Applications for New Awards; Equity Assistance Centers, 46820-46826 [2016-16809]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 137 (Monday, July 18, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46820-46826]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-16809]



Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 137 / Monday, July 18, 2016 / 
Notices

[[Page 46820]]


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

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Equity Assistance Centers

AGENCY: Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Department of 
Education.

ACTION: Notice.

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

    Overview Information:
    Equity Assistance Centers
    Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 
2016.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.004D.

DATES: 
    Applications Available: July 18, 2016.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: August 22, 2016.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The Equity Assistance Centers (EAC) program is 
authorized under title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. 
2000c--2000c-2, 2000c-5, and the implementing regulations in 34 CFR 
part 270. This program awards grants through cooperative agreements to 
operate regional EACs that provide technical assistance (including 
training) at the request of school boards and other responsible 
governmental agencies in the preparation, adoption, and implementation 
of plans for the desegregation of public schools--which in this context 
means plans for equity (including desegregation based on race, national 
origin, sex, and religion)--and in the development of effective methods 
of coping with special educational problems occasioned by 
desegregation. Assistance may include, among other activities: (1) 
Dissemination of information regarding effective methods of coping with 
special educational problems occasioned by desegregation; (2) 
assistance and advice in coping with these problems; and (3) training 
designed to improve the ability of teachers, supervisors, counselors, 
parents, community members, community organizations, and other 
elementary or secondary school personnel to deal effectively with 
special educational problems occasioned by desegregation.
    Priorities: This notice contains one competitive preference 
priority and one invitational priority. The competitive preference 
priority is from the notice of final priority and requirement for this 
program published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register.
    Competitive Preference Priority: For FY 2016 and any subsequent 
year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applications 
from this competition, this priority is a competitive preference 
priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i) we award up to an additional 
five points to an application, depending on how well the application 
addresses this priority. If an applicant wishes to be considered for 
this priority, the applicant must submit a supplemental narrative 
describing how the applicant meets this priority.
    This priority is:
    A track record of success or demonstrated expertise in developing 
or providing technical assistance to increase socioeconomic diversity 
in schools or school districts as a means to further desegregation by 
race, sex, national origin, and religion.
    The Department will award up to five additional points to eligible 
applicants that have a track record of success or demonstrated 
expertise in both of the following:
    (a) Providing effective and comprehensive technical assistance on 
strategies or interventions supported by evidence and designed to 
increase socioeconomic diversity within or across schools, districts, 
or communities; and
    (b) Researching, evaluating, or developing strategies or 
interventions supported by evidence and designed to increase 
socioeconomic diversity within or across schools, districts, or 
communities.
    Invitational Priority: For FY 2016 and any subsequent year in which 
we make awards from the list of unfunded applications 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:
    A track record of success or demonstrated expertise in providing 
effective technical assistance on strategies to ensure equitable access 
to effective teachers and leaders, particularly for students from low-
income families and students of color across and within schools and 
districts.
    The Department seeks applications from eligible applicants that 
have a track record of success or demonstrated expertise in both of the 
following:
    (a) Developing and providing technical assistance with the goal of 
ensuring that low-income children and children of color are not served 
at disproportionate rates by ineffective, out-of-field, or 
inexperienced teachers or ineffective leaders, including assistance to 
ensure continuous improvement toward such goals; and
    (b) Researching or evaluating teacher and leader recruitment, 
support, and retention policies and practices, specifically with 
respect to their impact on the equitable access to effective teachers 
and leaders for low-income children and children of color.
    Program Requirement: This requirement is from the notice of final 
priority and requirement for this program published elsewhere in this 
issue of the Federal Register. The following requirement applies to all 
applicants awarded a grant under this competition that receive points 
under the competitive preference priority:
    Conducting Outreach and Engagement: When providing technical 
assistance on socioeconomic diversity in response to requests from 
responsible governmental agencies as a means to further desegregation 
by race, sex, national origin, and religion, a grantee under this 
program must assist in conducting outreach and engagement on strategies 
or interventions designed to increase socioeconomic diversity with 
appropriate stakeholders, including community members, parents, and 
teachers.
    Definitions: The following definitions apply to this competition 
and, except as otherwise noted, are from the notice of final 
regulations, published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register.
    Desegregation assistance means the provision of technical 
assistance (including training) in the areas of race, sex, national 
origin, and religion desegregation of public elementary and secondary 
schools.
    Desegregation assistance areas mean the areas of race, sex, 
national origin, and religion desegregation.
    English learner has the same meaning as the same term defined in 
section 8101(20) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as 
amended.

    Authority:  Section 8101(20) of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act, 
Public Law 114-95 (2015) (ESSA).

    Equity Assistance Center means a regional desegregation technical 
assistance and training center funded under this part.
    National origin desegregation means the assignment of students to 
public schools and within those schools without regard to their 
national origin, including providing students such as those who are 
English learners with a full opportunity for participation in all 
educational programs regardless of their national origin.
    Public school means any elementary or secondary educational 
institution

[[Page 46821]]

operated by a State, subdivision of a State, or governmental agency 
within a State, or operated wholly or predominantly from or through the 
use of governmental funds or property, or funds or property derived 
from governmental sources.
    Public school personnel means school board members and persons who 
are employed by or who work in the schools of a responsible 
governmental agency, as that term is defined in this section.
    Race desegregation means the assignment of students to public 
schools and within those schools without regard to their race, 
including providing students with a full opportunity for participation 
in all educational programs regardless of their race. ``Race 
desegregation'' does not mean the assignment of students to public 
schools to correct conditions of racial separation that are not the 
result of State or local law or official action.
    Religion desegregation means the assignment of students to public 
schools and within those schools without regard to their religion, 
including providing students with a full opportunity for participation 
in all educational programs regardless of their religion.
    Responsible governmental agency means any school board, State, 
municipality, LEA, or other governmental unit legally responsible for 
operating a public school or schools.
    School board means any agency or agencies that administer a system 
of one or more public schools and any other agency that is responsible 
for the assignment of students to or within that system.
    Sex desegregation means the assignment of students to public 
schools and within those schools without regard to their sex (including 
transgender status; gender identity; sex stereotypes, such as treating 
a person differently because he or she does not conform to sex-role 
expectations because he or she is attracted to or is in a relationship 
with a person of the same sex; and pregnancy and related conditions), 
including providing students with a full opportunity for participation 
in all educational programs regardless of their sex.
    Special educational problems occasioned by desegregation means 
those issues that arise in classrooms, schools, and communities in the 
course of desegregation efforts based on race, national origin, sex, or 
religion. The phrase does not refer to the provision of special 
education and related services for students with disabilities as 
defined under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 
U.S.C. 1400 et seq.).

    Program Authority: 42 U.S.C. 2000c--2000c-2, 2000c-5.

    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 81, 82, 
84, 86, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The OMB 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 as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR 
part 3474. (d) The notice of final regulations for this program, 
published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register. (e) The 
notice of final priority and requirement for this program, published 
elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register.
    Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants 
except federally recognized Indian tribes.
    Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of 
higher education only.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Cooperative agreement.
    Estimated Available Funds: $6,518,563.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $1,400,000-$1,700,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $1,629,640.
    Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a 
budget exceeding $1,700,000 for any single budget period of 12 months.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 4.
    Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.
    Project Period: Up to 60 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: A public agency (other than a State 
educational agency or a school board) or a private, non-profit 
organization.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost 
sharing or matching.
    3. Geographical Regions: Four EACs will be funded under this grant 
program in four geographical regions, in accordance with 34 CFR 270.5. 
One award will be made in each region to the highest ranking proposal 
from that region. Eligible applicants need not be located in the 
geographic region for which they choose to apply. If an applicant 
wishes to apply to serve more than one region, such an applicant must 
submit an application for each region it wishes to serve.
    The geographic regions served by the EACs are:

[[Page 46822]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN18JY16.012

    Region I: Connecticut, Delaware, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, 
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, 
Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virgin Islands, West Virginia.
    Region II: Alabama, Arkansas, District of Columbia, Florida, 
Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, 
Tennessee, Texas, Virginia.
    Region III: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, 
Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, 
Wisconsin.
    Region IV: Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, California, Colorado, 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, 
Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: Britt Jung, Office of 
Elementary and Secondary Education, U.S. Department of Education, 400 
Maryland Avenue SW., Room 3E206, Washington, DC 20202-6132. Telephone: 
(202) 205-4513 or by email: Britt.Jung@ed.gov.
    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 that 
reviewers use to evaluate your application. We encourage you to limit 
the narrative to no more than 50 pages and suggest that you 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, including titles, headings, 
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in 
charts, tables, figures, and graphs.
     Use a font that is either 12 point or larger or no smaller 
than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
     Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, 
Courier New, or Arial.
    The optional supplemental narrative is where you, the applicant, 
may address the competitive preference priority. Our reviewers will 
only score the competitive preference priority if you submit the 
optional supplemental narrative. We suggest that you limit the optional 
supplemental narrative to no more than three pages using the formatting 
standards previously identified.
    The suggested page limit does not apply to Part I, the cover sheet; 
Part II, the budget section, including the narrative budget 
justification; Part IV, the assurances and certifications; or the one-
page abstract, the resumes, the bibliography, the optional supplemental 
narrative to address the competitive preference priority, or the 
letters of support. However, the suggested page limit does apply to all 
of the application narrative.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: July 18, 2016.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: August 22, 2016.
    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 Other Submission Requirements in section 
IV 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

[[Page 46823]]

connection with the application process, the individual's application 
remains subject to all other requirements and limitations in this 
notice.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: This program is subject to Executive 
Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. However, under 34 
CFR 79.8(a), we waive intergovernmental review in order to make awards 
by the end of FY 2016.
    5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding 
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section in 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), 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 at the 
following Web site: https://fedgov.dnb.com/webform. A DUNS number can be 
created within one to two business days.
    If you are a corporate entity, agency, institution, or 
organization, you can obtain a TIN from the Internal Revenue Service. 
If you are an individual, you can obtain a TIN from the Internal 
Revenue Service or the Social Security Administration. If you need a 
new TIN, please allow 2-5 weeks for your TIN to become active.
    The SAM registration process can take approximately seven business 
days, but may take upwards of several weeks, depending on the 
completeness and accuracy of the data you enter into the SAM database. 
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, it may be 24 to 48 
hours before you can access the information in, and 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 on an annual basis. This may take three or more 
business days to complete.
    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 in the 
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 EAC program, CFDA number 84.004D, 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 EAC program 
at www.Grants.gov. You must search for the downloadable application 
package for this program by the CFDA number. Do not include the CFDA 
number's alpha suffix in your search (e.g., search for 84.004, not 
84.004D).
    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 program 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.

[[Page 46824]]

     You must upload any narrative sections and all other 
attachments to your application as files in a read-only, non-modifiable 
Portable Document Format (PDF). Do not upload an interactive or 
fillable PDF file. If you upload a file type other than a read-only, 
non-modifiable PDF (e.g., Word, Excel, WordPerfect, etc.) or submit a 
password-protected file, we will not review that material. Please note 
that this could result in your application not being considered for 
funding because the material in question--for example, the project 
narrative--is critical to a meaningful review of your proposal. For 
that reason it is important to allow yourself adequate time to upload 
all material as PDF files. The Department will not convert material 
from other formats to PDF.
     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.) Grants.gov 
will also notify you automatically by email if your application met all 
the Grants.gov validation requirements or if there were any errors 
(such as submission of your application by someone other than a 
registered Authorized Organization Representative, or inclusion of an 
attachment with a file name that contains special characters). You will 
be given an opportunity to correct any errors and resubmit, but you 
must still meet the deadline for submission of applications.
    Once your application is successfully validated by Grants.gov, the 
Department will retrieve your application from Grants.gov and send you 
an email with a unique PR/Award number for your application.
    These emails do not mean that your application is without any 
disqualifying errors. While your application may have been successfully 
validated by Grants.gov, it must also meet the Department's application 
requirements as specified in this notice and in the application 
instructions. Disqualifying errors could include, for instance, failure 
to upload attachments in a read-only, non-modifiable PDF; failure to 
submit a required part of the application; or failure to meet applicant 
eligibility requirements. It is your responsibility to ensure that your 
submitted application has met all of the Department's requirements.
     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 the 
problem affected your ability to submit your application by 4:30:00 
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. The 
Department will contact you after we determine 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: Britt Jung, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 3E206, 
Washington, DC 20202-6135. FAX: (202) 205-0310.
    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 84.004D), 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.
    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.
    We will not consider applications postmarked after the deadline 
date.
    c. Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery.

[[Page 46825]]

    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 84.004D, 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 competition 
are from section 75.210 of EDGAR. The maximum score for addressing all 
of these criteria is 100 points (not including competitive preference 
priority points). The maximum score for addressing each criterion is 
indicated in parentheses. The Secretary uses the following criteria to 
evaluate applications for EAC grants:
    (a) Significance. (Up to 5 points) The Secretary considers the 
significance of the proposed project. In determining the significance 
of the proposed project, the Secretary considers 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.
    (b) Quality of Project Services. (Up to 20 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 the following factors:
    (1) The extent to which the training or professional development 
services to be provided by the proposed project are of sufficient 
quality, intensity, and duration to lead to improvements in practice 
among the recipients of those services. (Up to 10 points)
    (2) The extent to which the technical assistance services to be 
provided by the proposed project involve the use of efficient 
strategies, including the use of technology, as appropriate, and the 
leveraging of non-project resources. (Up to 5 points)
    (3) The extent to which the results of the proposed project are to 
be disseminated in ways that will enable others to use the information 
or strategies. (Up to 5 points)
    (c) Quality of Project Design. (Up to 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 there is a conceptual framework underlying 
the proposed research or demonstration activities and the quality of 
that framework. (Up to 10 points)
    (2) The extent to which the design of the proposed project includes 
a thorough, high-quality review of the relevant literature, a high-
quality plan for project implementation, and the use of appropriate 
methodological tools to ensure successful achievement of project 
objectives. (Up to 10 points)
    (3) The extent to which the proposed project represents an 
exceptional approach for meeting statutory purposes and requirements. 
(Up to 10 points)
    (d) Quality of Project Personnel. (Up to 15 points) The Secretary 
considers the quality of project personnel. In determining the quality 
of project personnel, the Secretary considers the qualifications, 
including relevant training and experience, of key project personnel.
    (e) Adequacy of Resources. (Up to 15 points) The Secretary 
considers the adequacy of resources for the proposed project. In 
determining the adequacy of resources for the proposed project, the 
Secretary considers the extent to which the costs are reasonable in 
relation to the number of persons to be served and to the anticipated 
results and benefits.
    (f) Quality of the Project Evaluation. (Up to 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 the following factors:
    (1) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be 
achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measureable. 
(Up to 10 points)
    (2) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide 
performance feedback and permit periodic assessment of progress toward 
achieving intended outcomes. (Up to 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. Risk Assessment and Special Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR 
200.205, before awarding grants under this program the Department 
conducts a review of the risks posed by applicants. 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

[[Page 46826]]

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 multiyear 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.
    (c) The Secretary may provide a grantee with additional funding for 
data collection analysis and reporting. In this case the Secretary 
establishes a data collection period.
    4. Performance Measures: The Department has established the 
following Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 performance 
measures for the EAC program, adapted from a set of common measures 
developed to help assess performance across the Department's technical 
assistance programs:
    Measure 1: The percentage of customers reporting an increase in 
awareness and/or knowledge resulting from technical assistance 
provided.
    Measure 2: The percentage of customers who report changed policies 
or practices related to providing students with a full opportunity for 
participation in all educational programs regardless of their sex, 
race, religion, and national origin.
    Measure 3: The percentage of customers reporting an increase in 
capacity resulting from technical assistance provided.
    All grantees will be expected to submit, as part of their annual 
and final performance reports, quantitative data documenting their 
progress with regard to these performance measures.
    Project Measures: The Department has established the following 
project measures for the EAC program:
    Measure 1: The percentage of technical assistance requests received 
from organizations that were accepted during the performance period.
    Measure 2: The percentage of technical assistance requests received 
from new (not previously served by the EAC) organizations during the 
performance period.
    Measure 3: The percentage of customers willing to request 
additional technical assistance and/or refer another organization to an 
EAC for technical assistance during the performance period.
    All grantees will be expected to submit, as part of their annual 
and final performance reports, quantitative data documenting their 
progress with regard to these project measures. An applicant may 
propose additional project measures specific to that applicant's 
proposed project. If an applicant chooses to propose such project 
measures, the application must provide the following information as 
directed under 34 CFR 75.110(b): How each proposed project measure 
would accurately measure the performance of the project and how the 
proposed project measure would be consistent with the performance 
measures established for this program.
    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 Contact

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Britt Jung, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 3E206, Washington, DC 20202-
6135. Telephone: (202) 205-4513 or by email: britt.jung@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 PDF. To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat 
Reader, which is available free at the site.
    You may also access documents of the Department published in the 
Federal Register by using the article search feature at: 
www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search 
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published 
by the Department.

    Dated: July 12, 2016.
Ann Whalen,
Senior Advisor to the Secretary Delegated the Duties of Assistant 
Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2016-16809 Filed 7-15-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4000-01-P