Applications for New Awards; Native American Career and Technical Education Program, 5076-5086 [2018-02246]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 24 (Monday, February 5, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5076-5086]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-02246]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Native American Career and Technical 
Education Program

AGENCY: Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education, Department of 
Education.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Education (Department) is issuing a notice 
inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2018 for the 
Native American Career and Technical Education Program (NACTEP), 
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number 84.101A.

DATES: 
    Applications Available: February 5, 2018.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: March 19, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gwen Washington, U.S. Department of

[[Page 5077]]

Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 11076, Potomac Center Plaza, 
Washington, DC 20202-7241. Telephone: (202) 245-7790 or by fax at (202) 
245-7170. Or Linda Mayo, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland 
Avenue SW, Room 11075, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-7241. 
Telephone: (202) 245-7792. Fax: (202) 245-7170.
    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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: NACTEP provides grants to improve career and 
technical education (CTE) programs that are consistent with the 
purposes of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 
2006 (the Act) and that benefit Native Americans and Alaska Natives.
    Background: This notice invites applications for a NACTEP 
competition that implements section 116 of the Act, enacted August 12, 
2006. Section 116 of the Act authorizes the Secretary to award grants 
to, or enter into cooperative agreements or contracts with, Indian 
Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Alaska Native entities to operate CTE 
projects that improve CTE for Native American and Alaska Native 
students.
    Under section 116 of the Act, Bureau-funded schools (as defined in 
this notice) proposing to fund secondary programs are not eligible to 
receive an award directly from the Secretary. However, an Indian Tribe, 
Tribal organization, Alaska Native entity, or Bureau-funded school may 
use its award to assist a secondary school operated or supported by the 
U.S. Department of the Interior to carry out CTE programs. A Bureau-
funded school that is not proposing a secondary program is eligible for 
assistance under NACTEP.
    Priority: Under this competition we are particularly interested in 
applications that address the following priority.
    Invitational Priority: For FY 2018 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:

Creating or Expanding Opportunities for Individuals To Obtain 
Recognized Postsecondary Credentials in Science, Technology, 
Engineering, Mathematics, or Computer Science

    For the purposes of this invitational priority, computer science 
means the study of computers and algorithmic processes and includes the 
study of computing principles and theories, computational thinking, 
computer hardware, software design, coding, analytics, and computer 
applications.
    Computer science includes computer programming or coding as a tool 
to create software, including applications, games, websites, and tools 
to manage or manipulate data; or development and management of computer 
hardware and the other electronics related to sharing, securing, and 
using digital information.
    In addition to coding, the expanding field of computer science also 
includes computational thinking and interdisciplinary problem-solving 
to equip students with the skills and abilities necessary to apply 
computation in our digital world.
    Computer science does not include using a computer for everyday 
activities, such as browsing the internet; use of tools like word 
processing, spreadsheets, or presentation software; or using computers 
in the study and exploration of unrelated subjects.
    Requirements: These application and program requirements are from 
the notice of final requirements, definitions, and selection criteria 
for this program (Notice of Final Requirements), published in the 
Federal Register on February 26, 2013 (78 FR 12955), unless a specific 
statutory citation for the requirement is provided.
    The application requirements are:
    (1) An eligible applicant (as determined by the Act) must include 
documentation in its application showing that it and, if appropriate, 
its consortium members are eligible to apply.
    As defined in the Indian Self-Determination and Education 
Assistance Act (ISDEAA) (25 U.S.C. 5304(l)), the term ``Tribal 
organization'' means the recognized governing body of any Indian Tribe; 
any legally established organization of Indians which is controlled, 
sanctioned, or chartered by such governing body or which is 
democratically elected by the adult members of the Indian community to 
be served by such organization and which includes the maximum 
participation of Indians in all phases of its activities: Provided, 
That in any case where a contract is let or grant made to an 
organization to perform services benefiting more than one Indian Tribe, 
the approval of each such Indian Tribe shall be a prerequisite to the 
letting or making of such contract or grant. In accordance with this 
statutory definition, any Tribal organization proposing to provide 
NACTEP services for the benefit of more than one Indian Tribe must 
first obtain the approval of each Indian Tribe it proposes to serve and 
must submit documentation of such approval with its NACTEP application 
and that documentation of Tribal approval is a prerequisite to the 
awarding of a NACTEP grant to any Tribal organization proposing to 
serve more than one Indian Tribe.
    (2) An applicant that is not proposing to provide CTE directly to 
its students and proposes instead to use NACTEP funds to pay one or 
more qualified educational entities to provide education to its 
students must include with its application a written CTE agreement 
between the applicant and that entity. The written agreement must 
describe the commitment between the applicant and each educational 
entity and must include, at a minimum, a statement of the 
responsibilities of the applicant and the entity. The agreement must be 
signed by the appropriate individuals on behalf of each party, such as 
the authorizing official or president of a Tribe or Tribal 
organization, a college president, or a college dean.
    The program requirements are:

Requirement 1--Authorized Programs

    (a) Section 116(e) of the Act requires the Secretary to ensure that 
activities funded under NACTEP ``will improve career and technical 
education programs'' (20 U.S.C. 2326(e)). Therefore, under NACTEP the 
Assistant Secretary will award grants to carry out projects that--
    (1) Propose organized educational activities offering a sequence of 
courses that--
    (i) Provide individuals with coherent and rigorous content aligned 
with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge 
and skills needed to prepare for further education and careers in 
current or emerging professions;
    (ii) Provide technical skill proficiency, an industry-recognized 
credential, a certificate, or an associate degree; and
    (iii) Include competency-based applied learning that contributes to 
the academic knowledge, higher-order reasoning and problem-solving 
skills, work attitudes, general employability skills, technical skills, 
and occupation-

[[Page 5078]]

specific skills, and knowledge of all aspects of an industry, including 
entrepreneurship, of an individual. Projects may include prerequisite 
courses (other than remedial courses) that meet the definitional 
requirements of section 3(5) of the Act. (20 U.S.C. 2302(5)). In 
addition, at the secondary level, coherent and rigorous academic 
curriculum must be aligned with challenging academic content standards 
and student academic achievement standards in reading or language arts 
and in mathematics that the State in which the applicant is located has 
established under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 
(ESEA). Contacts for State ESEA programs may be found on the internet 
at: www.ed.gov/about/contacts/state/.
    (2) Develop new programs, services, or activities or improve or 
expand existing programs, services, or activities that are consistent 
with the purposes of the Act. In other words, the Department will 
support ``expansions'' or ``improvements'' that include, but are not 
limited to, the expansion of effective programs or practices; upgrading 
of activities, equipment, or materials; increasing staff capacity; 
adoption of new technology; modification of curriculum; or 
implementation of new policies to improve program effectiveness and 
outcomes.
    (3) Fund a CTE program, service, or activity that--
    (i) Is a new program, service, or activity that was not provided by 
the applicant during the instructional term (a defined period, such as 
a semester, trimester, or quarter, within the academic year) that 
preceded the request for funding under NACTEP;
    (ii) Will improve or expand an existing CTE program; or
    (iii) Inherently improves CTE.

    Note: A program, service, or activity ``inherently improves 
CTE'' if it--
    (a) Develops new CTE programs of study that will be approved by 
the appropriate accreditation agency;
    (b) Strengthens the rigor of the academic and career and 
technical components of funded programs;
    (c) Uses curriculum that is aligned with industry-recognized 
standards and will result in students attaining industry-recognized 
credentials, certificates, or degrees;
    (d) Integrates academics (other than remedial courses) with CTE 
programs through a coherent sequence of courses to ensure learning 
in the core academic and career and technical subjects;
    (e) Links CTE at the secondary level with CTE at the 
postsecondary level and facilitates students' pursuit of a 
baccalaureate degree;
    (f) Expands the scope, depth, and relevance of curriculum, 
especially content that provides students with a comprehensive 
understanding of all aspects of an industry and a variety of hands-
on, job-specific experiences; and
    (g) Offers--
    (1) Work-related experience, internships, cooperative education, 
school-based enterprises, entrepreneurship, community service 
learning, and job shadowing that are related to CTE programs;
    (2) Coaching/mentoring, support services, and extra help for 
students after school, on weekends, and/or during the summers, so 
they can meet higher standards;
    (3) Career guidance and academic counseling for students 
participating in CTE programs;
    (4) Placement services for students who have successfully 
completed CTE programs and attained a technical skill proficiency 
that is aligned with industry-recognized standards;
    (5) Professional development programs for teachers, counselors, 
and administrators;
    (6) Strong partnerships among grantees and local educational 
agencies, postsecondary institutions, community leaders, adult 
education providers, and, as appropriate, other entities, such as 
employers, labor organizations, parents, and local partnerships, to 
enable students to achieve State academic standards and career and 
technical skills;
    (7) The use of student assessment and evaluation data to improve 
continually instruction and staff development with the goal of 
increasing student achievement in CTE programs; or
    (8) Research, development, demonstration, dissemination, 
evaluation and assessment, capacity-building, and technical 
assistance, related to CTE programs.

    (b) Assistance to Bureau-funded secondary schools. An Indian Tribe, 
a Tribal organization, or an Alaska Native entity that receives funds 
through a NACTEP grant or contract may use the funds to provide 
assistance to a secondary school operated or supported by the U.S. 
Department of the Interior to enable such school to carry out CTE 
programs. (Section 116(b)(3) of the Act)

Requirement 2--Evaluation

    To help ensure the high quality of NACTEP projects and the 
achievement of the goals and purposes of section 116 of the Act, each 
grantee must budget for and conduct an ongoing evaluation of the 
effectiveness of its NACTEP project. An independent evaluator must 
conduct the evaluation. The evaluation must be appropriate for the 
project and be both formative and summative in nature.

Requirement 3--Student Stipends

    In accordance with section 116(c)(2) of the Act, a portion of an 
award under this program may be used to provide stipends (as defined in 
the Definitions section of this notice) to one or more students to help 
meet the students' costs of participation in a NACTEP project. A 
grantee must apply the following procedures for determining student 
eligibility for stipends and appropriate amounts to be awarded as 
stipends:
    (1) To be eligible for a stipend a student must--
    (i) Be enrolled in a CTE project funded under this program;
    (ii) Be in regular attendance in a NACTEP project and meet the 
training institution's attendance requirement;
    (iii) Maintain satisfactory progress in his or her program of study 
according to the training institution's published standards for 
satisfactory progress; and
    (iv) Have an acute economic need that--
    (A) Prevents participation in a project funded under this program 
without a stipend; and
    (B) Cannot be met through a work-study program.
    (2) The amount of a stipend is the greater of either the minimum 
hourly wage prescribed by State or local law or the minimum hourly wage 
established under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
    (3) A grantee may only award a stipend if the stipend combined with 
other resources the student receives does not exceed the student's 
financial need. A student's financial need is the difference between 
the student's cost of attendance and the financial aid or other 
resources available to defray the student's cost of participating in a 
NACTEP project.
    (4) To calculate the amount of a student's stipend, a grantee would 
multiply the number of hours a student actually attends CTE instruction 
by the amount of the minimum hourly wage that is prescribed by State or 
local law, or by the minimum hourly wage that is established under the 
Fair Labor Standards Act.
    Example: If a grantee uses the Fair Labor Standards Act minimum 
hourly wage of $7.25 and a student attends classes for 20 hours a week, 
the student's stipend would be $145 for the week during which the 
student attends classes ($7.25 x 20 = $145.00).

    Note: In accordance with applicable Department statutory 
requirements and administrative regulations, grantees must maintain 
records that fully support their decisions to award stipends and the 
amounts that are paid, such as proof of a student's enrollment in a 
NACTEP project, stipend applications, timesheets showing the number 
of attendance hours confirmed in writing by an instructor, student 
financial status information, and evidence that a student would not 
be able to participate in the NACTEP project without a stipend. (20 
U.S.C. 1232f; 34 CFR 75.700-75.702; 75.730; and 75.731)

    (5) An eligible student may receive a stipend when taking a course 
for the

[[Page 5079]]

first time. However, generally a stipend may not be provided to a 
student who has already taken, completed, and had the opportunity to 
benefit from a course and is merely repeating the course.
    (6) An applicant must include in its application the procedure it 
intends to use to determine student eligibility for stipends and 
stipend amounts, and its oversight procedures for the awarding and 
payment of stipends.

Requirement 4--Direct Assistance to Students

    A grantee may provide direct assistance to students if the 
following conditions are met:
    (1) The recipient of the direct assistance is an individual who is 
a member of a special population and who is participating in the 
grantee's NACTEP project.
    (2) The direct assistance is needed to address barriers to the 
individual's successful participation in that project.
    (3) The direct assistance is part of a broader, more generally 
focused program or activity to address the needs of an individual who 
is a member of a special population.

    Note: Direct assistance to individuals who are members of 
special populations is not, by itself, a ``program or activity for 
special populations.''

    (4) The grant funds used for direct assistance must be expended to 
supplement, and not supplant, assistance that is otherwise available 
from non-Federal sources. (20 U.S.C. 2391(a)). For example, generally, 
a postsecondary educational institution could not use NACTEP funds to 
provide child care for single parents if non-Federal funds previously 
were made available for this purpose, or if non-Federal funds are used 
to provide child care services for single parents participating in non-
CTE programs and these services otherwise would have been available to 
CTE students in the absence of NACTEP funds.
    (5) In determining how much of the NACTEP grant funds it will use 
for direct assistance to an eligible student, a grantee must consider 
whether the specific services to be provided are a reasonable and 
necessary cost of providing CTE programs for special populations. 
However, the Assistant Secretary does not envision a circumstance in 
which it would be a reasonable and necessary expenditure of NACTEP 
project funds for a grantee to use a majority of a project's budget to 
pay direct assistance to students, in lieu of providing the students 
served by the project with CTE.

Requirement 5--Appeal Process

    Any applicant denied funding under this NACTEP competition may 
request a hearing to review the Secretary's decision not to make the 
award. The Secretary will implement the appeal process in accordance 
with the procedures set forth in 34 CFR 401.23. In accordance with 
those procedures, any applicant denied funding will have 30 calendar 
days to make a written request to the Secretary for a hearing to review 
the Secretary's decision. (25 U.S.C. 5321(b)).

Requirement 6--Integration of Services

    Section 116(f) of the Act provides that a Tribe, Tribal 
organization, or Alaska Native entity receiving financial assistance 
under this program may integrate those funds with assistance received 
from related programs in accordance with the provisions of Public Law 
102-477, the Indian Employment, Training and Related Services 
Demonstration Act of 1992 (25 U.S.C. 3401 et seq.). An entity wishing 
to integrate funds must have a plan that meets the requirements of the 
Indian Employment, Training and Related Services Demonstration Act and 
is acceptable to the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of 
Education.
    For further information on the integration of grant funds under 
this and related programs contact Terrence Parks, the Division of 
Workforce Development, Office of Indian Services, Bureau of Indian 
Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1951 Constitution Avenue NW, 
Mailstop 20 SIB, Washington, DC 20245. Telephone: (202) 513-7625. 
Email: [email protected]. Fax: (202) 208-4564.

Requirement 7--Indian Self-Determination Contracts

    Section 116(b)(2) of the Act provides that grants or contracts 
awarded under section 116 of the Act are subject to the terms and 
conditions of section 102 of the ISDEAA (25 U.S.C. 5321) and must be 
conducted in accordance with the provisions of sections 4, 5, and 6 of 
the Act of April 16, 1934 (25 U.S.C. 5345-5347), that are relevant to 
the programs administered under section 116(b) of the Act. Section 102 
of the ISDEAA authorizes Indian Tribes to request self-determination 
contracts from the Department of Interior. Accordingly, an Indian Tribe 
or Tribal organization that has applied to the Secretary for financial 
assistance under NACTEP and has been notified of its selection to be a 
recipient of financial assistance may submit a request to both the 
Secretary of Education (via the contact person listed under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT) and the relevant Department of Interior contact 
person to operate its NACTEP project through a section 102 Indian self-
determination contract.
    After successful applicants are selected under this NACTEP 
competition, the Secretary will review any requests to operate a 
project under an Indian self-determination contract pursuant to the 
ISDEAA. If a request for an Indian self-determination contract is 
approved, the Indian Tribe or Tribal organization submitting the 
request will be required, to the extent possible, to operate its 
project in accordance with the ISDEAA, relevant provisions in sections 
4, 5, and 6 of the Act of April 16, 1934 (25 U.S.C. 5345-5347), the 
Act, and the non-statutory program requirements specified in this 
notice.
    The CTE programs provided through an Indian self-determination 
contract would have to be essentially the same as were proposed in the 
initial application and approved by the Department. Any Indian Tribe or 
Tribal organization that is selected to receive funding under this 
competition, but whose request to operate the project under an Indian 
self-determination contract is denied, may appeal the denial to the 
Secretary. If you have questions about ISDEAA self-determination 
contracts, please contact the persons listed under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.
    Definitions: These definitions are from statute, 34 CFR 400.4, and 
the Notice of Final Requirements. The source of each definition is 
noted after the definition.
    Act of April 16, 1934 means the Federal law commonly known as the 
``Johnson-O'Malley Act'' that authorizes the Secretary of the Interior 
to enter into contracts for the education of Indians and other 
purposes. (25 U.S.C. 5345-5347)
    Acute economic need means an income that is at or below the 
national poverty level according to the latest available data from the 
U.S. Department of Commerce or the U.S. Department of Health and Human 
Services Poverty Guidelines. (Notice of Final Requirements)
    Alaska Native or Native means a citizen of the United States who is 
a person of one-fourth degree or more Alaska Indian (including 
Tsimshian Indians not enrolled in the Metlakta Indian Community \1\) 
Eskimo, or Aleut

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blood, or a combination thereof. The term includes--
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    \1\ The correct name of this community is Metlakatla Indian 
Community. It is misspelled in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement 
Act, which is the source of this definition.
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    (a) Any Native, as so defined, either or both of whose adoptive 
parents are not Natives; and
    (b) In the absence of proof of a minimum blood quantum, any citizen 
of the United States who is regarded as an Alaska Native by the Native 
village or Native group of which he or she claims to be a member and 
whose father or mother is (or, if deceased, was) regarded as Native by 
any village or group. Any decision of the Secretary of the Interior 
regarding eligibility for enrollment will be final. (20 U.S.C. 
2326(a)(1); 43 U.S.C. 1602(b))
    Alaska Native entity means an entity such as an Alaska Native 
village, group, or regional or village corporation. (43 U.S.C. 1601 et 
seq.)
    Alaska Native group means any Tribe, band, clan, village, 
community, or village association of Natives in Alaska composed of less 
than twenty-five Natives, who comprise a majority of the residents of 
the locality. (43 U.S.C. 1602(d))
    Alaska Native village means any Tribe, band, clan, group, village, 
community, or association in Alaska listed in sections 1610 and 1615 of 
the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, or that meets the requirements 
of chapter 33 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, and that the 
Secretary of the Interior determines was, on the 1970 census 
enumeration date (as shown by the census or other evidence satisfactory 
to the Secretary of the Interior, who shall make findings of fact in 
each instance), composed of twenty-five or more Natives. (43 U.S.C. 
1602(c))
    Alaska regional corporation means an Alaska Native regional 
corporation established under the laws of the State of Alaska in 
accordance with the provisions of chapter 33 of the Alaska Native 
Claims Settlement Act. (43 U.S.C. 1602(g))
    Alaska village corporation means an Alaska Native village 
corporation organized under the laws of the State of Alaska as a 
business for profit or nonprofit corporation to hold, invest, manage 
and/or distribute lands, property, funds, and other rights and assets 
for and on behalf of an Alaska Native village, in accordance with the 
terms of chapter 33 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. (43 
U.S.C. 1602(j))
    Bureau means the Bureau of Indian Affairs of the U.S. Department of 
the Interior. (25 U.S.C. 2021(2))
    Bureau-funded school means--
    (a) A Bureau-operated elementary or secondary day or boarding 
school or Bureau-operated dormitory for students attending a school 
other than a Bureau school. (25 U.S.C. 2021(3) and (4));
    (b) An elementary school, secondary school, or dormitory that 
receives financial assistance for its operation under a contract, 
grant, or agreement with the Bureau under section 102, 103(a), or 208 
of the ISDEAA (25 U.S.C. 5321, 5322(a), or 5355) or under the Tribally 
Controlled Schools Act of 1988 (25 U.S.C. 2504 et seq.). (25 U.S.C. 
2021(3) and (5)); or
    (c) A school for which assistance is provided under the Tribally 
Controlled Schools Act of 1988 (25 U.S.C. 2501 et seq.). (25 U.S.C. 
2021(3))
    Career and technical education (CTE) means organized educational 
activities that--
    (a) Offer a sequence of courses that--
    (1) Provides individuals with coherent and rigorous content aligned 
with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge 
and skills needed to prepare for further education and careers in 
current or emerging professions;
    (2) Provides technical skills proficiency, an industry-recognized 
credential, a certificate, or an associate degree; and
    (3) May include prerequisite courses (other than a remedial course) 
that meet the requirements of this definition; and
    (b) Include competency-based applied learning that contributes to 
the academic knowledge, higher-order reasoning and problem-solving 
skills, work attitudes, general employability skills, technical skills, 
and occupation-specific skills, and knowledge of all aspects of an 
industry, including entrepreneurship, of the individual. (20 U.S.C. 
2302(5))
    Coherent sequence of courses means a series of courses in which 
vocational \2\ and academic education are integrated, and that directly 
relates to, and leads to, both academic and occupational competencies. 
The term includes competency-based education, academic education, and 
adult training or retraining, including sequential units encompassed 
within a single adult retraining course, that otherwise meet the 
requirements of this definition. (34 CFR 400.4)
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    \2\ As a result of the passage of the Act, the term ``vocational 
education'' has been updated to ``career and technical education.''
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    Direct assistance to students means tuition, dependent care, 
transportation, books, and supplies that are necessary for a student to 
participate in a project funded under this program. (Notice of Final 
Requirements)
    Indian means a person who is a member of an Indian Tribe. (20 
U.S.C. 2326(a)(3); 25 U.S.C. 5304(d))
    Indian Tribe means any Indian Tribe, band, nation, or other 
organized group or community, including any Alaska Native village or 
regional or village corporation as defined in or established pursuant 
to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), 
that is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services 
provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as 
Indians. (20 U.S.C. 2326(a)(3); 25 U.S.C. 5304(e))
    Institution of higher education means--
    (a) An educational institution in any State that--
    (1) Admits as regular students only persons having a certificate of 
graduation from a school providing secondary education, or the 
recognized equivalent of such a certificate;
    (2) Is legally authorized within such State to provide a program of 
education beyond secondary education;
    (3) Provides an educational program for which the institution 
awards a bachelor's degree or provides not less than a 2-year program 
that is acceptable for full credit toward such a degree, or awards a 
degree that is acceptable for admission to a graduate or professional 
degree program, subject to review and approval by the Secretary;
    (4) Is a public or other nonprofit institution; and
    (5) Is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or 
association or, if not so accredited, is an institution that has been 
granted pre-accreditation status by such an agency or association that 
has been recognized by the Secretary of Education for the granting of 
pre-accreditation status, and the Secretary of Education has determined 
that there is satisfactory assurance that the institution will meet the 
accreditation standards of such an agency or association within a 
reasonable time.
    (b) The term also includes--
    (1) Any school that provides not less than a 1-year program of 
training to prepare students for gainful employment in a recognized 
occupation and that meets the provisions of paragraphs (a)(1), (2), 
(4), and (5) of this definition.
    (2) A public or nonprofit private educational institution in any 
State that, in lieu of the requirement in paragraph (a)(1) of this 
definition, admits as regular students persons who are beyond the age 
of compulsory school attendance in the State in which the institution 
is located. (20 U.S.C. 1001 and 2302(18))
    Special populations means--
    (a) Individuals with disabilities;

[[Page 5081]]

    (b) Individuals from economically disadvantaged families, including 
foster children;
    (c) Individuals preparing for nontraditional fields;
    (d) Single parents, including single pregnant women;
    (e) Displaced homemakers; and
    (f) Individuals with limited English proficiency. (20 U.S.C. 
2302(29))
    Stipend means a subsistence allowance for a student that is 
necessary for the student to participate in a project funded under this 
program. (Notice of Final Requirements)
    Support services means services related to curriculum modification, 
equipment modification, classroom modification, supportive personnel, 
and instructional aids and devices. (20 U.S.C. 2302(31))
    Tribal organization means the recognized governing body of any 
Indian Tribe; any legally established organization of Indians that is 
controlled, sanctioned, or chartered by such governing body or that is 
democratically elected by the adult members of the Indian community to 
be served by such organization and that includes the maximum 
participation of Indians in all phases of its activities: Provided, 
That, in any case where a contract is let or grant made to an 
organization to perform services benefiting more than one Indian Tribe, 
the approval of each such Indian Tribe shall be a prerequisite to the 
letting or making of such contract or grant. (20 U.S.C. 2326(a)(3); 25 
U.S.C. 5304(l))
    Tribally controlled college or university means an institution of 
higher education that is formally controlled, or has been formally 
sanctioned, or chartered, by the governing body of an Indian Tribe or 
Tribes, except that no more than one such institution shall be 
recognized with respect to any such Tribe. (20 U.S.C. 2302(33) and 25 
U.S.C. 1801(a)(4))

    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 2301, et seq., particularly 
2326(a)-(g).

    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 81, 82, 84, 
86, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The Office of Management and Budget (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 including 2 CFR 
3474.20. (d) The Notice of Final Requirements.

    Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants 
except federally recognized Indian Tribes.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: $13,764,000 for the first 12 months of 
the project period. Funding for years two and three is subject to the 
availability of funds and to a grantee meeting the requirements of 34 
CFR 75.253. Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality 
of applications, we may make additional awards later in FY 2018 or in 
subsequent years from the list of unfunded applications from this 
competition.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $300,000 to $500,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $458,800.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 30.

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

    Project Period: Up to 36 months. The Secretary may extend the 
performance periods of funded NACTEP grantees for an additional two 
years, should Congress continue to appropriate funds under the Act.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: (a) The following entities are eligible to 
apply under this competition:
    (1) A federally recognized Indian Tribe.
    (2) A Tribal organization.
    (3) An Alaska Native entity.
    (4) A Bureau-funded school, except for a Bureau-funded school 
proposing to use its award to support secondary school CTE programs.
    (b) Any Tribe, Tribal organization, Alaska Native entity, or 
eligible Bureau-funded school may apply individually or as part of a 
consortium with one or more eligible Tribes, Tribal organizations, 
Alaska Native entities, or eligible Bureau-funded schools. (Eligible 
applicants seeking to apply for funds as a consortium must meet the 
requirements in 34 CFR 75.127-75.129, which apply to group 
applications.)
    2. (a) Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost 
sharing or matching.
    (b) Supplement-Not-Supplant: This program involves supplement-not-
supplant funding requirements. In accordance with section 311(a) of the 
Act, funds under this program may not be used to supplant non-Federal 
funds used to carry out CTE activities. Further, the prohibition 
against supplanting also means that grantees are required to use their 
negotiated restricted indirect cost rates under this program. (34 CFR 
75.563)
    We caution applicants not to plan to use funds under NACTEP to 
replace otherwise available non-Federal funding for direct assistance 
to students and family assistance programs. For example, NACTEP funds 
must not be used to supplant Tribal and other non-Federal funds with 
Federal funds in order to pay the costs of students' tuition, dependent 
care, transportation, books, supplies, and other costs associated with 
participation in a CTE program.
    Funds under NACTEP should not be used to replace Federal student 
financial aid. The Act does not authorize the Secretary to fund 
projects that serve primarily as entities through which students may 
apply for and receive tuition and other financial assistance.
    (c) Limitation on Services: Section 315 of the Act prohibits the 
use of funds received under the Act to provide CTE programs to students 
prior to the seventh grade.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: Gwen Washington, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 11076, Potomac 
Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-7241. Telephone: (202) 245-7790. 
Fax: (202) 245-7170. Or Linda Mayo, U.S. Department of Education, 400 
Maryland Avenue SW, Room 11075, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 
20202-7241. Telephone: (202) 245-7792. Fax: (202) 245-7170 or by email: 
[email protected].
    You may also obtain an application package via the internet from 
the following address: www.ed.gov/GrantApps/.
    If you use a TDD or a TTY, call the 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 persons listed in 
this section.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements 
concerning the content and form of an application, together with the 
forms you must submit, are in the application package for this 
competition.
    Notice of Intent to Apply: We will be able to develop a more 
efficient process for reviewing grant applications if we can anticipate 
the number of applicants

[[Page 5082]]

that intend to apply for funding under this competition. Therefore, we 
strongly encourage each potential applicant to notify us of the 
applicant's intent to submit an application for funding by sending a 
short email message. This short email should provide the applicant 
organization's name and address. Please send this email notification to 
[email protected] with ``Intent to Apply'' in the email subject line. 
Applicants that do not provide this email notification may still apply 
for funding.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: February 5, 2018.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: March 19, 2018.
    A webinar for prospective applicants will be held for this 
competition shortly after this notice's publication date. The webinar 
is intended to provide technical assistance to all interested grant 
applicants. Information regarding the webinar can be found on the 
Perkins Collaborative Resource Network at https://cte.ed.gov/.
    Applications for grants under this competition may be submitted 
electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov), or in 
paper format by mail or hand delivery. For information (including dates 
and times) about how to submit your application electronically, or in 
paper format by mail, 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 persons listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. 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.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: This program is not subject to 
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79.
    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), 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 website: 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 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 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 annually. This may take three or more business days.
    Information about SAM is available at www.SAM.gov. To further 
assist you with obtaining and registering your DUNS number and TIN in 
SAM or updating your existing SAM account, we have prepared a SAM.gov 
Tip Sheet, which you can find at: https://www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/sam-faqs.html.
    In addition, if you are submitting your application via Grants.gov, 
you must (1) be designated by your organization as an Authorized 
Organization Representative (AOR); and (2) register yourself with 
Grants.gov as an AOR. Details on these steps are outlined at the 
following Grants.gov web page: www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html.
    7. Other Submission Requirements:
    Applications for grants under this program may be submitted 
electronically or in paper format by mail or hand delivery.
    a. Electronic Submission of Applications.
    We are participating as a partner in the Governmentwide Grants.gov 
Apply site. NACTEP, CFDA number 84.101A, is included in this project. 
We request your participation in Grants.gov.
    If you choose to submit your application electronically, you must 
use the Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site at www.Grants.gov. You may 
not email an electronic copy of a grant application to us.
    A Grants.gov applicant must apply online using Workspace, a shared 
environment where members of a grant team may simultaneously access and 
edit different webforms within an application. An applicant can create 
an individual Workspace for each application notice and, thus, 
establish for that application a collaborative application package that 
allows more than one person in the applicant's organization to work 
concurrently on an application. The applicant can, thus, assign other 
users to participate in the Workspace. The system also enables the 
applicant to reuse forms from previous submissions; check them in and 
out and complete them; and submit its application package. For access 
to complete instructions on how to apply, refer to: www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html.
    You may access the electronic grant application for NACTEP 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 84.101, not 
84.101A).
    Please note the following:
     Your participation in Grants.gov is voluntary. 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

[[Page 5083]]

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. In addition, for specific guidance and 
procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov, please 
refer to the Grants.gov website at www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html.
     You will not receive additional point value because you 
submit your application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you 
if you submit your application in paper format.
     If you submit your application electronically, 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.
     If you submit your application electronically, you must 
upload any narrative sections and all other attachments to your 
application as files in a read-only, flattened Portable Document Format 
(PDF), meaning any fillable PDF documents must be saved as flattened, 
nonfillable files. Therefore, do not upload an interactive or fillable 
PDF file. If you upload a file type other than a read-only, flattened 
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 application 
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. There is no need to password protect a file 
in order to meet the requirement to submit a read-only, flattened PDF. 
And, as noted above, the Department will not review password-protected 
files.
     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 
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, flattened 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 persons 
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 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. We 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.

    b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.
    If you submit your application in paper format by mail (through the 
U.S. Postal Service or a commercial carrier), 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 84.101A), 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.

[[Page 5084]]

    (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 application 
deadline date.
    c. Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery.
    If you submit your application in paper format by hand delivery, 
you (or a courier service) 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 
84.101A), 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: 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 the Notice of Final Requirements, and are as follows.
    The maximum score for each criterion is indicated in parentheses.
    (a) Need for project (Up to 5 points). In determining the need for 
the proposed project, we consider the extent of the need for the 
services to be provided or the activities to be carried out by the 
proposed project, as evidenced by data on such phenomena as local labor 
market demand or occupational trends, or from surveys, recommendations 
from accrediting agencies, or Tribal economic development plans.
    (b) Quality of the project design (Up to 40 points). In determining 
the quality of the design of the proposed project, we consider the 
following factors:
    (1) The extent to which the services to be provided by the proposed 
project will create opportunities for students to receive an industry-
recognized credential; become employed in high skill, high-wage, and 
high-demand occupations; or both. (Up to 20 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, as evidenced by the applicant's 
description of programs and activities that align with the target 
population's needs. (Up to 10 points).
    (3) The extent to which the proposed project will establish 
linkages with or will be coordinated with similar or related efforts, 
and with community, State, or Federal resources, where such 
opportunities and resources exist. (Up to 5 points).
    (4) The extent to which the training or professional development 
services to be provided by the proposed project would be of sufficient 
quality, intensity, and duration to lead to improvements in practice 
among the project staff and instructors, including the extent to which 
the proposed training and professional development plans address ways 
in which learning gaps will be addressed and how continuous review of 
performance will be conducted to identify training needs. (Up to 5 
points).
    (c) Adequacy of resources (Up to 20 points). In determining the 
adequacy of resources for the proposed project, we consider the 
following factors:
    (1) The adequacy of support, including facilities, equipment, 
supplies, and other resources, from the applicant organization(s) and 
the Tribal entity or entities to be served. (Up to 5 points).
    (2) The extent to which the budget is adequate and costs are 
reasonable in relation to the objectives of the proposed project. (Up 
to 5 points).
    (3) The relevance and demonstrated commitment (e.g., through 
written CTE agreements, memoranda of understanding, letters of support 
and commitment, or commitments to employ project participants, as 
appropriate) of the applicant, members of the consortium, local 
employers, or Tribal entities to be served by the project. (Up to 5 
points).
    (4) The extent to which the project will use instructors who are 
certified to teach in the field in which they will provide instruction. 
(Up to 5 points).
    (d) Quality of the management plan (Up to 25 points). In 
determining the quality of the management plan for the proposed 
project, we consider the following factors:
    (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 the milestones and performance 
standards for accomplishing project tasks. (Up to 10 points).
    (2) 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. (Up to 5 points).
    (3) The extent to which the time commitments of the project 
director and other key project personnel are appropriate and adequate 
to meet the objectives of the proposed project. (Up to 5 points).
    (4) The qualifications, including relevant training, expertise, and 
experience, of the project director, key personnel, and project 
consultants. (Up to 5 points).
    (e) Quality of the project evaluation (Up to 10 points). In 
determining the quality of the evaluation, we consider the following 
factors:
    (1) The extent to which the methods of evaluation proposed by the 
grantee are thorough, feasible, and include the use of objective 
performance measures that are clearly related to the intended outcomes 
of the project and the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 
(GPRA) performance measures. (Up to 5 points).
    (2) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide 
performance feedback and continuous improvement toward achieving 
intended outcomes. (Up to 5 points).
    2. Additional Selection Factors: In accordance with the requirement 
in section 116(e) of the Act, we have included the following additional 
selection factors and will award additional points to any application 
addressing the following factors, as indicated. These additional 
factors from the Notice of Final Requirements are as follows.
    We will award--
    (a) Up to 5 additional points to applications that propose 
exemplary approaches that involve, coordinate with, or encourage Tribal 
economic development plans; and

[[Page 5085]]

    (b) Five points to applications from Tribally controlled colleges 
or universities that--
    (1) Are accredited or are candidates for accreditation by a 
nationally recognized accreditation organization as an institution of 
postsecondary CTE; or
    (2) Operate CTE programs that are accredited or are candidates for 
accreditation by a nationally recognized accreditation organization and 
issue certificates for completion of CTE programs (20 U.S.C. 2326(e)).
    3. 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 
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).
    4. Risk Assessment and Special Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR 
200.205, before awarding grants under this competition, 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.
    5. Integrity and Performance System: If you are selected under this 
competition to receive an award that over the course of the project 
period may exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (currently 
$150,000), under 2 CFR 200.205(a)(2) we must make a judgment about your 
integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under Federal 
awards--that is, the risk posed by you as an applicant--before we make 
an award. In doing so, we must consider any information about you that 
is in the integrity and performance system (currently referred to as 
the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System 
(FAPIIS)), accessible through SAM. You may review and comment on any 
information about yourself that a Federal agency previously entered and 
that is currently in FAPIIS.
    Please note that, if the total value of your currently active 
grants, cooperative agreements, and procurement contracts from the 
Federal Government exceeds $10,000,000, the reporting requirements in 2 
CFR part 200, Appendix XII, require you to report certain integrity 
information to FAPIIS semiannually. Please review the requirements in 2 
CFR part 200, Appendix XII, if this grant plus all the other Federal 
funds you receive exceed $10,000,000.

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. Open Licensing Requirement: Unless an exception applies, if you 
are awarded a grant under this competition, you will be required to 
openly license to the public grant deliverables created in whole, or in 
part, with Department grant funds. When the deliverable consists of 
modifications to pre-existing works, the license shall extend only to 
those modifications that can be separately identified and only to the 
extent that open licensing is permitted under the terms of any licenses 
or other legal restrictions on the use of pre-existing works. Please 
refer to the Applicable Regulations section to see if an exception 
under 2 CFR 3474 applies for this program. For additional information 
on the open licensing requirements please refer to 2 CFR 3474.20(c).
    4. 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.
    5. Performance Measures: Pursuant to GPRA, the Department has 
established the following performance measures that it will use to 
evaluate the overall effectiveness of the grantee's project, as well as 
NACTEP as a whole:
    (a) At the secondary level: An increase in the percentage of CTE 
students who--
    (1) Attain academic proficiency, as demonstrated by meeting 
academic content standards and student academic achievement standards 
that meet challenging State-defined academic standards for reading/
language arts and mathematics;
    (2) Attain career and technical skill proficiencies, including 
student achievement on technical assessments that are aligned with 
industry-recognized standards;
    (3) Attain a secondary school diploma;
    (4) If a credential, certificate, or degree is offered by the State 
in which the project operates, in conjunction with a secondary school 
diploma, attain a proficiency credential, certificate, or degree in 
conjunction with a secondary school diploma; or
    (5) Are placed in--
    (i) Postsecondary education or advanced training;
    (ii) Military service; or
    (iii) Employment.
    (b) At the postsecondary level: An increase in the percentage of 
CTE students who--
    (1) Attain challenging career and technical skill proficiencies, 
including student achievement on technical assessments that are aligned 
with industry-recognized standards;
    (2) Attain an industry-recognized credential, a certificate, or a 
degree;

[[Page 5086]]

    (3) Are retained in postsecondary education or transfer to a 
baccalaureate degree program;
    (4) Are placed in--
    (i) Military service; or
    (ii) Apprenticeship programs; or
    (5) Are placed or have been retained in employment, including in 
high-skill, high-wage, or high-demand occupations or professions.
    (c) At the adult education level: An increase in the percentage of 
participating adult career and technical education students who---
    (1) Enroll in a postsecondary education or training program;
    (2) Attain career and technical education skill proficiencies 
aligned with industry-recognized standards;
    (3) Receive industry-recognized credentials or certificates; or
    (4) Are placed in a job, upgraded in a job, or retain employment.

    Note: All grantees will be expected to submit an annual 
performance report addressing these performance measures, to the 
extent feasible and to the extent that they apply to each grantee's 
NACTEP project.

    6. 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. 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 persons listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT. If you use a TDD or TTY, call the FRS, toll-free, at 1-800-
877-8339.
    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: January 31, 2018.
Michael E. Wooten,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Career, Technical, and Adult Education.
[FR Doc. 2018-02246 Filed 2-2-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4000-01-P