Applications for New Awards; First in the World Program-Development Grants, 28495-28504 [2014-11463]
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 95 / Friday, May 16, 2014 / Notices
Docket ID number ED–2014–ICCD–0074
or via postal mail, commercial delivery,
or hand delivery. If the regulations.gov
site is not available to the public for any
reason, ED will temporarily accept
comments at ICDocketMgr@ed.gov.
Please note that comments submitted by
fax or email and those submitted after
the comment period will not be
accepted; ED will ONLY accept
comments during the comment period
in this mailbox when the regulations.gov
site is not available. Written requests for
information or comments submitted by
postal mail or delivery should be
addressed to the Director of the
Information Collection Clearance
Division, U.S. Department of Education,
400 Maryland Avenue SW., LBJ,
Mailstop L–OM–2–2E319, Room 2E115,
Washington, DC 20202.
For
specific questions related to collection
activities, please contact Tara Jordon,
202–245–7341.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
The
Department of Education (ED), in
accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general
public and Federal agencies with an
opportunity to comment on proposed,
revised, and continuing collections of
information. This helps the Department
assess the impact of its information
collection requirements and minimize
the public’s reporting burden. It also
helps the public understand the
Department’s information collection
requirements and provide the requested
data in the desired format. ED is
soliciting comments on the proposed
information collection request (ICR) that
is described below. The Department of
Education is especially interested in
public comment addressing the
following issues: (1) Is this collection
necessary to the proper functions of the
Department; (2) will this information be
processed and used in a timely manner;
(3) is the estimate of burden accurate;
(4) how might the Department enhance
the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and (5) how
might the Department minimize the
burden of this collection on the
respondents, including through the use
of information technology. Please note
that written comments received in
response to this notice will be
considered public records.
Title of Collection: Report of
Randolph-Sheppard Vending Facility
Program.
OMB Control Number: 1820–0009.
Type of Review: An extension of an
existing information collection.
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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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Respondents/Affected Public: State,
Local, Tribal Governments.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Responses: 52.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Burden Hours: 702.
Abstract: The Vending Facility
Program authorized by the RandolphSheppard Act provides persons who are
blind with remunerative employment
and self-support through the operation
of vending facilities on federal and other
property. Under the Randolph Sheppard
Program, state licensing agencies
recruit, train, license and place
individuals who are blind as operators
of vending facilities (including
cafeterias, snack bars, vending
machines, etc.) located on federal and
other properties. In statute at 20 U.S.C.
107a(6)(a), the Secretary of Education is
directed through the Commissioner of
the Rehabilitation Services
Administration (RSA) to conduct
periodic evaluations of the programs
authorized under the RandolphSheppard Act. Additionally, section
107b(4) requires entities designated as
the state licensing agency to ‘‘make such
reports in such form and containing
such information as the Secretary may
from time to time require. . . .’’ The
information to be collected is a
necessary component of the evaluation
process and forms the basis for annual
reporting. These data are also used to
understand the distribution type and
profitability of vending facilities
throughout the country. Such
information is useful in providing
technical assistance to state licensing
agencies and property managers. The
Code of Federal Regulations, at 34 CFR
395.8, specifies that vending machine
income received by the state from
federal property managers can be
distributed to blind vendors in an
amount not to exceed the national
average income for blind vendors. This
amount is determined through data
collected using RSA–15: Report of
Randolph-Sheppard Vending Facility
Program. In addition, the collection of
information ensures the provision and
transparency of activities referenced in
34 CFR 395.12 related to disclosure of
program and financial information.
Dated: May 12, 2014.
Tomakie Washington,
Acting Director, Information Collection
Clearance Division, Privacy, Information and
Records Management Services, Office of
Management.
[FR Doc. 2014–11302 Filed 5–15–14; 8:45 am]
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28495
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Applications for New Awards; First in
the World Program—Development
Grants
Office of Postsecondary
Education, Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
Overview Information
Fund for the Improvement of
Postsecondary Education (FIPSE)—First
in the World Program (FITW)—
Development Grants Notice inviting
applications for new awards for fiscal
year (FY) 2014.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
(CFDA) Number: 84.116F.
DATES:
Applications Available: May 16, 2014.
Deadline for Transmittal of
Applications: June 30, 2014.
Deadline for Intergovernmental
Review: August 29, 2014.
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The President
has set a clear goal for the Nation’s
education system. By 2020 the United
States will once again lead the world in
the proportion of its citizens holding
college degrees or other postsecondary
credentials. To support this national
effort the Department of Education has
outlined a comprehensive education
agenda that includes expanding quality
and opportunity at all levels of
education from early learning programs
through higher education. The FITW
Program is a key part of this agenda.
Last August, President Obama
outlined an ambitious plan to improve
value and affordability in postsecondary
education. The plan included: Paying
for performance, developing a college
ratings system; promoting innovation
and competition; and ensuring
affordable debt. The President noted
that the federal government can act as
a catalyst for innovation, spurring
innovation in a way that drives down
costs while preserving quality.
Innovations can take many forms, such
as those that improve teaching and
learning by redesigning courses and
student supports, or by leverage
learning science and technological
developments. FITW aims to support a
wide range of innovations at colleges
and universities, and serve as a catalyst
for the best ideas that will dramatically
enhance student outcomes.
The FITW program will build on all
of these important Administration
priorities by providing grants to
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institutions of higher education to spur
the development of innovative
approaches and strategies that will
improve postsecondary educational
access and outcomes. The FITW
program plays a key role in the
President’s plan to make college more
affordable for students and families, as
it aims to develop an evidence base of
effective practices for ensuring that
more students can access, persist in, and
complete postsecondary study.
Successful FITW projects will support
greater college affordability for students,
through the implementation and
evaluation of practices and strategies
that have the potential to reduce costs
while delivering high-quality academic
programs to students. Institutions of
higher education or consortia of such
institutions are eligible applicants for
FITW grants. We encourage applicants
to partner with public and private
institutions and agencies that can assist
applicants to achieve the goals of their
projects.
The FY 2014 budget for FITW is
$75,000,000, with up to $20,000,000 set
aside for Minority-Serving Institutions
(MSIs). There will be one competition
with one set of priorities and one set of
selection criteria. We will consider an
institution as an MSI for purposes of
this competition if the institution meets
the qualifications for an MSI as
described in the application package
and the institution certifies that it meets
those qualifications through the
application. Institutions of higher
education may only submit one
application and may only be awarded
one grant.
Successful FITW projects will include
the following characteristics: (1) A
project design supported by Strong
Theory (as defined in this notice); (2) a
data collection plan; (3) a design and
implementation plan for evaluation that
will demonstrate whether the strategies
implemented are showing Moderate
Evidence of Effectiveness (as defined in
this notice); (4) replicable and scalable
reform strategies; (5) a strong focus on
improved postsecondary access,
affordability, and completion, with an
emphasis on low-income students; and
(6) a strategy for improvement of
postsecondary productivity and
effectiveness that holds steady or
decreases costs for students.
The FITW competition embraces the
President’s call for institutions of higher
education to propose their best and
most promising ideas to significantly
expand access, affordability, and
improve outcomes for students. The
absolute priorities of the FITW
competition are structured to elicit a
wide array of innovative proposals from
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a diversity of institutions of higher
education, focused around these three
pillars of access, affordability, and
attainment. Many institutions across the
country have already demonstrated
significant interest in and/or adopted
innovative approaches to teaching and
learning that aim to obtain better
outcomes for students, including
promising practices that accelerate the
pace and success rate for students in
need of remediation moving into creditbearing coursework and toward a degree
or credential; approaches like
competency-based education that
measure progression based on learning
rather than just seat time; dualenrollment strategies and early college
high schools that allow high school
students to earn credit before arriving at
college; establishing open degree
pathways that are offered at low- or nocost to students in fields that focus on
the education and skills employers are
seeking, and that have the potential to
deliver high-quality learning
experiences and outcomes while
significantly expanding postsecondary
educational access and opportunity; and
redesigned courses and programs of
study that improve student learning at
lower costs than traditional courses. The
Department welcomes the submission of
all ideas and proposals (including but
not limited to the aforementioned
examples) and encourages institutions
of higher education to put forward their
most innovative and creative thinking to
significantly expand postsecondary
opportunity for all students, especially
those who are low-income,
underprepared for, or underrepresented
in higher education.
FITW is designed as a tiered evidence
grant program in which higher levels of
evidence supporting the proposed
projects are required in order to receive
greater amounts of funding across
multiple evidence tiers. In future years,
the Department anticipates conducting
competitions to support projects under
higher tiers of evidence. However, in FY
2014, the Department will run only one
competition in one evidence tier for
Development grants. FITW projects
should be novel and significant
nationally, not projects that simply
implement existing practices in
additional locations or support needs
that are primarily local in nature. A key
goal of FITW Development grants is to
expand the research on innovative
practices that can be used to support
future competitions with higher
evidence standards.
To be eligible for an award, an
application for a FITW Development
grant must be supported by a Strong
Theory (as defined in this notice) and
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the applicant must submit a logic model
(as defined in this notice) for its
proposed project. Applicants may
submit a rationale for any
intervention(s) that has not been tried or
that only has been marginally
considered and explored at the
applicant institution or elsewhere.
Priorities: This notice includes five
absolute priorities and one competitive
preference priority.
We are establishing these priorities for
the FY 2014 FITW competition and any
subsequent year in which we make
awards from the list of unfunded
applicants from this competition in
accordance with section 437(d)(1) of the
General Education Provisions Act
(GEPA), 20 U.S.C. 1232(d)(1).
Absolute Priorities: These priorities
are absolute priorities. Under 34 CFR
75.105(c)(3), we consider only
applications that address one of the five
absolute priorities. The Department
encourages applicants to select an
absolute priority that is commensurate
with implementing well-defined
reforms that can be thoroughly studied
and described in detail, and that has the
potential to be replicated. The Joint
Explanatory Statement accompanying
the Consolidated Appropriations Act of
2014, Public Law 113–76, specifies that,
in carrying out the FITW competition
the Department is expected to prioritize
applications that target innovative
strategies for low-income students.
Applicants must specify on the Abstract
and Information page which absolute
priority is addressed in the application.
The five absolute priorities are:
Absolute Priority I—Increasing Access
and Completion for Underrepresented,
Underprepared, or Low-Income
Students
Background
The proportion of Americans earning
postsecondary credentials is
unacceptably low, particularly among
low-income, underrepresented, and
underprepared students. Substantial
college completion gaps persist among
underrepresented, underprepared, or
low-income students and their peers.
Reports from (NCES) consistently
indicate that students from higherincome families are more likely to finish
postsecondary programs of study than
lower-income students. We must both
increase the number of low-income,
underprepared, or underrepresented
students (including students with
disabilities) enrolling in postsecondary
education and increase the rates at
which they complete. The purpose of
this priority is to ensure that FITW
grants will implement and demonstrate
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reforms and strategies that leverage
innovative approaches to yield a
measurable impact on student
persistence and completion.
Priority
This priority supports projects that
will improve the effectiveness of
interventions for a target student
population made up of
underrepresented, underprepared or
low-income students that would result
in measurable increases in the number
of students from those populations who
enroll and persist in postsecondary
education, and complete their
postsecondary degree, credential, or
certificate; or that would implement a
broader system-wide design that would
have positive effects on all students
including underrepresented,
underprepared, and low income
students. If the target group of the
proposed project is all students at an
institution or consortia of institutions,
applicants must explain why the
approach is expected to have positive
impacts on underrepresented,
underprepared, and low-income student
subpopulations and must show that
they can track outcomes for these
specific student subpopulations.
Consistent with this priority, applicants
may also submit projects that will
advance positive impacts and outcomes
for students with disabilities.
Absolute Priority II—Increasing
Community College Transfer Rates to
Four-Year Colleges for
Underrepresented, Underprepared, or
Low-Income Students
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Background
Community colleges play a major role
in higher education. Successful transfer
of students from two-year to four-year
institutions is a key function
community colleges perform that
contributes to the nation’s overall
bachelor degree attainment. The
pressure of tuition increases, escalating
costs for books and materials, and the
decline of State support for higher
education has resulted in growing
enrollments at community colleges and
a greater need for strategies to facilitate
a seamless transfer of students from
two-year to four-year institutions.
Priority
This priority supports projects that
will implement new and substantially
different strategies for increasing
transfer rates between two-year and
four-year institutions.
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Absolute Priority III—Increasing
Enrollment and Completion of
Underrepresented, Underprepared, or
Low-Income Students in Science,
Technology, Engineering, and
Mathematics (STEM) Degree and
Certificate Programs
Background
This absolute priority focuses on
increasing enrollments and completion
rates for students from groups
historically underrepresented in STEM,
including minorities and women.
Recent trends in undergraduate STEM
enrollments show that historically
underrepresented students are an
increasing fraction of undergraduate
students but still disproportionately
under-enroll in the STEM disciplines.
Priority
This priority supports projects that
will implement new and substantially
different strategies to enroll and
graduate greater numbers of
underrepresented students in STEM
fields.
Absolute Priority IV—Reducing Time to
Completion, Especially for
Underrepresented, Underprepared, or
Low-Income Students
Background
This priority focuses on issues of
institutional productivity and
effectiveness, particularly as they relate
to reducing the time it takes to complete
a degree, a diploma or a certificate. A
growing number of students work fulltime or part-time jobs while making
progress towards completing their
programs of study. Meanwhile, newlyenrolled college students are
increasingly assigned to timeconsuming, non-credit bearing
remediation courses which often derail
their path to completion. These and
other factors are increasing the length of
time it takes to complete a two-year or
four-year program. This priority invites
institutions to propose innovative
approaches to reduce the time it takes
for students to complete their program
of study.
Priority
This priority supports projects that
will develop and implement new
strategies to reduce the time it takes to
complete a degree for full-time or parttime students. Applicants addressing
this priority must propose new and
substantially different strategies that
reduce time to degree while maintaining
high-quality academic programs.
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Absolute Priority V—Improving College
Affordability, Especially for
Underrepresented, Underprepared, or
Low-Income Students
Background
It is well known that for many years
college tuition has exceeded the rate of
inflation. The difference between the
cost of attending college and a family’s
capacity to pay has increased
dramatically. Declining state support for
higher education has also forced
students and families to shoulder a
larger proportion of college costs. At the
same time there has been a shift toward
a greater use of student loans in place
of grants to finance college costs. While
a college education remains a
worthwhile investment, many students
now face years of loan payments.
Default rates are rising and too many
young adults are burdened with debt as
they seek to start a family, buy a home,
launch a business, or save for
retirement.
Priority
This priority supports projects that
will develop and implement new and
substantially different strategies to
contain the cost of education for
students and families pursuing higher
education.
Competitive Preference Priority: For
2014, this priority is a competitive
preference priority. Under 34 CFR
75.105(c)(1), we award any application
that meets this competitive preference
priority an additional two points.
Applicants must clearly mark the
Abstract and Information page in the
application package if they intend to
address this competitive preference
priority.
The competitive preference priority
is:
Competitive Preference Priority—Using
Evidence of Promise as the Application
Evidence Standard (2 Points)
Under this priority we support
projects that provide supporting
evidence that meets the Evidence of
Promise definition (as defined in this
notice), in addition to meeting the
definition of Strong Theory that all
applicants must address. Note: An
applicant addressing this competitive
preference priority must identify up to
two study citations that meet this
standard. Relevant studies will be
reviewed to determine if they meet the
What Works Clearinghouse Evidence
Standards. The link for the What Works
Clearinghouse Procedures and
Standards Handbook (Version 2.1,
September 2011), can be found at:https://
ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/references/
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idocviewer/
doc.aspx?docid=19&tocid=1.
The links for the citations submitted
for the competitive preference priority
must be provided on the Abstract and
Information page. Applicants must
specify on the Abstract and Information
page the findings within the studies that
are cited as Evidence of Promise for the
proposed project and ensure that the
citations and links are from publicly or
readily available sources. Studies of
fewer than 10 pages may be attached in
full under Other Attachments in
Grants.gov.
An application will receive two extra
points if at least one of the cited studies
meets the Evidence of Promise standard
and is relevant to the proposed project.
Definitions
Evidence of Promise means there is
empirical evidence to support the
theoretical linkage(s) between at least
one critical component and at least one
relevant outcome presented in the logic
model for the proposed process,
product, strategy, or practice.
Specifically, Evidence of Promise means
the conditions in paragraph (a) and (b)
of this section are met: (a) There is at
least one study that is either a (1)
correlational study with statistical
controls for selection bias; (2) a quasiexperimental design study (as defined
in this notice) that meets the What
Works Clearinghouse Evidence
Standards with reservations; or (3) a
randomized controlled trial (as defined
in this notice) that meets the What
Works Clearinghouse Evidence
Standards with or without reservations;
and (b) the study referenced in (a) found
a statistically significant or
substantively important (defined as a
difference of 0.25 standard deviations or
larger), favorable association between at
least one critical component and one
relevant outcome presented in the logic
model for the proposed process,
product, strategy, or practice. The link
for the What Works Clearinghouse
Procedures and Standards Handbook
(Version 2.1, September 2011), can be
found at:https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/
references/idocviewer/
doc.aspx?docid=19&tocid=1.
Innovation means a process, product,
strategy, or practice that improves (or is
expected to improve) significantly upon
the outcomes reached with status quo
options and that can ultimately reach
widespread effective usage.
Logic Model (also referred to as a
theory of action) means a well-specified
conceptual framework that identifies
key components of the proposed
process, product, strategy, or practice
(i.e., the active ‘‘ingredients’’ that are
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hypothesized to be critical to achieving
the relevant outcomes) and describes
the relationship among the key
components and outcomes, theoretically
and operationally.
Moderate Evidence of Effectiveness
means the first or the second of the
following conditions is met: (1) There is
at least one study of the effectiveness of
the process, product, strategy, or
practice that meets the What Works
Clearinghouse Evidence Standards
without reservations, found a
statistically significant favorable impact
on a relevant outcome (with no
statistically significant and overriding
unfavorable impacts on that outcome for
relevant populations in the study or in
other studies of the intervention
reviewed by and reported on by the
What Works Clearinghouse), and
includes a sample that overlaps with the
populations or settings proposed to
receive the process, product, strategy, or
practice; or (2) There is at least one
study of the effectiveness of the process,
product, strategy, or practice being
proposed that meets the What Works
Clearinghouse Evidence Standard with
reservations, found a statistically
significant favorable impact on a
relevant outcome (with no statistically
significant and overriding unfavorable
impacts on that outcome for relevant
populations in the study or in other
studies of the intervention reviewed by
and reported on by the What Works
Clearinghouse), includes a sample that
overlaps with the populations or
settings proposed to receive the process,
product, strategy, or practice; and
includes a large and a multi-site sample.
Note: Multiple studies can cumulatively
meet the large and multi-site sample
requirements as long as each study
meets the other requirements in this
paragraph. The link for the What Works
Clearinghouse Procedures and
Standards Handbook (Version 2.1,
September 2011), can be found at:
https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/references/
idocviewer/
doc.aspx?docid=19&tocid=1.
Quasi-experimental Design Study
means a study using a design that
attempts to approximate an
experimental design by identifying a
comparison group that is similar to the
treatment group in important respects.
These studies, depending on design and
implementation, can meet What Works
Clearinghouse Evidence Standards with
reservations (they cannot meet the What
Works Clearinghouse Evidence
Standards without reservations). The
link for the What Works Clearinghouse
Procedures and Standards Handbook
(Version 2.1, September 2011), can be
found at:https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/
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references/idocviewer/
doc.aspx?docid=19&tocid=1.
Randomized Controlled Trial means a
study that employs random assignment
of, for example, students, teachers,
classrooms, schools, or districts to
receive the intervention being evaluated
(the treatment group) or not to receive
the treatment (the control group). The
estimated effectiveness of the
intervention is the difference between
the average outcome for the treatment
group and for the control group. These
studies, depending on design and
implementation, can meet the What
Works Clearinghouse Evidence
Standards without reservation. The link
for the What Works Clearinghouse
Procedures and Standards Handbook
(Version 2.1, September 2011), can be
found at:https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/
references/idocviewer/
doc.aspx?docid=19&tocid=1.
Strong Theory means a rationale for
the proposed process, product, strategy,
or practice that includes a logic model.
Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking:
Under the Administrative Procedure Act
(5 U.S.C. 553), the Department generally
offers interested parties the opportunity
to comment on proposed priorities,
definitions, and other requirements.
Section 437(d)(1) of GEPA, however,
allows the Secretary to exempt from
rulemaking requirements, regulations
governing the first grant competition
under a new or substantially revised
program authority. This is the first grant
competition for the FITW program
under 20 U.S.C. 1138–1138d and
therefore qualifies for this exemption. In
order to ensure timely grant awards, the
Secretary has decided to forego public
comment on the priorities, definitions,
and requirements under section
437(d)(1) of GEPA. These priorities,
selection criteria, definitions and
requirements will apply to the FY 2014
grant competition only.
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1138–1138d.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The
Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in
34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 82, 84,
85, 86, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The Education
Department suspension and debarment
regulations in 2 CFR part 3485.
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79
apply to all applicants except Federally
recognized Indian tribes.
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86
apply to institutions of higher education
only.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
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Estimated Available Funds:
$75,000,000. Up to $20,000,000 is set
aside for MSIs.
The range of awards listed below is
the total amount for a 48 month budget
period.
Estimated Range of Awards:
$2,000,000–$4,000,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards:
$3,000,000.
See the Budget Instructions in the
application package.
Maximum Award: We will not fund
any application above the maximum
award of $4,000,000 for the 48-month
budget period. The Assistant Secretary
for Postsecondary Education may
change the maximum amount through a
notice published in the Federal
Register.
Estimated Number of Awards: 19–38.
Note: The Department is not bound by any
estimates in this notice.
Project Period: 48 months.
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III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: Institutions of
higher education and consortia of such
institutions are eligible to apply.
Applicants are encouraged to partner
with other public and private
organizations and agencies. To be
eligible for an award, an application for
a FITW Development grant must be
supported by a Strong Theory and
include a logic model for the proposed
project.
To qualify as an eligible MSI under
the FITW Program, an institution must
meet one of two criteria. The first
criterion includes: Current eligibility
approval as defined by the Department’s
FY 2014 eligibility process for Title III
and/or Title V of the Higher Education
Act of 1965, as amended; an open grant
under one of the Department’s Title III,
Parts A and F and/or Title V programs;
or a designation as a Historically Black
College of University or a Tribally
Controlled College. The second criterion
includes: Specific enrollment
percentages for minority students
served; and, if applicable, needy student
and educational and general (E&G)
expenditure criteria for determining
income eligibility. More information on
MSI eligibility is in the application
package under the section entitled
Eligibility. The Department will screen
the applications to verify MSI eligibility
based on these criteria and, if
applicable, will use the most recent
IPEDS data. In the event an application
does not qualify for MSI eligibility, it
will still be reviewed.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This
program does not require cost sharing or
matching.
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3. Other: We are establishing the
following requirements for this program
in accordance with section 437(d)(1) of
GEPA, 20 U.S.C. 1232(d)(1).
Evidence Standard and Logic Model:
All applications for the FITW Program
must meet the evidence standard of
Strong Theory and include a logic
model (as defined in this notice).
Applicants may submit a rationale for
any intervention(s) that has not been
tried or that only has been marginally
considered and explored at the
applicant institution or elsewhere.
Limits on Grant Awards: No applicant
will receive more than one award in this
FY 2014 FITW competition.
Evaluation: A grantee must comply
with the requirements of any evaluation
of the program conducted by the
Department. In addition, the grantee
must arrange for an independent
evaluation of its project. The grantee
and its independent evaluator must
cooperate with any technical assistance
provided by the Department or its
contractor to ensure that the evaluations
are of the highest quality and to
encourage commonality in evaluation
approaches across funded projects.
Finally, the grantee must make broadly
available through formal (e.g., peerreviewed journals) or informal (e.g.,
newsletters) mechanisms, and in print
or electronically, the results of any
evaluations it conducts of its funded
activities. These results must cite the
U.S. Department’s Fund for the
Improvement of Postsecondary
Education as the funding source.
IV. Application and Submission
Information
1. Address to Request Application
Package: You can obtain an application
package via the Internet or from the
Education Publications Center (ED
Pubs).
To obtain a copy via the Internet, use
the following address: www.ed.gov/
fund/grant/apply/grantapp/.
To obtain a copy from ED Pubs, write,
fax, or call the following: ED Pubs, U.S.
Department of Education, P.O. Box
22207, Alexandria, VA 22304.
Telephone, toll free: 1–877–433–7827.
FAX: (703) 605–6794. If you use a
telecommunications device for the deaf
(TDD) or a text telephone (TTY), call,
toll free: 1–877–576–7734.
You also can contact ED Pubs at its
Web site: www.EDPubs.gov or at its
email address: edpubs@inet.ed.gov.
If you request an application from ED
Pubs, be sure to identify this program as
follows: CFDA number 84.116F.
Individuals with disabilities can
obtain a copy of the application package
in an accessible format (e.g., braille,
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large print, audiotape, or computer disc)
by contacting the person listed in this
section.
2. Content and Form of Application
Submission: Requirements concerning
the content of an application, together
with the forms you must submit, are in
the application package for this
program.
Page Limit: The application narrative
is where you, the applicant address the
selection criteria that reviewers use to
assess your application. There is a limit
for the application narrative of no more
than 40 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.
Note: For purposes of determining
compliance with the 40 page limit, each page
on which there are words will be counted as
one full page.
• Double space (no more than three
lines per vertical inch) all text in the
application narrative, except titles,
headings, footnotes, endnotes,
quotations, references, and captions.
Charts, tables, figures, and graphs in the
application may be single spaced.
• Use a font that is either 12 point or
larger; or, no smaller than 10 pitch
(characters per inch). However, you may
use a 10 point font in charts, tables,
figures, graphs, footnotes, and endnotes.
• Use one of the following fonts:
Times New Roman, Courier, Courier
New, or Arial.
The 40-page limit does not apply to
Part I, the cover sheet, the table of
contents; Part II, the budget section,
including the narrative budget
justification; Part IV, the assurances and
certifications; or Abstract and
Information page, the resumes (threepage limit), the citations or full studies,
or letters of support.
If you include any attachments or
appendices not specifically requested
and required for the application, these
items will be counted as part of the
narrative for the purposes of the page
limit.
3. Submission Dates and Times:
Applications Available: May 16, 2014.
Deadline for Transmittal of
Applications: June 30, 2014.
Applications for grants under this
program must be submitted
electronically using the Grants.gov
Apply site (Grants.gov). For information
(including dates and times) about how
to submit your application
electronically, or in paper format by
mail or hand delivery if you qualify for
an exception to the electronic
submission requirement, please refer to
section IV.7. Other Submission
Requirements of this notice.
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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: August 29, 2014.
4. Intergovernmental Review: This
program is subject to Executive Order
12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR
part 79. Information about
Intergovernmental Review of Federal
Programs under Executive Order 12372
is in the application package for this
program.
5. Funding Restrictions: We reference
regulations outlining funding
restrictions in the Applicable
Regulations section of this notice.
6. Data Universal Numbering System
Number, Taxpayer Identification
Number, 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 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 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 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/
web/grants/register.html.
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 First
in the World Program, CFDA number
84.116F, 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
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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 First in the World
Program 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 84.116, not
84.116F).
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 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 prevents 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: Frank Frankfort, First in
the World, U.S. Department of
Education, 1990 K Street NW., Room
6166, Washington, DC 20006–8544.
FAX: (202) 502–7877.
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 84.116F, 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 84.116F, 550 12th Street SW.,
Room 7039, 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.
V. Application Review Information
EMCDONALD on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
1. Selection Criteria: The selection
criteria for this competition are from 34
CFR 75.210. The points assigned to each
criterion are indicated in parentheses.
Applicants may earn up to a total of 100
points for the selection criteria. These
selection criteria serve as the template
for submitting and reviewing proposals.
Additional details may be found in the
application package under Instructions
for the Project Narrative.
The five selection criteria for grants in
this competition are as follows:
A. Significance (up to 20 points).
The Secretary considers the
significance of the proposed project.
In determining the significance of the
proposed project, the Secretary
considers the following factors:
(1) The potential contribution of the
proposed project to increased
knowledge or understanding of
education problems, issues, or effective
strategies.
(2) The extent to which the proposed
project involves the development or
demonstration of promising new
strategies that build on, or are
alternatives to, existing strategies.
(3) The potential replicability of the
proposed project or strategies,
including, as appropriate, the potential
for implementation in a variety of
settings.
Note: How the proposal meets this
selection criterion should be explained in the
first section of the project narrative.
Applicants are encouraged to begin their
narrative with a description of the major
challenges in higher education, and then
indicate how their proposal addresses these
educational challenges. Applicants are
encouraged to focus on novel and
substantially different approaches to these
challenges. Applicants are also encouraged to
consider how their planned innovations
could be replicated at other institutions. If
the applicant conducts a literature review, an
explanation of the review could be useful in
explaining the significance of the project.
B. Quality of the Project Design (up to
30 points).
The Secretary considers the quality of
the design of the proposed project.
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In determining the quality of the
project design, the Secretary considers
the following factors:
(1) The extent to which the design of
the proposed project is appropriate to,
and will successfully address, the needs
of the target population or other
identified needs.
(2) The extent to which the proposed
project represents an exceptional
approach to the priority or priorities
established for the competition.
(3) The extent to which there is a
conceptual framework underlying the
proposed research or demonstration
activities and the quality of that
framework.
The Secretary considers the quality of
the personnel who will carry out the
proposed project.
In determining the quality of project
personnel for the proposed project, the
Secretary considers the following
factors:
(1) The qualifications, including
relevant training and experience, of the
project director or principal
investigator.
(2) The qualifications, including
relevant training and experience, of key
project personnel.
(3) The qualifications, including
relevant training and experience, of
project consultants or subcontractors.
Note: The applicant should explain how
the project meets this selection criterion in
the second section of the project narrative.
Applicants are encouraged to define carefully
the student population served, the number of
students involved, and any challenges and
needs that they are addressing through their
project. Applicants are encouraged to
describe carefully how their proposed
approach is a new and substantially different
way to address the selected priority.
Applicants are encouraged to use the
required logic model as the conceptual plan
for the project. A simple logic model could
be organized in four parts: Inputs, Activities,
Outcomes, and Timelines. Inputs refer to all
the resources to conduct the project.
Activities are interventions that will be
measured on multiple occasions. Outcomes
refer to results derived from measuring and
analyzing activities and interventions. A
timeline indicates when an intervention
takes place.
Note: The applicant should explain how
the project meets this selection criterion in
the fourth section of the project narrative.
Applicants are encouraged to select a project
director who is well acquainted with the
institution and experienced in executing
large and complex projects. A resume for the
project director is required. Applicants are
encouraged to address the qualifications of
other key personnel. Applicants are
encouraged to select a project consultant to
serve as an evaluator who is independent of
the project, has appropriate credentials, and
has experience in survey design and
statistical analysis. A resume for the project
consultant is required.
C. Adequacy of Resources (up to 15
points).
The Secretary considers the adequacy
of resources for the proposed project.
In determining the adequacy of
resources for the proposed project, the
Secretary considers the following
factors:
(1) The adequacy of support,
including facilities, equipment,
supplies, and other resources, from the
applicant organization or the lead
applicant organization.
(2) The extent to which the costs are
reasonable in relation to the objectives,
design, and potential significance of the
proposed project.
Note: The applicant should explain how
the project meets this selection criterion in
the third section of the project narrative.
Applicants are encouraged to describe the
resources and capacity of the institution to
conduct a successful project, for example,
through letters of commitment. Letters must
be appended to the application under Other
Attachments. Additionally, applicants are
encouraged to describe how the requested
funds are reasonable in relation to the
complexity and scale of the project.
D. Quality of Project Personnel (up to
15 points).
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E. Quality of the Project Evaluation
(up to 20 points).
The Secretary considers the quality of
the evaluation to be conducted of the
proposed project.
In determining the quality of the
evaluation, the Secretary considers the
following factors:
(1) The extent to which the goals,
objectives, and outcomes to be achieved
by the proposed project are specified
and measurable.
(2) The extent to which the methods
of evaluation will, if well implemented,
produce evidence about the project’s
effectiveness that would meet the What
Works Clearinghouse Evidence
Standards without reservations. The
link for the What Works Clearinghouse
Procedures and Standards Handbook
(Version 2.1, September 2011), can be
found at: https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/
references/idocviewer/
doc.aspx?docid=19&tocid=1.
(3) The extent to which the methods
of evaluation will, if well implemented,
produce evidence about the project’s
effectiveness that would meet the What
Works Clearinghouse Evidence
Standards with reservations. The link
for the What Works Clearinghouse
Procedures and Standards Handbook
(Version 2.1, September 2011), can be
found at: https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/
references/idocviewer/
doc.aspx?docid=19&tocid=1.
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(4) The extent to which the methods
of evaluation will provide performance
feedback and permit periodic
assessment of progress toward achieving
intended outcomes.
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Note: The applicant should explain how
the project meets this selection criterion in
the last section of the project narrative.
Because FITW is an evidence-based program
and may inform and guide the project work,
the evaluation plan for your FITW project is
very important. Applicants are encouraged to
have a firm understanding of the Moderate
Evidence of Effectiveness standard (as
defined in this notice). It is also important to
explain how the evaluation plan will guide
and inform the project work.
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, 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).
For FITW grant applications the
Department intends to conduct a twotier review process to review and score
all eligible applications. Reviewers will
review and score all eligible
applications on the following four
selection criteria: A. Significance; B.
Quality of the Project Design; C.
Adequacy of Resources; and D. Quality
of Project Personnel. Eligible
applications that score highly on these
four selection criteria will have the
remaining criterion, E. Quality of the
Project Evaluation, reviewed and scored
by a different panel of peer reviewers
with evaluation expertise. Highly rated
applications from this two-tier review
process that also address the
competitive preference priority will
then have their supporting studies
reviewed by the Department’s Institute
for Education Sciences (IES) and by the
FITW program. An application will
receive two extra points if at least one
of the cited studies meets the Evidence
of Promise standard and is relevant to
the proposed project.
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In cases where two or more
applications have the same final score
in the rank order listing, and there are
insufficient funds to fully support these
both applications, the Department will
consider an equitable distribution of
grants among geographic locations.
3. Special Conditions: Under 34 CFR
74.14 and 80.12, the Secretary may
impose special conditions on a grant if
the applicant or grantee is not
financially stable; has a history of
unsatisfactory performance; has a
financial or other management system
that does not meet the standards in 34
CFR parts 74 or 80, as applicable; has
not fulfilled the conditions of a prior
grant; or is otherwise not responsible.
VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices: If your application
is successful, we notify your U.S.
Representative and U.S. Senators and
send you a Grant Award Notification
(GAN); 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.
To ensure that the Federal investment
of these funds has as broad an impact
as possible and to encourage innovation
in the development of new learning
materials, FITW grantees will be
required to license to the public all
intellectual property (except for
computer software source code,
discussed below) created with the
support of grant funds, including both
new content created with grant funds
and modifications made to pre-existing,
grantee-owned content using grant
funds. That license must be worldwide,
non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual,
irrevocable, and grant the public
permission to access, reproduce,
publicly perform, publicly display,
adapt, distribute, and otherwise use the
intellectual property referenced above
(except for computer software source
code, discussed below) for any
purposes, conditioned only on the
requirement that attribution be given to
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
28503
authors as designated. Further, the
Department requires that all computer
software source code developed or
created with FITW funds will be
released under an intellectual property
license that allows others to freely use
and build upon them.
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
will use the following performance
measures in assessing the successful
performance of FIPSE’s FITW grants:
(1) The extent to which funded
projects are replicated (i.e., adopted or
adapted by others).
(2) The extent to which projects are
institutionalized and continued after
funding.
(3) The extent to which the metrics
used to assess and evaluate project
results measure performance under the
absolute priority the project is designed
to address.
(4) The percentage of projects
supported by FITW grants that produce
evidence of their effectiveness at
improving student outcomes and college
affordability, especially for low-income
students.
(5) The percentage of projects
supported by FITW grants that provide
high-quality implementation data and
performance feedback that allow for
periodic assessment of progress toward
achieving intended outcomes.
(6) The cost per student served by
FITW grants.
(7) The cost per successful student
outcome.
If funded, you will be asked to collect
and report data from your project on
steps taken toward achieving the
outcomes evaluated by these
E:\FR\FM\16MYN1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 95 / Friday, May 16, 2014 / Notices
performance measures. Consequently,
applicants are advised to include these
outcomes in conceptualizing the design,
implementation, and evaluation of their
proposed projects. Replication,
institutionalization, and accurate data
are important outcomes that ensure the
ultimate success of projects funded
under this program.
5. Continuation Awards: In making a
continuation award, the Secretary may
consider, under 34 CFR 75.253, the
extent to which a grantee has made
‘‘substantial progress toward meeting
the objectives in its approved
application.’’ This consideration
includes the review of a grantee’s
progress in meeting the targets and
projected outcomes in its approved
application, and whether the grantee
has expended funds in a manner that is
consistent with its approved application
and budget. In making a continuation
grant, the Secretary also considers
whether the grantee is operating in
compliance with the assurances in its
approved application, including those
applicable to Federal civil rights laws
that prohibit discrimination in programs
or activities receiving Federal financial
assistance from the Department (34 CFR
100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
VII. Agency Contact
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
EMCDONALD on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Frank Frankfort, U.S. Department of
Education, 1990 K Street NW., Room
6166, Washington, DC 20006–8544.
Telephone: 202–502–7500. You may
send emails to OPEFirstintheWorld@
ed.gov.
If you use a TDD or a TTY, call the
Federal Relay Service, toll free, at 1–
800–877–8339.
VIII. Other Information
Accessible Format: Individuals with
disabilities can obtain this document
and a copy of the application package in
an accessible format (e.g., braille, large
print, audiotape, or computer 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 free at the site.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
20:00 May 15, 2014
Jkt 232001
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.
You can also view this document in
text or PDF at the following site:
www.ed.gov/fipse.
Dated: May 14, 2014.
Lynn B. Mahaffie,
Senior Director, Policy Coordination,
Development, and Accreditation Service,
delegated the authority to perform the
functions and duties of the Assistant
Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2014–11463 Filed 5–15–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
Combined Notice of Filings #1
Take notice that the Commission
received the following exempt
wholesale generator filings:
Docket Numbers: EG14–50–000.
Applicants: SEP II, LLC.
Description: Notice of SelfCertification of EWG Status of SEP II,
LLC.
Filed Date: 5/8/14.
Accession Number: 20140508–5059.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 5/29/14.
Docket Numbers: EG14–51–000.
Applicants: NRG Solar Dandan LLC.
Description: Notice of SelfCertification of Exempt Wholesale
Generator Status.
Filed Date: 5/8/14.
Accession Number: 20140508–5126.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 5/29/14.
Take notice that the Commission
received the following electric rate
filings:
Docket Numbers: ER10–2819–002.
Applicants: ALLETE, Inc.
Description: Supplement to February
28, 2014 Notice of Non-Material Change
in Status of ALLETE, Inc.
Filed Date: 4/24/14.
Accession Number: 20140424–5135.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 5/15/14.
Docket Numbers: ER11–4315–002;
ER10–3144–002.
Applicants: Gila River Power LLC,
Entegra Power Services LLC.
Description: Gila River Power LLC, et.
al. Supplement to June 28, 2013
Triennial Market Power Update for the
Southwest Region.
Filed Date: 5/7/14.
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Accession Number: 20140507–5204.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 5/19/14.
Docket Numbers: ER13–2301–003.
Applicants: Dominion Energy
Marketing, Inc.
Description: Compliance Filing—
Corrected Attached Tariff to Previous
Filing of May 5 to be effective 10/1/
2013.
Filed Date: 5/8/14.
Accession Number: 20140508–5000.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 5/20/14.
Docket Numbers: ER14–83–002.
Applicants: Midcontinent
Independent System Operator, Inc.
Description: 2014–05–07_Docket No.
ER14–83–002_External Resources
Compliance to be effective 12/13/2013.
Filed Date: 5/7/14.
Accession Number: 20140507–5139.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 5/28/14.
Docket Numbers: ER14–1290–001.
Applicants: Midcontinent
Independent System Operator, Inc.
Description: 2014–05–07_Docket No.
ER14–1290–001_Schedule 34
Compliance Filing to be effective 4/8/
2014.
Filed Date: 5/7/14.
Accession Number: 20140507–5132.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 5/28/14.
Docket Numbers: ER14–1902–000.
Applicants: Bendwind, LLC.
Description: Revised Market-Based
Rate Tariff to be effective 5/8/2014.
Filed Date: 5/7/14.
Accession Number: 20140507–5148.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 5/28/14.
Docket Numbers: ER14–1903–000.
Applicants: Broken Bow Wind, LLC.
Description: Revised Market-Based
Rate Tariff to be effective 5/8/2014.
Filed Date: 5/7/14.
Accession Number: 20140507–5149.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 5/28/14.
Docket Numbers: ER14–1904–000.
Applicants: Crofton Bluffs Wind, LLC.
Description: Revised Market-Based
Rate Tariff to be effective 5/8/2014.
Filed Date: 5/7/14.
Accession Number: 20140507–5150.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 5/28/14.
Docket Numbers: ER14–1905–000.
Applicants: Energy Alternatives
Wholesale, LLC.
Description: Revised Market-Based
Tariff to be effective 5/8/2014.
Filed Date: 5/7/14.
Accession Number: 20140507–5151.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 5/28/14.
Docket Numbers: ER14–1906–000.
Applicants: GenConn Energy LLC.
Description: Revised Market-Based
Rate Tariff to be effective 5/8/2014.
Filed Date: 5/7/14.
Accession Number: 20140507–5152.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 5/28/14.
E:\FR\FM\16MYN1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 95 (Friday, May 16, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28495-28504]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-11463]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Applications for New Awards; First in the World Program--
Development Grants
AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Overview Information
Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE)--First
in the World Program (FITW)--Development Grants Notice inviting
applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2014.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.116F.
DATES:
Applications Available: May 16, 2014.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 30, 2014.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: August 29, 2014.
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The President has set a clear goal for the
Nation's education system. By 2020 the United States will once again
lead the world in the proportion of its citizens holding college
degrees or other postsecondary credentials. To support this national
effort the Department of Education has outlined a comprehensive
education agenda that includes expanding quality and opportunity at all
levels of education from early learning programs through higher
education. The FITW Program is a key part of this agenda.
Last August, President Obama outlined an ambitious plan to improve
value and affordability in postsecondary education. The plan included:
Paying for performance, developing a college ratings system; promoting
innovation and competition; and ensuring affordable debt. The President
noted that the federal government can act as a catalyst for innovation,
spurring innovation in a way that drives down costs while preserving
quality. Innovations can take many forms, such as those that improve
teaching and learning by redesigning courses and student supports, or
by leverage learning science and technological developments. FITW aims
to support a wide range of innovations at colleges and universities,
and serve as a catalyst for the best ideas that will dramatically
enhance student outcomes.
The FITW program will build on all of these important
Administration priorities by providing grants to
[[Page 28496]]
institutions of higher education to spur the development of innovative
approaches and strategies that will improve postsecondary educational
access and outcomes. The FITW program plays a key role in the
President's plan to make college more affordable for students and
families, as it aims to develop an evidence base of effective practices
for ensuring that more students can access, persist in, and complete
postsecondary study. Successful FITW projects will support greater
college affordability for students, through the implementation and
evaluation of practices and strategies that have the potential to
reduce costs while delivering high-quality academic programs to
students. Institutions of higher education or consortia of such
institutions are eligible applicants for FITW grants. We encourage
applicants to partner with public and private institutions and agencies
that can assist applicants to achieve the goals of their projects.
The FY 2014 budget for FITW is $75,000,000, with up to $20,000,000
set aside for Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs). There will be one
competition with one set of priorities and one set of selection
criteria. We will consider an institution as an MSI for purposes of
this competition if the institution meets the qualifications for an MSI
as described in the application package and the institution certifies
that it meets those qualifications through the application.
Institutions of higher education may only submit one application and
may only be awarded one grant.
Successful FITW projects will include the following
characteristics: (1) A project design supported by Strong Theory (as
defined in this notice); (2) a data collection plan; (3) a design and
implementation plan for evaluation that will demonstrate whether the
strategies implemented are showing Moderate Evidence of Effectiveness
(as defined in this notice); (4) replicable and scalable reform
strategies; (5) a strong focus on improved postsecondary access,
affordability, and completion, with an emphasis on low-income students;
and (6) a strategy for improvement of postsecondary productivity and
effectiveness that holds steady or decreases costs for students.
The FITW competition embraces the President's call for institutions
of higher education to propose their best and most promising ideas to
significantly expand access, affordability, and improve outcomes for
students. The absolute priorities of the FITW competition are
structured to elicit a wide array of innovative proposals from a
diversity of institutions of higher education, focused around these
three pillars of access, affordability, and attainment. Many
institutions across the country have already demonstrated significant
interest in and/or adopted innovative approaches to teaching and
learning that aim to obtain better outcomes for students, including
promising practices that accelerate the pace and success rate for
students in need of remediation moving into credit-bearing coursework
and toward a degree or credential; approaches like competency-based
education that measure progression based on learning rather than just
seat time; dual-enrollment strategies and early college high schools
that allow high school students to earn credit before arriving at
college; establishing open degree pathways that are offered at low- or
no-cost to students in fields that focus on the education and skills
employers are seeking, and that have the potential to deliver high-
quality learning experiences and outcomes while significantly expanding
postsecondary educational access and opportunity; and redesigned
courses and programs of study that improve student learning at lower
costs than traditional courses. The Department welcomes the submission
of all ideas and proposals (including but not limited to the
aforementioned examples) and encourages institutions of higher
education to put forward their most innovative and creative thinking to
significantly expand postsecondary opportunity for all students,
especially those who are low-income, underprepared for, or
underrepresented in higher education.
FITW is designed as a tiered evidence grant program in which higher
levels of evidence supporting the proposed projects are required in
order to receive greater amounts of funding across multiple evidence
tiers. In future years, the Department anticipates conducting
competitions to support projects under higher tiers of evidence.
However, in FY 2014, the Department will run only one competition in
one evidence tier for Development grants. FITW projects should be novel
and significant nationally, not projects that simply implement existing
practices in additional locations or support needs that are primarily
local in nature. A key goal of FITW Development grants is to expand the
research on innovative practices that can be used to support future
competitions with higher evidence standards.
To be eligible for an award, an application for a FITW Development
grant must be supported by a Strong Theory (as defined in this notice)
and the applicant must submit a logic model (as defined in this notice)
for its proposed project. Applicants may submit a rationale for any
intervention(s) that has not been tried or that only has been
marginally considered and explored at the applicant institution or
elsewhere.
Priorities: This notice includes five absolute priorities and one
competitive preference priority.
We are establishing these priorities for the FY 2014 FITW
competition and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the
list of unfunded applicants from this competition in accordance with
section 437(d)(1) of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA), 20
U.S.C. 1232(d)(1).
Absolute Priorities: These priorities are absolute priorities.
Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), we consider only applications that address
one of the five absolute priorities. The Department encourages
applicants to select an absolute priority that is commensurate with
implementing well-defined reforms that can be thoroughly studied and
described in detail, and that has the potential to be replicated. The
Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying the Consolidated
Appropriations Act of 2014, Public Law 113-76, specifies that, in
carrying out the FITW competition the Department is expected to
prioritize applications that target innovative strategies for low-
income students. Applicants must specify on the Abstract and
Information page which absolute priority is addressed in the
application.
The five absolute priorities are:
Absolute Priority I--Increasing Access and Completion for
Underrepresented, Underprepared, or Low-Income Students
Background
The proportion of Americans earning postsecondary credentials is
unacceptably low, particularly among low-income, underrepresented, and
underprepared students. Substantial college completion gaps persist
among underrepresented, underprepared, or low-income students and their
peers. Reports from (NCES) consistently indicate that students from
higher-income families are more likely to finish postsecondary programs
of study than lower-income students. We must both increase the number
of low-income, underprepared, or underrepresented students (including
students with disabilities) enrolling in postsecondary education and
increase the rates at which they complete. The purpose of this priority
is to ensure that FITW grants will implement and demonstrate
[[Page 28497]]
reforms and strategies that leverage innovative approaches to yield a
measurable impact on student persistence and completion.
Priority
This priority supports projects that will improve the effectiveness
of interventions for a target student population made up of
underrepresented, underprepared or low-income students that would
result in measurable increases in the number of students from those
populations who enroll and persist in postsecondary education, and
complete their postsecondary degree, credential, or certificate; or
that would implement a broader system-wide design that would have
positive effects on all students including underrepresented,
underprepared, and low income students. If the target group of the
proposed project is all students at an institution or consortia of
institutions, applicants must explain why the approach is expected to
have positive impacts on underrepresented, underprepared, and low-
income student subpopulations and must show that they can track
outcomes for these specific student subpopulations. Consistent with
this priority, applicants may also submit projects that will advance
positive impacts and outcomes for students with disabilities.
Absolute Priority II--Increasing Community College Transfer Rates to
Four-Year Colleges for Underrepresented, Underprepared, or Low-Income
Students
Background
Community colleges play a major role in higher education.
Successful transfer of students from two-year to four-year institutions
is a key function community colleges perform that contributes to the
nation's overall bachelor degree attainment. The pressure of tuition
increases, escalating costs for books and materials, and the decline of
State support for higher education has resulted in growing enrollments
at community colleges and a greater need for strategies to facilitate a
seamless transfer of students from two-year to four-year institutions.
Priority
This priority supports projects that will implement new and
substantially different strategies for increasing transfer rates
between two-year and four-year institutions.
Absolute Priority III--Increasing Enrollment and Completion of
Underrepresented, Underprepared, or Low-Income Students in Science,
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Degree and Certificate
Programs
Background
This absolute priority focuses on increasing enrollments and
completion rates for students from groups historically underrepresented
in STEM, including minorities and women. Recent trends in undergraduate
STEM enrollments show that historically underrepresented students are
an increasing fraction of undergraduate students but still
disproportionately under-enroll in the STEM disciplines.
Priority
This priority supports projects that will implement new and
substantially different strategies to enroll and graduate greater
numbers of underrepresented students in STEM fields.
Absolute Priority IV--Reducing Time to Completion, Especially for
Underrepresented, Underprepared, or Low-Income Students
Background
This priority focuses on issues of institutional productivity and
effectiveness, particularly as they relate to reducing the time it
takes to complete a degree, a diploma or a certificate. A growing
number of students work full-time or part-time jobs while making
progress towards completing their programs of study. Meanwhile, newly-
enrolled college students are increasingly assigned to time-consuming,
non-credit bearing remediation courses which often derail their path to
completion. These and other factors are increasing the length of time
it takes to complete a two-year or four-year program. This priority
invites institutions to propose innovative approaches to reduce the
time it takes for students to complete their program of study.
Priority
This priority supports projects that will develop and implement new
strategies to reduce the time it takes to complete a degree for full-
time or part-time students. Applicants addressing this priority must
propose new and substantially different strategies that reduce time to
degree while maintaining high-quality academic programs.
Absolute Priority V--Improving College Affordability, Especially for
Underrepresented, Underprepared, or Low-Income Students
Background
It is well known that for many years college tuition has exceeded
the rate of inflation. The difference between the cost of attending
college and a family's capacity to pay has increased dramatically.
Declining state support for higher education has also forced students
and families to shoulder a larger proportion of college costs. At the
same time there has been a shift toward a greater use of student loans
in place of grants to finance college costs. While a college education
remains a worthwhile investment, many students now face years of loan
payments. Default rates are rising and too many young adults are
burdened with debt as they seek to start a family, buy a home, launch a
business, or save for retirement.
Priority
This priority supports projects that will develop and implement new
and substantially different strategies to contain the cost of education
for students and families pursuing higher education.
Competitive Preference Priority: For 2014, this priority is a
competitive preference priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1), we award
any application that meets this competitive preference priority an
additional two points. Applicants must clearly mark the Abstract and
Information page in the application package if they intend to address
this competitive preference priority.
The competitive preference priority is:
Competitive Preference Priority--Using Evidence of Promise as the
Application Evidence Standard (2 Points)
Under this priority we support projects that provide supporting
evidence that meets the Evidence of Promise definition (as defined in
this notice), in addition to meeting the definition of Strong Theory
that all applicants must address. Note: An applicant addressing this
competitive preference priority must identify up to two study citations
that meet this standard. Relevant studies will be reviewed to determine
if they meet the What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards. The link
for the What Works Clearinghouse Procedures and Standards Handbook
(Version 2.1, September 2011), can be found at:https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/
wwc/references/
[[Page 28498]]
idocviewer/doc.aspx?docid=19&tocid=1.
The links for the citations submitted for the competitive
preference priority must be provided on the Abstract and Information
page. Applicants must specify on the Abstract and Information page the
findings within the studies that are cited as Evidence of Promise for
the proposed project and ensure that the citations and links are from
publicly or readily available sources. Studies of fewer than 10 pages
may be attached in full under Other Attachments in Grants.gov.
An application will receive two extra points if at least one of the
cited studies meets the Evidence of Promise standard and is relevant to
the proposed project.
Definitions
Evidence of Promise means there is empirical evidence to support
the theoretical linkage(s) between at least one critical component and
at least one relevant outcome presented in the logic model for the
proposed process, product, strategy, or practice. Specifically,
Evidence of Promise means the conditions in paragraph (a) and (b) of
this section are met: (a) There is at least one study that is either a
(1) correlational study with statistical controls for selection bias;
(2) a quasi-experimental design study (as defined in this notice) that
meets the What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards with
reservations; or (3) a randomized controlled trial (as defined in this
notice) that meets the What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards with
or without reservations; and (b) the study referenced in (a) found a
statistically significant or substantively important (defined as a
difference of 0.25 standard deviations or larger), favorable
association between at least one critical component and one relevant
outcome presented in the logic model for the proposed process, product,
strategy, or practice. The link for the What Works Clearinghouse
Procedures and Standards Handbook (Version 2.1, September 2011), can be
found at:https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/references/idocviewer/doc.aspx?docid=19&tocid=1.
Innovation means a process, product, strategy, or practice that
improves (or is expected to improve) significantly upon the outcomes
reached with status quo options and that can ultimately reach
widespread effective usage.
Logic Model (also referred to as a theory of action) means a well-
specified conceptual framework that identifies key components of the
proposed process, product, strategy, or practice (i.e., the active
``ingredients'' that are hypothesized to be critical to achieving the
relevant outcomes) and describes the relationship among the key
components and outcomes, theoretically and operationally.
Moderate Evidence of Effectiveness means the first or the second of
the following conditions is met: (1) There is at least one study of the
effectiveness of the process, product, strategy, or practice that meets
the What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards without reservations,
found a statistically significant favorable impact on a relevant
outcome (with no statistically significant and overriding unfavorable
impacts on that outcome for relevant populations in the study or in
other studies of the intervention reviewed by and reported on by the
What Works Clearinghouse), and includes a sample that overlaps with the
populations or settings proposed to receive the process, product,
strategy, or practice; or (2) There is at least one study of the
effectiveness of the process, product, strategy, or practice being
proposed that meets the What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standard with
reservations, found a statistically significant favorable impact on a
relevant outcome (with no statistically significant and overriding
unfavorable impacts on that outcome for relevant populations in the
study or in other studies of the intervention reviewed by and reported
on by the What Works Clearinghouse), includes a sample that overlaps
with the populations or settings proposed to receive the process,
product, strategy, or practice; and includes a large and a multi-site
sample. Note: Multiple studies can cumulatively meet the large and
multi-site sample requirements as long as each study meets the other
requirements in this paragraph. The link for the What Works
Clearinghouse Procedures and Standards Handbook (Version 2.1, September
2011), can be found at: https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/references/idocviewer/doc.aspx?docid=19&tocid=1.
Quasi-experimental Design Study means a study using a design that
attempts to approximate an experimental design by identifying a
comparison group that is similar to the treatment group in important
respects. These studies, depending on design and implementation, can
meet What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards with reservations
(they cannot meet the What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards
without reservations). The link for the What Works Clearinghouse
Procedures and Standards Handbook (Version 2.1, September 2011), can be
found at:https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/references/idocviewer/doc.aspx?docid=19&tocid=1.
Randomized Controlled Trial means a study that employs random
assignment of, for example, students, teachers, classrooms, schools, or
districts to receive the intervention being evaluated (the treatment
group) or not to receive the treatment (the control group). The
estimated effectiveness of the intervention is the difference between
the average outcome for the treatment group and for the control group.
These studies, depending on design and implementation, can meet the
What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards without reservation. The
link for the What Works Clearinghouse Procedures and Standards Handbook
(Version 2.1, September 2011), can be found at:https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/references/idocviewer/doc.aspx?docid=19&tocid=1.
Strong Theory means a rationale for the proposed process, product,
strategy, or practice that includes a logic model.
Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking: Under the Administrative Procedure
Act (5 U.S.C. 553), the Department generally offers interested parties
the opportunity to comment on proposed priorities, definitions, and
other requirements. Section 437(d)(1) of GEPA, however, allows the
Secretary to exempt from rulemaking requirements, regulations governing
the first grant competition under a new or substantially revised
program authority. This is the first grant competition for the FITW
program under 20 U.S.C. 1138-1138d and therefore qualifies for this
exemption. In order to ensure timely grant awards, the Secretary has
decided to forego public comment on the priorities, definitions, and
requirements under section 437(d)(1) of GEPA. These priorities,
selection criteria, definitions and requirements will apply to the FY
2014 grant competition only.
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1138-1138d.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80,
82, 84, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The Education Department suspension
and debarment regulations in 2 CFR part 3485.
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants
except Federally recognized Indian tribes.
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of
higher education only.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
[[Page 28499]]
Estimated Available Funds: $75,000,000. Up to $20,000,000 is set
aside for MSIs.
The range of awards listed below is the total amount for a 48 month
budget period.
Estimated Range of Awards: $2,000,000-$4,000,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $3,000,000.
See the Budget Instructions in the application package.
Maximum Award: We will not fund any application above the maximum
award of $4,000,000 for the 48-month budget period. The Assistant
Secretary for Postsecondary Education may change the maximum amount
through a notice published in the Federal Register.
Estimated Number of Awards: 19-38.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Project Period: 48 months.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: Institutions of higher education and
consortia of such institutions are eligible to apply. Applicants are
encouraged to partner with other public and private organizations and
agencies. To be eligible for an award, an application for a FITW
Development grant must be supported by a Strong Theory and include a
logic model for the proposed project.
To qualify as an eligible MSI under the FITW Program, an
institution must meet one of two criteria. The first criterion
includes: Current eligibility approval as defined by the Department's
FY 2014 eligibility process for Title III and/or Title V of the Higher
Education Act of 1965, as amended; an open grant under one of the
Department's Title III, Parts A and F and/or Title V programs; or a
designation as a Historically Black College of University or a Tribally
Controlled College. The second criterion includes: Specific enrollment
percentages for minority students served; and, if applicable, needy
student and educational and general (E&G) expenditure criteria for
determining income eligibility. More information on MSI eligibility is
in the application package under the section entitled Eligibility. The
Department will screen the applications to verify MSI eligibility based
on these criteria and, if applicable, will use the most recent IPEDS
data. In the event an application does not qualify for MSI eligibility,
it will still be reviewed.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost
sharing or matching.
3. Other: We are establishing the following requirements for this
program in accordance with section 437(d)(1) of GEPA, 20 U.S.C.
1232(d)(1).
Evidence Standard and Logic Model: All applications for the FITW
Program must meet the evidence standard of Strong Theory and include a
logic model (as defined in this notice). Applicants may submit a
rationale for any intervention(s) that has not been tried or that only
has been marginally considered and explored at the applicant
institution or elsewhere.
Limits on Grant Awards: No applicant will receive more than one
award in this FY 2014 FITW competition.
Evaluation: A grantee must comply with the requirements of any
evaluation of the program conducted by the Department. In addition, the
grantee must arrange for an independent evaluation of its project. The
grantee and its independent evaluator must cooperate with any technical
assistance provided by the Department or its contractor to ensure that
the evaluations are of the highest quality and to encourage commonality
in evaluation approaches across funded projects. Finally, the grantee
must make broadly available through formal (e.g., peer-reviewed
journals) or informal (e.g., newsletters) mechanisms, and in print or
electronically, the results of any evaluations it conducts of its
funded activities. These results must cite the U.S. Department's Fund
for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education as the funding source.
IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Address to Request Application Package: You can obtain an
application package via the Internet or from the Education Publications
Center (ED Pubs).
To obtain a copy via the Internet, use the following address:
www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/grantapp/. To obtain a copy from
ED Pubs, write, fax, or call the following: ED Pubs, U.S. Department of
Education, P.O. Box 22207, Alexandria, VA 22304. Telephone, toll free:
1-877-433-7827. FAX: (703) 605-6794. If you use a telecommunications
device for the deaf (TDD) or a text telephone (TTY), call, toll free:
1-877-576-7734.
You also can contact ED Pubs at its Web site: www.EDPubs.gov or at
its email address: edpubs@inet.ed.gov.
If you request an application from ED Pubs, be sure to identify
this program as follows: CFDA number 84.116F.
Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application
package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape,
or computer disc) by contacting the person listed in this section.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements
concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you
must submit, are in the application package for this program.
Page Limit: The application narrative is where you, the applicant
address the selection criteria that reviewers use to assess your
application. There is a limit for the application narrative of no more
than 40 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.
Note: For purposes of determining compliance with the 40 page
limit, each page on which there are words will be counted as one
full page.
Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch)
all text in the application narrative, except titles, headings,
footnotes, endnotes, quotations, references, and captions. Charts,
tables, figures, and graphs in the application may be single spaced.
Use a font that is either 12 point or larger; or, no
smaller than 10 pitch (characters per inch). However, you may use a 10
point font in charts, tables, figures, graphs, footnotes, and endnotes.
Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier,
Courier New, or Arial.
The 40-page limit does not apply to Part I, the cover sheet, the
table of contents; Part II, the budget section, including the narrative
budget justification; Part IV, the assurances and certifications; or
Abstract and Information page, the resumes (three-page limit), the
citations or full studies, or letters of support.
If you include any attachments or appendices not specifically
requested and required for the application, these items will be counted
as part of the narrative for the purposes of the page limit.
3. Submission Dates and Times:
Applications Available: May 16, 2014.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 30, 2014.
Applications for grants under this program must be submitted
electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov). For
information (including dates and times) about how to submit your
application electronically, or in paper format by mail or hand delivery
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission
requirement, please refer to section IV.7. Other Submission
Requirements of this notice.
[[Page 28500]]
We do not consider an application that does not comply with the
deadline requirements.
Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or
auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should contact
the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII
of this notice. If the Department provides an accommodation or
auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability in connection with the
application process, the individual's application remains subject to
all other requirements and limitations in this notice.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: August 29, 2014.
4. Intergovernmental Review: This program is subject to Executive
Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. Information about
Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under Executive Order
12372 is in the application package for this program.
5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
6. Data Universal Numbering System Number, Taxpayer Identification
Number, 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 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 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 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/web/grants/register.html.
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 First in the World Program, CFDA
number 84.116F, must be submitted electronically using the Government-
wide 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 First in the
World Program 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
84.116, not 84.116F).
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 www.G5.gov.
You will not receive additional point value because you
submit your
[[Page 28501]]
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
prevents 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: Frank Frankfort, First
in the World, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street NW., Room
6166, Washington, DC 20006-8544. FAX: (202) 502-7877.
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 84.116F, 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 84.116F, 550 12th Street SW., Room 7039, 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 28502]]
(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. The points assigned to each criterion are
indicated in parentheses. Applicants may earn up to a total of 100
points for the selection criteria. These selection criteria serve as
the template for submitting and reviewing proposals. Additional details
may be found in the application package under Instructions for the
Project Narrative.
The five selection criteria for grants in this competition are as
follows:
A. Significance (up to 20 points).
The Secretary considers the significance of the proposed project.
In determining the significance of the proposed project, the
Secretary considers the following factors:
(1) The potential contribution of the proposed project to increased
knowledge or understanding of education problems, issues, or effective
strategies.
(2) The extent to which the proposed project involves the
development or demonstration of promising new strategies that build on,
or are alternatives to, existing strategies.
(3) The potential replicability of the proposed project or
strategies, including, as appropriate, the potential for implementation
in a variety of settings.
Note: How the proposal meets this selection criterion should be
explained in the first section of the project narrative. Applicants
are encouraged to begin their narrative with a description of the
major challenges in higher education, and then indicate how their
proposal addresses these educational challenges. Applicants are
encouraged to focus on novel and substantially different approaches
to these challenges. Applicants are also encouraged to consider how
their planned innovations could be replicated at other institutions.
If the applicant conducts a literature review, an explanation of the
review could be useful in explaining the significance of the
project.
B. Quality of the Project Design (up to 30 points).
The Secretary considers the quality of the design of the proposed
project.
In determining the quality of the project design, the Secretary
considers the following factors:
(1) The extent to which the design of the proposed project is
appropriate to, and will successfully address, the needs of the target
population or other identified needs.
(2) The extent to which the proposed project represents an
exceptional approach to the priority or priorities established for the
competition.
(3) The extent to which there is a conceptual framework underlying
the proposed research or demonstration activities and the quality of
that framework.
Note: The applicant should explain how the project meets this
selection criterion in the second section of the project narrative.
Applicants are encouraged to define carefully the student population
served, the number of students involved, and any challenges and
needs that they are addressing through their project. Applicants are
encouraged to describe carefully how their proposed approach is a
new and substantially different way to address the selected
priority. Applicants are encouraged to use the required logic model
as the conceptual plan for the project. A simple logic model could
be organized in four parts: Inputs, Activities, Outcomes, and
Timelines. Inputs refer to all the resources to conduct the project.
Activities are interventions that will be measured on multiple
occasions. Outcomes refer to results derived from measuring and
analyzing activities and interventions. A timeline indicates when an
intervention takes place.
C. Adequacy of Resources (up to 15 points).
The Secretary considers the adequacy of resources for the proposed
project.
In determining the adequacy of resources for the proposed project,
the Secretary considers the following factors:
(1) The adequacy of support, including facilities, equipment,
supplies, and other resources, from the applicant organization or the
lead applicant organization.
(2) The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to the
objectives, design, and potential significance of the proposed project.
Note: The applicant should explain how the project meets this
selection criterion in the third section of the project narrative.
Applicants are encouraged to describe the resources and capacity of
the institution to conduct a successful project, for example,
through letters of commitment. Letters must be appended to the
application under Other Attachments. Additionally, applicants are
encouraged to describe how the requested funds are reasonable in
relation to the complexity and scale of the project.
D. Quality of Project Personnel (up to 15 points).
The Secretary considers the quality of the personnel who will carry
out the proposed project.
In determining the quality of project personnel for the proposed
project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
(1) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience,
of the project director or principal investigator.
(2) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience,
of key project personnel.
(3) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience,
of project consultants or subcontractors.
Note: The applicant should explain how the project meets this
selection criterion in the fourth section of the project narrative.
Applicants are encouraged to select a project director who is well
acquainted with the institution and experienced in executing large
and complex projects. A resume for the project director is required.
Applicants are encouraged to address the qualifications of other key
personnel. Applicants are encouraged to select a project consultant
to serve as an evaluator who is independent of the project, has
appropriate credentials, and has experience in survey design and
statistical analysis. A resume for the project consultant is
required.
E. Quality of the Project Evaluation (up to 20 points).
The Secretary considers the quality of the evaluation to be
conducted of the proposed project.
In determining the quality of the evaluation, the Secretary
considers the following factors:
(1) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be
achieved by the proposed project are specified and measurable.
(2) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will, if well
implemented, produce evidence about the project's effectiveness that
would meet the What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards without
reservations. The link for the What Works Clearinghouse Procedures and
Standards Handbook (Version 2.1, September 2011), can be found at:
https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/references/idocviewer/doc.aspx?docid=19&tocid=1.
(3) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will, if well
implemented, produce evidence about the project's effectiveness that
would meet the What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards with
reservations. The link for the What Works Clearinghouse Procedures and
Standards Handbook (Version 2.1, September 2011), can be found at:
https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/references/idocviewer/doc.aspx?docid=19&tocid=1.
[[Page 28503]]
(4) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide
performance feedback and permit periodic assessment of progress toward
achieving intended outcomes.
Note: The applicant should explain how the project meets this
selection criterion in the last section of the project narrative.
Because FITW is an evidence-based program and may inform and guide
the project work, the evaluation plan for your FITW project is very
important. Applicants are encouraged to have a firm understanding of
the Moderate Evidence of Effectiveness standard (as defined in this
notice). It is also important to explain how the evaluation plan
will guide and inform the project work.
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, 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).
For FITW grant applications the Department intends to conduct a
two-tier review process to review and score all eligible applications.
Reviewers will review and score all eligible applications on the
following four selection criteria: A. Significance; B. Quality of the
Project Design; C. Adequacy of Resources; and D. Quality of Project
Personnel. Eligible applications that score highly on these four
selection criteria will have the remaining criterion, E. Quality of the
Project Evaluation, reviewed and scored by a different panel of peer
reviewers with evaluation expertise. Highly rated applications from
this two-tier review process that also address the competitive
preference priority will then have their supporting studies reviewed by
the Department's Institute for Education Sciences (IES) and by the FITW
program. An application will receive two extra points if at least one
of the cited studies meets the Evidence of Promise standard and is
relevant to the proposed project.
In cases where two or more applications have the same final score
in the rank order listing, and there are insufficient funds to fully
support these both applications, the Department will consider an
equitable distribution of grants among geographic locations.
3. Special Conditions: Under 34 CFR 74.14 and 80.12, the Secretary
may impose special conditions on a grant if the applicant or grantee is
not financially stable; has a history of unsatisfactory performance;
has a financial or other management system that does not meet the
standards in 34 CFR parts 74 or 80, as applicable; has not fulfilled
the conditions of a prior grant; or is otherwise not responsible.
VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we notify your
U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a Grant Award
Notification (GAN); 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.
To ensure that the Federal investment of these funds has as broad
an impact as possible and to encourage innovation in the development of
new learning materials, FITW grantees will be required to license to
the public all intellectual property (except for computer software
source code, discussed below) created with the support of grant funds,
including both new content created with grant funds and modifications
made to pre-existing, grantee-owned content using grant funds. That
license must be worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual,
irrevocable, and grant the public permission to access, reproduce,
publicly perform, publicly display, adapt, distribute, and otherwise
use the intellectual property referenced above (except for computer
software source code, discussed below) for any purposes, conditioned
only on the requirement that attribution be given to authors as
designated. Further, the Department requires that all computer software
source code developed or created with FITW funds will be released under
an intellectual property license that allows others to freely use and
build upon them.
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 will use the following
performance measures in assessing the successful performance of FIPSE's
FITW grants:
(1) The extent to which funded projects are replicated (i.e.,
adopted or adapted by others).
(2) The extent to which projects are institutionalized and
continued after funding.
(3) The extent to which the metrics used to assess and evaluate
project results measure performance under the absolute priority the
project is designed to address.
(4) The percentage of projects supported by FITW grants that
produce evidence of their effectiveness at improving student outcomes
and college affordability, especially for low-income students.
(5) The percentage of projects supported by FITW grants that
provide high-quality implementation data and performance feedback that
allow for periodic assessment of progress toward achieving intended
outcomes.
(6) The cost per student served by FITW grants.
(7) The cost per successful student outcome.
If funded, you will be asked to collect and report data from your
project on steps taken toward achieving the outcomes evaluated by these
[[Page 28504]]
performance measures. Consequently, applicants are advised to include
these outcomes in conceptualizing the design, implementation, and
evaluation of their proposed projects. Replication,
institutionalization, and accurate data are important outcomes that
ensure the ultimate success of projects funded under this program.
5. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award, the
Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.253, the extent to which a
grantee has made ``substantial progress toward meeting the objectives
in its approved application.'' This consideration includes the review
of a grantee's progress in meeting the targets and projected outcomes
in its approved application, and whether the grantee has expended funds
in a manner that is consistent with its approved application and
budget. In making a continuation grant, the Secretary also considers
whether the grantee is operating in compliance with the assurances in
its approved application, including those applicable to Federal civil
rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities
receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department (34 CFR
100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
VII. Agency Contact
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Frank Frankfort, U.S. Department of
Education, 1990 K Street NW., Room 6166, Washington, DC 20006-8544.
Telephone: 202-502-7500. You may send emails to
OPEFirstintheWorld@ed.gov.
If you use a TDD or a TTY, call the Federal Relay Service, toll
free, at 1-800-877-8339.
VIII. Other Information
Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this
document and a copy of the application package in an accessible format
(e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or computer 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 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.
You can also view this document in text or PDF at the following
site: www.ed.gov/fipse.
Dated: May 14, 2014.
Lynn B. Mahaffie,
Senior Director, Policy Coordination, Development, and Accreditation
Service, delegated the authority to perform the functions and duties of
the Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2014-11463 Filed 5-15-14; 8:45 am]
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