Application for New Awards; High School Equivalency Program, 76126-76131 [2013-29823]
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in 2 CFR part 170 should you receive
funding under the competition. This
does not apply if you have an exception
under 2 CFR 170.110(b).
(b) At the end of your project period,
you must submit a final performance
report, including financial information,
as directed by the Secretary. If you
receive a multi-year award, you must
submit an annual performance report
that provides the most current
performance and financial expenditure
information as directed by the Secretary
under 34 CFR 75.118. The Secretary
may also require more frequent
performance reports under 34 CFR
75.720(c). For specific requirements on
reporting, please go to www.ed.gov/
fund/grant/apply/appforms/
appforms.html.
4. Performance Measures: To evaluate
the overall success of its research
program, NIDRR assesses the quality of
its funded projects through a review of
grantee performance and products. Each
year, NIDRR examines a portion of its
grantees to determine:
• The number of products (e.g., new
or improved tools, methods, discoveries,
standards, interventions, programs, or
devices developed or tested with NIDRR
funding) that have been judged by
expert panels to be of high quality and
to advance the field.
VII. Agency Contact
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
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Patricia Barrett, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW.,
Room 5142, PCP, Washington, DC
20202–2700. Telephone: (202) 245–6211
or by email: patricia.barrett@ed.gov.
If you use a TDD or a 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) by
contacting the Grants and Contracts
Services Team, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW.,
Room 5075, PCP, Washington, DC
20202–2550. Telephone: (202) 245–
7363. If you use a TDD or a TTY, call
the FRS, toll free, at 1–800–877–8339.
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
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published in the Federal Register, in
text or Adobe Portable Document
Format (PDF). To use PDF you must
have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is
available free at the site.
You may also access documents of the
Department published in the Federal
Register by using the article search
feature at: www.federalregister.gov.
Specifically, through the advanced
search feature at this site, you can limit
your search to documents published by
the Department.
Dated: December 11, 2013.
Michael K. Yudin,
Acting Assistant, Secretary for Special
Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 2013–29824 Filed 12–13–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Application for New Awards; High
School Equivalency Program
Office of Elementary and
Secondary Education, Department of
Education.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
Overview Information
High School Equivalency Program
(HEP).
Notice inviting applications for new
awards for fiscal year (FY) 2014.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
(CFDA) Number: 84.141A.
DATES:
Applications Available: December 19,
2013.
Deadline for Transmittal of
Applications: February 19, 2014.
Deadline for Intergovernmental
Review: April 20, 2014.
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The purposes of
HEP are to help migrant and seasonal
farmworkers and members of their
immediate family: (1) Obtain a general
education diploma that meets the
guidelines for high school equivalency
(HSE) established by the State in which
the HEP project is conducted; and (2)
gain employment or be placed in an
institution of higher education (IHE) or
other postsecondary education or
training.
Priorities: This competition includes
one competitive preference priority and
two invitational priorities. In
accordance with 34 CFR
75.105(b)(2)(iv), the competitive
preference priority is from section
418A(e) of the Higher Education Act of
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1965, as amended by section 408 of the
Higher Education Opportunity Act of
2008 (20 U.S.C. 1070d–2(e)). The second
priority is an invitational priority for
applications that promote science,
technology, engineering, and
mathematics (STEM) education. The
third priority is an invitational priority
for applications that propose to engage
faith-based and community
organizations in the delivery of services
under this program.
Competitive Preference Priority: For
FY 2014 and any subsequent year in
which we make awards from the list of
unfunded applicants from this
competition, this priority is a
competitive preference priority. Under
34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we award up to
15 additional points to an application,
depending on how well the applicant
meets this priority. The maximum
amount of competitive preference points
an application can receive under this
competition is 15 points.
This priority is:
Prior Experience of Service Delivery
For applicants with an expiring HEP
project, the Secretary will consider the
applicant’s prior experience in
implementing its expiring HEP project,
based on information contained in
documents previously provided to the
Department, such as annual
performance reports, project evaluation
reports, site visit reports, and the
previously approved HEP application.
Under this competition, we also are
particularly interested in applications
that address the following priorities.
Invitational Priorities: For FY 2014,
and any subsequent year in which we
make awards from the list of unfunded
applicants from this competition, these
priorities are invitational priorities.
Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1) we do not
give an application that meets these
invitational priorities a competitive or
absolute preference over other
applications.
These priorities are:
Invitational Priority 1—Science,
Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics Education (STEM)
Projects that are designed to address
one or more of the following priority
areas:
(a) Providing students with increased
access to rigorous and engaging
coursework in STEM.
(b) Increasing the opportunities for
high-quality preparation of, or
professional development for, teachers
or other educators of STEM subjects.
Note: Applicants could consider activities
to better prepare program participants to
transition into postsecondary education, such
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as preparing students to pass the sections of
college entrance examinations in STEMrelated subjects or mentoring, counseling,
and tutoring services designed to motivate
participants to pursue postsecondary
education in STEM-related fields. Similarly,
for demonstrating professional development,
applicants could propose how they intend to
increase and improve the opportunities for
professional development for project
instructors in mathematics and related HSE
instruction.
Invitational Priority 2—Faith-Based and
Community Organizations
Applications that propose to engage
faith-based and community
organizations in the delivery of services
under this program.
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070d–2.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The
Education Department General
Education Regulations (EDGAR) in 34
CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 81, 82, 84, 85,
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 206. (d) The definitions of
‘‘migratory agricultural worker’’ in 34
CFR 200.81(d), ‘‘migratory child’’ in 34
CFR 200.81(e), and ‘‘migratory fisher’’ in
34 CFR 200.81(f). (e) The regulations in
20 CFR 669.110 and 669.320.
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86
apply to IHEs only.
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II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
Estimated Available Funds: The
Administration has requested
$5,855,833 for new awards for this
program for FY 2014. The actual level
of funding, if any, depends on final
congressional action. However, we are
inviting applications at this time to
allow enough time to complete the grant
process if Congress appropriates funds
for this program.
Contingent upon the availability of
funds and the quality of applications,
we may make additional awards in FY
2015 from the list of unfunded
applicants from this competition.
Estimated Range of Awards:
$180,000–$475,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards:
$447,488.
Maximum Award: We will reject any
application that proposes a HEP award
exceeding $475,000 for any of the five
single budget periods of 12 months. The
Assistant Secretary for Elementary and
Secondary Education may change the
maximum amount through a notice
published in the Federal Register.
Minimum Award: We will reject any
application that proposes a HEP award
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that is less than $180,000 for any of the
five single budget periods of 12 months.
Estimated Number of Awards: 13.
Note: The Department is not bound by any
estimates in this notice.
Project Period: Up to 60 months.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: IHEs or private
non-profit organizations (including
faith-based organizations) that plan their
projects in cooperation with an IHE and
propose to operate some aspects of the
project with the facilities of the IHE.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This
program does not require cost sharing or
matching. However, consistent with 34
CFR 75.700, which requires an
applicant to comply with its approved
application, an applicant that proposes
to contribute non-Federal matching
funds and is awarded a grant must
provide those funds for each year that
the funds are proposed.
3. Other: Projects funded under this
competition are encouraged to budget
for a two-day Office of Migrant
Education annual meeting for HEP
Directors in the Washington, DC area
during each year of the project period.
IV. Application and Submission
Information
1. Address to Request Application
Package: Tara Ramsey, U.S. Department
of Education, Office of Migrant
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW.,
room 3E309, Washington, DC 20202–
6135. Telephone: (202) 260–2063 or by
email: tara.ramsey@ed.gov.
The application package content also
can be viewed electronically at the
following address: https://www.ed.gov/
programs/hep/applicant.html.
If you use a telecommunications
device for the deaf (TDD) or 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
competition. Page Limit: The
application narrative (Part IV of the
application) is where you, the applicant,
address the selection criteria that
reviewers use to evaluate your
application. Panel readers will award
points only for an applicant’s response
to a given selection criterion that is
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contained within the section of the
application designated to address that
particular selection criterion. Readers
will not review, or award points for
responses to a given selection criterion
that is located in any other section of
the application or the appendices. You
must limit the application narrative
[Part IV] to no more than 25 pages, using
the following standards:
• A ‘‘page’’ is 8.5″ × 11″, on one side
only, with 1″ margins at the top, bottom,
and both sides.
• Double space (no more than three
lines per vertical inch) all text in the
application narrative, including titles,
headings, footnotes, quotations,
references, and captions. However, you
may single space all text in charts,
tables, figures, and graphs. Charts,
tables, figures, and graphs presented in
the application narrative count toward
the page limit.
• Use a font that is either 12 point or
larger or no smaller than 10 pitch
(characters per inch) throughout the
entire application package.
• Use one of the following fonts:
Times New Roman, Courier, Courier
New, or Arial. An application submitted
in any other font (including Times
Roman or Arial Narrow) will not be
accepted.
The 25-page limit for the project
narrative does not apply to the cover
sheet; the budget section, including the
narrative budget justification; the
assurances and certifications; or the
one-page abstract. However, the page
limit does apply to all of the application
narrative section.
Our reviewers will not read any pages
of your application narrative that exceed
the 25-page limit.
Appendices must be limited to 20
pages and must include the following:
resumes and job descriptions of key
personnel. Job descriptions must
include duties and minimum
qualifications. Items in the appendices
will only be used by the program office.
3. Submission Dates and Times:
Applications Available: December 19,
2013.
Deadline for Transmittal of
Applications: February 19, 2014.
Applications for grants under this
competition must be submitted
electronically using the Grants.gov
Apply site (Grants.gov). For information
(including dates and times) about how
to submit your application
electronically, or in paper format by
mail or hand delivery if you qualify for
an exception to the electronic
submission requirement, please refer to
section IV. 7. Other Submission
Requirements of this notice.
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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: April 20, 2014.
4. Intergovernmental Review: This
competition is subject to Executive
Order 12372 and the regulations in 34
CFR part 79. Information about
Intergovernmental Review of Federal
Programs under Executive Order 12372
is in the application package for this
competition.
5. Funding Restrictions: We reference
regulations outlining funding
restrictions in the Applicable
Regulations section of this notice.
6. Data Universal Numbering System
Number, Taxpayer Identification
Number, and Central Contractor
Registry: To do business with the
Department of Education, you must—
a. Have a Data Universal Numbering
System (DUNS) number and a Taxpayer
Identification Number (TIN);
b. Register both your DUNS number
and TIN with the System for Award
Management (SAM) (formerly 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 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-to-two
business days.
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 SAM registration process can take
approximately seven business days, but
may take upwards of several weeks,
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depending on the completeness and
accuracy of the data entered into the
SAM database by an entity. Thus, if you
think you might want to apply for
Federal financial assistance under a
program administered by the
Department, please allow sufficient time
to obtain and register your DUNS
number and TIN. We strongly
recommend that you register early.
Note: Once your SAM registration is active,
you will need to allow 24 to 48 hours for the
information to be available in Grants.gov and
before you can submit an application through
Grants.gov.
If you are currently registered with
SAM, 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.
Information about SAM is available at
www.SAM.gov. To further assist you
with obtaining and registering your
DUNS number and TIN in SAM or
updating your existing SAM account,
we have prepared a SAM.gov Tip Sheet,
which you can find at: https://
www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/samfaqs.html.
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
competition must be submitted
electronically unless you qualify for an
exception to this requirement in
accordance with the instructions in this
section.
a. Electronic Submission of
Applications
Applications for grants under the
High School Equivalency Program,
CFDA number 84.141A, must be
submitted electronically using the
Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site
at www.Grants.gov. Through this site,
you will be able to download a copy of
the application package, complete it
offline, and then upload and submit
your application. You may not email an
electronic copy of a grant application to
us.
We will reject your application if you
submit it in paper format unless, as
described elsewhere in this section, you
qualify for one of the exceptions to the
electronic submission requirement and
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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 HEP at www.Grants.gov.
You must search for the downloadable
application package for this competition
by the CFDA number. Do not include
the CFDA number’s alpha suffix in your
search (e.g., search for 84.141, not
84.141A).
Please note the following:
• When you enter the Grants.gov site,
you will find information about
submitting an application electronically
through the site, as well as the hours of
operation.
• Applications received by Grants.gov
are date and time stamped. Your
application must be fully uploaded and
submitted and must be date and time
stamped by the Grants.gov system no
later than 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC
time, on the application deadline date.
Except as otherwise noted in this
section, we will not accept your
application if it is received—that is, date
and time stamped by the Grants.gov
system—after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington,
DC time, on the application deadline
date. We do not consider an application
that does not comply with the deadline
requirements. When we retrieve your
application from Grants.gov, we will
notify you if we are rejecting your
application because it was date and time
stamped by the Grants.gov system after
4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on
the application deadline date.
• The amount of time it can take to
upload an application will vary
depending on a variety of factors,
including the size of the application and
the speed of your Internet connection.
Therefore, we strongly recommend that
you do not wait until the application
deadline date to begin the submission
process through Grants.gov.
• You should review and follow the
Education Submission Procedures for
submitting an application through
Grants.gov that are included in the
application package for this competition
to ensure that you submit your
application in a timely manner to the
Grants.gov system. You can also find the
Education Submission Procedures
pertaining to Grants.gov under News
and Events on the Department’s G5
system home page at https://www.G5.gov.
• You will not receive additional
point value because you submit your
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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—NonConstruction Programs (ED 524), and all
necessary assurances and certifications.
• You must upload any narrative
sections and all other attachments to
your application as files in a PDF
(Portable Document) read-only, nonmodifiable format. Do not upload an
interactive or fillable PDF file. If you
upload a file type other than a readonly, 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 EDspecified identifying number unique to
your application).
• We may request that you provide us
original signatures on forms at a later
date.
Application Deadline Date Extension
in Case of Technical Issues With the
Grants.gov System: If you are
experiencing problems submitting your
application through Grants.gov, please
contact the Grants.gov Support Desk,
toll free, at 1–800–518–4726. You must
obtain a Grants.gov Support Desk Case
Number and must keep a record of it.
If you are prevented from
electronically submitting your
application on the application deadline
date because of technical problems with
the Grants.gov system, we will grant you
an extension until 4:30:00 p.m.,
Washington, DC time, the following
business day to enable you to transmit
your application electronically or by
hand delivery. You also may mail your
application by following the mailing
instructions described elsewhere in this
notice.
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If you submit an application after
4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on
the application deadline date, please
contact the person listed under FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in
section VII of this notice and provide an
explanation of the technical problem
you experienced with Grants.gov, along
with the Grants.gov Support Desk Case
Number. We will accept your
application if we can confirm that a
technical problem occurred with the
Grants.gov system and that that problem
affected your ability to submit your
application by 4:30:00 p.m.,
Washington, DC time, on the
application deadline date. The
Department will contact you after a
determination is made on whether your
application will be accepted.
Note: The extensions to which we refer in
this section apply only to the unavailability
of, or technical problems with, the Grants.gov
system. We will not grant you an extension
if you failed to fully register to submit your
application to Grants.gov before the
application deadline date and time or if the
technical problem you experienced is
unrelated to the Grants.gov system.
Exception to Electronic Submission
Requirement: You qualify for an
exception to the electronic submission
requirement, and may submit your
application in paper format, if you are
unable to submit an application through
the Grants.gov system because—
• You do not have access to the
Internet; or
• You do not have the capacity to
upload large documents to the
Grants.gov system;
and
• No later than two weeks before the
application deadline date (14 calendar
days or, if the fourteenth calendar day
before the application deadline date
falls on a Federal holiday, the next
business day following the Federal
holiday), you mail or fax a written
statement to the Department, explaining
which of the two grounds for an
exception prevent you from using the
Internet to submit your application.
If you mail your written statement to
the Department, it must be postmarked
no later than two weeks before the
application deadline date. If you fax
your written statement to the
Department, we must receive the faxed
statement no later than two weeks
before the application deadline date.
Address and mail or fax your
statement to: Tara Ramsey, U.S.
Department of Education, 400 Maryland
Avenue SW., room 3E309, Washington,
DC 20202–6135. FAX: (202) 205–0089.
Your paper application must be
submitted in accordance with the mail
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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 84.141A, LBJ Basement
Level 1, 400 Maryland Avenue SW.,
Washington, DC 20202–4260.
You must show proof of mailing
consisting of one of the following:
(1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service
postmark.
(2) A legible mail receipt with the
date of mailing stamped by the U.S.
Postal Service.
(3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or
receipt from a commercial carrier.
(4) Any other proof of mailing
acceptable to the Secretary of the U.S.
Department of Education.
If you mail your application through
the U.S. Postal Service, we do not
accept either of the following as proof
of mailing:
(1) A private metered postmark.
(2) A mail receipt that is not dated by
the U.S. Postal Service.
If your application is postmarked after
the application deadline date, we will
not consider your application.
Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not
uniformly provide a dated postmark. Before
relying on this method, you should check
with your local post office.
c. Submission of Paper Applications by
Hand Delivery
If you qualify for an exception to the
electronic submission requirement, you
(or a courier service) may deliver your
paper application to the Department by
hand. You must deliver the original and
two copies of your application by hand,
on or before the application deadline
date, to the Department at the following
address: U.S. Department of Education,
Application Control Center, Attention:
CFDA Number 84.141A, 550 12th Street
SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center Plaza,
Washington, DC 20202–4260.
The Application Control Center
accepts hand deliveries daily between
8:00 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—
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(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.
pmangrum on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
V. Application Review Information
1. Selection Criteria: The selection
criteria for this competition are from 34
CFR 75.210 of EDGAR and are listed in
the application package.
2. Review and Selection Process: We
remind potential applicants that in
reviewing applications in any
discretionary grant competition, the
Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR
75.217(d)(3), the past performance of the
applicant in carrying out a previous
award, such as the applicant’s use of
funds, and compliance with grant
conditions. The Secretary may also
consider whether the applicant failed to
submit a timely performance report or
submitted a report of unacceptable
quality.
In addition, in making a competitive
grant award, the Secretary also requires
various assurances including those
applicable to Federal civil rights laws
that prohibit discrimination in programs
or activities receiving Federal financial
assistance from the Department of
Education (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4,
108.8, and 110.23).
3. Special Conditions: Under 34 CFR
74.14 and 80.12, the Secretary may
impose special conditions on a grant if
the applicant or grantee is not
financially stable; has a history of
unsatisfactory performance; has a
financial or other management system
that does not meet the standards in 34
CFR parts 74 and 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); or we may send you an email
containing a link to access an electronic
version of your 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
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and reference these and other
requirements in the Applicable
Regulations section of this notice.
We reference the regulations outlining
the terms and conditions of an award in
the Applicable Regulations section of
this notice and include these and other
specific conditions in the GAN. The
GAN also incorporates your approved
application as part of your binding
commitments under the grant.
3. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a
grant under this competition, you must
ensure that you have in place the
necessary processes and systems to
comply with the reporting requirements
in 2 CFR part 170 should you receive
funding under the competition. This
does not apply if you have an exception
under 2 CFR 170.110(b).
(b) At the end of your project period,
you must submit a final performance
report, including financial information,
as directed by the Secretary. If you
receive a multi-year award, you must
submit an annual performance report
that provides the most current
performance and financial expenditure
information as directed by the Secretary
under 34 CFR 75.118. The Secretary
may also require more frequent
performance reports under 34 CFR
75.720(c). For specific requirements on
reporting, please go to www.ed.gov/
fund/grant/apply/appforms/
appforms.html.
4. Performance Measures: Under the
Government Performance and Results
Act of 1993 (GPRA), the Department
developed the following performance
measures to evaluate the overall
effectiveness of HEP: (1) the percentage
of HEP program participants exiting the
program having received a HSE diploma
(GPRA 1), and (2) the percentage of HSE
diploma recipients who enter
postsecondary education or training
programs, upgraded employment, or the
military (GPRA 2).
Applicants must propose annual
targets for these measures in their
applications. The national target for
GPRA measure 1 for FY 2014 is that 69
percent of HEP program participants
exiting the program having received a
HSE credential. The national target for
GPRA measure 2 for FY 2014 is that 80
percent of HEP HSE diploma recipients
will enter postsecondary education or
training programs, upgraded
employment, or the military. The
national targets for subsequent years
may be adjusted based on additional
baseline data. The panel readers will
score related selection criteria on the
basis of how well an applicant
addresses these GPRA measures.
Therefore, applicants will want to
consider how to demonstrate a sound
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capacity to provide reliable data on the
GPRA measures, including the project’s
annual performance targets for
addressing the GPRA performance
measures, as is required by the Office of
Management and Budget approved
annual performance report that is
included in the application package. All
grantees will be required to submit, as
part of their annual performance report,
information with respect to these GPRA
performance measures.
5. Continuation Awards: In making a
continuation award, the Secretary
considers, under 34 CFR 75.253, the
extent to which a grantee has made
‘‘substantial progress toward meeting
the objectives in its approved
application.’’ This consideration
includes the review of a grantee’s
progress in meeting the targets and
projected outcomes in its approved
application, and whether the grantee
has expended funds in a manner that is
consistent with its approved application
and budget. In making a continuation
grant, the Secretary also considers
whether the grantee is operating in
compliance with the assurances in its
approved application, including those
applicable to Federal civil rights laws
that prohibit discrimination in programs
or activities receiving Federal financial
assistance from the Department (34 CFR
100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
VII. Agency Contact
Tara
Ramsey, U.S. Department of Education,
400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room
3E309, LBJ, Washington, DC 20202–
6135. Telephone: (202) 260–2063 or by
email: tara.ramsey@ed.gov.
If you use a TDD or TYY, call the FRS,
toll free, at 1–800–877–8339.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
VIII. Other Information
Accessible Format: Individuals with
disabilities can obtain this document
and a copy of the application package in
an accessible format (e.g., braille, large
print, audiotape, or compact disc) on
request to the program contact person
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT in section VII of this notice.
Electronic Access to This Document:
The official version of this document is
the document published in the Federal
Register. Free Internet access to the
official edition of the Federal Register
and the Code of Federal Regulations is
available via the Federal Digital System
at: 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
E:\FR\FM\16DEN1.SGM
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76131
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 241 / Monday, December 16, 2013 / Notices
have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is
available free at the site.
You may also access documents of the
Department published in the Federal
Register by using the article search
feature at: www.federalregister.gov.
Specifically, through the advanced
search feature at this site, you can limit
your search to documents published by
the Department.
Dated: December 11, 2013.
Deborah S. Delisle,
Assistant Secretary for Elementary and
Secondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2013–29823 Filed 12–13–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Applications for New Awards; National
Institute on Disability and
Rehabilitation Research—Disability
and Rehabilitation Research Projects
and Centers Program—Rehabilitation
Engineering Research Centers
Office of Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services, Department of
Education.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
Overview Information: National
Institute on Disability and
Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)—
Disability and Rehabilitation Research
Projects and Centers Program—
Rehabilitation Engineering Research
Centers (RERCs)—Information and
Communication Technologies Access
and Rehabilitation Strategies,
Techniques, and Interventions Notice
inviting applications for new awards for
fiscal year (FY) 2014.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
(CFDA) Numbers: 84.133E–1 and 84.133E–
3.
Note: This notice invites applications for
two separate competitions. For funding and
other key information for each of the two
competitions, see the chart in the Award
Information section of this notice.
pmangrum on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
DATES:
Applications Available: December 16,
2013.
Date of Pre-Application Meeting:
January 6, 2014.
Deadline for Notice of Intent To
Apply: January 13, 2014.
Deadline for Transmittal of
Applications: February 14, 2014.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
13:51 Dec 13, 2013
Jkt 232001
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The purpose of
the Disability and Rehabilitation
Research Projects and Centers Program
(Program) is to plan and conduct
research, demonstration projects,
training, and related activities,
including international activities, to
develop methods, procedures, and
rehabilitation technology. The
Program’s activities are designed to
maximize the full inclusion and
integration into society, employment,
independent living, family support, and
economic and social self-sufficiency of
individuals with disabilities, especially
individuals with the most severe
disabilities, and to improve the
effectiveness of services authorized
under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as
amended (Rehabilitation Act).
Rehabilitation Engineering Research
Centers Program
The purpose of the RERCs program,
which is funded through the Program, is
to improve the effectiveness of services
authorized under the Rehabilitation Act.
The RERCs program encourages
advanced engineering research,
develops and evaluates innovative
technologies, facilitates service delivery
system changes, stimulates the
production and distribution of new
technologies and equipment in the
private sector, and provides training
opportunities. RERCs seek to solve
rehabilitation problems and remove
environmental barriers to improvements
in employment, community living and
participation, and health and function
outcomes of individuals with
disabilities.
The general requirements for RERCs
are set out in subpart D of 34 CFR part
350 (What Rehabilitation Engineering
Research Centers Does the Secretary
Assist?).
Additional information on the RERCs
program can be found at: www.ed.gov/
rschstat/research/pubs/.
Priorities: NIDRR has established two
priorities for the two competitions
announced in this notice. These
priorities are from the notice of final
priorities for this program, published in
the Federal Register on June 11, 2013
(78 FR 34897).
Absolute Priorities: For FY 2014 and
any subsequent year in which we make
awards from the list of unfunded
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
applicants from these competitions,
these priorities are absolute priorities.
Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), for each
competition, we consider only
applications that meet the absolute
priority designated for that competition.
These priorities are:
Absolute priority
Corresponding
competition CFDA
No.
Information and Communication Technologies Access ........
Rehabilitation Strategies, Techniques, and
Interventions ..............
84.133E–1
84.133E–3
Note: The full text of these priorities is
included in the notice of final priorities
published in the Federal Register on June 11,
2013 (78 FR 34897) and in the applicable
application package.
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 762(g) and
764(b)(3)(A).
Applicable Regulations: (a) The
Education Department General
Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR
parts 74, 75, 77, 80, 81, 82, 84, 86, and
97. (b) The Education Department
suspension and debarment regulations
in 2 CFR part 3485. (c) The regulations
for this program in 34 CFR part 350. (d)
The notice of final priorities for this
program, published in the Federal
Register on June 11, 2013 (78 FR 34897).
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86
apply to institutions of higher education
(IHEs) only.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
Estimated Available Funds: The
Administration has requested
$110,000,000 for the NIDRR program for
FY 2014, of which we intend to use an
estimated $1,900,000 for the RERC
competitions. See chart. The actual level
of funding, if any, depends on final
congressional action. However, we are
inviting applications to allow enough
time to complete the grant process if
Congress appropriates funds for this
program.
Maximum Award: See chart.
Estimated Number of Awards: See
chart.
Note: The Department is not bound by any
estimates in this notice.
Project Period: See chart.
E:\FR\FM\16DEN1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 241 (Monday, December 16, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76126-76131]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-29823]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Application for New Awards; High School Equivalency Program
AGENCY: Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Department of
Education.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Overview Information
High School Equivalency Program (HEP).
Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY)
2014.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.141A.
DATES:
Applications Available: December 19, 2013.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: February 19, 2014.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: April 20, 2014.
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The purposes of HEP are to help migrant and
seasonal farmworkers and members of their immediate family: (1) Obtain
a general education diploma that meets the guidelines for high school
equivalency (HSE) established by the State in which the HEP project is
conducted; and (2) gain employment or be placed in an institution of
higher education (IHE) or other postsecondary education or training.
Priorities: This competition includes one competitive preference
priority and two invitational priorities. In accordance with 34 CFR
75.105(b)(2)(iv), the competitive preference priority is from section
418A(e) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended by section 408
of the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (20 U.S.C. 1070d-2(e)).
The second priority is an invitational priority for applications that
promote science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)
education. The third priority is an invitational priority for
applications that propose to engage faith-based and community
organizations in the delivery of services under this program.
Competitive Preference Priority: For FY 2014 and any subsequent
year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from
this competition, this priority is a competitive preference priority.
Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we award up to 15 additional points to an
application, depending on how well the applicant meets this priority.
The maximum amount of competitive preference points an application can
receive under this competition is 15 points.
This priority is:
Prior Experience of Service Delivery
For applicants with an expiring HEP project, the Secretary will
consider the applicant's prior experience in implementing its expiring
HEP project, based on information contained in documents previously
provided to the Department, such as annual performance reports, project
evaluation reports, site visit reports, and the previously approved HEP
application.
Under this competition, we also are particularly interested in
applications that address the following priorities.
Invitational Priorities: For FY 2014, and any subsequent year in
which we make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from this
competition, these priorities are invitational priorities. Under 34 CFR
75.105(c)(1) we do not give an application that meets these
invitational priorities a competitive or absolute preference over other
applications.
These priorities are:
Invitational Priority 1--Science, Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics Education (STEM)
Projects that are designed to address one or more of the following
priority areas:
(a) Providing students with increased access to rigorous and
engaging coursework in STEM.
(b) Increasing the opportunities for high-quality preparation of,
or professional development for, teachers or other educators of STEM
subjects.
Note: Applicants could consider activities to better prepare
program participants to transition into postsecondary education,
such
[[Page 76127]]
as preparing students to pass the sections of college entrance
examinations in STEM-related subjects or mentoring, counseling, and
tutoring services designed to motivate participants to pursue
postsecondary education in STEM-related fields. Similarly, for
demonstrating professional development, applicants could propose how
they intend to increase and improve the opportunities for
professional development for project instructors in mathematics and
related HSE instruction.
Invitational Priority 2--Faith-Based and Community Organizations
Applications that propose to engage faith-based and community
organizations in the delivery of services under this program.
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070d-2.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General
Education Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 81, 82,
84, 85, 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 206. (d) The definitions of ``migratory
agricultural worker'' in 34 CFR 200.81(d), ``migratory child'' in 34
CFR 200.81(e), and ``migratory fisher'' in 34 CFR 200.81(f). (e) The
regulations in 20 CFR 669.110 and 669.320.
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to IHEs only.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested
$5,855,833 for new awards for this program for FY 2014. The actual
level of funding, if any, depends on final congressional action.
However, we are inviting applications at this time to allow enough time
to complete the grant process if Congress appropriates funds for this
program.
Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of
applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2015 from the list of
unfunded applicants from this competition.
Estimated Range of Awards: $180,000-$475,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $447,488.
Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a HEP
award exceeding $475,000 for any of the five single budget periods of
12 months. The Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary
Education may change the maximum amount through a notice published in
the Federal Register.
Minimum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a HEP
award that is less than $180,000 for any of the five single budget
periods of 12 months.
Estimated Number of Awards: 13.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Project Period: Up to 60 months.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: IHEs or private non-profit organizations
(including faith-based organizations) that plan their projects in
cooperation with an IHE and propose to operate some aspects of the
project with the facilities of the IHE.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost
sharing or matching. However, consistent with 34 CFR 75.700, which
requires an applicant to comply with its approved application, an
applicant that proposes to contribute non-Federal matching funds and is
awarded a grant must provide those funds for each year that the funds
are proposed.
3. Other: Projects funded under this competition are encouraged to
budget for a two-day Office of Migrant Education annual meeting for HEP
Directors in the Washington, DC area during each year of the project
period.
IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Address to Request Application Package: Tara Ramsey, U.S.
Department of Education, Office of Migrant Education, 400 Maryland
Avenue SW., room 3E309, Washington, DC 20202-6135. Telephone: (202)
260-2063 or by email: tara.ramsey@ed.gov.
The application package content also can be viewed electronically
at the following address: https://www.ed.gov/programs/hep/applicant.html.
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or 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 competition. Page
Limit: The application narrative (Part IV of the application) is where
you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that reviewers use
to evaluate your application. Panel readers will award points only for
an applicant's response to a given selection criterion that is
contained within the section of the application designated to address
that particular selection criterion. Readers will not review, or award
points for responses to a given selection criterion that is located in
any other section of the application or the appendices. You must limit
the application narrative [Part IV] to no more than 25 pages, using the
following standards:
A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only, with 1''
margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch)
all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings,
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions. However, you may
single space all text in charts, tables, figures, and graphs. Charts,
tables, figures, and graphs presented in the application narrative
count toward the page limit.
Use a font that is either 12 point or larger or no smaller
than 10 pitch (characters per inch) throughout the entire application
package.
Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier,
Courier New, or Arial. An application submitted in any other font
(including Times Roman or Arial Narrow) will not be accepted.
The 25-page limit for the project narrative does not apply to the
cover sheet; the budget section, including the narrative budget
justification; the assurances and certifications; or the one-page
abstract. However, the page limit does apply to all of the application
narrative section.
Our reviewers will not read any pages of your application narrative
that exceed the 25-page limit.
Appendices must be limited to 20 pages and must include the
following: resumes and job descriptions of key personnel. Job
descriptions must include duties and minimum qualifications. Items in
the appendices will only be used by the program office.
3. Submission Dates and Times:
Applications Available: December 19, 2013.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: February 19, 2014.
Applications for grants under this competition must be submitted
electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov). For
information (including dates and times) about how to submit your
application electronically, or in paper format by mail or hand delivery
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission
requirement, please refer to section IV. 7. Other Submission
Requirements of this notice.
[[Page 76128]]
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: April 20, 2014.
4. Intergovernmental Review: This competition is subject to
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79.
Information about Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under
Executive Order 12372 is in the application package for this
competition.
5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
6. Data Universal Numbering System Number, Taxpayer Identification
Number, and Central Contractor Registry: To do business with the
Department of Education, you must--
a. Have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and a
Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN);
b. Register both your DUNS number and TIN with the System for Award
Management (SAM) (formerly 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 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-to-two business days.
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 SAM registration process can take approximately seven business
days, but may take upwards of several weeks, depending on the
completeness and accuracy of the data entered into the SAM database by
an entity. Thus, if you think you might want to apply for Federal
financial assistance under a program administered by the Department,
please allow sufficient time to obtain and register your DUNS number
and TIN. We strongly recommend that you register early.
Note: Once your SAM registration is active, you will need to
allow 24 to 48 hours for the information to be available in
Grants.gov and before you can submit an application through
Grants.gov.
If you are currently registered with SAM, 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.
Information about SAM is available at www.SAM.gov. To further
assist you with obtaining and registering your DUNS number and TIN in
SAM or updating your existing SAM account, we have prepared a SAM.gov
Tip Sheet, which you can find at: https://www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/sam-faqs.html.
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 competition must be submitted electronically unless you qualify
for an exception to this requirement in accordance with the
instructions in this section.
a. Electronic Submission of Applications
Applications for grants under the High School Equivalency Program,
CFDA number 84.141A, must be submitted electronically using the
Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site at www.Grants.gov. Through this
site, you will be able to download a copy of the application package,
complete it offline, and then upload and submit your application. You
may not email an electronic copy of a grant application to us.
We will reject your application if you submit it in paper format
unless, as described elsewhere in this section, you qualify for one of
the exceptions to the electronic submission requirement and submit, no
later than two weeks before the application deadline date, a written
statement to the Department that you qualify for one of these
exceptions. Further information regarding calculation of the date that
is two weeks before the application deadline date is provided later in
this section under Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement.
You may access the electronic grant application for HEP at
www.Grants.gov. You must search for the downloadable application
package for this competition by the CFDA number. Do not include the
CFDA number's alpha suffix in your search (e.g., search for 84.141, not
84.141A).
Please note the following:
When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find
information about submitting an application electronically through the
site, as well as the hours of operation.
Applications received by Grants.gov are date and time
stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted and must
be date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30:00
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. Except as
otherwise noted in this section, we will not accept your application if
it is received--that is, date and time stamped by the Grants.gov
system--after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application
deadline date. We do not consider an application that does not comply
with the deadline requirements. When we retrieve your application from
Grants.gov, we will notify you if we are rejecting your application
because it was date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system after
4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date.
The amount of time it can take to upload an application
will vary depending on a variety of factors, including the size of the
application and the speed of your Internet connection. Therefore, we
strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline
date to begin the submission process through Grants.gov.
You should review and follow the Education Submission
Procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov that are
included in the application package for this competition to ensure that
you submit your application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov
system. You can also find the Education Submission Procedures
pertaining to Grants.gov under News and Events on the Department's G5
system home page at https://www.G5.gov.
You will not receive additional point value because you
submit your
[[Page 76129]]
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)
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 your application electronically or by hand
delivery. You also may mail your application by following the mailing
instructions described elsewhere in this notice.
If you submit an application after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC
time, on the application deadline date, please contact the person
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII of this
notice and provide an explanation of the technical problem you
experienced with Grants.gov, along with the Grants.gov Support Desk
Case Number. We will accept your application if we can confirm that a
technical problem occurred with the Grants.gov system and that that
problem affected your ability to submit your application by 4:30:00
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. The
Department will contact you after a determination is made on whether
your application will be accepted.
Note: The extensions to which we refer in this section apply
only to the unavailability of, or technical problems with, the
Grants.gov system. We will not grant you an extension if you failed
to fully register to submit your application to Grants.gov before
the application deadline date and time or if the technical problem
you experienced is unrelated to the Grants.gov system.
Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement: You qualify for an
exception to the electronic submission requirement, and may submit your
application in paper format, if you are unable to submit an application
through the Grants.gov system because--
You do not have access to the Internet; or
You do not have the capacity to upload large documents to
the Grants.gov system;
and
No later than two weeks before the application deadline
date (14 calendar days or, if the fourteenth calendar day before the
application deadline date falls on a Federal holiday, the next business
day following the Federal holiday), you mail or fax a written statement
to the Department, explaining which of the two grounds for an exception
prevent you from using the Internet to submit your application.
If you mail your written statement to the Department, it must be
postmarked no later than two weeks before the application deadline
date. If you fax your written statement to the Department, we must
receive the faxed statement no later than two weeks before the
application deadline date.
Address and mail or fax your statement to: Tara Ramsey, U.S.
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., room 3E309,
Washington, DC 20202-6135. FAX: (202) 205-0089.
Your paper application must be submitted in accordance with the
mail or hand delivery instructions described in this notice.
b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail
If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission
requirement, you may mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a
commercial carrier) your application to the Department. You must mail
the original and two copies of your application, on or before the
application deadline date, to the Department at the following address:
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention:
CFDA Number 84.141A, LBJ Basement Level 1, 400 Maryland Avenue SW.,
Washington, DC 20202-4260.
You must show proof of mailing consisting of one of the following:
(1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark.
(2) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the
U.S. Postal Service.
(3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial
carrier.
(4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of the
U.S. Department of Education.
If you mail your application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do
not accept either of the following as proof of mailing:
(1) A private metered postmark.
(2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service.
If your application is postmarked after the application deadline
date, we will not consider your application.
Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated
postmark. Before relying on this method, you should check with your
local post office.
c. Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery
If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission
requirement, you (or a courier service) may deliver your paper
application to the Department by hand. You must deliver the original
and two copies of your application by hand, on or before the
application deadline date, to the Department at the following address:
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention:
CFDA Number 84.141A, 550 12th Street SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center
Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-4260.
The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily
between 8:00 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--
[[Page 76130]]
(1) You must indicate on the envelope and--if not provided by
the Department--in Item 11 of the SF 424 the CFDA number, including
suffix letter, if any, of the competition under which you are
submitting your application; and
(2) The Application Control Center will mail to you a
notification of receipt of your grant application. If you do not
receive this notification within 15 business days from the
application deadline date, you should call the U.S. Department of
Education Application Control Center at (202) 245-6288.
V. Application Review Information
1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition
are from 34 CFR 75.210 of EDGAR and are listed in the application
package.
2. Review and Selection Process: We remind potential applicants
that in reviewing applications in any discretionary grant competition,
the Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.217(d)(3), the past
performance of the applicant in carrying out a previous award, such as
the applicant's use of funds, and compliance with grant conditions. The
Secretary may also consider whether the applicant failed to submit a
timely performance report or submitted a report of unacceptable
quality.
In addition, in making a competitive grant award, the Secretary
also requires various assurances including those applicable to Federal
civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or
activities receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department
of Education (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
3. Special Conditions: Under 34 CFR 74.14 and 80.12, the Secretary
may impose special conditions on a grant if the applicant or grantee is
not financially stable; has a history of unsatisfactory performance;
has a financial or other management system that does not meet the
standards in 34 CFR parts 74 and 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); or we may send you an email containing a link to
access an electronic version of your GAN. We may notify you informally,
also.
If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding,
we notify you.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: We identify
administrative and national policy requirements in the application
package and reference these and other requirements in the Applicable
Regulations section of this notice.
We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of
an award in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice and
include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also
incorporates your approved application as part of your binding
commitments under the grant.
3. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a grant under this competition,
you must ensure that you have in place the necessary processes and
systems to comply with the reporting requirements in 2 CFR part 170
should you receive funding under the competition. This does not apply
if you have an exception under 2 CFR 170.110(b).
(b) At the end of your project period, you must submit a final
performance report, including financial information, as directed by the
Secretary. If you receive a multi-year award, you must submit an annual
performance report that provides the most current performance and
financial expenditure information as directed by the Secretary under 34
CFR 75.118. The Secretary may also require more frequent performance
reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). For specific requirements on reporting,
please go to www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
4. Performance Measures: Under the Government Performance and
Results Act of 1993 (GPRA), the Department developed the following
performance measures to evaluate the overall effectiveness of HEP: (1)
the percentage of HEP program participants exiting the program having
received a HSE diploma (GPRA 1), and (2) the percentage of HSE diploma
recipients who enter postsecondary education or training programs,
upgraded employment, or the military (GPRA 2).
Applicants must propose annual targets for these measures in their
applications. The national target for GPRA measure 1 for FY 2014 is
that 69 percent of HEP program participants exiting the program having
received a HSE credential. The national target for GPRA measure 2 for
FY 2014 is that 80 percent of HEP HSE diploma recipients will enter
postsecondary education or training programs, upgraded employment, or
the military. The national targets for subsequent years may be adjusted
based on additional baseline data. The panel readers will score related
selection criteria on the basis of how well an applicant addresses
these GPRA measures. Therefore, applicants will want to consider how to
demonstrate a sound capacity to provide reliable data on the GPRA
measures, including the project's annual performance targets for
addressing the GPRA performance measures, as is required by the Office
of Management and Budget approved annual performance report that is
included in the application package. All grantees will be required to
submit, as part of their annual performance report, information with
respect to these GPRA performance measures.
5. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award, the
Secretary considers, under 34 CFR 75.253, the extent to which a grantee
has made ``substantial progress toward meeting the objectives in its
approved application.'' This consideration includes the review of a
grantee's progress in meeting the targets and projected outcomes in its
approved application, and whether the grantee has expended funds in a
manner that is consistent with its approved application and budget. In
making a continuation grant, the Secretary also considers whether the
grantee is operating in compliance with the assurances in its approved
application, including those applicable to Federal civil rights laws
that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities receiving
Federal financial assistance from the Department (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5,
106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
VII. Agency Contact
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tara Ramsey, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 3E309, LBJ, Washington, DC
20202-6135. Telephone: (202) 260-2063 or by email: tara.ramsey@ed.gov.
If you use a TDD or TYY, 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
[[Page 76131]]
have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at the site.
You may also access documents of the Department published in the
Federal Register by using the article search feature at:
www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published
by the Department.
Dated: December 11, 2013.
Deborah S. Delisle,
Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2013-29823 Filed 12-13-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P