Applications for New Awards; Promoting Postbaccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans Program, 30578-30584 [2014-12378]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 102 (Wednesday, May 28, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30578-30584]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-12378]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Promoting Postbaccalaureate 
Opportunities for Hispanic Americans Program

AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Overview Information: Promoting Postbaccalaureate Opportunities for 
Hispanic Americans (PPOHA) Program.
    Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 
2014.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.031M.

DATES: Applications Available: May 28, 2014.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 27, 2014.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: August 26, 2014.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purposes of Program: The purposes of the PPOHA Program are to: (1) 
Expand

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postbaccalaureate educational opportunities for, and improve the 
academic attainment of, Hispanic students; and (2) expand the 
postbaccalaureate academic offerings, as well as enhance the program 
quality, in the institutions of higher education that are educating the 
majority of Hispanic college students and helping large numbers of 
Hispanic and low-income students complete postsecondary degrees.


    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1102-1102c; 1161aa-1.

    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 82, 
84, 86, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The Education Department debarment and 
suspension regulations in 2 CFR part 3485. (c) The notice of final 
requirements, published in the Federal Register on July 27, 2010 (75 FR 
44056) (Final Requirements).

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: $10,565,280.
    Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of 
applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2015 from the list of 
unfunded applicants from this competition.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $385,000-$575,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $500,000.
    Maximum Awards: The PPOHA Program awards individual development 
grants. We will not fund any application for a PPOHA Program individual 
development grant at an amount exceeding $575,000 for a single budget 
period of 12 months. During our initial review of applications, we may 
choose not to further consider or review an application with a budget 
that exceeds the maximum amount. The Assistant Secretary for 
Postsecondary Education may change the maximum amount through a notice 
published in the Federal Register.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 21.

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


    Note: Applicants should periodically check the PPOHA Program Web 
site for further information. The address is: www.ed.gov/programs/ppoha/.

    Project Period: Up to 60 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: Institutions of higher education (IHEs) 
that offer a postbaccalaureate certificate or postbaccalaureate degree 
program and qualify as eligible Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) 
under section 502 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended 
(HEA).
    Eligibility Criteria (Use of 34 CFR 606.2(a) and (b), 606.3 through 
606.5): To qualify as an eligible HSI for the PPOHA Program under 
sections 502 and 512(b) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1101a and 1102a), an IHE 
must--
    (a) Have an enrollment of needy students, as defined in section 
502(b) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1101a(b)) (cross-referenced in section 
502(a)(2)(A)(i) of the HEA; 20 U.S.C. 1101a(a)(2)(A)(i));
    (b) Have, except as provided in section 522(b) of the HEA (20 
U.S.C. 1103a(b)), average educational and general expenditures that are 
low, per full-time equivalent (FTE) undergraduate student, in 
comparison with the average educational and general expenditures per 
FTE undergraduate student of institutions that offer similar 
instruction (section 502(a)(2)(A)(ii) of the HEA; 20 U.S.C. 
1101a(a)(2)(A)(ii));

    Note: To demonstrate an enrollment of needy students and low 
average educational and general expenditures per FTE undergraduate 
student, an IHE must be designated as an ``eligible institution'' in 
accordance with 34 CFR 606.3 through 606.5 and the notice inviting 
applications for eligibility designation for the fiscal year for 
which the grant competition is being conducted. In addition, for the 
purpose of establishing eligibility under 34 CFR 606.5 for this FY 
2014 competition, the notice inviting applications for eligibility 
designation for FY 2014 was published in the Federal Register on 
January 13, 2014 (79 FR 2161), with a deadline of March 7, 2014. The 
eligibility notice for PPOHA on April 14, 2014 (79 FR 20880), 
reopened the application process for IHEs interested in the PPOHA 
Program and the deadline for applications was May 14, 2014. Only 
institutions that submitted the required application and received 
designation through that process are eligible to submit an 
application for this competition.

    (c) Be accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or 
association that the Secretary has determined to be a reliable 
authority as to the quality of education or training offered, or making 
reasonable progress toward accreditation, according to such an agency 
or association (section 502(a)(2)(A)(iv) of the HEA; 20 U.S.C. 
1101a(a)(2)(A)(iv));
    (d) Be legally authorized to provide, and provide within the State, 
an educational program for which the institution awards a bachelor's 
degree (section 502(a)(2)(A)(iii) of the HEA; 20 U.S.C. 
1101a(a)(2)(A)(iii)); and
    (e) Have an enrollment of undergraduate FTE students that is at 
least 25 percent Hispanic students at the end of the award year 
immediately preceding the date of application (section 502(a)(5)(B) of 
the HEA; 20 U.S.C. 1101a(a)(5)(B)).

    Note 1: Contingent on Congressional funding, funds for the PPOHA 
Program will be awarded each fiscal year; thus, for this program, 
the ``end of the award year immediately preceding the date of 
application'' refers to the end of the fiscal year prior to the 
application due date. The end of the fiscal year occurs on September 
30 for any given year.


    Note 2:  In considering applications for grants under this 
program, the Department will compare the data and documentation the 
institution relied on in its application with data reported to the 
Department's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), 
the IHE's State-reported enrollment data, and the institutional 
annual report. If different percentages or data are reported in 
these various sources, the institution must, as part of the 25 
percent assurance verification, explain the reason for the 
differences. If the IPEDS data show that less than 25 percent of the 
institution's undergraduate FTE students are Hispanic, the burden is 
on the institution to show that the IPEDS data are inaccurate. If 
the IPEDS data indicate that the institution has an undergraduate 
FTE less than 25 percent, and the institution fails to demonstrate 
that the IPEDS data are inaccurate, the institution will be 
considered ineligible. (See Final Requirements).\1\

    \1\ For the purpose of making the determination described in 
paragraph (e) of the Eligibility Criteria for the FY 2014 
competition, IHEs must report their undergraduate Hispanic FTE 
percentage based on the student enrollment count closest to, but not 
after, September 30, 2013.

    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost 
sharing or matching.
    3. Other:
    (a) Limit on Number of Individual Development Grants. An eligible 
HSI will not be awarded more than one grant under the PPOHA Program (20 
U.S.C. 1102c).
    (b) Limit on Applications From an Eligible Institution. In any 
fiscal year, an eligible institution may submit only one application 
for a grant under the PPOHA Program. This restriction is intended to 
ensure that more Hispanic-Serving Institutions have an opportunity for 
assistance under Title V of the HEA (see Final Requirements).

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/grantapps/. To obtain a 
copy from ED Pubs, write,

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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 can contact ED Pubs at its Web site, also: 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 or competition as follows: CFDA number 84.031M.
    Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application 
package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, 
or compact disc) by contacting the person listed under Accessible 
Format in section VIII of this notice.
    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 (Part III of the application) 
is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that 
reviewers use to evaluate your application. We have established 
mandatory page limits for the PPOHA application. You must limit the 
application narrative to no more than 50 pages, using the following 
standards:
     A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only, with 1 inch 
margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
    Note: For the purpose of determining compliance with the 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 narrative may be single-
spaced. These items count toward the page limit.
     Use a font that is either 12 point or larger, or no 
smaller than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
     Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, 
Courier New, or Arial. An application submitted in any other font 
(including Times Roman and Arial Narrow) will not be accepted.
    The page limit does not apply to Part I, the Application for 
Federal Assistance (SF 424); the Department of Education Supplemental 
Information form (SF 424); Part II, Budget Information-Non-Construction 
Programs (ED Form 524); Part IV, the assurances and certifications; or 
the one-page project abstract and program activity budget detail form 
and supporting narrative. However, the page limit does apply to all of 
the application narrative section (Part III), including the budget 
narrative of the selection criteria. If you include any attachments or 
appendices not specifically requested in the application package, these 
items will be counted as part of your application narrative (Part III) 
for the purpose of the page--limit requirement. You must include your 
complete response to the selection criteria in the application 
narrative.

    Note:  The narrative response to the budget selection criteria 
is not the same as the activity detail budget form and supporting 
narrative. The supporting narrative for the activity detail budget 
form details the requested budget items line by line.

    We will reject your application if you exceed the page limit or if 
you apply other standards and exceed the equivalent of the page limit.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:

Applications Available: May 28, 2014.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 27, 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.
    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 
one of the program contact persons 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 26, 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: Limit on Use of Funds for Direct 
Assistance: A PPOHA Program grantee may use no more than 20 percent of 
its total PPOHA Program grant award to provide financial support--in 
the form of scholarships, fellowships, and other student financial 
assistance--to low-income students. (See section 513(8) of the HEA, 20 
U.S.C. 1102b(8))
    We reference additional regulations outlining funding restrictions 
in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
    6. Data Universal Numbering System Number, Taxpayer Identification 
Number, and 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 you are currently registered with SAM, you may not need to make 
any

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changes. However, please make certain that the TIN associated with your 
DUNS number is correct. Also note that you will need to update your 
registration annually. This may take three or more business days.
    Information about SAM is available at www.SAM.gov. To further 
assist you with obtaining and registering your DUNS number and TIN in 
SAM or updating your existing SAM account, we have prepared a SAM.gov 
Tip Sheet, which you can find at: https://www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/sam-faqs.html.
    In addition, if you are submitting your application via Grants.gov, 
you must (1) be designated by your organization as an Authorized 
Organization Representative (AOR); and (2) register yourself with 
Grants.gov as an AOR. Details on these steps are outlined at the 
following Grants.gov Web page: www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html.
    7. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under 
this program must be submitted electronically unless you qualify for an 
exception to this requirement in accordance with the instructions in 
this section.
    a. Electronic Submission of Applications.
    Applications for grants under the PPOHA Program, CFDA number 
84.031M, must be submitted electronically using the Governmentwide 
Grants.gov Apply site at www.Grants.gov. Through this site, you will be 
able to download a copy of the application package, complete it 
offline, and then upload and submit your application. You may not email 
an electronic copy of a grant application to us.
    We will reject your application if you submit it in paper format 
unless, as described elsewhere in this section, you qualify for one of 
the exceptions to the electronic submission requirement and submit, no 
later than two weeks before the application deadline date, a written 
statement to the Department that you qualify for one of these 
exceptions. Further information regarding calculation of the date that 
is two weeks before the application deadline date is provided later in 
this section under Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement.
    You may access the electronic grant application for the PPOHA 
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 
84.031, not 84.031M).
    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 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 will then 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 one of the 
program contact persons 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 the 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

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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: Maria E. Carrington 
Ph.D., U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street NW., Room 6020, 
Washington, DC 20006-8513. Telephone: (202) 502-7548 or by email: 
Maria.Carrington@ed.gov. FAX: (202) 502-7813.

or

Sandra Steed, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street NW., Room 
6066, Washington, DC 20006-8513. Telephone: (202) 219-7120 or by email: 
Sandra.Steed@ed.gov. FAX: (202) 502-7813.

    Your paper application must be submitted in accordance with the 
mail or hand delivery instructions described in this notice.
    b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.
    If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, you may mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a 
commercial carrier) your application to the Department. You must mail 
the original and two copies of your application, on or before the 
application deadline date, to the Department at the following address:

U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: 
(CFDA Number 84.031M), LBJ Basement Level 1, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC 20202-4260.

    You must show proof of mailing consisting of one of the following:
    (1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark.
    (2) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the 
U.S. Postal Service.
    (3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial 
carrier.
    (4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of the 
U.S. Department of Education.
    If you mail your application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do 
not accept either of the following as proof of mailing:
    (1) A private metered postmark.
    (2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service.
    If your application is postmarked after the application deadline 
date, we will not consider your application.

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

    c. Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery.
    If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, you (or a courier service) may deliver your paper 
application to the Department by hand. You must deliver the original 
and two copies of your application by hand, on or before the 
application deadline date, to the Department at the following address:

U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: 
(CFDA Number 84.031M), 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--
    (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 program are 
from section 75.210 of EDGAR (34 CFR 75.210) and are as follows. 
Applicants must address each of the selection criteria (separately for 
each proposed activity). The total weight of the selection criteria is 
100 points; the weight of each criterion is noted in parentheses.
    (a) Need for project. (Maximum 20 points) In determining the need 
for the proposed project, the Secretary considers:
    (i) The magnitude of the need for the services to be provided or 
the activities to be carried out by the proposed project. (10 points)
    (ii) The extent to which the proposed project will focus on serving 
or otherwise addressing the needs of disadvantaged individuals. (5 
points)
    (iii) The extent to which specific gaps or weaknesses in services, 
infrastructure, or opportunities have been identified and will be 
addressed by the proposed project, including the nature and magnitude 
of those gaps or weaknesses. (5 points)
    (b) Quality of the project design. (Maximum 15 points) In 
determining the quality of the design of the proposed project, the 
Secretary considers:
    (i) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be 
achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable. 
(10 points)
    (ii) 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. (5 points)
    (c) Quality of project services. (Maximum 15 points) In determining 
the quality of the services to be provided by the proposed project, the 
Secretary considers the quality and sufficiency of strategies for 
ensuring equal access and treatment for eligible project participants 
who are members of groups that have traditionally been underrepresented 
based on race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability. In 
addition, the Secretary considers:
    (i) The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed 
project are appropriate to the needs of the intended recipients or 
beneficiaries of those services. (10 points)
    (ii) The extent to which the services to be provided by the 
proposed project

[[Page 30583]]

reflect up-to-date knowledge from research and effective practice. (5 
points)
    (d) Quality of project personnel. (Maximum 10 points) In 
determining the quality of project personnel, the Secretary considers 
the extent to which the applicant encourages applications for 
employment from persons who are members of groups that have 
traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national 
origin, gender, age, or disability. In addition, the Secretary 
considers:
    (i) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of the project director or principal investigator. (5 points)
    (ii) The qualifications, including relevant training and 
experience, of key project personnel. (5 points)
    (e) Adequacy of resources. (Maximum 5 points) In determining the 
adequacy of resources for the proposed project, the Secretary 
considers:
    (i) The extent to which the budget is adequate to support the 
proposed project. (3 points)
    (ii) The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to 
the objectives, design, and potential significance of the proposed 
project. (2 points)
    (f) Quality of the management plan. (Maximum 20 points) In 
determining the quality of the management plan for the proposed 
project, the Secretary considers:
    (i) The adequacy of the management plan to achieve the objectives 
of the proposed project on time and within budget, including clearly 
defined responsibilities, timelines, and milestones for accomplishing 
project tasks. (10 points)
    (ii) The adequacy of procedures for ensuring feedback and 
continuous improvement in the operation of the proposed project. (5 
points)
    (iii) The adequacy of mechanisms for ensuring high-quality products 
and services from the proposed project. (5 points)
    (g) Quality of the project evaluation. (Maximum 15 points) In 
determining the quality of the evaluation, the Secretary considers:
    (i) The extent to which the methods of evaluation are thorough, 
feasible, and appropriate to the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the 
proposed project. (5 points)
    (ii) The extent to which the methods of evaluation include the use 
of objective performance measures that are clearly related to the 
intended outcomes of the project and will produce quantitative and 
qualitative data to the extent possible. (5 points)
    (iii) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide 
performance feedback and permit periodic assessment of progress toward 
achieving intended outcomes. (5 points)
    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).
    Additional factors we consider in selecting an application for an 
award are as follows:
    (a) Documentation. Applicants must provide, as an attachment to the 
application, the documentation the institution relied upon in 
determining that at least 25 percent of the institution's undergraduate 
FTE students are Hispanic.

    Note:  The 25 percent requirement applies only to undergraduate 
Hispanic students and is calculated based upon FTE students. 
Instructions for formatting and submitting the verification 
documentation to Grants.gov are in the application package for this 
competition.

    (b) Tie-breaker. To resolve ties in the reader scores of 
applications for PPOHA grants, the Department will award one additional 
point to an application from an IHE that has an endowment fund for 
which the market value per FTE student is less than the comparable 
average current market value of the endowment funds per FTE student at 
similar type IHEs. In addition, to resolve ties in the reader scores of 
applications for PPHOA grants, the Department will award one additional 
point to an application from an IHE that has expenditures for library 
materials per FTE student that are less than the comparable average 
expenditures for library materials per FTE student at similar type 
IHEs. (34 CFR 606.23(a)(1) and (2)).
    For the purpose of these funding considerations, we will use 2012-
2013 data.
    If a tie remains after applying the tie-breaker mechanism above, 
priority will be given to applicants that have the lowest endowment 
values per FTE student. (34 CFR 606.23(b)(1)) (See Final Requirements)
    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.
    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.

[[Page 30584]]

    4. Performance Measures: The Secretary has established the 
following key performance measures for assessing the effectiveness of 
the PPOHA Program:
    (a) The percentage change, over the five-year grant period, of the 
number of full-time degree-seeking graduate and professional students 
enrolled at HSIs currently receiving an award under this program.
    (b) The percentage change, over the five-year grant period, of the 
number of master's, doctoral, and first-professional degrees and 
postbaccalaureate certificates awarded at HSIs currently receiving an 
award under this program.
    (c) Cost per successful outcome: Federal cost per master's degree, 
doctoral, and first-professional degree and postbaccalaureate 
certificate awarded at HSIs currently receiving an award 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 Contacts

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maria E. Carrington, Ph.D., U.S. 
Department of Education, 1990 K Street NW., Room 6020, Washington, DC 
20006-8513. FAX: (202) 502-7813. Telephone: 202-502-7548 or by email: 
Maria.Carrington@ed.gov;

or

Sandra Steed, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street NW., Room 
6066, Washington, DC 20006-8513. FAX: (202) 502-7813. Telephone: 202-
219-7120 or by email: Sandra.Steed@ed.gov.
    If you use a TDD or a TTY, call the FRS, toll free, at 1-800-877-
8339.

VIII. Other Information

    Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this 
document and a copy of the application package in an accessible format 
(e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or compact disc) on request to 
one of the program contact persons listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT in section VII of this notice.
    Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this 
document is the document published in the Federal Register. Free 
Internet access to the official edition of the Federal Register and the 
Code of Federal Regulations is available via the Federal Digital System 
at: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site you can view this document, as well 
as 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.

    Dated: May 22, 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. 2014-12378 Filed 5-27-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P