Applications for New Awards; Predominantly Black Institutions Competitive Grant Program, 28248-28255 [2015-11986]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 95 (Monday, May 18, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28248-28255]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-11986]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Predominantly Black Institutions 
Competitive Grant Program

AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education

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ACTION: Notice.

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    Overview Information:

Predominantly Black Institutions Competitive Grant Program (PBI 
Program)

    Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 
2015.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.382A.
    Dates:
    Applications Available: May 18, 2015.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 2, 2015.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: August 31, 2015.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The purpose of the PBI Program is to strengthen 
Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs) to carry out programs in the 
following areas: science, technology, engineering, or mathematics 
(STEM); health education; internationalization or globalization; 
teacher preparation; or improving educational outcomes of African-
American males.
    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 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 two competitive preference 
priorities. These priorities are from the Department's notice of final 
supplemental priorities and definitions for discretionary grant 
programs (Supplemental Priorities), published in the Federal Register 
on December 10, 2014 (79 FR 73425).
    Competitive Preference Priorities: For FY 2015 and any subsequent 
year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from 
this competition, these priorities are competitive preference 
priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we award an application up to 
three additional points for each priority, for a total of up to six 
additional points, depending on how well the application meets each of 
these priorities.
    These priorities are:
    Competitive Preference Priority 1: Increasing Postsecondary Access, 
Affordability, and Completion (up to 3 points).
    Projects that are designed to address one or both of the following:
    (a) Reducing the net cost, median student loan debt, and likelihood 
of student loan default for high-need students who enroll in college, 
other postsecondary education, or other career and technical education.
    (b) Supporting the development and implementation of high-quality 
online or hybrid credit-bearing and accessible learning opportunities 
that reduce the cost of higher education, reduce time to degree 
completion, or allow students to progress at their own pace.
    Competitive Preference Priority 2: Improving Teacher Effectiveness 
and Promoting Equitable Access to Effective Teachers (up to 3 points).
    Projects that are designed to increase the number and percentage of 
effective teachers in lowest-performing schools, schools in rural local 
educational agencies, or schools with high concentrations of students 
from low-income families and minority students, through such activities 
as:
    (a) Improving the preparation, recruitment, selection, and early 
career development of teachers; implementing performance-based 
certification systems; reforming compensation and advancement systems; 
and reforming hiring timelines and systems.
    (b) Improving the retention of effective teachers through such 
activities as creating or enhancing opportunities for teachers' 
professional growth; delivering professional development to teachers 
that is relevant, effective, and outcome-oriented; reforming 
compensation and advancement systems; and improving workplace 
conditions to create opportunities for successful teaching and 
learning.
    Definitions: The following definitions are from the Supplemental 
Priorities and from 34 CFR 77.1 and apply to the priorities and 
selection criteria in this notice:
    High-minority school means a school as that term is defined by a 
local educational agency (LEA), which must define the term in a manner 
consistent with its State's Teacher Equity Plan, as required by section 
1111(b)(8)(C) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as 
amended (ESEA). The applicant must provide the definition(s) of high-
minority schools used in its application.
    High-need students means students who are at risk of educational 
failure or otherwise in need of special assistance and support, such as 
students who are living in poverty, who attend high-minority schools, 
who are far below grade level, who have left school before receiving a 
regular high school diploma, who are at risk of not graduating with a 
diploma on time, who are homeless, who are in foster care, who have 
been incarcerated, who have disabilities, or who are English learners.
    Logic model (also referred to as theory of action) means a well-
specified conceptual framework that identifies key components of the 
proposed process, product, strategy, or practice (i.e., the active 
``ingredients'' that are hypothesized to be critical to achieving the 
relevant outcomes) and describes the relationships among the key 
components and outcomes, theoretically and operationally.

    Note:  In developing logic models, applicants may want to use 
resources such as the Pacific Education Laboratory's Education Logic 
Model Application (www.relpacific.mcrel.org/PERR.html or https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED544779.pdf) to help design their logic 
models.

    Lowest-performing schools means--
    For a State with an approved request for flexibility under the 
ESEA, priority schools or Tier I and Tier II schools that have been 
identified under the School Improvement Grants (SIG) program.
    For any other State, Tier I and Tier II schools that have been 
identified under the SIG program.
    Persistently-lowest achieving school means, as determined by the 
State--
    (a)(1) Any Title I school that has been identified for improvement, 
corrective action, or restructuring under section 1116 of the ESEA and 
that--
    (i) Is among the lowest-achieving five percent of Title I schools 
in improvement, corrective action, or restructuring or the lowest-
achieving five Title I schools in improvement, corrective action, or 
restructuring in the State, whichever number of schools is greater; or
    (ii) Is a high school that has had a graduation rate, as defined in 
34 CFR 200.19(b), that is less than 60 percent over a number of years; 
and
    (2) Any secondary school that is eligible for, but does not 
receive, Title I funds that--
    (i) Is among the lowest-achieving five percent of secondary schools 
or the lowest-achieving five secondary schools in the State that are 
eligible for, but do not receive, Title I funds, whichever number of 
schools is greater; or
    (ii) Is a high school that has had a graduation rate, as defined in 
34 CFR 200.19(b), that is less than 60 percent over a number of years.
    (b) To identify the lowest-achieving schools, a State must take 
into account both--

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    (i) The academic achievement of the ``all students'' group in a 
school in terms of proficiency on the State's assessments under section 
1111(b)(3) of the ESEA, in reading/language arts and mathematics 
combined; and
    (ii) The school's lack of progress on those assessments over a 
number of years in the ``all students'' group.
    Priority schools means schools that, based on the most recent data 
available, have been identified as among the lowest-performing schools 
in the State. The total number of priority schools in a State must be 
at least five percent of the Title I schools in the State. A priority 
school is--
    (a) A school among the lowest five percent of Title I schools in 
the State based on the achievement of the ``all students'' group in 
terms of proficiency on the statewide assessments that are part of the 
state educational agency's (SEA's) differentiated recognition, 
accountability, and support system, combined, and has demonstrated a 
lack of progress on those assessments over a number of years in the 
``all students'' group;
    (b) A Title I-participating or Title I-eligible high school with a 
graduation rate that is less than 60 percent over a number of years; or
    (c) A Tier I or Tier II school under the SIG program that is using 
SIG funds to implement a school intervention model.
    Regular high school diploma means the standard high school diploma 
that is awarded to students in the State and that is fully aligned with 
the State's academic content standards or a higher diploma and does not 
include a General Education Development credential, certificate of 
attendance, or any alternative award.
    Rural local educational agency means an LEA that is eligible under 
the Small Rural School Achievement program or the Rural and Low-Income 
School program authorized under title VI, part B of the ESEA. Eligible 
applicants may determine whether a particular LEA is eligible for these 
programs by referring to information on the Department's Web site at 
www2.ed.gov/nclb/freedom/local/reap.html.
    Strong theory means a rationale for the proposed process, product, 
strategy, or practice that includes a logic model.
    Tier I schools means--
    (a) A Title I school that has been identified as in improvement, 
corrective action, or restructuring under section 1116 of the ESEA and 
that is identified by the SEA under paragraph (a)(1) of the definition 
of persistently-lowest achieving school.
    (b) An elementary school that is eligible for title I, part A funds 
that--
    (1)(i) Has not made adequate yearly progress for at least two 
consecutive years; or
    (ii) Is in the State's lowest quintile of performance based on 
proficiency rates on the State's assessments under section 1111(b)(3) 
of the ESEA in reading/language arts and mathematics combined; and
    (2) Is no higher achieving than the highest-achieving school 
identified by the SEA under paragraph (a)(1)(i) of the definition of 
persistently-lowest achieving school.
    Tier II schools means--
    (a) A secondary school that is eligible for, but does not receive, 
title I, part A funds and is identified by the SEA under paragraph 
(a)(2) of the definition of persistently-lowest achieving schools.
    (b) A secondary school that is eligible for title I, part A funds 
that--
    (1)(i) Has not made adequate yearly progress for at least two 
consecutive years; or
    (ii) Is in the State's lowest quintile of performance based on 
proficiency rates on the State's assessments under section 1111(b)(3) 
of the ESEA, in reading/language arts and mathematics combined; and
    (2)(i) Is no higher achieving than the highest-achieving school 
identified by the SEA under paragraph (a)(2)(i) of the definition of 
persistently-lowest achieving school; or
    (ii) Is a high school that has had a graduation rate, as defined in 
34 CFR 200.19(b), that is less than 60 percent over a number of years.
    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1067q.
    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. (d) The Supplemental 
Priorities.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: $13,920,000.
    Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of 
applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2016 from the list of 
unfunded applicants from this competition.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $600,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 23.

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

    Project Period: Up to 60 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: To qualify as an eligible institution under 
the PBI Program, an institution of higher education (IHE) must--
    (a) Have an enrollment of needy students, as defined by section 
371(c)(3) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1067q(c)(3)).
    The term enrollment of needy students means the enrollment at the 
eligible IHE with respect to which not less than 50 percent of the 
undergraduate students enrolled in an academic program leading to a 
degree--
    (i) In the second fiscal year preceding the fiscal year for which 
the determination is made, were Federal Pell Grant recipients for such 
year;
    (ii) Come from families that receive benefits under a means-tested 
Federal benefit program (as defined in section 371(c)(5) of the HEA, 20 
U.S.C. 1067q(c)(5));
    (iii) Attended a public or nonprofit private secondary school 
that--
    (A) Is in the school district of an LEA that was eligible for 
assistance under part A of title I of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 6311 et 
seq.), for any year during which the student attended such secondary 
school; and
    (B) For the purpose of this paragraph and for that year, was 
determined by the Secretary (pursuant to regulations and after 
consultation with the SEA of the State in which the school is located) 
to be a school in which the enrollment of children counted under a 
measure of poverty described in section 1113(a)(5) of the ESEA (20 
U.S.C. 6313(a)(5)) exceeds 30 percent of the total enrollment of such 
school; or
    (iv) Are first-generation college students, as that term is defined 
in section 402A(h) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1070a-11(h)), and a majority 
of such first-generation college students are low-income individuals, 
as that term is defined in section 402A(h) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1070a-
11(h));
    (b) Have an average educational and general expenditure that is 
low, per full-time equivalent (FTE) undergraduate student, in 
comparison with the average educational and general expenditure per FTE 
undergraduate student of IHEs that offer similar instruction. The 
Secretary may waive this requirement, in accordance with section 392(b) 
of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1068a(b)), in the same manner as the Secretary 
applies the waiver requirements to grant applicants under section 
312(b)(1)(B) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1058(b)(1)(B));

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    (c) Have an enrollment of undergraduate students--
    (i) That is at least 40 percent Black American students;
    (ii) That is at least 1,000 undergraduate students;
    (iii) Of which not less than 50 percent of the undergraduate 
students enrolled at the institution are low-income individuals, as 
that term is defined in section 402A(h) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1070a-
11(h)), or first-generation college students, as that term is defined 
in section 402A(h) of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1070a-11(h)); and
    (iv) Of which not less than 50 percent of the undergraduate 
students are enrolled in an educational program leading to a bachelor's 
or associate's degree that the institution is licensed to award by the 
State in which the institution is located;
    (d) Be legally authorized to provide, and provide, within the State 
an educational program for which the IHE awards a bachelor's degree or, 
in the case of a junior or community college, an associate's degree;
    (e) Be accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or 
association determined by the Secretary to be a reliable authority as 
to the quality of training offered, or be, according to such an agency 
or association, making reasonable progress toward accreditation; and
    (f) Not be receiving assistance under part B of title III or part A 
of title V of the HEA or an annual authorization of appropriations 
under the Act of March 2, 1867 (20 U.S.C. 123).

    Note:  The notice for applying for designation as an eligible 
institution was published on November 3, 2014 (75 FR 65197) and 
applications were due on December 22, 2014. Only institutions that 
submitted applications by the deadline date and that the Department 
determined are eligible may apply for a grant.

    Applicants must provide, as an attachment to the application, the 
documentation the institution relied upon to determine that at least 40 
percent of the institution's undergraduate enrollment are Black 
American students. The 40 percent requirement applies only to 
undergraduate Black American students and is calculated based upon 
unduplicated undergraduate enrollment. Instructions for formatting and 
submitting the verification documentation are in the application 
package for this competition.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost 
sharing or matching.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: You can obtain an 
application via the Internet at Grants.gov. If you do not have access 
to the Internet, please contact Bernadette D. Miles, U.S. Department of 
Education, 1990 K Street NW., Washington, DC 20006-8513. Telephone: 
(202) 502-7616.
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text 
telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-
800-877-8339.
    Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application 
package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, 
or compact disc) by contacting the program contact person listed in 
this section.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission:
    Requirements concerning the content of an application, together 
with the forms 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 and the 
competitive preference priorities that reviewers use to evaluate your 
application. We have established the following mandatory page limits. 
You must limit the section of the application narrative that addresses:
     The selection criteria to no more than 40 pages.
     A competitive preference priority, if you are addressing 
one or both, to no more than three pages (for a total of six pages if 
you address both).
    Accordingly, under no circumstances may the application narrative 
exceed 46 pages. Please include a separate heading for each competitive 
preference priority that you address.
    For the purpose of determining compliance with the page limit, 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. Page numbers and an 
identifier may be within the 1'' margins.
     Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) 
all text in the application narrative, except titles, headings, 
footnotes, quotations, references, captions, and all text in charts, 
tables, figures, and graphs. These items may be single-spaced. Charts, 
tables, figures, and graphs in the application narrative count toward 
the page limit.
     Use a font that is either 12 point or larger, or no 
smaller than 10 pitch (characters per inch). 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. Applications 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 cover sheet SF 424; 
Part II, the budget section, including the narrative budget 
justification; or Part IV, the assurances and certifications. The page 
limit also does not apply to the table of contents, the one-page 
abstract, the resumes, the bibliography, or the letters of support. 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: May 18, 2015.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 2, 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 31, 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

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is in the application package for this competition.
    5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding 
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
    6. Data Universal Numbering System Number, Taxpayer Identification 
Number, and 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: 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 competition must be submitted electronically unless you qualify 
for an exception to this requirement in accordance with the 
instructions in this section.
    a. Electronic Submission of Applications.
    Applications for grants under the PBI Program, CFDA number 84.382A, 
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 PBI 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 84.382, not 
84.382A).
    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. Additional, detailed information on how to attach 
files is in the application instructions.

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     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: Bernadette D. Miles, 
U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street NW., Room 6025, Washington, 
DC 20006-8513. Fax: (202) 502-7861.
    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 84.382A) 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 84.382A), 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 34 CFR 75.210. Applicants must address each of the following 
selection criteria. 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 project. (Maximum 15 points) The Secretary considers 
the

[[Page 28254]]

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. (5 points)
    2. The extent to which the proposed project will focus on serving 
or otherwise addressing the needs of disadvantaged individuals. (5 
points)
    3. 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 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 the following factors:
    1. The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be 
achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable. 
(10 points)
    2. 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. (10 points)
    3. The extent to which the proposed project is supported by strong 
theory (as defined in this notice). (10 points)
    c. Quality of project services. (Maximum 10 points) The Secretary 
considers the quality of the services to be provided by the proposed 
project. 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:
    1. 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. (5 points)
    2. The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed 
project reflect up-to-date knowledge from research and effective 
practice. (5 points)
    d. Quality of project personnel. (Maximum 10 points) The Secretary 
considers the quality of the personnel who will carry out the proposed 
project. 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:
    1. The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of the project director or principal investigator. (5 points)
    2. The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, 
of key project personnel. (5 points)
    e. Adequacy of resources. (Maximum 5 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 extent to which the budget is adequate to support the 
proposed project. (3 points)
    2. 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 15 points) The 
Secretary considers the quality of the management plan for the proposed 
project. In determining the quality of the management plan for the 
proposed project, the Secretary considers:
    1. 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. (5 points)
    2. The adequacy of procedures for ensuring feedback and continuous 
improvement in the operation of the proposed project. (5 points)
    3. 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) 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. (5 points)
    2. 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)
    3. 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).
    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

[[Page 28255]]

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). Please see the application package for 
details of annual and final reporting requirements. For specific 
requirements on reporting, please go to www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
    4. Performance Measures: The Secretary has established the 
following key performance measures for assessing the effectiveness of 
the PBI Program:
    (a) The percentage of change in the number of full-time, degree-
granting undergraduate students enrolled at PBIs.
    (b) The percentage of first-time, full-time, degree-seeking 
undergraduate students at four-year PBIs who were in their first year 
of postsecondary enrollment in the previous year and are enrolled in 
the current year at the same four-year PBI.
    (c) The percentage of first-time, full-time, degree-seeking 
undergraduate students at two-year PBIs who were in their first year of 
postsecondary enrollment in the previous year and are enrolled in the 
current year at the same two-year PBI.
    (d) The percentage of first-time, full-time, degree-seeking 
undergraduate students enrolled at four-year PBIs who graduate within 
six years of enrollment.
    (e) The percentage of first-time, full-time, degree-seeking 
undergraduate students enrolled at two-year PBIs who graduate within 
three years of enrollment.
    5. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award under 34 CFR 
75.253, the Secretary considers, among other things: whether a grantee 
has made substantial progress in achieving the goals and objectives of 
the project; whether the grantee has expended funds in a manner that is 
consistent with its approved application and budget; and, if the 
Secretary has established performance measurement requirements, the 
performance targets in the grantee's approved application. In making a 
continuation award, 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: Bernadette D. Miles, U.S. 
Department of Education, 1990 K Street NW., Room 6025, Washington, DC 
20006-8513. Telephone: (202) 502-7616 or by email: 
bernadette.miles@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: May 13, 2015.
Jamienne S. Studley,
Deputy Under Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-11986 Filed 5-15-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4000-01-P