Applications for New Awards; Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad (DDRA) Fellowship Program, 25705-25710 [2013-10418]

Download as PDF sroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 85 / Thursday, May 2, 2013 / Notices Research and Engineering announces a proposed extension of a public information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. 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 information collection; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including through use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. DATES: Consideration will be given to all comments received by July 1, 2013. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number and title, by any of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. • Mail: Federal Docket Management System Office, 4800 Mark Center Drive, East Tower, Suite 02G09, Alexandria, VA 22350–3100. Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name, docket number and title for this Federal Register document. The general policy for comments and other submissions from members of the public is to make these submissions available for public viewing on the Internet at https:// www.regulations.gov as they are received without change, including any personal identifiers or contact information. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request more information on this proposed information collection or to obtain a copy of the proposal and associated collection instruments, write to Department of Defense Basic Research Office, ATTN: Dr. Mark Herbst, 4800 Mark Center Drive, Suite 17C–08, Alexandria, VA, or call Dr. Herbst at 571–372–6547. Title, Associated Form, and OMB Number: Representations to Implement Appropriation Act Provisions on Felony Convictions and Unpaid Federal Tax Liabilities, OMB Control Number 0704– 0494. Needs and Uses: The information collection will enable DoD awarding officials to exercise due diligence and continue to comply with provisions of three Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 appropriations acts that make funds available to DoD Components for obligation, as well as similar provisions that future years’ appropriations acts VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:50 May 01, 2013 Jkt 229001 may include. The details of the provisions in the three FY 2012 acts vary somewhat but they generally require DoD to consider suspension or debarment before using appropriated funding to enter into a grant or cooperative agreement with a corporation if the awarding official is aware that the corporation has an unpaid federal tax liability or was convicted of a felony criminal violation within the preceding 24 months. The FY 2012 provisions are in: • Sections 8124 and 8125 of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2012 (Division A of Pub. L. 112–74, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2012); • Section 514 of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2012 (Division H of Pub. L. 112–74); and • Sections 504 and 505 of the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, 2012 (Division B of Pub. L. 112– 74). Affected Public: Primary affected public is comprised of Not-For-Profit institutions, but may also include any other entity that submits an application or proposal to a DoD Component that may result in the award of a grant or cooperative agreement using funds subject to a relevant appropriation act provision. Annual Burden Hours: 1,250 hours. Number of Respondents: Estimated 2,500. Responses per Respondent: 6 on average with a wide variation across entities. Annual Responses: Estimated 15,000. Average Burden Per Response: 5 minutes. Frequency: On occasion. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Summary of Information Collection Respondents are entities submitting applications or proposals to Department of Defense Components that may result in the award of grants or cooperative agreements. Each entity under a competitive program will be required to submit representations with its application or proposal to disclose whether it is a corporation that has an outstanding tax liability or has been convicted of a felony criminal violation within the past 24 months. Most applicants for DoD awards submit electronic applications through Grants.gov and the representations would be electronically attached to the applicant’s SF 424 (OMB Control Number 4040–0004). A memorandum to DoD Components from the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering specifies PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 25705 wording of the representations to be used for continuing obligations of FY 2012 appropriations and provides guidance on tailoring of the wording, if needed, to conform to provisions of future appropriations acts. The memorandum may be viewed at the DoD Basic Research Office Web site (https://www.acq.osd.mil/rd/ basic_research/funding/documents/ appropriations_act_provisions.pdf). An awarding official prior to making a grant or cooperative agreement award will use the information provided by the representations in judging whether the entity recommended to receive the award is eligible to do so—i.e., to decide whether the agency must first consider suspension or debarment of the entity and determine that further action is not necessary to protect the interests of the Government. An entity that fails to submit a required representation therefore will be ineligible to receive a grant or cooperative agreement from the agency. Dated: April 25, 2013. Aaron Siegel, Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense. [FR Doc. 2013–10356 Filed 5–1–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 5001–06–P DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Applications for New Awards; Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad (DDRA) Fellowship Program Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: Overview Information: Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad (DDRA) Fellowship Program Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2013. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.022A. DATES: Applications Available: May 2, 2013. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 3, 2013. Full Text of Announcement I. Funding Opportunity Description Purpose of Program: The FulbrightHays DDRA Fellowship Program provides opportunities to doctoral candidates to engage in full-time dissertation research abroad in modern foreign languages and area studies. The program is designed to contribute to the development and improvement of the E:\FR\FM\02MYN1.SGM 02MYN1 sroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 25706 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 85 / Thursday, May 2, 2013 / Notices study of modern foreign languages and area studies in the United States. Priorities: This notice contains one absolute priority, two competitive preference priorities, and one invitational priority, which are described in the following paragraphs. In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(ii), the absolute and competitive preference priorities are from the regulations for this program (34 CFR 662.21(d)). Absolute Priority: For FY 2013, this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), we consider only applications that meet this priority. This priority is: A research project that focuses on one or more of the following geographic areas: Africa, East Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands, South Asia, the Near East, Central and Eastern Europe and Eurasia, and the Western Hemisphere (excluding the United States and its territories). Please note that applications that propose projects focused on the following countries are not eligible: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, or Vatican City. Competitive Preference Priorities: Within this absolute priority, we give competitive preference to applications that address one or both of the following priorities. For FY 2013, these priorities are competitive preference priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i) and 34 CFR 662.21(d)(2), we award an additional five points to an application for each competitive preference priority it meets (up to 10 additional points). These priorities are: Competitive Preference Priority 1 (5 points): A research project that focuses on any of the 78 languages selected from the U.S. Department of Education’s list of Less Commonly Taught Languages (LCTLs), as follows: Akan (Twi-Fante), Albanian, Amharic, Arabic (all dialects), Armenian, Azeri (Azerbaijani), Balochi, Bamanakan (Bamana, Bambara, Mandikan, Mandingo, Maninka, Dyula), Belarusian, Bengali (Bangla), Berber (all languages), Bosnian, Bulgarian, Burmese, Cebuano (Visayan), Chechen, Chinese (Cantonese), Chinese (Gan), Chinese (Mandarin), Chinese (Min), Chinese (Wu), Croatian, Dari, Dinka, Georgian, Gujarati, Hausa, Hebrew (Modern), Hindi, Igbo, Indonesian, Japanese, Javanese, Kannada, Kashmiri, Kazakh, Khmer (Cambodian), Kirghiz, VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:50 May 01, 2013 Jkt 229001 Korean, Kurdish (Kurmanji), Kurdish (Sorani), Lao, Malay (Bahasa Melayu or Malaysian), Malayalam, Marathi, Mongolian, Nepali, Oromo, Panjabi, Pashto, Persian (Farsi), Polish, Portuguese (all varieties), Quechua, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Sinhala (Sinhalese), Somali, Swahili, Tagalog, Tajik, Tamil, Telugu, Thai, Tibetan, Tigrigna, Turkish, Turkmen, Ukrainian, Urdu, Uyghur/Uigur, Uzbek, Vietnamese, Wolof, Xhosa, Yoruba, and Zulu. Competitive Preference Priority 2 (5 points): Research projects that are proposed by applicants using advanced language proficiency in one of the 78 LCTLs listed in Competitive Preference Priority 1 in their research and who are in the fields of economics, engineering, international development, global education, mathematics, political science, public health, science, or technology. Invitational Priority: We encourage applications from minority-serving institutions as well as other institutions that promote the participation of students from minority backgrounds in research abroad projects in foreign languages and international studies. Program Authority: 22 U.S.C. 2452(b)(6). Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 81, 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 662. Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of higher education (IHEs) only. II. Award Information Type of Award: Discretionary grants redistributed as fellowships to individual beneficiaries. Note: As part of its FY 2013 budget request, the Administration proposed to continue to allow funds to be used to support the applications of individuals who plan both to utilize their language skills in world areas vital to United States national security and to apply their language skills and knowledge of these countries in the fields of government, international development, and the professions. Therefore, students planning to apply their language skills in such fields and those planning teaching careers are eligible to apply for this program. Estimated Available Funds: $3,036,237. Estimated Range of Fellowship Awards: $15,000 to $60,000. Estimated Average Size of Fellowship Awards: $35,305. PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Estimated Number of Fellowship Awards: 86. Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice. Project Period: The institutional project period is 18 months, beginning October 1, 2013. Students may request funding for a period of no less than 6 months and no more than 12 months. III. Eligibility Information 1. Eligible Applicants: IHEs. As part of the application process, students submit individual applications to the IHE. The IHE then officially submits all eligible individual student applications with its grant application to the Department. 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: Both IHEs and student applicants can obtain an application package via the Internet at www.G5.gov or from Stephanie McKissic, International and Foreign Language Education, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street NW., Room 6069, Washington, DC 20006–8521. Telephone: (202) 502–7589; or, by email: ddra@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 the applicant must submit, are in the application package for this program. Page Limit: The application narrative is where the student applicant addresses the selection criteria that reviewers use to evaluate the application. The student applicant must limit the application narrative to no more than 10 pages and the bibliography to no more than 2 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. However, student applicants may single space all text in charts, tables, figures, graphs, titles, headings, footnotes, endnotes, quotations, bibliography, and captions. E:\FR\FM\02MYN1.SGM 02MYN1 sroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 85 / Thursday, May 2, 2013 / Notices • Use a font that is either 12 point or larger, or no smaller than 10 pitch (characters per inch). Student applicants may use a 10 point font in charts, tables, figures, graphs, footnotes, and endnotes. However, these items are considered part of the narrative and counted within the 10-page limit. • 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 page limits only apply to the application narrative and bibliography. The page limits do not apply to the Application for Federal Assistance face sheet (SF 424), the supplemental information form required by the Department of Education, or the assurances and certification. However, student applicants must include their complete responses to the selection criteria in the application narrative. We will reject a student applicant’s application if the application exceeds the page limits. 3. Submission Dates and Times: Applications Available: May 2, 2013. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 3, 2013. Applications for grants under this program must be submitted electronically using G5, the Department’s grant management system, accessible through the Department’s G5 site. For information (including dates and times) about how to submit an IHE’s application electronically, or in paper format by mail or hand delivery if an IHE qualifies 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. 4. Intergovernmental Review: This program is not subject to Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. 5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:50 May 01, 2013 Jkt 229001 restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice. 6. Data Universal Numbering System Number, Taxpayer Identification Number, Central Contractor Registry, and System for Award Management: 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)—and, after July 24, 2012, with the System for Award Management (SAM)—the Government’s primary registrant database; c. Provide your DUNS number and TIN on your application; and d. Maintain an active CCR or SAM 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 or SAM 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 registration annually. This may take three or more business days to complete. Information about SAM is available at SAM.gov. 7. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under this program must be submitted electronically unless an IHE qualifies for an exception to this requirement in accordance with the instructions in this section. a. Electronic Submission of Applications. Applications for grants under the Fulbright-Hays DDRA Fellowship Program, CFDA number 84.022A, must be submitted electronically using the G5 system, accessible through the Department’s G5 site: www.G5.gov. We will reject an application if an IHE submits it in paper format unless, as described elsewhere in this section, the IHE qualifies for one of the exceptions to the electronic submission PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 25707 requirement and submits, no later than two weeks before the application deadline date, a written statement to the Department that the IHE qualifies 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. While completing the electronic application, both the IHE and the student applicant will be entering data online that will be saved into a database. Neither the IHE nor the student applicant may email an electronic copy of a grant application to us. Please note the following: • The process for submitting applications electronically under the Fulbright-Hays DDRA Fellowship Program has several parts. The following is a brief summary of the process; however, all applicants should review and follow the detailed description of the application process that is contained in the application package. In summary, the major steps are: (1) IHEs must email the following information to ddra@ed.gov: name of university and full name and email address of potential project director. We recommend that applicant IHEs submit this information as soon as possible to ensure that they obtain access to G5 well before the application deadline date. We suggest that applicant IHEs send this information no later than two weeks prior to the closing date in order to facilitate timely submission of their applications; (2) Students must complete their individual applications and submit them to their IHE’s project director using G5; (3) Persons providing references for individual students must complete and submit reference forms for the students and submit them to the IHE’s project director using G5; and (4) The IHE’s project director must officially submit the IHE’s application, which must include all eligible individual student applications, reference forms, and other required forms, using G5. • The IHE must complete the electronic submission of the grant application by 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. G5 will not accept an application for this competition after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. Therefore, we strongly recommend that both the IHE and the student applicant not wait until E:\FR\FM\02MYN1.SGM 02MYN1 sroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 25708 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 85 / Thursday, May 2, 2013 / Notices the application deadline date to begin the application process. • The hours of operation of the G5 Web site are 6:00 a.m. Monday until 7:00 p.m. Wednesday; and 6:00 a.m. Thursday until 8:00 p.m. Sunday, Washington, DC time. Please note that, because of maintenance, the system is unavailable between 8:00 p.m. on Sundays and 6:00 a.m. on Mondays, and between 7:00 p.m. on Wednesdays and 6:00 a.m. on Thursdays, Washington, DC time. Any modifications to these hours are posted on the G5 Web site. • Student applicants will not receive additional point value because the student submits his or her application in electronic format, nor will we penalize the IHE or student applicant if the applicant qualifies for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, as described elsewhere in this section, and submits an application in paper format. • IHEs must submit all documents electronically, including all information typically provided 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. Both IHEs and student applicants must upload any narrative sections and all other attachments to your application as files in a PDF (Portable Document) readonly, 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. • Student transcripts must be submitted electronically through the G5 system. • Both the IHE’s and the student applicant’s electronic applications must comply with any page limit requirements described in this notice. • Prior to submitting your electronic application, you may wish to print a copy of it for your records. • After the individual student applicant electronically submits his or her application to the student’s IHE, the student will receive an automatic acknowledgment. In addition, the applicant IHE’s project director will receive a copy of this acknowledgment by email. After a person submits a reference electronically, he or she will receive an online confirmation. After the applicant IHE submits its application, including all eligible individual student applications, to the Department, the applicant IHE will receive an automatic acknowledgment, which will include a PR/Award number VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:50 May 01, 2013 Jkt 229001 (an identifying number unique to the IHE’s application). • Within three working days after submitting the IHE’s electronic application, the IHE must fax a signed copy of the SF 424 to the Application Control Center after following these steps: (1) Print SF 424 from G5. (2) The applicant IHE’s Authorizing Representative must sign this form. (3) Place the PR/Award number in the upper right hand corner of the hardcopy signature page of the SF 424. (4) Fax the signed SF 424 to the Application Control Center at (202) 245–6272. • We may request that you provide us original signatures on other forms at a later date. Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of System Unavailability: If an IHE is prevented from electronically submitting its application on the application deadline date because the G5 system is unavailable, we will grant the IHE an extension until 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, the following business day to enable the IHE to transmit its application electronically, by mail, or by hand delivery. We will grant this extension if— (1) The IHE is a registered user of the G5 system and the IHE has initiated an electronic application for this competition; and (2)(a) The G5 system is unavailable for 60 minutes or more between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date; or (b) G5 is unavailable for any period of time between 3:30 p.m. and 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. We must acknowledge and confirm these periods of unavailability before granting the IHE an extension. To request this extension or to confirm our acknowledgment of any system unavailability, an IHE may contact either (1) the person listed elsewhere in this notice under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT (see Section VII. Agency Contact) or (2) the G5 help desk at 1–888–336–8930. If G5 is unavailable due to technical problems with the system and, therefore, the application deadline is extended, an email will be sent to all registered users who have initiated a G5 Application. Extensions referred to in this section apply only to the unavailability of the G5 system. Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement: An IHE qualifies for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, and may submit its application in paper format, if the IHE PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 is unable to submit an application through G5 because–– • The IHE or a student applicant does not have access to the Internet; or • The IHE or a student applicant does not have the capacity to upload large documents to G5; 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), the IHE mails or faxes a written statement to the Department, explaining which of the two grounds for an exception prevents the IHE from using the Internet to submit its application. If an IHE mails a written statement to the Department, it must be postmarked no later than two weeks before the application deadline date. If an IHE faxes its 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 this statement to: Stephanie McKissic, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street NW., Room 6069, Washington, DC 20006–8521. FAX: (202) 502–7589. The IHE’s 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 an IHE qualifies for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, the IHE may mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a commercial carrier) its application to the Department. The IHE must mail the original and two copies of the 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 84.022A), LBJ Basement Level 1, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20202–4260. The IHE 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 the IHE mails its application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do not accept either of the following as proof of mailing: E:\FR\FM\02MYN1.SGM 02MYN1 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 85 / Thursday, May 2, 2013 / Notices (1) A private metered postmark. (2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service. If the IHE’s application is postmarked after the application deadline date, we will not consider its application. Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated postmark. Before relying on this method, the IHE should check with its local post office. sroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES c. Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery. If an IHE qualifies for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, the IHE (or a courier service) may deliver its paper application to the Department by hand. The IHE must deliver the original and two copies of the 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 84.022A), 550 12th Street SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202–4260. The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily between 8:00:00 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 an IHE mails or hand delivers its application to the Department— (1) The IHE 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 the IHE is submitting its application; and (2) The Application Control Center will mail a notification of receipt of the IHE’s grant application. If the IHE does not receive this grant notification within 15 business days from the application deadline date, the IHE should call the U.S. Department of Education Application Control Center at (202) 245–6288. V. Application Review Information 1. General: For FY 2013, student applications are divided into seven categories based on the world area focus of their research projects, as described in the absolute priority listed in this notice. Language and area studies experts in discrete world area-based panels will review the student applications. Each panel reviews, scores, and ranks its applications separately from the applications assigned to the other world area panels. However, all fellowship applications will be ranked together from the highest to lowest score for funding purposes. VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:50 May 01, 2013 Jkt 229001 2. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition are from 34 CFR 662.21 and are listed in the following paragraphs. The maximum score for all of the criteria, including the competitive preference priorities, is 110 points. The maximum score for each criterion is indicated in parentheses. Quality of proposed project (60 points): The Secretary reviews each application to determine the quality of the research project proposed by the applicant. The Secretary considers— (1) The statement of the major hypotheses to be tested or questions to be examined, and the description and justification of the research methods to be used (15 points); (2) The relationship of the research to the literature on the topic and to major theoretical issues in the field, and the project’s originality and importance in terms of the concerns of the discipline (10 points); (3) The preliminary research already completed in the United States and overseas or plans for such research prior to going overseas, and the kinds, quality, and availability of data for the research in the host country or countries (10 points); (4) The justification for overseas field research and preparations to establish appropriate and sufficient research contacts and affiliations abroad (10 points); (5) The applicant’s plans to share the results of the research in progress and a copy of the dissertation with scholars and officials of the host country or countries (5 points); and (6) The guidance and supervision of the dissertation advisor or committee at all stages of the project, including guidance in developing the project, understanding research conditions abroad, and acquainting the applicant with research in the field (10 points). Qualifications of the applicant (40 points): The Secretary reviews each application to determine the qualifications of the applicant. The Secretary considers— (1) The overall strength of the applicant’s graduate academic record (10 points); (2) The extent to which the applicant’s academic record demonstrates strength in area studies relevant to the proposed project (10 points); (3) The applicant’s proficiency in one or more of the languages (other than English and the applicant’s native language) of the country or countries of research, and the specific measures to be taken to overcome any anticipated language barriers (15 points); and PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 25709 (4) The applicant’s ability to conduct research in a foreign cultural context, as evidenced by the applicant’s references or previous overseas experience, or both (5 points). 3. Review and Selection Process: We remind potential applicants that in reviewing applications in any discretionary grant competition, the Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.217(d)(3), the past performance of the applicant in carrying out a previous award, such as the applicant’s use of funds, achievement of project objectives, and compliance with grant conditions. The Secretary may also consider whether the applicant failed to submit a timely performance report or submitted a report of unacceptable quality. In addition, in making a competitive grant award, the Secretary 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). 4. 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 a student application is successful, we notify the IHE’s U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send the IHE a Grant Award Notification (GAN); or we may send you an email containing a link to access an electronic version of the GAN. We may notify the IHE informally, also. If a student application is not evaluated or not selected for funding, we notify the IHE. 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 in this notice. We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of an award in the Applicable Regulations section in this notice and include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also incorporates its approved application as part of the binding commitments under the grant. E:\FR\FM\02MYN1.SGM 02MYN1 25710 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 85 / Thursday, May 2, 2013 / Notices 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. Grantees are required to use the electronic data instrument International Resource Information System (IRIS) to complete the final report. The Secretary may also require more frequent performance reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). For specific requirements on reporting, please go to www.ed.gov/fund/grant/ apply/appforms/appforms.html. 4. Performance Measures: Under the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993, the objective for the Fulbright-Hays DDRA Fellowship Program is to provide grants to colleges and universities to fund individual doctoral students to conduct research in other countries in modern foreign languages and area studies for periods of 6 to 12 months. The Department will use the following DDRA measures to evaluate its success in meeting this objective: Performance Measure 1: The average language competency score of FulbrightHays DDRA Fellowship recipients at the end of their period of research minus their average score at the beginning of the period. Efficiency measure: Cost per grantee of increasing language competency by at least one level in at least one area. The information provided by grantees in their performance report submitted via IRIS will be the source of data for this measure. Reporting screens for institutions and fellows may be viewed at: https://iris.ed.gov/iris/pdfs/ DDRA_director.pdf, https://iris.ed.gov/ iris/pdfs/DDRA_fellows.pdf. VII. Agency Contact sroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephanie McKissic, International and Foreign Language Education, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street NW., Room 6069, Washington, DC 20006–8521. Telephone: (202) 502–7589 or by email: ddra@ed.gov. If you use a TDD or a TTY, call the FRS, toll free, at 1–800–877–8339. VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:50 May 01, 2013 Jkt 229001 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: 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 for free at the site. You may also access documents of the Department published in the Federal Register by using the article search feature at: www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published by the Department. Dated: April 26, 2013. Martha Kanter, Under Secretary for Education. [FR Doc. 2013–10418 Filed 5–1–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000–01–P DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Applications for New Awards; Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP) Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: Overview Information: Strengthening Institutions Program Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2013. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.031F. DATES: Applications Available: May 2, 2013. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 3, 2013. Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: July 31, 2013. Full Text of Announcement I. Funding Opportunity Description Purpose of Program: The Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP) provides grants to eligible institutions of higher education (IHEs) to help them PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 become self-sufficient and expand their capacity to serve low-income students by providing funds to improve and strengthen the institution’s academic quality, institutional management, and fiscal stability. Note: The FY 2013 SIP grant competition will have two application options for institutions. Under the regular CFDA SIP number, 84.031A, applicants may address two competitive preference priorities. Under the new CFDA number, 84.031F, applicants must address an absolute priority. Applicants may apply to both the 84.031A and 84.031F competitions but can receive an award under only one of the competitions. Priority: This notice includes one absolute priority. This priority is 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). Absolute Priority: For FY 2013 and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from this competition, this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) we consider only applications that meet this priority. This priority is: Absolute Priority—Supporting Programs, Practices, or Strategies for which there is Strong or Moderate Evidence of Effectiveness. Projects that are supported by strong or moderate evidence. Note 1: The purpose of this priority is to support projects that have demonstrated evidence of effectiveness. As such, in responding to this priority, applicants are encouraged to demonstrate how each of their primary activities (of which there should be no more than three) proposed in the evidence narrative is supported by either strong or moderate evidence. Applicants are also encouraged for each primary activity to identify up to two pieces of evidence that it deems are the best indicators that this activity meets the definition of strong or moderate evidence. Applicants are not limited to proposing three activities in their applications. Rather, of all the proposed activities, applicants should identify which are the primary activities, up to three, and provide evidence for those. Note 2: Applicants are encouraged to not only identify the evidence-based practices they intend to carry out, but also how those practices will be implemented in a way that will change institutional practices and cultures, and their overall approach to improving results for students. Applicants are also encouraged to discuss how funds received for the proposed evidence-based practices would fit into larger institutional goals and plans. E:\FR\FM\02MYN1.SGM 02MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 85 (Thursday, May 2, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25705-25710]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-10418]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation 
Research Abroad (DDRA) Fellowship Program

AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice.

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

    Overview Information: Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research 
Abroad (DDRA) Fellowship Program Notice inviting applications for new 
awards for fiscal year (FY) 2013.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.022A.
    DATES: Applications Available: May 2, 2013.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 3, 2013.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The Fulbright-Hays DDRA Fellowship Program 
provides opportunities to doctoral candidates to engage in full-time 
dissertation research abroad in modern foreign languages and area 
studies. The program is designed to contribute to the development and 
improvement of the

[[Page 25706]]

study of modern foreign languages and area studies in the United 
States.
    Priorities: This notice contains one absolute priority, two 
competitive preference priorities, and one invitational priority, which 
are described in the following paragraphs. In accordance with 34 CFR 
75.105(b)(2)(ii), the absolute and competitive preference priorities 
are from the regulations for this program (34 CFR 662.21(d)).
    Absolute Priority: For FY 2013, this priority is an absolute 
priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), we consider only applications that 
meet this priority.
    This priority is:
    A research project that focuses on one or more of the following 
geographic areas: Africa, East Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific 
Islands, South Asia, the Near East, Central and Eastern Europe and 
Eurasia, and the Western Hemisphere (excluding the United States and 
its territories). Please note that applications that propose projects 
focused on the following countries are not eligible: Andorra, Austria, 
Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, 
Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, 
Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United 
Kingdom, or Vatican City.
    Competitive Preference Priorities: Within this absolute priority, 
we give competitive preference to applications that address one or both 
of the following priorities.
    For FY 2013, these priorities are competitive preference 
priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i) and 34 CFR 662.21(d)(2), we 
award an additional five points to an application for each competitive 
preference priority it meets (up to 10 additional points).
    These priorities are:
    Competitive Preference Priority 1 (5 points): A research project 
that focuses on any of the 78 languages selected from the U.S. 
Department of Education's list of Less Commonly Taught Languages 
(LCTLs), as follows:
    Akan (Twi-Fante), Albanian, Amharic, Arabic (all dialects), 
Armenian, Azeri (Azerbaijani), Balochi, Bamanakan (Bamana, Bambara, 
Mandikan, Mandingo, Maninka, Dyula), Belarusian, Bengali (Bangla), 
Berber (all languages), Bosnian, Bulgarian, Burmese, Cebuano (Visayan), 
Chechen, Chinese (Cantonese), Chinese (Gan), Chinese (Mandarin), 
Chinese (Min), Chinese (Wu), Croatian, Dari, Dinka, Georgian, Gujarati, 
Hausa, Hebrew (Modern), Hindi, Igbo, Indonesian, Japanese, Javanese, 
Kannada, Kashmiri, Kazakh, Khmer (Cambodian), Kirghiz, Korean, Kurdish 
(Kurmanji), Kurdish (Sorani), Lao, Malay (Bahasa Melayu or Malaysian), 
Malayalam, Marathi, Mongolian, Nepali, Oromo, Panjabi, Pashto, Persian 
(Farsi), Polish, Portuguese (all varieties), Quechua, Romanian, 
Russian, Serbian, Sinhala (Sinhalese), Somali, Swahili, Tagalog, Tajik, 
Tamil, Telugu, Thai, Tibetan, Tigrigna, Turkish, Turkmen, Ukrainian, 
Urdu, Uyghur/Uigur, Uzbek, Vietnamese, Wolof, Xhosa, Yoruba, and Zulu.
    Competitive Preference Priority 2 (5 points): Research projects 
that are proposed by applicants using advanced language proficiency in 
one of the 78 LCTLs listed in Competitive Preference Priority 1 in 
their research and who are in the fields of economics, engineering, 
international development, global education, mathematics, political 
science, public health, science, or technology.
    Invitational Priority: We encourage applications from minority-
serving institutions as well as other institutions that promote the 
participation of students from minority backgrounds in research abroad 
projects in foreign languages and international studies.
    Program Authority: 22 U.S.C. 2452(b)(6).
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 81, 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 662.

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

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants redistributed as fellowships to 
individual beneficiaries.

    Note: As part of its FY 2013 budget request, the Administration 
proposed to continue to allow funds to be used to support the 
applications of individuals who plan both to utilize their language 
skills in world areas vital to United States national security and 
to apply their language skills and knowledge of these countries in 
the fields of government, international development, and the 
professions. Therefore, students planning to apply their language 
skills in such fields and those planning teaching careers are 
eligible to apply for this program.

    Estimated Available Funds: $3,036,237.
    Estimated Range of Fellowship Awards: $15,000 to $60,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Fellowship Awards: $35,305.
    Estimated Number of Fellowship Awards: 86.

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

    Project Period: The institutional project period is 18 months, 
beginning October 1, 2013. Students may request funding for a period of 
no less than 6 months and no more than 12 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: IHEs. As part of the application process, 
students submit individual applications to the IHE. The IHE then 
officially submits all eligible individual student applications with 
its grant application to the Department.
    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: Both IHEs and student 
applicants can obtain an application package via the Internet at 
www.G5.gov or from Stephanie McKissic, International and Foreign 
Language Education, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street NW., 
Room 6069, Washington, DC 20006-8521. Telephone: (202) 502-7589; or, by 
email: ddra@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 the 
applicant must submit, are in the application package for this program.
    Page Limit: The application narrative is where the student 
applicant addresses the selection criteria that reviewers use to 
evaluate the application. The student applicant must limit the 
application narrative to no more than 10 pages and the bibliography to 
no more than 2 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. However, student applicants may 
single space all text in charts, tables, figures, graphs, titles, 
headings, footnotes, endnotes, quotations, bibliography, and captions.

[[Page 25707]]

     Use a font that is either 12 point or larger, or no 
smaller than 10 pitch (characters per inch). Student applicants may use 
a 10 point font in charts, tables, figures, graphs, footnotes, and 
endnotes. However, these items are considered part of the narrative and 
counted within the 10-page limit.
     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 page limits only apply to the application narrative and 
bibliography. The page limits do not apply to the Application for 
Federal Assistance face sheet (SF 424), the supplemental information 
form required by the Department of Education, or the assurances and 
certification. However, student applicants must include their complete 
responses to the selection criteria in the application narrative.
    We will reject a student applicant's application if the application 
exceeds the page limits.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: May 2, 2013.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 3, 2013.
    Applications for grants under this program must be submitted 
electronically using G5, the Department's grant management system, 
accessible through the Department's G5 site. For information (including 
dates and times) about how to submit an IHE's application 
electronically, or in paper format by mail or hand delivery if an IHE 
qualifies 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.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: This program is not subject to 
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79.
    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, Central Contractor Registry, and System for Award Management: 
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)--and, after July 24, 2012, with the System 
for Award Management (SAM)--the Government's primary registrant 
database;
    c. Provide your DUNS number and TIN on your application; and
    d. Maintain an active CCR or SAM 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 or SAM 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 registration annually. This may take three or more 
business days to complete. Information about SAM is available at 
SAM.gov.
    7. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under 
this program must be submitted electronically unless an IHE qualifies 
for an exception to this requirement in accordance with the 
instructions in this section.
    a. Electronic Submission of Applications.
    Applications for grants under the Fulbright-Hays DDRA Fellowship 
Program, CFDA number 84.022A, must be submitted electronically using 
the G5 system, accessible through the Department's G5 site: www.G5.gov.
    We will reject an application if an IHE submits it in paper format 
unless, as described elsewhere in this section, the IHE qualifies for 
one of the exceptions to the electronic submission requirement and 
submits, no later than two weeks before the application deadline date, 
a written statement to the Department that the IHE qualifies 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.
    While completing the electronic application, both the IHE and the 
student applicant will be entering data online that will be saved into 
a database. Neither the IHE nor the student applicant may email an 
electronic copy of a grant application to us.
    Please note the following:
     The process for submitting applications electronically 
under the Fulbright-Hays DDRA Fellowship Program has several parts. The 
following is a brief summary of the process; however, all applicants 
should review and follow the detailed description of the application 
process that is contained in the application package. In summary, the 
major steps are:
    (1) IHEs must email the following information to ddra@ed.gov: name 
of university and full name and email address of potential project 
director. We recommend that applicant IHEs submit this information as 
soon as possible to ensure that they obtain access to G5 well before 
the application deadline date. We suggest that applicant IHEs send this 
information no later than two weeks prior to the closing date in order 
to facilitate timely submission of their applications;
    (2) Students must complete their individual applications and submit 
them to their IHE's project director using G5;
    (3) Persons providing references for individual students must 
complete and submit reference forms for the students and submit them to 
the IHE's project director using G5; and
    (4) The IHE's project director must officially submit the IHE's 
application, which must include all eligible individual student 
applications, reference forms, and other required forms, using G5.
     The IHE must complete the electronic submission of the 
grant application by 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the 
application deadline date. G5 will not accept an application for this 
competition after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application 
deadline date. Therefore, we strongly recommend that both the IHE and 
the student applicant not wait until

[[Page 25708]]

the application deadline date to begin the application process.
     The hours of operation of the G5 Web site are 6:00 a.m. 
Monday until 7:00 p.m. Wednesday; and 6:00 a.m. Thursday until 8:00 
p.m. Sunday, Washington, DC time. Please note that, because of 
maintenance, the system is unavailable between 8:00 p.m. on Sundays and 
6:00 a.m. on Mondays, and between 7:00 p.m. on Wednesdays and 6:00 a.m. 
on Thursdays, Washington, DC time. Any modifications to these hours are 
posted on the G5 Web site.
     Student applicants will not receive additional point value 
because the student submits his or her application in electronic 
format, nor will we penalize the IHE or student applicant if the 
applicant qualifies for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, as described elsewhere in this section, and submits an 
application in paper format.
     IHEs must submit all documents electronically, including 
all information typically provided 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. Both IHEs and student applicants must upload any 
narrative sections and all other attachments to your application as 
files in a PDF (Portable Document) 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.
     Student transcripts must be submitted electronically 
through the G5 system.
     Both the IHE's and the student applicant's electronic 
applications must comply with any page limit requirements described in 
this notice.
     Prior to submitting your electronic application, you may 
wish to print a copy of it for your records.
     After the individual student applicant electronically 
submits his or her application to the student's IHE, the student will 
receive an automatic acknowledgment. In addition, the applicant IHE's 
project director will receive a copy of this acknowledgment by email. 
After a person submits a reference electronically, he or she will 
receive an online confirmation. After the applicant IHE submits its 
application, including all eligible individual student applications, to 
the Department, the applicant IHE will receive an automatic 
acknowledgment, which will include a PR/Award number (an identifying 
number unique to the IHE's application).
     Within three working days after submitting the IHE's 
electronic application, the IHE must fax a signed copy of the SF 424 to 
the Application Control Center after following these steps:
    (1) Print SF 424 from G5.
    (2) The applicant IHE's Authorizing Representative must sign this 
form.
    (3) Place the PR/Award number in the upper right hand corner of the 
hard-copy signature page of the SF 424.
    (4) Fax the signed SF 424 to the Application Control Center at 
(202) 245-6272.
     We may request that you provide us original signatures on 
other forms at a later date.
    Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of System 
Unavailability: If an IHE is prevented from electronically submitting 
its application on the application deadline date because the G5 system 
is unavailable, we will grant the IHE an extension until 4:30:00 p.m., 
Washington, DC time, the following business day to enable the IHE to 
transmit its application electronically, by mail, or by hand delivery. 
We will grant this extension if--
    (1) The IHE is a registered user of the G5 system and the IHE has 
initiated an electronic application for this competition; and
    (2)(a) The G5 system is unavailable for 60 minutes or more between 
the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the 
application deadline date; or
    (b) G5 is unavailable for any period of time between 3:30 p.m. and 
4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date.
    We must acknowledge and confirm these periods of unavailability 
before granting the IHE an extension. To request this extension or to 
confirm our acknowledgment of any system unavailability, an IHE may 
contact either (1) the person listed elsewhere in this notice under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT (see Section VII. Agency Contact) or (2) 
the G5 help desk at 1-888-336-8930. If G5 is unavailable due to 
technical problems with the system and, therefore, the application 
deadline is extended, an email will be sent to all registered users who 
have initiated a G5 Application. Extensions referred to in this section 
apply only to the unavailability of the G5 system.
    Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement: An IHE qualifies 
for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, and may 
submit its application in paper format, if the IHE is unable to submit 
an application through G5 because--
     The IHE or a student applicant does not have access to the 
Internet; or
     The IHE or a student applicant does not have the capacity 
to upload large documents to G5;

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), the IHE mails or faxes a written 
statement to the Department, explaining which of the two grounds for an 
exception prevents the IHE from using the Internet to submit its 
application. If an IHE mails a written statement to the Department, it 
must be postmarked no later than two weeks before the application 
deadline date. If an IHE faxes its 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 this statement to: Stephanie McKissic, U.S. 
Department of Education, 1990 K Street NW., Room 6069, Washington, DC 
20006-8521. FAX: (202) 502-7589.
    The IHE's 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 an IHE qualifies for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, the IHE may mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a 
commercial carrier) its application to the Department. The IHE must 
mail the original and two copies of the 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 84.022A), LBJ Basement Level 1, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC 20202-4260.
    The IHE 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 the IHE mails its application through the U.S. Postal Service, 
we do not accept either of the following as proof of mailing:

[[Page 25709]]

    (1) A private metered postmark.
    (2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service.
    If the IHE's application is postmarked after the application 
deadline date, we will not consider its application.

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

    c. Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery.
    If an IHE qualifies for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, the IHE (or a courier service) may deliver its paper 
application to the Department by hand. The IHE must deliver the 
original and two copies of the 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 84.022A), 550 12th Street SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center 
Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-4260.

The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily between 
8:00:00 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 an IHE 
mails or hand delivers its application to the Department--

    (1) The IHE 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 the IHE is 
submitting its application; and
    (2) The Application Control Center will mail a notification of 
receipt of the IHE's grant application. If the IHE does not receive 
this grant notification within 15 business days from the application 
deadline date, the IHE should call the U.S. Department of Education 
Application Control Center at (202) 245-6288.

V. Application Review Information

    1. General: For FY 2013, student applications are divided into 
seven categories based on the world area focus of their research 
projects, as described in the absolute priority listed in this notice. 
Language and area studies experts in discrete world area-based panels 
will review the student applications. Each panel reviews, scores, and 
ranks its applications separately from the applications assigned to the 
other world area panels. However, all fellowship applications will be 
ranked together from the highest to lowest score for funding purposes.
    2. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition 
are from 34 CFR 662.21 and are listed in the following paragraphs. The 
maximum score for all of the criteria, including the competitive 
preference priorities, is 110 points. The maximum score for each 
criterion is indicated in parentheses.
    Quality of proposed project (60 points): The Secretary reviews each 
application to determine the quality of the research project proposed 
by the applicant. The Secretary considers--
    (1) The statement of the major hypotheses to be tested or questions 
to be examined, and the description and justification of the research 
methods to be used (15 points);
    (2) The relationship of the research to the literature on the topic 
and to major theoretical issues in the field, and the project's 
originality and importance in terms of the concerns of the discipline 
(10 points);
    (3) The preliminary research already completed in the United States 
and overseas or plans for such research prior to going overseas, and 
the kinds, quality, and availability of data for the research in the 
host country or countries (10 points);
    (4) The justification for overseas field research and preparations 
to establish appropriate and sufficient research contacts and 
affiliations abroad (10 points);
    (5) The applicant's plans to share the results of the research in 
progress and a copy of the dissertation with scholars and officials of 
the host country or countries (5 points); and
    (6) The guidance and supervision of the dissertation advisor or 
committee at all stages of the project, including guidance in 
developing the project, understanding research conditions abroad, and 
acquainting the applicant with research in the field (10 points).
    Qualifications of the applicant (40 points): The Secretary reviews 
each application to determine the qualifications of the applicant. The 
Secretary considers--
    (1) The overall strength of the applicant's graduate academic 
record (10 points);
    (2) The extent to which the applicant's academic record 
demonstrates strength in area studies relevant to the proposed project 
(10 points);
    (3) The applicant's proficiency in one or more of the languages 
(other than English and the applicant's native language) of the country 
or countries of research, and the specific measures to be taken to 
overcome any anticipated language barriers (15 points); and
    (4) The applicant's ability to conduct research in a foreign 
cultural context, as evidenced by the applicant's references or 
previous overseas experience, or both (5 points).
    3. Review and Selection Process: We remind potential applicants 
that in reviewing applications in any discretionary grant competition, 
the Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.217(d)(3), the past 
performance of the applicant in carrying out a previous award, such as 
the applicant's use of funds, achievement of project objectives, and 
compliance with grant conditions. The Secretary may also consider 
whether the applicant failed to submit a timely performance report or 
submitted a report of unacceptable quality.
    In addition, in making a competitive grant award, the Secretary 
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).
    4. 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 a student application is successful, we notify 
the IHE's U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send the IHE a 
Grant Award Notification (GAN); or we may send you an email containing 
a link to access an electronic version of the GAN. We may notify the 
IHE informally, also.
    If a student application is not evaluated or not selected for 
funding, we notify the IHE.
    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 in this notice.
    We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of 
an award in the Applicable Regulations section in this notice and 
include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also 
incorporates its approved application as part of the binding 
commitments under the grant.

[[Page 25710]]

    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. Grantees are required to use the electronic data instrument 
International Resource Information System (IRIS) to complete the final 
report. The Secretary may also require more frequent performance 
reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). For specific requirements on reporting, 
please go to www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
    4. Performance Measures: Under the Government Performance and 
Results Act of 1993, the objective for the Fulbright-Hays DDRA 
Fellowship Program is to provide grants to colleges and universities to 
fund individual doctoral students to conduct research in other 
countries in modern foreign languages and area studies for periods of 6 
to 12 months.
    The Department will use the following DDRA measures to evaluate its 
success in meeting this objective:
    Performance Measure 1: The average language competency score of 
Fulbright-Hays DDRA Fellowship recipients at the end of their period of 
research minus their average score at the beginning of the period.
    Efficiency measure: Cost per grantee of increasing language 
competency by at least one level in at least one area.
    The information provided by grantees in their performance report 
submitted via IRIS will be the source of data for this measure. 
Reporting screens for institutions and fellows may be viewed at: https://iris.ed.gov/iris/pdfs/DDRA_director.pdf, https://iris.ed.gov/iris/pdfs/DDRA_fellows.pdf.

VII. Agency Contact

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephanie McKissic, International and 
Foreign Language Education, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street 
NW., Room 6069, Washington, DC 20006-8521. Telephone: (202) 502-7589 or 
by email: ddra@ed.gov.
    If you use a TDD or a TTY, 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: 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 for free at the 
site.
    You may also access documents of the Department published in the 
Federal Register by using the article search feature at: 
www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search 
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published 
by the Department.

    Dated: April 26, 2013.
Martha Kanter,
Under Secretary for Education.
[FR Doc. 2013-10418 Filed 5-1-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.