-effectiveness based on the number of TRIO project 
personnel receiving training each year; the percentage of Training 
Program participants that, each year, evaluate the training as 
benefiting them in increasing their qualifications and skills in 
meeting the needs of disadvantaged students; and the percentage of 
Training Program participants that, each year, evaluate the trainings 
as benefiting them in increasing their knowledge and understanding of 
the Federal TRIO Programs. All grantees will be required to submit an 
annual performance report documenting their success in training 
personnel working on TRIO-funded projects, including the average cost 
per trainee and the trainees' evaluations of the effectiveness of the 
training provided. The success of the Training Program also is assessed 
on the quantitative and qualitative outcomes of the training projects 
based on project evaluation results.
    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: Suzanne Ulmer, or if unavailable, 
contact Eileen S. Bland, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street 
NW., room 7000, Washington, DC 20006-8510. Telephone: (202) 502-7600 or 
by email: TRIO@ed.gov.
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text 
telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service (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 
one of the program contact persons 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: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site you can view this document, as well 
as 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 this 
site.
    You may also access documents of the Department published in the 
Federal Register by using the article search feature at: 
www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search 
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published 
by the Department.

    Dated: May 9, 2012.
Eduardo M. Ochoa,
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2012-11621 Filed 5-11-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P