Applications for New Awards; Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success, 22983-22988 [2015-09608]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 79 / Friday, April 24, 2015 / Notices Defense Services Proposed to be Sold: See Attached Annex. (viii) Date Report Delivered to Congress: 07 April 2015 POLICY JUSTIFICATION Egypt—AGM–114K/R3 Hellfire II Missiles The Government of Egypt has requested a possible sale of 356 AGM– 114K/R3 Hellfire II Air-to-Ground missiles with containers, spare and repair parts, support equipment, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistical and program support. The estimated cost is $57 million. This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a friendly country that has been and continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East. Egypt will use the enhanced capability as a deterrent to regional threats and to strengthen its homeland defense. While this potential sale would be the first transfer of the R variant of this missile to Egypt, Egypt already has the F and K variants in its inventory and will have no difficulty absorbing these additional missiles. The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region. The principal contractor will be Lockheed Martin Corporation in Orlando, Florida. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale. Implementation of the proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Egypt. There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale. tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Transmittal No. 15–03 Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, as amended Annex Item No. vii (vii) Sensitivity of Technology: 1. The AGM–114K/R Hellfire II is an air-to-ground missile used against heavy and light armored targets, thin skinned vehicles, urban structures, bunkers, caves and personnel. The new AGM– 114R missile is Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) based, with a variable delay fuse and improved safety and reliability. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:30 Apr 23, 2015 Jkt 235001 2. The highest level for release of the AGM–114K/R Hellfire II is Secret, based upon the software. The highest level of classified information that could be disclosed by a proposed sale or by testing of the end item is Secret; the highest level that must be disclosed for production, maintenance, or training is Confidential. Vulnerability data, countermeasures, vulnerability/ susceptibility analyses, and threat definitions are classified up to Secret. 3. If a technologically advance adversary were to obtain knowledge of the specific hardware and software elements, the information could be used to develop countermeasures or equivalent system with might reduce weapon system effectiveness or be used in the development of a system with similar or advanced capabilities. 4. A determination has been made that the Government of Egypt can provide substantially the same degree of protection for the sensitive technology being released as the U.S. Government. This sale is necessary in furtherance of the U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives outlined in the Policy Justification. 5. All defense articles and services listed in this transmittal have been authorized for release and export to the Government of Egypt. 22983 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Welch, General Manager, Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, 625 Indiana Avenue NW., Suite 700, Washington, DC 20004–2901, (800) 788– 4016. This is a toll-free number. Correction In the Federal Register of April 2, 2015, in FR Doc. 2015–07648, on page 17736, under the ‘‘Supplementary Information’’ caption, first column, lines 62—68, correct the statement to read: The Board is setting aside time at the end of Session II for presentations and comments from the public. The public will be given one final opportunity for comment before the Board begins deliberations in Session IV. Dated: April 21, 2015. Jessie H. Roberson, Vice-Chairman. [FR Doc. 2015–09706 Filed 4–22–15; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3670–01–P DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Applications for New Awards; Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: [FR Doc. 2015–09550 Filed 4–23–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 5001–06–P DEFENSE NUCLEAR FACILITIES SAFETY BOARD Sunshine Act Notice; Correction Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board. ACTION: Notice; correction. AGENCY: The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (Board) published a document in the Federal Register on April 2, 2015, (80 FR 17735), concerning notice of a public meeting and hearing on April 29, 2015, regarding the underground recovery of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant and safe resumption of waste operations. That notice stated that the Board would be setting aside time for three public comment periods: (1) At the conclusion of Sessions II; (2) at the conclusion of Session III; and (3) just prior to the Board beginning deliberations in Session IV. The Board wishes to correct that statement to indicate that opportunity for public comment is limited to just two comment periods: (1) At the conclusion of Session II; and (2) just prior to the Board’s deliberations in Session IV. SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Overview Information: Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2015. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.116G Applications Available: April 24, 2015. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 23, 2015. Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: August 24, 2015. DATES: Full Text of Announcement I. Funding Opportunity Description Purpose of Program: The purpose of this program is to encourage institutions of higher education (IHEs) to develop model programs to support veteran student success in postsecondary education by coordinating services to address the academic, financial, physical, and social needs of veteran students. Background: We encourage applicants to read carefully the Selection Criteria section of this notice. Consistent with the Department’s increasing emphasis in recent years on promoting evidencebased practices through our grant competitions, the Secretary will evaluate applications on the extent to which the proposed project is supported by a logic model that meets the evidence E:\FR\FM\24APN1.SGM 24APN1 tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 22984 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 79 / Friday, April 24, 2015 / Notices standard of ‘‘strong theory’’ (as defined in this notice). Resources to assist applicants in creating a logic model can be found here: https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/ edlabs/regions/pacific/pdf/REL_ 2014007.pdf. Priorities: This notice contains one absolute priority and one invitational priority. In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(iv), the absolute priority is from section 873 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA) (20 U.S.C. 1161t). Absolute Priority: For FY 2015 and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this competition, this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), we consider only applications that meet this priority. This priority is: Projects that include the following required activities: (a) Establishing a Center of Excellence for Veteran Student Success on the campus of the institution to provide a single point of contact to coordinate comprehensive support services for veteran students; (b) Establishing a veteran student support team, including representatives from the offices of the institution responsible for admissions, registration, financial aid, veterans benefits, academic advising, student health, personal or mental health counseling, career advising, disabilities services, and any other office of the institution that provides support to veteran students on campus; (c) Providing a coordinator whose primary responsibility is to coordinate the model program; (d) Monitoring the rates of veteran student enrollment, persistence, and completion; and (e) Developing a plan to sustain the Center of Excellence for Veteran Student Success after the grant period. Invitational Priority: Under this competition we are particularly interested in applications that address the following priority. For FY 2015 and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from this competition, this priority is an invitational priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1), we do not give an application that meets this invitational priority a competitive or absolute preference over other applications. This priority is: Projects that detail specific steps that will be taken to recruit, retain, and graduate veterans from groups with college completion rates that are below the national average—such as English language learners and homeless VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:30 Apr 23, 2015 Jkt 235001 veterans—as well as veterans who are members of groups that have traditionally been underrepresented in postsecondary education based on race, color, national origin, gender, or disability. Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1161t. Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The Office of Management and Budget Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR part 180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3485. (c) The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 200, as adopted and amended in 2 CFR part 3474. II. Award Information Type of Award: Discretionary grants. Estimated Available Funds: $4,950,000. Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2016 from the list of unfunded applications from this competition. Estimated Range of Awards: $250,000 to $500,000 for 36 months. Estimated Average Size of Awards: $330,000. Estimated Number of Awards: 15. Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice. Project Period: 36 months. III. Eligibility Information 1. Eligible Applicants: IHEs. 2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost sharing or matching. 3. Limit on Grant Awards: Previously funded Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success grantees are not eligible for an award. No applicant will receive more than one award in this FY 2015 Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success competition. IV. Application and Submission Information 1. Address to Request Application Package: 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), 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. PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 If you request an application package from ED Pubs, be sure to identify this program or competition as follows: CFDA number 84.116G. Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) by contacting the person or team 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, the absolute priority and the invitational priority that reviewers use to evaluate your application. We have established mandatory page limits. You must limit the section of the application narrative that addresses: • The selection criteria to no more than 25 pages. • The absolute priority to no more than 5 pages. • The invitational priority to no more than 5 pages, if you address it. Accordingly, under no circumstances may the application narrative exceed 35 pages. Please include separate headings for the absolute priority and, if you choose to address it, the invitational priority. For the purpose of determining compliance with the page limits, each page on which there are words will be counted as one full page. Applicants must use the following standards: • A ‘‘page’’ is 8.5″ x 11″, on one side only, with 1’’ margins at the top, bottom, and both sides. • 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 singles 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. An application submitted in any other font (including Times Roman or Arial Narrow) will not be accepted. The page limit does not apply to Part I, the Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424) and the Department of Education Supplemental Information for E:\FR\FM\24APN1.SGM 24APN1 tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 79 / Friday, April 24, 2015 / Notices the SF 424 Form; the one-page Abstract; Budget Information—Non-Construction Programs (ED 524); or Part IV, the Assurances and Certifications. The page limit also does not apply to a Table of Contents, if you include one. However, the page limit does apply to all of the project narrative section in Part III. If you include any attachments or appendices not specifically requested, these items will be counted as part of the application narrative for purposes of the page-limit requirement. You must include your complete response to the selection criteria and priorities in the application narrative. We will reject your application if you exceed the page limit. 3. Submission Dates and Times: Applications Available: April 24, 2015. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 23, 2015. Applications for grants under this program must be submitted electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov). For information (including dates and times) about how to submit your application electronically, or in paper format by mail or hand delivery if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, please refer to section IV.7. Other Submission Requirements of this notice. We do not consider an application that does not comply with the deadline requirements. Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in Section VII of this notice. If the Department provides an accommodation or auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability in connection with the application process, the individual’s application remains subject to all other requirements and limitations in this notice. Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: August 24, 2015. 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 VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:30 Apr 23, 2015 Jkt 235001 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 two to five weeks for your TIN to become active. The SAM registration process can take approximately seven business days, but may take upwards of several weeks, depending on the completeness and accuracy of the data entered into the SAM database by an entity. Thus, if you think you might want to apply for Federal financial assistance under a program administered by the Department, please allow sufficient time to obtain and register your DUNS number and TIN. We strongly recommend that you register early. Note: Once your SAM registration is active, you will need to allow 24 to 48 hours for the information to be available in Grants.gov and before you can submit an application through Grants.gov. If you are currently registered with SAM, you may not need to make any changes. However, please make certain that the TIN associated with your DUNS number is correct. Also note that you will need to update your registration annually. This may take three or more business days. Information about SAM is available at www.SAM.gov. To further assist you with obtaining and registering your DUNS number and TIN in SAM or updating your existing SAM account, we have prepared a SAM.gov Tip Sheet, which you can find at: www2.ed.gov/ fund/grant/apply/sam-faqs.html. In addition, if you are submitting your application via Grants.gov, you must (1) PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 22985 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 Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success, CFDA number 84.116G, 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 Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success 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 84.116G). 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 E:\FR\FM\24APN1.SGM 24APN1 tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 22986 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 79 / Friday, April 24, 2015 / Notices and time stamped by the Grants.gov system—after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. We do not consider an application that does not comply with the deadline requirements. When we retrieve your application from Grants.gov, we will notify you if we are rejecting your application because it was date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. • The amount of time it can take to upload an application will vary depending on a variety of factors, including the size of the application and the speed of your Internet connection. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline date to begin the submission process through Grants.gov. • You should review and follow the Education Submission Procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov that are included in the application package for this competition to ensure that you submit your application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov system. You can also find the Education Submission Procedures pertaining to Grants.gov under News and Events on the Department’s G5 system home page at https://www.G5.gov. • You will not receive additional point value because you submit your 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 VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:30 Apr 23, 2015 Jkt 235001 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. 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 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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: Kelly Harris, Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street NW., Room 6161, 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 Number 84.116G), 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: E:\FR\FM\24APN1.SGM 24APN1 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 79 / Friday, April 24, 2015 / Notices (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 84.116G), 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. tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES V. Application Review Information 1. Selection Criteria: The following selection criteria for this program are from 34 CFR 75.210. We will award up to 100 points to an application under the selection criteria; the total possible points for each selection criterion are noted in parentheses. a. Need for the project. (10 points) The Secretary considers the need for the proposed project. In determining the need for the proposed project, the Secretary considers: 1. The magnitude of the need for the services to be provided or the activities to be carried out by the proposed project. 2. The extent to which the proposed project will provide services or otherwise address the needs of students at risk of educational failure. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:30 Apr 23, 2015 Jkt 235001 b. Significance. (10 points) The Secretary considers the significance of the proposed project. In determining the significance of the proposed project, the Secretary considers: 1. The extent to which the proposed project is likely to build local capacity to provide, improve, or expand services that address the needs of the target population. 2. The importance or magnitude of the results or outcomes likely to be attained by the proposed project. c. Quality of the project design. (30 points) The Secretary considers the quality of the design of the proposed project. In determining the quality of the design of the proposed project, the Secretary considers: 1. The extent to which the proposed project is supported by strong theory (as defined in 34 CFR 77.1(c)). 2. The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable. 3. 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. 4. The extent to which the proposed project is designed to build capacity and yield results that will extend beyond the period of Federal financial assistance. d. Quality of project personnel. (15 points) The Secretary considers the quality of the personnel who will carry out the proposed project. 1. 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. 2. In addition, the Secretary considers: (a) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, of the project director or principal investigator. (b) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, of key project personnel. Note: As stated in the absolute priority for this competition, a proposed Center of Excellence for Veteran Student Success must have a coordinator whose primary responsibility is to coordinate the model program. In response to this selection criterion, the application must describe the qualifications of this individual, the members of the veteran student support team described in the absolute priority, and any other individuals who will help carry out the proposed project. The grant project director PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 22987 may or may not be the coordinator of the Center of Excellence for Veteran Student Success. e. Adequacy of resources. (20 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: 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 number of persons to be served and to the anticipated results and benefits. 3. The potential for continued support of the project after Federal funding ends, including, as appropriate, the demonstrated commitment of appropriate entities to such support. Note: A budget summary and budget narrative attached to your proposal should itemize the support you are requesting through the Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success Program. f. Quality of project evaluation. (15 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: 1. The extent to which the methods of evaluation are thorough, feasible, and appropriate to the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the proposed project. 2. The extent to which the methods of evaluation provide for examining the effectiveness of project implementation strategies. 3. The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide timely guidance for quality assurance. 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). E:\FR\FM\24APN1.SGM 24APN1 22988 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 79 / Friday, April 24, 2015 / Notices tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 3. Special Conditions: Under 2 CFR 3474.10, the Secretary may impose special conditions and, in appropriate circumstances, high-risk 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 2 CFR part 200, subpart D; has not fulfilled the conditions of a prior grant; or is otherwise not responsible. VI. Award Administration Information 1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we notify your U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a Grant Award Notification (GAN); or we may send you an email containing a link to access an electronic version of your GAN. We may notify you informally, also. If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding, we notify you. 2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: We identify administrative and national policy requirements in the application package and reference these and other requirements in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice. We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of an award in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice and include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also incorporates your approved application as part of your binding commitments under the grant. 3. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a grant under this competition, you must ensure that you have in place the necessary processes and systems to comply with the reporting requirements in 2 CFR part 170 should you receive funding under the competition. This does not apply if you have an exception under 2 CFR 170.110(b). (b) At the end of your project period, you must submit a final performance report, including financial information, as directed by the Secretary. If you receive a multi-year award, you must submit an annual performance report that provides the most current performance and financial expenditure information as directed by the Secretary under 34 CFR 75.118. The Secretary may also require more frequent performance reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). For specific requirements on reporting, please go to www.ed.gov/ fund/grant/apply/appforms/ appforms.html. 4. Performance Measures: Under 34 CFR 75.110, the Secretary has established the following Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA) performance measures for the VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:30 Apr 23, 2015 Jkt 235001 Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success: (1) The extent to which the project is institutionalized at the end of the project period; and (2) The extent to which funded projects increase enrollment, persistence, and completion rates of veteran students at their institutions. These measures constitute the Department’s indicators of success for this program. Consequently, we advise an applicant for a grant under this program to give careful consideration to these measures in conceptualizing the approach and evaluation for its proposed project. If funded, you will be required to collect and report data in your project’s annual performance report (34 CFR 75.590). VII. Agency Contact FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kelly Harris, Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street NW., Room 6161, Washington, DC 20006–8544. Telephone: (202) 219–7083 or by email: Kelly.Harris@ed.gov. If you use a TDD or a TTY, call the FRS, toll free, at 1–800–877–8339. VIII. Other Information Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this document and a copy of the application package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or compact disc) on request to the program contact person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII of this notice. Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this document is the document published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations is available via the Federal Digital System at: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site, you can view this document, as well as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available 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. Delegation of Authority: The Secretary of Education has delegated authority to Jamienne S. Studley, Deputy Under Secretary, to perform the functions and PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 duties of the Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education. Dated: April 20, 2015. Jamienne S. Studley, Deputy Under Secretary. [FR Doc. 2015–09608 Filed 4–23–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Commission To Review the Effectiveness of the National Energy Laboratories Department of Energy. Notice of open meeting. AGENCY: ACTION: This notice announces an open meeting of the Commission to Review the Effectiveness of the National Energy Laboratories (Commission). The Commission was created pursuant section 319 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014, Public Law 113–76, and in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), as amended, 5 U.S.C. App. 2. This notice is provided in accordance with the Act. DATES: Wednesday, April 22, 2015, 10:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. ADDRESSES: Hilton at Mark Center, Walnut Conference Room, 5000 Seminary Road, Alexandria, VA 22311. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Gibson, Designated Federal Officer, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585; telephone (202) 586–3787; email crenel@hq.doe.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background: The Commission was established to provide advice to the Secretary on the Department’s national laboratories. The Commission will review the DOE national laboratories for alignment with the Department’s strategic priorities, clear and balanced missions, unique capabilities to meet current energy and national security challenges, appropriate size to meet the Department’s energy and national security missions, and support of other Federal agencies. The Commission will also look for opportunities to more effectively and efficiently use the capabilities of the national laboratories and review the use of laboratory directed research and development (LDRD) to meet the Department’s science, energy, and national security goals. Purpose of the Meeting: This meeting is the eighth meeting of the Commission. Tentative Agenda: The meeting will start at 10:00 a.m. on April 22. The SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\24APN1.SGM 24APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 79 (Friday, April 24, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22983-22988]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-09608]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Centers of Excellence for Veteran 
Student Success

AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice.

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

    Overview Information: Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student 
Success Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year 
(FY) 2015.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.116G

DATES: Applications Available: April 24, 2015. Deadline for Transmittal 
of Applications: June 23, 2015. Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: 
August 24, 2015.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The purpose of this program is to encourage 
institutions of higher education (IHEs) to develop model programs to 
support veteran student success in postsecondary education by 
coordinating services to address the academic, financial, physical, and 
social needs of veteran students.
    Background: We encourage applicants to read carefully the Selection 
Criteria section of this notice. Consistent with the Department's 
increasing emphasis in recent years on promoting evidence-based 
practices through our grant competitions, the Secretary will evaluate 
applications on the extent to which the proposed project is supported 
by a logic model that meets the evidence

[[Page 22984]]

standard of ``strong theory'' (as defined in this notice). Resources to 
assist applicants in creating a logic model can be found here: https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/pacific/pdf/REL_2014007.pdf.
    Priorities: This notice contains one absolute priority and one 
invitational priority. In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(iv), the 
absolute priority is from section 873 of the Higher Education Act of 
1965, as amended (HEA) (20 U.S.C. 1161t).
    Absolute Priority: For FY 2015 and any subsequent year in which we 
make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this 
competition, this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 
75.105(c)(3), we consider only applications that meet this priority.
    This priority is:
    Projects that include the following required activities:
    (a) Establishing a Center of Excellence for Veteran Student Success 
on the campus of the institution to provide a single point of contact 
to coordinate comprehensive support services for veteran students;
    (b) Establishing a veteran student support team, including 
representatives from the offices of the institution responsible for 
admissions, registration, financial aid, veterans benefits, academic 
advising, student health, personal or mental health counseling, career 
advising, disabilities services, and any other office of the 
institution that provides support to veteran students on campus;
    (c) Providing a coordinator whose primary responsibility is to 
coordinate the model program;
    (d) Monitoring the rates of veteran student enrollment, 
persistence, and completion; and
    (e) Developing a plan to sustain the Center of Excellence for 
Veteran Student Success after the grant period.
    Invitational Priority: Under this competition we are particularly 
interested in applications that address the following priority. For FY 
2015 and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of 
unfunded applicants from this competition, this priority is an 
invitational priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1), we do not give an 
application that meets this invitational priority a competitive or 
absolute preference over other applications.
    This priority is:
    Projects that detail specific steps that will be taken to recruit, 
retain, and graduate veterans from groups with college completion rates 
that are below the national average--such as English language learners 
and homeless veterans--as well as veterans who are members of groups 
that have traditionally been underrepresented in postsecondary 
education based on race, color, national origin, gender, or disability.

    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1161t.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 82, 84, 86, 97, 
98, and 99. (b) The Office of Management and Budget Guidelines to 
Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 
2 CFR part 180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department 
in 2 CFR part 3485. (c) The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost 
Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 
200, as adopted and amended in 2 CFR part 3474.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: $4,950,000.
    Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of 
applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2016 from the list of 
unfunded applications from this competition.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $250,000 to $500,000 for 36 months.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $330,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 15.

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

    Project Period: 36 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: IHEs.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost 
sharing or matching.
    3. Limit on Grant Awards: Previously funded Centers of Excellence 
for Veteran Student Success grantees are not eligible for an award. No 
applicant will receive more than one award in this FY 2015 Centers of 
Excellence for Veteran Student Success competition.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: 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), 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 package from ED Pubs, be sure to 
identify this program or competition as follows: CFDA number 84.116G.
    Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application 
package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, 
or computer diskette) by contacting the person or team 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, the 
absolute priority and the invitational priority that reviewers use to 
evaluate your application. We have established mandatory page limits. 
You must limit the section of the application narrative that addresses:
     The selection criteria to no more than 25 pages.
     The absolute priority to no more than 5 pages.
     The invitational priority to no more than 5 pages, if you 
address it.
    Accordingly, under no circumstances may the application narrative 
exceed 35 pages.
    Please include separate headings for the absolute priority and, if 
you choose to address it, the invitational priority.
    For the purpose of determining compliance with the page limits, 
each page on which there are words will be counted as one full page. 
Applicants must use the following standards:
     A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only, with 1'' 
margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
     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 singles 
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. An application submitted in any other font 
(including Times Roman or Arial Narrow) will not be accepted.
    The page limit does not apply to Part I, the Application for 
Federal Assistance (SF 424) and the Department of Education 
Supplemental Information for

[[Page 22985]]

the SF 424 Form; the one-page Abstract; Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs (ED 524); or Part IV, the Assurances and 
Certifications. The page limit also does not apply to a Table of 
Contents, if you include one. However, the page limit does apply to all 
of the project narrative section in Part III.
    If you include any attachments or appendices not specifically 
requested, these items will be counted as part of the application 
narrative for purposes of the page-limit requirement. You must include 
your complete response to the selection criteria and priorities in the 
application narrative.
    We will reject your application if you exceed the page limit.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: April 24, 2015.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 23, 2015.
    Applications for grants under this program must be submitted 
electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov). For 
information (including dates and times) about how to submit your 
application electronically, or in paper format by mail or hand delivery 
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, please refer to section IV.7. Other Submission 
Requirements of this notice.
    We do not consider an application that does not comply with the 
deadline requirements.
    Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or 
auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should contact 
the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in Section VII 
of this notice. If the Department provides an accommodation or 
auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability in connection with the 
application process, the individual's application remains subject to 
all other requirements and limitations in this notice.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: August 24, 2015.
    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 two to five weeks for your TIN to become active.
    The SAM registration process can take approximately seven business 
days, but may take upwards of several weeks, depending on the 
completeness and accuracy of the data entered into the SAM database by 
an entity. Thus, if you think you might want to apply for Federal 
financial assistance under a program administered by the Department, 
please allow sufficient time to obtain and register your DUNS number 
and TIN. We strongly recommend that you register early.

    Note:  Once your SAM registration is active, you will need to 
allow 24 to 48 hours for the information to be available in 
Grants.gov and before you can submit an application through 
Grants.gov.

    If you are currently registered with SAM, you may not need to make 
any changes. However, please make certain that the TIN associated with 
your DUNS number is correct. Also note that you will need to update 
your registration annually. This may take three or more business days.
    Information about SAM is available at www.SAM.gov. To further 
assist you with obtaining and registering your DUNS number and TIN in 
SAM or updating your existing SAM account, we have prepared a SAM.gov 
Tip Sheet, which you can find at: 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 Centers of Excellence for Veteran 
Student Success, CFDA number 84.116G, 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 Centers of 
Excellence for Veteran Student Success 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 84.116G).
    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

[[Page 22986]]

and time stamped by the Grants.gov system--after 4:30:00 p.m., 
Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. We do not 
consider an application that does not comply with the deadline 
requirements. When we retrieve your application from Grants.gov, we 
will notify you if we are rejecting your application because it was 
date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system after 4:30:00 p.m., 
Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date.
     The amount of time it can take to upload an application 
will vary depending on a variety of factors, including the size of the 
application and the speed of your Internet connection. Therefore, we 
strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline 
date to begin the submission process through Grants.gov.
     You should review and follow the Education Submission 
Procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov that are 
included in the application package for this competition to ensure that 
you submit your application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov 
system. You can also find the Education Submission Procedures 
pertaining to Grants.gov under News and Events on the Department's G5 
system home page at https://www.G5.gov.
     You will not receive additional point value because you 
submit your 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: Kelly Harris, Centers of 
Excellence for Veteran Student Success, U.S. Department of Education, 
1990 K Street NW., Room 6161, 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 Number 84.116G), 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:

[[Page 22987]]

    (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 84.116G), 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 following selection criteria for this 
program are from 34 CFR 75.210. We will award up to 100 points to an 
application under the selection criteria; the total possible points for 
each selection criterion are noted in parentheses.
    a. Need for the project. (10 points) The Secretary considers the 
need for the proposed project. In determining the need for the proposed 
project, the Secretary considers:
    1. The magnitude of the need for the services to be provided or the 
activities to be carried out by the proposed project.
    2. The extent to which the proposed project will provide services 
or otherwise address the needs of students at risk of educational 
failure.
    b. Significance. (10 points) The Secretary considers the 
significance of the proposed project. In determining the significance 
of the proposed project, the Secretary considers:
    1. The extent to which the proposed project is likely to build 
local capacity to provide, improve, or expand services that address the 
needs of the target population.
    2. The importance or magnitude of the results or outcomes likely to 
be attained by the proposed project.
    c. Quality of the project design. (30 points) The Secretary 
considers the quality of the design of the proposed project. In 
determining the quality of the design of the proposed project, the 
Secretary considers:
    1. The extent to which the proposed project is supported by strong 
theory (as defined in 34 CFR 77.1(c)).
    2. The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be 
achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable.
    3. 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.
    4. The extent to which the proposed project is designed to build 
capacity and yield results that will extend beyond the period of 
Federal financial assistance.
    d. Quality of project personnel. (15 points) The Secretary 
considers the quality of the personnel who will carry out the proposed 
project.
    1. 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.
    2. In addition, the Secretary considers:
    (a) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of the project director or principal investigator.
    (b) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of key project personnel.

    Note:  As stated in the absolute priority for this competition, 
a proposed Center of Excellence for Veteran Student Success must 
have a coordinator whose primary responsibility is to coordinate the 
model program. In response to this selection criterion, the 
application must describe the qualifications of this individual, the 
members of the veteran student support team described in the 
absolute priority, and any other individuals who will help carry out 
the proposed project. The grant project director may or may not be 
the coordinator of the Center of Excellence for Veteran Student 
Success.

    e. Adequacy of resources. (20 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:
    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 
number of persons to be served and to the anticipated results and 
benefits.
    3. The potential for continued support of the project after Federal 
funding ends, including, as appropriate, the demonstrated commitment of 
appropriate entities to such support.

    Note:  A budget summary and budget narrative attached to your 
proposal should itemize the support you are requesting through the 
Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success Program.

    f. Quality of project evaluation. (15 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:
    1. The extent to which the methods of evaluation are thorough, 
feasible, and appropriate to the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the 
proposed project.
    2. The extent to which the methods of evaluation provide for 
examining the effectiveness of project implementation strategies.
    3. The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide 
timely guidance for quality assurance.
    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).

[[Page 22988]]

    3. Special Conditions: Under 2 CFR 3474.10, the Secretary may 
impose special conditions and, in appropriate circumstances, high-risk 
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 2 CFR part 
200, subpart D; has not fulfilled the conditions of a prior grant; or 
is otherwise not responsible.

VI. Award Administration Information

    1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we notify your 
U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a Grant Award 
Notification (GAN); or we may send you an email containing a link to 
access an electronic version of your GAN. We may notify you informally, 
also.
    If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding, 
we notify you.
    2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: We identify 
administrative and national policy requirements in the application 
package and reference these and other requirements in the Applicable 
Regulations section of this notice.
    We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of 
an award in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice and 
include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also 
incorporates your approved application as part of your binding 
commitments under the grant.
    3. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a grant under this competition, 
you must ensure that you have in place the necessary processes and 
systems to comply with the reporting requirements in 2 CFR part 170 
should you receive funding under the competition. This does not apply 
if you have an exception under 2 CFR 170.110(b).
    (b) At the end of your project period, you must submit a final 
performance report, including financial information, as directed by the 
Secretary. If you receive a multi-year award, you must submit an annual 
performance report that provides the most current performance and 
financial expenditure information as directed by the Secretary under 34 
CFR 75.118. The Secretary may also require more frequent performance 
reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). For specific requirements on reporting, 
please go to www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
    4. Performance Measures: Under 34 CFR 75.110, the Secretary has 
established the following Government Performance and Results Act of 
1993 (GPRA) performance measures for the Centers of Excellence for 
Veteran Student Success: (1) The extent to which the project is 
institutionalized at the end of the project period; and (2) The extent 
to which funded projects increase enrollment, persistence, and 
completion rates of veteran students at their institutions.
    These measures constitute the Department's indicators of success 
for this program. Consequently, we advise an applicant for a grant 
under this program to give careful consideration to these measures in 
conceptualizing the approach and evaluation for its proposed project.
    If funded, you will be required to collect and report data in your 
project's annual performance report (34 CFR 75.590).

VII. Agency Contact

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kelly Harris, Centers of Excellence 
for Veteran Student Success, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K 
Street NW., Room 6161, Washington, DC 20006-8544. Telephone: (202) 219-
7083 or by email: Kelly.Harris@ed.gov.
    If you use a TDD or a TTY, call the FRS, toll free, at 1-800-877-
8339.

VIII. Other Information

    Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this 
document and a copy of the application package in an accessible format 
(e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or compact disc) on request to 
the program contact person listed under For Further Information Contact 
in section VII of this notice.
    Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this 
document is the document published in the Federal Register. Free 
Internet access to the official edition of the Federal Register and the 
Code of Federal Regulations is available via the Federal Digital System 
at: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site, you can view this document, as 
well as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal 
Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). To use PDF 
you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available 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.
    Delegation of Authority: The Secretary of Education has delegated 
authority to Jamienne S. Studley, Deputy Under Secretary, to perform 
the functions and duties of the Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary 
Education.

    Dated: April 20, 2015.
Jamienne S. Studley,
Deputy Under Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-09608 Filed 4-23-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
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